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…

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…

Hilarious comedian, actor, and podcaster Rory Scovel is our guest, there’s pizza news, a special appearance by Scott Wiener of Scott’s Pizza Tours, and our topic is…"WHY WE LOVE PIZZA". Rory Scovel is stand up comedian, actor, and podcast host. He has numerous comedy specials, most recently 2024’s “Religion, Sex, and a Few Things in Between”. Rory …

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…

Comedian, actor, and writer Jon Glaser is our guest. There’s pizza headlines, and the pizza topic is..."PIZZA LISTS". Jon Glaser is a hilarious comedic actor and writer. For nearly 10 years he was a writer and performer on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. Jon was the star of Adult Swim’s “Delocated” and TruTV’s “Jon Glaser Loves Gear”. You’ve seen hi…

Our guests are comedian Kurt Braunohler and screenwriter Scotty Landes who host the popular podcast Bananas. We do strange pizza news with the Bananas hosts, and our topic is: New York City Tourist Pizza Pairings. And special guest writer and tour guide Bill Schulz. Kurt Braunohler is a stand up comedian and actor. He was in the critically acclaime…

Pizza Champ STL is a pizza joint in St. Louis that specializes in big 18-inch, 72-hour fermented sourdough pizzas. They share a space with Side Project Brewing, a brewery, in a small 900 square foot building. The seating area is a covered patio, and they also have a drive-through window for pickup orders. The owner, Chris, pivoted to pizza during t…

George R. R. Martin, author of “A Song of Ice and Fire” book series which became HBO’s Game of Thrones is our guest. There’s pizza news. And our pizza topic is: “PIGUE and OBR”. George R. R. Martin is a celebrated and award winning author and screenwriter. His book series “A Song of Ice and Fire”, was adapted into the immensely popular HBO series, …

Bruce Irving is a guest on Alex's podcast, Pie to Pie, where they discuss marketing strategies for pizzerias. They cover topics such as magazines, YouTube, Pizza Expo, and Dave Portnoy. Bruce emphasizes the importance of consistency in marketing and recommends focusing on one social media platform to start. He also suggests leveraging YouTube for l…

Our guest is historian, author, and former public editor of the New York Times, Daniel Okrent. We have pizza headlines. And the pizza topic is: “THE REAL STORY (AND RECIPE) BEHIND CHICAGO DEEP-DISH” with pizza historian Peter Regas. Publisher’s weekly has called our guest, Daniel Okrent, “one of our most interesting and eclectic writers of nonficti…

Mike Friedman, owner of Pizza Delicious in New Orleans, shares the journey of starting a pizzeria and the challenges of building a successful brick-and-mortar business. From pop-up beginnings to the development of a New York-style pizza recipe, Mike's story is a testament to hard work, dedication, and the value of community support. Chapters 00:00 …

The guest is John Hodgman, there's pizza news, and the pizza topic is: "Is Chicago Thin Prohibition Pizza?" John Hodgman is a writer, actor, and podcast host. John was a contributor for the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He famously portrayed PC in the Mac/PC Apple ad campaign. John was the host of the 2009 Correspondents Dinner for President Barack …

In this conversation, Bruce interviews Christian from Ooni, a company that produces portable pizza ovens. They discuss how Ooni revolutionized the pizza-making industry by creating affordable and efficient ovens for home use. Christian shares his background and how his passion for making better pizza at home led to the development of Ooni ovens. Ch…

It's the music and pizza special! Three music experts are tasked with combining music and pizza. Steven Hyden is the author of 2018’s "Twilight Of The Gods" and 2016’s "Your Favorite Band Is Killing Me." He co-wrote 2019’s “Hard to Handle: the Life and Death of the Black Crowes” along with past guest, Steve Gorman. His writing has appeared in the N…

Bruce Irving shares his experience at the National Restaurant Expo in Chicago, discussing the pros and cons, the tech he found, and the pizzerias he visited. He also highlights the challenges faced by independent pizzeria owners at the expo and provides insights into various products and technologies showcased at the event. Chapters 00:00 Exploring…

Summary In this conversation, Bruce Irving interviews Charlie Anderson, a YouTuber with a focus on making pizza at home. They discuss the challenges and rewards of creating content for YouTube, the impact of YouTube on discoverability, the role of sponsors and advertisers, the process of making pizza videos, and the potential of opening a pizzeria.…

POLITICO's Sam Stein is our guest, there's pizza news, and the pizza topic is: "is New Haven, the pizza capital of America?" Sam Stein is Deputy Managing Editor for Politics at Politico. He is a former politics editor for the Daily Beast and the senior politics editor for the Huffington Post. Sam is a regular contributor to MSNBC and a native to th…

Our guest is comedian and SiriusXM host John Fugelsang. SiriusXM personality Chris Hauselt is our special guest for pizza headlines, and our pizza topic is: "Jersey Shore Boardwalk Pizza". John Fugelsang is a comedian, actor, and SiriusXM Host. He was a VH1 VJ and host of America’s Funniest Home Videos. He currently hosts Tell Me Everything with Jo…

Myke Olsen, owner of Mike's Pizza in Mesa, Arizona, shares his experience running a wood-fired pizzeria inside a bar called Cider Core. He discusses his Neapolitan-inspired pizza style and the symbiotic relationship between his business and the bar. Myke emphasizes the importance of focusing on the financial side of the business and the benefits of…

Andrew Miller, owner of Flower Child Pizza, Merriman Social, and Third Coast Provisions in Milwaukee, discusses his journey in the restaurant industry and the development of his pizza business. He shares how they expanded their frozen pizza line and the challenges of shipping nationwide. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Background 03:03 Crafting a U…

Twisted Sister's founding guitarist and manager, Jay Jay French is the guest. There's pizza headlines, and the pizza topic is: "Jerry Garcia and 'The Pizza Tapes'". Jay Jay French is a guitarist and manager of the multi platinum selling band, Twisted Sister. He hosts the The Jay Jay French Connection: Beyond the Music podcast. He has been a columni…

In this podcast episode, Bruce Irving interviews Troy from Blue Square Pizza, a pizza dough expert. They discuss Troy's journey in the pizza industry, his passion for dough, and the evolution of his pizza-making process. Troy shares how he creates three different styles of pizza using one dough recipe and the importance of studying bread making in …

In this conversation, Bruce and Shane discuss the evolution of text message marketing for restaurants and the importance of personalized and tailored messaging. They highlight the benefits of using text messages to engage customers and increase purchase frequency. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Location 04:14 The Power of Personalized Messaging 08…

The guest is comedian Marina Franklin, there's pizza news, and the topic is: "Chicago Tavern Style. Are you a middle or an edge?" Marina Franklin is a standup comedian and actor based out of New York City. She has toured with Conan O’Brien and can be seen in the film Trainwreck, and the shows Chappelle’s Show, Inside Amy Schumer, and Crashing. She …

In this episode, Bruce Irving interviews Daniel from Joanie's Pizza. They discuss how Joanie's Pizza started and grew, the style of pizza they make, and the challenges of running a pizza business. Daniel shares his passion for making bread and how it translates into his pizza dough. MY OTHER SOCIALS: 🎙 My podcast Smart Pizza Marketing where I inter…

Comedian and impressionist, JL Cauvin is the guest, there's pizza headlines, and the pizza topic is: "Mozzarella". JL Cauvin is a New York based stand up comic and impressionist. His recent comedy special is titled, “HALF-BLACKFACE”. He hosts the 2 podcasts, “Rain on Your Parade” and “Making Podcasts Great Again”. To get tour dates and links to his…

Michael from Rail Trail Flatbread Company shares his journey of starting and growing his restaurant business. He talks about the community aspect of his business and how they strive to make everyone feel welcome. The menu consists of flatbread pizzas with unique toppings, as well as salads, wings, burgers, and a wide selection of craft beers. Chapt…

In this episode, Bruce Irving shares three effective strategies to grow lunch sales for restaurants and pizzerias. The first strategy is cold calling local businesses to offer free samples and create awareness. The second strategy is to cater to the needs of busy professionals by providing quick and convenient options. Chapters 00:00 Introduction a…

ESPN baseball insider, Buster Olney is the guest, there's pizza news, and the topic is: "pizza in baseball parks". Buster Olney is a longtime sports broadcaster and journalist for ESPN. He previously covered the New York Giants and Yankees for the New York Times. He’s the author of 2004’s “ The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty” and 2010’s “How Luck…

Summary In this podcast episode, Bruce Irving interviews Enzo, the owner of two restaurants in Chicago. They discuss Enzo's marketing strategies, including Instagram reels and TikToks, which have helped attract customers from all over the country. They also talk about Enzo's sports book and how it has impacted his business. Enzo shares his experien…

Tony Dokoupil of CBS Mornings is the guest, there's pizza news, and the topic is: "5 steps to confidently launch your pizza". Tony Dokoupil is the co-anchor of CBS Mornings. Formerly of Newsweek and the Daily Beast. He also was a reporter for NBC News. He is the author of 2014’s “The Last Pirate: A Father, His Son, and the Golden Age of Marijuana”.…

In this episode, Bruce Irving discusses the mistakes he has seen people make when opening and operating a pizzeria. He emphasizes the importance of choosing the right location, understanding the competition, delivering a quality product, implementing effective marketing and branding strategies, and being financially responsible. These insights are …