Best Jiles Podcasts (2026)

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Episode 646: More Than a Meal: Cultivating Community Through Culture and Cuisine with Israel Jiles of Po Boy Riche 1:32:30

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22h ago1:32:30

1:32:30

Israel Jiles reflects on his evolution from managing elite, high-volume establishments like Catch NYC and partnering with Montclair Hospitality Group (Ani Ramen) to founding his passion project, Po Boy Riche. The episode captures the pivotal moment around the one-hour mark where Jiles discusses the decision to leave the security of established hosp…

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Planting Medicine Now and Then, with Renée Camila & Sam Roberts | Tea Talks with Jiling 45:58

25d ago45:58

45:58

Please enjoy today's Tea Talk with Renée Camila and Sam Roberts, co-founders of Now and Then Herb School and co-producers of the Planting Medicine podcast and radio show on 94.1 KPFA! The Now and Then Herb School focuses on guiding modern herbalism to old magic within a social justice framework. 🌻 Renée Camila is the daughter of Nicaraguan immigran…

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He Wanted to Cleanse the City, But He Only Made It Dirtier 57:36

2d ago57:36

57:36

Season 23 : No Theme Episode 25 : Juan David Ortiz Juan David Ortiz claimed that he was trying to cleanse the city of sex workers, when really, he made the city more dangerous by becoming "the border patrol killer." This is Monsters YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@thisisMONSTERS Check out our merch! : https://thisismonsters.com/ Socials: LinkTre…

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Episode 648: Betting the Jockey: Why the Operator Matters More Than the Menu

2h ago

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Trey Morgan and Derek Copeland of Sentinel Grove Partners pull back the curtain on the high-stakes world of restaurant real estate and private equity. The trio explores the critical importance of the landlord-tenant relationship, viewing it as a long-term partnership rather than a mere transaction, and discusses the shift toward a "landlord’s marke…

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Episode 647: Pizza Today's 2025 Pizzeria of the Year Owner Enga Stanfield Shares the Mattenga's Pizzeria Story 1:09:45

1d ago1:09:45

1:09:45

Wil peaks with Enga Stanfield, co-owner of Pizza Today's 2025 Pizzeria of the year, multi-location Mattenga's Pizzeria in San Antonio, and Head of Community at Owner.com. Enga, an Iranian-born former engineer with no prior restaurant experience, shares how she and her husband Matt transitioned from engineering to restaurant ownership in 2014 by pur…

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Animism & Alchemy Pt. 2 | Featuring Maureen (Mo) Judith 48:22

6d ago48:22

48:22

"If you want to have a relationship with the more than human world, you have to spend time in the more than human world." – Mo Judith This week on Everything You Didn't Know About Herbalism, we are once again joined by the Earth-centered herbalist who bottles the alchemical intelligence of plants through the spagyric process, Mo Judith. Join Tommy …

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Animism & Alchemy Pt. 1 | Featuring Maureen (Mo) Judith 49:35

6d ago49:35

49:35

"Alchemy is the biodynamic system that recognizes the soul and intelligence within the chemical reaction." – Mo Judith This week on Everything You Didn't Know About Herbalism, we are joined by the Earth-centered herbalist who bottles the alchemical intelligence of plants through the spagyric process, Mo Judith. Join Tommy and Mo as they explore: Co…

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Episode 645: From Electrician to James Beard Nominee: The Jacob Sessoms Story 1:19:40

2d ago1:19:40

1:19:40

Asheville-based restaurateur Jacob Sessoms shares his 26-year journey from a trade-focused background in electrical work to becoming a James Beard-nominated chef. Sessoms details how his early experience in construction provided a unique "unfair advantage" in the restaurant world, allowing him to maintain his own facilities and stay resilient durin…

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A Single Bite of Chicken Solved This Massacre 36:27

11d ago36:27

36:27

Season 23 : No Theme Episode 23 : Juan Luna & James Degorski When seven people were murdered at a Brown's Chicken in Palatine, Illinois, people thought it might never be solved. A decade later, an eye witness and DNA from a bite of chicken would get justice for the victims. This is Monsters YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@thisisMONSTERS Check ou…

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He Committed the Perfect Murder... Until He Bragged About It 30:41

15d ago30:41

30:41

Season 23 : No Theme Episode 22 : Daniel Marsh Daniel Marsh had an uncontrollable urge to kill and once he finally did, he left no evidence behind. He could have gotten away with it, but he bragged to his friends who reported him to the police. This is Monsters YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@thisisMONSTERS Check out our merch! : https://thisism…

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Episode 644: Chaos and Hospitality Coexisting in a Beautiful Way: Sue Straughan's 40-Year Hospitality Journey 1:16:18

8d ago1:16:18

1:16:18

Sue Straughan, a tenured hospitality specialist and Corporate Director of Business Solutions for the food distributor Ben E. Keith, shares her remarkable 40+ year journey in the industry, detailing how a necessity job at Baskin Robbins evolved into a profound passion. The discussion centers on her pivotal experience working for Houston's restaurant…

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She Tried to Blame it on the Horse 48:03

18d ago48:03

48:03

Season 23 : No Theme Episode 21 : Patricia Olsen Patricia Olsen went into the barn where she found her husband, Neil Olsen, dead. When police arrived, she told them that the horse must have trampled him to death, but they would soon find out the truth. This is Monsters YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@thisisMONSTERS Check out our merch! : https:/…

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Episode 643: The Soul of Service: Betting on Human Connection with Donnie Madia of One Off Hospitality 52:34

10d ago52:34

52:34

This episode features Donnie Madia of One Off Hospitality, a James Beard Award-winning Chicago restaurateur, discussing the paramount importance of human connection, service, and soul in hospitality. Madia shares his origin story, starting as a bartender who learned to view himself as an "independent contractor" focused on cultivating customer rela…

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Episode 642: Asheville N.C. Chef & Restaurant Owner Eric Scheffer on Optimism and the Road Ahead for Restaurants 53:22

12d ago53:22

53:22

This episode of "Restaurant Owners Uncorked" features a conversation with Eric Scheffer, owner of The Scheffer Group in Asheville, North Carolina. Eric provides an update on his successful concepts (Vinnie's Neighborhood Italian Restaurant, Jettie Ray's Oyster House, Gan Shan, and a fifth on the way) and shares a harrowing account of the 2024 Hurri…

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This Man Justified Everyone's Fear of the Dentist 16:45

23d ago16:45

16:45

Season 23 : No Theme Episode 20 : Glennon Engleman This is the story of Glennon Engleman, the destist who also killed for money. This is Monsters YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@thisisMONSTERS Check out our merch! : https://thisismonsters.com/ Socials: LinkTree : https://linktr.ee/thisismonsters Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thisis_monst…

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Episode 641: The Godfather of Hot Wings: D’bo’s 35-Year Journey from Food Truck to Franchise 1:10:59

17d ago1:10:59

1:10:59

Julian Boyd, CEO of D’bo’s Daiquiris, Wings & Seafood, shares the incredible story of the Memphis-born brand, pioneered by his parents, David and Latisha Boyd, starting with a food truck in 1990. Built on faith and the philosophy of "People, Service, Profits," D'bo's became known as the "godfather of hot wings" in Memphis. Following a personal trag…

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The Postal Worker Who Delivered Death 1:05:21

26d ago1:05:21

1:05:21

Season 23 : No Theme Episode 19 : Devan Schreiner This episode details the murder of Jason Schaefer by his jealous ex-girlfriend Devan Schreiner and her new boyfriend AJ Ritchie. This is Monsters YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@thisisMONSTERS Check out our merch! : https://thisismonsters.com/ Socials: LinkTree : https://linktr.ee/thisismonsters …

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Episode 640: $3 Million Lost: The Crypto Catastrophe That Forced a Retirement U-Turn 1:04:04

20d ago1:04:04

1:04:04

Brandon Laroque. Brandon, who owns The Goat Bar in Raleigh, NC, details his extensive career in the hospitality industry, starting from a country club to bartending at a renowned comedy club, which eventually led him to open six of his own bars, primarily using a "flipping" strategy. The core of the discussion revolves around the challenging decisi…

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Episode 639: Servant Leadership in a Fast-Casual World: The Story of Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen 58:52

22d ago58:52

58:52

In this episode, Chris Gannon, co-founder of Bolay Fresh Bold Kitchen, shares his journey in the restaurant industry, influenced by his family's legacy in hospitality. He discusses the unique culinary experience Bolay offers, emphasizing health-conscious choices and community dining. The conversation explores the challenges of supply chain manageme…

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Episode 638: The Zillow for Franchising: How Franzy is Disrupting Franchise Brokerage 45:19

23d ago45:19

45:19

Alex Smereczniak, co-founder and CEO of Franzy, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the development of his franchise marketplace platform. Franzy is described as the "Zillow for franchising," using an AI engine to match prospective franchise buyers with suitable brands based on their background, net worth, and goals. Alex's journey began with a …

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Episode 637: Closing the Decision Loop: How Lola Beans Wins on People 1:03:55

24d ago1:03:55

1:03:55

Wil talks with Donny Bradley, founder and CEO of Lola Beans, a drive-through “fun beverage” coffee brand based in Chattanooga that’s now franchising. Donny traces his hospitality instincts to moving often as an Air Force kid and appreciating people who made him feel welcome, plus big family gatherings rooted in New Orleans/Biloxi culture. A six-mon…

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The Murder List : Kiernan Brown 23:46

1M ago23:46

23:46

Season 23 : No Theme When Kiernan Brown was pulled over on the highway, officers thought they were simply bringing him in on a parole violation. When he told them to look at the pictures on his phone, the simple arrest turned into a murder investigation. Sinister Podcast : https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sinister--5428204 Sinister YouTube : https:…

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Episode 636: Restaurant Owners Uncorked: A Community Update and the Future of the Platform 9:05

27d ago9:05

9:05

Wil provides a special update on the evolution of "Restaurant Owners Uncorked" from a podcast, started in 2010, into a comprehensive community featuring articles, books, films, and eventually a subscription-based forum for restaurant owners to share advice and solve problems. Brawley emphasizes the community’s commitment to celebrating successful o…

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Episode 635: Saving Lives and Saving Money: The Business Case for Investing In Staff Wellness with Kimberly Flear 54:27

29d ago54:27

54:27

Meet Kimberly Fleer, an industry veteran and mental wellness advocate. Kimberly shares her personal story of entering the hospitality world at age 15 to find financial support and a sense of family that was absent at home, rapidly excelling in roles from server to sommelier. While the industry provided valuable skills and camaraderie, it also becam…

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The Mall Passer : Mike DeBardeleben 46:42

1M ago46:42

46:42

Season 23 : No Theme Mike DeBardeleben was huunted by the Secret Sevice for year because of his extensive use of counterfeit twenty dollar bills. When he was finally caught, authorities found his counterfeiting equipment along with evidence that he had kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and killed multiple women. Sinister Podcast : https://www.spreaker…

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Episode 634: On Our Shoulders: Carrying a Community Through Hospitality with Uptown Hospitality Owner Keith Benjamin 1:00:32

30d ago1:00:32

1:00:32

Keith Benjamin, co-founder of Uptown Hospitality Group in Charleston, tells the story of how throwing massive Penn State tailgates set him on a 20-year path from NYC bartender to operator of six concepts—while raising three kids under five. After buying small equity stakes in New York bars and becoming an operating partner at 29, he felt pulled to …

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Episode 633: From Bourbon Street to Benefits: Keith Santangelo on Serving Restaurants in a New Way 1:15:27

1M ago1:15:27

1:15:27

Keith Santangelo joins Wil in-studio to trace his journey from growing up in a Cajun-Italian butcher/grocery family in Baton Rouge to owning New York City restaurants, leading major restaurant groups, and now serving independents through AccessWave. They reminisce about Keith being one of Schedulefly’s earliest customers, talk about the magic of in…

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Episode 632: From No English and No Money to Slava Cafe Opening Day: A Ukrainian Immigrant’s Hospitality Dream 44:33

1M ago44:33

44:33

In this heartfelt episode of Restaurant Owners Uncorked, Wil sits down with Asheville-based caterer and soon-to-be café owner Svitlana Eadie, whose journey from a small Ukrainian village to launching Slava, her café bakery on Wall Street in downtown Asheville, is nothing short of inspiring. She shares how growing up on a self-sustaining farm shaped…

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Mirrors in the Earth, with Asia Suler | Tea Talks with Jiling 52:21

1M ago52:21

52:21

This week on Tea Talks with Jiling, we are joined by Asia Suler. Asia is an herbalist and earth intuitive, the author of Mirrors in the Earth, and host of Remember Why You Are Here. She began her journey after years of chronic pain and illness and has guided over 100,000 students through her online programs, where she helps people embrace their own…

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See Something Say Something : Skylar Prockner 15:22

1M ago15:22

15:22

Season 23 : No Theme Skylar Prockner wasn't able to control his own emotions when his girlfriend, Hannah Leflar, broke up with him, so he decided the best thing to do would be to end her life. Sinister Podcast : https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sinister--5428204 Sinister YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@SomewhereSinister Or search for "Somewhere …

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Episode 631: Hope Through Hospitality: Inside Four Generations of Jack Stack Barbecue 57:17

1M ago57:17

57:17

Fourth-generation leader Taylor Dorman, EVP of Operations at Kansas City’s Jack Stack Barbecue, shares how his family has grown a simple 1950s Hickory-smoked BBQ joint into six high-volume restaurants, a catering division, nationwide shipping, and a retail production facility—while staying true to the values that built the business. He explains the…

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Episode 630: Old-School Hospitality in a Smartphone World: The Story of the Legendary Halls Chophouse 1:10:57

1M ago1:10:57

1:10:57

This episode features brothers Billy and Tommy Hall of Halls Chophouse, sharing how their late father’s “service before self” philosophy, honed in luxury hotels, became the backbone of a family-run steakhouse that launched in 2009 on a rough stretch of King Street in Charleston during the Great Recession and slowly grew into a 10-restaurant hospita…

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Fatal Jealousy : Antonetta Stevens & Janine Gonzales 49:02

2M ago49:02

49:02

Season 23 : No Theme Antonetta Stevens thought that attacking a woman would make her boyfriend not leave her, but all she did was secure a prison sentence for herself and her friend, Janine Gonzalez. Sinister Podcast : https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sinister--5428204 Sinister YouTube : https://www.youtube.com/@SomewhereSinister Or search for "Som…

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Episode 629: How Feast Bistro Turned Word-of-Mouth into a Growth Engine, with Owner Nicholas Wickes 1:01:28

1M ago1:01:28

1:01:28

Wil and Nicholas open by talking about “flowing like water” and how that mindset shows up in hospitality: staying adaptable, humble, and open. Nicholas traces his path from teaching skiing to unexpectedly building a career in enterprise software and QA with major pharma and tech companies, then starting a nonprofit, and finally helping open Feast B…

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The Mycelial Healer | Featuring Christopher Parker 59:22

1M ago59:22

59:22

This week on Everything You Didn't Know About Herbalism, we are joined by Christopher Parker, the self-taught mycologist with 30 years of experience in mushroom cultivation, wildharvesting, and herbal medicine making. Join us to explore: Christopher & Katherine Parker's new book, The Mycelial Healer: A Comprehensive Guide to the Cultivation and Tra…

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Attempted Confusion : Andres Ramirez 28:35

2M ago28:35

28:35

Season 23 : No Theme When a young woman's body was found in a garbage bin, investigators tracked down the last person she had been with. That man thought he could get away with it by confusing the detectives, but his plan would fail miserably. Check out the Ryan Waller story on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zcZFsy18KZY Sinister Podcast : https://www.sp…

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Episode 628: Cracking the Code: How Tiffin Box Makes Indian Food Fast, Fresh, and Mainstream 1:05:43

1M ago1:05:43

1:05:43

In this lively Restaurant Owners Uncorked chat, Anesh Bodasing, founder of fast-casual Indian concept Tiffin Box, traces a 30-year hospitality journey that began with an audacious “give me 60 days” pitch to Hard Rock Café in Cape Town, winds through Canada, South Africa, the UK, and South Florida, and culminates in launching Tiffin Box in 2019 (rig…

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The 4 O'Clock Murders : Heber & Aaron LeBaron 39:06

2M ago39:06

39:06

Season 23 : No Theme After the death of Ervil LeBaron, he passed the role of Phrophet to his sons, who went on to continue killing in the name of the Church of the Lamb of God. Listen to the previous episode first: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/blood-atonement-ervil-lebaron--68431096 Sinister Podcast : https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sinister--…

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Episode 627: From Alinea to AI: How Branden McRill Builds Restaurants and Forecasts the Future 1:19:38

1M ago1:19:38

1:19:38

Summary Branden McRill, Detroit-raised restaurateur, operator, and Michelin-star winner, traces a career from dish pits to Alinea and stints with Danny Meyer, Jean-Georges, Alain Ducasse, Marcus Samuelsson, and more, before cofounding acclaimed NYC spots Pearl & Ash and Rebelle (earning a Michelin star within months). He then expanded to Philadelph…

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A Conversation with R.F. Kuang - Writer's Symposium by the Sea 2025 45:55

2M ago45:55

45:55

Writer R.F. Kuang has quickly become one of today’s most daring and original voices in fiction, blending sharp social critique with rich storytelling. Her most recent novel, Katabasis, takes readers on a darkly witty descent into the underworld, where academia, ambition, and myth collide. Known for tackling power, politics, and the human cost of am…

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Episode 626: Partners, Not Pace: How Vicious Biscuit Scales Without Selling Its Soul 1:21:29

2M ago1:21:29

1:21:29

Wil sits down with George and Amanda of Vicious Biscuit for a follow-up on their whirlwind year since they last joined Restaurant Owners Uncorked a year ago. Franchise growth, a disciplined “partners not franchisees” approach, and a tech stack that supports (but doesn’t replace) hospitality. They unpack a loyalty + first-party app launched Aug 12 t…

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The Girl Whose Garden Comes Alive | Featuring Juliet Howard 47:04

2M ago47:04

47:04

This week on Everything You Didn't Know About Herbalism, we are joined by Juliet Howard, the herbalist and author who focuses her practice on connecting budding mini herbalists-to-be through creating accessible, reciprocal backyard herbal education for children. Join us to explore: Juliet's newly launch book, The Girl Whose Garden Comes Alive How t…

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Blood Atonement : Ervil LeBaron 50:35

2M ago50:35

50:35

Season 23 : No Theme Cult leaders often use their position of power to take advantage of their followers. Usually so they'll give them money or engage in sexual activity with them. For Ervil LeBaron, he used his influence to get his followers to kill for him. Sinister Podcast : https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/sinister--5428204 Sinister YouTube : h…

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Episode 625: Scaling Scratch-Made Nostalgia: The Story of Jeff's Bagel Run 1:01:46

2M ago1:01:46

1:01:46

Wil talks with Jeff Perera, founder of Jeff’s Bagel Run, to unpack a quintessentially scrappy entrepreneurial tale: laid off in 2019, Jeff stayed home with his kids while his wife returned to work, and, prompted by her longing for authentic New York-style bagels, he taught himself to bake from scratch in their kitchen, turning a novice’s sticky-fin…