Cat & Cloud Podcast
Cat & Cloud Coffee www.catandcloud.com/
Finding Joy in Every Season of Work: Part II – Ep #441
Summary
In part two of this conversation on finding joy in every season of work, the team (Chris, Jared and Casey) digs deeper into the shift from barista life into leadership, ownership, and building something that lasts. Chris and Jared reflect on how early work experiences, both inspiring and dysfunctional, shaped the kinds of leaders they wanted to become and reinforced the importance of community, fun, and genuine human connection in coffee. The episode explores how easy it is for owners and leaders to lose sight of the original passion that got them started, especially under the pressure of business realities, but argues that joy can still be created intentionally through trust, teamwork, better systems, gratitude, and a commitment to improving the experience for both staff, guests and for yourself. Ultimately, it’s a conversation about staying connected to purpose, remembering where you came from, having gratitude, and building workplaces where success and joy are not enemies.
Chapters
00:00 Welcome Back: Finding Joy in Every Season (Part 2)
4:00 The Transition from Barista to Leadership
11:00 Early Lessons from Tough Work Environments
20:00 Creating Culture Through Energy and Hospitality
30:00 When Business Pressure Steals the Joy
36:30 In a Tough Season of Business Ownership, Where to Next?
41:00 Where Did You Come From? Where Did You Go?
46:45 What Still Fires Us Up Today
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Cat & Cloud Coffee was founded in 2016 by three friends who believe experiences and connections shape our lives. Former barista champions and lifelong coffee professionals, they envisioned a better way to do business and set out to create a values-driven organization that put culture first.
Our mission is to inspire connection by creating memorable experiences. Whether it's with guests in our 4 retail locations in Santa Cruz, our team members, or our wholesale partners across the country, we strive to leave everyone better than we found them.
The Cat & Cloud Podcast is a space for us to share our experiences and adventures in coffee and business in hopes of inspiring more people to create culture and values-driven organizations.
Hosted by Chris Baca and Jared Truby
Produced by Casey Ryan
March 2026
