Living with Endometriosis in Hospitality | Ciji Castro on Pain, Advocacy, and Showing Up

What does it look like to keep showing up when your body is working against you?
In Episode 195, Ciji Castro returns to the show for one of the most personal conversations we've had.
Ciji is currently battling stage four endometriosis, a disease that affects millions of women, yet remains widely misunderstood, especially in high-pressure industries like hospitality.
And still, she shows up.
Still cooking. Still creating. Still pushing forward.
This episode goes beyond the plate.
We talk about what endometriosis actually feels like on a daily basis, the gap between what people see and what's really happening, and the emotional and physical toll of navigating a career, motherhood, and life while dealing with chronic pain.
Ciji also opens up about advocacy, what it takes to be heard in a system that often dismisses women's health, and the importance of support, especially from those closest to you.
Her husband Miguel joins the conversation, offering a real look at what it means to support someone through this kind of fight, not just emotionally, but as an advocate.
And through it all, food remains part of the story.
Not as an escape, but as a way to connect, to ground, and to bring people together, even in difficult moments.
This is a conversation about resilience, awareness, and making space for the stories that don't always get told in this industry.
Franki is built around that idea. It connects restaurants with real diners and turns those experiences into user-driven video content that continues to work long after the visit.
No upfront cost. No long-term contracts. Just measurable traffic and real visibility. They're also covering your first $250 in-store to get started. It's a different approach and one we're paying attention to.
Check it out here: frankiapp.com/walkintalk
KEY TAKEAWAYS • Endometriosis is widely misunderstood, especially in demanding industries like hospitality
• Many people in foodservice are dealing with invisible challenges while still performing at a high level
• Advocacy is critical when navigating chronic illness and healthcare systems
• Support systems, especially partners and family, play a major role in resilience
• The hospitality industry often overlooks the human side behind performance
• Food can still be a grounding force during difficult moments
• Awareness leads to better understanding, both inside and outside the industry

BRAND PARTNERS
Metro Foodservice Solutions metro.com
Commercial-grade storage, transport, and workflow systems trusted across professional kitchens.
RAK Porcelain USA rakporcelain.com
Professional tableware engineered for durability and presentation.
Citrus America citrusamerica.com
Premium citrus solutions supporting chefs, retailers, and distributors.
Crab Island Seafood crabislandseafood.com
Florida-based supplier delivering responsibly sourced seafood to foodservice partners.
Testo North America testo.com/en-US
Precision measurement and food safety solutions for professional kitchens.
Franki getfranki.com
A platform connecting restaurants with high-intent diners through real experiences and user-generated content.
CAUSE PARTNERS
The Burnt Chef Project theburntchefproject.com
Advocating for mental health awareness in the hospitality industry.
Operation BBQ Relief operationbbqrelief.org
Providing meals to communities impacted by natural disasters.
Sustainable Supperclub sustainablesupperclub.com Pop-up dining experiences focused on sustainability and food access.
TRADE SHOW & INDUSTRY PARTNERS Florida Restaurant Show therestaurantshows.com/florida
New York Restaurant Show therestaurantshows.com/new-york
California Restaurant Show therestaurantshows.com/california
Pizza Tomorrow Summit pizzatomorrow.com
U.S. Culinary Open usculinaryopen.com/About
Creative Loafing Tampa Bay cltampa.com
ABOUT WALK-IN TALK MEDIA Walk-In Talk Media is an industry-recognized B2B food and hospitality media company focused on chef-driven storytelling and real conversations inside the business of food.