Welcome toSecond Life, a podcast spotlighting successful women who’ve made major career changes—and fearlessly mastered the pivot. Hosted by Hillary Kerr, co-founder and chief content officer at Who What Wear, each episode gives you a direct line to women who are game changers in their fields. Subscribe to Second Life on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or anywhere you get your podcasts to stay tuned.
Pati Jinich is a food extraordinaire. Not only is she an acclaimed chef known for exploring the rich culture of Mexico through food, but she is also the creator and host of the Emmy-nominated PBS series Pati’s Mexican Table and the groundbreaking PBS docuseriesLa Frontera. As if those accolades weren’t impressive enough, she is also the author of the New York Times best-selling cookbook Treasures of the Mexican Table. She is the creator of the culinary program at the Mexican Cultural Institute in Washington, D.C., where she teaches classes rooted in Mexican history and tradition.
Jinich has dedicated her culinary career to understanding, honoring, and celebrating two cultures that hold profound sentiment to her: Mexico, where she was born, and the United States, where she lives. And the industry has recognized her commitment and unique point of view, as she’s won an esteemed James Beard Foundation award.
While Jinich’s passion is in the kitchen, there’s no denying that her cooking comes from a place of wanting to make a greater impact by showcasing the vibrant people and culture of Mexico. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that her first career was actually inspired by her drive for strengthening democratic institutions in Mexico. Jinich worked as a political analyst at a think tank in D.C. after earning a master’s degree in Latin American studies from Georgetown University. Listen to the latest episode of Second Life to hear how Jinich shifted from working in politics to building a burgeoning culinary empire without losing sight of her greater purpose.
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