Rising Tides Live!

Cali BBQ Media
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Weekly

Rising Tides Live is a weekly show from Cali BBQ Media where leaders from across the restaurant, hospitality and technology space share the stage to discuss the greatest successes, failures and lessons.

  1. 6d ago

    Rising Tides Live - How Much of You Belongs In Your Brand?

    Guest host Phyllis Williams-Strawder led this Rising Tides Live conversation about bringing your personality into your brand while protecting your boundaries. Scott Kleckner discussed his discomfort with self-promotion, while Michael Ungaro explained how customer stories helped reveal what San Pedro Fish Market means to the families it serves. The group covered sharing accomplishments, correcting misconceptions, and creating content that feels natural. Williams-Strawder emphasized that building a personal brand means choosing which parts of yourself to share, without putting your entire life on display. Choose what you share. Your personality can help people connect with your business without giving them access to every part of your life. Define which experiences, interests, and behaviors belong in your public brand, and set boundaries around the rest.Create content that feels like you. Start with conversations, lessons, and experiences you’re comfortable sharing. Describing your work and stating your accomplishments gives people reasons to trust you without forcing a performance that feels unnatural.Help others tell your story accurately. Listen to how customers describe your business, correct misconceptions, and make sure your team understands the story behind the brand. Your message becomes more credible when your customers’ experiences and employees’ actions support it.Episode Links 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/

  2. 6d ago

    Rising Tides live - What's Actually on Your Phone? The Technology Behind Your Daily Success

    Shawn Walchef led this Rising Tides Live conversation about the technology tools business leaders use every day. Troy Hooper described building websites with Claude Code, while Allen Beck explained how connecting AI to Slack, Google Workspace, and ClickUp simplifies his daily planning. Elizabeth Doss discussed analyzing social content with AI, and Scott Kleckner highlighted the challenges of scaling a catering business with manual spreadsheets. The group also covered turning meeting transcripts into action, cutting unnecessary subscriptions, and choosing tools that save time without losing their personal voice. Connect your tools. Linking AI to your email, calendar, Slack, and business platforms helps turn scattered information into clear daily priorities. These connections can simplify sales preparation, highlight missed follow-ups, and reduce time spent searching for context.Put transcripts to work. Meeting notes are more useful when they lead to action. Upload full transcripts into your AI tool to identify next steps, evaluate sales conversations, and spot opportunities to improve how you communicate and lead.Review what you’re paying for. Adding technology should come with a review of what you can remove. Track subscriptions and AI usage, identify overlapping tools, and make sure the time you save justifies the cost.Episode Links 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/

  3. Oct 26

    Rising Tides Live - Specificity In Business & Storytelling

    Shawn Walchef led this Rising Tides Live conversation about how being specific helps businesses tell better stories, build credibility, and get better results. Restaurant operators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders shared examples of turning numbers, experiences, and clear instructions into action. From Phyllis Williams-Strawder renegotiating a summer partnership from $5,000 to $42,000 to Allen Beck reducing order errors by telling teams to “look for the pico” instead of simply checking side items, the group showed why details matter. Elizabeth Doss shared how businesses can turn customer data into their own Spotify Wrapped, while Scott Kleckner explained how transparent pricing and detailed website content help customers find his catering business. Sharing concrete numbers, defining who you serve, and explaining exactly what you do make your business easier to understand and your story easier to remember. Use specific details to tell stronger stories. Real numbers, clear examples, and measurable results give people something to remember and make your claims more credible.Make it clear who you serve and what you offer. Explain your services, pricing, and ideal customer so people can understand whether your business fits their needs.Give specific instructions to get better results. Allen Beck’s “look for the pico” example showed how a precise direction can solve a problem that general reminders leave unresolved.Episode Links 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/

  4. Oct 23

    Pitch The Tide - Lewis Rhys Davies: Head of Sales US

    In this Pitch The Tide session, Lewis Rhys Davies, head of US sales at Nory, tackles a challenge facing restaurant operators: controlling food and labor costs while giving managers more time to focus on guests. He introduces Nory’s AI-powered platform, which brings forecasting, scheduling, inventory and back-office workflows into one system. Restaurant owners put the pitch to the test with questions about integrations, switching software and the work required to get started. The conversation centers on what makes technology valuable: clear direction for frontline teams, consistent decisions across locations and proof that the benefits justify the investment. Listen to the replay of this first session and follow Cali BBQ Media to join future rooms, pitch your company, and learn from the community. Every Friday at 10am PT / 1pm ET, Shawn P. Walchef hosts Pitch the Tide live. Turn Data Into Daily Decisions – Knowing what happened last week only gets managers so far. Nory uses demand forecasts to guide staffing and purchasing decisions, while the panel emphasizes that frontline teams need clear instructions about what to do next.Simplify Without Forcing the Switch – Operators want fewer logins and connected workflows, but replacing software takes time and can wear teams down. Nory offers a phased approach so restaurants can address a pressing need first and consider additional tools as trust grows.Prove the Value Beyond the Pitch – Operators need specific customer examples, clear pricing and realistic integration timelines. The investment includes money, staff time, training and the opportunities put on hold during implementation. A strong pitch makes those commitments clear.Episode Links Lewis Rhys Davies LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lewisrhysdavies/Nory AI: https://www.nory.ai/

  5. Oct 18

    Rising Tides Live - Collecting and Connecting Dots

    Shawn Walchef led this Rising Tides Live conversation about collecting relationships, experiences, and ideas so you can connect them when opportunities arise. Inspired by his interview with Danny Meyer, restaurant operators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders shared stories about turning connections into action. From Mike Bisceglia’s longtime sports radio relationships leading to a barbecue collaboration to Shawn securing an interview location through Chef Michael Mina, the group showed how relationships can create opportunities years later. Making meaningful introductions, asking for help, and supporting the people already in your network can turn an idea into something real. Relationships can create opportunities years later. Stay connected and learn what people are building, even when there’s no immediate reason to work together.Use your network to help others. A thoughtful introduction or an offer of support can connect people with the resources they need.Turn preparation into action. Set a deadline, publish your work, and let feedback help you improve as you go.Episode Links 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/

  6. Oct 18

    Rising Tides Live - The Importance of Gratitude

    Dean LaBay and Mike Bisceglia hosted this Rising Tides Live conversation about the importance of gratitude and how it shapes the way we handle challenges and treat people. Restaurant operators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders shared stories about finding perspective, learning from failures, and expressing appreciation. From Mike Ungaro’s experience losing a restaurant and treating it as an expensive education to Laura Wilber’s reminder that unexpressed gratitude can feel like ingratitude, the group shared practical ways to make gratitude a daily habit. A welcome message, a heartfelt thank-you, or a moment to reflect can change how someone experiences their day. Gratitude changes how you see setbacks. Looking back at difficult experiences can reveal lessons that help you face the next challenge with more confidence.Appreciation needs to be expressed. A thoughtful message or simple thank-you lets people know their effort mattered.Make gratitude a daily practice. Use prompts, quiet reflection, or scheduled check-ins to notice what you appreciate, even when the day is difficult.Episode Links  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/

  7. Oct 13

    Rising Tides Live - Best Hospitality Lesson Someone Ever Taught You

    Elizabeth Doss led this Rising Tides Live conversation about the hospitality lessons that stay with us and how early experiences shape the way we treat people. Restaurant operators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders shared stories about gratitude, leading by example, and making people feel welcome. From Chris Tripoli’s story about a manager turning a restless child’s evening into a special experience to Scott Kleckner’s reminder that no work is beneath a leader, the group discussed how everyday actions build a culture of care. Great hospitality starts with noticing people, respecting every role, and making time to help someone feel valued. Lead by example: Your team learns from how you handle a busy shift, help a coworker, and treat guests. Show the care you expect from others.Make every person feel seen: Hospitality includes everyone at the table and every role on the team. Small gestures can give someone a reason to return.Listen to your frontline staff: Give employees space to share what customers are saying and offer to help put their ideas into action.Episode Links 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/

  8. Oct 9

    Rising Tides Live: Business Partnerships To Friendships

    Laura Wilber led this Rising Tides Live conversation about “Business Partnerships to Friendships” and how trust turns professional connections into lasting relationships. Restaurant operators, entrepreneurs, and business leaders shared stories about supporting one another, staying curious, and giving without expecting something in return. From former Jersey Mike’s COO Mike Manzo’s story about investing $200 million in franchisee remodels to Troy Hooper’s reminder to show up even when it’s inconvenient, the group explored what it means to have someone’s back. Lasting relationships start with taking care of people, following through, and helping each other succeed. Trust turns business relationships into friendships. Showing up, following through, and having someone’s back builds connections that last beyond a transaction.Take care of the people who depend on you. Mike Manzo shared how supporting franchisees and putting others first helped Jersey Mike’s grow.Give without expecting anything in return. Offer help, share your knowledge, and make time for your community, even when your schedule is full.Episode Links 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/

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About

Rising Tides Live is a weekly show from Cali BBQ Media where leaders from across the restaurant, hospitality and technology space share the stage to discuss the greatest successes, failures and lessons.

Information

  • Creator
    Cali BBQ Media
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    63
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Rising Tides Live!