Podcast Summary: The Entrepreneurs – Philip Feyer, Founder of Jonas Reindl Coffee Roasters
Date: September 24, 2025
Host: Tom Edwards (Monocle)
Guest of Focus: Philip Feyer, Founder of Jonas Reindl Coffee Roasters
Additional Interview: Dr. June O’Sullivan, CEO of London Early Years Foundation
Main Theme
This episode explores the power of business as a community builder, featuring two conversations: first, a deep dive into social enterprise in UK early years education with Dr. June O’Sullivan; and second, an on-the-ground portrait of hospitality and independent entrepreneurship with Philip Feyer, founder of Jonas Reindl Coffee Roasters in Vienna. The episode highlights how different approaches to business—social impact and local hospitality—can foster community, inclusion, and positive change.
Key Discussion Points and Insights
1. Social Enterprise and Early Years Education with Dr. June O’Sullivan
[00:29–21:09]
- The Journey to Social Impact
- Dr. June discusses her journey from psychiatric nursing to social work, and how personal experiences pushed her to create inclusive nursery spaces.
- "There has to be a better way than doing childcare through to small local charities. You had to do something better." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [03:54]
- She focuses on building a model that balances social purpose, business acumen, and commercial stability.
- Defining Pedagogy and Its Importance
- Pedagogy is about leading children to learn; it's deeper than curriculum.
- "If you haven't got a pedagogy, a way of understanding how children learn, you can have all the subjects you like, but they won't land..." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [05:27]
- Social Capital and Community Building
- Explains the importance of social capital in community stability, referencing Robert Putnam’s work.
- "If you have a frayed community, if you don’t have connections... then you’re in trouble. Because what happens is it frays and people are not held by the community framework.” – Dr. June O’Sullivan [06:35]
- Nurseries as “community catalysts,” hosting events like a “party for a new wall,” to bring together diverse groups.
- Purposeful Leadership and Sustainability
- Younger generations crave “leadership with a purpose” and regenerative models.
- "They don’t really want to work for extractive big corporates... They really want to work within what I might call a regenerative economic model..." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [08:24]
- LEYF cross-subsidizes nursery places for disadvantaged children and reinvests in employee training.
- Sustainability is approached across economic, social, and environmental pillars. Even young children’s voices are integrated in shaping spaces.
- Staff Development and Inclusion
- Staff progression and inclusion are key to retention. Dr. June discusses a culture valuing people’s whole selves and nurturing unique interests.
- Example: Staff skateboarding interests led to community connections and child development programs.
- "If people could do a bit more of that and really capture people's interest... I think that’s very important for people, especially in a disconnecting world." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [20:48]
- Memorable Quote
- "Children are like the canaries in the mine. They are the first to fall over with the sort of decisions we make at policy and adult level and beyond.” – Dr. June O’Sullivan [00:29, 13:46]
2. Hospitality, Independent Enterprise & Community: Jonas Reindl Coffee Roasters
[21:09–30:16]
- The Story Behind the Name
- Jonas Reindl is a Viennese slang term for the transport hub (“Reindl” meaning pan, named after mayor Franz Jonas).
- "If you look at this transport hub from sort of bird’s eye view, it’s shaped like a pan. Viennese people are pretty funny and... give funny nicknames to things.” – Philip Feyer [22:10]
- Building an International Team
- Of 23 staff, only 4 are German or Austrian. General manager Mia Croni (from Barbados) highlights the value of feedback and well-being in maintaining a healthy workplace.
- "Every day is very different for me ... I do a lot of feedback talks, one on one talks with all of our baristi. I think it's really important.” – Mia Croni [23:10]
- Coffee Roasting and Cupping
- The process of “cupping,” or side-by-side tasting, is a critical part of quality control and menu development.
- "The best trick I can say is always just drink as much coffee as you can and have the most exposure..." – Ben, Head Roaster [24:39]
- Distinctive Design and Brand Identity
- Emphasis on hand-designed café spaces with vintage, often historic, chairs.
- "Each cafe is also designed individually... we’ll always be working with vintage chairs ... The first cafe, for example, has chairs by a company called Rovac... Some of them well over 100 years old.” – Philip Feyer [25:24]
- In-house merchandise features bespoke artworks illustrating the “bean to cup” journey.
- Origins, Passion, and Growth
- Philip transitioned from film to hospitality, inspired by his restaurant-family background and personal passion for coffee culture.
- "I just saw the opportunity to do something that was both a passion of mine and something that I felt like was missing in the city." – Philip Feyer [27:03]
- Leadership Evolution and Delegation
- Maturing as a founder involved learning to delegate, trust his team, and scale the business effectively.
- "That was huge for me to realize I can better pass on responsibility to others, which then in turn allows me to not be spread so thin and focus on things like opening the next cafe." – Philip Feyer [28:14]
- On Publicity and Motivation
- Feyer acknowledges media isn’t his favorite part, but values sporadic acknowledgment and meaningful storytelling.
- "If there’s not, every once in a while that acknowledgement that what you’re doing is appreciated in some way, the day to day is also harder.” – Philip Feyer [29:40]
Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)
- "Children are like the canaries in the mine." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [00:29, 13:46]
- "If you haven’t got a pedagogy, a way of understanding how children learn, you can have all the subjects you like, but they won’t land..." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [05:27]
- "If you have a frayed community, if you don't have connections... you're in trouble." – Dr. June O’Sullivan [06:35]
- "Viennese people are pretty funny and... give funny nicknames to things." – Philip Feyer [22:10]
- "Each cafe is also designed individually... We’ll always be working with vintage chairs." – Philip Feyer [25:24]
- "I just saw the opportunity to do something that was both a passion of mine and something that I felt was missing in the city." – Philip Feyer [27:03]
- "That was huge for me to realize I can better pass on responsibility to others..." – Philip Feyer [28:14]
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:29–21:09: Dr. June O’Sullivan on social entrepreneurship in early years education
- 22:06: Introduction to Jonas Reindl and founder Philip Feyer
- 22:10: The meaning behind the Jonas Reindl name
- 23:10: Mia Croni on team dynamics and management
- 24:02: Coffee cupping explained by Philip and Ben
- 25:24: Interior design ethos and unique brand identity
- 27:03: Philip’s background and genesis of the business
- 28:14: Lessons in leadership and delegation
- 29:40: Reflections on publicity and motivation
Podcast Tone and Style
The episode is warm, candid, and conversational. Both Dr. June and Philip speak with passion and clarity, emphasizing the importance of purpose, community, and human connection—whether nurturing children or crafting the perfect cup of coffee.
Episode Takeaways
- Social enterprises thrive when commercial savvy is combined with genuine social impact.
- Building community—through meaningful personal connections, events, and shared values—makes both educational and hospitality businesses resilient and sustainable.
- Authentic leadership and nurturing staff growth are vital in both sectors.
- Attention to detail, craft, and cultural relevance can set local businesses apart in competitive markets.
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