Restaurant Leaders Unplugged
Real conversations with the people transforming the restaurant industry—from the inside out.
Restaurant Leaders Unplugged goes beyond the headlines to bring you raw, insightful, and inspiring interviews with the most respected founders, operators, and executives in hospitality.
Hosted by Sebastian Stahl, former restaurant operator turned growth strategist and founder of Breadth Marketing, this podcast is where real operators get real about what it takes to build brands that last.
If you're tired of surface-level chatter and want to hear how industry leaders are actually navigating growth, tech, culture, and private event revenue—this is the show for you.
You’ll learn how to:
- Build restaurant brands that guests (and staff) love
- Scale without losing your soul or your culture
- Use tech and automation without killing hospitality
- Create “guest-for-life” experiences that drive revenue
- Convert more private event leads without paid ads
No fluff. No hype. Just unplugged conversations with the minds behind the brands.
New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and grow with us.
Episodes
35 episodes
How Hosty AI Turns Missed Calls Into Revenue with Randall Hom
Restaurant phones never stop ringing, but you cannot afford to miss a single call. In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Randall Hom from Hosty AI shares how he went from stressed-out operator in San Francisco to building an AI vo...
Turn Unhappy Guests Into Superfans with Zack Oates (Ovation)
What if your most loyal customers are the ones who had a problem… and you fixed it? In this eye-opening conversation, Ovation founder Zack Oates explains why guest recovery is the single biggest loyalty lever in restaurants. We break d...
From Chef to Restaurateur to Broker: Lessons from 37 Years in Hospitality
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, host Sebastian Stahl sits down with longtime Miami restaurateur Jimmy Carey, whose journey from dishwasher to chef to multi-location owner and now restaurant broker is f...
From Line Cook to Wealth Advisor: Funding & Scaling Restaurants w/ David Spungen
Former line cook turned wealth advisor David Spungen joins Restaurant Leaders Unplugged to break down the real economics of opening, funding, and scaling restaurants. We dig into what’s working right now outside the ma...
How 7shifts Built a Restaurant Tech Powerhouse from Scratch
From working in his dad’s Quiznos to building one of the leading workforce platforms in hospitality, Jordan Boesch shares how 7shifts was born out of pure operational chaos—and how it evolved into a game-changing tool used by thousands of re...
Legendary Restaurateur Bob Sambol Shares 50 Years of Wisdom
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, I sit down with Bob Sambol, founder of Bob’s Steak & Chop House, to unpack his remarkable journey from working in his father’s bar to running one of the most respected ...
You Can't Do It Alone: Building Leadership That Lasts with Matt Rolfe
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we sit down with Matt Rolfe, leadership expert, author, and coach to the hospitality industry's top performers. Matt shares his raw and powerful story—from growing up with a learning disabilit...
How BarTaco Scaled to 35 Locations Without Losing Its Soul
Anthony Valletta, CEO of BarTaco, joins Restaurant Leaders Unplugged to share how his team built one of the most unique and people-first brands in casual dining today. From his early days washing dishes to leading a fast-growing concept with...
From Newsroom to Boardroom: Sam Oches on Tech, Talent & True Hospitality
Journalist‑turned‑industry‑insider Sam Oches (Editorial Director, Nation’s Restaurant News & Restaurant Hospitality) unpacks the post‑2024 shake‑up—why value promos are wearing thin, how tari...
From Combat to CRM: How Perfect Venue is Revolutionizing Restaurant Events
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we’re joined by Luke Hutchison—Army veteran turned tech entrepreneur and the Founder & CEO of Perfect Venue. Luke shares his journey from the battlefield to the boardroom, and how hi...
Hospitality That Lasts: Tracy Rathbun on Building Restaurants That Stand the Test of Time
What does it really take to build restaurants that last? In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Tracy Rathbun—restaurateur, co-founder of Dallas gems like Shinsei and Lover’s Seafood—joins host Sebastian Stahl for a raw and insight...
Leadership Without Hierarchy: Brian Nasajon’s Recipe for Restaurant Success
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Brian Nasajon, chef and restaurateur, shares his journey from a philosophy student to the helm of Beaker & Gray, and now Avenue Gray. Discover his leadership philoso...
Building Iconic Restaurant Brands with Arjun Sen
What makes a restaurant truly unforgettable? In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Arjun Sen—former VP of Marketing at Papa John’s and branding expert—reveals the secret to making your restaurant a
Mastering Restaurant Profit & Leadership with Roger Beaudoin of Restaurant Rockstars
Is your restaurant leaving money on the table? In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, I sit down with Roger Beaudoin, founder of Restaurant Rockstars, to uncover proven strategies for boosting restaurant prof...
Chip Klose: Boosting Restaurant Profitability & Marketing | Restaurant Leaders Unplugged
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we sit down with Chip Klose, a seasoned restaurant consultant and expert with over 24 years of experience in the hospitality industry. Chip shares valuable insights on h...
Master Restaurant Profitability with Kasey Anton of Spark Business Consulting
Are you ready to transform your restaurant's financial health? In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we sit down with Kasey Anton, founder of Spark Business Consulting and author of Profit First f...
From CPA to Michelin Stars: Leadership Lessons with Ignacio Garcia-Menocal
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Ignacio Garcia-Menocal, Co-Founder and CEO of World Bay Hospitality Group, shares his remarkable journey from a CPA to leading a Michelin-starred restaurant group. Disco...
Balancing Passion and Leadership in the Restaurant Industry with Christy LoPresto
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, host Sebastian Stahl chats with Christy LoPresto, a dynamic restaurateur and wellness entrepreneur redefining leadership in the hospitality industry. Christy takes us on...
Mastering the Steakhouse Business: 31 Years of Lessons with Randy Burks
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, host Sebastian Stahl sits down with Randy Burks, the founder of Randy’s Steakhouse in Frisco, Texas. With over three decades of experience in the restaurant industry, Ra...
Redefining Success in the Restaurant World: Lessons from Mathieu Giraud of Garçons de Café and L’Appart
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we sit down with Mathieu Giraud, the visionary owner of Garçons de Café and L’Appart in downtown Los Angeles. Mathieu shares his incredible journey from training in hospitality in France...
Crafting Profitable Bar Programs: Ben Potts on the Secrets to Hospitality Success
What makes a profitable and unforgettable bar program? In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, I sit down with Ben Potts, co-founder of Unfiltered Hospitality and co-owner of The Sylvester in Miami. Ben’s journey is a mastercl...
#14 From $52K to 17 Locations: Rakesh Chandiramani’s Blueprint for Restaurant Success
Rakesh Chandiramani, Co-Founder & Owner of Vin sur Vingt Wine Bars, Jack’s Coffee, and Il Fiorista in NYC, shares how he transformed a $52,000 investment into 17 successful locations. From scaling with purpose to crafting unforgettable gues...
#13 From Burnout to Breakthrough: Transformative Leadership Lessons with Christin Marvin
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we’re thrilled to host Christin Marvin, influential leadership coach, author of The Hospitality Leader's Roadmap, and founder of Solutions by Christin. Christin opens up about h...
#12 Unlocking Restaurant Success: The #1 Mistake Holding Owners Back & How to Fix It with David Scott Peters
In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we welcome restaurant expert and coach David Scott Peters, who shares his journey from working in his family’s restaurant to becoming a leading coach for independent operators across the...
#11 A Journey of Resilience with Victor Chan of SUteiShi in New York City
In this captivating episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, we’re joined by Victor Chan, founder of Suteishi Japanese Restaurant in New York City. With a fascinating journey that began as an aircraft mechanic and led through cigar sho...
