The PAX Hospitality Podcast

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A podcast meant to be shared. For the hospitality industry, created by the team at PAX.

  1. 17h ago

    Owner of the 2026 Best Bar in Vic Creates His Job Description Live

    Every founder eventually hits the "operational vortex," but few have the right tether to pull themselves out.  In this episode, we sit down with Matt Stirling of the acclaimed Fancy Free Group - the visionaries behind Melbourne institutions like Caretaker’s Cottage and Three Horses, 2026 Best Bar in Victoria.  Matt dives deep into the necessity of role clarity at the ownership level, explaining why even successful founders struggle to define their own job descriptions. We discuss the shift from a "helping" mindset to a "supportive" one, the critical role of accountability in high-performance hospitality, and how structure is not a constraint, but a pathway to creative freedom.  Whether you’re a business owner feeling stuck in the day-to-day or a leader looking to refine your management style, Matt’s candid insights on building trust, growth, and sustainable culture offer a blueprint for scaling with confidence. (00:01:00) Escaping the operational vortex (00:03:30) Priorities reflected in behaviour (00:13:15) The mantra: support don't help (00:26:30) Understanding servant leadership (00:33:30) Structuring your purpose statement (00:43:30) Employee experience drives customer loyalty (00:47:30) Building resilience through love and boundaries For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-3-episode-4. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at.  If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne.  If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ] We would love to know what you'd like to hear in season 4! Let us know here Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  2. Sep 13

    Happy Hour: Guy Greenstone of Stomping Ground Brewing Co.

    In this episode of Happy Hour, host Leon sits down with Guy Greenstone, the co-founder of Stomping Ground Brewing Co., to unpack real-world advice straight from the PAX mailbag. Transitioning from the high-stakes strategy of the PAX Podcast to a conversational pint, Leon and Guy dive into three massive listener dilemmas.  First, they solve the venue music crisis, highlighting why acoustics and curated playlists form the ultimate hospitality "X-factor". Next, they tackle a listener's frustration with greenwashing, explaining the positive cash-flow reality of solar investment and why staff must "be the change". Finally, they offer valuable guidance to a 24-year-old supervisor on handling tough feedback and embracing vulnerability as a key leadership tool.  Packed with top-tier podcast recommendations - from business deep dives to economic stories - this episode is an informal, action-oriented masterclass for anyone looking to elevate their hospitality game. (00:02:15) Malt Donkey and Single-Estate Barley (00:05:45) Conversational Community: Happy Hour vs. PAX Podcast (00:07:45) Cracking the Venue Music Crisis (00:20:25) Top Podcast Recommendations for Hospitality (00:28:45) Tackling Greenwashing and Sustainability Dilemmas (00:30:45) The Business Case for Solar Power (00:41:00) Accidental Leadership and Young Supervisor Advice For more information on PAX , visit pax.melbourne Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. We would love to know what you'd like to hear in season 4! Let us know here. For more information on Stomping Ground, visit Stomping Ground Brewing Co. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

    Happy Hour: Guy Greenstone of Stomping Ground Brewing Co.

  3. Sep 6

    The Art of Blueprinting Service with Professor Simon Bell

    In this episode of the PAX Hospitality Podcast, host Leon Kennedy challenges the pervasive industry narrative that hospitality is completely broken. Joining the conversation is Simon Bell, a distinguished Professor of Marketing at the University of Melbourne who specialises in services and marketing strategy. Drawing from decades of academic research and frameworks like Michael Porter’s Five Forces, Simon provides a refreshing analysis of Melbourne's hyper-competitive food landscape, illustrating why the experience economy remains in a powerful ascendancy. The pair dive into the strategic advantages of customer education, revealing how transparency and "delighters" - such as sharing proprietary recipes - actually cultivate unshakeable customer loyalty. Leon and Simon unpack actionable methodologies for operators, detailing how profound internal employee experience directly underpins external brand equity. The episode concludes with a preview of a structured customer experience course centred around the vital concept of "service blueprinting". (00:00:15) Introducing Professor Simon Bell and rewriting the broken hospitality narrative (00:06:00) Applying Porter's Five Forces and analysing the fierce density of the Melbourne market (00:09:15) Navigating the ascendancy of the experience economy and authentic customer connection (00:14:00) The critical power of positive business narrative versus negative self-fulfilling prophecies (00:19:45) Defining customer education and why pulling back the curtain drives firm-specific loyalty (00:38:45) Inverting the organisational pyramid to empower and support front-line employees (00:51:15) Structuring a new three-workshop customer experience course around service blueprinting For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-3-episode-3. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at.  If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne.  If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ] Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  4. Aug 30

    Happy Hour: Chris Hamburger of Stagger Lee's

    This week on Happy Hour, join us for a candid conversation with Chris Hamburger, the chef and owner of Fitzroy staple, Stagger Lee’s. With 12 years of experience under his belt, Chris highlights the realities of the modern hospitality industry - the highs, the lows, and the grit required to sustain it. We explore his journey with "sober-curiosity," the healing power of motorcycle rides, and how he uses his restaurant as a beacon of community support, even during tough economic times. Chris shares his raw, unfiltered perspective on work-life balance, building resilience through daily routines, and his dedication to creating a sustainable, community-focused business model. Whether you're in the industry or just looking for inspiration to find your "spark" again, Chris’s honest take on dedication, creativity, and mental health is an essential listen. (00:03:30) The benefits of sobriety and clarity (00:06:50) Unconditioning societal drinking norms (00:08:45) Creative, vegan-forward cooking (00:10:20) Finding the creative spark again (00:13:00) Motorcycle riding and mental resilience (00:16:15) Building community and respect (00:25:45) The reality of hospitality dedication For more information on PAX , visit pax.melbourne Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. For more information on Stagger Lee's, visit Stagger Lee's Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

    Happy Hour: Chris Hamburger of Stagger Lee's

  5. Aug 23

    Debt or Equity? Raising Capital Quickfire with Michael Bascetta

    In this instalment of the PAX Hospitality Podcast, host Leon Kennedy welcomes back data-backed fan-favourite Michael Bascetta for an unfiltered masterclass on navigating the complex world of capital and restaurant funding. Moving far beyond dry spreadsheet forecasts, Michael leverages his extensive hospitality track record and industry stature to dismantle the common pitfalls that lead to instant investor rejection.  The duo outline the four distinct business archetypes desperate for funding and maps out a definitive, practical strategy for evaluating debt versus equity. This conversation reveals how to invite collaboration by exposing your business plan's vulnerabilities. Whether you are a first-time founder mapping an initial concept or an established operator trying to avoid stagnation, this episode provides the definitive roadmap for making your venue undeniably investable. (00:01:41) The critical intersection of capital and true business partnership (00:03:55) Dissecting the four customer categories requiring capital injections (00:06:05) The primary reasons investors and banks reject funding requests (00:10:41) Formulating the foundational discovery question for prospective investors (00:14:55) Embracing operational vulnerability to secure long-term emotional investment (00:20:00) Balancing the perfect pitch against targeting the perfect audience (00:27:31) Operational realities, trade-offs, and ratios of debt versus equity For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-3-episode-2. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at.  If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne.  If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ] Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  6. Aug 16

    Happy Hour: Hannah Green of Etta, and Daphne

    In this unfiltered episode of Happy Hour, we sit down with Hannah Green, the visionary behind Etta and Daphne. Joined by Loren, we dive straight into the realities of the hospitality industry by tackling direct questions from our listeners. From navigating toxic team dynamics and modern staff management in a post-traditional era, to the gruelling challenge of expanding your business without losing its DNA, this conversation covers it all. Hannah brings her signature energy and hard-won experience to discuss why scaling isn't just a business move—it’s a personal journey. Whether you're a sous chef struggling with "vibe checks" or an owner contemplating your next venue, this episode offers practical, no-nonsense advice on balancing love and boundaries in the modern workplace. It’s off-the-cuff, honest, and essential listening for anyone in the hospitality game. (00:02:15) Why Malt Donkey beer matters (00:04:15) Dealing with being blocked in by a crane (00:06:00) Addressing toxic senior staff behavior (00:14:00) The importance of HR software tools (00:16:00) Modern sous chef management woes (00:28:15) Scaling and opening a second venue (00:36:00) Finding balance as a business owner For more information on PAX , visit pax.melbourne Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

    Happy Hour: Hannah Green of Etta, and Daphne

  7. Aug 9

    Hot Takes with Kate Hemat-Siraky

    In this episode of the PAX Hospitality Podcast, Leon sits down with "triple-header" guest and people culture expert Kate Hemat-Siraky to dismantle the most common excuses in modern hospitality management. Moving away from rigid frameworks, this episode focuses on "hot takes" regarding the current economic squeeze and the perceived labour crisis. Kate, a seasoned HR professional with experience navigating the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) and COVID-19, provides a strategic masterclass on maintaining culture during survival mode without spending a dollar more. This conversation challenges the industry's frustrations with recruitment and the "generation gap," backed by startling statistics that suggest the problem might lie with leadership disengagement rather than a thinning talent pool. This is an essential listen for operators looking to move fast, empower their teams, and leverage transparency as a competitive advantage in a wild market. (00:00:00) Season three launch and introduction of guest Kate Hemmat Siraky (00:03:51) Navigating the current economic climate and rising hospitality costs (00:09:12) Protecting business culture during survival mode and financial troughs (00:18:41) Practical strategies for reducing overheads through team empowerment (00:23:01) The harsh truth about recruitment: Process versus market difficulty (00:31:38) Debunking the "thinning talent pool" myth with labor statistics (00:45:34) Challenging the generation gap and addressing manager burnout For access to our easy-to-digest PDF outlining the 10 key take-aways from this episode, head to https://pax.melbourne/season-3-episode-1. Treat it as checklist to review where your business is at. If you're keen to get in touch, contact hello@pax.melbourne. If you're needing advice or want to discuss your business's current status, we highly recommend scheduling a call with Leon. It's just a chat and doesn't have to be anything more than that. We're here to listen and help where we can. Book a call here [ https://calendly.com/hello-pax/30-minute-call-clone ]Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. For more on Kate and Zest People, go to https://zestpeople.com.au/ Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

  8. Aug 2

    Happy Hour: Gareth Whitton of Tarts Anon

    Welcome to Season 3 of the PAX Hospitality Podcast. This season, we're shaking things up. Every other episode will take on a brand new format called 'Happy Hour'. Happy Hour is an audio-only format where honest, unfiltered conversations take centre stage. But don't worry, every even episode will continue on in the same style you know and love. We’re kicking things off with a raw conversation with Gareth Whitton, the powerhouse behind Tarts Anon.  Pull up a chair as we have a yarn over a beer, discussing the highs and lows of running a small business. Gareth opens up about the realities of navigating the current economic climate, the importance of fostering a supportive team culture, and his newfound joy in fatherhood - from teaching his son to play cricket to competitive Mario Kart. Whether you’re a hospitality veteran or just looking for honest insights on life, business, and balance, this episode delivers a refreshing look at what it truly takes to stay authentic in an ever-changing industry. Grab a drink and join the conversation. (00:00:00) Introducing the new Happy Hour series (00:03:00) The craft of high-quality malt (00:04:30) Disenchantment with the craft beer scene (00:07:30) Gareth on business viability and growth (00:13:40) Hiring the successor: finding support (00:19:40) Fatherhood, Nintendo Switches, and altruism (00:23:40) Bonding through cricket and core memories For more information on PAX , visit pax.melbourne Follow @pax.melbourne on social media. For more information on Tarts Anon, visit Tarts Anon Podcast produced by Posterboy Media.

    Happy Hour: Gareth Whitton of Tarts Anon
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A podcast meant to be shared. For the hospitality industry, created by the team at PAX.

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