Food, Stories, and Human Connection with Karl Wilder
The most memorable journeys aren't always about the places we visit. They're about the people we meet along the way.
A shared meal, a conversation with a local chef, or a story told by someone whose life is very different from our own can change how we see the world.
In this episode of The Bliss Business Podcast, we welcome Karl Wilder, chef, author, entrepreneur, and Co-Founder of The Chef Tours, a global culinary travel company built around a simple philosophy: food is the excuse, but human connection is the real experience.
Karl has built his career around creating experiences that bring people closer to different cultures, communities, and perspectives. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Secret Street Tours in Dublin, a social-impact organization that empowers people affected by homelessness to share their stories through guided walking tours.
In Food, Stories, and Human Connection, we explore:
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Why empathy begins with curiosity about other people
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How food and storytelling bring different cultures together
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What travel can teach business leaders about listening
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Why meaningful experiences matter more than transactions
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How tourism can create opportunities for local communities
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What it means to build businesses around human connection
🎙️ Hosted by Stephen Sakach and Tullio Siragusa
🎧 Produced by Martha Huerta
Sometimes the most powerful thing a business can offer isn't a product or service. It's an experience that helps us see the world — and one another — differently.
Author/Business owner
Karl Wilder is a chef, author, entrepreneur, and storyteller who has spent his life exploring what makes people, places, and experiences unforgettable. He is the co-founder of The Chef Tours, a global culinary travel company built around a simple belief: food is the excuse, but human connection is the real experience.
Karl also serves on the Board of Directors of Secret Street Tours in Dublin, a social-impact organization that uses storytelling and walking tours to create genuine connections between visitors and people who have experienced homelessness. His approach to travel is rooted in curiosity, empathy, and the belief that the best way to understand a place is to meet its people.
A published author, Karl has written detective novels for Vintage Pulp Press, as well as the comic novel *Filthy Blond*. His career has taken him from professional kitchens and food writing to culinary tourism, street storytelling, and creating experiences around the world. For Karl, the pursuit of a better life is ultimately about the same thing as the pursuit of a better journey: staying curious, taking risks, and finding meaning in the people you meet along the way.
