28 episodes

Ilir Sela grew up hearing stories about his Uncle Miu’s NYC pizzeria and then built America’s largest network of independent pizzerias. It might seem like pizza is the common thread there, but it’s not: It’s drive.

Join Ilir, founder and CEO of Slice, as he unpacks the secret recipe of ambition, endurance, and good ol’ luck behind some of today’s most driven entrepreneurs. Each episode is a new conversation with someone who saw the world in a new way — expect big ideas, colossal gambles, major drive, and… some occasional pizza gossip.

How You Slice It Slice

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 14 Ratings

Ilir Sela grew up hearing stories about his Uncle Miu’s NYC pizzeria and then built America’s largest network of independent pizzerias. It might seem like pizza is the common thread there, but it’s not: It’s drive.

Join Ilir, founder and CEO of Slice, as he unpacks the secret recipe of ambition, endurance, and good ol’ luck behind some of today’s most driven entrepreneurs. Each episode is a new conversation with someone who saw the world in a new way — expect big ideas, colossal gambles, major drive, and… some occasional pizza gossip.

    Landon Pietrini: Pizza Is the Vehicle for Something Deeper

    Landon Pietrini: Pizza Is the Vehicle for Something Deeper

    From a newlywed decision to go all-in on his dad’s pipe dream of opening a pizzeria to making practice dough in his hotel room and ranking fifth in the World Pizza Championship, Landon is a stellar example of the power of learning through action. 

    Tune in for an episode brimming with — to quote our guest — “the beautiful process of learning something new and being humbled by how much you don’t know.” 

    • 33 min
    Nikki Kaplan: The Result Is Worth It

    Nikki Kaplan: The Result Is Worth It

    When temporarily closing one of your pizzerias for renovations results in memes and palpable heartbreak, you know you’re doing something very, very right. Nikki doesn’t just run 16 beloved shops — she curates three distinct pizza brands across NYC.  

    Dive into this episode for an inside scoop from an entrepreneur so devoted to her craft that she graduated college on a Friday, started at the pizzeria on Monday, and hasn’t ever stopped. 

    • 18 min
    Shin Irvin & Melissa López: Less Water, More Feelings

    Shin Irvin & Melissa López: Less Water, More Feelings

    Sparking warm memories, like a standing pizza night with mom or that first-ever bite of a favorite slice, is at the core of Shins Pizza. Shin and Melissa built their beloved pizzeria on the belief that an experience isn’t just one thing — it’s a combo of all our senses. 

    Tune in for advice on letting people do what they do best, drawing inspiration from an autograph wall, and how cutting 50 grams of water can change everything.

    • 18 min
    Nardo: Why Be Normal?

    Nardo: Why Be Normal?

    In just four years, Nardo has built one of the nation’s top independent pizzerias. His secret? Being extremely true to himself and his community. With adventurous, musically named pies (and live music in the shop!), arcade games, and a secret menu, we’re not surprised that Nardo’s Pizza is an absolute hit. 

    Tune in for (a censored version) of Nardo’s mom’s (very solid) business advice, the definitive reason that pizza beats burgers, and how an April Fool’s goof became a signature dish. 

    • 19 min
    Manny Papantonakis: Everyone Is Your Family

    Manny Papantonakis: Everyone Is Your Family

    Manny and his brother bought their father’s pizzeria and run it together to serve multiple generations of their community. Their proven philosophy: Imagine every order is being prepared for your mom, dad, son, or daughter. 

    Hop in for an energetic conversation about new versus existing customers, how to know when you’re successfully staffed, and what it’s like to find out that you’re kind of a big deal. 

    • 28 min
    Artan Kapxhiu: Opening Pizzerias In Three Countries

    Artan Kapxhiu: Opening Pizzerias In Three Countries

    Artan had already navigated everything from the mafia to washing dishes in order to open pizza shops in two countries, but it was his son’s unexpected hankering for corporate pizza that lit a fire in him to open Florida’s first-ever mobile pizzeria, now a beloved brick-and-mortar destination. 

    Listen in for Artan’s most important element of a successful restaurant, tips on balancing international nuances with a classic recipe, and your likelihood of getting a Hawaiian pizza in Italy.

    • 28 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
14 Ratings

14 Ratings

sark da shark ,

Love hearing it from the owners who lived it.

It’s really inspiring hearing about hakki’s homelessness and his struggles, and from Johnny pavlik who is in recovery, and working on staying that way. His issues and struggles are the everyday mom and pop struggles. He has become super successful and more podcasts highlighting techniques and implementable systems from the operator standpoint really would be super helpful

Sadcreator2 ,

Slice is a terrible and sketchy company

Slice and all their affiliations including this podcast should not be supported. They don’t help small businesses and actually hurt them by being a 3rd party payer system. They also give out people’s (who use their service to order through a local company) information including address and phone numbers out to strangers with no verification so customers are able to be harassed by scammers. Slice provides no accountability of these sketchy practices.

Harry Campbell ,

Love it! And making me hungry..

Great podcast! Love hearing stories from other entrepreneurs about how they started and how they are making a difference in the world. My favorite episode was the one with Hakki Akdeniz that talks about never giving up. And really looking forward to trying Brandon’s pizza here in LA.

Keep up the good work Ilir and team.

-Harry ‘The Rideshare Guy’

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