Best Improving Restaurant Operations Podcasts (2025)

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Make Money by Manifesting the Business of Your Dreams | Betsy Fore 28:07

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41m ago28:07

28:07

Betsy Fore is a serial entrepreneur, CEO, and investor with nearly 20 years of leadership experience. She’s the author of Built on Purpose: Discover Your Deep Inner Why and Manifest the Business of Your Dreams, founding partner of Velveteen Ventures, and a trailblazer in consumer products for children and the planet. Notably, Betsy scaled Tiny Orga…

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No days off to true independence: Paul Denamiel on Drawing the Line 36:19

12h ago36:19

36:19

What happens when the dream starts to feel like a trap? For Paul Denamiel, chef-owner of Le Rivage, the pandemic forced a reckoning. After decades of nonstop hustle—no days off, total immersion—he finally stepped back…and liked what he saw. Time with his wife. Peace. Clarity. And the terrifying realization that maybe, just maybe, the restaurant did…

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Make Money by Getting Out of Debt | Thomas Nitzsche 37:47

14h ago37:47

37:47

Thomas Nitzsche is a financial educator, media spokesperson, and Vice President of Media and Brand at Money Management International — the largest nonprofit credit counseling agency in the U.S. After facing his own financial struggles during the Great Recession, Thomas turned his hardship into purpose, helping thousands of Americans overcome debt, …

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Make Money as the FIRST and ONLY Female NBA Scout in History | Bonnie-Jill Laflin 26:24

1d ago26:24

26:24

Bonnie-Jill Laflin is a trailblazer in the world of sports — the first and only female NBA scout in history, a former NFL cheerleader for the Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, a sports broadcaster, and founder of the nonprofit Hounds and Heroes. From modeling at age three to scouting for the Lakers dynasty under Phil Jackson, Bonnie-Jill has …

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Make Money with Purchases That Will Change Your Life 28:11

2d ago28:11

28:11

In this episode of The Travis Makes Money Podcast, Travis and producer Eric dive into 10 rapid-fire questions about purchases, investments, and regrets — with two minutes on the clock for each answer. From Travis’ best investment ever to the truck that literally lost a wheel days after buying it, this one’s full of laughs, lessons, and hard-earned …

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Make Money by Helping Neurodivergent Adults Connect | Rebecca Matchett 25:25

3d ago25:25

25:25

Rebecca Matchett is a serial entrepreneur, fashion innovator, and now tech founder who’s built her career around solving real-world problems. From co-founding Alice + Olivia to developing a patented women’s sizing system called TrioFit, Rebecca has consistently combined creativity and practicality to build impactful businesses. Now, she’s channelin…

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Fail Hard, Build Slow: Henry Rich on Long-Term Strategy and the End of Easy Wins 38:00

4d ago38:00

38:00

What if your biggest failure was the reason your next move actually worked? That’s the story of Henry Rich—former candy entrepreneur turned neighborhood restaurateur—who’s spent the last 15 years building one of Brooklyn’s most beloved hospitality groups. He didn’t start with a restaurant pedigree or investor backing. He started with recession scar…

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Make Money with AI Supermodels | Jennifer Powell 30:28

5d ago30:28

30:28

Jen Powell is the innovative CEO of JP Inc, a talent management agency revolutionizing influencer licensing with offices in LA, Nashville, and New York. With over 20 years of experience in modeling and influencer marketing, Jen has transformed the traditional fashion industry by embracing influencer-driven commerce early on, making her a unique lea…

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Office Hours: Your Menu Isn’t Too Long…It’s Too Lazy 8:48

5d ago8:48

8:48

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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Make Money Leading Gen Z | Tim Elmore 27:29

2h ago27:29

27:29

Tim Elmore is the founder of Growing Leaders, a nonprofit dedicated to developing emerging leaders, with over 20 years of experience working alongside leadership expert John C. Maxwell. He is a prolific author of 40 books on leadership, including his latest, The Future Begins with Z, which explores innovative strategies for leading Generation Z as …

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Make Money Without Religious Shame 20:46

2d ago20:46

20:46

This episode features a candid conversation between Travis and his producer Eric, diving into the ways that religious backgrounds shape money mindsets and personal finance decisions. Travis reflects on his own experiences growing up in a large, well-resourced church and how both healthy principles and harmful attitudes have impacted his financial o…

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The Case for Quitting: Kevin Tien on Success, Sacrifice, and Starting Over 37:02

7d ago37:02

37:02

Could you quit at the top of your game–just as your dreams were coming true? At the height of critical acclaim, Kevin Tien walked away from Himitsu, not because it failed, but because it no longer aligned. That decision rewired how he thinks about success, leadership, and the cost of ignoring your gut. In this conversation, Kevin opens up about lea…

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Make Money by Beating Chaos with Systems | Emma Rainville 28:35

8d ago28:35

28:35

Emma Rainville is a fractional CEO and operations strategist with over a decade of experience transforming seven, eight, and nine-figure businesses behind the scenes. Known as the "integrator by DNA," she specializes in moving founders from burnout and cash bleed to scalable, profitable growth. Emma’s reputation rests on her blunt, practical approa…

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Make Money by Studying the Success of Ridiculousness and Rob Dyrdek 18:50

9d ago18:50

18:50

Rob Dyrdek, entrepreneur, producer, and former pro skateboarder, is best known for creating and hosting "Ridiculousness," the viral video clip show that dominated MTV from 2011 to 2025. His relentless work ethic, innovative approach to the clip show format, and deep understanding of changing TV and streaming habits helped drive the show to unpreced…

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Make Money by Ditching Excuses and Doing the Work 27:53

10d ago27:53

27:53

Welcome to a grab bag episode of the Travis Makes Money podcast, where Travis and producer Eric riff on the reality behind success—highlighting why business is the great equalizer for anyone willing to put in the work. Rather than featuring a singular guest, this episode is a candid discussion between Travis and Eric, full of humor, pop culture, an…

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Make Money While Also Prioritizing Your Family (Reacting to Chris DeStefano) 19:37

11d ago19:37

19:37

On this episode of the Travis Makes Money podcast, Travis and producer Eric jump into a mix of thoughtful, funny, and heartwarming clips, landing on a story about comedian Chris DeStefano and the challenge of choosing between earning more money and spending time with family. Chris discusses turning down work to prioritize his kids, sparking a candi…

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Forget the Dining Room: Neal Fraser’s Profitability Playbook 35:31

12d ago35:31

35:31

What if the true path to restaurant profitability is rethinking our business model entirely?Close to a decade ago, today’s guest changed the way I saw our industry forever and he’s here to do the same for you. Today we sit down with Celebrity Chef Neal Fraser as he pulls back the curtain on how Redbird—a 50-seat dining room attached to a cathedral—…

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Make Money by Asking Philosophical Questions 22:48

6d ago22:48

22:48

Travis is joined by producer Eric for a wide-ranging, deeply philosophical episode exploring how beliefs, meaning, and personal philosophy influence the way money, work, and life are experienced. Both hosts share their takes on existential questions (with spontaneous detours into Star Trek, simulation theory, and work ethic), showing how practical …

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Office Hours: Discounts Are a Tax on Weak Storytelling 8:22

13d ago8:22

8:22

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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Make Money by Taking Gary Vee's Advice 22:35

7d ago22:35

22:35

On this episode, Travis and producer Eric break down why building a career or business in 2025 means leveraging the power of content and relationships on social media. Drawing inspiration from powerhouse voices like Gary Vee, they explore the real tactics, mindset shifts, and simple habits that separate those who get results from those who just “po…

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Make Money by Rethinking Real Estate | Erinn Nobel & Mark Chappell 26:45

13d ago26:45

26:45

Erinn Nobel is an innovative real estate leader with over two decades of experience, starting as a solo agent and eventually building a successful team, scaling across state lines, and spearheading global growth for top brokerages like eXp and Real. Now, as co-founder of ENRG Realty, she’s joined by Mark Chappell, a seasoned real estate investor an…

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Prestige Is Overrated: Jeff Bell on What Actually Keeps a Bar Alive 41:43

15d ago41:43

41:43

What if chasing prestige meant sacrificing everything else? For Jeff Bell, managing partner at the iconic PDT in NYC, bartending has never just been about cocktails—it’s about culture, connection, and the quiet cost of longevity. In this episode, he shares what 15 years inside one of the world’s most celebrated bars has taught him about endurance, …

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Make Money by Owning Your Path | Jason Wright 27:50

9d ago27:50

27:50

Jason Wright is a speaker, author, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and digital marketing architect known for designing intelligent AI agents and automation solutions for business owners. After starting as a teenage lawn care entrepreneur and enduring a tumultuous journey through corporate HR, sales, and safety roles, Jason carved his own path b…

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Make Money by Mastering the Close | Lessons from Glengarry Glen Ross 23:33

15d ago23:33

23:33

This episode flips the mic to dissect iconic movie sales scenes—especially the legendary real estate monologue from "Glengarry Glen Ross"—with Travis and producer Eric swapping stories from the trenches of commission sales. They break down the psychology of high-pressure closing, how silence can be an indispensable tool, and why consultative sellin…

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Make Money by Hustling Like King Keto 26:11

17d ago26:11

26:11

In this episode, Travis and producer Eric react to viral financial influencer Brandon Carter, aka King Keto’s, raw and relentless advice for young people on how to save their first $100K. Brandon’s story of grinding through multiple low-paying jobs and side hustles for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week in New York City is a wake-up call on the power of…

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Make Money by Questioning Financial Gurus | Caleb Hammer Reaction 18:46

17d ago18:46

18:46

On this episode, Travis and Eric dive into a viral clip from financial podcaster Caleb Hammer, known for brutally honest, entertaining, and accessible advice that puts real-life financial struggles under the microscope. Together, they unpack Hammer’s take on emergency funds—and the problems with generic one-size-fits-all advice in personal finance.…

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Train Smarter, Scale Faster: Won J Jeong on Building Teams that Scale 38:05

19d ago38:05

38:05

What if trying to control everything is the very thing holding your business back? Most operators think control means being everywhere at once. Today’s guest thinks that mindset is killing your business. After opening 100+ stores, managing $100M in revenue, and building teams across international brands, Won J Jeong realized the real goal isn’t kno…

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Make Money by Avoiding Really Bad Financial Advice 21:36

19d ago21:36

21:36

In this special episode, Travis is joined by his producer, Eric, for a fun break-down of the worst financial advice out there—reacting to viral clips and sorting the truly terrible from the merely misunderstood. They cover everything from “buy low, sell high” myths to the dangers of credit cards and the unpredictable path of moving to NYC for your …

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Office Hours: Expansion Is the Fastest Way to Go Broke 9:16

20d ago9:16

9:16

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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Make Money with Protein Bars | James Oliver 26:45

20d ago26:45

26:45

James Oliver is the founder of Atlas Bar, a clean, high-protein snack company built around real ingredients, adaptogenic superfoods, and a purpose-driven mission to help people unlock their full potential. While still a college student at Tufts University, James started experimenting in his kitchen and turned his early prototypes into a multimillio…

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"Behind the Bar":How Bartenders Steal and How Owners Can Stop It 21:59

21d ago21:59

21:59

Behind every successful bar is trust — but what happens when that trust starts to drain away, one pour at a time? In this episode, we expose the hidden ways bartender theft eats into profits, from over-pouring and comped drinks to creative register tricks that most owners never notice. Join us as we break down real-world examples, red flags to watc…

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AI Isn’t Replacing Your Team, It’s Saving Them: Devana Bhargava on Tech That Respects Hospitality 36:54

22d ago36:54

36:54

What if AI could make your restaurant more human, not less? That’s the bold idea Devana Bhargava is betting on. As a product leader at Yelp, she’s rethinking restaurant tech from the inside out—building tools that support staff instead of replacing them. In this episode, we dig into the design philosophy behind Yelp Host, why your Yelp page convert…

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Make Money with Church Staffing | William Vanderbloemen 27:43

16d ago27:43

27:43

William Vanderbloemen is the founder and CEO of Vanderbloemen Search Group, one of the leading executive search firms serving churches, nonprofits, schools, and values-based businesses. A former pastor and now a trusted advisor to mission-driven organizations, William has helped over 3,000 clients find leadership talent that aligns both in competen…

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Make Money with Sustainably Run Restaurants | Dan Simons 33:21

17d ago33:21

33:21

Dan Simons is the co-owner of Farmers Restaurant Group, a mission-driven hospitality company behind the award-winning Founding Farmers brand, in partnership with the North Dakota Farmers Union. The group operates eight sustainably run restaurants, a distillery, and a catering company, all with one goal: to drive profits back to American family farm…

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Make Money by Fixing Broken Review Systems | Shane Barker 30:45

24d ago30:45

30:45

Shane Barker is the Founder and CEO of TraceFuse, the first Amazon-approved system for removing fraudulent negative reviews. With more than 25 years of marketing experience supporting Fortune 500 brands, Shane is a leading voice in digital influence and e-commerce integrity. His mission now: to protect honest Amazon sellers from fake reviews that d…

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Make Money by Disrupting Everything | Patrick Leddin 29:57

25d ago29:57

29:57

Patrick Leddin is a leadership expert, bestselling author, decorated Army veteran, and founder of two successful companies. As a former Airborne Ranger and 82nd Airborne officer, senior consultant at KPMG and Franklin Covey, and Vanderbilt professor, Patrick has coached thousands of people to lead through challenge and change. He’s the author of Th…

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Built to Serve, Not Sell: Darren Spicer’s Playbook for Turning Coffee Into Community 38:26

26d ago38:26

38:26

Does the world really need another coffee shop? That’s the question Darren Spicer had to answer before walking away from a six-figure career to start Clutch Coffee. The answer wasn’t coffee—it was connection. In this episode, Darren breaks down why community, not caffeine, is his true product, what he learned from Dutch Bros, how he made it his own…

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Make Money by Mastering Real Estate | Scott Harris 29:45

26d ago29:45

29:45

Scott Harris is the founder of Magnetic Real Estate and a Wall Street Journal Top 150 agent, with over $2 billion in New York City residential sales. Creator of the Magnetic Method, Scott has guided clients through some of the most complex deals in America’s most competitive market. In this episode, he shares his journey from warehouse shifts and m…

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Office Hours: Events Are Fake Marketing 8:44

27d ago8:44

8:44

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…