Standing Reservations

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Moving from We to Me, The Guilt of Change

Wed, 23 Sep 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad talk about redecorating their homes without their husbands' hands in it. Brad wrestles with the guilt of taking Jonathan's choices off the walls, but knows Jonathan would want him happy. Becky talks about the triggers that linger in spaces, such as the couch where nurses and caregivers stayed during Kent's final days. They explore the difference between erasing and healing, while acknowledging the peculiar loneliness of making these decisions solo.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:14] Intro

[03:41] This week’s sponsor

[06:38] Find your community

[07:17] Changes to Jonathan's design

[12:08] Triggers that make Becky sad

[17:41] Not as fun doing it alone

[23:31] Separating his likes from theirs

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

This week’s sponsor:

Welch Packaging: welchpkg.com

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Special Moments without Mom - A Different Kind of Grief

Wed, 09 Sep 2026 01:45:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Ashley Martin, President and CEO of Nibco sits down with Becky and Brad to talk about losing her mom Alice in 2017. She talk about losing a parent at a young age, the weight of stepping up to fill a void, and how Alice left her mark on everyone around her. She shares where Alice’s absence was felt at her wedding and how she honored her mom with her diamond necklace.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:12] Intro

[00:54] This week’s guest and sponsor

[04:05] Ashley’s mom

[07:41] Losing her mom to cancer

[10:58] Taking care of her dad and the business

[14:54] She wasn't there to pick Ashley’s wedding dress

[21:47] What is Nibco

[26:08] A toast to their loved ones

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Episode sponsor:

Nibco: nibco.com

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Missing Our Simple Mornings

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad bring back the conversation cards to answer questions about their late husbands, Kent and Jonathan. They reminisce on the quirks that made them laugh, the songs they still remember, and the ordinary Mondays and Tuesdays they'd do again in a heartbeat.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:06] Intro

[00:27] The Brad Pour and Becky's big blend

[04:47] Kent and Becky’s wine club

[08:00] Quirks that made Becky chuckle and drove her crazy

[11:55] When someone says their name

[14:46] Opening J&B Home Decor & Gifts

[18:37] How Becky and Kent met and their songs

[24:07] A regular old Tuesday

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Making Room for Grief: Jonathan's Plaque, Kent's Chair

Wed, 12 Aug 2026 05:00:00 -0400

This episode of Standing Reservations is a love letter to Artisan as Becky and Brad share how the restaurant honored their late-husbands in two deeply meaningful ways. Brad talks about the wooden plaque hanging at Artisan that reads “In loving memory, Jonathan Tuff (The Garber Boys) Cheers.” He walks through Jonathan’s exit from his days in ICU to the honor walk that led to Artisan saving his late-husband’s seat inside the restaurant. Becky talks about Artisan's simple gesture of making space for Kent when he arrived in his power chair. These stories show how this restaurant became essential to their story of grief and belonging.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Intro

[01:01] Lemon drops, sugar rims and B&B Cocktails

[03:42] The story behind the plaque at Artisan

[09:33] Eight days in ICU

[14:22] Photoshoots in an unexpected place

[17:46] Kent chose to be happy everyday

[23:46] Find your Artisan

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

You Asked For It - Dinner Rolls and Golden Girls

Wed, 29 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Jess returns to ask Becky and Brad another round of questions from the Artisan staff. Over the B&B cocktail, Becky and Brad talk about the silliest things their husbands were convinced they were right about and what they have learned about themselves since losing their husbands. They also imagine their lives as movies with Brad sharing his dream cast and Becky sharing her “Before and After,” reflecting on her life with Kent.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Intro

[00:31] Jess and the B&B

[09:01] Silly debates

[13:10] What they’ve learned about themselves

[17:37] Find someone that loves you that much

[20:25] If life was a movie

[27:36] Their late husbands’ sponsored ads

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Grief - Some Days Are Harder Than Others

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad talk about the hardest dates on the calendar. With Kent’s birthday on July 6, Becky reflects on the mixed feelings she feels on special days like this and shares her ritual to commemorate her late-husband on their anniversary. Brad talks about the build up he feels during the “six weeks of hell” – February 20 to March 28 – when birthdays, anniversaries and other monumental dates happen consecutively. He also reminds us that grief appears differently for everyone and that it’s important to find your moments.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:13] Intro

[00:43] Dusty Goose vs. Absolut

[03:23] Behind the podcast’s theme music

[05:20] Our friends of Standing Reservations

[08:00] Special days are hard

[16:21] Anniversary rituals

[21:17] Grief looks different for everyone

[26:15] We’re not looking to get over this pain

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Playing the Cards We Were Dealt

Wed, 01 Jul 2026 05:58:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad play a vulnerable card game to help them process their grief. Talking about their late-husbands brings them comfort, so they share memories and stories, such as opening J&B Home Decor & Gifts and their husbands’ clothes they’ve kept, as their way to keep them close. They also introduce a new cocktail that Artisan made for them called the B&B Cocktail, with Grey Goose, Limoncello and topped with bubbles.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:07] Intro

[01:06] The B&B Cocktail

[04:48] This week, we play card game

[07:01] Dealing with grief in the grocery store

[09:14] Opening J&B Home Decor & Gifts

[14:32] What’s been helpful and what hasn’t

[20:07] A robe and socks

[24:10] Who had feelings first?

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Mentioned in this episode:

Book Your Table at Artisan

Mention Standing Reservations when you book at Artisan

Book at Artisan

You Asked for it - We’ll Answer (almost) Anything

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad answer questions from the Artisan team about their favorite memories with their late husbands, Kent and Jonathan, and what they think Kent and Jonathan would think of this podcast. They also dig into their history with Artisan, sharing their most memorable dish at the restaurant and how it became their home.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:08] Intro

[02:09] Favorite wines and the Brad pour

[05:07] Meet Jess – the GM at Artisan

[07:13] Favorite memories

[14:57] Memorable dish at Artisan

[19:11] Brad and Becky’s friendship

[27:34] “I hope they’re proud of us”

Connect with us:

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Lost and Found - A Surprise Friendship After Loss

Wed, 03 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400

In this episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad share the story of how they met. A serendipitous seating arrangement at a birthday party evolved into a friendship that grew after they became widows. Over cocktails, they discuss how grief looks different for everyone and the dark humor that bonds them.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:07] Intro

[00:27] This week’s cocktails

[02:23] How Becky and Brad met

[06:55] A friendship grows through grief

[10:32] Memories in the Christmas decorations

[14:15] Grief should be talked about

[17:05] Cooking is hazardous

[20:28] Still a lot of life to live

[22:55] We want your questions

Connect with us:

FB: Standing Reservations w/Becky & Brad

Learn more about Artisan at artisanelkhart.com

Mention “Standing Reservations” when you book a reservation and receive a free dessert!

Credits:

Hosts: Becky Bontreger & Brad Priest

Theme Music: Ron Miller, David Bohn, & Becky Bontreger

Producer: Seth Creekmore (Liminal Podcasts)

Videographer: Trenton Jones (Glowfire Creative)

Friends of the Show: Jess West & Tom & Dana Pletcher

Meet Becky & Brad—They Have a Lot to Say

Wed, 20 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

In the premiere episode of Standing Reservations, Becky and Brad explore their bonded friendship that was formed by grief. Over cocktails, they share how they’ve helped each other with their bereavement and the role Artisan Restaurant has played as well. Sometimes you just need someone to listen during this time of loss, and Becky and Brad hope to provide that space with Standing Reservations.

TIMESTAMPS

[00:07] Intro

[01:10] How did we get here

[06:00] Grief is such a complex word

[13:15] Our love for Artisan

[19:32] How do we still stand with grief?

[24:45] Tell Artisan we sent you, for a free dessert!

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