Best Improving Restaurant Operations Podcasts (2025)

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Why He Refuses to Market and Still Sells Out: Giancarlo Pagani on Experience-First Restaurants 37:58

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7h ago37:58

37:58

What if the best restaurant marketing isn’t digital—it’s emotional? Giancarlo Pagani has built some of the most talked-about restaurants in LA, not with ads or gimmicks, but with atmosphere. In this episode, we get into the blueprint behind Mother Wolf’s success, why frequency—not first-timers—is the real metric to chase, and how to design concepts…

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Top Budgeting Tips for FP&A Professionals to Build a Strategic & Smooth Planning Process - Glenn Snyder 1:01:35

6h ago1:01:35

1:01:35

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst and co-host Glenn Snyder explore what really makes a budgeting process succeed, or fall apart. Drawing from decades of experience in finance and corporate strategy, Paul and Glenn share lessons learned from real budgeting cycles, including where things went wrong and how they were fixed. They co…

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The Death of Traditional Social Media Marketing 25:56

2h ago25:56

25:56

#472 - The Death of Traditional Social Media Marketing ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** The old ways don't work anymore. You have to stop treating social media…

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728: Why You’re Not Seeing Results (THE MISTAKES EVERYONE MAKES) 20:30

3h ago20:30

20:30

➢ Check out our website www.colossusfitness.com In this episode we talk about 10 big reasons you may not be seeing results. This will be broken down into a few different categories with 3 different reasons for each of the main core pillars. Nutrition, training & mindset/accountability. Make sure to stay to the end for the mindset tips as that’s wha…

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Retirement Is a Trap: Derek Coburn on Redefining Success, Health & Legacy 35:08

24h ago35:08

35:08

What if the goal wasn’t retirement—it was alignment? Derek Coburn spent decades helping high-net-worth clients chase the dream of early retirement. Today, Derek argues for a radical new philosophy: build a life so meaningful, you wouldn’t want to retire from it. In this conversation, we dig into the emotional and financial toll of deferring joy, ho…

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Restaurant Profitability - The Five Killers and How to Beat Them 15:58

2d ago15:58

15:58

#471 - Restaurant Profitability - The Five Killers and How to Beat Them ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how…

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727: Motivation Monday - Overlooked Daily Small Wins You Need To Be Doing, How To Get Smarter Results & Biggest Fitness Regrets 39:39

4d ago39:39

39:39

➢ DM “Fall challenge” to IG @ ColossusFit to apply for our early bird special ➢ Follow us on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/colossusfit/?hl=en Welcome to Motivation Monday, where every Monday we answer all of your questions and have some real talks about life & fitness & get you fired up for the week! In this episode we talk about overlooked …

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S2 Ep15: The Cold Room with Williams Refrigeration 58:01

3d ago58:01

58:01

Kitchen Curiosity is a podcast for the foodservice market presented by Radford Chancellor of Macintosh Foodservice Solutions, a management and design consultancy for the hospitality sector. In this episode, it's a very chilled atmosphere as Radford is joined by Chris John (Executive Chef at Nisbets NCEC) and Garry Allitt (National Sales Manager at …

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How to Compete in Today’s Restaurant Market: Mark Politzer on Reinventing a Legacy Brand 32:43

5d ago32:43

32:43

What if the hardest part of change isn’t strategy—it’s psychology? Mark Politzer walked away from fine dining to lead Norms, a 76-year-old family-style chain deeply rooted in Southern California. Now he’s balancing evolution with preservation, trying to modernize a beloved brand without breaking what makes it work. In this episode, we talk about ho…

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Office Hours: Why Your Staff Can’t Sell & Why It’s Your Fault 8:55

7d ago8:55

8:55

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…

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FP&A Framework for Finance Leaders to Drive $15B Growth with AI & Forecasting Tools - Brian McGrath 59:21

6d ago59:21

59:21

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Brian McGrath, Co-Founder and COO of FutureView Systems, to explore how FP&A teams can scale smarter, automate faster, and operate as strategic business partners. With over 20 years of experience leading finance transformations in high-growth companies, Brian dives into why finance must…

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The Top 5 Marketing Trends Transforming Restaurants in 2025 29:09

6d ago29:09

29:09

#470 - The Top 5 Marketing Trends Transforming Restaurants in 2025 ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests …

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726: Rating/Reacting To Top Tiktok "Bro" Gym Advice - Bro-Science Breakdown Ep.1 26:07

6d ago26:07

26:07

➢Follow us on instagram @colossusfit (0:00) - Intro Listed points: (00:45) “Pickle juice is the secret to PRs.” (04:29) “Stop doing warmups — waste of time. Go in cold and primal.” (07:49) “You have to train fasted for fat loss.” (10:09) “No pain, no gain.” (14:11) “If your girl doesn’t know your macros, she’s not the one.” (17:00) “Dry scooping pr…

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The Caterer Who Built a Creative Empire: Cooper Vaughan on Margin, Meaning, and the Power of Reinvention 39:19

8d ago39:19

39:19

Cooper Vaughan didn’t plan on being a caterer—he was trying not to be. But what started as a side gig in Lexington, Kentucky, turned into Apiary: one of the most creative and complex hospitality companies in the South. And the key to its success? Reinvention. From fine dining drop-offs during the pandemic to immersive, ticketed culinary experiences…

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CRAZY IDEA - What Happens If We Rethink Everything? 20:04

11d ago20:04

20:04

#469 - CRAZY IDEA - What Happens If We Rethink Everything? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software. VISIT: https://timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: PO…

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725: Motivation Monday - Ridiculous Gym Myths, Pet Peeves & Cringiest Podcast Story 44:36

9d ago44:36

44:36

➢ DM “Fall Fitness Challenge” to @Colossusfit to get your spot secured for our biggest fitness challenge yet. ➢ Join our weekly newsletter- https://colossusfitness.lpages.co/motivation-monday-newsletter/ ➢Youtube form playlist- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8OM5ZzYjzbDZnI1iOWB64segChFuQOD7&feature=shared ➢ Our email- [email protected]…

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From Nightlife to High-End Dining: Jamey Shirah on Pivoting, Branding, and Building Revival Restaurant Group 39:35

14d ago39:35

39:35

Most people don’t make it out of nightlife. Jamey Shirah didn’t just make it out—he turned the lessons from late nights and crowded bars into a powerhouse hospitality group that’s redefining what Southern restaurants can be. As the founder of Revival Restaurant Group, Jamey shares how he navigated the leap from nightlife to high-end dining, what he…

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Office Hours: Marketing campaigns that are guaranteed to work 9:18

13d ago9:18

9:18

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…

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How FP&A Pros Build High-Performing Teams through Trust and Problem Solving with Jesse Mishler 48:30

13d ago48:30

48:30

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Jesse Mishler to explore what it takes to build a thriving FP&A function grounded in purpose, people development, and strategic problem-solving. From military discipline to corporate finance leadership, Jesse offers a rare blend of operational rigor and emotional intelligence. His refle…

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CRAZY IDEA - Could We Do Pop-Ups Every Night? 13:49

15d ago13:49

13:49

#468 - CRAZY IDEA - Could We Do Pop-Ups Every Night? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARQII MARQII is your one-stop-shop for listings management and reputation management. Collect reviews in one place to make responding easy and effortless and win the SEO game to land at the top of more search results. Win back guests and put more b…

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724: 7 Workout Hacks To Get Better Results (TRY THIS!) 16:45

13d ago16:45

16:45

➢GIVEAWAY FOR SHIRTS! Our IG- (tag 1 friend) ➢ DM “training hacks” for a list of extra high level tips E-mail- [email protected] -Rep count, strong In this episode we go deep to help you have better workouts in the gym. This podcast is going to be a mixture of small actionable steps you can take right now, but also bigger picture tips to …

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Scaling a Mission, Not Just a Menu: Dean Neff on Profitability, Purpose, and Leading with Story 33:57

16d ago33:57

33:57

Dean Neff didn’t set out to build the biggest seafood restaurant—he set out to build the most meaningful. At Seabird in Wilmington, North Carolina, Dean’s created a model where purpose isn’t a marketing angle—it’s the operating system. From sourcing to storytelling to team education, his restaurant is a case study in how to scale impact without sac…

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CRAZY IDEA - Why Don't We Productize Our Culinary Teams? 17:18

18d ago17:18

17:18

#467 - CRAZY IDEA - Why Don't We Productize Our Culinary Teams? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: TIME FORGE TIME FORGE provides labor management for efficient teams. Recruit, retain, and manage your talent with a powerful piece of software. VISIT: https://timeforge.com/RestaurantStrategy/ ***** This week's episode is brought to you b…

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723: How To Have A Better Relationship With Food, Exercises To Grow Glutes & Is Fat The Enemy? 36:53

16d ago36:53

36:53

➢ Apply for 1 on 1 support- ⁠https://www.colossusfitness.com/⁠ ➢ Follow on Instagram- ⁠https://www.instagram.com/colossusfit/?hl=en⁠ Welcome to Motivation Monday, where every Monday we answer all of your questions and have some real talks about life & fitness & get you fired up for the week! In this episode we talk about how to improve your relatio…

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S2 Ep14: Setting Sail with Lainox 51:10

17d ago51:10

51:10

Kitchen Curiosity is a podcast for the foodservice market presented by Radford Chancellor of Macintosh Foodservice Solutions, a management and design consultancy for the hospitality sector. In this episode, Radford is joined by Aldo Bolzan (Project Designer at Oxin), Alessandro Bucci (Marine Category Manager at Lainox) and Jerome Tomlin (Executive …

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Who Gets to Be the Best? William Drew on Power, Politics, and the Future of Fine Dining 36:13

20d ago36:13

36:13

What if the most powerful list in restaurants isn’t about food—it’s about influence? William Drew runs the World’s 50 Best Restaurants, the ranking that can transform a chef’s life overnight. But behind the glitz is a story of politics, pressure, and purpose. In this episode, we go deep on how the list really works, who gets included, and what it r…

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Office Hours: Your Loyalty Program is your Sales Engine 7:27

21d ago7:27

7:27

I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…

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CEO Mindset for Finance Pros to Scale Firms, Avoid Failure & Replace Technical Focus - Chris Ortega 46:59

20d ago46:59

46:59

In this episode of FP&A Today, host Paul Barnhurst, aka The FP&A Guy, welcomes Christopher Ortega for a candid conversation about the evolution of finance and building a business from the ground up. From basketball analogies to real-world advice, this episode blends personal experience with professional insight. Chris opens up about what it takes t…

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CRAZY IDEA - Is Dynamic Pricing the Only Way Forward? 13:48

22d ago13:48

13:48

#466 - CRAZY IDEA - Is Dynamic Pricing the Only Way Forward? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** Episode 7 of 10: I'm questioning some of the most funamental assu…

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722: Reacting To The Internet's Top Weight Loss Tips (Good, Bad & The Ugly) 20:12

21d ago20:12

20:12

DM “FAT LOSS” To @ Colossusfit On IG to get my free fat loss guide. Summary of episode: In today’s episode we are reacting to the internet’s top weight loss tips. The good, the bad and the ugly. What is your number one weight loss tip? Listed points: (0:00) - Intro (00:47)Take a real audit of everything you're eating in a typical day (everything, n…

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Built on Purpose, Powered by Profit: Derrick Hayes’ Path from Gas Station to National Brand 37:29

23d ago37:29

37:29

Derrick Hayes didn’t open a restaurant—he made a promise. Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks started in a gas station as a tribute to his father. Today, it’s one of the fastest-growing restaurant brands in the country. But the road wasn’t easy. Derrick had the demand, the brand, the lines out the door—but not the systems. And without systems, profitability ne…

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CRAZY IDEA - Could Our Restaurant Run With ONLY Part-Time Staff? 14:04

25d ago14:04

14:04

#465 - CRAZY IDEA - Could Our Restaurant Run With ONLY Part-Time Staff? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: KICKFIN Thousands of restaurants across the country use Kickfin to send instant, cashless tip payouts, directly to their employees’ bank accounts, the second their shift ends. Get in touch today for a personalized demo and see how…

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721: Motivation Monday - How To Get Your Partner/Family into Fitness, 3 Weight Loss Rules & Tracking Food At Fast Food Restaurants 39:52

25d ago39:52

39:52

➢ Message “fat loss guide” to @colossusfit on IG to get a FREE 33 page ebook ➢ Also message “fast food survival guide” to IG to get another amazing free guide ➢ Follow our Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/colossusfit/?hl=en Welcome to Motivation Monday, where every Monday we answer all of your questions and have some real talks about life & fit…

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Why Slowing Down Built a Stronger Brand: John Paterson on Trust, Turnover, and Frankie’s Secret Sauce 38:58

28d ago38:58

38:58

John Paterson had every reason to chase growth. The hype was real. The demand was there. But instead of opening more restaurants, he doubled down on one—and built a brand that runs deep instead of wide. Raised inside family-run restaurants in Alabama, John’s path to ownership wasn’t fast—but it was intentional. And at Frankie’s in Nashville, that i…

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The Budgeting Process Fix for FP&A Leaders to End Chaos and Improve Team Impact with Adam Rakich 57:08

27d ago57:08

57:08

In this episode of FP&A Tomorrow, host Paul Barnhurst welcomes Adam Rakich, founder and Consulting Director at Northexis, to discuss why the budgeting process is universally loathed and how to fix it. Drawing from decades of experience implementing planning and consolidation systems, Adam shares strategies to transform budgeting from a burdensome t…

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CRAZY IDEA - What If We Had Different Menus Each Night? 10:52

29d ago10:52

10:52

#464 - CRAZY IDEA - What If We Had Different Menus Each Night? ***** This week's episode is brought to you by: MARGIN EDGE Take control of your costs with using MarginEdge. Best of all? No contract. No setup fee. Free and unlimited training and support. VISIT: marginedge.com/chip ***** Episode 5 of 10: I'm questioning some of the most funamental as…

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720: How To Stop Feeling Tired All Day & Have Limitless Energy 20:04

29d ago20:04

20:04

Summary of episode: Listed points: (00:00) (00:51) Take time to make yourself feel better (03:44) Wake when you’re supposed to wake up (04:53) Hydrate early (06:04) Go on a walk (07:57) Starts with sleep (09:21) Don’t overthink being tired (11:23) Breath-work - 4 square breathing method, wim hoff method (13:09) Eat better (16:02) Caffeine strategic…

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From Unknown to Unstoppable: How Ivan Iricanin Made Balkan Cuisine Go Viral in America 33:20

30d ago33:20

33:20

What does it take to introduce an entire country to a cuisine they’ve never heard of—and scale it into a multi-million-dollar empire? Ivan Iricanin pulled it off with AMBAR, turning an obscure idea into one of the most successful and unique restaurant groups in the country. In today’s episode, Ivan breaks down how he created product-market fit wher…