Best Expert Interviews For Restaurateurs Podcasts (2025)

1
Ellen Yin on Building an Unbreakable Restaurant Culture 33:25

Play Pause

4d ago33:25

33:25

I believe restaurants have always had a pervasive culture, albeit at times not the healthiest culture. Restaurateur Ellen Yin is out to change that and she’s leading by example. Today we sit down to discuss her unorthodox path through the industry and how in breaking the mold, she’s developed the formula to heal our industry. To learn more about El…

1
Office Hours: Stop Fixing Symptoms — The Real Reason Restaurants Burn Out 8:28

5d ago8:28

8:28

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
Why Every Restaurant Needs to Think Like a Media Company 47:42

6d ago47:42

47:42

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” in your restaurant and still not getting the results you want, this podcat episode is for you. In this conversation with restaurant pro and digital media legend Shawn P. Walchef of Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media, we dig into why “build it and they will come” is a lie, why no one is coming to sav…

1
ENCORE: Biscuit Time! Holiday Baking with Carla Hall 45:01

7d ago45:01

45:01

It's time for a holiday kitchen confession… I grew up in the South, yet somehow never learned how to make biscuits! Thankfully, my dear friend Chef Carla Hall—along with the wonderful Chadwick Boyd—brought Biscuit Time to this special encore edition of Kitchen Chat. We rolled up our sleeves at Chicago's Merchandise Mart, where Chef Jaime Laurita jo…

1
Fun Is Non-Negotiable: Andy Shallal on Culture, Crisis, and Building Restaurants That Save Lives 38:49

7d ago38:49

38:49

What if the only way to build a restaurant worth running was to make it fun—even in crisis? Andy Shallal didn’t set out to be a restaurateur. He left a stable path in medical science, waited tables to get by, and discovered something powerful: hospitality could be a vehicle for joy, justice, and deep human connection. In this episode, Andy shares h…

1
Restaurateur Will Guidara on Delivering Unreasonable Hospitality 37:38

11d ago37:38

37:38

World-famous restaurateur Will Guidara is back with his latest project — and it’s not a restaurant, it’s a book. Will was made famous by the over the top service he provided at Eleven Madison Park and, as it turns out, there was a method to the madness. In this episode, Will and I sit down to discuss the formulaic way that he set expectations for h…

1
Office Hours: Firing Isn’t Failure; It’s Maintenance 7:45

12d ago7:45

7:45

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
From Trauma Surgeon to Taco Tycoon: Mohammad Farraj on Risk, Reinvention, and Experience-First Growth 36:52

14d ago36:52

36:52

What if the stable path isn’t the right one? Mohammad Farraj was on track to be a trauma surgeon. Instead, he left medicine to launch a taco truck—against family expectations, cultural pressure, and common sense. That truck became Talkin’ Tacos, a fast-casual franchise now operating in seven states. In this episode, Mohammad shares what pushed him …

1
Why Legacy Brands Are Dying: Matt Egan on Surviving the New Era 35:33

18d ago35:33

35:33

What if your $10 chicken taco isn’t competing with food—it’s competing with feeling? Matt Egan didn’t just open restaurants—he staged immersive experiences. Drawing from a background in film, Matt treats each concept like a set, every server like a character, and every moment like a scene that should stick with you. In this episode, we unpack how h…

1
A Street-Fighter Mentality Built New York Minute Into An Award-Winning Burger Franchise | 666 1:02:15

18d ago1:02:15

1:02:15

Antony Crowther is a 'street fighter' who built New York Minute, a burger franchise with 30 locations, that is now down to six. And guess what? He couldn’t be happier! Strap in for an inspiring story of business resilience, adaption and reinvention. And some very actionable business and marketing tips along the way. In this high-energy episode of T…

1
Office Hours: Your Landlord Is Your Most Dangerous Business Partner 7:50

19d ago7:50

7:50

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
Why You Must Decide to Lead Your Restaurant 16:48

20d ago16:48

16:48

I open this episode with a challenge: What if the difference between feeling chained to your restaurant and finally running it on your terms comes down to five leadership habits you can choose — every single day? In Episode 137 of the “Restaurant Prosperity Formula Podcast,” I dig into how visibility, consistency, development, clarity, accountabili…

1
No days off to true independence: Paul Denamiel on Drawing the Line 36:19

21d 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…

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

25d 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

26d 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

28d 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
The Bottomless Cup: A Memoir of Secrets, Restaurants and Forgiveness by Kevin Boehm 22:23

28d ago22:23

22:23

Congratulations to Kevin Boehm on the launch of his compelling book The Bottomless Cup: A Memoir of Secrets, Restaurants and Forgiveness. In this Kitchen Chat, Kevin shares the highs and lows of his personal life along with key components of success in his professional life. He also discusses the importance of mental health. You will be inspired by…

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

1M 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
How One Tiny Hardware Store Turned Me Into a Customer for Life (and How You Can Too) | 665 18:03

1M ago18:03

18:03

Keen to turn your precious customers in to customers for life? In this solo episode of Small Business Big Marketing, I turn my week of errands into a marketing masterclass. I’ve just had a haircut, visited the shrink, and—clumsy me—snapped two pairs of prescription glasses. While ticking off my to-do list, I couldn’t switch off my marketing brain. …

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

1M 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
What It Truly Takes to Drive Repeat Restaurant Business 1:03:10

1M ago1:03:10

1:03:10

I opened this episode with a simple truth: restaurants don’t win on one great meal — they win on the second and third visits. In my conversation with hospitality pro Darren Denington, we unpack what really drives repeat business right now: first impressions that stick, value guests can feel (beyond price) and service that creates a personal connect…

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

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

1M 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

1M 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
Why listen to The Small Business Big Marketing Show with Timbo Reid? [Trailer] 2:06

1M ago2:06

2:06

G’day, I’m your host Timbo Reid, and welcome to the 16 year-old award-winning Small Business Big Marketing Podcast. I’m guessing you’re a motivated business owner keen to grow that beautiful business of yours into the empire it absolutely deserves to be. Well, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve been in marketing all my working life (that’s a long…

1
A heart-felt update from Timbo | 664 8:41

1M ago8:41

8:41

Hey motivated business owner, Timbo here. I trust your business is thriving, as are you. I haven't been. It's been almost two years since we last spoke, so I thought I owed it to you to let you know what's been going on, and what's about to go on. So here's a little message from yours truly. Key points if you can't be bothered listening: I've been …

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

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

2M 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

2M 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
How this Owner Grew from Caterer to a Multiunit Restaurant 44:08

2M ago44:08

44:08

Who doesn’t love a comeback story? In episode 135 of “The Restaurant Prosperity Formula” podcast, I sit down with Linda Grace Zadoian, owner of Piccadilly Grace Café & Market in San Marino and South Pasadena, California, to trace her path from middle-market finance to multi-unit operator who rediscovered joy in the business. You’ll hear how she sta…