Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants

Leadership often gets boxed into “executive tasks” or “HR stuff.” But good leadership is not a luxury. It’s the difference between teams that coast and teams that transform. Rudy Miick has spent decades coaching and developing leaders across industries, helping them bridge from “managers doing tasks” to “leaders creating culture, clarity, and momentum.”

So in this episode, we’re peeling back the layers: what leadership really means...

In this episode, we dive deep into the complex world of restaurant payments with Phil Crawford, the Global Head of Food and Beverage at Adyen. From understanding the journey of a transaction from card tap to completion, to the intricacies of modern payment platforms and their integration with restaurant operations, Phil breaks down everything you need to know. We cover topics like security, fraud, compliance, as well as future tren...

In this interview, David Hornak, a partner at two restaurant concepts in Oxford, Ohio, The Pickle & Pig and Gaslight Brewhouse, discusses his experience managing a total of 175 employees across both locations. Hornak explains the integration and benefits of using the Shifty training application, emphasizing its role in improving employee engagement, upselling, and operational efficiencies through features like flashcards, check...

We're pulling back the curtain on the fascinating world of restaurant franchising with Patrick Buckley of FranDawgs. Join Paul Molinari, founder of Popcorn GTM, as he jumps into franchisee growth with expert guest Patrick Buckley, partner at FranDawgs. In this episode, they discuss the tech, grit, and gaps in the franchise industry, uncovering why franchise restaurants outperform independents. Learn about FranDawgs' unique approach...

In this episode of Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants, we're going deep into some unexpected territory.  This is a "deep dive" episode I created using multiple AI tools, and the topic or title is called The Prince of Brand Marketing: Leveraging Ancient Wisdom for Modern Market Domination.

This conversation draws from four powerful sources—including two books I authored: Heroes, Jedis, and Dudes and ...

Special guest Chris Anderle, CEO of Onosys, joins us to discuss mission-critical order management solutions (OMS) and how Onosys is transforming brands with consistency, control, and clarity across every order touchpoint. We touch on topics like frictionless ordering, the challenges of fragmented ordering systems, and how Onosys caters to various restaurant categories, including pizza, bowl brands, and casual dining. Tune in to lea...

Join Paul Molinari from Popcorn GTM on Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants as he hosts the inspirational Colleen Silk, founder and CEO of Hospitality Bites Media. Colleen discusses the importance of mental well-being, inclusivity, and sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. She shares her personal journey from restaurant operations to storytelling, founding Hospitality Bites Media, and her ongoing projects like the “...

In this episode of Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants, host Paul Molinari from Popcorn GTM and co-host Matt Haselhoff from One Goal Consulting welcome Manan Mehta, founder and CEO  of Livelytics.ai. They dive into the importance of data-driven decision-making in an industry where speed, margins, and guest expectations are constantly evolving. Manan shares his journey of founding Livelytics and how their AI-powered platform is ...

Welcome back to the newly rebranded show, Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants. In this episode, Paul sits down with Hans Schatz, EVP of Cut + Dry, the leading e-commerce platform for food service distributors. Hans brings decades of experience in the food service industry and shares insights into how Cut + Dry is transforming the supply chain through rich e-commerce catalogs, AI-driven recommendations, and seamless integrations...

Join Paul Molinari from Popcorn as he discusses the importance of organizational design in the restaurant technology sector with expert Jasper Nelissen. Nelissen, a University of Miami lecturer and professor, is the founder of NCG Consulting and the award-winning Multi Agency. Listen in as he shares insights into transforming chaos into cohesive operational structures. They explore how change management and organizational developme...

In episode 036 of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph podcast, Paul Molinari from Popcorn GTM and his co-host Matt Haselhoff from One Goal Consulting dive deep into the world of restaurant technology. They discuss the innovative advancements in accounts payable systems, particularly focusing on Factura's role in transforming and streamlining the process for multi-unit restaurants. Special guests Alisia Kleinmann and Ben Foscillo from Fa...

In episode 035 of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph podcast, Paul Molinari is joined by special guest Beth Hussey, founder of the Shifty. They discuss how smarter training can solve restaurant turnover and improve manager engagement. Beth explains how Shifty, a mobile app for training, engagement, and scheduling, helps reduce employee turnover by optimizing training processes. They also dive into the costs associated with high turnove...

In this engaging episode of the Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants podcast, Paul welcomes Edith Wiseman, President of FRANdata, to discuss the often overlooked but critical role of franchisees in the restaurant technology sector. Edith highlights the untapped potential of the franchisee market, explaining why it's a gold mine for tech solutions and how her company helps tech providers navigate and target this complex landscape...

In this episode of Popcorn GTM's "Morning Sam, Morning Ralph Podcast," we welcome Nicole Sherrin-Kessler, the founder of the Celiac College Guide, to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities for students with celiac disease. Nicole shares her personal story as a mother of two daughters with celiac and her professional insights from her extensive experience in education. Discover the importance of gluten-free dining options o...

In this episode of 'Morning Sam, Morning Ralph,' we dive into the world of restaurant technology with seasoned industry leader, Chris Munz from Fishbowl. Paul shares the story behind the podcast's name, inspired by the classic 'Wiley Coyote and Sam the Sheepdog' cartoons, which symbolize a healthy competition and camaraderie in the restaurant tech sector. Chris shares insights from his extensive career, from his early days as a raf...

In this episode of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph podcast, we dive into the world of smarter WiFi solutions with special guest Adam Foreman, CEO of CaptiveWiFi. Discover how enhanced WiFi can significantly boost restaurant brands by creating a seamless customer experience and enhancing loyalty. Adam shares the story of CaptiveWiFi’s inception, innovative methods of customer data capture, and effective marketing automation strategie...

Paul Molinari is joined by Peter Romeo, an award-winning journalist and a renowned figure in restaurant journalism. They discuss Peter's illustrious career and his new role as Managing Editor at IFMA. Dive into the current trends, challenges, and technological advancements shaping the restaurant industry. The conversation spans from the impact of the pandemic on labor, consumer demands, the role of AI, to the importance of staying ...

In this episode of Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, host Paul Molinari of Popcorn GTM speaks with Scott Siegel, co-founder and CRO of Curbit. They discuss Curbit's innovative approach to kitchen capacity management that ensures food is delivered on time, every time, by orchestrating and organizing orders from multiple channels. Scott explains Curbit’s origins and evolution, their strategic decisions during the pandemic, and how their te...