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The Hospitality Hangout | Restaurant Industry Trends & Hospitality Leaders cover art

The Hospitality Hangout | Restaurant Industry Trends & Hospitality Leaders

The Hospitality Hangout | Restaurant Industry Trends & Hospitality Leaders

Written by: Michael Schatzberg & Jimmy Frischling - Hospitality Insiders | Expert Strategies & Trends.' Hosts: Michael Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling | Branded Hospitality Media Hospitality Insiders | Michael Schatzberg & Jimmy Frischling | Branded Hospitality Media
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The Hospitality Hangout is where the restaurant industry gets real. Hosted by Schatzy, the Restaurant Guy, and Jimmy, the Finance Guy, this funny, unfiltered hospitality podcast dives into restaurant trends, food service innovation, hospitality technology, and the investment strategies shaping the future of the industry. With decades of hands-on experience operating restaurants and structuring capital markets deals, these two bring real-world insight from the kitchen to the boardroom. They connect the biggest operators, boldest founders, and sharpest investors in hospitality for conversations you won’t hear anywhere else. Each week you’ll hear from C-suite restaurant executives, franchise leaders, emerging brand founders, hospitality tech innovators, and private equity investors who are building the next era of food and hospitality. Expect insider stories, sharp opinions, real numbers, and plenty of laughs. No fluff. No corporate spin. Just honest conversations about what is actually happening in restaurants and food service. If you care about scaling restaurants, raising capital, building brands, or staying ahead of hospitality trends, this is your show. Grab a drink, pull up a chair, and let’s talk shop. Welcome to The Hospitality Hangout.A Branded Media Experience Art Cooking Economics Food & Wine Leadership Management & Leadership Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Five Guys on AI, Automation, Loyalty and the Future of Restaurants
    Jun 16 2026

    Live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference, Hospitality Hangout sits down with M.J. Worsham, Vice President of Technology at Five Guys, to discuss AI in restaurants, automation, loyalty programs, restaurant operations, POS systems, labor optimization, guest experience, and the technology trends shaping the future of hospitality.

    M.J. shares how Five Guys evaluates emerging restaurant technology, why AI vendors must prove real operational value, how automation can improve restaurant management, and why the best technology solutions help employees rather than replace them.

    The conversation also dives into restaurant loyalty, direct-to-consumer marketing, premium restaurant positioning, POS evolution, restaurant data strategy, workforce technology, and the future of AI-powered restaurant operations.

    If you're a restaurant operator, franchise executive, hospitality leader, technology provider, or investor focused on restaurant innovation, this episode delivers valuable insights from one of the industry's leading technology executives.

    Hospitality Hangout is the restaurant industry podcast featuring conversations with restaurant executives, franchise leaders, hospitality innovators, technology founders, and operators shaping the future of foodservice.

    Episode Credits:

    • Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
    • Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
    • Producer: Julie Zucker
    • Creative Director: Adam Levine
    • Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
    • Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

    www.thehospitalityhangout.com


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    29 mins
  • Paris Baguette Isn’t From Paris: How a Korean Bakery Café Went Global
    Jun 9 2026

    On this episode of Hospitality Hangout, hosts Jimmy Frischling and Michael Schatzberg sit down with Cathy Chavenet to discuss the remarkable growth of Paris Baguette. Kathy shares her journey from classically trained pastry chef and bakery owner to leading marketing, culinary innovation, and brand strategy for one of the fastest-growing bakery café concepts in North America.

    Cathy shares her journey from pastry chef and bakery owner to leading marketing, culinary innovation, and growth for one of the fastest-growing bakery café concepts in North America. The conversation dives into what makes Paris Baguette stand out in a crowded restaurant landscape, from baking fresh in every café and creating highly shareable products to balancing global scale with a neighborhood feel.

    The episode also explores emerging food trends, the rise of croissant innovation, protein-forward menu development, the importance of frontline talent, and how hospitality brands can build authentic guest connections while expanding rapidly. Cathy gives a preview of what's next for Paris Baguette and reveals some of the products helping fuel the brand's remarkable growth.

    Plus, hear the story behind the Supreme Croissant, Croissant Crisps, and why fresh-baked products continue to resonate with consumers around the world.

    Episode Credits:

    • Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
    • Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
    • Producer: Julie Zucker
    • Creative Director: Adam Levine
    • Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
    • Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

    www.thehospitalityhangout.com


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

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    41 mins
  • Rock & Brews CEO on the Future of Restaurants and the Power of Experience
    Jun 2 2026

    Rock & Brews CEO Adam Goldberg joins Hospitality Hangout live from the Restaurant Leadership Conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, for a conversation about the future of restaurants, experiential dining, restaurant traffic, and why food alone is no longer enough to win guests.

    In this Hospitality Hangout Short, Adam Goldberg talks with Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling about how Rock & Brews, the rock-and-roll restaurant brand co-founded by KISS legends Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, is built around more than a meal. The brand combines great food, hospitality, live music, sports, big screens, concert-quality sound, rock videos, beer, entertainment, and guest experience to create a restaurant concept that gives people a reason to dine in.

    As restaurant operators continue competing with delivery, grocery stores, changing consumer habits, labor challenges, and lower dine-in traffic, Rock & Brews is leaning into experiential hospitality. From casino restaurants and sports bar energy to live entertainment and rock-and-roll branding, Adam shares why the next generation of restaurant growth depends on creating places where guests feel connected, entertained, and excited to show up.

    This clip is for restaurant owners, restaurant operators, hospitality leaders, foodservice brands, franchise groups, casino operators, sports bar concepts, and anyone watching the future of the restaurant industry.

    Episode Credits:

    • Produced by: Branded Hospitality Media
    • Hosted by: Michael Schatzberg, Jimmy Frischling
    • Producer: Julie Zucker
    • Creative Director: Adam Levine
    • Show Runner: Drewe Raimi
    • Post Production: Three Cheers Creative

    www.thehospitalityhangout.com


    Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

    Show More Show Less
    27 mins
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