Restaurant Leaders Unplugged

Sebastian Stahl

Real conversations with the people transforming the restaurant industry—from the inside out.  Restaurant Leaders Unplugged goes beyond the headlines to bring you raw, insightful, and inspiring interviews with the most respected founders, operators, and executives in hospitality.  Hosted by Sebastian Stahl, former restaurant operator turned growth strategist and founder of Breadth Marketing, this podcast is where real operators get real about what it takes to build brands that last.  If you're tired of surface-level chatter and want to hear how industry leaders are actually navigating growth, tech, culture, and private event revenue—this is the show for you.  You’ll learn how to:  Build restaurant brands that guests (and staff) loveScale without losing your soul or your cultureUse tech and automation without killing hospitalityCreate “guest-for-life” experiences that drive revenueConvert more private event leads without paid adsNo fluff. No hype. Just unplugged conversations with the minds behind the brands. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and grow with us. 

  1. How Hosty AI Turns Missed Calls Into Revenue with Randall Hom

    11/28/2025

    How Hosty AI Turns Missed Calls Into Revenue with Randall Hom

    Restaurant phones never stop ringing, but you cannot afford to miss a single call. In this episode of Restaurant Leaders Unplugged, Randall Hom from Hosty AI shares how he went from stressed-out operator in San Francisco to building an AI voice assistant that answers calls, protects hospitality, and turns missed calls into real revenue. Randall walks us through: Growing up in a family of operators and launching his own restaurant, BackpackThe pain of having calls forwarded to his cell, even on closed daysWhy phone answering is one of the biggest hidden bottlenecks in restaurantsHow Hosty acts like a virtual host - answering questions, handling reservations, and capturing event leadsA case study with Flour + Water and how sharing walk-in availability drove more trafficWhat it really takes to integrate with tools like Perfect Venue and reservation platformsThe biggest fears operators have about AI and how to keep hospitality at the centerWhy AI will be an assistant, not a replacement, for great front-of-house teamsHow smaller independent restaurants can use AI to compete with big groups If you are tired of missed calls, burned-out managers, and lost revenue, this conversation will give you a practical look at where AI voice tech is already working today - and what is coming next. Connect with our guest: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hostie_ai  Website: https://hostie.ai/ Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl Follow us on social media to stay updated: Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing YouTube: @SebastianStahlb Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

    29 min
  2. Turn Unhappy Guests Into Superfans with Zack Oates (Ovation)

    11/19/2025

    Turn Unhappy Guests Into Superfans with Zack Oates (Ovation)

    What if your most loyal customers are the ones who had a problem… and you fixed it? In this eye-opening conversation, Ovation founder Zack Oates explains why guest recovery is the single biggest loyalty lever in restaurants. We break down the “first date” framework for guest experience, how to remove friction from the journey, and why consistency creates trust across locations. Zack also shares how Ovation aggregates reviews and real-time feedback from first-party surveys and public platforms, turns it into simple operational scores, and guides GMs on what to fix next. We talk response rates, guest texting, and the stunning ROI of a fast recovery loop. On the leadership side, Zack opens up about building through adversity, aligning with your spouse on risk, and creating a culture of kindness, feedback, and ownership. You’ll learn The guest-recovery math that turns complaints into lifetime valueA simple way to greet, remove friction, and stay consistent across visitsHow to use AI-driven feedback to spot trends and set monthly ops goalsWhy kindness equals honesty when coaching teams Practical leadership habits that keep you grounded and focused Connect with our guest: Social media links: https://www.instagram.com/zackoatesWebsite: https://ovationup.com/ Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl Follow us on social media to stay updated: Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing YouTube: @SebastianStahlb Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

    43 min
  3. From Line Cook to Wealth Advisor: Funding & Scaling Restaurants w/ David Spungen

    10/02/2025

    From Line Cook to Wealth Advisor: Funding & Scaling Restaurants w/ David Spungen

    Former line cook turned wealth advisor David Spungen joins Restaurant Leaders Unplugged to break down the real economics of opening, funding, and scaling restaurants. We dig into what’s working right now outside the major metros, the true cost stack (rent, labor, food), when to use friends & family vs. alternative financing, and how operators can build financial literacy without becoming accountants. We also cover advisory boards, exit planning for fast casual vs. full service, and why personal wealth planning should start before the liquidity event. In this episode you’ll learn: How to pressure-test a restaurant model (traffic, Avg Check, turns, beverage mix, unit economics). Where operators are finding better profitability outside NYC/Miami — and why. Funding paths beyond pure equity: dining-credit prepay models (e.g., Inkin), build-out loans (e.g., Phoenix), equipment financing, and targeted crowdfunding (e.g., New Market). The finance stack that actually helps: great bookkeeping, hospitality-savvy CPAs, Restaurant365, and AI P&L visualization (Starfish). When to form an advisory board and how to run it so it’s useful. The fast-casual “3–5 units then scale” playbook vs. realities of fine dining. Why estate/tax planning shouldn’t wait until a deal is signed. Connect with our guest: Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-spungen/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidspungen/channel/ Restaurant Leaders Unplugged with Sebastian Stahl Follow us on social media to stay updated: Instagram: @sebastian_stahlb | @breadthrestaurantmarketing YouTube: @SebastianStahlb Subscribe, share, and leave a review to help other restaurant leaders find us!

    45 min

About

Real conversations with the people transforming the restaurant industry—from the inside out.  Restaurant Leaders Unplugged goes beyond the headlines to bring you raw, insightful, and inspiring interviews with the most respected founders, operators, and executives in hospitality.  Hosted by Sebastian Stahl, former restaurant operator turned growth strategist and founder of Breadth Marketing, this podcast is where real operators get real about what it takes to build brands that last.  If you're tired of surface-level chatter and want to hear how industry leaders are actually navigating growth, tech, culture, and private event revenue—this is the show for you.  You’ll learn how to:  Build restaurant brands that guests (and staff) loveScale without losing your soul or your cultureUse tech and automation without killing hospitalityCreate “guest-for-life” experiences that drive revenueConvert more private event leads without paid adsNo fluff. No hype. Just unplugged conversations with the minds behind the brands. New episodes drop weekly. Subscribe and grow with us.