What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away? I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP. Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game—restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unp ...
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Josh Kopel Podcasts
Created in partnership with Yelp for Restaurants, Restaurant Marketing School provides daily marketing tips, tricks and tools, giving restaurateurs the tools they need to communicate with their existing customers and reach an entirely new customer base. Hosted by Michelin-rated restaurateur Josh Kopel, RMS brings a fresh perspective to traditional marketing in the hospitality space. Each episode is only 4-7 minutes, providing bite sized, actionable information that listeners can implement in ...
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We wanted to show there was another way to build and lead businesses. So Hospitality Mavericks was born. We wanted to gather together the world’s Mavericks who do things differently from the norm. They are leaders from all walks of life who have shown and proven that there is a better way forward without cashing out on their values; ripping off their people, community and planet. That was over ten years ago. Since then we've worked with and interviewed more than 200 leaders, thinkers and exp ...
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Miguel Hernandez on How To Dominate Our Industry
37:16
37:16
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37:16Miguel Hernandez is a genius. You have never heard me begin a show this way before, but I was absolutely blown away by the fresh perspective Miguel is bringing to restaurant ownership and operations. This is a guy who’s scaled to 4 locations in just a couple of years and has financed his growth exclusively through the profits from his active restau…
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#301 Jo Harley Co-Founder at Korero - The Power of Value-Led Business and Feedback
1:13:23
1:13:23
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1:13:23In this insightful episode, Michael engages with Jo Harley to discuss the importance of value-led businesses, the power of feedback, and how putting people first can be a competitive edge. Jo shares her journey in the hospitality industry, from starting accidentally in a pub to working with Bacardi and eventually co-founding Korero and Hendrick and…
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Office Hours: The Secret Hack to Product/Market Fit
9:12
9:12
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9:12I’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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Natasha McIrvin on Mastering Surprise and Delight
37:26
37:26
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37:26Our guests, even our most loyal guests, can cook at home. They don’t come to us for nourishment, they come to us for entertainment. Food and beverage done well is performance art and few have done it better than Eleven Madison Park. Today we chat with Natasha McIrvin, former head of the dreamweaver program at EMP. Her job was to build a system that…
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Keith Benjamin on Crafting the Vision for a Restaurant Empire
33:06
33:06
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33:06The numbers tell the story. Statistically, it’s nearly impossible to scale massively within our industry which is why so few do so. Keith Benjamin is the exception. With over 15 locations under his belt, Keith has broken the mold by systematizing that “it factor” we’re all looking to achieve. In today’s conversation, we discuss how to build with in…
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Office Hours: Mass Marketing is Killing Your Restaurant--Do This Instead
8:14
8:14
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8:14I’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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Chef Rob Rubba on Redefining Sustainability
32:37
32:37
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32:37James Beard award-winning chef Rob Rubba seems to have it all: a blockbuster restaurant that’s great for the environment, a happy staff, and work life balance that most of us would kill for. None of this happened by accident. In today’s conversation we sit down with the chef to discuss how he architected the life and career of his dreams through th…
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Karen Akunowicz on The Linear Path to Success
33:57
33:57
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33:57What are you chasing? Is it the money, the fame, or maybe the acclaim that comes with being a successful restaurant owner? Deep down, I think we all know that if we follow our passions, we’ll get all three. Few stories illustrate this more beautifully than today’s guest Chef Karen Akunowicz. In our conversation, she shares her evolution from chef t…
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#300 Greg Früchtenicht COO at Saira Hospitality - Transforming Lives Through Hospitality
54:12
54:12
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54:12In this episode, the guest is Greg from Saira Hospitality, an organization dedicated to transforming the hospitality industry by helping local communities find meaningful employment. Greg discusses the origins of Saira Hospitality, which was founded by Harsha L'Acqua with a revolutionary idea to hire local talent for luxury resorts, avoiding the co…
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Office Hours: Stop Discounting, Start Enrolling
8:17
8:17
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8:17I’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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Owning Your Destiny: James Bailey on Rejection, Resilience, and Running Momofuku
34:12
34:12
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34:12What does it take to go from butcher to executive chef at one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world—without burning out or selling out? For James Bailey of Momofuku Las Vegas, it’s not just about talent. It’s about patience, identity, and leadership. In this episode, we dive into the real story behind James’ rise through the ranks, how …
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Jonathan Sawyer on Building a Business That Lasts
34:54
34:54
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34:54I think fear is a massive motivator for so many restaurateurs. So many of us fail to make decisions that move us towards what we want because we’re busy making decisions that move us away from what we fear. But what happens when what we fear becomes our reality? What does the end of the road look like? As it turns out, it looks like a new beginning…
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Tech That Pays You Back: Jeremy Julian on Restaurant Systems That Save Time, Labor, and Sanity
36:00
36:00
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36:00Restaurant tech isn’t just about bells and whistles—it’s about ROI. And no one understands that better than Jeremy Julian. With nearly 30 years in restaurant technology and operations, Jeremy has helped thousands of restaurants plug into tools that actually make life easier and businesses more profitable. In this episode, we explore how to audit yo…
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How To Scale : Ensuring Profitability with Michael Mina
33:08
33:08
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33:08For over 30 years, Michael Mina has dominated the restaurant scene and today we sit down with the chef to find out how. In today’s conversation we dive deep into the tactics tools and strategies Michael has developed over decades to acquire talent, develop leaders, scale operations, and ensure profitability. This is a masterclass in restaurant owne…
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#299 Ben Dixon Co-Founder at Sona - The Future of AI in Hospitality
59:21
59:21
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59:21In this episode, Michael engages in an insightful conversation with Ben, co-founder of Sona, about the transformative potential of AI in the hospitality industry. They explore how AI can serve as an enabler for operators, enhancing the efficiency of hospitality businesses by optimizing workforce management and improving guest experiences. Ben share…
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Stop Running a Restaurant—Start Running a Business: Roger Beaudoin on Systems, Sales, and Scaling Culture
41:23
41:23
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41:23Most operators are stuck running restaurants. Roger Beaudoin teaches them how to run businesses. A 23-year restaurateur turned global coach and the founder of Restaurant Rockstars, Roger has helped thousands of owners escape burnout by installing the systems, culture, and leadership that scale. In this episode, we break down his approach to profita…
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Serving the Story: Kathy & Ben Sidell on Building Restaurant Brands That Create Emotional Loyalty
43:29
43:29
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43:29What if your restaurant wasn’t just a place to eat—but a part of your guest’s identity? Kathy and Ben Sidell have mastered the art of emotional branding, turning Saltie Girl and Sweet Boy into lifestyle experiences people feel proud to align with. In this episode, we explore how they’ve built high-volume, high-loyalty concepts without sacrificing s…
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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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Rethinking Restaurant Metrics: Jim Taylor on the One KPI That Changes Everything
46:46
46:46
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46:46Most restaurant operators are flying blind—tracking the wrong metrics and chasing problems that don’t actually exist. Jim Taylor, founder of Benchmark Sixty, is on a mission to fix that. With decades of experience in operations and a passion for data-driven decision-making, Jim has helped hundreds of restaurants ditch outdated systems and find free…
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Mastering the Vibe: Lee Maen on Creating Iconic Restaurants That Endure and Scale
38:50
38:50
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38:50Some restaurants chase trends. Lee Maen builds brands that shape them. As co-founder of Innovative Dining Group, Lee has redefined what it means to create restaurants that are as memorable for their vibe as they are for their food. From Sushi Roku to BOA Steakhouse, he’s turned hospitality into a high-performance art form—blending ambiance, precisi…
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#298 Vimal Arumugam Co-Founder and CEO at Baked Bird - Redefining Fast Food with a Healthy Twist
1:04:01
1:04:01
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1:04:01In this episode, we delve into the journey of Vimal Arumugam, the co-founder of Baked Bird, a unique baked chicken concept. Vimal shares the inception story of Baked Bird, which began from a shared love for chicken wings and evolved into a thriving hospitality business. He discusses the challenges faced in transitioning from a corporate career to t…
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Office Hours: The #1 Hack to Transform Your Restaurant's Marketing
7:30
7:30
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7:30I’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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Creating a Legacy Brand : Chef John Currence
32:50
32:50
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32:50Chef John Currence did not set out to build an empire when he opened his first restaurant in Oxford, Mississippi but that’s what happened. John is a guy a lot like us. He built one concept, then two, then three in a very linear way over time. Then can Big Bad Breakfast. This is a restaurant that John launched for $65,000 and it became a national br…
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Curing Burnout: Anese Cavanaugh on Leadership, Burnout, and Creating High-Impact Teams
39:59
39:59
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39:59Burnout 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…
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Office Hours: How to Build an Unforgettable Brand
6:54
6:54
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6:54I’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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Redefining Teamwork: Shawn Gawle on Building Culture, Mentorship, and Michelin-Level Dining
37:50
37:50
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37:50Great 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…
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Episode 5: The New Landscape of Restaurant Real Estate
29:42
29:42
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29:42The 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 …
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