Talking Hospitality podcast

What if hospitality businesses could do more than just make profit? In this season finale of Talking Hospitality, we’re joined by Michael Tingsager , founder of Hospitality Mavericks, to explore a bigger question facing the industry — can businesses genuinely be a force for good, or is that just talk? Drawing on real examples and his “seven tenets” framework, Michael breaks down how the most progr...

How do you actually write your first book — and more importantly, finish it? In this episode of Talking Hospitality, we explore what it really takes to move from idea to a completed book. This isn’t about waiting for inspiration or having the perfect concept. It’s about structure, discipline and doing the work. Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by Monica Or , who shares her experience...

This episode of Talking Hospitality explores one of the most important topics in the industry today: how we treat people at work. Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by John Herity , Operations Manager at the Caledonian Club, to discuss leadership, mentoring and creating environments where people can genuinely succeed. John shares his journey through hospitality, from early roles in Lon...

In this episode of Talking Hospitality, Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell sit down with Gary King , owner of Collins King & Associates, to explore what hospitality recruitment looks like after decades of disruption, change and survival. Gary shares his journey from chef to recruiter, his early work with football clubs including Tottenham and Arsenal, and how those experiences shaped his abil...

This episode of Talking Hospitality explores a fundamental question: how do people actually learn at work? Regular host Timothy R Andrews takes a back seat on this one, with Tracey Rashid and Joe McDonnell taking the lead. They are joined by Steve Dineen, CEO of Fuse Universal, to challenge traditional approaches to training and development — particularly in fast-paced industries like hospitality....

This bonus episode of Talking Hospitality , recorded live at Confex 2026, explores one of the most misunderstood roles in the industry: human resources. Timothy R Andrews speaks with Jonathan Napier , HR Director at the Jumeirah Carlton Tower and a volunteer advocate for HR in Hospitality , a non-profit network dedicated to championing people professionals across the sector. Jonathan shares what H...

This bonus episode of Talking Hospitality is recorded live at Confex in London and shines a light on an unusual but powerful initiative bringing the industry together. Timothy R Andrews sits down with Paul Gilley , founder of the London Hospitality Festival, to discuss Hospitality Fight Night — an event that takes hospitality professionals with no boxing experience and puts them through a 12-week...

In this episode, Timothy R Andrews sits down with operator and campaigner Andy Lennox in the Old Thatch pub in Dorset to talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes in hospitality right now. Andy shares his journey from building Co-Tai into a multi-site business (and the reality of private equity ownership), to launching Nusara, and growing a pub portfolio in a market that keeps getting t...

This episode explores what actually makes apprenticeships successful in hospitality — and why commitment from employers matters more than funding or frameworks. Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by Neil Gander and Lucy Grant-Evans from Electric Mayonnaise , who share their experience of delivering apprenticeships as part of a wider learning and development approach. The conversation l...

This episode explores why hospitality continues to lose people, skills and funding — and what can actually be done about it. Timothy R Andrews is joined by Vicky Glover , Founder of Appetite 4 Apprenticeships , for a clear, practical conversation about apprenticeships, retention and the realities facing hospitality employers. Vicky explains how the apprenticeship levy works, why billions of pounds...

This remastered bonus episode revisits a powerful conversation first recorded in 2020, where a walk up a mountain becomes a turning point for life and career. Hosts Timothy R Andrews and Sarah Kettel are joined by events professional and author Paul Cook , who shares the story of climbing Mount Kilimanjaro — and how the experience fundamentally changes how he sees work, purpose and success. What b...

This Christmas special explores what it really takes to get through the festive season while working in hospitality. The Talking Hospitality hosts come together for an open, honest conversation about pressure, resilience, wellbeing and community at one of the most demanding times of the year. The episode blends humour and reflection with serious discussion around mental health, sobriety, burnout a...

What does leadership look like when you’re raising children on your own, running a business, and carrying responsibilities that don’t switch off at 5pm? In this episode, Dawn Lawrence, Founder and CEO of Hospitality Jobs UK, shares a deeply honest account of building a career while navigating single parenthood, financial pressure, judgment, and self-doubt. Dawn reflects on leaving school at 16, fi...

Branding in hospitality isn’t a logo exercise — it’s the feeling people carry with them when they walk out the door. In this episode, Sachin Parmar and Sanj Naha from Graphic Kitchen join us to unpack what great branding really looks like in restaurants, hotels and bars. We explore everything from menu design and technology to TripAdvisor strategy, toilets (yes, really), and why consistency is the...

In this episode of Talking Hospitality , Timothy R Andrews and Joe McDonnell are joined by Olajide Alabi , one of the UK’s most engaging voices in Equality, Diversity & Inclusion — and Co-Founder of SISU, the People Experience Agency . Olajide breaks down what EDI really means in practice: how inclusion starts with belonging and psychological safety, why focusing on diversity alone misses the...

In this very special audio-only bonus edition of Talking Hospitality (you won’t find it on YouTube), host Timothy R Andrews is joined once again by Tracey Rashid , returning to the mic for an inspiring conversation with Mex Ibrahim , co-founder of Women in the Food Industry . Mex shares how her organisation shines a spotlight on the stories and successes of women across every corner of the food wo...

In this episode, we’re joined by Vince Kelly , manager of the Mayor’s Hospitality Skills Academy at Westminster Kingsway College, to talk about one of the biggest challenges facing the industry today — the skills gap. With 30 years’ experience as a chef and lecturer, Vince has seen the talent pipeline shrink first-hand. He shares how the Hospitality Skills Passport — a new initiative being develop...

In this episode, we tackle one of the most avoided topics in hospitality: tax. Whether you're self-employed, running a growing business, or just trying to make sense of payroll and forecasting, this conversation with Sema Ziler of Elan Tax is packed with straight-talking advice and practical insight. Sema joins Timothy and Joe to share what every hospitality professional should know about staying...

What does it mean to reconnect with your culture through food — and why are so many people in hospitality paying attention to Sri Lankan cuisine right now? In this episode, we speak with Ranji Thangiah , co-founder of the Sri Lankan Culture Collective , about the personal journey that led her to start documenting recipes, stories, and memories after the loss of her father. What began as a way to p...

Safeguarding in hospitality should be more than just policy, it should be embedded in a business' culture. In this episode, we explore how training, awareness, and prevention can transform venues into safer spaces for both staff and guests. In this powerful episode of Talking Hospitality , we’re joined by Eren Bessim , Head of Training & Development at Safer Business Network, who brings frontl...

When we chat about the potential of AI in hospitality, one of the big ideas we dive into is the concept of agentic AI. Essentially, we’re talking about creating little digital helpers—think minions from Despicable Me—that can take on specific tasks, learn from context, and get better over time. Instead of just tossing queries at a model like ChatGPT and hoping for the best, these agents are design...

Hospitality is at the heart of what makes London the greatest city in the world, and in this episode, we're diving deep into that very idea! Jason shares his unforgettable encounter with Bill Clinton, who declared London the best city, sparking an inspiration that led to the creation of the London Lifestyle Awards. We chat about how these awards celebrate all the amazing experiences outside of wor...

In this episode, Timothy and Joe are joined by the brilliant Akashia Carswell, CEO of London Talent and founder of Hive Cru, a new platform aiming to revolutionise temp recruitment in the hospitality sector. They dig into: Why the current recruitment model is broken The invisible cost of poor training and high turnover How Hive could reduce recruitment timelines from four months to four hours The...

What does real allyship look like in hospitality — and why does it matter now more than ever? In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience, Talking Hospitality host Timothy R Andrews is joined by Tris Reid-Smith , founder of Pride Wide , for an urgent and inspiring conversation on LGBTQIA+ rights, representation, and the power of storytelling. We explore how toxic narratives are being wea...

What happens when hospitality businesses keep saying “we support mental health” — but don’t back it up with action? In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with Rachel Kerr-Lapsley , Managing Director of Kelly’s Cause , the mental health charity changing how the industry supports its people — from the ground up. Rachel shares hard truths about performative wellbeing, what really makes a differenc...