Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack Oates
Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast is your backstage pass to the minds of hospitality leaders, innovators, and operators who are redefining what it means to serve. Hosted by Zack Oates, founder of Ovation, each episode dives into real-world tactics and inspiring stories from restaurant pros who know how to create five-star guest experiences—both in-store and off-premise.
From fast casual to fine dining, catering to curbside, learn how to drive loyalty, empower your staff, and deliver hospitality that hits home. Whether you're a restaurant owner, operator, marketer, or tech partner, this podcast will leave you with practical insights and plenty of reasons to celebrate and Give an Ovation.
Episodes
446 episodes
Cereal, Content, and Creativity with Chris Burns
Unlock the secrets of social media stardom with Cereal Killerz Kitchen Owner, Chris Burns. Chris dishes out the recipe for creating content that not only tickles the taste buds but also captures the hearts of over a million followers. Ste...
Harmonizing Taste and Tech With Jordan Cusner
Step into the dynamic world of hospitality as Jordan Cusner shares how he transitioned from musician to lawyer, and now guest insights as he executes enhanced dining experiences with data-driven creativity. Jordan reveals his philosophy on cult...
Parking Lot Pop-Up to Fast Casual Success With Bill Phelps and Arman Oganesyan
Get ready because this week's episode dives into the booming industry of fast casual fried-chicken as we chat with Dave's Hot Chicken's powerhouse duo: Co-Founder/CBO Arman Oganesyan and CEO Bill Phelps. Arman's marketing ingenuity and Bill's s...
Celebrating 250 Episodes with Five Industry Experts
Welcome to our milestone 250th episode of the Give an Ovation podcast, where we have assembled an all-star panel of industry experts:🎙 Kelly MacPherson, Union Square Hospitality Group🎙 Shawn P. Walchef, Cali BBQ Media🎙 David "Re...
Exploring Mental Health and Leadership in the Workplace with Dan Simons
Strap in as we journey through an insightful conversation with Dan Simons, Founder and Co-owner of Farmers Restaurant Group. As a leader in the business world, he underlines the importance of striking a balance – pushing employees to achieve th...
The Duality of Dining and Entertainment with Dale Schwartz
Imagine dining in a world-class restaurant and, as an added bonus, enjoying a lively game of bowling or bocce right there. That's the winning recipe Dale Schwartz, Founder and CEO of Pinstripes, brings to the table. From his journey as a vision...
Inclusive Leadership: Transforming the Restaurant Industry with James Pogue
Experience a revealing conversation as we delve into the intricate world of diversity, inclusion, and belonging (DIB) in the restaurant industry with Dr. James Pogue. You'll gain a new appreciation for the importance of DIB and its role in enha...
Unveiling the Recipe for Restaurant Expansion with Gus Malliaras
Get ready to feast on some delicious insights as we sit down with Gus Malliaris, the genius behind Detroit Wing Company and its rise from a singular location to 31 thriving branches. We unwrap the secrets behind Gus's success unders...
Customer Loyalty in a Competitive Industry With Joe Fontana
Meet Joe Fontana, the charismatic owner of a successful chicken sandwich restaurant, Fry the Coop. With an unwavering commitment to enhancing the guest experience, Joe reveals how he's carved out a successful niche within the bustling chicken i...
Setting the Table for Success in Brand Expansion With Troy Hooper
Join us as we sit down with Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Pallet America, the parent company of dining phenomenon, Pepper Lunch, and dive into the unique experience that sets them apart. Troy shares not only the intriguing locations of these restaura...
Behind the Scenes of a Successful Restaurant Experience with Donna Josephson
Ever wonder how top restaurant brands create a guest experience that keeps customers coming back for more? Prepare to be enlightened as we sit down with Donna Josephson, CMO of Shipley's Donuts, a seasoned marketer who has worked with big names...
Emerging Trends and Challenges in the Restaurant Industry With Sam Oches
Ever wondered about the inner workings of the restaurant industry? Sam Oches is an award-winning editorial director of Informa's Restaurant and Food Group. Sam Oches has had his eye on the industry for quite some time and has developed an...
A Slice of Superior Customer Service With Deric Rosenbaum
Get ready to uncover the mysteries behind the success of Groucho's Deli, an iconic restaurant that's stood the test of time for 80 years. Deric Rosenbaum, the president of this thriving chain, joins us on the show to share his insights on a two...
Rethinking Restaurant Marketing With Chip Klose
Are you ready to revolutionize the way you perceive restaurant marketing? Join us as we turn the tables with the brilliant author and consultant, Chip Klose. We pick his brain about his game-changing book, 'Restaurant Marketing Mindset.' This i...
Keeping The Human Touch with Andrew Simmons
Ready for a story of resilience and innovation in the restaurant industry? Join us as we sit down with Andrew Simmons, the dynamic CEO of Mama Ramona's Pizzeria. Andrew shares his rollercoaster journey, from buying the business right before the...
Leading and Evolving Successful Restaurant Brands with G.J. Hart
What does it take to lead successful brands like Red Robin, Torchy's Tacos, California Pizza Kitchen, and Texas Roadhouse? G.J. Hart, current CEO of Red Robin, breaks it down for us, stressing the importance of remaining true to the essence of ...
Reimagining the Future of Food with Benjamin Kaplan
Have you ever wondered how plant based food can serve the growing global demand for burgers? Join Zack Oates as he sits down with Benjamin Kaplan, co-founder and CEO of Plant Burger, who shares his fascinating journey into the world of plant-ba...
Transforming the Restaurants of Tomorrow with Andy Freivogel
Andy Freivogel is the Co-Founder and CEO of Science On Call, a restaurant tech platform that provided 24/7 support with either a call or text. On this episode, Andy unveils the magic of technology - from POS to delivery platforms - that s...
Unlocking the Secrets of Customer Loyalty with Danny Snow
Danny Snow is part of a Disney-centric family with extensive experience at Walt Disney World perfecting his customer loyalty expertise. After earning an MBA in Business, he became the Director of Marketing at Snow & Associates, Inc., contri...
Trailblazing Restaurant Tech With Priyam Saraswat
Priyam Saraswat stands as the Co-Founder of Voosh, a testament to his innovative spirit and commitment to revolutionizing the restaurant industry. His relentless drive to push the boundaries of what's possible in the restaurant industry, combin...
Cutting Deep Into Restaurant Concepts With Mark Brezinski
Mark Brezinski has been a longstanding expert in the restaurant industry for over 40 years with experience working with industry giants such as YUM! Brands and Pei Wei. Now with his book, ForkFight, Brezinski opens up about his successes and fa...
Bottom Line Boosting With Mark Kelnhofer
Mark Kelnhofer has spent 20+ years in managerial cost accounting and an additional seven years in restaurant cost management refining his methods. Now as President and CEO of Return on Ingredients, Mark has successfully combined these two...
Proactive Retention Strategy With Hamed Mazrouei
We are kicking off our 250th episode with Hamed Mazrouei, the Founder and CEO of Milagro Corp, a customer acquisition and retention platform for multi-location restaurants. With expertise in the telecommunications, software, and restauran...
How to Connect Rather Than Transact With Lisa Miller
Lisa Miller has 30 year of experience under her belt working in consumer insights and innovation for industry giants such as Quaker and Pepsi Co.. Now as a President of LWM & Associates, Miller focuses on providing integrated strategic insi...
Redefining Customer Loyalty With Ken Bott
Ken Bott is the definition of an expert in customer loyalty. Having worked for top brands such as Darden Restaurants, Bloomin’ Brands, Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG), and Continental Airlines, Ken has perfected his approach to developing s...
