She broke all the rules to save her restaurant. She built an empire. with Maria Mazon | EP 047

In this episode, Chef Maria Mazon sits down with Kassidy Warren for an unfiltered conversation about identity, failure, and the long road back to self-respect. The twice-nominated James Beard semifinalist opens up about coming out later in life, ballooning stress that nearly closed her flagship restaurant Boca Tacos y Tequila, and the therapy-and-boxing routine that helped her shed seventy pounds and reclaim her joy.

Maria explains why she refuses to serve sour cream, what most Americans get wrong about Mexican food, how a single Top Chef audition during lockdown reshaped her career, and why every yellow street dog in Mexico has a piece of her heart. Along the way she shares hard-won lessons on humility, hiring people who need a second chance, and leading a kitchen with both hunger and compassion.

Grab a cold Mexican Coke, settle in, and let Maria remind you that even on the hardest days, “the worst case is we still have each other.”

// Chapters

0:00:00 Intro
0:00:38 Owning Every Identity Label
0:04:40 Pandemic-Era Top Chef Breakthrough
0:08:05 Rock Bottom and Self-Rediscovery
0:12:30 Therapy, Boxing, Seventy-Pound Loss
0:18:20 James Beard Recognition Explained
0:25:10 Restaurant Failures and Lessons
0:33:45 Battling Anxiety in the Kitchen
0:41:20 Tucson Roots and Community Love
0:49:05 Myths of Mexican Cuisine
0:56:15 Sonoran Hot Dogs Appreciation
1:04:10 Giving Staff Real Opportunities
1:12:25 Future TV Vision and Purpose
1:25:00 Rapid Fire and Closing Thoughts

// CONNECT WITH US
Guest – Chef Maria Mazon: https://www.instagram.com/chefmariamazon/
Host – Kassidy Warren: https://www.instagram.com/kassidy.warren

// LISTEN & WATCH
• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/for-your-own-good/id1793769313