Hospitality Hangout Podcast
Join Michael Schatzberg (The Restaurant Guy) and Jimmy Frischling (The Finance Guy) on The Hospitality Hangout for bold, hilarious, and insight-packed conversations with the power players redefining hospitality. From hot trends and tech breakthroughs to behind-the-scenes stories, no topic is off the table.
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Recent Episodes
Inside the AI Shift Happening in Independent Restaurants
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 th...
NRA Show 2026: What to Expect at “The Show”
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 Hospi...
How Taco Bell Won a $45M Lawsuit and Took Over Culture
Former Greg Creed joins Hospitality Hangout to share how he helped transform Taco Bell into one of the most iconic restaurant brands in the world. Greg discusses the famous Taco Bell beef lawsuit response, launching Doritos Locos Tacos, building Mountain Dew Baja Blast into a billion-dollar beverag…
The Bagel That Broke the Internet: Tory Bartlett and the Rise of PopU…
What does it take to turn a simple bagel shop into a viral, high-growth brand across major markets—and why is PopUp Bagels winning where others struggle?
It’s All in the Sauce: The Eric Skae Playbook Behind Rao’s and Carbon…
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 identif...
NYC Bagel Wars: Bagel Bosses of NYC on Tradition, Trends, and the Fut…
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 ...
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Recent Blog Posts
Beyond the Kitchen: How AI is Revolutionizing Restaurant Operations
Welcome back to the blog, folks! In our latest episode of Inside the AI Shift Happening in Independent Restaurants, we dove deep into the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence within the restaurant industry. While many might immediately th…
The Enduring Relevance of the NRA Show: More Than Just a Convention
Welcome back to the blog for The Hospitality Hangout! In our latest episode, we dove deep into the exciting world of the National Restaurant Association Show, an event that has been a cornerstone of the foodservice industry for decades. We chatted w…
The Taco Bell Lawsuit: How a Near-Disaster Became a Branding Triumph
Introduction: The Near-Fatal LawsuitIn the fast-paced world of business, crises are an almost inevitable part of the journey. Some companies crumble under pressure, their reputations tarnished and their futures uncertain. Others, however, possess …
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