In this episode, I chat with Darius Aram from Slice Street Pizza about the real challenges of running a pizzeria. We cover everything from managing delivery drivers to handling customer expectations and using third-party services. If you're a pizza operator looking for practical advice, this conversation is packed with insights to help your busines…

Decoder is off this week for a short end-of-summer break. We’ll be back with both our interview and explainer episodes after the Labor Day holiday. In the meantime we thought we’d re-share an explainer that’s taken on a whole new relevance in the last couple weeks, about deepfakes and misinformation. In February, I talked with Verge policy editor A…

Today in the tank, we're talking shoelaces. Will these founders be able to tie the knot with a shark, or is this pitch about to be a tangled mess? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Solving an everyday problem Building a defensible brand Amazon marketplace as a go…

Today's product will have you diagnosed before you can say, “Add to cart.” That's right, who needs a doctor when you can have your own lab? right at home. Not us, tell you that. Will this product be the remedy the sharks need in their portfolio, or will this be more headache than it's worth? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank w…

Juan Orrego, co-founder of Cuboh, shares his entrepreneurial journey and the story behind Cuboh's acquisition by ChowNow. Cuboh helps restaurants integrate their online orders into their point of sale system, while ChowNow is a direct online ordering platform. The acquisition allows ChowNow to offer both third-party integration and direct ordering …

Decoder is off this week for a short end-of-summer break. We’ll be back with both our interview and explainer episodes after the Labor Day holiday, and I’m very excited for what we have coming up on the schedule. But while we’re out, we’d like to highlight a great episode from the Land of the Giants podcast, which is over at Vulture this season, fo…

Today on The Tank, we've got founders using a woven cotton blend to spin out a fresh take on an old school product. Will the Sharks sink their teeth into this dorm room classic? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Naming and branding Unlocking scale on a 11 year ol…

The Onion is a comedy institution — and like everything else in media, it went on a pure nightmare hell ride in the 2010s. We could do an entire episode on the G/O Media calamity, but the short version is: A bunch of friends just managed to buy The Onion, and they're busy relaunching the website, going back to print, and, clearly, having a blast do…

Why was the hairdresser never late for work? Because they knew all the shortcuts! And speaking of new hair, here's a product that's gonna make you care. Today in the tank, we've got a product that aims to give you a good hair day after a good night's sleep. Will this pitch get messy, or will the sharks think it's a cut above the rest? Hosts Jorie M…

Scott Porter, founder and CEO of San Diablo Artisan Churros, shares his unconventional career path and the origin story of his churro business. He discusses the importance of customer and brand experience in creating a thriving brand and marketing strategy. Scott talks about how he secured partnerships with stadiums and event centers by winning the…

Today I’m talking with Thomas Dohmke, the CEO of GitHub. GitHub is the platform for managing code – but since 2018, it’s also been owned by Microsoft. We talk a lot about how independent GitHub really is inside of Microsoft — especially now that Microsoft is all-in on AI, and Gitbhub Copilot is one of the biggest AI product success stories that exi…

It's time for you to get a slice of the action with today's spin on the pizza box. Will the sharks take a bite out of this product or will they find this product honestly too cheesy? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Overcoming nerves in a pitch Securing licensin…

There’s a major internet speech regulation currently making its way through Congress, and it has a really good chance of becoming law. It’s called KOSPA: the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, which passed in the Senate with overwhelming bipartisan support late last month. At a high level, KOSPA could radically change how tech platforms handle spe…

Today in the Tank, we have a product aiming to help you keep calm and swim on. It's Airbnb, but mostly for the summer season. Will this product be swimply irresistible to the sharks, or will this product sink? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Airbnb for X Revenu…

In this episode, Bruce welcomes back Ilir Sela, CEO of a leading platform dedicated to helping independent pizza shops thrive. Discover how Ilir and his team are revolutionizing the industry with innovative solutions for online ordering, point-of-sale systems, and discounted supplies. Get exclusive insights into the challenges and successes of mode…

Andrew Smith, the managing director and co-founder of Savory Fund, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and how he helps small local concepts scale and grow. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on the underbelly of a business, which includes leadership, systems, and people. Marketing should be inside-out, with a strong emphasis on exe…

Today, I’m talking with Replika founder and CEO Eugenia Kuyda, and I will just tell you right away, we get all the way to people marrying their AI companions, so get ready. It’s a ride. Replika’s basic pitch is pretty simple: what if you had an AI friend? The company offers avatars you can curate to your liking that pretend to be human, so they can…

Today in the tank, we're going way back with Jump Forward. See what I did there? This is by far one of the most interesting segments from season one. So good, many business schools made it a case study. Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Finding a real problem to …

Today, I’m talking to Jonathan Kanter, the assistant attorney general for antitrust at the United States Department of Justice. This is Jonathan’s second time on the show, and it’s a bit of an emergency podcast situation. On Monday, a federal court issued a monumental decision in the DOJ’s case against Google, holding that Google Search and the tex…

In this episode of the podcast, Bruce sits down with Andres Maldonado Fuertes, the innovative mind behind Nona Street Pizza. They delve into the journey of launching a unique pizza concept in Orlando, from building a custom food truck to creating a menu that blends Neapolitan and New York styles with inventive twists. Andres shares the challenges a…

You know what they say, “No need to reinvent the wheel.” Oh, wait, that's exactly what these founders are trying to do. Today in the Tank, we're tackling a product that's out of this world. With a NASA spin on a new wheel. Will the Sharks think this product is ready to blast off? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their bu…

Today in the tank, we've got a product that's looking to bring ambiance and radiant design to every household. Will this product get glowing reviews from the Sharks, or is it lights out for this founder? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Innovative product design…

Summary Andrew Nikash, co-founder and CEO of FIRST, discusses the challenges and opportunities of third-party delivery for restaurants. He highlights the importance of restaurants maintaining a direct relationship with their customers and offers strategies to reduce the cost of delivery while maximizing profits. Andrew emphasizes the need for resta…

Today, I’m talking with Glenn Fogel, the CEO of Booking Holdings, which owns a large portfolio of familiar travel brands: OpenTable, Kayak, and Priceline, as well as its largest subsidiary, Booking.com. This episode is pure Decoder bait all the way through — from Booking’s structure, to competition with hotels and airlines increasingly going direct…

Ah-choo! No, it's not allergies. I'm just testing out today's product. It's a new spin on the face mask, and folks, I can guarantee you've never seen anything like this. Will the sharks bite or will they throw this nasal device away like a dirty tissue? Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Ta…

Every time we talk about AI, we get one big piece of feedback that I really want to dive into: how the lightning-fast explosion of AI tools affects the climate. AI takes a lot of energy, and there’s a huge unanswered question as to whether using all that juice for AI is actually worth it, both practically and morally. It’s messy and complicated and…

Today we’re talking to DUDE Wipes founder Sean Riley about how differentiation helped him build a $150M dollar brand in a very crowded market. Hosts Jorie Munroe and Ariel Boswell jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Creating a brand voice with humor, authenticity and irreverence Capturing Super Bowl c…

Summary Eric Cacciatore, founder and host of the Restaurant Unstoppable Movement and podcast, shares his background and journey in the restaurant industry. He emphasizes the importance of four walls marketing and creating a great in-store experience. Eric also discusses the challenges and opportunities in the restaurant industry, including rising l…

Today, I’m talking with Hanneke Faber, the CEO of Logitech. Hanneke’s still pretty fresh to the role: She joined the company last October, after former CEO Bracken Darrell left following the pandemic boom and subsequent economic slowdown that halted Logitech’s growth. Hanneke, who comes from Unilever and Procter & Gamble, is new to the world of con…

Layla Ruffino, owner of Blue Highway Pizza in Florida, shares her experience running two successful pizzerias. The original location, in a small town, has been thriving for 20 years, while the newer location in a growing area has seen rapid growth. Leila emphasizes the importance of taking care of her team, offering generous benefits and creating a…

It's the most wonderful time of fear. I couldn't scare less that it's summertime. Today's pitch comes with every trick or treat in the book. Today's founder wants to creep it real with her new spin on immersive spooky experiences. Will the Sharks think this pitch is eerie-resistible or will it make them run screaming? Hosts Jorie Munroe, Ariel Bosw…

The Supreme Court has just taken on the entire idea of the US administrative state — and the Court is winning. Earlier this month, a conservative majority overturned a longstanding legal principle called Chevron deference. The implications are enormous for every possible kind of regulation — and net neutrality looks poised to be the first victim. V…

What do you get when you mix Netflix with Toys R Us? Answer: The greatest product you've never heard of. Will today's product make a wave, or are we looking at the next Blockbuster? Hosts Jorie Munroe, Ariel Boswell, and Jon Dick jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Pricing a marketplace solution Struc…

Steve Smyth, the director of restaurant technology for Taco John's International, shares his experiences of implementing technology in the restaurant industry. Taco John's, a legacy brand known for its tacos and burritos, has been using technology to enhance the guest experience and improve communication. They have implemented mobile ordering, loya…

Today, I’m talking with Rivian founder and CEO RJ Scaringe. RJ was on the show last September when we chatted at the Code Conference, but the past 10 months have seen a whirlwind of change throughout the car industry and at Rivian in particular. This year alone, the company unveiled five new models in its lineup and also just announced a $5 billion…

Being on Shark Tank can really be a dream come true for our founders, but It can also be pretty emotional. Even the cake products can leave you in tears. You know what they say, no whisk, no reward. Will today's product be a heart stopper or will the sharks say no to this patented cake topper? Hosts Jorie Munroe, Ariel Boswell, and Jon Dick jump in…

Giovanni Chez, part owner and general manager of King Umberto's pizzeria, joins the podcast to discuss his experience in the pizza industry. He talks about the history of the restaurant, their expansion during COVID, and their plans for revamping their indoor dining room and expanding their bakery production. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Backgro…

This week I’m talking to Matthew Ball, who was last on the show in 2022 to talk about his book “The Metaverse: How it Will Revolutionize Everything.” It’s 2024 and it’s safe to say that has not happened yet. But Matt’s still on the case — in fact he just released an almost complete update of the book, now with the much more sober title, “Building t…

We're back with a crap-tivating product that aims to control the pests in your life. Will this founder land a shark or will his pitch get dumped? Hosts Jorie Munroe, Ariel Boswell, and Jon Dick jump into the tank with their business insights on Shark Tank products. Listen for: Re-imagining a flawed solution to a real problem Choosing the wrong infl…

David Doty, owner of Lehigh Bakery, shares his journey in the restaurant industry and the growth of his bakery. He discusses his background in finance and law and how he transitioned into the food industry. David emphasizes the importance of customer experience and engagement in driving sales and growth. He shares strategies such as saying yes to c…

Why did the guitar go to school? To improve its chord-ination! And today's product aims to help yours too. When it comes to playing one of America's favorite instruments, will this product leave the sharks amped or will the founder leave in a fret? Hosts Jorie Munroe, Ariel Boswell, and Jon Dick jump into the tank with their business insights on Sh…

Today, I’m talking with Arati Prabhakar, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. That’s a cabinet-level position, where she works as the chief science and tech advisor to President Biden. Arati and her team of about 140 people at the OSTP are responsible for advising the president on not only big developments in sci…

Chris Black shares his journey of starting Red Rocket Pizza Company during COVID-19. He transitioned from being a nightclub DJ to a pizza maker and began by making pizzas in his garage. He eventually upgraded to a larger brick oven and started inviting friends and acquaintances to try his pizzas. Chapters 00:00 Starting a Pizza Business During COVI…

Today I’m talking to Nicholas Thompson, the CEO of The Atlantic. I was really excited to talk to Nick. Like so many media CEOs, including Vox Media’s, he just signed a deal allowing OpenAI to use The Atlantic’s vast archives as training data, but he also has a rich background in tech. Before he was the CEO of The Atlantic, Nick was the editor-in-ch…