Lagralane Spirits
We’re Jason and Yvonne Lee. Husband, wife, father, mother, actors, producers, seekers, educators, and explorers of identity. Lagralane Spirits is a delicious podcast where we invite you into our living room for a family spirit symposium, a real-talk meeting of the minds over reverent cocktails. Each week we examine an important topic related to identity that not only is about our own history and how we identify, but is also rooted in social issues, historical events and even a little genealogy. We get into some heavy stuff that often needs the light lift of a cocktail. Therefore, each episode includes a curated cocktail that we then share with a guest as we ask them their “Cocktail Confession” in relation to that episode’s topic. It’s a lot of fun! So, join us as we dive back in time to examine the legacy of our ancestors that have shaped the stories of our shared cultural history. By the way, you can find all of our original cocktail recipes and show notes on lagralanespirits.org. And as always, please enjoy responsibly!
Episodes
How unbelievable it feels to say this, but... the final episode is here! In the Season 3 finale, we bring you an intimate and spirited conversation with Mark Carter, the founder of Old Carter Whiskey. This entrepreneur, mentor, and friend has built a Bourbon legacy through grit, camaraderie, and unyielding positivity. Tune in to hear about Mark’s journey, his philosophy on life, and the waiting list for a bottle of Old...
In this episode, we take a tour of Bespoken Spirits, the innovative distillery that is transforming the Bourbon industry, one molecule at a time. Instead of waiting years for whiskey to age in barrels, Bespoken Spirits has developed a method that replicates the aging process in just a few days. Tune in to hear how this distillery uses cutting-edge technology like gas chromatographs and mass spectrometers to create bour...
In this episode, we meet with Tia and Sean Edwards, a couple whose journey began at a gas station and led to redefining the bourbon industry. Tia and Sean’s Lexington-based distillery, Fresh Bourbon, is on a bold mission to make bourbon accessible to everyone. Their journey is not just about crafting a drink but about reclaiming ownership (a word that speaks volumes to us) in an industry that hasn’t always been inclusi...
We reconnect with Jason’s long-time friend, Cyndi Gatterdam, and her husband, Chris Grecco. Cyndi has 20+ years experience in the bourbon industry, currently serving as the District Sales Manager at Republic National Distributing. In classic “Cocktail Confession” fashion, Jason and Yvonne discuss how bourbon has become an integral part of culture, a symbol of identity, and a bridge between generations.
In...
In this episode, Jason and Yvonne take listeners on a trip through the grounds of the Old Taylor Distillery – a historic site that was abandoned for over 30 years before Castle and Key brought it back to life in 2018. At the time of our visit, our lovable guest and guide, Valerie (Val) Colella, was Castle & Key’s Single Barrel Specialist and National Brand Ambassador. Join us as we explore the castle-inspired architect...
What does it take to break into an industry that hasn’t made room for you? For Victor Yarbrough and his brothers, the answer is clear: a whole lot of grit, a little bit of chemistry, and an unshakable commitment to their community. In this episode, we sit down with Victor, one-third of the trio behind Brough Brothers Distillery — one of the only Black-owned distilleries in Kentucky.
In the Spirit of Bourbo...
In this special episode, we chatted LIVE with Rob Beatty, Founder of the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild — a groundbreaking initiative to preserve hidden histories, promote inclusivity, and celebrate the legacy of African Americans in bourbon culture.
Rob was instrumental in the making of Lagralane Spirits Season 3. He connected us to several incredible guests this season and guided us through Louisville and...
In this episode, we meet with Elizabeth McCall, the Master Distiller of Woodford Reserve, who leads a tasting that feels more like an art class than a lesson in Bourbon. Elizabeth shows us how pairing curated foods with Bourbon releases new flavors. And together, we experience how pairing a few good stories with Bourbon can unlock an unforgettable conversation.
Our greatest takeaway? Bourbon is more than ...
Jason and Yvonne share a quick message about this special season of Lagralane Spirits.
Is food central or trivial to the formation of identity?
In our final episode of the season, hosts Jason and Yvonne Lee welcome Yvonne’s sister, Chef B.B. Huff to the show. Chef Huff left the corporate world to begin her own company, The Salted Parlor, which is a boutique catering firm specializing in storytelling throu...
How do we personally take action to shift the narrative?
With an energetic calm that is both inspiring and soothing, playwright/actor/producer Nambi E. Kelley (Native Son, Re-Memori, Jabari Dreams of Freedom) joins hosts Jason and Yvonne Lee for a discussion about how we take action to shift the narrative from one that is exclusive and often incorrect, to one that is authentic to ourselves and our storie...
Why is film such an important medium for creating access? How can we use empathy to expand vision?
Hosts Jason and Yvonne Lee share a moment with Spirit Award nominated producer (Songs My Brothers Taught Me), Angela C. Lee who also is the Associtate Director of Artist Development at Film Independent. By examining the ecosys...
We return to explore the theme of passing – and the duality of preserving one’s identity while being forced to navigate the world in certain ways.
Joining us for this episode are producer and philanthropist Brenda Robinson and CEO and civil rights attorney Chaz Ebert. As Executive Producers on the film Passing
What does it mean to look at yourself through the eyes of the ‘other’? How do you maintain a sense of self in this process? How do you build social equity to match the room that you are in?
Hosts Jason and Yvonne Lee examine the pathways to equity in this season two debut of Lagralane Spirits. With guests Monique Marshall (anti-bias/anti-racist educator) and DeMille Halliburton (champion of access an...
In this final episode of the first season, Jason and Yvonne spend valuable time with Oscar-nominated, “brother” Kemp Powers -- journalist, screenwriter, playwright, journalist and now, director. This grounded, yet uplifting conversation circles around this notion: to maintain truth and integrity in storytelling, we must bring ourselves into the story and we do so by holding steadfast to emotional honesty and by creating empathy. ...
In this episode, Jason and Yvonne sit down with Jacqueline Olive, a friend and a filmmaker. All three met through her documentary, “Always in Season” at the Sundance Film Festival Read more
In this episode of Lagralane Spirits, Jason and Yvonne sit down with critically acclaimed actress and documentary filmmaker, Erika Alexander. The three discuss taking control of our storytelling destiny, being the narrators of our own history, and the meaning of true power and agency in the filmmaking industry and beyond.
This week:
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In this 3-part series to Episode 3, we deep dive into three very different adoption stories to explore the topic of biological identity and origin. In Part 3, Jason and Yvonne sit down with Lisa Cole, a writer, mother, filmmaker, and global nomad. Lisa discusses how her writing about strong and disenfranchised women has b...
In this 3-part series to Episode 3, we deep dive into three very different adoption stories to explore the topic of biological identity and origin. In Part 1, Jason reveals a major find, a truth to his own adoption story that perhaps would have gone undiscovered if not for Ancestry.com. In Part 2, we talk about the truths...
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