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.
Restaurant Leaders Unplugged
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 down the “first date” framework for guest experience, how to remove friction from the journey, and why consistency creates trust across locations.
Zack also shares how Ovation aggregates reviews and real-time feedback from first-party surveys and public platforms, turns it into simple operational scores, and guides GMs on what to fix next. We talk response rates, guest texting, and the stunning ROI of a fast recovery loop. On the leadership side, Zack opens up about building through adversity, aligning with your spouse on risk, and creating a culture of kindness, feedback, and ownership.
You’ll learn
- The guest-recovery math that turns complaints into lifetime value
- A simple way to greet, remove friction, and stay consistent across visits
- How to use AI-driven feedback to spot trends and set monthly ops goals
- Why kindness equals honesty when coaching teams
- Practical leadership habits that keep you grounded and focused
Connect with our guest:
- Social media links: https://www.instagram.com/zackoates
- Website: https://ovationup.com/
Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl
Follow us on social media to stay updated:
Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing
YouTube: @SebastianStahlb
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