Digital Social Hour – Episode Summary

Podcast: Digital Social Hour
Host: Sean Kelly
Guest: Josh Abelson (Founder, The Industrial Event Space & Las Vegas Pizza Festival)
Episode: #1693 – "Las Vegas Has Better Pizza Than New York? This Festival Founder Says YES."
Date: December 20, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode brings Sean Kelly in conversation with Josh Abelson, a seasoned event entrepreneur, Las Vegas local, and founder of the Las Vegas Pizza Festival. The two discuss Josh’s journey building The Industrial event space, the rise of Vegas as a pizza and events capital, and bold claims about the city’s pizza outshining even iconic pizza hubs like New York. Expect behind-the-scenes stories about surviving the pandemic as an events business, strategies for making an event space a local gem, insights into Vegas’s changing entertainment landscape, health and wellness, and a passionate exploration of what makes a truly great pizza. The episode has a friendly, open vibe, mixing honest business talk with food enthusiasm.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Building the Vegas Event Space Scene

• [00:39] Josh’s background: Chicago native, stint in California, fell in love with Las Vegas for its business climate and growth potential.
• Founding The Industrial: Started nine years ago with his wife, transforming a “blank warehouse” into a highly flexible, creative event space designed to bypass the “red tape” of Strip venues.
• [01:37] "We saw an opportunity to basically have a venue where there's no red tape ... affordable, where you can do those kind of crazy, unique ideas." – Josh

2. Event Industry Resilience and Adaptation During Covid

• [02:25] Josh describes pivoting during the pandemic: smaller, highly regulated events, drive-thru gatherings, and pioneering safety protocols.
• [02:40] "We started a policy for the city of Las Vegas on how to be safe when you're doing these events." – Josh

3. Landing Major Clients – Even a Presidential Visit

• [03:12] The Industrial’s success story includes hosting events for NFL, Microsoft, Ferrari, and even President Biden.
• [03:18] "To be able to say our venue won over all these thousands of other spaces ... quite an intensive planning process with Secret Service." – Josh

4. Marketing & Growth: Word of Mouth, Visibility, and Being a ‘Hidden Gem’

• [04:21] Most new business comes from Google search and SEO, but word of mouth is essential.
• [04:43] Flexibility is key: events for 10 to 2,000+ people.

5. Las Vegas Pizza Festival: Elevating the Vegas Food Scene

• [06:02] Josh’s flagship foodie event began in 2019 to shine a light on Vegas’s world-class pizza talent.
• [06:43] "[Vegas] has world champions everywhere ... really, really good talent." – Josh
• Festival details: VIP and GA options, unlimited pizza, local pizzerias (with rare guest participants), live dough-throwing, and exclusive slices you won’t find in restaurants.
• [09:00] "They're all putting out their best slice ... you won't be able to try that at the restaurant." – Josh

6. Best Pizza in Las Vegas?

• [08:33] Favorite spots include Good Pie, Pizza Rock (“13-time world champion Tony Gemignani”), Metro Pizza, Esther's Kitchen, Monzu, Prince Street.
• [09:54] Limited deep dish representation—more East Coast and grandma-style pizza in town.
• [11:43] Water and flour quality are crucial for pizza’s taste and digestibility; several Vegas spots import water from New York.

Notable Exchange:

• [08:04]
  • Host: “A 7.5 is pretty good.”
  • Josh: “If you're looking at the Portnoy ones, like a 7.5 is really good.”

7. The Wellness & Biohacking Trend

• [12:24] Health is a serious hobby for Josh; he and his wife have built a home sauna, cold plunge, and home gym.
• Bonding before business: Both appreciate the value of pre-meeting wellness routines for connection.
• [13:21] "The sauna is like, probably my favorite purchase of all time." – Host

8. Running Events in Vegas: Challenges & Opportunities

• [15:33] It’s hard to sell tickets in a city full of world-class, even free, entertainment.
• [16:39] Value, accessibility (including avoiding strip parking fees and expensive drinks), and local appeal are primary draws.

9. Vegas's PR and Economic Challenges

• [17:10] Growing cost concerns, hotel/service fees, and changes with gambling legalization in other states—how will Vegas compete?
• [18:12] Sports teams, concerts, and mega-events may be keys to resilience: “No other city can do that.”

10. Professional Event Analysis & Podcasting Insights

• [18:45] Josh: “Every little thing ... the first thing I do is I look up. What does it feel like in here? Smelling it, talking to employees ... It’s all basically like a market research.”
• Podcast favorites: Sean’s top pick is "Diary of a CEO" (Stephen Bartlett); Josh and Sean both admire Joe Rogan and Modern Wisdom (Chris Williamson).

11. Business, Growth, and Future Plans

• [21:46] Still plenty of room to grow and more Las Vegas people to reach.
• [21:59] The Industrial recently hosted a live podcast featuring Shaq and Mike Tyson.
• Incorporating media and podcasting into events is a strategy both see taking off.

12. Expanding Events & Food Experiences

• [22:53] Ideas flow: possibility of a food truck festival (The Industrial’s lot is perfect), plus Josh highlights mobile pizza ovens and the evolution of food trucks.

13. Business Partnerships & Personal Life

• [24:41] Josh works with his wife, the creative side to his operations, following a model of “trust first.”
• [25:45] Reminds the host of power couples Alex and Layla Hormozi, who also work out of Vegas.

Memorable Quote:

• [24:58] "You're never going to have anybody more trustworthy than your partner. In a business aspect, that's all it is, is trust." – Josh

14. Vegas Essentials: Favorite Casinos & Restaurants

• [26:54]–[28:29]
  • Venetian/Palazzo: Great for groups and staycations
  • Wynn: Best business and restaurant experience
  • Red Rock & Green Valley Ranch: Casual locals’ favorites
  • Durango: Best food court
  • “You could ask for anything at the Wynn, they'll take care of you.” – Josh

15. Final Plugs & Upcoming Events

• The Industrial: Find at theindustrialvegas.com
• Vegas Pizza Fest: November 15, 2025 (vegaspizzafest.com)
• [28:38] Josh is open to connecting via LinkedIn or through the websites.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [01:37] Josh: "We saw an opportunity to basically have a venue where there's no red tape ... affordable, where you can do those kind of crazy, unique ideas."
• [03:18] Josh: "To be able to say our venue won over all these thousands of other spaces ... quite an intensive planning process with Secret Service."
• [06:43] Josh: "[Vegas] has world champions everywhere ... really, really good talent."
• [08:04] Host: “A 7.5 is pretty good.”
  Josh: “If you’re looking at Portnoy ones, like a 7.5 is really good.”
• [12:24] Josh: "When you have good quality pizza, you can eat more slices ... compared to Domino’s, right? You feel kind of gross. When you eat something with good quality ingredients ... you can feel better afterwards."
• [13:21] Host: "The sauna is like, probably my favorite purchase of all time."
• [15:33] Josh: "How do you capture the attention of these people ... it’s all about delivering experiences that are different and then a value too."
• [24:58] Josh: "You're never going to have anybody more trustworthy than your partner. In a business aspect, that's all it is, is trust."

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:39 – Josh’s background and move to Las Vegas
• 01:37 – Vision and founding of The Industrial Event Space
• 02:25 – Navigating Covid as an events business
• 03:12 – Hosting President Biden and big-name clients
• 06:02 – Origin and philosophy of the Las Vegas Pizza Festival
• 08:33 – Best pizza spots in Vegas and what makes them special
• 09:54 – Deep dish struggles; focusing on East Coast flavors
• 12:24 – Ingredient matters: water, flour, and how pizza makes you feel
• 13:21 – Health/wellness, saunas, and habit building
• 15:33 – The challenge of selling tickets and differentiation in Vegas
• 17:10 – Vegas’s PR problems and the impact of gambling expansion
• 18:45 – Analyzing events, learning from other industries
• 21:59 – Hosting Shaq and Mike Tyson’s live podcast
• 22:53 – The idea of a Vegas food truck festival
• 24:41 – Working with your spouse as business partner
• 26:54 – Best hotels, casinos, and food courts in Vegas
• 28:38 – Find Josh and upcoming events

Episode Tone and Style

• Casual, affable, and honest—Josh provides grounded business advice, insider perspectives, and repeats an “open to new ideas” approach
• The conversation is energetic, friendly, and encourages transparency in both food and business critique
• The passion for community, value, and creative hospitality shines through

For foodies, festival lovers, entrepreneurs, or anyone interested in how Las Vegas reinvents itself—this is a must-listen episode that could change how you think about both pizza and event spaces in Sin City.