Pizza King Podcast: Real Talk for Pizzeria Owners & Operators
The Pizza King Podcast is where pizzeria owners and operators go to sharpen their skills, build better teams, and grow more profitable businesses. Hosted by Tyrell Reed—franchise leader, coach, and author of Next Level Leadership—each episode delivers practical insights, real-life stories, and expert advice to help you win in the pizza business. Whether you're opening your first shop or scaling your tenth, this show is your guide to pizza business excellence.
Episodes
56 episodes
Restaurant Management Mistakes That Kill Businesses (and How to Fix Them)
Most restaurants don’t fail because of bad food. They fail because of poor leadership. In this episode, Tyrell Reed shares lessons from his California Restaurant Show session Lead the Shift, including how to train managers who lead, no...
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Episode 57
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19:59
California Restaurant Show 2025 Recap: Pizza, People, and Leadership
The California Restaurant Show 2025 brought pizzeria owners, restaurant operators, and the pizza industry together under one roof. Hear my highlights from the event, leadership lessons from the stage, and visits to some of the best pizza shops ...
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Episode 56
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29:04
The Profit-First Mindset Every Operator Needs
What can a pizza operator learn from a guy who's built and scaled 12 online brands to over $10 million in sales — without a warehouse, storefront, or full-time staff? In this episode, I sit down with Neil Twa, Am...
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Episode 55
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1:01:20
Why I Sold My Store (and What Comes Next)
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I break down what it’s really like to sell your pizza shop after 23 years in the business. From running seven Westshore Pizza locations to navigating the emotional ups and downs of exiting the...
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Episode 54
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21:42
Managing Gen Z: What’s Working for Me Right Now
I used to think Gen Z was just entitled and lazy—until I realized I needed to shift how I lead. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s actually working inside my pizzeria to lead and connect with Gen Z employees.From coaching in the m...
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Episode 53
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14:32
Design Smarter, Spend Wiser: Kitchen Buildout Advice from CKS Founder Ryan Giffin
In this episode, I sit down with Ryan Giffin, founder of Commercial Kitchen Stop, to talk shop — literally. Ryan and I dig into everything from smart kitchen design to saving real money when you're building out a new pizzeria.He shares h...
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Episode 52
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1:23:47
Before You Buy: How to Choose the Right POS for Your Pizzeria
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I’m joined by Eddie LeBon and Joel from Thrive POS — not to sell you on their system, but to pull back the curtain on what it’s really like choosing the right point of sale for your pizza shop...
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Episode 51
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1:03:28
Bought the Oven, Got Ghosted, Built a Pizza Brand Anyway
What do you do when you buy all the pizza equipment, start your buildout… and the guy who promised to train you ghosts you? If you're Brian Nittayo, you hit the Pizza Expo, meet Tony Gemignani, hustle your way to a crash course in New York—and ...
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Episode 50
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45:02
How Much Does It Really Cost to Open a Pizzeria?
Think opening a pizzeria requires half a million dollars in the bank? Think again. In this episode, I'm breaking down what it really costs to start a pizza shop from scratch—whether you're hustling on a $50K budget or buil...
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Episode 49
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18:48
You Can’t Scale Chaos
What’s up, fam. It’s just me on the mic today—and I want to talk about something that’s got a lot of operators stuck. Systems. Not the clipboard, corporate kind. I’m talkin’ real systems that give you your time back, bui...
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Episode 48
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16:13
The Pizza Game Ain't Fast Food Anymore
Paul Cody, owner of Pie Trap Pizza in Covina, CA, joins the show for a no-filter conversation on leadership, culture, and turning passion into purpose. From sneaking a fryer into a 400 sq ft kitchen to curating a hip-hop-inspired menu with e...
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Episode 47
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58:53
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No Plan. No Experience. No Problem.
How Pizza Magnets Took Over the Internet (with Todd from Popp’s Trophies)What started as a small-town trophy shop turned into one of the pizza industry’s most viral success stories. In this episode, I chop it up with Tod...
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41:58
The Dumbest Mistake I Ever Made in a Pizza Shop
What’s up, Pizza Fam!This episode’s a little different—I took it all the way back to the beginning. Why? Because the question keeps coming up: “T, how’d you get started in this pizza game?” And with so many new listeners joining the fami...
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33:25
Building a Pizza Empire with Joey Karvelas
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with the energetic and inspiring Joey Karvelas, co-founder of Karvelas Pizza Company. Joey shares the story of how he turned a $19,000 investment into a ...
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Episode 44
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1:00:44
2025 Pizza Expo Recap
In this episode, I’m giving you my full recap of the 2025 Pizza Expo in Las Vegas. From my 4 a.m. flight out of Tampa to the non-stop action on the show floor, this trip was packed with energy, connection, and plenty of pizza talk.I shar...
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18:46
Inside the Most Badass Pizza Kitchen in America 🍕🔥
Mastering Pizza & Culinary Excellence with Chef Dan CzubaIn this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Chef Dan Czuba from the North American Pizza and Culinary Academy in Lisle, Illinois. From ...
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Episode 40
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55:13
Smoking It Right: The Fire & Smoke BBQ Journey
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Mikey and Amanda from Fire & Smoke BBQ—a powerhouse couple turning their passion for barbecue into a growing brand. We talk about their journey from runnin...
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Episode 39
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57:03
Chicago-Style Hustle: The Story Behind Lynn’s Chicago Pizza
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Lynn from Lynn’s Chicago Pizza to hear her incredible journey from a simple at-home pizza night to running a thriving pizzeria on Chicago’s South Side.Lynn shares...
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Episode 38
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46:37
How AI Can Supercharge Your Marketing with Adam Nathan of Blaze AI
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Adam Nathan, co-founder and CEO of Blaze, the #1 AI marketing tool designed for small businesses and content creators. We dive into how AI is changing the game for entre...
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Episode 37
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34:00
From Corporate Banker to Franchise Owner: Farris Roach’s Journey with VODA
In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with my guy, Farris Roach—newest franchise owner of VODA Cleaning & Restoration. We dive into his transition from a 20-year banking career to owning his own business, the challe...
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Episode 36
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35:34
How Todd’s Curry Sauce is Disrupting the Food Game – A Conversation with Elliott Ramsdell
On this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Elliott Ramsdell, the mastermind behind the rapid rise of Todd’s Curry Sauce. We dive into his journey from running a digital agency to launching a game-changing sauce brand an...
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Episode 35
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36:04
Starting Strong: Mastering Startup Costs, Location Selection, and Lease Negotiation
Hey Pizza Fam! This week, I’m diving into some of the most common questions I’ve been getting from all of you about opening a pizzeria. We’re talking about startup costs, picking the right location, and negotiating lease terms – all the stuff t...
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Episode 34
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29:41
Weathering The Storms: Supporting Communities Through Challenges
This week, I took the podcast on the road and recorded live from West Shore Pizza Kingsway. It’s not something I usually do, but with so much happening right now, I wanted to share my thoughts, advice, and support directly from the heart of our...
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Episode 34
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34:10
