Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants

Leadership often gets boxed into “executive tasks” or “HR stuff.” But good leadership is not a luxury. It’s the difference between teams that coast and teams that transform. Rudy Miick has spent decades coaching and developing leaders across industries, helping them bridge from “managers doing tasks” to “leaders creating culture, clarity, and momentum.” So in this episode, we’re peeling back the l...

In this episode, we dive deep into the complex world of restaurant payments with Phil Crawford, the Global Head of Food and Beverage at Adyen. From understanding the journey of a transaction from card tap to completion, to the intricacies of modern payment platforms and their integration with restaurant operations, Phil breaks down everything you need to know. We cover topics like security, fraud,...

In this interview, David Hornak, a partner at two restaurant concepts in Oxford, Ohio, The Pickle & Pig and Gaslight Brewhouse, discusses his experience managing a total of 175 employees across both locations. Hornak explains the integration and benefits of using the Shifty training application, emphasizing its role in improving employee engagement, upselling, and operational efficiencies thro...

Join Paul Molinari on ' Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants ' as he welcomes guest Mike Lukianoff of SignalFlare.ai to discuss how AI is transforming decision-making in the restaurant industry. They dive into the challenges posed by data overload, the innovative concept of decision intelligence, and SignalFlare's effective solutions using AI-driven insights. With decades of experience, Mike sh...

We're pulling back the curtain on the fascinating world of restaurant franchising with Patrick Buckley of FranDawgs. Join Paul Molinari, founder of Popcorn GTM , as he jumps into franchisee growth with expert guest Patrick Buckley, partner at FranDawgs. In this episode, they discuss the tech, grit, and gaps in the franchise industry, uncovering why franchise restaurants outperform independents. Le...

In this episode of Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants , we're going deep into some unexpected territory.  This is a "deep dive" episode I created using multiple AI tools, and the topic or title is called The Prince of Brand Marketing: Leveraging Ancient Wisdom for Modern Market Domination. This conversation draws from four powerful sources—including two books I authored: Heroes, Jedis, and Du...

Special guest Chris Anderle, CEO of Onosys, joins us to discuss mission-critical order management solutions (OMS) and how Onosys is transforming brands with consistency, control, and clarity across every order touchpoint. We touch on topics like frictionless ordering, the challenges of fragmented ordering systems, and how Onosys caters to various restaurant categories, including pizza, bowl brands...

Join Paul Molinari from Popcorn GTM on Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants as he hosts the inspirational Colleen Silk, founder and CEO of Hospitality Bites Media . Colleen discusses the importance of mental well-being, inclusivity, and sustainable practices in the hospitality industry. She shares her personal journey from restaurant operations to storytelling, founding Hospitality Bites Media,...

In this episode of Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants , host Paul Molinari from Popcorn GTM and co-host Matt Haselhoff from One Goal Consulting welcome Manan Mehta, founder and CEO  of Livelytics.ai. They dive into the importance of data-driven decision-making in an industry where speed, margins, and guest expectations are constantly evolving. Manan shares his journey of founding Livelytics a...

Welcome back to the newly rebranded show, Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants . In this episode, Paul sits down with Hans Schatz, EVP of Cut + Dry, the leading e-commerce platform for food service distributors . Hans brings decades of experience in the food service industry and shares insights into how Cut + Dry is transforming the supply chain through rich e-commerce catalogs, AI-driven recom...

Join Paul Molinari from Popcorn as he discusses the importance of organizational design in the restaurant technology sector with expert Jasper Nelissen. Nelissen, a University of Miami lecturer and professor, is the founder of NCG Consulting and the award-winning Multi Agency. Listen in as he shares insights into transforming chaos into cohesive operational structures. They explore how change mana...

In episode 036 of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph podcast, Paul Molinari from Popcorn GTM and his co-host Matt Haselhoff from One Goal Consulting dive deep into the world of restaurant technology. They discuss the innovative advancements in accounts payable systems, particularly focusing on Factura's role in transforming and streamlining the process for multi-unit restaurants. Special guests Alisia...

In episode 035 of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph podcast, Paul Molinari is joined by special guest Beth Hussey, founder of the Shifty. They discuss how smarter training can solve restaurant turnover and improve manager engagement. Beth explains how Shifty, a mobile app for training, engagement, and scheduling, helps reduce employee turnover by optimizing training processes. They also dive into the...

In this engaging episode of the Modern Solutions for Modern Restaurants podcast, Paul welcomes Edith Wiseman, President of FRANdata, to discuss the often overlooked but critical role of franchisees in the restaurant technology sector. Edith highlights the untapped potential of the franchisee market, explaining why it's a gold mine for tech solutions and how her company helps tech providers navigat...

In this episode of Popcorn GTM's "Morning Sam, Morning Ralph Podcast," we welcome Nicole Sherrin-Kessler, the founder of the Celiac College Guide, to dive deep into the challenges and opportunities for students with celiac disease. Nicole shares her personal story as a mother of two daughters with celiac and her professional insights from her extensive experience in education. Discover the importa...

In this episode of 'Morning Sam, Morning Ralph,' we dive into the world of restaurant technology with seasoned industry leader, Chris Munz from Fishbowl. Paul shares the story behind the podcast's name, inspired by the classic 'Wiley Coyote and Sam the Sheepdog' cartoons, which symbolize a healthy competition and camaraderie in the restaurant tech sector. Chris shares insights from his extensive c...

In this episode of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph podcast, we dive into the world of smarter WiFi solutions with special guest Adam Foreman, CEO of CaptiveWiFi. Discover how enhanced WiFi can significantly boost restaurant brands by creating a seamless customer experience and enhancing loyalty. Adam shares the story of CaptiveWiFi’s inception, innovative methods of customer data capture, and effec...

Paul Molinari is joined by Peter Romeo, an award-winning journalist and a renowned figure in restaurant journalism. They discuss Peter's illustrious career and his new role as Managing Editor at IFMA. Dive into the current trends, challenges, and technological advancements shaping the restaurant industry. The conversation spans from the impact of the pandemic on labor, consumer demands, the role o...

In this episode of Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, host Paul Molinari of Popcorn GTM speaks with Scott Siegel, co-founder and CRO of Curbit. They discuss Curbit's innovative approach to kitchen capacity management that ensures food is delivered on time, every time, by orchestrating and organizing orders from multiple channels. Scott explains Curbit’s origins and evolution, their strategic decisions du...

In episode 026 of the Morning Sam, Morning Ralph Podcast, host Paul Molinari interviews Rahul Musunuri, CEO of Khumbu Systems. They dive into the critical importance of integrations in restaurant ecosystems, likening them to the lifeblood of a thriving restaurant. Rahul discusses the inception of Khumbu, a company named after the customer-focused valley near Mount Everest, and its mission to solve...

Welcome to another episode of 'Morning Sam, Morning Ralph', the podcast produced by Popcorn GTM for restaurant technology professionals. In episode 025, Paul interviews Richard Liverman, an exceptional business mentor and coach from the UK.  They discuss the importance of business mentoring in organizational success and personal development. Richard shares insightful anecdotes and practical advice...

We welcome Olga Lopategui, a renowned restaurant loyalty expert from Restaurant Loyalty Specialists. Olga shares invaluable insights on the importance of loyalty programs in the restaurant industry, how to implement them effectively, and common pitfalls to avoid. She also discusses the essential tech stacks for loyalty programs, the role of AI in enhancing customer experiences, and real-life examp...

In this episode of Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, we explore China's groundbreaking open-source AI model, DeepSeek R1. Built for under six million dollars with low-end hardware, this AI performs on par with top models like ChatGPT-4. The affordability and efficiency of DeepSeek R1 have profound implications for the restaurant industry, making advanced AI accessible to smaller establishments. From per...

Welcome back to Morning Sam, Morning Ralph, the podcast for restaurant technology professionals! In this episode, host Paul is joined by Scott Bartley, a professional graphic designer, artist, and longtime Madison Ave. ad agency partner from New York City. Scott shares his design philosophy, emphasizing the importance of a strong concept, unexpected execution, and relentless attention to detail. T...

Join us on 'Morning Sam, Morning Ralph,' the podcast for restaurant technology professionals, as we welcome Matt Rolfe, a seasoned restaurant coach, entrepreneur, and former executive at leading brands like Bacardi, Anheuser Busch, and Barmetrix. Matt dives deep into the essentials of leadership, personal development, and the vital role they play in the success of hospitality teams. Learn about hi...