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The Hot Slice
The Hot Slice brings you inspiring stories, strategies and lessons learned from successful pizzeria professionals and top experts. This podcast is hosted by the team at Pizza Today, the premier network for pizzeria professionals. We’re bringing our award-winning interviewing and 37 years as a trusted pizza restaurant partner to the airwaves with real, in-depth conversations with pizzeria owners, champion pizza makers, industry pros and others to help make your business better.
Episodes
310 episodes
310. Slices of Maryland: Brick Ovens and Brews
In this episode taped live during Pizza Expo, we explore the Maryland pizza scene – plus some of its craft brews. First, we sit down with Brett and Bailey Robison of Maryland-based Mosaic Pizza and Silver Branch Brewing Co. to answer a question...
309. Introducing Your Audience to New Pizza Styles
On this week’s episode of The Hot Slice podcast, we speak with Mario LaPosta and Dario Paone about what it’s like to introduce your pizzeria’s customers to pizza styles they might not have tasted before. Mario LaPosta learned the c...
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308. Secrets to Midwest Pizzeria Profitability
When it comes to meeting customers where they are at, this episode of The Hot Slice podcast has it all. And, we’re doing it from the show floor of Pizza Expo 2026 in Las Vegas. Pizza Expo speaker Dana Hokin of Robert’s Pizza & D...
307. Catering to Customers | Special Pizza Expo Series
On this episode of The Hot Slice, we hear from Eric Sublett, co-owner of Firehouse Pizza in Kentucky. After his first pizzeria was damaged by a tornado, Eric and his wife used the opportunity to redefine their mission. They put their ideas into...
306. Succeeding with a Mobile Pizza Business | Special Pizza Expo Series
This week, The Hot Slice Podcast continues its Special Pizza Expo Series exploring what it takes to succeed with a mobile pizzeria. In the Pizza Today Village studio, Senior Editor Kate Lavin talks with two experienced mobile operators. They br...
305. 50 years of Goat Hill Pizza | Special Pizza Expo Series
This week, we continue to bring you interviews from The Hot Slice Podcast Studio in the Pizza Today Village at Pizza Expo. Senior Editor Kate Lavin had an engaging conversation with Philip De Andrade, founder of San Francisco-based Goat Hill Pi...
304. Wylie Dufresne -- Creative Crust: Guide Your Menu With Curiosity | Special Pizza Expo Series
We are just back from Pizza Expo, where the staff of Pizza Today welcomed the industry for the inaugural Pizza Today Village. We recorded episodes of The Hot Slice live on the show floor and will be rolling them out over the next several weeks....
303. REPLAY: Chicago Thin Pizza: An Underdog No More
Happy Pizza Expo Week! We hope you are enjoying the best week in PIZZA happening at the Las Vegas Convention Center. While we are focused on connecting in person, and doing MORE podcast episodes from the show floor, we want to share one of our ...
302. Returning Home with a New Concept
In this episode of The Hot Slice Podcast with Pizza Today, we sit down with Odie O'Connor to explore the dynamic challenges of operating two distinct concepts 1,000 miles apart: Boxcar Pizza ...
301. Becoming a “Bucket List” Pizzeria with Bird Pizzeria’s Nkem & Kerrel Thompson
Ever wonder what it really takes to run a booming pizzeria without losing your mind?! Grab a slice and pull up a chair! This week on The Hot Slice with Pizza Today, we’re joined by Nkem and Kerrel Thompson, the visionary couple behind Bird Pizz...
300. Celebrating 300 Episodes with Anthony Mangieri
To celebrate the milestone of 300 episodes of The Hot Slice podcast, we’re chatting with a true pioneer of the U.S. pizza industry: Anthony Mangieri of Una Pizza Napoletana.For nearly 40 years, Mangieri has been obsessively chasing the p...
299. Pizza Expo Insiders’ Scoop from the Pizza Team
Get ready for the world's largest pizza show! In this special insider episode, the Pizza Today team pulls back the curtain on International Pizza Expo 2026 in Las Vegas, March 24–26. Hear directly from Jeremy White, Brand Director of Emerald Fo...
298. The Olympics of Pizza With Justin Wadstein
Ever wondered what it takes to juggle a soccer ball while spinning a pizza dough? Or how nerve-wracking it is to toss a dough skin blindfolded while a panel of judges watches your every move?Welcome to “The Olympics of Pizza!” In this ep...
297. The Art of Award-Winning Pizza with Ryan O'Hara
Ever wondered what it takes to turn a neighborhood pizza joint into a James Beard semifinalist in just one year? You’re about to find out. Ryan O'Hara, the new owner/chef of Pizza Grace, joins us on The Hot Slice podcast to spill th...
296. Lars Smith on Competing, Branding, and Pizza Excellence
This week, we chat with champion pizza maker and industry leader Lars Smith. Lars co-owns State of Mind Pub and State of Mind Slice House in Palo Alto, California. Fresh off his recent trip to Italy, Lars competed at the Sigep World...
295. Rethinking Restaurant Culture & Operations With Marvin Kinney
On this week’s episode, we’re chatting with Marvin Kinney, the owner of R Town Pizza, who set out to bring Detroit-style pies to Reno in 2022. Kinney isn’t just thoughtful about making pizzas, he’s hoping to reform restaurant culture into a pla...
294. Loyalty & Growth at Cosmo’s Pizza with Robert Marek
This week on The Hot Slice Podcast, we chat with Robert Marek. He is Director of Business Development at Cosmo’s Pizza, a growing independent Colorado-based pizza brand with six locations and a comm...
293. Pizza Talk with Scott Wiener
This week, we catch up with Scott Wiener to chat all things pizza. Scott started Scott’s Pizza Tours in New York City 17 years ago. And his pizza enthusiasm has only grown. As Josh says on ...
292. Chicago Thin Pizza: An Underdog No More
When most people think of Chicago pizza, they picture a deep-dish behemoth, a cheesy beast you need a fork and knife to conquer. But locals know the real MVP of the region is Chicago Thin – and it’s finally getting the love it deserves....
291. Happy New Year from Pizza Today
Join us for this special New Year’s Day edition of The Hot Slice Podcast. The new year is full of new opportunities. The Pizza Today team gathers to commemorate the New Year with 2026 thoughts and reflections.We highlight goals we have t...
290. REPLAY Slow Day Turnaround / AI Integration with George Gilliam
Listen to George Gilliam, owner of Uncle G’s Pizza in Birmingham, Alabama on The Hot Slice Podcast with Pizza TodayMerry Christmas from all of us at Pizza Today and Pizza Expo. This week on The Hot Slice Podcast with Pizza Today, we are ...
289. How to Revitalize a Classic Brand Without Losing Its Soul
From handing out menus before she could even reach the tables to taking the reins as owner of Pino’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria in Farmville, Virginia, Marilena Lentini’s journey is inspiring...
288. Pizza Expo Columbus Sessions, Part 4: Unique is a Vibe
The Hot Slice Podcast is back with one last episode from the Pizza Today booth at Pizza Expo Columbus in October with in-person conversations with pizzeria operators. We’re continuing our Pizza Expo Columbus episodes. You’ll hear riveting stori...
287. Pizza Expo Columbus Sessions, Part 3: Growth in the Pizza Business
The Hot Slice Podcast is back at the Pizza Today booth at Pizza Expo Columbus in October with in-person conversations with pizzeria operators. We’re continuing our Pizza Expo Columbus episodes. You’ll hear riveting stories of entrepreneurship, ...
286. REPLAY: 2025 Pizzeria of the Year: Mattenga’s Pizzeria, San Antonio, TX — Conversation with Matthew and Hengam Stanfield
Happy Thanksgiving! Today we’re replaying one of our favorite 2025 episodes of The Hot Slice Podcast with Pizza Today. It features an inspiring conversation with Matthew and Hengam Stanfield, the engineering-minded power couple behind Mattenga’...