Category: Uncategorised

What if the very thing you’re afraid to remove is what’s holding your restaurant back?

Amanda Maneesilasan didn’t plan to take over her family’s restaurant. But when she did, she made a decision most operators avoid. She eliminated the familiar, stripped out the shortcuts, and rebuilt the menu around real, uncompromising Thai flavors. It cost her customers, consistency, and nearly her confidence.

In this conversation, we get into what it takes to earn respect when you inherit leadership, how to navigate the financial and emotional pressure of a full menu overhaul, and why cooking for yourself—not the market—is often the only path to standing out.

This is for operators who know they’re capable of more, but aren’t sure the risk is worth it.

To learn more about her work and experience her take on authentic Thai cuisine, visit chaokrungthai.com and banbanburger.com.

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Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the biggest mistake in your business model is having a fixed address?

Most operators spend their careers fighting for foot traffic. Michael Russo went the other direction. As the Chief Growth Officer of Wild Bill’s, he bought a veteran-founded craft soda brand and scaled it into a 60-wagon franchise popping up at over 500 events a year nationwide.

In this conversation, we get into why going where your customers already are is more scalable than trying to attract them, how to fail with discipline instead of just failing fast, and why direct customer conversations will teach you more than any analytics dashboard.

If you’re rethinking your revenue model or looking for a smarter path to scale, this one is worth your time.

To learn more about Wild Bill’s and their franchise opportunities, visit drinkwildbills.com.

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Today’s episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if your biggest problem isn’t awareness—it’s that people try your food and don’t come back?

Koji Kanematsu set out to bring onigiri to the American mainstream, convinced the market just needed to be introduced to something new. But for five years, his business sat at break-even: good enough to survive, not good enough to grow.

In this conversation, Koji shares how a single shift in product design unlocked demand, why blaming the market can stall your growth, and how small, iterative changes beat big, expensive bets.

If you’re stuck wondering why traffic doesn’t translate into loyalty, this one will challenge how you think about your menu.

To learn more about his work, visit onigilly.com

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Today’s episode is also brought to you by Table 22. Build predictable revenue outside your four walls with subscriptions, memberships, and product drops. Table 22 helps you design it and shows you the numbers before you commit. Try it free at table22.com. 

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the real advantage isn’t better strategy… it’s faster action?

Matt Jozwiak, founder of Rethink Food, built a movement by rejecting perfection and embracing momentum. From washing dishes to working in the world’s best kitchens, Matt shares how a bias toward action—not credentials—became his edge.

In this conversation, we get into why failure is the fastest teacher you’ll ever have, how telling a simple story unlocked millions in funding, and the operational shift that turned struggling restaurants into partners in solving food insecurity.

This episode is a masterclass in execution, iteration, and building something that actually works, especially when the industry needs it most.

To learn more about Rethink Food and their work paying independent restaurants to feed people in need, visit rethinkfood.org.

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Today’s episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the difference between a good restaurant and a great one came down to what happens in the 20 minutes before service?

Ti Martin, co-proprietor of Commander’s Palace, has spent her life inside one of the most enduring restaurants in the country, and she’s obsessed with the details most operators overlook.

In this conversation, we get into the daily disciplines that shape her team, why curiosity at the table drives better outcomes, and how consistent training transforms service into something deeply personal.

If you’re looking to create consistency, connection, and culture at scale, this conversation is for you.

To learn more about Commander’s Palace and their approach to hospitality, visit commanderspalace.com.

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Today’s episode is also brought to you by Table 22. Build predictable revenue outside your four walls with subscriptions, memberships, and product drops. Table 22 helps you design it and shows you the numbers before you commit. Try it free at table22.com. 

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if most restaurants fail because no one’s really watching what matters?

Maycoll came up peeling potatoes in Michelin-starred kitchens, learning the craft from the ground up. Over time, that experience evolved into something deeper: a clear understanding of what actually keeps a restaurant alive.

In this conversation, we get into the leap from operator to owner, why “luck” is just a story people tell to avoid the truth, and how he built systems that let him scale globally without being trapped in the kitchen.

If you’re still running your restaurant without a clear pulse, this conversation will force a reset.

To learn more about Cuna, visit cuna.nyc.

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Today’s episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the real reason your product isn’t scaling isn’t marketing, but the fact that it’s just not good enough?

Ben Van Leeuwen built his business around a simple idea: if you make something truly exceptional, people come back and they tell others. 

In this conversation, we get into why supply chain is the most overlooked driver of margin, how “affordable luxury” creates reach without dilution, and why word-of-mouth still outperforms most paid growth.

If you’re building in a crowded market, this is about raising the bar, and keeping it there.

To learn more about Van Leeuwen Ice Cream and explore their products, visit vanleeuwenicecream.com.

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Today’s episode is also brought to you by Table 22. Build predictable revenue outside your four walls with subscriptions, memberships, and product drops. Table 22 helps you design it and shows you the numbers before you commit. Try it free at table22.com.

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the real reason your restaurant isn’t growing… is because you’re doing too much?

Chris Schultz has built a career scaling cult brands without stripping away what made them special. Now, in his second appearance on the show—this time as CEO of Velvet Taco—he’s doubling down on a contrarian idea: most operators aren’t missing opportunities, they’re drowning in them.

In this conversation, we get into why great leaders grow through subtraction, how to identify the signals your team is giving you, and why saying no is the real unlock for growth.

If you’re chasing every new idea and still not seeing results, this episode will show you what to cut before it’s too late.

To learn more about Velvet Taco and their approach to building a cult brand at scale, visit velvettaco.com and if you enjoyed this conversation, you could also listen to Chris’s previous appearance on the show on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Today’s episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

Warren Rustand is the most successful human I know. 

Warren is a basketball hall of famer, he’s served US presidents, been the CEO of 10 companies and mentor to countless CEO’s and, candidly, he’s been an amazing father, husband and friend. 

Today, Warren will give you the tactics, tools and strategies he’s used to live the life of his dreams.

For more on Warren or to buy his book visit https://warrenrustand.com

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Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

What if the most valuable seats in your restaurant aren’t in your dining room, but in your database?

Samuel Bernstein has spent the last five years proving that loyalty isn’t a punch card. It’s a revenue model. As the founder of Table 22, Sam has helped more than 1,000 operators launch subscriptions, memberships, and bundled offers that routinely generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in high-margin revenue.

In this conversation, we get into why most “clubs” fail, how to design offers rooted in what guests actually care about, and how to pressure-test whether your concept has a five-figure upside or a six-figure one. We also break down his systems, marketing playbooks, and AI-powered insights that turn creativity into consistency.

If you’re serious about building revenue you can forecast, and fund real growth with, this episode is your blueprint.

To learn more about Table 22 and how they help restaurants build recurring revenue, visit table22.com.

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Today’s episode was brought to you by Square. If you want restaurant tech that actually supports how you run your restaurant, find out how Square can help at square.com/goodstuff.

Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com

The hardest part of ownership isn’t owning the business, it’s in owning the choices you’ve made and the impact they have on you and your team.

Today, we chat with multi-million dollar culinary clothing maven, Ellen Bennett. Ellen wrote a book that’s one part biography and one part action plan for aspiring entrepreneurs. 

In this conversation, we run though what the past 10 years has been like for Ellen, bringing to light the leadership lessons that have made her company so successful.

You can pick up Ellen’s new book Dreams First, Details Later at major retailers everywhere.

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Free 5-Day Restaurant Marketing Masterclass – This is a live training where you’ll learn the exact campaigns Josh has built and tested in real restaurants to attract new guests, increase visit frequency, and generate sales on demand. Save your spot at restaurantbusinessschool.com