YouSaid · the spoken record

Marcus Samuelsson

lines on the record: 31
first: 2026-07-09
most recent: 2026-07-09
sittings or episodes: 1
sources: podcast

Every line below is reproduced as it was said and linked to the record it came from. Nothing here is summarised or generated. Directory · Search · Corrections

“Our music director is Ryan Holliday. Original music and sound design by Eduardo Rivera. Ryan Holliday, Hayes Holiday, and Nate Kinsella. Audio editing by Keith J. Nelson, Stephen Davies, Stephen Wells, and Andrew Nolt. Mixing and mastering by Aaron Bastinelli and Brian Pugh. CEO and chairman of the board is Jeff Berman. Masters of Scale was created by June Cohen and Darren Triff. Special thanks to Jodine Dorsay, Alfonso Bravo, Tim Cronin, Erica Flynn, Sarah Tartar, Kitty Blazing, Mariel Karecker, Janime Ezekuena, Colin Howarth, Brandon Klein, Samioputa, Kelsey C ⁇ zon, Louisa Veles, Nikki Williams, and Justin Winslow. Visit masterscale.com to find the transcript for this episode and to subscribe to our email newsletter.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“As a leader, your role as a storyteller transcends the boundaries of your personal journey by giving voice to the varied experiences of your team, your customers, and the broader community, you can help weave a narrative that's rich in diversity and depth. This not only builds a resilient and lasting organization, but also cultivates an environment where every story is valued. I'm Reid Hoffman. Thanks for listening. Of scale is a weight what original. Our executive producer is Chris McLeod. Our producers are Chris Gautier, Adam Skeuse, Alex Morris, Tucker Logerski, and Masha Makochina. Our editor at large is Bob Sa”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Community kitchen reflected the ethos of the Red Rooster as a community space that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of Harlem and where everyone feels empowered to share their own stories.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“This was the beginning of the Red Rooster Community Kitchen, an initiative to help feed people struggling with the isolation and lost income thrust upon them by the pandemic.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Out of the sharing of so many different stories came hope, so when the pandemic began to tail off, talk turned to recovery. For Marcus and his fellow chefs, that meant helping people who were having trouble getting food.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Marcus didn't speak just to his own restaurants. He got on calls with other chefs. The calls quickly became about more than mutual commiseration.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“With that meal, Marcus helped tell a story with a fresh perspective, merging the experiences and cultures of different parts of America and India. Following that dinner, Marcus continued to scale the reach of his media company and his restaurants, opening locations across the world that became pillars in his mission to elevate diverse narratives. But when the COVID nineteen pandemic hit in twenty twenty, he immediately began hearing harrowing stories from across the planet.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Way to make it sticky is by telling compelling, surprising new stories that can be as grand as a multi-part TV series or as simple as finding new twists on established meals, something Marcus was challenged with when President Barack Obama asked him to create a state dinner at the White House for a visit by the Indian Prime Minister.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Marcus knew that he had to take charge of the narrative around Red Rooster in order to amplify the stories of the community. In doing so, Red Rooster and his media group would become conduits for sharing a multitude of stories. Marcus created cookbooks such as The Rise, Black Cooks, and the Soul of American Food. He showcased the rich stories of immigrant food in his TV show, No Passport Required, and he leaned into the unique perspectives that surrounded him in Harlem with a Harlem Meetup Food Festival. Here's Marcus describing how that festival incorporates and celebrates many different stories.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Following his move to Harlem, Marcus established a new restaurant serving food with a Japanese influence named Ringo, and then another focused on cuisine from across Africa named Mercado fifty five. He also published a number of cookbooks and hosted a show on the Discovery Channel. However, Marcus found himself getting more and more immersed in the diverse food, stories, and cultures of Harlem. So in twenty ten he opened a new restaurant, Red Rooster. Through it, Marcus wanted to celebrate the neighborhood's rich heritage through not only food, but by programming inclusive events and entertainment.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Sharing such a diverse range of stories is at the heart of placemaking and helps build and sustain momentum for positive change.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Placemaking is a collaborative process of creating vibrant, inclusive environments that foster stronger community ties and enhance the overall quality of life. The Studio Museum has been at the heart of placemaking in Harlem since its founding in nineteen sixty eight.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“This is one of the most important reasons to make yourself a platform for sharing stories. It primes you to constantly learn new things and take on new perspectives. Someone who is at the nexus of the complex narratives that flow through Harlem is Thelma Golden. She's the director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, an institution that plays a pivotal role in the cultural and artistic life of Harlem and the broader art world. She's also been a friend to Marcus since his days at Aquavit. Thelmer recalls how Marcus's passion for Harlem played a part in her decision to join the studio museum in two thousand as deputy director for exhibitions.”
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“Harlem was an invigorating new environment for Marcus where individual stories fed into a communal narrative that stretched across generations and continents.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Aquavit was embracing a diversity of stories to inspire the food it served. Marcus realized that this diversity was not reflected in the restaurant's customers. This meant there were huge numbers of people who wouldn't even consider stepping through the doors of Aquavit. Arcus came to realize that he wanted to focus on building institutions that reflected the communities around them, institutions that celebrated and elevated a wide range of stories and lived experiences. So he took the decision to move to a different part of the city somewhere that would put him in the midst of a thriving hum of vibrant stories”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Marcus knew he was going to stay in New York, but he also knew he needed to change things up. A conversation with his mom gave him focus.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Listeners, Bob, here, if you listen to rapid response on Masters of Scale, you may be missing half the show because every Friday we release a second rapid response exclusively in the rapid response feed. The guess and topics are just as compelling and timely from Ford CEO to NASA's administrator to the lessons from the Devilware's Prada. It takes about 10 seconds to find, just search rapid response wherever you listen to podcasts and hit follow to make sure you never miss an episode. I hope to see you there. Back with Marcus Samuels See exclusive clips from my interview with Marcus, head to the Master the Scale YouTube channel. The break, we heard how Marcus reached a turning point after the september 11 attacks on New York.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“The next six years, Marcus grew Aquavit's reputation as one of New York's most exciting dining destinations. But then, on september eleventh, two thousand one, everything changed for the city, Marcus now called home”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Marcus didn't want to simply tell the story of Scandinavian food. He wanted to infuse his menu with elements of the stories he'd encountered during his international experience and in New York. It paid off. Less than a year after taking over Aquavit, Marca scored a coveted three star review from the New York Times. 23. He was the youngest chef to have received accolade.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“However, shortly after Marcus joined the team at Aquavit, the head chef Jan Sandel passed away. Marcus's work ethic and talent had already been noticed by the restaurant owners, so they offered him the role of head chef. He was just twenty three years old.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“That chef's ludicrously narrow minded view was rooted in his inability to understand stories that differed from his own, for that chef being white was a non negotiable part of the story of any head chef. This is an extreme example of how being close off to the diverse stories around you will lead you to overlook talent and opportunity. That head chef's narrow view, alienated and drove away Marcus, one of the most promising rising talents on his team. Fortunately, Marcus had faith in his own abilities. All he needed was to find a place that celebrated a diversity of stories.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Marcus kept coming across new flavors, dishes, and approaches to creating food. So when he returned to Europe to work in France, he was struck by the narrow definition of fine dining that prevailed amongst influential chefs there.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Inspired by these stories, Marcus spent his late teens and early twenties working as an apprentice in restaurants across the world. Japan, in particular, left a deep impression.”
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“Marcus, the humble meatball, staple of Scandinavian cuisine, was an example of how food can be an expression of a multitude of stories. Marcus became passionate about cooking. He found inspiration in the stories of established chefs whose cookbooks gave him a window into the possibilities, not just of cooking, but of himself.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“I wanted to speak with Marcus Samuelson about this because through his career as a multi-award winning chef and media personality, he has emphasized telling and amplifying the multitude of unique stories that he encounters. Marcus has founded a claimed restaurants including Red Rooster, Havan Mar, and Metropolis. He has also founder of the Marcus Samuelson group, which produces media and events celebrating the fusion of food, art, music, and culture. Marcus's own story begins in Ethiopia where he was born”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“Because even if each of these volumes turns out to be well written, the library's most compelling promise of a multitude of voices has been dashed. You rightly value learning from different perspectives. Doing so gives us insights and wisdom we can then incorporate into our own stories. It's something we need to keep in mind if we hope to build enduring and impactful businesses. If we embrace a diverse array of stories and create spaces where every individual's narrative is valued, we can cultivate the deep trust needed to build a business that stands the test of time. Doing this also contributes to building a more inclusive and empathetic society.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“This is I'm Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn, partner at Greylock, and your host, and I believe you need to amplify the unique stories of your community and your customers. Doing so will build a foundation of trust, loyalty, and enduring impact. A vast library with sections for every genre you can imagine. You can find escapism in the romance and sci-fi sections, points of reflection in memoir and poetry, and guidance in the self-help and business sections. Excited at delving into this wealth of literature and information, you start browsing the shelves. But you quickly realize something's amiss. Each book you pull from the shelf is written by the same author. What seemed like a monument to the abundance of human knowledge and heart now seems like a garish edifice of self indulgence.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“J, uncovering the stories of his family, opened an exciting new area of exploration, one that inspired others to delve in their own stories and share them. It's a lesson every leader should bear in mind, because the best way to invite people into the story of your product is to give them a platform to share their own stories. That's why I believe you need to amplify the unique stories of your community and your customers. Doing so will build a foundation of trust, loyalty, and enduring impact.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“On returning home to New York, Jay couldn't stop thinking about how sharing those twenty-one meals with his family had opened a wellspring of unexpected stories. Jay's colleagues at Wait What were also enthralled? So they decided to dedicate an episode of the Wait What podcast Meditative Story to Jay's Project. The episode titled 21 Meals struck a chord with thousands of listeners.”
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“That was just one of the many personal stories Jay heard for the first time thanks to an informal experiment he undertook when visiting family in India.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT
“That's J. Punjabi. He's a co-founder and head of television at Wait What, the company that produces, masters the scale. The dish he's talking about sounds delicious, but for him there's a deeper meaning to it than simple comfort food.”
2026-07-09 · Masters of Scale · Chef Marcus Samuelsson on the ingredients for success · IDENTIFIED FROM THE TRANSCRIPT