Ari Bendersky

Lifestyle Journalist, Storyteller, Content Creator + Podcaster

United States

Ari Bendersky is a Chicago-based lifestyle journalist and creator of the Something Glorious newsletter on Substack. In addition to hosting the YouTube series Family Meal (familymeal.tv) he has contributed to a number of leading publications including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal magazine, People, Men's Journal, Food & Wine, Eater, Wine Enthusiast, RollingStone.com and many more. Ari was a lead contributor to Salesforce's 360 Blog covering everything from AI and future of work to digital transformation and employee experience. He has written for brands as wide-ranging as Ace Hardware, @properties realtors, and Grassroots Cannabis. He was also the co-host of the Overserved podcast, featuring long-form conversations with food and beverage professionals.

Portfolio

Something Glorious newsletter

Substack
The Case to Drink More American Wine

A California winemaker urges people to buy and drink American wine for two months to help save the industry + 15 American wines to seek out.

Substack
This is Our Last Goodbye

On the eve of a documentary about his life, I recount a connection to Jeff Buckley, an incredible musician gone too soon.

Food, Wine & Spirits -- National Publications

People
The Best Restaurants to Eat in Chicago if You Only Have One Day

Exactly where to eat in Chicago, Illinois (as selected by an expert food writer and Chicago resident) if you've just got 24 hours to sample the Windy City's legendary dining scene. From hearty breakfast to celeb-loved late night spots, we've got the perfect pick for every meal (and yes, a hot dog is on the list).

Fine Dining Lovers
Let My People Go ... to the Wine Shop

Looking for the best wine to serve with matzah ball soup, brisket, or macaroons? Master sommelier Alpana Singh shares her guide to wine pairings for every dish on your Passover table.

Salesforce: Tech & Business Writing

Salesforce
08/09/2024
What is an AI Copilot?

AI copilots are popping up in digital experiences everywhere. Learn how they differ from traditional chatbots and why they're important.

Overserved podcast -- select episodes

Transistor
Chef Erick Williams of Virtue

Ari and Maggie are joined by Chef Erick Williams of Hyde Park's Virtue to discuss the difference between southern food and soul food, his unique start to the business and his philosophy of "service vs servitude".

Transistor
Top Chef 10 Winner Kristen Kish of Arlo Grey (Austin, TX)

Overserved puts a non-Chicago chef in the hot seat for the first time! Join Ari & Maggie as they chat with Kish, the Top Chef Season 10 Winner and Head Chef of Arlo Grey in The LINE Hotel Austin. She talks her upbringing, how she handles conflict in the kitchen and much more.

Transistor
Partner/Executive Chef Paul Kahan of One Off Hospitality

MICHELIN MADNESS kicks off this episode with Ari and Maggie recapping the 2020 Chicago honorees (2:00) before diving into a chat with Paul Kahan (10:20), the Chicago hospitality legend behind Blackbird, avec, The Publican, Big Star, Publican Quality Meats, Nico Osteria (and many more) and the author of the new cookbook Cooking for Good Times: Super Delicious, Super Simple.

Transistor
Chef John Manion of La Sirena Clandestina/El Che Bar

Ari & Maggie welcome Chef John Manion of Chicago's La Sirena Clandestina and El Che Bar to talk his upbringing in Brazil and introduction to food, how the West Loop neighborhood has changed over the years since opening La Sirena and how he juggles being a parent and a chef.

Transistor
Ina Pinkney, The Breakfast Queen of Chicago

It's the final episode of Season 1 so we called in the big guns: Ina Pinkney, the legendary restauranteur known as "The Breakfast Queen" who served Chicago the most important meal of the day for 30+ years from her spots in Lincoln Park and the West Loop.

Transistor
Jenni Wagoner, Sommelier for Proxi and Sepia

Ari & Maggie are joined by Jenni Wagoner, the superstar somm extraordinaire behind the wonderful wine lists at Chicago's Proxi and Sepia. Learn about her history as a singer(!!!), making wine more accessible to all, and offers tips on how to navigate a wine list if you're a beginner.

Video Production

Acehardware
Cancer, Don't Fight It Alone

After a devastating phone call, an Ace team member suffered silently until her loving community came to her aid. Years later, the lesson: Never feel as if you have to battle anything alone.

Acehardware
A Man And His Dog

When a distraught elderly man walked into Cleveland's Ace Hardware in Mississippi, one young store team member immediately reached out to help. Through conversations, which reminded the young man of talking with his grandfather, he learned what was going on in the old man's life.

Acehardware
Rebuilding Our Memorial

When news broke that the beloved Central Texas War Memorial was in pieces in Brownwood, Texas it hit a nerve in the small Texas town. Weston Jacobs of Weakly Watson Hardware wasn't going to let the pieces stay down for long.

Acehardware
Second Chances

Not everyone loves an underdog, but sometimes you're better off rooting for the one running behind the pack. For one D.C. Ace owner, this has become somewhat of an unintentional rule - and it has made her business a success and her team a bunch of winners.