On The Pass 132: Curtis Stone: Leading With Vision
In this episode of On The Pass, Gabriel Ornelas sits down with world-renowned chef, restaurateur, and creative force Curtis Stone — a figure who has spent nearly two decades evolving from fine dining in Beverly Hills, to live fire at Gwen, to his latest chapter with Woodend at Maroma, A Belmond Hotel in Mexico.
Curtis has worn many hats: Michelin-starred chef, butcher, farmer, TV personality, cookbook author, Emmy-nominated producer, and entrepreneur. But beneath the accolades lies a deeper story — one about vision, leadership, reinvention, and the pursuit of meaning in both work and life.
In this conversation, Curtis opens up about:
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How he gets others to believe in and buy into his vision across restaurants, media, products, and farms
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Why vulnerability is just as essential to leadership as grit and discipline
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His perspective on the future of culinary storytelling — from network TV to TikTok to long-form depth
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What Mexico has taught him about humility, culture, and honoring place through food
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How he decides where to focus his energy, what he's ready to leave behind, and what success means now as a leader, father, and builder of community
This is Curtis Stone like you've never heard him before, not just as a celebrity chef, but as a creative visionary building an ecosystem that stretches far beyond the kitchen.
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