Life & Work with Sebastian Talbot in Los Angeles

I grew up in Ecuador and moved to California when I was 18. After graduating from Chapman University, I made my way to LA. Like a lot of recent grads, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I tried pretty much every job you can imagine, but nothing really stuck. The one thing I consistently enjoyed, though, was connecting with people. That’s when I stopped stressing about finding the “perfect” job and started focusing on building relationships instead.

As my circle grew, I naturally found myself around a lot of people in hospitality, an industry I was already familiar with. My brother and his business partner had been running Il Fokin, a hospitality group in Ecuador, for a few years at that point, and I learned a lot just by being around them and seeing how they built community through their experiences.

When I got to LA, I noticed there was a huge Latin community, but not many spaces or events really bringing everyone together. People were spread out, and it felt like something was missing. In 2022, I connected with Jose Loor from The Hungry Post and helped produce my first event in LA. From there, I took over the LA market and focused on expanding the brand within the Latin community. I leaned into what I love most—connecting people—and built long-term partnerships with venues, brands, contractors, and creatives, which played a huge role in our growth. Since then, we’ve produced numerous successful events together and are continuing to build new experiences. Last year, we also expanded to Mexico City, where the response was amazing, and we’re excited to keep growing the brand there.

At the same time, I started developing my own project. In 2024, I partnered with some friends to produce a Halloween event at a historic venue. We wanted to create something different—more immersive and intentional. The event was a huge success. We hosted everyone from close friends to celebrities, and it couldn’t have been a better way to kick off the project. Since then, I’ve continued building different types of experiences across LA, and I’m excited to keep expanding and sharing unique moments with people.

Through all of this, my passion for hospitality really took shape. I knew I wanted to be involved on a deeper level, not just creatively but operationally and culturally as well. Along the way, I also became part of a few restaurant and bar projects in Mexico City, collaborating closely with the teams and contributing to the growth and vision of those spaces.

More recently, I joined the LAM Ryan Hospitality Group, where I help develop new projects and partnerships and support the management of existing properties. LAM Ryan is a family-owned, LA-based company specializing in food, beverage, and nightlife, with properties like Hatchet Hall, Si! Mon, Townhouse, and Menotti’s Coffee Stop. I’m really excited to be part of the group and to bring my experience, network, and energy to help grow it even further.

I’m also partnering with Dr. Jocelyne Miranda to develop a tea brand, Medité. This one is very different. It’s something Jocelyne has been cultivating for years, and a true passion project for me. It’s not a beverage brand, it’s a ritual brand. A high-frequency tea. A botanical healing system. The brand lives at the intersection of nature and science, nervous system regulation, and ceremonial intention. It’s about slowing down, reconnecting, and being more intentional with what we consume and how we care for ourselves. We’re incredibly excited to bring this to life and can’t wait to share it with all of you very soon.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

Right now, I’m really focused on being intentional in how those projects are built. I’m very mindful about making sure people feel seen, included, and comfortable in everything I’m involved in. That sense of care—wanting others to feel as at home and supported as I do within my own projects—is what continues to guide my work and sets the tone for future concepts.

 I was a pretty chill kid, always happy and finding something to do. I grew up far from most of my friends, but I had my crew and we made the most of it. Our world revolved around surfing and skateboarding, and my parents were relaxed about letting us roam, so we were always out exploring.

Looking back, I think that’s where my love for community really started. I was also always into taking photos, making edits, playing instruments, and experimenting with any form of creative expression. Creativity has always been a constant in my life, and it still shapes the way I see and move through the world today.

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