Best Chris Deferio Podcasts (2025)

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SHIFT BREAK! Is That Character or Neglect? 10:34

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6h ago10:34

10:34

The difference between dirty, dysfunctional, or neglected, and something that is maintained but has character, is the level of intentionality given to it. In many shops, we find broken and dismal conditions that really should have been maintained and fixed, but are often explained away as simply the age of the café itself as though it adds characte…

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190. “Science of Productivity” with Steven Puri 42:20

5h ago42:20

42:20

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Steven Puri, CEO and founder of the Sukha Company. They delve into the nuances of productivity versus busyness. They discuss methods high performers utilize to differentiate their work, focusing on how to be productive in a compressed amount of time. Steven shares his journey, from raising $21 million in ventu…

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561: How to Motivate Baristas 33:00

14h ago33:00

33:00

This is a question that seems to be answered by many with desperate incentives and what amounts to just brute force to get their staff to do the things they want them to do in the way they want them to do it. In many ways, it's a favorite past time of owners to just complain about it but how many are taking the time to truly dig deeper and diagnose…

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SHIFT BREAK! What Customers Value and How to Deliver It 18:10

8d ago18:10

18:10

We always talk about adding value to the customer experience. In the coffee shop this is usually focused on things like the look, flavor, price, and service rendered. But I believe it goes a level deeper than that. In fact, in order to truly deliver value, we have to believe in the core thing our service and product symbolizes or else we are less l…

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189. “When Business Partners Divorce” with Wendy Meadows 43:38

11h ago43:38

43:38

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Wendy Meadows, a seasoned family law attorney, former litigator, certified life Coach, and mediator. She is also the author of the best-selling book, sparkle & GRIT, a framework that helps high-achieving women break free from burnout and live on Purpose. Dawn and Wendy Meadows dive deep into the emotional and …

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SHIFT BREAK! Taking the First Steps Toward Change in the Cafe 12:52

13d ago12:52

12:52

So you have come to the conclusion that things need to change in your coffee shop. Maybe it is something related to systems, schedules, training, culture, or a host of other things you might want to take action on. But what is the first action you should take? Today on Shift Break we will be talking about the first right steps you should take when …

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188. “Mindset of an Elite Athlete” with Gary Chupik 33:54

7d ago33:54

33:54

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Gary Chupik, a mindset coach for professional athletes and business owners. Gary shares how the attributes necessary for success in sports can be transferred to the business world. Gary and Dawn emphasize the value of self-leadership over motivation, the power of optimism over fleeting positivity, and how to n…

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560: Bio-Innovation and Securing the Future for Coffee Farmers and Their Land w/ Felipe Sardi of La Palma y El Tucan 52:30

14d ago52:30

52:30

The world of coffee shops is fueled by the world of coffee farmers. For as long as coffee has been grown, the people who pursue the cultivation of the product we cultivate community around in the cafe have struggled and survive based on their ability to band together, invest in the land, one another, and innovate methods to secure their future. Tod…

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559: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 2 38:54

8d ago38:54

38:54

And the myths just keep on coming! Welcome to part 2 of the series on Myth Coffee Shop Owners Believe. The goal here is to create space and slow down long enough to critically and intentionally examine ideas before we adopt them into the fabric of our cafes. Of course in the frenzied world many of us occupy, having time to think might itself be a r…

601
SHIFT BREAK! The Trend of Backwards Hospitality 15:05

12d ago15:05

15:05

Who is it we are serving when we start or work in the coffee shop? If you listen to a lot of the way people talk today, you might think we expect customers to serve our needs more than we pursue meeting the needs of and serving our customers. Today on Shift Break we will be talking about the trend of backwards hospitality that has greatly diminishe…

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187. “Amazon FBA vs Other E-Commerce” with Dennis Balonze 32:34

13d ago32:34

32:34

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Dennis Balonze, a small business owner who successfully transitioned to e-commerce. Dennis began his journey in 2001 with a barbershop in New Jersey and later launched an Amazon store in 2010. He shares insights into his innovative approach, creating products designed for barbershops and leveraging Amazon's Fu…

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558: Digital Natives and the Future of Coffee Shops w/Kosta Kallivrousis 55:19

14d ago55:19

55:19

Like Pepsi in 1984, coffee is the "Choice of a New Generation"... but maybe not in the same way as we of older generations are comfortable with. The ways digital natives are consuming coffee today may be unique, but as with all coffee consumers before and after, they are seeking the identity, belonging, utility, and promises associated with coffee …

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557: Founder Friday! w/ Andre Chanco of Yardstick Coffee in the Philippines! 58:24

1M ago58:24

58:24

Once again it is Founder Friday! The world of coffee encompasses vast regions of taste and culture, all united by the communal cup of coffee. In the Philippines there has been an incredible movement of specialty. Yardstick Coffee stands as one of the original specialty coffee roasters and retailers that has built a solid and growing company that co…

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186. “Mastering Your Hospitality Business” with Chris Deferio 38:55

20d ago38:55

38:55

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Chris Deferio, founder, owner, and consultant at Keys to the Shop, Podcast + Consulting for Coffee Shops. Chris shares his experiences and valuable tips for customer retention, the unique challenges faced in daily customer interactions, and the importance of setting boundaries to avoid burnout. Dawn and Chris …

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Shift Break! The Problem of Commiseration 9:35

1M ago9:35

9:35

In forums, trade shows, and conversations everywhere, people are talking about their problems, and that's not a bad thing! The problem starts when the talk is not productive and starts to warp reality and damages our ability to work, serve and lead well due to the bitterness commiseration tends to produce. Today on Shift Break we will be talking ab…

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556: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 1 27:44

1M ago27:44

27:44

What we believe is often a mixture of what we heard , what we have experienced, and what is convenient for us in the moment. The truth is, we are desperate for certainty and as our desperation grows, our ability to be reasonable and discern goes down. Thats when ideas turn into rules based on nothing more that our desire for getting an answer. Then…

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SHIFT BREAK! Considering the Future You When Making Decisions 10:49

26d ago10:49

10:49

Have you ever made a regrettable decision in the moment that you would have made differently if you had given yourself a bit more time and space to reason it through? I think we have all been there. Many are there right now! Every time we decide something in the present based on desperation, impatience, or fear, the future version of ourselves and …

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185. “Be Water” with Todd Schuchart 44:20

27d ago44:20

44:20

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Todd Schuchart, founder of Razor Ridge Leads. Todd specializes in life insurance marketing. Todd stresses the need for marketers and entrepreneurs to 'be water,' meaning to stay fluid and adaptable in their approach. Dawn and Todd discuss the significance of testing and optimizing marketing efforts, understand…

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555: 3 Ways to be Better Cafe Manager 28:45

1M ago28:45

28:45

Becoming a great manager is as much for other people's benefit as it is for your own. In order to do this you have to see it as a practice that incorporates certain mindsets and habits that contribute to developing you into the kind of person who can guide and develop others Today on the show we will talking about three very important areas that ma…

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Message From Chris: Explaining Key Holder Coaching Groups, Consulting, Coaching, and the Goals of KTTS Services 18:55

1M ago18:55

18:55

Hey everyone! I was sitting at my desk thinking about the various services and means KTTS has created to help coffee shop owners and leaders in the last 8 years. Seems we have grown a lot! From a podcast with 1,000+ episodes and 3 million+ downloads, to consulting and coaching 85+ cafes, training barista teams, speaking around the country multiple …

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SHIFT BREAK! The Right Place for Creativity in the Cafe 14:38

2M ago14:38

14:38

We like to use the word "creativity" when describing ideal traits in coffee shop staff. In some ways, this is admirable and very useful, for a lot of us though, without exploring and establishing the details behind it and how exactly it looks to be creative, we end up with a lot of confusion, inconsistencies, and dropping the ball on quality servic…

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184. “Neurodivergent Leader Strategies” with Christy Lingo 38:11

1M ago38:11

38:11

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Christy Lingo, an executive function and accountability coach and the 'ADHD Mompreneur,' who offers insights and strategies to ease these difficulties. The discussion covers the role of dopamine in ADHD, difficulties with task initiation, procrastination, hyperfocus, and the importance of understanding one's c…

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554: Formal Education vs Real World Experience : Which is Better? 30:25

2M ago30:25

30:25

What is necessary before opening a cafe? Which is better to prepare you for the challenges and opportunities you will be presented with in your career and as an owner of a coffee shop? This question is asked often by people just getting into the industry and also by those who are experienced already but may want to add something to make sure they a…

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SHIFT BREAK! New Managers: Learning Before Changing 10:45

2M ago10:45

10:45

When a new manager is placed in a cafe, they often will try to change a lot of things in a bid to justify their role and/or create what they believe is the positive change they have long wanted to see as a barista. While both are understandable, neither one should be the first thing a manager takes on as they become established. Today on Shift Brea…

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RoR #37 : Tariffs, Relationships, and Resiliency for Roasters | A Conversation w/ Steve Green of Mill City Roasters 48:40

2M ago48:40

48:40

These are challenging times for roasters. With the topics of green prices and tariffs dominating the airwaves and minds of owners, everyone is looking for the best way to respond to what seems like an existential threat to their business if left unaddressed. The truth is that the businesses that do the best in these times not only respond well in t…

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183. “Business Marketing Archetypes” with Brian Gregory 40:54

1M ago40:54

40:54

Send us a text Dawn Kennedy talks with Brian Gregory, Creator of The YES! TEST, Copywriter, Speaker, Author, Podcaster. They delve into consumer perception and the emotional factors that drive purchasing decisions. Brian introduces the 'Yes Test,' a tool developed over seven years to help small businesses identify their most effective emotional mar…

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553: Career Success, Hospitality, and Cafe Culture w/ Akaash Saini, La Marzocco 57:57

2M ago57:57

57:57

How we grow in the coffee industry will determine how we lead and how we influence those around us. Our guest today has developed a career that has allowed him to not only grow himself into one with a broad and practical perspective on the industry, but to also help others grow their cafes and themselves. I am thrilled to get to chat with, Akaash S…

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552: Founder Friday w/ Kristen Redfield and Jenna Currier of Goldie's Coffee Roasters in Anchorage, Alaska! 47:01

2M ago47:01

47:01

It's Founder Friday! I am very happy to welcome to the show the founders of Goldies Coffee Roasters Kristen Redfield and Jenna Currier! Kristen Redfield is a life-long Alaskan growing up in North Kenai, Alaska. In 2010 she began her coffee career as a barista just before graduating from the University of Alaska Anchorage with a Bachelors of Art in …

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SHIFT BREAK! Should You Remodel or Renew Your Cafe? 8:52

2M ago8:52

8:52

If we change anything in the cafe, it will more likely be something related to the optics, branding, or remodeling the physical cafe in order to get that feeling like we have become different and this will usher in more motivation, excitement, better quality and hospitality etc. Sadly, no amount of paint, gear,, or remodeling can address the core i…

Chris Deferio Podcasts

51
Keys To The Shop : Equipping Coffee Shop Leaders

Chris Deferio

1
FilteredThoughts

Filtered Thoughts

4
Business Mastery Podcast

Dawn Kennedy

1
Craft Your Own Coffee Podcast

Joel Sigmon

1
Cashflow Podcasting - Grow Your Business, Boost Your Impact

Cashflow Podcasting, Launch and Grow Podcasts for Small Business Owners

1
SHIFT BREAK! Is That Character or Neglect? 10:34

1
190. “Science of Productivity” with Steven Puri 42:20

1
561: How to Motivate Baristas 33:00

1
SHIFT BREAK! What Customers Value and How to Deliver It 18:10

1
189. “When Business Partners Divorce” with Wendy Meadows 43:38

1
SHIFT BREAK! Taking the First Steps Toward Change in the Cafe 12:52

1
188. “Mindset of an Elite Athlete” with Gary Chupik 33:54

1
560: Bio-Innovation and Securing the Future for Coffee Farmers and Their Land w/ Felipe Sardi of La Palma y El Tucan 52:30

401
559: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 2 38:54

601
SHIFT BREAK! The Trend of Backwards Hospitality 15:05

1
187. “Amazon FBA vs Other E-Commerce” with Dennis Balonze 32:34

751
558: Digital Natives and the Future of Coffee Shops w/Kosta Kallivrousis 55:19

1
557: Founder Friday! w/ Andre Chanco of Yardstick Coffee in the Philippines! 58:24

1
186. “Mastering Your Hospitality Business” with Chris Deferio 38:55

1
Shift Break! The Problem of Commiseration 9:35

1
556: Myths Coffee Shop Owners Believe Part 1 27:44

1351
SHIFT BREAK! Considering the Future You When Making Decisions 10:49

1
185. “Be Water” with Todd Schuchart 44:20

1
555: 3 Ways to be Better Cafe Manager 28:45

1
Message From Chris: Explaining Key Holder Coaching Groups, Consulting, Coaching, and the Goals of KTTS Services 18:55

1
SHIFT BREAK! The Right Place for Creativity in the Cafe 14:38

1
184. “Neurodivergent Leader Strategies” with Christy Lingo 38:11

1
554: Formal Education vs Real World Experience : Which is Better? 30:25

1
SHIFT BREAK! New Managers: Learning Before Changing 10:45

1
RoR #37 : Tariffs, Relationships, and Resiliency for Roasters | A Conversation w/ Steve Green of Mill City Roasters 48:40

1
183. “Business Marketing Archetypes” with Brian Gregory 40:54

1
553: Career Success, Hospitality, and Cafe Culture w/ Akaash Saini, La Marzocco 57:57

1
552: Founder Friday w/ Kristen Redfield and Jenna Currier of Goldie's Coffee Roasters in Anchorage, Alaska! 47:01

1
SHIFT BREAK! Should You Remodel or Renew Your Cafe? 8:52