Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we’re talking about what it’s really like working around money — from rich clients and luxury lifestyles to the entitlement no one wants to admit.

We break down the differences between old money vs new money, what it’s like serving in affluent areas like Greenwich and Westport, and how appearance, confidence, and presentation can actually impact how much money you make in the service industry.

From Birkin bags and fast cars to difficult customers and wild stories from the floor, this episode dives into the reality of working with wealthy clientele — and the things people don’t say out loud.
If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, bar, or any client-facing job… this one will hit.

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🎙️ Real stories. Real experiences. No filter.

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we’re pulling back the curtain on what really goes on behind the scenes in the hospitality industry.

From restaurant chaos and bar life to strip club stories and brand deals, this conversation dives into the truth about working in nightlife that most people never see. We talk about the highs, the burnout, the money, and the wild moments that come with managing bars, dealing with guests, and building a career in hospitality.

We also get into what it’s like working with major brands (including Conor McGregor’s Proper No. Twelve), how the industry has changed post-COVID, and why giving guests a reason to come back is the key to success.

If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, been curious about bar life, or just want to hear some insane behind-the-scenes stories… this one’s for you.

2 months ago | [YT] | 0

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, I sit down with Ian Bick and Matty Ice as we catch up from the last time they were on the show and dive into the real, unfiltered truth about the restaurant and bar industry.

We get into everything people don’t say out loud:
What actually counts as bad service (and when you shouldn’t tip)
The truth about unsigned checks and tipping etiquette
Who really pays when one person orders for the table
What makes someone a true “regular”
Why some places aren’t checking IDs as strictly anymore
Why busy nights don’t always mean more money
How people try to get stronger drinks (and what actually works)
Do some places water down cocktails?
How lack of passion in restaurants ruins the guest experience
The pressure around tipping culture and being labeled a “bad tipper”
Funny restaurant pranks you can pull on your friends
What it’s like going out alone to eat or drink

This episode is raw, honest, and a must-watch whether you work in hospitality or just love going out.

2 months ago | [YT] | 1

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, I sit down with Tati and Val — two people who took a risk on themselves and built their own business from the ground up.

We get real about what it actually takes to be your own boss… and it’s not what people think.

From working 24/7 even when you’re not physically there, to learning how to trust your staff, to the pressure, sacrifices, and mindset it takes to keep going. This conversation pulls back the curtain on entrepreneurship.
If you’ve ever thought about starting your own business, or you’re already in it and feeling the weight of it all… this episode is for you.

✨ Bet on yourself… but be ready for what comes with it.

Connect with Leticia Duarte:
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sipssecrets.w.let
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sips.and.secrets/?igsh=dndrYTRyczU0bXNl#
Watch on YouTube: youtube.com/@LeticiaDuartect
Watch on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/28lCiWPFaDXSDEC1y5wHSp
Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sips-secrets-with-leticia-duarte/id1828236650

Connect with Tati & Val:
Podcast: Risk & Hustle
Business: Boost Bowls

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

What really goes on behind the scenes in the restaurant industry? In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with Eric to talk about how working in restaurants completely changed our lives—from making money when we had nothing, to learning how to adapt our personalities depending on where we work, and navigating the chaos of dating coworkers and even customers 😳

If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, you KNOW this gets real fast.

We’re diving into:
✨ How restaurant jobs helped us make money during tough times
✨ Why your personality shifts depending on the environment & clientele
✨ The unspoken rules of restaurant culture
✨ Dating coworkers & customers (and why it gets messy 👀)
✨ Real stories from behind the bar & on the floor

Whether you’re in hospitality, thinking about it, or just love a little drama—this episode is for you.

3 months ago | [YT] | 0

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

Six months tomorrow since my very first episode dropped (August 17 ,2025🤍).

I’m so incredibly grateful for all the support, love, and conversations this journey has brought so far. We may be a small fish right now, but every milestone feels huge. And we’re just getting started. Thank you for being here 🥂

4 months ago | [YT] | 4

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

Got to interview my little cousin, biggest hype man & built in bestie ❤️ listen to us just laugh at the stupid shit that happens at work for an hour straight

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4 months ago | [YT] | 1

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, I sit down with my little cousin Ader to talk about what it’s really like working your first jobs in retail and hospitality — and why everyone should experience it at least once.

From managers undermining employees in front of customers, to chaotic first serving shifts, minimum wage struggles, and the emotional impact customers and coworkers can have on your day… we unpack the realities that workers deal with behind the counter that most people never see.

We also get into workplace energy, learning empathy through service jobs, crazy family dynamics, and why management should work every position before leading a team. If you’ve ever worked retail, served tables, or dealt with difficult customers — this episode will feel painfully relatable.

🍸 Sips & Secrets is where hospitality workers share the unfiltered truth about the industry — the good, the bad, and the stories you only hear after hours.

👇 Have you ever had a retail or restaurant horror story? Drop it in the comments.

4 months ago | [YT] | 0

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with the owner of Frisky Business Cat Café in Palm Springs, California—a business built not just for profit, but for purpose

What started as a way to help his wife escape corporate burnout turned into a life-changing mission after discovering a cat café in South Carolina. Through countless city regulations, permits, and hurdles, Frisky Business finally opened its doors and quickly became a cornerstone of the community.
Today, the café houses 12–15 adoptable cats, hires neurodivergent employees and individuals with troubled pasts, and gives back in ways few businesses do—from a community treasure box for families in need, to bringing cats to visit hospice patients, to becoming so meaningful that a guest’s final wish was to donate to the café instead of receiving flowers.

This episode is about hospitality with heart, inclusive hiring, and how one small business can change lives—human and feline alike.

5 months ago | [YT] | 0

Sips & Secrets w/ Leticia Duarte

In this episode of Sips & Secrets, we sit down with Chyna, a high-volume bartender who’s worked everywhere from Broadway Nashville to Las Vegas. After years behind the bar and in management, we get real about the pressure to manage, the guilt that comes with stepping down, and why not everyone is meant to stay in leadership roles forever.

We talk about what truly makes a great bar manager—listening to ownership and staff—why tipping systems only work when everyone pulls their weight, and how high-volume environments expose both strong and weak leadership fast.
This conversation is for bartenders, servers, managers, and anyone in hospitality who’s ever felt stuck between moving up and protecting their peace.

5 months ago | [YT] | 4