Best Maximizing Restaurant Profitability Podcasts (2025)

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

Play Pause

3h 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…

1
Office Hours: Your Menu Isn’t Too Long…It’s Too Lazy 8:48

1d 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…

1
The Case for Quitting: Kevin Tien on Success, Sacrifice, and Starting Over 37:02

3d 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…

1
Maximize your Marketing Dollar and Increase New Patients (or New Customers) by Avoiding these Critical Website Mistakes 22:19

3d ago22:19

22:19

Click here to schedule free consultation with New Patient Group and/or WrightChat Click here to subscribe and watch on The Brian Wright Show YouTube Station Click here to subscribe to The Brian Wright Show Podcast Thank you to our Sponsors New Patient Group WrightChat Imagine pouring money into ads, watching clicks climb, and then hearing nothing b…

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How To Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders 22:46

5d ago22:46

22:46

Kate Lowry discusses her book "Unbreakable" and how to thrive under fear-based leaders. Kate is a Silicon Valley veteran, CEO coach, and a venture capitalist. She has worked with high-pressure organizations like McKinsey and Meta. Kate explores how to thrive in environments dominated by intimidation. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? ht…

1
Forget the Dining Room: Neal Fraser’s Profitability Playbook 35:31

7d 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—…

1
Office Hours: Discounts Are a Tax on Weak Storytelling 8:22

8d 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…

1
Prestige Is Overrated: Jeff Bell on What Actually Keeps a Bar Alive 41:43

10d 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, …

1
How to Predict Packaging that Sells 22:54

12d ago22:54

22:54

Matt Salem talks about his book, co-authored with Alex Hunt, unPACKED: Predict Packaging That Sells, and the behavioral science of decision-making. Matt is SVP at Behaviorally, a market-research and data intelligence firm that helps organizations understand what drives consumer choice. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://Everyday-…

1
Train Smarter, Scale Faster: Won J Jeong on Building Teams that Scale 38:05

14d 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…

1
Office Hours: Expansion Is the Fastest Way to Go Broke 9:16

15d 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…

1
AI Isn’t Replacing Your Team, It’s Saving Them: Devana Bhargava on Tech That Respects Hospitality 36:54

17d 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…

1
The Branding Power of Neuroscience and Emotional Insights 22:47

16d ago22:47

22:47

Kevin Perlmutter talks about his book "Brand Desire" and ways to harness the power of neuroscience and emotional insights to create deeper, more meaningful brand connections. Kevin is the founder of Limbic Brand Evolution and a leading expert in emotional brand strategy. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you wan…

1
Strategies to Maximize your Revenue Potential 21:40

19d ago21:40

21:40

Amy Osmond Cook talks about her book The RevOps Advantage and how to maximize your revenue potential. Amy is the co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer of Fullcast – a RevOps platform for planning and executing go-to-market strategies. She's an expert in aligning marketing, sales, and operations for strategic growth. Listen for three action items y…

1
Built to Serve, Not Sell: Darren Spicer’s Playbook for Turning Coffee Into Community 38:26

21d 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…

1
Office Hours: Events Are Fake Marketing 8:44

22d 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…

1
Scaling Through Saturation: Aaron Bludorn on Mastering Occasion 35:03

24d ago35:03

35:03

How do you define luxury? What if it isn’t about white tablecloths—but about meeting every guest, every need, every time? Aaron Bludorn didn’t just open a restaurant—he opened a new playbook for hospitality. After a business education under Daniel Boulud and Gavin Kaysen, Aaron took a massive bet: move to Houston, build a concept mid-pandemic, and …

1
Pay for Trust - Rethinking How You Hire, Pay & Reward People 22:02

25d ago22:02

22:02

Click here to access our Trust vs. Performance, Navy Seals Leadership Course Click here to schedule free consultation with New Patient Group and/or WrightChat Click here to subscribe and watch on The Brian Wright Show YouTube Station Click here to subscribe to The Brian Wright Show Podcast Thank you to our Sponsors New Patient Group WrightChat Clic…

1
Emotional Resilience in Business 20:52

26d ago20:52

20:52

Dr. Robin Hills talks about his book "The Authority Guide to Emotional Resilience in Business" where he shares some important strategies for building resilience and leading more effectively through the power of emotional intelligence. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? https://Everyday-MBA…

1
Stop Worshiping ‘Consistency:’ How Yann de Rocheford Scaled by Systemizing Vibe 40:51

28d ago40:51

40:51

Everyone says restaurants are about food, service, or scale. But what if it’s really about emotional engineering? Yann didn’t come from the kitchen. He came from the world of marketing and strategy. But when he opened Boqueria, he reimagined what a restaurant could be—vibe-forward, high-design, emotionally resonant, and built to scale. In this epis…

1
Office Hours: Design Each Daypart as Its Own Business 9:50

29d ago9:50

9:50

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…

1
You Don’t Have to Be L.A. to Be Legendary: Eric Bost on Building Fine Dining Outside the Bubble 39:25

1M ago39:25

39:25

By Josh Kopel

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Business Strategies Following The Fed Rate Cut 20:32

1M ago20:32

20:32

Paul Cheetham discusses strategies for businesses following the Federal Reserve's recent interest rate cut. Paul is the CEO and founder of Vanla Group, a business advisory firm serving small- and mid-sized companies. He is an expert in M&A, business valuation and growth strategies. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine…

1
What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses 26:38

1M ago26:38

26:38

Mita Mallick talks about her book The Devil Emails at Midnight." Mita is a Wall St. Journal and USA Today bestselling author, a contributor to Harvard Business Review, and an authority on inclusive leadership and workplace culture. Listen as she examines what good leaders can learn from bad bosses. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a guest? http…

1
Grow Deep, Not Wide: Mark Rampolla’s Five-Year Rule for Building Brands That Last 42:32

1M ago42:32

42:32

What if your next move isn’t another location—it’s owning a moment in your guest’s life? Mark Rampolla built ZICO into a category and now backs founders with a $600M fund; his playbook is built for operators under pressure. We talk about the five-year reality of product-market fit, why velocity per store beats “more units,” and how owning a specifi…

1
Office Hours: Merchandise Minutes, Not Meals 7:57

1M ago7:57

7:57

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…

1
The $0 Marketing Hack: How Family-Owned Businesses Win Where Corporations Fail 28:00

1M ago28:00

28:00

Click here to schedule free consultation with New Patient Group and/or WrightChat Click here to subscribe and watch on The Brian Wright Show YouTube Station Click here to subscribe to The Brian Wright Show Podcast Thank you to our Sponsors New Patient Group WrightChat Click here to Book Brian Wright to Speak at your Next Event About your Host "Bria…

1
The Connection Hack: Pepper Baumer on Building a Relationship-Based Empire 36:11

1M ago36:11

36:11

What if your factory was idling, your shelves were empty, and your business had just lost $15 million—and you still chose not to lay off a single person? That’s the line Pepper Baumer drew. As the third-generation CEO of Crystal Hot Sauce, he inherited a 100-year-old legacy—and nearly watched it collapse under the weight of supply chain failure, ma…

1
Authoring a Book in the Age of AI 26:24

1M ago26:24

26:24

Doug Crowe discusses authoring a book in the age of AI. Doug is an accomplished author, writer's coach, and former senior correspondent at Newswire. He first joined us way back in July 2015 on Episode 21, where we discussed his book "Author Your Brand." Today, he specializes in helping authors and top execs navigate the intersection of AI, storytel…

1
Perfect Meals Don’t Matter: Sara Fay Egan on Experiences That Scale 37:16

1M ago37:16

37:16

If your guests remember the night but forget the meal, did you succeed? Sara Fay Egan never planned to run restaurants—she built experiences. After a career in high-end event planning, she was thrust into leadership at Beale Street Blues Company after the sudden passing of her father. But instead of mimicking traditional models, she brought an outs…

1
Competition Isn’t Your Biggest Threat: Jean-Pierre Lacroix on the Power of Relevance 39:12

2M ago39:12

39:12

What if your restaurant’s biggest threat isn’t your competition—it’s your own irrelevance? Jean-Pierre Lacroix has spent decades helping brands regain their footing after losing touch with what made them matter. In today’s conversation, we unpack what’s killing restaurant loyalty—and it’s not what you think. Jean-Pierre argues that operators are ov…

Maximizing Restaurant Profitability Podcasts

1
FULL COMP: The Voice of the Restaurant Industry Revolution

Josh Kopel

1
Everyday MBA

Kevin Craine

1
The Brian Wright Show

Brian Wright

1
Fail Hard, Build Slow: Henry Rich on Long-Term Strategy and the End of Easy Wins 38:00

1
Office Hours: Your Menu Isn’t Too Long…It’s Too Lazy 8:48

1
The Case for Quitting: Kevin Tien on Success, Sacrifice, and Starting Over 37:02

1
Maximize your Marketing Dollar and Increase New Patients (or New Customers) by Avoiding these Critical Website Mistakes 22:19

1
How To Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders 22:46

1
Forget the Dining Room: Neal Fraser’s Profitability Playbook 35:31

1
Office Hours: Discounts Are a Tax on Weak Storytelling 8:22

1
Prestige Is Overrated: Jeff Bell on What Actually Keeps a Bar Alive 41:43

1
How to Predict Packaging that Sells 22:54

1
Train Smarter, Scale Faster: Won J Jeong on Building Teams that Scale 38:05

1
Office Hours: Expansion Is the Fastest Way to Go Broke 9:16

1
AI Isn’t Replacing Your Team, It’s Saving Them: Devana Bhargava on Tech That Respects Hospitality 36:54

1
The Branding Power of Neuroscience and Emotional Insights 22:47

1
Strategies to Maximize your Revenue Potential 21:40

1
Built to Serve, Not Sell: Darren Spicer’s Playbook for Turning Coffee Into Community 38:26

1
Office Hours: Events Are Fake Marketing 8:44

1
Scaling Through Saturation: Aaron Bludorn on Mastering Occasion 35:03

1
Pay for Trust - Rethinking How You Hire, Pay & Reward People 22:02

1
Emotional Resilience in Business 20:52

1
Stop Worshiping ‘Consistency:’ How Yann de Rocheford Scaled by Systemizing Vibe 40:51

1
Office Hours: Design Each Daypart as Its Own Business 9:50

1
You Don’t Have to Be L.A. to Be Legendary: Eric Bost on Building Fine Dining Outside the Bubble 39:25

1
Business Strategies Following The Fed Rate Cut 20:32

1
What Good Leaders Can Learn From Bad Bosses 26:38

1
Grow Deep, Not Wide: Mark Rampolla’s Five-Year Rule for Building Brands That Last 42:32

1
Office Hours: Merchandise Minutes, Not Meals 7:57

1
The $0 Marketing Hack: How Family-Owned Businesses Win Where Corporations Fail 28:00

1
The Connection Hack: Pepper Baumer on Building a Relationship-Based Empire 36:11

1
Authoring a Book in the Age of AI 26:24

1
Perfect Meals Don’t Matter: Sara Fay Egan on Experiences That Scale 37:16

1
Competition Isn’t Your Biggest Threat: Jean-Pierre Lacroix on the Power of Relevance 39:12