From Cookbook to Movement: The Story of Cocina Libre

In this episode of the Entrepreneurship@DU Podcast, host Joshua Ross sits down with Dr. Julia Roncoroni — psychologist, University of Denver professor, and co-founder of Cocina Libre Collective. What started as a cookbook highlighting immigrant chefs has blossomed into a movement: dinners, workshops, a documentary, and now a podcast — all rooted in storytelling, culture, and the universal language of food. Julia shares powerful stories of resilience, discusses the barriers immigrants face in the food industry, and offers insights into building mission-driven businesses from lived experience. Noah shares his journey from growing up in Missouri to serving in the Marines, including his firsthand experience during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. He discusses how these life-changing experiences shaped both his perspective and the mission behind Pentilla.  The episode dives into how Noah and his co-founder are building a vodka brand that also focuses on community, adventure, and giving back to veterans. Noah reflects on lessons learned in entrepreneurship, balancing school, business, and personal life.