Captive Conversations, The Hospitality Podcast

This week on Captive Conversations, I sat down with a creative force in hospitality: Dhilon Solanki — founder of Story Locker, co-founder of Pecking Order, and previously behind one of the most useful tools in the industry — Sprout.

Dhilon's journey is a masterclass in brand building with heart. He’s grown tech tools for hospitality, helped operators train better, and now helps people preserve their life stories through beau...

In this episode, Adam sits down with hospitality legend Kieron Bailey – co-founder of People on Purpose and a 30-year industry pro with a story (and scar) for every table he’s served.

From dodging flying ashtrays in his first pub to leading training for major brands like Wagamama and Hard Rock Café, Kieron shares his no-BS wisdom on what really makes hospitality tick:

✨ Why empathy and accountability must go hand-in-hand
✨ The leaders...

🎙️ EP46: From Nando’s to Tech to Ball Pits – The Wild Ops Journey of Travis Fish

In this episode, Adam sits down with Travis Fish, Operations Director at Comptoir Group, co-founder of BabaBoom and his new baby 🔥 Ops Club.

Travis shares a candid look at his journey from traditional hospitality ops at Nando’s to launching his own brand, diving into tech startups, and bringing competitive socialising to life with Ballie Baller...

🎙️ Episode 45 – Frederick Szydlowski, Co-Founder of Embargo

In this episode of Captive Conversations, Adam sits down with Fred from Embargo to explore the gritty, real, and often hilarious journey from working at Joe & the Juice to building a loyalty platform used by 200K+ hospitality businesses.

🎯 What you’ll hear:

• Fred’s early career story: from basketball to slinging juices at 19

• How he landed his first marketing role by s...

In this episode of Captive Conversations, Adam sits down with Susan Zwinkels, CMO of Kitch Social, to unpack what’s really working in hospitality marketing right now.

From the explosive power of TikTok to the untapped potential of employee-generated content, Susan brings a no-nonsense, refreshingly real view of how hospitality brands can stand out online—without blowing their budgets.

✨ Key Highlights

• Why TikTok is dominating atte...

🎙️ In this episode I sit down with Ruth Carpenter, the creative force behind the marketing of one of the UK’s most iconic and playful pizza brands — Pizza Pilgrims.

From navigating career leaps to scaling a national brand, Ruth opens up about the realities of marketing in hospitality, how to stay authentic as you grow, and why being serious about not taking yourself too seriously is a powerful strategy.

👀 Expect real talk about:

🍕...

In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Moreno—founder of QAB Leadership and an unstoppable force in the hospitality world—for a raw, funny, and wisdom-packed conversation about everything from global openings to personal reinvention.

We go deep into the journey: from starting out as a waitress at Asia de Cuba (serving Leonardo DiCaprio, no less) to launching 50+ restaurants and bars across London, Dubai, Mykonos, and beyond. 

Michel...

In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Heppell, Global Head of Digital at Aqua Restaurant Group, for a proper deep dive into the real world of hospitality, digital, and brand building.

From sharing advice he'd give his 16-year-old self (spoiler: it's all about valuing experience over things) to calling out overhyped nights like that Wembley boxing match, Ben brings the honesty—and a fresh take on what really matters in this indu...

🚀 From Pot Wash to Hospitality Tech Founder – The Journey of Michael Radley, Joli 🚀

🔥 Episode 40 of Captive Conversations! 🔥

We’ve hit a milestone—our 40th episode, with a fresh new design and some incredible guests lined up for the next few weeks! 🎉

To celebrate, I sat down with Michael Radley, co-founder of Joli, to talk about his journey from pot washing in a local pub to revolutionising influencer marketing in hospitality. 🏨...

🎙 Captive Conversations: Elliot Hill

Elliot Hill from 1 Lombard Street joins me to explore the balance between hospitality and technology. With years at the helm of one of London’s most iconic restaurants, he shares how to innovate without losing the human touch—because great service is still about connection.

We dive into fast-paced city dining, immersive experiences, and Elliot’s journey from village pub to leading a top-tier rest...

🎙 Captive Conversations: Sheri from Bill's

In this episode, I sit down with Sheri, Marketing Director at Bill's, to chat about her inspiring leap from retail to hospitality.
Sheri shares what she learned from her time at M&S—from the precision of retail logistics to the fast-paced, creative hustle of hospitality marketing. 💡

🍓 The Bill's Rebrand Journey

Sheri breaks down how they’ve injected ...

Chris Fletcher from Tech on Toast unveils the exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions that come with hosting major hospitality events, comparing the tension to launching a new restaurant. Despite the nerves, the event was a triumph, thanks to the unwavering support from a network of partners and operators. Chris discusses the exciting road ahead for his company, highlighting the growth of his team with new roles in recruitment and d...

In this episode, we’re diving into the future of hospitality hiring with Sam Brown & Nick Holroyd-Doveton from Candid Hospitality—the game-changing platform shaking up recruitment.

Forget the old-school hiring process—Candid is breaking barriers with blind hiring, anonymous candidate profiles, and AI-driven matchmaking. Their ethos? It’s all about the Three C’s—Culture, Competencies, and Compensation—ensuring businesses find th...

This episode explores how Krowd, a hospitality technology company, is reshaping digital engagement in the industry.

Matt Ford and Jonny Fox share their journey into hospitality, from their early hands-on experiences in restaurants and bars to leading digital transformation in the industry. Their careers have taken them from the front lines of service to pioneering tech-driven solutions, proving that a passion for hospitality, com...

🎙️ Welcome to Clips – Your Weekly Hospitality & Tech Insights! 🎙️

In this episode, we kick things off with an insightful chat with James Mobbs (Mr. CRM & Data) on how to set your restaurant or hospitality business up for success in Q1. From revenue-boosting strategies to must-have tools, James shares expert advice to keep you ahead of the game.

Next up, we sit down with the legendary Kieron Bailey, a content powerhouse with...

Join us for a chat with Rich from Tenzo, where unexpected adventures meet the rhythm of hospitality. Rich shares his spontaneous trip to a Hilltop Hoods concert in London and the timeless wisdom from his music teacher to "slow down," offering fresh perspectives on personal and professional challenges.

From the vibrant music scene in Méribel to London’s bustling hospitality life, Rich’s journey blends rhythm and resilience. We explo...

Unleash the Future of Hospitality Featuring Jon Horsfield from Centegra

We kick things off by diving into the core of our conversation focused on the hospitality industry. Jonn recounts a memorable experience at the Ivy in Manchester, setting the tone for our exploration of exceptional service and cutting-edge hospitality technology, with a special nod to Sam Brown and his company, Candid, for their innovative solutions.

We promise...

Join us for an enlightening conversation with Robbie, the visionary founder of ePosability, as we explore the dynamic shifts in customer interactions within the digital landscape. Robbie shares his unique insights on how restaurateurs can harness technology, moving be...

Carey Benn - Data-Driven Dining: Unlocking the Secrets of Customer Engagement

Join us as we welcome Carey, the founder of Guestwise, who shares a treasure trove of insights at the crossroads of hospitality and technology. Carey dives into the strategic role of technology in reducing restaurant failure rates, making this episode a flavourful blend of tradition and innovation.

We explore Carey’s time at Flypay, where pioneerin...