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What if I told you that the difference between struggling and thriving in the restaurant industry is just one conversation away? I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur who’s spent decades building blockbuster brands across every tier of dining. I know the challenges you’re facing—because I’ve been there. That’s why I created FULL COMP. Every week, I go one-on-one with the smartest minds in the game—restaurateurs, chefs, and industry insiders who’ve cracked the code. Together, we unp ...
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GAIN Momentum - Lessons from Leaders in Hospitality, Travel, Food Service, & Technology
GAIN Advisors
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Each episode of GAIN Momentum focuses on timeless lessons to help grow and scale a business in hospitality, travel, and technology. Whether you’re a veteran industry leader looking for some inspiration to guide the next phase of growth or an aspiring executive looking to fast-track the learning process, this podcast is here with key lessons centered around four questions we ask each guest.
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Redefining Teamwork: Shawn Gawle on Building Culture, Mentorship, and Michelin-Level Dining
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Great food gets guests in the door, but a great team keeps them coming back. Shawn Gawle, the awarded chef behind Camaraderie, has mastered the art of creating exceptional dining experiences by prioritizing mentorship, culture, and intentional leadership. In this episode, we explore Shawn’s journey from celebrated chef to chef-owner, how his philos…
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Episode 5: The New Landscape of Restaurant Real Estate
29:42
29:42
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The fires have dramatically altered LA’s real estate market, creating both challenges and opportunities for restaurant owners. Real estate expert Dan Fagan shares insider knowledge on where the best opportunities are now, how to negotiate stronger lease terms, and how consumer behavior is reshaping restaurant site selection. Whether you're looking …
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Culture Is Your Competitive Edge: Lisa Schultz on Eliminating Drama and Creating High-Performing Teams
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Most restaurants accept drama and dysfunction as part of the business—but what if eliminating them was the key to higher profits and better retention? Lisa Schultz, Managing Partner of Zingerman’s Roadhouse, has spent the last 20 years proving that culture is the real secret to success. By implementing no-drama leadership, open-book finance, and em…
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Office Hours: The 3 Keys to Escaping Day to Day Operations
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I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…
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The Principles of Profitability : David Scott Peters on The Art of Delegation
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Most restaurants don’t make money. The ones that do, typically make very little. This is our reality and many of us have embraced it. But what about the group no one talks about: the restaurants that are making a killing, quietly and consistently. They all seem to be following the same formula and today we sit down with restaurant expert, David Sco…
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Episode 4: Designing the Future of Restaurants
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With the fires wiping out entire restaurant districts, what does the future of restaurant design in LA look like? Renowned architect John Hamilton shares with Josh Kopel and Michael Benson what restaurant operators should be thinking about when rebuilding—from fire-resistant materials to more flexible layouts, outdoor dining strategies, and cost-ef…
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Building Unbreakable Restaurants: Justin Cucci on Culture, Ownership, and the Future of Hospitality
37:23
37:23
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Most restaurateurs build concepts around a menu or a chef. Justin Cucci built Edible Beats around a philosophy—one that’s challenged conventional wisdom and redefined what restaurant success looks like. From turning historic spaces into thriving concepts to pioneering an employee-owned business model, Justin has proven that restaurants can be both …
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Office Hours: This is the one hack to scale word of mouth advertising
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I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…
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How Smart Proptech Creates a Five-Star Experience | with Will Gilbert
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In this episode, we interview Will Gilbert, Co-founder of Bodhi. He is a technology executive with expertise in software development, product management, and leadership. He has held various senior roles, including Vice President of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer, and has worked with companies in the technology and finance industries. He i…
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Purpose Over Profit: Kim Malek’s Mission-Driven Path with Salt & Straw
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Kim Malek, founder of Salt and Straw, discussing her journey from working at Starbucks to creating a unique ice cream brand that emphasizes community, culture, and innovative marketing strategies. Kim explores the importance of guest experience, building a strong company culture, navigating challenges during the pandemic, and the significance of pa…
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Episode 3: Fast-Tracking A Restaurant Opening
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In a crisis, every day your restaurant stays closed means lost revenue. Permitting and governmental expert Eddie Navarette reveals the fastest, most effective ways to cut through LA’s permitting maze, accelerate approvals, and avoid costly mistakes that slow down restaurant openings. This episode provides actionable insights for operators in any ci…
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Building a Business to Last : Mark Bitterman
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We often have such a clear vision for what our lives and our businesses will look like before we open. And then the flood comes and we’re so busy trying to survive that we forget to thrive. We forget why we got into this to begin with. And that “why”, for most of us, was love. Love of community, love of food, and love of revelry. Meet Mark Bitterma…
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Office Hours: This will scale your restaurant's revenue by 30% overnight
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I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…
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Digital Signage to Enhance the Guest Experience | with Shawn O'Connell
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In this episode, we interview Shawn O’Connell, Executive VP of Sales - Americas at Uniguest. He has held various executive roles, including Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President, and has worked with reputable companies in the technology and finance industries. O'Connell is also a strategic advisor and investor, supporting startups and growth-s…
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Steal These Systems: David Morton’s Proven Formula for Building Profitable Restaurants Anywhere
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It’s one thing to grow a restaurant group. It’s another to grow one that thrives across categories, cities, and economies. David Morton has done exactly that—without taking on debt, overextending his team, or compromising his values. As co-founder of Episcope Restaurants, David has engineered a scalable system that pairs creative vision with financ…
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Episode 2: The Future of Restaurant Development
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25:37
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With neighborhoods devastated and operators forced to relocate, how will the fires reshape the restaurant landscape in Los Angeles? Development expert Jerry Prendergast has overseen hundreds of restaurant projects, and today, he unpacks the real estate shifts, leasing opportunities, and market trends emerging in LA’s hospitality scene. He also shar…
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Living the Dream Now: Elliott Bisnow on Building a Business You Never Want to Exit
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We’ve been sold the lie that freedom comes after the exit. But what if we built businesses we never wanted to leave? That’s exactly what Elliott Bisnow did. As co-founder of Summit and Powder Mountain, he’s created a movement, not just a company—one built on authenticity, community, and the belief that life and work should be equally inspiring. In …
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Office Hours: How to use AI to effortlessly delegate and amplify your marketing efforts
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I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…
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Touchless Wellness as a Technology Category for All Hotels | with Tammy Pahel
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In this wellness-focused episode, we interview Tammy Pahel, Vice President of Spa and Wellness at the Carillon Miami Wellness Resort. Pahel is a veteran spa director and development professional, including senior roles at Caesars Palace, Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa, Henderson Beach Resort, Turnberry Isle Miami, Deer Lake Lodge & Spa and the Nemac…
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Turning Pictures into Profits: Zaheer Bhyat & Ray Erickson on Food Photography That Sells
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38:08
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A picture might be worth a thousand words, but in the restaurant industry, the right picture is worth thousands of dollars. Zaheer Bhyat and Ray Erickson have built their careers mastering the art of visual storytelling—helping brands create food photography that doesn’t just look good, but actually drives sales. In this episode, we break down why …
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Episode 1: Building Restaurants Faster, Smarter & Stronger
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In this episode, Josh Kopel and Michael Benson sit down with Brad Block, a top restaurant builder who has worked on some of LA’s most high-profile hospitality projects. With countless operators now facing the challenge of rebuilding, Brad shares insider strategies on how to reopen faster, smarter, and stronger—without getting caught in costly delay…
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Scaling Without Selling Out: Chris Schultz on Growing Iconic Brands While Keeping the Soul
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How do you scale a brand without losing the magic that made it special in the first place? Chris Schultz has spent his career answering that question. From Starbucks to Mod Pizza to his current role as CEO of Voodoo Doughnut, Chris has helped transform cult brands into national powerhouses—all while keeping them authentic, quirky, and loved. In thi…
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Office Hours: Here's my fix for solving the labor shortage
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I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…
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Rethinking Restaurant Growth: Mohaimina Haque on Reinventing Tony Roma’s for a New Era
35:25
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Legacy brands can either fade into the past or evolve to meet the future. Mohaimina Haque is making sure Tony Roma’s does the latter. As a lawyer-turned-CEO, she’s bringing a fresh, analytical approach to a 50-year-old brand, modernizing its operations, embracing AI and robotics, and redefining what a franchise model can be. In this episode, we unp…
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No Story, No Glory: Bill Harper on the Art of Building Irresistible Brands
40:39
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If you’re struggling to stand out, it’s not because your product isn’t good—it’s because your story isn’t strong enough. Bill Harper has spent decades mastering the art of strategic storytelling, helping brands cut through the noise and connect with their ideal customers. From repositioning legacy businesses to turning underdog brands into industry…
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Office Hours: How I create bulletproof promotional offers
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I’m Josh Kopel, a Michelin-awarded restaurateur and the creator of the Restaurant Scaling System. I’ve spent decades in the industry, building, scaling, and coaching restaurants to become more profitable and sustainable. On this show, I cut through the noise to give you real, actionable strategies that help independent restaurant owners run smarter…
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Choose Your Hotel Tech Partners Wisely | with Damien Cazabonne
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57:19
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In this episode, we interview Damien Cazabonne, Global Manager of Marketplace Partnerships for Mews, discussing the nature of hotel technology strategic partnerships in 2025. ************* LINKS & RESOURCES ************* The GAIN Momentum Podcast: focusing on timeless lessons to scale a business in hospitality, travel, and technology-centered aroun…
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