Best Maximizing Restaurant Profitability Podcasts (2025)

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Maximizing Your Restaurant’s Profitability: Insights from David Hopkins 31:40

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4d ago31:40

31:40

Chapter 1: Maximizing Your Restaurant’s Profitability: Insights from David Hopkins Canada's restaurant industry is grappling with rising food and labor costs, shifting consumer habits, and economic uncertainties. David Hopkins, President of The Fifteen Group, discusses how restaurants can maximize profits and create new concepts. Hopkins emphasizes…

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Bar Marketing for December: Holiday Party Booking Formula to Fill Your Slowest Nights 10:18

1d ago10:18

10:18

The first week of December is sneaky. Weekends look fine, Saturdays feel solid, but Sunday through Wednesday? Crickets. And every slow night you let slide is revenue you’re quietly leaving on the table. In this episode, I break down a simple holiday party booking formula you can use to turn those dead December nights into guaranteed money, without …

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Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience 24:11

9h ago24:11

24:11

Lamell McMorris talks about his book "The Power to Persist: 8 Simple Habits to Build Lifelong Resilience." Lamell is founder and CEO of Phase 2 Consulting and a nationally recognized entrepreneur and a devoted advocate for equity and community revitalization. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a gu…

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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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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…

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From Bartender to Bar Owner: How Steve Lewis Turned a Biker Bar into a Community Favorite 35:02

20h ago35:02

35:02

Owning a bar hits different when it’s all on you. You’re not just pouring drinks anymore, you’re the plumber, the promoter, the peacekeeper, and the one who signs the checks when the fridge breaks. Steve Lewis bought a local biker bar and quickly realized bartending didn’t prep him for licenses, reputation cleanup, or figuring out how to order just…

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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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When Lack of Passion Undermines Brilliant Strategy - One Major Flaw in your Growth Plan to Fix NOW! 35:14

7d ago35:14

35:14

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 Many leaders chase growth by turning up the marketing spend, tightening forecasts…

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10‑Minute Thanksgiving Week Staff Briefing That Prevents Service Meltdowns 12:57

3h ago12:57

12:57

The night before Thanksgiving? You already know it's gonna be chaos. Servers stressed, kitchen buried, and everyone's moving a little too slow for the volume about to hit. But if you’ve got 10 minutes before doors open, I’ll show you exactly what to say to keep the shift tight and the team moving like they actually trained for this. No rambling mee…

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Strategies for Women for High-Ticket Sales Success 23:28

18h ago23:28

23:28

Vivian Weyll explores how women can to leverage psychology, neuroscience, and human behavior to achieve lasting sales success. Vivian built and lost businesses in her twenties before discovering success in high-ticket sales. Today, she works with women to leverage psychology, neuroscience, and human behavior to scale businesses to seven and eight f…

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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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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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Why Discounts Don’t Work: The Secret Customer Retention Strategy That Boosts Bar Profits by 40% 28:29

5d ago28:29

28:29

Getting people through the door is hard, but getting them to keep coming back? That’s where most bar owners drop the ball. Discounts might feel like the move, but they’re quietly killing your margins and not building real loyalty. This episode breaks down a smarter, cheaper way to lock in regulars by actually making them feel seen, no gimmicks, no …

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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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The 5-Minute Daily Habit for Restaurant Owners to Find Their Most Profitable Hours 10:41

7d ago10:41

10:41

You can have a packed dining room and still be bleeding money, and most owners don’t realize it until it hurts. The real problem isn’t that you’re not busy, it’s that you’re guessing which hours actually pay the bills instead of looking at what the numbers are quietly trying to tell you. In this episode, I walk you through a simple 5-minute daily h…

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Strategies to Build, Scale and Sell Your Business 20:31

17d ago20:31

20:31

Lance Bachmann discusses his Build It to Sell It Playbook and strategies to build, scale, and sell your business...and repeat. Lance has helped over 1,000 contractors build their success by implementing systems and sales engines that make businesses exit-ready. Listen for three action items you can use today. Host, Kevin Craine Do you want to be a …

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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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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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Why Great Bars Still Go Broke with Bruce Nelson on Profit Pricing and Cost Mistakes 35:39

14d ago35:39

35:39

Think your bar’s doing okay just because you’re busy? Think again. A packed house means nothing if your menu is underpriced, your costs are off, and you're bleeding money in ways you don’t even see. In this episode, Bruce Nelson, a CFO who’s helped countless bars fix their financial chaos, breaks down the money traps most owners fall into. We’re ta…

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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…

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How to Run a 20-Minute Competitor Price Audit to Maximize Your Bar's Profits 6:17

17d ago6:17

6:17

You’re probably undercharging your beers and overpricing your cocktails and not even realizing it. If your pricing is based on “what everyone else is doing,” you're not being strategic, you’re just gambling with your margins. This episode hands you a quick 4-step pricing audit you can run this week to spot hidden profit leaks and reposition your pr…

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Strategies for High-Stakes Negotiations 24:56

24d ago24:56

24:56

Andres Lares talks about his book, co-authored with Jeff Cochran and Shaun Digan, "Persuade" and a four step process to influence people and decisions. Andres is Managing Partner at the Shapiro Negotiations Institute and a guest lecturer at Johns Hopkins University. He coaches high-stakes negotiations for the NFL and NBA, as well as in business sec…

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Party of Six - Crafting the Perfect Bar Ambiance: Lighting, Music, and More 57:14

20d ago57:14

57:14

And now, it's time for something different.... The Bar Business Podcast has joined with industry experts to bring you a new panel podcast every month, Party of Six: The Pulse of Bars and Restaurants. I am joined by some amazing folks for a casual yet insightful conversation, sharing stories and discussing what works and what doesn't in the hospital…

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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…

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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…

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How to Run a Profitable Bar Without Being There Full Time with H Joseph Ehrmann 42:05

27d ago42:05

42:05

You didn’t open a bar just to get stuck fixing toilets and covering last-minute call outs. But if the business falls apart every time you’re not around, that’s not ownership, that’s just another job. H Joseph Ehrmann spills how he built a bar in San Francisco that runs profitably while he lives states away in Boise. We’re talking team retention for…

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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…

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

29d 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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The Only Management Meeting You’ll Ever Need to Save Time and Get Results 10:08

29d ago10:08

10:08

Most manager meetings turn into story time, complaint hour, or a total waste of everyone’s energy. You walk out with nothing but a mental list and a few “we should probably” statements that never happen. This episode breaks down a dead-simple 30-minute meeting format that forces clarity, accountability, and actual progress. You’ll get a step-by-ste…

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How To Thrive Under Fear-Based Leaders 22:46

1M 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…

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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—…

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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…

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Bar Documentation That Protects You With Real Systems Real Forms and Smart Strategy 11:18

1M ago11:18

11:18

Too many bar owners don’t take documentation seriously until it’s too late. They assume verbal instructions, digital trails, or “just remembering” is enough to protect them. It’s not. In this episode, we break down the real reason why lack of documentation quietly leaves your business exposed to lawsuits, fines, and insurance nightmares. You’ll get…

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October Baseball’s Economic Impact On Spending Across Canada 16:19

1M ago16:19

16:19

October Baseball’s Economic Impact On Spending Across Canada Al is joined by Sports Expert and VP of Business Development at Moneris Data Services Sean McCormick to discuss the excitement of October baseball as the Toronto Blue Jays enter the postseason, examining the impact on local and national spending. Sean shares insights on how playoff rusns …

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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, …