Hospitality Hangout | Expert Strategies & Industry Trends from Hospitality Insiders
Hospitality Insiders Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling delve into hospitality trends, food service insights, and investment strategies. Each week, receive insider insights and funny stories that shape the hospitality landscape. They live at the intersection of hospitality, food service, technology, and investment, connecting the biggest players and boldest ideas shaping the industry. Each week, they serve up funny, informative, and wildly entertaining conversations with the insiders who are leading a new era of hospitality. From emerging brands and breakthrough tech to industry trends and restaurant success stories, no topic is off the table. It’s where the who’s who of hospitality hangs out – packed with expert insights, laugh-out-loud moments, and must-know trends that keep you ahead of the game. 🍽️ Tune in, grab a drink, and let’s talk shop! 🚀
Episodes
Dirty soda is no longer just a viral drink trend. Custom beverages, cold foam, popping boba, layered flavors, and social-ready drink experiences are becoming a bigger part of how restaurants drive traffic, premium pricing, and repeat visits.
Scott Finlow, Chief Marketing Officer, PepsiCo Away from Home, and Alison Dempsey Senior Director of Innovation at PepsiCo join Hospitality Hangout to break down DRIPS by Pepsi, PepsiCo’s...
Donatos Pizza President and CEO Kevin King joins Hospitality Hangout to share the growth playbook behind a legacy pizza brand built on culture, consistency, and a people-first approach to hospitality.
From starting as a dishwasher at 14 to leading one of America’s most recognizable pizza brands, Kevin explains how Donatos has stayed relevant while staying true to its values. He breaks down the company’s Agape Capitalism...
Chris Noffze, Director of Direct Franchising and Operations at Gong cha Americas, takes us inside Gong cha’s franchise growth strategy, simplified operations, and Gong cha 2.0 including Super Wu, the beverage automation system designed to build highly customized drinks faster and more consistently while allowing team members to spend more time with guests. From self-order kiosks and QR-driven drink production to training, ret...
Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference, Hospitality Hangout sits down with M.J. Worsham, Vice President of Technology at Five Guys, to discuss AI in restaurants, automation, loyalty programs, restaurant operations, POS systems, labor optimization, guest experience, and the technology trends shaping the future of hospitality.
M.J. shares how Five Guys evaluates emerging restaurant technology, why AI vendors must prove real o...
On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Jimmy Frischling and Michael Schatzberg sit down with Cathy Chavenet to discuss the remarkable growth of Paris Baguette. Kathy shares her journey from classically trained pastry chef and bakery owner to leading marketing, culinary innovation, and brand strategy for one of the fastest-growing bakery café concepts in North America.
Cathy shares her journey from pastry chef and bakery owne...
Rock & Brews CEO Adam Goldberg joins Hospitality Hangout live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a conversation about the future of restaurants, experiential dining, restaurant traffic, and why food alone is no longer enough to win guests.
In this Hospitality Hangout Short, Adam Goldberg talks with Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling about how Rock & Brews, the ro...
Breakfast is no longer just breakfast.
Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference, Josh Kern joins the Hospitality Hangout Podcast to break down why brunch culture, protein trends, social media, and hospitality are reshaping the restaurant business.
From protein pancakes and breakfast burritos to brunch cocktails, loyalty, restaurant marketing, influencer culture, and why younger diners are changing the way America eats, this c...
Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, the Hospitality Hangout team sits down with Scott Drake to talk about how Chuck E. Cheese has evolved with a new generation of families, kids, and consumers.
Scott shares how the brand modernized the Chuck E. Cheese experience through digital interactive environments, active play concepts, memberships, media content, loyalty programs, and experiential entertainment while...
In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling sit down with Neel Patel, CEO of Quiznos and Rego Restaurant Group, to discuss one of the most fascinating comeback stories in the restaurant industry.
Once a 5,000-unit sandwich giant, Quiznos has spent the last decade rebuilding after bankruptcy and massive contraction. Neel shares how the brand is finding new momentum thro...
Sterling Douglas returns to Hospitality Hangout to break down how AI is rapidly reshaping the restaurant industry and why operators are adopting technology faster than ever before. As the CEO of Chowly, Sterling shares how the platform has evolved from third-party marketplace integrations into a full-suite solution powering everything outside the four walls of the restaurant, including marketing, websites, and digital guest interac...
Every year, the National Restaurant Association Show takes over Chicago — and for anyone in hospitality, it’s more than just a convention. It’s where the industry shows up, shows off, and looks ahead.
In this episode of Hospitality Hangout, Schatzy sits down with David Henkes and Lisa Malikow from Technomic to break down everything you need to know about the NRA Show.
They get into how long “The Show” ...
Former Greg Creed joins Hospitality Hangout for a masterclass in leadership, branding, and restaurant growth. Greg shares how he helped transform Taco Bell into one of the most recognizable brands in the world, from responding to a headline-making lawsuit to launching Doritos Locos Tacos and building Mountain Dew Baja Blast into a billion-dollar success story.
The conversation also dives into company culture, developing leaders, st...
Tory Bartlett joins the conversation to break down the rise of PopUp Bagels and what it takes to turn a simple product into a cultural phenomenon. From washing dishes at Hooters to leading one of the fastest-growing brands in hospitality, he shares the journey behind building a business rooted in energy, simplicity, and experience.
The discussion explores how PopUp Bagels disrupted a legacy category by focusing on a limited menu, o...
Eric Skae joins the conversation to break down what it really takes to build and scale a food brand, drawing from his experience growing Rao’s and now leading Carbone Fine Foods into a new era of rapid expansion. From identifying untapped potential to driving exponential growth, he unpacks the fundamentals behind turning strong products into nationally recognized brands.
The discussion explores the key differences between res...
Bagel Bosses of NYC come together to break down what really makes a great bagel, and why New York continues to set the standard. From the role of water and technique to the importance of process, they unpack the fundamentals behind a product that sits at the intersection of food, culture, and hospitality.
The conversation explores how bagel shops are balancing tradition with innovation, from evolving customer preferences to the gro...
In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, we dive deep into the incredible story of Pinky Cole, Founder and CEO of Slutty Vegan, and her journey in the hospitality industry. Learn how Pinky, a dynamic restaurant CEO, built a $100M hospitality business, experienced a major setback, and then successfully rebuilt smarter with Slutty Vegan 2.0.
Pinky shares critical hospitality insider insights on why experience can matter more than ...
In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, Jon Skogmo, Founder and CEO of LOST iN, shares his visionary approach to redefining travel media and hospitality content. Dive into how LOST iN is revolutionizing hospitality media by targeting younger, experience-driven audiences who crave authentic, local city exploration beyond traditional tourist guides.
Explore the shifting travel behaviors in the post-COVID world and why authentic s...
Andrew Katz, Chief Marketing Officer at Athletic Brewing Company, joins The Hospitality Hangout to share his expertise on the booming non-alcoholic beer market and its impact on the hospitality industry. Discover how Athletic Brewing has grown into a leading brand by reshaping drinking culture and innovating within the beverage segment.
Katz dives into brand growth strategies, evolving consumer preferences around wellness and socia...
In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, we welcome Aris Yeager, better known as the European Kid, to discuss his viral food comedy journey and insights into the hospitality industry. Aris shares how a college joke transformed into a viral persona captivating millions across social media, blending humor with commentary on American dining etiquette and culture.
Dive into the hospitality business side of creator culture as Aris ex...
In this episode of The Hospitality Hangout, Noah Chaimberg, Hot Sauce Expert and Founder of Heatonist, shares his unique insights on transforming hot sauce from a niche condiment into a dynamic cultural phenomenon within the hospitality business. Noah discusses how his approach to hospitality brand building blends retail and media, emphasizing the power of storytelling to drive restaurant growth strategies. He highlights the import...
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.