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Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack Oates

Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast with Zack Oates

Hosted by Ovation

BusinessArtsFoodInterviews guestsExplicit
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Episodes

440

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast is your backstage pass to the minds of hospitality leaders, innovators, and operators who are redefining what it means to serve. Hosted by Zack Oates, founder of Ovation, each episode dives into real-world tactics and inspiring stories from restaurant pros who know how to create five-star guest experiences—both in-store and off-premise. From fast casual to fine dining, catering to curbside, learn how to drive loyalty, empower your staff, and deliver hospitality that hits home. Whether you're a restaurant owner, operator, marketer, or tech partner, this podcast will leave you with practical insights and plenty of reasons to celebrate and Give an Ovation.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
August 3, 202617 min

Why Blaze Pizza Believes Personalization Is the Future of Hospitality with John Owen

Send us Fan MailJohn Owen, CEO of Blaze Pizza, joins Zack Oates to discuss how restaurants can create memorable guest experiences through personalization, consistency, and strong execution. With more than three decades of leadership experience across brands like McDonald's, Subway, and Scooter's Coffee, John shares why understanding the difference between customization and personalization is critical for today's restaurants.Zack and John discuss:Why personalization matters more than ever in hospitality The difference between customizing a product and personalizing an experience How brands should approach innovation and market disruption Why customer feedback must guide restaurant decisions Building consistency across hundreds of locations What restaurants can learn from Chick-fil-A's guest experience strategyThanks, John!Links:https://www.instagram.com/blazepizza/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/john-o-73422325/https://www.linkedin.com/company/blazepizza/https://www.blazepizza.com/

July 27, 202620 min

Jim Mazany of P.F. Chang's on Building Memories, Not Just Meals

Send us Fan MailJim Mazany, CEO of P.F. Chang's, joins Zack Oates to discuss how one of America's most iconic restaurant brands continues to evolve while staying true to its hospitality roots. From creating memorable dining experiences to balancing value with premium quality, Jim shares why every guest interaction is an opportunity to build lasting loyalty.Zack and Jim discuss:Creating memorable experiences that guests return for years later Balancing value with an elevated dining experience Why consistency builds long-term guest loyalty Using menu innovation to keep the brand relevant How small hospitality moments create lasting emotional connections The importance of staying authentic while evolving with guest expectationsThanks, Jim!Links:https://www.instagram.com/pfchangs/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/jimmazany/https://www.linkedin.com/company/pfchangs/https://www.pfchangs.com/

July 20, 202615 min

How This Restaurant CEO Tracks 150 Stores Without Setting Foot in Them

Send us Fan MailChris Ives, CEO and President of Bubbakoo's Burritos, joins Zack Oates to discuss why genuine hospitality remains one of the most powerful competitive advantages in restaurants. Drawing on experience across finance, operations, and executive leadership, Chris explains how strong culture, engaged teams, and thoughtful guest interactions ultimately drive profitability for franchisees.Zack and Chris discuss:Why culture matters more than metrics alone The connection between guest experience and restaurant profitability How genuine hospitality creates loyal guests Why restaurants should get back to the basics Balancing technology with human connection Using guest feedback to improve operations across franchise locationsThanks, Chris!Links:https://www.instagram.com/bubbakoosburritos/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-ives-cfe-66b76940/https://www.linkedin.com/company/bubbakoos-burritos/

July 13, 202619 min

The Secret Behind Viral Restaurant Content with Sullivan Finlay

Send us Fan MailSullivan Finlay joins Zack Oates to explore why authenticity, consistency, and relatable storytelling matter more than ever in today's social media landscape. After leaving a career in accounting and enterprise software, Sullivan built a full-time career creating comedy that resonates with millions by capturing the realities of corporate life. Along the way, he's learned valuable lessons that apply far beyond comedy—including how restaurant brands can create content that people actually want to watch.Zack and Sullivan discuss:Why authentic content consistently outperforms polished marketing How creators develop ideas that resonate with audiences The importance of consistency before something goes viral What restaurant brands can learn from content creators Why collaboration helps expand audiences Simple ways to improve watch time and audience retentionThanks, Sullivan!Links:https://www.instagram.com/sullyfinlay/?hl=enhttps://www.tiktok.com/@sullyfinlayhttps://www.youtube.com/@sullyfinlayhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sullivanfinlay/https://sullyfinlay.com/

July 6, 202615 min

Sharon Arthofer of SIP Fresh Juice on Turning Samples Into Loyal Guests

Send us Fan MailSharon Arthofer, Founder and CEO of SIP Fresh Juice, joins Zack Oates to discuss building a beverage brand around fresh fruit, hospitality, and guest engagement. Sharon shares the story behind SIP Fresh Juice, how the concept was inspired by craft mixology, and why sampling and human interaction remain central to the guest experience.Zack and Sharon discuss:How SIP Fresh Juice was inspired by cocktail culture Creating a healthy indulgence beverage category The role of sampling in driving trial and loyalty Why guest experience starts with human connection Balancing speed, quality, and hospitality Lessons from building brands in mall environmentsThanks, Sharon!Links:https://www.instagram.com/sipfresh/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-arthofer-4a646329/https://www.linkedin.com/company/sip-fresh-franchise/https://www.sipfreshjuice.com/

June 29, 202617 min

Features vs Products: What Restaurant Leaders Keep Getting Wrong with Atul Sood of Curry Up Now

Send us Fan MailAtul Sood, Chief Business Officer at Curry Up Now, joins Zack Oates to discuss the evolving relationship between restaurant operators and technology providers. Drawing from leadership roles at McDonald's, Kitchen United, and across the food tech ecosystem, Atul shares why relationships still matter, how operators should evaluate technology partners, and why the future belongs to companies that solve real problems rather than simply adding features.Zack and Atul discuss:Why buyers purchase when they're ready, not when sellers push The difference between a product company and a feature company How restaurants should evaluate technology vendors Balancing best-in-class solutions with platform consolidation Why caring is at the center of great guest experiences How AI is changing the future of restaurant technologyThanks, Atul!Links:https://www.instagram.com/curryupnow/?hl=enhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/atulsood/linkedin.com/company/curry-up-nowhttps://www.curryupnow.com/

June 22, 202621 min

The Brand That Made Messy Tacos Go Viral with Lance Salsman

Send us Fan MailLance Salsman, SVP of Operations at Mike’s Red Tacos, joins Zack Oates to talk about scaling an experiential restaurant brand while staying obsessed with guest feedback. From his early days working at Pizza Hut as a teenager to leading operations at some of the biggest taco and pizza brands in the country, Lance shares what it takes to build systems that support both team members and guests.Zack and Lance discuss:How Mike’s Red Tacos built a cult-like following Why guest feedback shapes the menu and operations The connection between team member experience and guest experience Using technology to improve accuracy and speed Scaling food truck operations into a growing chain Why restaurant GMs are the most important role in the businessThanks, Lance!Links:https://www.instagram.com/mikesredtacos/https://www.linkedin.com/in/lsalsman/https://www.linkedin.com/company/mikes-red-tacos/posts/https://www.mikesredtacos.com/

June 15, 202626 min

The Slow Build That Turned Dog Haus Into a National Brand with Michael Montagano

Send us Fan MailMichael Montagano, CEO of Dog Haus, joins Zack Oates to talk about thoughtful restaurant growth, franchise alignment, and why strong hospitality starts with building the right foundation. Drawing from his family’s restaurant background and years in finance and operations leadership, Michael shares how Dog Haus is scaling while staying true to its culture and guest experience.Zack and Michael discuss:Why restaurant brands should grow slower and smarter The importance of systems before scaling How Dog Haus approaches franchise partnerships Using guest data to improve operations and profitability The strategy behind the Jake Paul partnership Building restaurant culture that lastsThanks, Michael!Links:https://www.instagram.com/doghausdogs/https://www.linkedin.com/in/mmontagano/https://www.linkedin.com/company/dog-haus/https://doghaus.com/

June 8, 202616 min

Why Guest Reviews and Profitability Go Hand in Hand with Adam Sanders at Killer Burger

Send us Fan MailAdam Sanders, CFO of Killer Burger, joins Zack Oates to talk about the connection between guest experience and profitability. Coming from a finance and technology background, Adam shares how data, operational discipline, and hospitality all work together to drive long-term restaurant success. He also explains why the little things, from greeting guests to checking order accuracy, matter more than ever in today’s restaurant environment.Zack and Adam discuss:Why guest experience predicts future profitability How Killer Burger approaches hospitality in fast casual Balancing speed of service with order accuracy Creating memorable dine-in and off-premise experiences Why kiosks can improve guest satisfaction The operational impact of small guest interactionsThanks, Adam!Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamcharlessanders/https://www.linkedin.com/company/killerburger/https://www.instagram.com/killerburger/?hl=enhttps://killerburger.com/

May 29, 202616 min

The Secret Behind a 4.9 Rating with Derrick Hayes of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks

Send us Fan MailDerrick Hayes, founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, joins Zack Oates to share the story behind one of the fastest growing brands in the country. What started as a way to honor his father has turned into a culture-driven company built on community, consistency, and care. Derrick breaks down how customer service became his biggest growth driver, why culture matters more than perfection, and how he keeps teams motivated as the brand scales.Zack and Derrick discuss: Building a brand rooted in purpose and legacy Why customer service drives repeat business Creating a “family” feeling inside the restaurant Using real-time feedback to improve fast How to scale without losing cultureThanks, Derrick!Links:https://www.linkedin.com/in/derrick-hayes/https://www.linkedin.com/company/bigdavescheesesteaks/https://www.bigdavesway.com/

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