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Artwork for Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast

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

Ovation
Guest Experience
Ovation
Restaurant Industry
Customer Experience
Hospitality
Franchising
Customer Feedback
Restaurant Management
Restaurant Technology
Catering
Artificial Intelligence
Technology In Restaurants
Employee Experience
Data Analytics
Mo Bettahs
Neuroscience
Tono Pizzeria and Cheesesteaks
Operational Efficiency
Marketing Strategies
Guest Feedback

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.

Fro... more

PublishesTwice weeklyEpisodes438Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
MarketingArtsFoodBusiness

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Artwork for Give an Ovation: The Restaurant Guest Experience Podcast

Latest Episodes

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Chris 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 ... more

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Sullivan 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 bu... more

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Sharon 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 in... more

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Atul 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 ... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Atul Sood
Chief Business Officer (fractional BizDev for restaurants and food tech)
Curry Up Now
Episode: Features vs Products: What Restaurant Leaders Keep Getting Wrong with Atul Sood of Curry Up Now
Lance Salsman
Senior VP of Operations at Mike's Red Tacos
Mike's Red Tacos
Episode: The Brand That Made Messy Tacos Go Viral with Lance Salsman
Michael Montagano
CEO of Dog Haus
Dog Haus
Episode: The Slow Build That Turned Dog Haus Into a National Brand with Michael Montagano
Adam Sanders
CEO of Killer Burger
Killer Burger
Episode: Why Guest Reviews and Profitability Go Hand in Hand with Adam Sanders at Killer Burger
Derrick Hayes
CEO of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks
Big Dave's Cheesesteaks
Episode: The Secret Behind a 4.9 Rating with Derrick Hayes of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks
Anthony Valletta
CEO and President of Bar Taco
Bar Taco
Episode: Why the Floor Matters More Than the Ceiling with Anthony Valletta of bartaco
Jennifer Schuler
CEO of Handel's Homemade Ice Cream (former CEO of Wetzel's Pretzels)
Handel's Homemade Ice Cream
Episode: Building an 80-Year Brand That Still Feels Personal with Jennifer Schuler of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream
Tom Selementi
CEO of Spread Bagelry
Spread Bagelry
Episode: Turning a Simple Bagel Into a Premium Experience with Tom Selementi of Spread Bagelry
Pinky Cole
Founder of Slutty Vegan; TV personality, casting director, producer
Slutty Vegan ATL
Episode: Why Bold Brands Win Big with Pinky Cole of Slutty Vegan

Host

Zack Oates
Host of Give an Ovation, founder of Ovation

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 18 ratings
  • Quick and helpful

    Love how easy this podcast is to listen to. Straightforward info in a brief episode. So helpful! Keep up the great work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    kokllc
    United Statesa year ago
  • Long time listener

    Love the show! Been listening since 2020. I love Zack’s insights and the quality of guests just keeps going up.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Cancelled order #7
    United States2 years ago
  • Favorite episode so far

    Michel Falcon dropped straight GEMS !!! 👏🏾🙌🏾 Favorite episode 🥳

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    NamasteEO
    United States4 years ago
  • Informative

    Love the host’s energy and the guests they have on are super informative!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Derekdlm
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Fans note the high quality of guests and fresh perspectives.
Praises for host energy and practical takeaways that translate to real-world operations.
Listeners praise how actionable and easy-to-follow the episodes are.
Audience mentions the show as informative and guest-focused.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Why Guest Reviews and Profitability Go Hand in Hand with Adam Sanders at Killer Burger
Q: What are the most important guest-experience investments today, especially given margin pressures?
Invest in items that actually matter to guests and drive loyalty, such as friendly, genuine interactions, accurate orders, and a welcoming atmosphere. Also, meet guests where they are—whether inside the restaurant or via delivery—while ensuring the experience remains high-quality and personal.
Why Guest Reviews and Profitability Go Hand in Hand with Adam Sanders at Killer Burger
Q: Why did you transition from a finance/tech background into a CEO role at a restaurant brand, and how has that shaped your approach?
The finance background drives a forward-looking, strategy-focused mindset; it's about analyzing what the future looks like after a transaction, not just what happened in the past. This informs profitability strategies, cash management, and investments that improve the guest experience while ensuring sustainable growth.
Moving the Needle with People with Brandon Batt of The Tabletop Group
Q: What inspired you to start The Tabletop Group and focus on people and leadership in hospitality?
Brandon shares how his decade-plus experience at Savory showed him that great guest experiences start with strong leaders and teams, and that hiring and developing the right people is essential to helping restaurant brands scale while maintaining culture.
Turning a Simple Bagel Into a Premium Experience with Tom Selementi of Spread Bagelry
Q: What operational practices help you deliver both speed and hospitality?
We emphasize fast, made-to-order preparation, uniformed staff, attentive greeting, and a culture where speed equals hospitality, ensuring guests feel cared for even when in a hurry.
Turning a Simple Bagel Into a Premium Experience with Tom Selementi of Spread Bagelry
Q: Why did Spread Bagelry choose a wood-fired approach for their bagels and how does it differentiate you in the market?
Wood-fired bagels create a crisper exterior and chewier interior, setting Spread apart in a crowded field and enabling a premium breakfast sandwich that leverages high-quality ingredients to justify a higher price point.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About This Podcast

What is This Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show spotlights hospitality leaders and operators who are actively shaping five-star guest experiences across in-store and off-premise channels. Conversations cover practical tactics for guest loyalty, staff empowerment, and technology adoption in fast casual to fine dining, with a strong emphasis on operations, brand building, and real-world growth stories. Notable threads include the shift from vendor to partner in tech ecosystems, the importance of frontline leadership and culture, and the role of feedback loops and data in driving improvements. The format often features candid case studies from multi-unit brands, franchisees, and tech partners, offering actionable takeaways for operators, marketers, and sponsors seeking to reach de... more

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Which podcasts are similar to this podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with this podcast:

1. QSR Uncut
2. A Deeper Dive
3. Take-Away with Sam Oches
4. Restaurant Daily
5. Morning Brew Daily

How many episodes of this podcast are there?

this podcast launched 6 years ago and published 438 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on this podcast?

Recent guests on this podcast include:

1. Atul Sood
2. Lance Salsman
3. Michael Montagano
4. Adam Sanders
5. Derrick Hayes
6. Anthony Valletta
7. Jennifer Schuler
8. Tom Selementi

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