Best Josh Kopel Podcasts (2025)

1
Josh Kopel on Mastering Marketing 1:08:34

17d ago1:08:34

1:08:34

#94. In this powerful episode, we sit down with Josh Kopel, restaurateur, consultant, speaker, and former President of the California Restaurant Association, whose story is one of transformation, from building a multimillion-dollar restaurant empire in Los Angeles to rethinking the way hospitality businesses are built and run. Kopel is best known f…

1
#296 Josh Kopel - Founder Restaurant Scaling System - From Burnout to Business Breakthrough 1:20:56

22d ago1:20:56

1:20:56

In this episode, Michael reconnects with guest Josh Kopel, a former restaurateur turned industry consultant, five years after their initial conversation. They discuss the significant transformations Josh has experienced since 2020, including selling his restaurant group due to burnout and launching the 'Full Comp' podcast. Josh shares insights into…

1
Curing Burnout: Anese Cavanaugh on Leadership, Burnout, and Creating High-Impact Teams 39:59

10h ago39:59

39:59

Burnout isn’t about working too much—it’s about what drains you. Anese Cavanaugh has spent the last two decades helping leaders master their Intentional Energetic Presence (IEP) to create thriving, engaged teams without running themselves into the ground. Her work with Zingerman’s and top companies worldwide has proven that energy, not time, is our…

1
Office Hours: How to Build an Unforgettable Brand 6:54

1d ago6:54

6:54

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
Redefining Teamwork: Shawn Gawle on Building Culture, Mentorship, and Michelin-Level Dining 37:50

3d ago37:50

37:50

Great food gets guests in the door, but a great team keeps them coming back. Shawn Gawle, the awarded chef behind Camaraderie, has mastered the art of creating exceptional dining experiences by prioritizing mentorship, culture, and intentional leadership. In this episode, we explore Shawn’s journey from celebrated chef to chef-owner, how his philos…

1
Winning the restaurant hiring game in 2025 with Alice Cheng | 061 41:15

3d ago41:15

41:15

Finding and keeping great restaurant staff is harder than ever in 2025. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we talk with Alice Cheng, Founder and CEO of Culinary Agents, about how smart restaurants are winning the hiring game. After 13 years of connecting restaurants with talent, Alice breaks down what works. She explains the "missing middle"…

1
Ben Pryor on Augmented Intuition 1:16:14

3d ago1:16:14

1:16:14

#95. In this episode of The meez Podcast, Josh Sharkey sits down with Ben Pryor, a former restaurant operator turned tech leader at Fourtop, to explore the real-world impact of AI in the hospitality industry—and why it should empower teams, not replace them. With more than 30 years of experience running restaurants like Noodles & Co., Brinker, and …

1
Episode 5: The New Landscape of Restaurant Real Estate 29:42

4d ago29:42

29:42

The fires have dramatically altered LA’s real estate market, creating both challenges and opportunities for restaurant owners. Real estate expert Dan Fagan shares insider knowledge on where the best opportunities are now, how to negotiate stronger lease terms, and how consumer behavior is reshaping restaurant site selection. Whether you're looking …

1
440. Improving Restaurant Operations: A General Manager's Guide - Andrew Roy 30:00

5d ago30:00

30:00

Andrew shares what it takes to be a remarkable General Manager and his journey in the restaurant industry, offering valuable lessons for anyone looking to enhance their establishment's operations and culture. His experiences and insights offer valuable lessons for restaurant professionals aiming to refine their operations and build a robust company…

1
Culture Is Your Competitive Edge: Lisa Schultz on Eliminating Drama and Creating High-Performing Teams 37:21

7d ago37:21

37:21

Most restaurants accept drama and dysfunction as part of the business—but what if eliminating them was the key to higher profits and better retention? Lisa Schultz, Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse, has spent the last 20 years proving that culture is the real secret to success. By implementing no-drama leadership, open-book finance, and em…

1
#297 Natalie Dunning CEO & Founder at Kitch - Building Community and Superfans in Hospitality 57:34

8d ago57:34

57:34

In this episode of the Hospitality Mavericks podcast, host Michael welcomes guest Natalie Dunning, who shares her journey of growing up in a hospitality family and building her agency, Kitch Social. They discuss the importance of creating super fans, engaging with communities, and the crucial role of maintaining a human connection in the hospitalit…

1
Office Hours: The 3 Keys to Escaping Day to Day Operations 8:33

8d ago8:33

8:33

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 Principles of Profitability : David Scott Peters on The Art of Delegation 43:30

10d ago43:30

43:30

Most restaurants don’t make money. The ones that do, typically make very little. This is our reality and many of us have embraced it. But what about the group no one talks about: the restaurants that are making a killing, quietly and consistently. They all seem to be following the same formula and today we sit down with restaurant expert, David Sco…

1
Digital Hospitality Podcast: Food Cost & Recipe SAAS! How meez is Helping Restaurants Boost Profits & Cut Costs 37:03

10d ago37:03

37:03

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR1hMlmuFNA&t=1s Today, we’re highlighting Josh's appearance on a standout episode of Digital Hospitality with host Shawn Walchef. They explore the power of storytelling in business, the surprising ROI of podcasting, and the evolving world of restaurant tech. From menu engineering to system integration, the conversat…

1
439. Maximizing Menu Profit Through Effective Design and Strategy - Roger Beaudoin 32:29

11d ago32:29

32:29

In this episode, we dive deep into one of the most powerful — yet often overlooked — tools in your restaurant’s success: the menu. More than just a list of dishes, your menu is a marketing asset and a key part of your brand identity.Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass: Learn how just a few tweaks in the way you run your business can hugely…

1
Episode 4: Designing the Future of Restaurants 25:43

11d ago25:43

25:43

With the fires wiping out entire restaurant districts, what does the future of restaurant design in LA look like? Renowned architect John Hamilton shares with Josh Kopel and Michael Benson what restaurant operators should be thinking about when rebuilding—from fire-resistant materials to more flexible layouts, outdoor dining strategies, and cost-ef…

1
Building Unbreakable Restaurants: Justin Cucci on Culture, Ownership, and the Future of Hospitality 37:23

14d ago37:23

37:23

Most restaurateurs build concepts around a menu or a chef. Justin Cucci built Edible Beats around a philosophy—one that’s challenged conventional wisdom and redefined what restaurant success looks like. From turning historic spaces into thriving concepts to pioneering an employee-owned business model, Justin has proven that restaurants can be both …

1
Office Hours: This is the one hack to scale word of mouth advertising 12:47

15d ago12:47

12:47

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
Building skills beyond the kitchen with Justin Khanna | 060 39:50

17d ago39:50

39:50

Want to build a restaurant career that doesn't leave you burnt out? In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, we chat with Justin Khanna, a chef who's cooked at some of the world's best restaurants, before switching gears to become an educator and founder of Repertoire. Justin takes us behind the scenes of his days at Per Se and The French Laundry,…

1
Purpose Over Profit: Kim Malek’s Mission-Driven Path with Salt & Straw 38:45

17d ago38:45

38:45

Kim Malek, founder of Salt and Straw, discussing her journey from working at Starbucks to creating a unique ice cream brand that emphasizes community, culture, and innovative marketing strategies. Kim explores the importance of guest experience, building a strong company culture, navigating challenges during the pandemic, and the significance of pa…

1
Episode 3: Fast-Tracking A Restaurant Opening 22:39

18d ago22:39

22:39

In a crisis, every day your restaurant stays closed means lost revenue. Permitting and governmental expert Eddie Navarette reveals the fastest, most effective ways to cut through LA’s permitting maze, accelerate approvals, and avoid costly mistakes that slow down restaurant openings. This episode provides actionable insights for operators in any ci…

1
438. Brilliant Restaurant Branding Strategies - Elizabeth Brasch 39:06

19d ago39:06

39:06

In this episode of the Restaurant Rockstars Podcast, we're diving into the art and science of restaurant branding with Elizabeth Brasch, a marketing and branding powerhouse at Mellow Mushroom. Tune in for a masterclass in restaurant branding from one of the pros behind a truly iconic name in the industry.Restaurant Profit Maximizer Mini-Masterclass…

1
Building a Business to Last : Mark Bitterman 36:32

21d ago36:32

36:32

We often have such a clear vision for what our lives and our businesses will look like before we open. And then the flood comes and we’re so busy trying to survive that we forget to thrive. We forget why we got into this to begin with. And that “why”, for most of us, was love. Love of community, love of food, and love of revelry. Meet Mark Bitterma…

1
Office Hours: This will scale your restaurant's revenue by 30% overnight 12:03

22d ago12:03

12:03

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
Steal These Systems: David Morton’s Proven Formula for Building Profitable Restaurants Anywhere 37:47

24d ago37:47

37:47

It’s one thing to grow a restaurant group. It’s another to grow one that thrives across categories, cities, and economies. David Morton has done exactly that—without taking on debt, overextending his team, or compromising his values. As co-founder of Episcope Restaurants, David has engineered a scalable system that pairs creative vision with financ…

1
Ben Leventhal on Bridging Old School Hospitality with New School Technology 50:26

24d ago50:26

50:26

#93. In this episode, we explore how hospitality is evolving at the intersection of tradition and technology—through the lens of one of the industry’s most influential entrepreneurs. Ben Leventhal, Co-Founder of Eater and Resy and now Founder of Blackbird Labs, shares his journey from media to tech and the lessons he’s learned along the way. He ref…

1
Episode 2: The Future of Restaurant Development 25:37

25d ago25:37

25:37

With neighborhoods devastated and operators forced to relocate, how will the fires reshape the restaurant landscape in Los Angeles? Development expert Jerry Prendergast has overseen hundreds of restaurant projects, and today, he unpacks the real estate shifts, leasing opportunities, and market trends emerging in LA’s hospitality scene. He also shar…

1
Living the Dream Now: Elliott Bisnow on Building a Business You Never Want to Exit 37:20

28d ago37:20

37:20

We’ve been sold the lie that freedom comes after the exit. But what if we built businesses we never wanted to leave? That’s exactly what Elliott Bisnow did. As co-founder of Summit and Powder Mountain, he’s created a movement, not just a company—one built on authenticity, community, and the belief that life and work should be equally inspiring. In …

1
Office Hours: How to use AI to effortlessly delegate and amplify your marketing efforts 11:36

29d ago11:36

11:36

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
437. The Secret to Restaurant Success - Josh Kopel 46:32

1M ago46:32

46:32

Roger dives deep into the world of restaurant operations with hospitality impresario Josh Kopel. Josh, a Louisiana native who rose to prominence by transforming a Los Angeles dive bar into a Michelin star restaurant, shares his journey and insights. The discussion covers a wide range of topics vital to restaurateurs, including leadership, company c…

1
Turning Pictures into Profits: Zaheer Bhyat & Ray Erickson on Food Photography That Sells 38:08

1M ago38:08

38:08

A picture might be worth a thousand words, but in the restaurant industry, the right picture is worth thousands of dollars. Zaheer Bhyat and Ray Erickson have built their careers mastering the art of visual storytelling—helping brands create food photography that doesn’t just look good, but actually drives sales. In this episode, we break down why …

1
AI marketing strategies that boost restaurant revenue with Josh Kopel | 059 31:54

1M ago31:54

31:54

AI is changing the restaurant marketing game in ways that can save you time while boosting your revenue. In this episode of The Pre-Shift Podcast, I chat with Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who's truly mastered the marketing side of the business. Josh breaks down how restaurants of any size can use AI tools like ChatGPT to create bette…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Josh Kopel Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen