Captive Conversations, The Hospitality Podcast

Two standout panels from TISSL’s Tech Tastings: Beyond the Till event hosted by Tech on Toast’s Chris Fletcher. 🎙️ Panel 1: “Beyond the Rush: Unlocking Consistent Revenue” Daisy from JKS and Bex from Wolseley Hospitality reveal how marketing, loyalty, and brand touchpoints drive steady growth outside of peak service. 🎙️ Panel 2: “At-Table Tech: Friend or Foe?” Christophe from StoreKit, Travis Fish...

In this episode of Captive Conversations, we sit down with Nick Philpot, MD of Yolk—London’s fast-growing breakfast, brunch, and coffee brand. Nick shares how Yolk has built a loyal fan base through consistency, simplicity, and a deep understanding of customer experience. We talk about: The Yolk ‘Brew Club’ and how it builds daily habits Scaling a brand without losing its soul Balancing tech with...

Bal Mahey’s story reads like a hospitality survival manual. From launching Shake Shack in the UK to leading Subway and by CHLOE through turbulent growth, he’s seen it all. Now, through Auden Hospitality, he’s helping brands avoid the same scars . We talk: Growing too fast and breaking everything Culture clashes in high-growth teams Loyalty, CRM, and why ops is marketing Building better systems for...

In this episode, we explore how AI agents are reshaping people operations in hospitality. Matt Grimshaw from Youda joins us to discuss: Automating time-consuming HR tasks with AI Using data to predict and prevent staff turnover Why legacy systems are holding operators back How to personalise onboarding at scale Creating better experiences for managers and frontline teams This is a must-listen for...

🎧 Episode 50 – Hospitality Unfiltered: Where Ops, Marketing & Loyalty Collide In this special live episode of Captive Conversations , we bring together leading voices from hospitality operations, marketing, CRM, and tech to unpack one big question: Why does it still feel like ops and marketing are speaking different languages—and how do we fix it? From loyalty programs to data overload, AI to...

In this episode of Captive Conversations , we chat with Paul Molinari, the founder of Popcorn GTM and former head of marketing at Crunchtime. Paul shares his journey from working hospitality jobs at a yacht club, to selling stereos at The Wiz, to leading B2B marketing teams for iconic brands like Crunchtime and Digitas (running CRM for General Motors!). He dives deep into what makes sales and mark...

This week on Captive Conversations , I sat down with a creative force in hospitality: Dhilon Solanki — founder of Story Locker , co-founder of Pecking Order , and previously behind one of the most useful tools in the industry — Sprout . Dhilon's journey is a masterclass in brand building with heart. He’s grown tech tools for hospitality, helped operators train better, and now helps people pres...

In this episode, Adam sits down with hospitality legend Kieron Bailey – co-founder of People on Purpose and a 30-year industry pro with a story (and scar) for every table he’s served. From dodging flying ashtrays in his first pub to leading training for major brands like Wagamama and Hard Rock Café, Kieron shares his no-BS wisdom on what really makes hospitality tick: ✨ Why empathy and accountabi...

🎙️ EP46: From Nando’s to Tech to Ball Pits – The Wild Ops Journey of Travis Fish In this episode, Adam sits down with Travis Fish , Operations Director at Comptoir Group , co-founder of BabaBoom and his new baby 🔥 Ops Club . Travis shares a candid look at his journey from traditional hospitality ops at Nando’s to launching his own brand, diving into tech startups, and bringing competitive sociali...

🎙️ Episode 45 – Frederick Szydlowski, Co-Founder of Embargo In this episode of Captive Conversations , Adam sits down with Fred from Embargo to explore the gritty, real, and often hilarious journey from working at Joe & the Juice to building a loyalty platform used by 200K+ hospitality businesses. 🎯 What you’ll hear: Fred’s early career story: from basketball to slinging juices at 19 How he l...

In this episode of Captive Conversations , Adam sits down with Susan Zwinkels , CMO of Kitch Social , to unpack what’s really working in hospitality marketing right now. From the explosive power of TikTok to the untapped potential of employee-generated content, Susan brings a no-nonsense, refreshingly real view of how hospitality brands can stand out online—without blowing their budgets. ✨ Key Hi...

🎙️ In this episode I sit down with Ruth Carpenter , the creative force behind the marketing of one of the UK’s most iconic and playful pizza brands — Pizza Pilgrims . From navigating career leaps to scaling a national brand, Ruth opens up about the realities of marketing in hospitality, how to stay authentic as you grow, and why being serious about not taking yourself too seriously is a powerful s...

In this episode, I’m joined by Michelle Moreno—founder of QAB Leadership and an unstoppable force in the hospitality world—for a raw, funny, and wisdom-packed conversation about everything from global openings to personal reinvention. We go deep into the journey: from starting out as a waitress at Asia de Cuba (serving Leonardo DiCaprio, no less) to launching 50+ restaurants and bars across London...

In this episode, I’m joined by Ben Heppell , Global Head of Digital at Aqua Restaurant Group , for a proper deep dive into the real world of hospitality, digital, and brand building. From sharing advice he'd give his 16-year-old self (spoiler: it's all about valuing experience over things) to calling out overhyped nights like that Wembley boxing match, Ben brings the honesty—and a fresh ta...

🚀 From Pot Wash to Hospitality Tech Founder – The Journey of Michael Radley, Joli 🚀 🔥 Episode 40 of Captive Conversations! 🔥 We’ve hit a milestone—our 40th episode, with a fresh new design and some incredible guests lined up for the next few weeks! 🎉 To celebrate, I sat down with Michael Radley , co-founder of Joli , to talk about his journey from pot washing in a local pub to revolutionising...

🎙 Captive Conversations: Elliot Hill Elliot Hill from 1 Lombard Street joins me to explore the balance between hospitality and technology. With years at the helm of one of London’s most iconic restaurants, he shares how to innovate without losing the human touch—because great service is still about connection . We dive into fast-paced city dining, immersive experiences , and Elliot’s journey from...

🎙 Captive Conversations: Sheri from Bill's In this episode, I sit down with Sheri, Marketing Director at Bill's, to chat about her inspiring leap from retail to hospitality. Sheri shares what she learned from her time at M&S—from the precision of retail logistics to the fast-paced, creative hustle of hospitality marketing. 💡 🍓 The Bill's Rebrand Journey Sheri breaks down how they...

Chris Fletcher from Tech on Toast unveils the exhilarating rollercoaster of emotions that come with hosting major hospitality events, comparing the tension to launching a new restaurant. Despite the nerves, the event was a triumph, thanks to the unwavering support from a network of partners and operators. Chris discusses the exciting road ahead for his company, highlighting the growth of his team...

In this episode, we’re diving into the future of hospitality hiring with Sam Brown & Nick Holroyd-Doveton from Candid Hospitality —the game-changing platform shaking up recruitment. Forget the old-school hiring process—Candid is breaking barriers with blind hiring, anonymous candidate profiles, and AI-driven matchmaking . Their ethos? It’s all about the Three C’s — Culture, Competencies, and C...

This episode explores how Krowd, a hospitality technology company, is reshaping digital engagement in the industry. Matt Ford and Jonny Fox share their journey into hospitality, from their early hands-on experiences in restaurants and bars to leading digital transformation in the industry. Their careers have taken them from the front lines of service to pioneering tech-driven solutions, proving th...

🎙️ Welcome to Clips – Your Weekly Hospitality & Tech Insights! 🎙️ In this episode, we kick things off with an insightful chat with James Mobbs (Mr. CRM & Data) on how to set your restaurant or hospitality business up for success in Q1. From revenue-boosting strategies to must-have tools, James shares expert advice to keep you ahead of the game. Next up, we sit down with the legendary Kieron Bailey...

Join us for a chat with Rich from Tenzo, where unexpected adventures meet the rhythm of hospitality. Rich shares his spontaneous trip to a Hilltop Hoods concert in London and the timeless wisdom from his music teacher to "slow down," offering fresh perspectives on personal and professional challenges. From the vibrant music scene in Méribel to London’s bustling hospitality life, Rich’s journey ble...

Unleash the Future of Hospitality Featuring Jon Horsfield from Centegra We kick things off by diving into the core of our conversation focused on the hospitality industry. Jonn recounts a memorable experience at the Ivy in Manchester, setting the tone for our exploration of exceptional service and cutting-edge hospitality technology, with a special nod to Sam Brown and his company, Candid, for the...

Podcast Episode - Robbie Francis Podcast Episode: Revolutionising Customer Experience with Robbie Francis Join us for an enlightening conversation with Robbie, the visionary founder of ePosability, as we explore the dynamic shifts in customer interactions within the digital landscape. Robbie shares his unique insights on how restaurateurs can harness technology, moving beyond the outdated one-size...

Carey Benn - Data-Driven Dining: Unlocking the Secrets of Customer Engagement Join us as we welcome Carey, the founder of Guestwise , who shares a treasure trove of insights at the crossroads of hospitality and technology. Carey dives into the strategic role of technology in reducing restaurant failure rates, making this episode a flavourful blend of tradition and innovation. We explore Carey’s ti...