86 Reason Podcast by Over Easy Office

In this episode, Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Steve Uhr, the Director of New Restaurant Openings for STARR Restaurants. Steve shares his journey from burnout to becoming the architect behind nearly 10 successful restaurant launches in just three years, revealing the "masochism" required to execute strategies for successful new restaurant openings in today's volatile market. St...

In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Dan Anfinson, COO of MH Restaurant Group and President of The Slapfish Company, to uncover how a former dishwasher is revolutionizing restaurant operations across Texas. Dan reveals his game-changing approach to AI implementation in restaurant back-of-house operations, sharing how he discovered 240 basis points in h...

From collecting grease traps to leading cloud transformation at Sage Intacct, Chad Freedman's journey reveals how restaurant CFOs are evolving from data entry clerks to strategic advisors. In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Chad Freedman, Director & Practice Lead for Hospitality at Sage Intacct, who literally went door-to-door collecting used...

Why do restaurants with 45-minute waits still go broke? Bruce Nelson learned this the hard way. After 20 years in the industry, he opened his dream restaurant—packed tables, rave reviews, the works. It closed in 13 months. The brutal lesson? He had mastered the "Magic" of hospitality but completely ignored the "Math" of profit. Now, as a Fractional CFO and author of "Restaurant Management: The Myt...

What does playing first flute in a world-class orchestra have to do with creating exceptional restaurant podcasts? Everything, according to Raquel Murillo. In this episode of the 86 Reason Hospitality Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena explores how classical discipline translates directly into the precision and excellence required to curate the best voices in hospitality. Raquel brings an unconven...

High sales but no profit? Your balance sheet is hiding the "dead bodies" killing your restaurant. Raffi Yousefian, CEO of Fork CPA, reveals the financial framework that separates thriving restaurant groups from those that flame out. If you've ever wondered why expansion feels impossible or where your money actually goes, this episode will change how you look at your numbers forever....

Great food isn't enough anymore. In today's competitive restaurant landscape, operational excellence separates thriving multi-unit operations from those constantly fighting fires, and the biggest battles aren't happening in the dining room. They're buried in scheduling chaos, compliance nightmares, and labor management issues that quietly destroy profitability and burn out your best managers. In t...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for a fascinating conversation with Ronnie Sanders, President of Vine Street Imports, exploring how the wine industry is navigating dramatic shifts in consumer behavior and market dynamics. Ronnie's journey from a disastrous "one and done" dishwashing job to building a respected wine import company is a masterclass in relationship-building,...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for an eye-opening conversation with Bill Lindsey, Partner & Co-Founder at COGS-Well and a living legend in restaurant technology. Bill's 50-year journey from a dishroom in 1974 to revolutionizing inventory management for multi-unit operators is a masterclass in operational innovation, technological adaptation, and understanding what restaurant o...

Join us on 86 Reason for an inspiring conversation with Sande Friedman, founder of Friends in Wine, who reveals how an unconventional background in library science became the secret weapon for building one of Philadelphia's most profitable wine retail programs. From navigating Pennsylvania's archaic liquor laws to pioneering staff education models that drive real revenue, Sande's journ...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for a game-changing conversation with Josh Sharkey, the "apex predator of restaurant tech" and Founder & CEO of meez. From fine dining at Jean-Georges and Cafe Gray to scaling Bark Hot Dogs across four locations, Josh has lived the chaos of kitchen operations—and he's built the solution the industry desperately needs. His revelation? Mo...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for an inspiring conversation with Matthew "Buddah" Budenstein, co-founder of Liberty Kitchen and owner of Infinite Abundance Catering. Matt's journey from dropping 15 plates on his first week as a dishwasher to building a thriving multi-location restaurant and catering empire is a masterclass in resilience, community building, and the powe...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for a brutally honest conversation about restaurant technology with Ty Shehadi, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Restaurant365. From busboy to tech leader, Ty brings a rare perspective: he's lived in "the four walls" for over a decade and now helps shape the future of restaurant back-office solutions. His message? The best software in the world is worth...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for an essential deep-dive into restaurant accounting software and multi-unit financial strategy with Steven Mamis, Restaurant365 Expert, Multi-Unit Restaurant Controller, and Founder of FORCS (Complete Restaurant Accounting & Operations Services). As Senior Controller of Five Guys New York, Steven brings battle-tested wisdom on why managing finances...

Join us on 86 Reason for a raw, revelatory conversation with Shawn P. Walchef, founder of Cali BBQ Media, who dismantles the dangerous "if you build it, they will come" myth and reveals why restaurant owners must actively own their story to survive and thrive. A restaurateur since age 13 (starting as a dishwasher at the very restaurant he now owns), Shawn shares his transformation from b...

Join host Xavier Mariezcurrena on 86 Reason for a raw, eye-opening conversation with Andy Himmel, Restaurant Industry Executive and Founder & CEO of The Restaurant CPAs. This episode delivers hard-earned wisdom about restaurant success, specialized financial strategy, and why the human element still trumps spreadsheets in hospitality. Andy's story begins with disaster: At 22, his first res...

A hospitality veteran since age 14 (starting as an assistant dishwasher) and former digital transformation leader at Brinker International, Wade shares his powerful pivot from a marketing-first mindset to an unwavering focus on the core "fire" of the brand—its operations and standards. His philosophy? "Marketing is the fuel that will help that fire grow. But if the fire itself isn&#...

Join us on 86 Reason for a game-changing conversation with Michael Beck, CEO of Inc Tank GTM, who's rewriting the rules of restaurant tech sales and value delivery. A self-described "pattern interrupter" and "hospitality romantic" with 15+ years in the industry, Michael shares how personal tragedy forged his mission to help restaurants not just survive, but thrive. In this...

From sleeping on aprons during 120-hour work weeks to revolutionizing restaurant operations with AI – Matt Wampler's transformation story will change how you think about restaurant technology. In this episode of the 86 Reason Podcast, host Xavier Mariezcurrena sits down with Matt Wampler, CEO & Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, for an unfiltered look at how AI is transforming restaurant efficiency....