Podcast
Digital Hospitality
Hosted by Shawn P. Walchef · EN
Digital Hospitality is an interview podcast series that explores the ways successful people have harnessed the power of the Internet and social media. The show is hosted by Cali BBQ Media Founder Shawn P. Walchef.
70episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How Atmosphere TV Keeps Guests Watching And Staying Longer
May 2500:24:31Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Digital Hospitality, Shawn Walchef sits down with John Smolen, SVP Sales & Customer Success at Atmosphere TV, to discuss why traditional television fails inside restaurants, bars, gyms, and other commercial spaces. Smolen explains how Atmosphere built an entirely new category of entertainment designed specifically for businesses, why attention matters more than ever in hospitality, and how operators can use content to increase guest engagement, improve the in-venue experience, and drive additional revenue after live sports end. Restaurants Need Entertainment Built For Restaurants – John Smolen believes most television was designed for people sitting quietly on a couch at home, not for guests inside busy bars and restaurants. Atmosphere TV was built specifically for commercial spaces where attention spans are shorter, sound is often off, and operators need content that keeps guests engaged. Keeping Guests Longer Creates Real Revenue – Atmosphere focuses heavily on what happens after the game ends. Smolen believes restaurants spend enormous effort driving traffic for sporting events, but often lose guests the moment the final whistle blows. Engaging content helps operators extend visits, increase orders, and create a better in-venue experience. Simple Technology Wins In Hospitality – Atmosphere’s platform was designed to remove friction for operators. Restaurants receive a streaming device, plug it into an HDMI port, and immediately access more than 30 channels of curated programming, digital signage, trivia, sports content, and family-friendly entertainment without adding operational complexity. Episode Links John Smolen LinkedIn: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smolenjohn/ Atmosphere TV: https://www.atmosphere.tv/ Atmosphere TV LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atmospheretv/ Atmosphere TV Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atmospheretv/ Atmosphere TV Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/atmospheretv/ Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →How Bites’ AI Will Change Restaurant Delivery Forever
May 2100:15:29Tap to summarizeBala Subramaniam, co-founder of Bites, explains why the future of restaurant ordering may live inside AI platforms like ChatGPT instead of traditional delivery apps. After years at Amazon, Instacart, and LinkedIn, Subramaniam set out to solve one of hospitality’s biggest problems: delivery platforms that drive growth while draining margins and hiding customer data from restaurants. This episode explores AI-native ordering, the economics of food delivery, POS partnerships, and why controlling discovery may become more important than controlling delivery itself. AI Is Becoming The Next Discovery Channel – Bala Subramaniam believes platforms like ChatGPT could reshape how customers discover and order food, much like the App Store changed mobile behavior. Restaurants Need Their Guest Data Back – Third-party delivery platforms control most of the customer relationship today. Bytes is focused on helping restaurants regain ownership of guest data, loyalty, and direct engagement. Hidden Fees Hurt Restaurant Margins – Bala Subramaniam argues delivery itself is not the problem. The bigger issue is the hidden commissions and discovery fees built into traditional delivery platforms. Episode Links Bala Subramaniam LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/balachandergs/ Bites LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bitesai/ Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →Restaurants Have a Data Problem. YourBI Is Building the Fix
May 1800:40:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Digital Hospitality, Shawn Walchef sits down with Alexandra Fulea, CEO and co-founder of YourBI, to discuss why restaurants are overwhelmed with data but still struggling to make better decisions. Alexandra explains how disconnected systems create operational blind spots, why dashboards alone are not enough, and how clean data foundations are becoming essential for AI, forecasting, scheduling, and scalable restaurant operations. Connected Data Creates Better Decisions – Alexandra Fulea believes restaurants struggle when labor, inventory, sales, and guest data live in disconnected systems. YourBI helps operators see the full picture so they can make smarter operational decisions. Dashboards Need Context – Alexandra Fulea sees dashboards as tools, not solutions. The goal is giving the right people the right information at the right time so restaurant teams can stay aligned across the business. AI Starts With Clean Data – YourBI focuses on building reliable data foundations before layering in AI. Better data leads to better forecasting, scheduling, automation, and operational consistency. Episode Links Alexandra Fulea LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-fulea/ YourBI: https://www.yourbi.nl/ YourBI LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/yourbi/posts/ Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →How KNOW Simplifies Restaurant Operations Before Problems Start
May 1300:14:52Tap to summarizeKrish Sridhar, founder and CEO of KNOW, explains why restaurant operations become harder when teams are forced to juggle disconnected systems, paper binders, and endless apps. From digital checklists and health inspections to AI-powered workflows, KNOW helps operators simplify execution and create consistency across every location. This episode explores frontline operations, operational discipline, proactive health and safety systems, and why the best restaurant technology should quietly remove friction instead of creating more complexity. Operational Simplicity Drives Consistency - Krish Sridhar believes restaurant teams are overwhelmed by disconnected systems. KNOW centralizes tasks, training, communication, and workflows into one platform so operators can execute more consistently with less friction. Checklists Still Matter - From opening procedures to health inspections, Sridhar sees checklists as the foundation of strong operations. KNOW helps restaurants codify systems, automate reminders, and proactively manage standards across every location. AI Should Quietly Improve the Work - Sridhar believes AI works best when it removes tedious tasks instead of creating more complexity. KNOW uses AI to automate verification, alerts, and support so teams can stay focused on hospitality. Episode Links Krish Sridhar on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akrishsridhar/ KNOW online: https://www.getknowapp.com/ KNOW on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/co@mpany/getknowapp/ Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →Why This Restaurant CEO Puts His Personal Cell Phone on Every Receipt
May 1100:31:45Tap to summarizeAnthony Valletta, CEO of bartaco, shares how a 30-plus location restaurant brand is built through people, empowerment, and community connection, not rigid systems. From losing an entire staff as a young GM to building a culture centered around hospitality-first leadership, Valletta explains why great restaurants are defined by how they recover from mistakes, not how they avoid them. This episode explores digital hospitality, storytelling through design, modern restaurant tech stacks, and why real loyalty is earned through emotional connection, not points programs. People Create Hospitality, Not Policies – Anthony Valletta believes the best hospitality moments happen when employees are trusted to make real decisions. Empowering managers and frontline staff to solve problems creatively creates emotional connections that scripted service never can. Great restaurants are not defined by perfection. Community Should Be Built Into the Walls – As bartaco expands across the country, Anthony Valletta works to make every location feel tied to its local market. From reclaimed materials and local artists to neighborhood music references and design details, the goal is to create restaurants that feel personal instead of copy-and-paste. Scale should never erase individuality. Digital Hospitality Removes Friction – Anthony Valletta sees technology as a way to make hospitality feel easier and more personalized, not more robotic. Whether it is frictionless ordering, smarter guest communication, or storytelling across social media, every digital touchpoint should feel as intentional as the in-person experience. Episode Links Anthony Valletta LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anthonyvalletta/ bartaco: https://bartaco.com/ bartaco Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bartacolife/ bartaco Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bartacolife bartaco Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bartacolife?lang=en Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →How Pye Is Rethinking Restaurant Kiosks | Chat w/ CEO Jegil Dugger
May 600:32:53Tap to summarizeJegil Dugger, founder and CEO of Pye, shares how his journey from Division I athlete to restaurant technology entrepreneur shaped his approach to digital hospitality. After rebuilding his life through innovation and entrepreneurship, Dugger created kiosk technology designed to help operators reduce friction, improve service, and support every customer, including those who still rely on cash payments. This episode explores automation as a tool for hospitality, why accessibility still matters in restaurant tech, and how thoughtful design and personalization can create better guest experiences. Technology Should Reduce Friction – Jegil Dugger believes automation should support operators, not replace hospitality. Pye’s kiosk systems help restaurants handle labor shortages, speed up service, and simplify operations so teams can stay focused on guests. Accessibility Still Matters – Dugger believes restaurant technology should work for everyone, including customers who still rely on cash. Supporting all forms of payment is not just operational for Pye. It is about inclusion and making sure no guest feels excluded. Style Drives Adoption – Dugger sees restaurant technology as part of the brand experience, not just hardware. From curved touchscreens to customizable lighting, Pye focuses on creating technology that operators are proud to put inside their restaurants. Episode Links Jegil Dugger LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/j%C3%A8gil-dugger-b57a7b59/ Pye: https://mypyepos.com/ Pye IG: https://www.instagram.com/mypyepos/ Pye Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mypyepos/ Pye LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mypyepos/ Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →The Restaurant Tech Company Behind Untappd
May 400:39:28Tap to summarizeTrace Smith, CEO of Next Glass, shares how an unexpected leap from private equity into the beverage alcohol industry led to building a platform that connects producers, operators, and consumers at scale. From acquiring Untappd to powering menu management for thousands of restaurants, he explains why great products and real customer value drive lasting growth. This episode explores building in a fragmented industry, using data to drive foot traffic, and how technology and AI can enhance hospitality without replacing it. Product Quality Drives Everything – Trace Smith believes growth starts with building something that actually works for operators. In hospitality, word travels fast. You can sell a product once, but if it does not save time or drive revenue, customers leave. Untappd for Business scaled because it delivered real value, turning menu management into a tool that increases efficiency and foot traffic. Owning the Data Creates Advantage – Next Glass connects producers, operators, and consumers through a shared data ecosystem. By building systems of record and controlling proprietary data, the company creates value that cannot be easily replicated. In a world where many tools sit on top of someone else’s data, ownership becomes a long-term competitive edge. Connected Systems Create Better Operations – Untappd for Business is designed to fit into the tools operators already use, not add more complexity. Integrations like Toast allow restaurants to manage menu data once and distribute it everywhere, from in-store displays to consumer discovery platforms. When systems work together, teams move faster, reduce errors, and stay focused on the guest experience. Episode Links Trace Smith LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracesmith/ Untappd for Business: https://utfb.untappd.com/ Next Glass: https://www.nextglass.co/ Ollie: https://www.nextglass.co/ollie/ Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →This Bar Gives You 21% Off If You Pay in Bitcoin
Apr 2900:27:26Tap to summarizeDan Kablaoui of PubKey shares how a neighborhood bar became something much bigger: a gathering place where hospitality, Bitcoin, media, and community intersect. From rebuilding a post-COVID community in New York to launching an ambitious Washington, D.C. venue with a stage, studio, and event space, he explains why physical spaces still matter in a digital world. This episode explores sponsorship-driven growth, content as a business model, and how great hospitality can make complex ideas feel approachable. Hospitality Can Be the Gateway to New Ideas – PubKey does not lead with Bitcoin jargon or hard sells. It leads with burgers, beer, and a welcoming neighborhood bar experience. By creating trust first through hospitality, the brand makes complex topics feel approachable and human. Sometimes the best way to introduce something new is through an experience people already understand. Restaurants Can Build More Than Food Revenue – PubKey treats its physical space as a business platform, not just a dining room. Events, sponsorships, podcast production, community meetups, and branded activations all create revenue opportunities beyond food and beverage sales. The modern venue can monetize attention, audience, and experiences in ways traditional operators often overlook. The Future Belongs to Spaces Built for Content – A great room used to be enough. Now the smartest operators design spaces that can also be filmed, streamed, clipped, and shared. PubKey’s stage, studio, and media setup turn every event into ongoing digital distribution. The venues that win tomorrow will be the ones built for both in-person energy and online reach. Episode Links PubKey Online: https://www.pubkey.bar/ PubKey X: https://x.com/pubkey PubKey YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@PubkeyBar PubKey Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pubkey.nyc/ PubKey Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@pubkey.bar Go to the National Restaurant Show 2026: https://nationalrestaurantshow.com Use our promo code SHAWN26 for $26 off registration! Disclaimer: Promotional offer is valid through 5/8/2026. Offer is redeemable through online registration and is only valid for operators. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and does not apply to current 2026 Show registrants. Non-exhibiting suppliers are subject to a higher badge rate. #2026RestaurantShow Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →How One $3 Delivery Grew Into a Business Reshaping How Restaurants Deliver
Apr 2700:35:22Tap to summarizeAaron Hoffman shares how a college side hustle turned into DeliverThat, a national platform helping restaurants take control of delivery and grow catering with confidence. From a viral tweet and bike deliveries on campus to serving major brands through smarter logistics, he explains why restaurants should own the guest relationship. This episode explores first-party delivery, the value of catering, the new Toast integration, and how technology can create simplicity instead of friction. Origin Stories Still Matter – Aaron Hoffman did not start with funding, a polished product, or a logistics background. He started with a simple problem, a viral tweet, and the willingness to act fast. From bike deliveries on a college campus to a national platform, the DeliverThat story is a reminder that great businesses often begin by solving one real problem better than anyone else. Restaurants Should Own the Relationship – Hoffman believes too many operators gave away delivery in exchange for convenience. When orders flow through third parties, restaurants risk losing margin, customer data, and control of the guest experience. DeliverThat helps brands build a smarter first-party strategy so delivery becomes a growth channel instead of a dependency. Connected Tech Wins – Technology works best when it removes friction, not when it adds more complexity. DeliverThat’s new Toast integration gives operators a simpler way to manage delivery inside tools they already use. The strongest restaurant tech stacks are not about having more systems. They are about making the right systems work together. Episode Links Aaron Hoffman LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronhoffman02/ DeliverThat Online: https://www.ideliverthat.com/ DeliverThat Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deliverthatco/ DeliverThat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DeliverThat John Zinno LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-zinno/ Go to the National Restaurant Show 2026: https://nationalrestaurantshow.com Use our promo code SHAWN26 for $26 off registration! Disclaimer: Promotional offer is valid through 5/8/2026. Offer is redeemable through online registration and is only valid for operators. Offer cannot be combined with any other promotion and does not apply to current 2026 Show registrants. Non-exhibiting suppliers are subject to a higher badge rate. #2026RestaurantShow Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
Transcribe →What It Really Takes to Grow a Restaurant Brand
Apr 2500:28:45Tap to summarizeKhara Mangiduyos, co-founder of Kalei's Kitchenette, shares how humble beginnings at farmers markets grew into a thriving Hawaiian comfort food brand built on authenticity, resilience, and community. From launching with her husband as a two-person team to opening a brick-and-mortar after years of persistence, she explains why real connection matters more than polished marketing. This episode explores storytelling as a growth tool, building loyalty through shared values, and how hospitality can reach far beyond the counter. Authenticity Builds Community – Khara Mangiduyos believes people support businesses that feel real. By sharing life as a mom, owner, and neighbor, not just polished food photos, she creates trust that turns followers into loyal guests. In a crowded market, genuine connection can be more powerful than perfect branding. Resilience Fuels Growth – Kalei’s Kitchenette grew from farmers markets to a brick-and-mortar location through years of hard work, uncertainty, and constant problem solving. The journey was not quick or easy. Khara’s story is a reminder that meaningful growth usually comes from staying committed long after the excitement fades. Hospitality Extends Beyond the Counter – For Khara, serving guests does not stop at taking orders. It includes supporting schools, giving back locally, replying to messages, and being present in the neighborhood she serves. The strongest brands do not just operate in a community. They actively help build one. Episode Links Khara Mangiduyos LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khara-mangiduyos/ Kalie’s Kitchenette: https://www.kaleiskitchenette.com/ Kalie’s Kitchenette: IG: https://www.instagram.com/kaleiskitchenette/ Kalie’s Kitchenette YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kaleiskitchenette Kalie’s Kitchenette Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleiskitchenette Where to find Cali BBQ MediaVisit our WebsiteFollow Restaurant Technology SubstackFollow us on InstagramFollow us on LinkedInLearn About our Media Services
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