Digital Hospitality

Shawn P. Walchef
  • 4.7 (102)
  • MARKETING
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Digital Hospitality is an interview podcast series that explores the ways successful people have harnessed the power of the Internet and social media. The show is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef.

  1. 4D AGO

    How This Pizza Chain Automated & Scaled Their Restaurants With Modern Systems: MOTO Pizza

    Nora Hermann, COO of MOTO Pizza, joins Digital Hospitality to break down how the fast-growing brand is scaling with discipline. With seven locations and more on the way, MOTO relies on rightwork to forecast demand, optimize labor, and build smarter schedules before the week begins. Nora shares how planning for busy protects margin, strengthens culture, and reduces burnout, proving that sustainable growth starts with organized operations and strong technology partnerships. Labor Is Won Before the Week Starts – MOTO uses rightwork to forecast demand and set labor targets before schedules go live. Instead of reacting mid shift, managers see overstaffing or gaps in advance. Margin protection starts in planning, not in panic. Partnership Makes the Platform Work – Rightwork’s impact is not just AI. It is access. MOTO’s GMs can message the founder directly, suggest features, and see fast updates. Technology scales best when operators feel heard. Plan for Busy, Then Grow – MOTO prepares for volume before it hits. From Super Bowl projections to stadium surges, growth is intentional. Organized chaos only works when systems are strong. Episode Links Nora Hermann LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nora-hermann-0074699b/ MOTO Pizza Online: https://motopizza.com/ MOTO Pizza LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xoxomoto/ MOTO Pizza on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/motopizzashop MOTO Pizza on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@MOTOPIZZA MOTO Pizza on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/motoseattle/ rightwork: https://right.work/ rightwork LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rightwork-inc/ Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    35 min

  2. FEB 23

    Embrace Your Cringe: How 1925 PubHouse Is Building in Public

    Ben Morgan, Tyler Morgan, and Mallory Morgan of 1925 PubHouse in Anderson, Indiana join Digital Hospitality to share how a family restaurant is evolving in public. From losing a job during COVID to embracing smartphone storytelling, they discuss blending old-school marketing with modern tech. This episode explores leadership on camera, leveraging Toast and integrated tools, and why embracing the cringe might be the most powerful growth strategy in 2026. Embrace the Cringe to Unlock Growth – Mallory Morgan didn’t wait for perfect lighting or polished campaigns. Putting real servers, real shifts, and real leadership on camera immediately increased engagement. When operators stop hiding behind food photos and start showing people, connection grows faster than reach. Lead From the Front – If you want your team on camera, you go first. Ben Morgan and Tyler Morgan understood that visibility starts at the top. When leadership is willing to be seen, the staff follows. Culture is not what you say in meetings. It is what you model in public. Old School + New School Wins – 1925 PubHouse still invests in mailers and sports radio. But pairing those community-rooted tactics with smartphone storytelling multiplies impact. The restaurants that grow today respect traditional marketing while building digital presence at the same time. Episode Links Ben Morgan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-morgan-84040711/ Tyler Morgan LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-morgan-786b7a130/ 1925 PubHouse Online: https://www.1925pubhouse.com/ 1925 PubHouse Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1925_pubhouse_courtyard 1925 PubHouse Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@1925pubhouse7 Mallory Morgan Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hearmalout Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    33 min

  3. FEB 16

    One Pound of Mozzarella, Hundreds of Orders, and the Power of the Internet

    Julia Tinajero, co-owner of Basilico Italiano in Concord, North Carolina, joins Digital Hospitality to share how a one-pound mozzarella stick and a chicken Caesar wrap went viral and transformed her 85-seat restaurant. She explains how building menu items in public, embracing transparency, and responding to critics fueled real growth. This episode explores the power of short-form video, the realities of sudden demand, and why pressing record can change a restaurant’s trajectory. Build in Public Creates Momentum – Julia didn’t wait for the perfect menu launch. She tested, tweaked, and shared the chicken Caesar wrap and mega mozzarella in real time. Inviting the internet into the process turned customers into collaborators and momentum into measurable sales. Viral Only Works If Operations Hold – A one-pound mozzarella can drive 300 orders, but only if the team can execute. Turning off online ordering, prioritizing the dining room, and communicating clearly protected the guest experience. Transparency Builds Trust – Posting one-star reviews, explaining tough decisions, and sharing hard days strengthened community loyalty. Honesty travels further than perfection, and authenticity converts attention into long-term growth. Episode Links Julia Tinajero LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-tinajero-2b37b8393/ Basilico Italiano: https://basilicoitaliano.com/ Basilico Italiano Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/basilicoitaliano/?hl=en Basilico Italiano Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@basilicoconcordnc Basilico Italiano Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/basilicoitaliano.concord/ Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    37 min

  4. FEB 9

    Why This Restaurant Owner Turned to YouTube to Tell His Story

    Shawn Walchef sits down with Chef Christophe Cevasco, owner of Beeside Balcony, to talk about building a restaurant with focus, presence, and ownership. Cevasco shares what he learned leaving corporate dining, buying his first restaurant just before COVID, and resisting the urge to scale too fast. The conversation explores storytelling through YouTube, using technology to support hospitality, and why showing up for guests still matters most. Interview Takeaways: Ownership Creates Clarity – Cevasco’s shift away from corporate dining was not about freedom for its own sake. It was about control. Control of the food, the room, the culture, and the decisions. By starting with a restaurant he could actually operate, he built clarity into the business before chasing growth.  Telling the Story Is Now Part of the Job – Beeside Balcony did not grow because of polished marketing. It grew because Cevasco stopped outsourcing his identity and started documenting the work himself. YouTube and social platforms became tools for showing the reality of running a restaurant, not selling a highlight reel. Authentic storytelling turned presence into visibility and trust. Systems Support Hospitality – Technology plays a role in keeping the operation tight, but Cevasco is clear about its place. Tools help manage complexity so operators can stay present. Hospitality still happens face to face, through table touches, conversations, and consistency. When systems work quietly in the background, people can focus on people. Episode Links: Christophe Cevasco LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christophe-cevasco-8925793a4/ Christophe Cevasco YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@chefchristophec Beeside Balcony: https://beesidebalcony.com/ Beeside Balcony Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beesidebalconylajolla/?hl=en Beeside Balcony Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beesidebalconylj/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying... Click here to learn more Marqii: Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences... Click here to learn more Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    31 min

  5. FEB 5

    Pitch The Tide – Will Stewart: Founder of rightwork

    In this Pitch The Tide session, Will Stewart, founder of rightwork, pitches a labor scheduling platform built to help restaurant managers make better decisions before the week begins. Rightwork forecasts demand, turns it into clear labor targets, and guides managers toward schedules that balance service, staffing, and profitability. Instead of static spreadsheets or guesswork, the platform gives teams real-time feedback on overstaffing, understaffing, and budget alignment. The focus of the pitch is simple: less time fixing schedules and more time running the business. Interview Takeaways: Scheduling Is a Decision Problem, Not a Communication Tool – Most platforms stop at posting shifts. rightwork focuses on helping managers make better labor decisions upfront by tying schedules to demand, budgets, and real constraints. Confidence Before the Week Starts Changes Everything – By grading schedules against forecasted demand and labor targets, managers know whether they are overstaffed or understaffed before service begins, not after the P&L review. Better Systems Give Managers Time Back on the Floor – When forecasting, budgeting, and schedule adjustments happen in one place, managers spend less time fixing spreadsheets and more time leading teams and serving guests. Episode Links: Will Stewart LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/will-stewart-23339b66/ rightwork Online: https://right.work/ rightwork LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rightwork-inc/ Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/ Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying... Click here to learn more Marqii: Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences... Click here to learn more Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    57 min

  6. FEB 4

    How You Can Boost Your Business Revenue with Public Speaking!

    Public speaking does not generate revenue by selling from the stage. It generates revenue by building belief. Shawn Walchef breaks down why pitching kills trust, why stories outperform sales decks, and how serving an audience creates leverage long after the room clears. From stage theory to the courage required to start small and stay consistent, this piece reframes public speaking as a long game built on connection, repetition, and earning trust over time. Interview Takeaways: Service Creates Revenue – Public speaking works when the goal is connection, not conversion. Stories and lessons build trust. Trust turns into opportunity long after the stage is gone. The Stage Is a Multiplier – A room is only the starting point. Recording and distributing talks turns moments into assets and expands impact far beyond the audience in front of you. Courage Compounds Over Time – Confidence is not a prerequisite. Reps are. Small stages, imperfect starts, and consistency reward the people willing to stay visible long enough to earn trust. Episode Links: Shawn Walchef LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ Shawn Walchef Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shawnpwalchef/?hl=en Cali BBQ: https://calibbq.media/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying... Click here to learn more Marqii: Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences... Click here to learn more Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    5 min

  7. FEB 2

    Rightwork + Toast: Smarter Labor Scheduling for Restaurants

    Patrick Cattoor , Vice President of Operations at My Burger, joins Shawn Walchef on Digital Hospitality to discuss how the Twin Cities burger brand has scaled to 11 locations without losing its focus on people and service. Cattoor shares how his background in public accounting shaped his approach to operations, labor, and leadership, and why hospitality in a quick service environment requires intentional systems. He explains how partnering with rightwork brought clarity to scheduling, reduced manager stress, and helped My Burger grow with confidence instead of chaos. Interview Takeaways: Systems That Protect Hospitality – Patrick Cattoor believes growth only works when systems reduce pressure on people. As My Burger scaled to 11 locations, he focused on tools that give managers time and clarity, allowing hospitality to show up naturally on the floor instead of getting buried under admin work. Labor Clarity Builds Confident Managers – Scheduling is one of the most sensitive jobs in a restaurant. rightwork simplifies forecasting and labor decisions by putting real time data and guidance directly into the scheduler. Managers save time, trust their decisions, and spend less energy reacting to labor stress. Technology That Stays Out of the Way – Patrick evaluates every tool through one lens: does it remove friction. By consolidating platforms and integrating cleanly with existing systems, rightwork fades into daily operations, helping teams stay focused on service, culture, and guests. Episode Links: Patrick Cattoor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-cattoor-95a77415/ My Burger: https://www.myburgerusa.com/ My Burger Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/myburgerusa/ My Burger Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myburgerusa rightwork: https://right.work/ rightwork LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rightwork-inc/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying... Click here to learn more Marqii: Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences... Click here to learn more Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    27 min

  8. JAN 29

    Pitch The Tide – Kim Modeste: Founder and CEO, S’more AI

    In this Pitch The Tide session, Kim Modeste, founder and CEO of S’more AI, shares what she learned from years of watching how restaurants actually try to drive sales. She explains the simple truth about contests: they work, but only for as long as people stay excited about them. Kim walks through why most contests fizzle out once the spreadsheets come out, and how S’more AI keeps the energy going by making incentives easy, automatic, and part of the flow of service. The result is a system that helps operators motivate their teams, see real results on the P&L, and turn the people on the floor into one of their most powerful growth tools, without adding more work to anyone’s plate. Interview Takeaways: Turns Contests Into a Real Growth Tool – S’more AI takes something restaurants already do and makes it work at scale. By automating tracking, keeping score in real time, and handling rewards instantly, contests stop being a short-term boost and start becoming a reliable way to drive sales. Removes Friction From Motivation – No apps to download. No spreadsheets to manage. No managers chasing updates. By running everything through simple text messages and real-time data, S’more AI keeps teams focused on guests while motivation runs quietly in the background. Proves ROI Instead of Promising It – Instead of hoping contests work, S’more AI shows operators what changed. With clear sales lift and ROI right in the dashboard, restaurants can see exactly what their team-driven incentives are delivering to the business. Episode Links: Kim Modeste LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberley-modeste-277858105/ S'more AI: https://smoreai.io/ Cali BBQ Media: https://content.calibbq.media/ Join Our Next Show: https://betheshow.media/rising-tides/ Shawn Walchef on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef/ About Our Sponsors DAVO: DAVO automates every step of the sales tax process — from collecting to filing to paying... Click here to learn more Marqii: Marqii is designed to create unforgettable customer experiences... Click here to learn more Where to find Cali BBQ Media Visit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services

    58 min
See All (595)

4.7
out of 5
102 Ratings

About

Digital Hospitality is an interview podcast series that explores the ways successful people have harnessed the power of the Internet and social media. The show is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef.

Information

  • Creator
    Shawn P. Walchef
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2026
  • Episodes
    595
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cali BBQ Media
  • Show Website
    Digital Hospitality

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