Best Improving Restaurant Operations Podcasts (2025)

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Your Tech Is Costing You More Than Labor. Ankit Gupta on Building a System That Actually Makes You Money 1:04:36

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6h ago1:04:36

1:04:36

What if the biggest threat to your restaurant isn’t bad food or poor service—but bad tech? That’s the bet Ankit Gupta is making. After shaping food delivery at tech companies globally, he saw a blind spot no one was fixing: restaurant tech was leaving restaurants behind. Now he’s leading the product team at Otter, and his mission is clear: to compl…

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Episode 41 - Next Gen Talent 7:15

8h ago7:15

7:15

In this conversation, Robert Adams discusses the importance of empowering the next generation through leadership that fosters belief and accountability. He highlights the concept of shared accountability practiced by Ben & Jerry's, where every team member is encouraged to contribute ideas and take responsibility, regardless of their title. The disc…

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Adapt Your Bookkeeping Business to Thrive in the Age of AI | Kate Johnson 35:25

8h ago35:25

35:25

#699 Bookkeeping might feel like an industry “at risk” in the age of AI — but according to returning guest Kate Johnson, it’s actually positioned for major growth! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, Kate shares how the accounting landscape is evolving, why AI-enabled bookkeepers will thrive, and how to ethically use new tools to speed up wor…

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He Buys Land Sight Unseen — And Profits Big | Seth Williams (MU Classic) 56:03

21h ago56:03

56:03

#698 What if your next big real estate win didn’t involve tenants, renovations, or even seeing the property in person? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by Seth Williams, founder of REtipster.com, who reveals how he built a thriving business flipping vacant land — often sight unseen. Seth shares the exact strategies he used to …

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Attract, Train, and Retain a High-Performing Team in Any Industry | Samantha Irwin 42:20

1d ago42:20

42:20

#697 Want to build a team that sticks with you, performs at a high level, and actually loves coming to work? Samantha Irwin — owner of Kaizen Coaching and Consulting and longtime friend of the show — returns for a deep dive into the art and science of employee retention! In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, she shares her journey from middle-sch…

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The AI Hack That Helps You Buy a Business in 2025 | Nik Hulewsky (MU Classic) 48:19

2d ago48:19

48:19

#696 What if you could tap into an AI-powered business coach — one that’s available 24/7, never forgets a conversation, and helps you find, evaluate, and negotiate your next business acquisition? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, serial entrepreneur and podcast host Nik Hulewsky returns to the show to break down how he’s leveraging AI to find…

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She Outsourced Everything… and Still Made Bank Selling Sweatshirts on Etsy | Christina Umerez (MU Classic) 52:58

3d ago52:58

52:58

#695 What if your creative side hustle could fund your freedom and run itself while you explore the world? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by Christina Umerez, a digital nomad who built a successful Etsy print-on-demand business that now supports her travel-filled lifestyle. Christina shares how she went from custom pet portr…

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How to Kill It in the Restaurant Business | Ryan Gromfin (MU Classic) 53:40

4d ago53:40

53:40

#694 If you think a busy restaurant automatically means a profitable one — think again! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we sit down with Ryan Gromfin, aka The Restaurant Boss, who pulls back the curtain on the flawed traditional restaurant business model. From his early days as a 15-year-old working in a five-star kitchen to building and …

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Ellen Yin on Building an Unbreakable Restaurant Culture 33:25

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…

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How to Start a Gutter Installation, Repair, and Cleaning Business That Wows Customers | Aleks Krylov 43:26

4d ago43:26

43:26

#693 How did a Wall Street finance pro turn a simple gutter repair problem into New Jersey’s only white-glove gutter service? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Aleks Krylov, founder of Stern Gutters, to break down how to start a profitable gutter installation, repair, and cleaning business. Aleks shares his journey from Wall Street …

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

5d ago8:28

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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…

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Leverage Your Brain's "Operating System" to Ensure Success in Life and Business | John Assaraf 48:19

5d ago48:19

48:19

#692 Unlock the science behind your success with this fascinating deep-dive into how your brain drives every result you create! In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with behavioral neuroscience expert and bestselling author John Assaraf, who shares how understanding the brain’s “operating system” transformed his life from troubled teen to…

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Can One Guy Disrupt the Way We Learn? How Chad Fife, Founder of Revy School, Teaches Marketing, Sales, and Client Success Using Mentorship and Simulation | Chad Fife (MU Classic) 42:24

6d ago42:24

42:24

#691 What if you could launch a global education platform, inspire students across continents, and reinvent your career — all at once? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, we’re joined by Chad Fife, founder of Revy School, an online education platform that teaches marketing, sales, and client success through real-world simulations and mentorship…

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Episode 40 - Trust & Culture 8:15

6d ago8:15

8:15

In this conversation, Robert Adams discusses the innovative approach taken by Panera Bread to improve communication within their organization through the implementation of listening circles. These circles foster open dialogue between frontline employees and leadership, allowing for genuine feedback and collaboration without the constraints of tradi…

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Launching a Customer-First Merch Company with No Industry Experience | Ethan Dowie 43:17

6d ago43:17

43:17

#690 Ready for a masterclass in grit, customer service, and unconventional scaling — all from a founder who built a booming merch company from scratch? In this episode, host Brien Gearin chats with Ethan Dowie, founder of Indigo Promotions, who went from making 400+ cold calls with zero traction to landing Zappos as one of his very first clients. E…

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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…

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What It Takes to Become a Professional Organizer and Thrive as a Service Provider | Laurie Palau 44:27

7d ago44:27

44:27

#689 Ever wondered how a simple lifelong skill can evolve into a thriving, multi-stream business? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrell sits down with professional organizer and entrepreneur Laurie Palau, founder of Simply B Organized, to unpack her journey from corporate America to building a successful organizing brand long before Instagram or the…

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How a Motocross Rider Became Canada’s Print King | Lee Stuart (MU Classic) 53:55

8d ago53:55

53:55

#688 What happens when a retired professional athlete dives headfirst into an industry he knows nothing about? In this episode hosted by Brien Gearin, Lee Stuart shares how he went from professional motocross rider to the founder of Rogue Lab, one of the top screen printing and branding shops in Canada. With zero experience, Lee took his last $300 …

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This AI Website Generator Lets You Build and Manage 1,000+ Sites (Live Demo!) | Itai Sadan 43:06

8d ago43:06

43:06

#687 Want to see how AI can build a full website in minutes — and how a small startup took on giants like WordPress and Wix? On this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Itai Sadan, co-founder and CEO of Duda — the AI-ready website platform built specifically for web professionals. Itai shares the origin story of Duda, how the company evolved …

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Education Businesses That Actually Work in 2025 | Ray Blakney (MU Classic) 56:07

9d ago56:07

56:07

#686 Think selling online courses is the key to success? Think again! It’s no longer enough to just package information and hope people stick around. In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, serial entrepreneur Ray Blakney breaks down how to turn decades of expertise into a thriving online education business. He shares why traditional course model…

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Flexible, Profitable, and In-Demand: Could a Bookkeeping Business Be Your Golden Ticket? | Kate Johnson (MU Classic) 49:58

10d ago49:58

49:58

#685 Ever thought a “boring” business could be your golden ticket to freedom and flexibility? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we chat with Kate Johnson, founder of Heritage Business Services, who built a thriving bookkeeping business during preschool pick-up hours. What started as a $0 side hustle turned into a profitable, scalable career…

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The Email Strategy That Took Course Creators from $3k to $50k Months | John Ainsworth (MU Classic) 52:25

11d ago52:25

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#684 What if the only thing standing between you and five-figure months is a better email strategy? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we're joined by John Ainsworth, an expert in helping course creators skyrocket their revenue through strategic sales funnels. John shares the simple, repeatable system he uses to help clients go from $3K mont…

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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…

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$6,000+ per Month in Passive Income?! Buy, Evaluate, and Grow a Profitable Laundromat | Jordan Berry 51:59

11d ago51:59

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#683 Thinking about buying a laundromat? This episode will completely change the way you see this “boring” business — and show you why it might be one of the most powerful cash-flow plays in America! In this conversation, host Brien Gearin sits down with Jordan Berry, founder of Laundromat Resource, to break down exactly how to buy, evaluate, and g…

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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…

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How to Stop Settling, Embrace Authenticity, and Finally Own Your Story | Celinne Da Costa 56:02

12d ago56:02

56:02

#682 If you’ve ever felt misaligned with your own story, this episode will show you how to reclaim it! In this powerful conversation, host Brien Gearin sits down with transformational storytelling expert Celinne Da Costa, who helps visionary leaders step into their authentic identity and express it through story. Celinne shares her remarkable journ…

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How to Build a 7-Figure Online Store with Zero Inventory | Ryan Hogue (MU Classic) 54:09

13d ago54:09

54:09

#681 Think you need a warehouse full of inventory to start a product-based business? Think again! In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by Ryan Hogue, a 7-figure print-on-demand entrepreneur, who breaks down exactly how to build a profitable online store without ever touching inventory. Ryan shares why visibility is the real name o…

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Use AI to Create Your Avatar, Clone Your Voice, and Share Content FAST (Live Demo!) | Julian Goldie 45:38

13d ago45:38

45:38

#680 Ever wondered how creators are scaling faster than ever with AI? In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with Julian Goldie, an SEO agency owner turned AI-driven creator whose entire business transformed when he leaned into artificial intelligence instead of running from it. Julian shares how he went from 1,000 YouTube subscribers to ne…

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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 …

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How Service Providers Can Grow, Nurture, and Sell on Instagram (Live Examples!) | Jenna Harding 49:40

14d ago49:40

49:40

#679 If you’ve been posting on social media and still not seeing growth, this conversation explains exactly why! In this episode, host Kirsten Tyrrel sits down with social media expert and former theater-kid-turned-entrepreneur, Jenna Harding, to pull back the curtain on Instagram strategy for service-based business owners. Jenna shares how she wen…

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Episode 39 - Wellness & Burnout Prevention 7:32

14d ago7:32

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In this conversation, Robert Adams delves into the often-overlooked topic of burnout, particularly in the food service industry. He emphasizes the difference between corporate burnout and the human experience of exhaustion that creeps in slowly. Adams discusses the importance of passion in food service and how it can lead to burnout without proper …

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How to Price Your Offers Without Selling Your Soul | Andee Hart (MU Classic) 50:22

15d ago50:22

50:22

#678 Are you undercharging or hesitating to promote your offers because selling feels uncomfortable? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, sales expert Andee Hart joins us to unpack the deeper reasons why so many women entrepreneurs struggle with sales — and how to flip the script. With over 18 years of experience in Fortune 500 tech sales and …

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Is a Hot Dog a Sandwich? Launching a Food Cart Business That Settles the Debate! | Chris Van Jura 48:44

15d ago48:44

48:44

#677 What happens when a 25-year hospitality veteran gets furloughed during COVID and finally goes all-in on the dream he’s been talking about for years? You get Catalyst Hot Dogs — a Jersey-style hot dog joint taking the DMV by storm! In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with founder Chris Van Jura, who shares how he launched during the pa…

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The #1 Marketing Mistake Entrepreneurs Make and How Buzzsprout Grew from 2k to 120k Podcasts Without Making It | Alban Brooke (MU Classic) 51:23

16d ago51:23

51:23

#676 Are you overcomplicating your marketing? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we're joined by Alban Brooke, Head of Marketing at Buzzsprout, who helped grow the company from just 2,000 customers to over 120,000 active podcasts. Alban shares why so many marketing efforts fail — not because of bad tactics, but because of a lack of clarity a…

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The 3 Things That Saved Tyler’s Business After Losing 90% of His Amazon Revenue | Tyler Christensen (MU Classic) 53:38

17d ago53:38

53:38

#675 What happens when your thriving side hustle starts to plateau? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we welcome back Tyler Christensen, who built a $5K/month income stream as an Amazon influencer — only to see his per-video earnings drop by 90%. Rather than walking away, Tyler made a strategic pivot. He shares how he diversified his income…

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The $9 Membership That Made Over $600K — Powered by Simple Emails | Liz Wilcox (MU Classic) 51:20

18d ago51:20

51:20

#674 Is your email list collecting digital dust? Or maybe you haven’t even started one because it all feels too overwhelming? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by email marketing expert Liz Wilcox, who built her first list without fancy tools, expensive software — or even internet on her phone. Liz shares how she went from trav…

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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…

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Financial Stress? These Money Management Strategies Help You Take Back Control | Brie Sodano 40:42

18d ago40:42

40:42

#673 Ever feel like you’re making good money but still stressed about finances? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Brie Sodano, founder of Cash Confident, who teaches practical money management for modern women — without the confusing math or financial jargon. Brie shares her journey from working in high-level finance to coaching eve…

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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…

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How to Get Your Product on the Store Shelves of a Big-Box Retailer | Jay Yung 43:25

19d ago43:25

43:25

#672 Ever wondered what it really takes to get your product off a folding table and onto the shelves of Walmart, Costco, or Target? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with retail expert Jay Yung, founder of Evergreen Retail Solutions, to break down the real path from farmer’s market tables to national store shelves. Jay shares how he went…

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Can You Really Make Money With a Book? Dave Says Yes (Here’s How) | Dave Chesson (MU Classic) 1:00:18

20d ago1:00:18

1:00:18

#671 Have you ever wanted to write a book but felt stuck on where to start — or unsure if it could even be profitable? In this episode hosted by Kirsten Tyrrel, we’re joined by self-publishing expert and Kindlepreneur founder Dave Chesson, who turned his side hustle into a thriving business that out-earned his military salary. Dave shares the insid…

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Boost Conversions With a Hyper-Personalized Website and Email Campaigns | Brennan Dunn 42:44

20d ago42:44

42:44

#670 What if your website could tell exactly who was visiting — and rewrite itself just for them? In this episode, host Brien Gearin sits down with Brennan Dunn, founder of RightMessage — the software powering hyper-personalized websites and email campaigns for top creators like Ali Abdaal and Justin Welsh. Brennan shares how his journey from freel…