Pizza King Podcast: Empowering Pizzeria Leadership

Tyrell Reed | Pizzeria Leadership & Team Building Coach
  • 4.7 (13)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Pizza King Podcast is where pizzeria owners and operators go to sharpen their skills, build better teams, and grow more profitable businesses. Hosted by Tyrell Reed—franchise leader, coach, and author of Next Level Leadership—each episode delivers practical insights, real-life stories, and expert advice to help you win in the pizza business. Whether you're opening your first shop or scaling your tenth, this show is your guide to pizza business excellence. 

  1. 4D AGO

    First month in the new shop...did we make any profit?

    If you run a pizzeria, you do not need more hype. You need better decisions, cleaner systems, and a team that can hold standards without you babysitting every shift. In this episode, we break down the real moves that protect profit in a pizza shop. Sales channels, food cost, labor control, prep and portioning, speed of service, and the management habits that keep results consistent. You will hear practical ways to spot leaks fast, fix them with simple routines, and build a weekly process that keeps your numbers and your team on track. You will walk away with a short list of actions you can use right away: How to tighten labor without crushing service.How to control food cost with portioning, prep, and inventory habits.How to price and manage third-party delivery fees without losing margin.How to run weekly scorecards and shift huddles that build accountability.How to train managers to lead the shift, not just work the shift.This is for pizzeria owners, operators, and general managers who want stronger leadership, better restaurant operations, and higher profit without working 70 hours a week. Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    13 min

  2. FEB 10

    The People Skills Behind Strong Operations

    Stacy Richter, CEO of Live Lingua, joins Tyrell Reed on The Pizza King Podcast to talk about the people skills that build a stronger pizzeria. Stacy started in a Pizza Hut kitchen, moved through front of house, and turned those restaurant lessons into a career across sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship.  You will learn how to build trust fast with customers and with your team, how to sell without sounding pushy, and how to start better conversations even if you would rather stay in the kitchen. Stacy also breaks down what actually helps adults learn Spanish, and why live coaching, accountability, and community beat streaks and apps when you need real conversations.  If you lead a pizzeria team with mixed languages, or you want stronger hospitality, better customer experience, and tighter communication, this episode gives you practical moves you can use this week. Live Lingua links Website: https://livelingua.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LiveLingua Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livelingua/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/livelingua LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/live-lingua/ Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Starting a Podcast? Try Riverside freeDisclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    39 min

  3. FEB 3

    Mia Ava East Coast Pizza | Chris Battiste

    Chris Battiste from Mia Ava East Coast Pizza breaks down what it takes to run a fast New York style slice shop and still compete at a high level. We talk speed of service, premium ingredients, and how to build a product that stays consistent day after day. You will hear how Chris uses pizza competitions to sharpen his craft, why he wants the score sheet and notes, and what “balance” really means when you judge sauce, cheese, and toppings. We also get practical on dough systems, hydration, fermentation, and adjusting for heat and humidity. Plus, customer education, menu clarity, and the simple changes that protect reviews and keep the line moving. If you run a pizzeria and you want better execution, better product, and fewer headaches, this one is for you. Connect with Chris on Instagram @miaavaeastcoast Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    1h 23m

  4. JAN 29

    Pep talks do not fix margins - Week 4 in the pizzeria

    Powered By ThrivePOS In this Takeout Tips episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed breaks down GM planning and leadership routines during week four of the Valrico store takeover. This is the point where most turnarounds either gain traction or slide back into old habits.  Tyrell shares his actual weekly P&L and walks through the numbers live. Not a dashboard. Not a summary. The real tool used every week with the GM. He answers the question most owners avoid asking out loud. Are we making money yet?  You will learn how to use a weekly P&L as a management tool, not accounting homework. You will see how food cost, labor, third party delivery mix, and fixed costs affect profitability week by week. Tyrell also explains why manually tracking key metrics builds stronger managers and better decision making before relying on dashboards and reports.  This episode is for pizzeria owners and operators who want control of the business without adding stress. If you want to build leadership habits, understand your numbers, and create a path to profitability, this one matters.  What you will take away:  • How to structure a weekly GM meeting that removes emotion and drives clarity  • Why prime cost control matters more than motivational talks  • Real weekly sales and loss numbers from an active store turnaround  • How third party delivery impacts profit week to week  • Why manual tracking teaches managers how the business actually works  • When dashboards help and when they hurt developing leaders    Watch the full episode on YouTube https://youtu.be/a9V_BFdrwHs   Request my weekly P&L template  Email: info@tyrellreed.com   Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook  https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page   Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort  https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2   Learn more about my work, tools, and events  https://tyrellreed.com   Upcoming events and appearances:  New York Restaurant Show  Javits Center, March 7  Pizza Expo Las Vegas  On the show floor recording podcast episodes  Listen to the Tory T’s episode mentioned in this show  Available now on the Pizza King Podcast  Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    23 min

  5. JAN 27

    From Legacy Pizza to Modern Leadership with Tori Tiso

    Pizza Driven Point of Sale by ThrivePOS Detroit pizza in New York. Two locations. Big creativity with tight standards. In this episode, Tyrell sits down with Tori Tiso to talk pizza leadership and real operations. You’ll hear how she builds new pies without losing consistency, why she simplified the menu to protect profit and labor, and how she trains people like a coach so the product stays right when the owner is not on the line. If you run a pizzeria and you want cleaner systems, faster training, and better execution, this episode will help. Links Tori T’s Pizzeria: https://toritspizzeria.com/ Tori T’s Pizzeria Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tori_tspizzeria/ Tori T’s Pizzeria Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Tori-Ts-Pizzeria-61557085002760/ Tori T Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebronxpizzagirl/ 914 Pizza: https://914pizzaharrison.com/ 914 Pizza Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/914pizza/ Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Starting a Podcast? Try Riverside freeFree Digital Checklists - Safety CultureGive Your Teams The Knowledge, Tools & Confidence To Work Safely & Meet Higher Standards.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    50 min

  6. JAN 20

    Nobody’s got it better than us - Eric Bam, Perfect Crust

    Third-party delivery can wreck a great pizza fast. In this episode, I sit down with Eric Bam, VP of Sales and Marketing at Perfect Crust Pizza Liners, to talk about the real fix. Protect the product from oven to customer door. We break down why packaging and food protection matter more than most operators admit, because customers do not blame DoorDash. Customers blame your brand. We also get practical on pricing and margin protection. If better packaging costs more, build it into your Uber Eats and DoorDash prices. Stop absorbing the cost. Then we shift to catering growth with EZ Cater. We talk about why corporate and pharma orders can change a slow day, and the settings that drive profit, lead times, delivery fees, delivery zones, and simple bundles that make ordering easy. We also cover a simple social media move most pizza shops miss. Stop posting only pizza photos. Show the experience, the people, and what customers should expect when they walk in. Topics covered Pizza delivery packaging, pizza box liners, heat retention, crisp crust, customer reviewsDoorDash and Uber Eats pricing strategy for profitEZ Cater catering strategy for pizzerias, higher ticket orders, lead time, delivery zones, delivery feesRestaurant social media video strategy that builds trust before the first visitLearn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    56 min

  7. JAN 18 · BONUS

    Scaling a Pizza Shop Without Chaos

    Get Your Free Demo From ThrivePOS In this Takeout Tips episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed gives a real behind the scenes update from week two inside the shop, focused on one of the most overlooked drivers of profitability for pizzeria owners. Cash management. This episode breaks down how tightening up cash handling, deposits, tip policies, and discounts creates clarity for your team and control for you as the owner. Tyrell walks through the exact steps taken to clean up cash procedures, eliminate confusion at the register, and set clear expectations for closers and front of house staff. You will hear why tip pooling needed structure, how fair policies protect culture, and what happens when systems replace assumptions. You will also get practical insight into early sales growth without aggressive marketing, adjusting store hours to match demand, building a catering advantage, and why throwing away 30,000 printed menus was the right call. This episode reinforces a simple truth. Clean operations come before clever promotions. If you own or manage a pizzeria and want better control over cash flow, cleaner systems, and a stronger foundation for growth, this episode delivers clear lessons you can apply right away. Topics covered include pizzeria cash management, tip pooling policies, POS systems for restaurants, coupon cleanup, catering strategy, store hours optimization, rewards programs, and building operational discipline in pizza shops. Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    11 min

  8. JAN 13

    How AI Is Fixing the Phone Problem in Pizza Shops

    Get 3 Months Free from ThrivePOS In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Logan Whitehouse, co-founder of Virnika AI, to break down how AI phone automation is changing restaurant operations.  The conversation stays focused on real operator problems. Missed calls. Labor pressure. Inconsistent upselling. Customer experience during peak hours. Logan explains how AI voice agents can take orders, answer menu questions, upsell consistently, and scale call volume without adding staff. All while keeping your existing phone number and POS setup intact.  You will hear a clear breakdown of implementation timelines, common operator concerns, and how to measure ROI beyond labor savings. This includes higher ticket averages, fewer missed orders, reduced staff stress, and better focus during rushes.  Logan also shares why Virnika stays restaurant-only, how the system learns your menu in real time, and what the future of AI assistants in restaurant leadership could look like. This episode is built for pizzeria owners, operators, and managers who want practical insight into AI for restaurants, phone automation, labor efficiency, and smarter operations without sacrificing hospitality.  Learn More By Visiting ThrivePOS.com/PizzaKing Starting a Podcast? Try Riverside freeFree Digital Checklists - Safety CultureGive Your Teams The Knowledge, Tools & Confidence To Work Safely & Meet Higher Standards.Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the show Request my weekly P&L template Email: info@tyrellreed.com Download the free Lead the Shift 21-Day Workbook https://tyrellreed.com/leadtheshift-page Apply for the March Leadership Accelerator cohort https://tyrellreed.com/leadership2 Learn more about my work, tools, and events https://tyrellreed.com Upcoming events and appearances: New York Restaurant Show Javits Center, March 7 Pizza Expo Las Vegas On the show floor recording podcast episodes

    40 min
See All (117)

4.7
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

The Pizza King Podcast is where pizzeria owners and operators go to sharpen their skills, build better teams, and grow more profitable businesses. Hosted by Tyrell Reed—franchise leader, coach, and author of Next Level Leadership—each episode delivers practical insights, real-life stories, and expert advice to help you win in the pizza business. Whether you're opening your first shop or scaling your tenth, this show is your guide to pizza business excellence. 

Information