Pizza King Podcast: Empowering Pizzeria Leadership

I just got back from Pizza Expo in Las Vegas, and before I do a full recap on next week’s feature episode, I wanted to share one quick takeaway that stood out to me right away. Relationships still matter.

In this short Takeout Tip episode, I talk about what I saw and felt on the show floor. The pizza business is still built on people. Real relationships, generosity, and showing up for others still open doors. I share a few thoughts ...

In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Jake Johnson of Patriot Wood Fired Pizza in Jefferson City, Tennessee. Jake shares how he went from working in kitchens to launching a wood fired pizza food truck, building a loyal following, and turning that momentum into a successful brick and mortar pizzeria.

We talk about what it really takes to start and grow an independent pizza business, from learning one of the tough...

In this episode, I break down what I’m seeing inside the store right now as we move from growth mode into adjustment mode. Sales are up, momentum is real, and we’ve made solid progress from Period 1 to Period 3. But better sales do not always mean a healthier business. That is the real conversation here. 

I talk through the questions I’m asking as an operator right now. Where is the growth really coming from? Which days are carrying...

In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Mike Pitera of Pizza a Modo Mio in Charleston, South Carolina for a real conversation about what it takes to grow a modern pizzeria. Mike breaks down how he went from washing dishes in New York pizzerias, to corporate sales leadership, to building a pizza business that now offers seven styles of pizza across multiple locations. 

They talk about simplifying operati...

In this Takeout Tip episode, Tyrell Reed breaks down a hard truth that every pizzeria owner, partner, and investor needs to hear. Respect from your team does not come from ownership. It comes from leadership. If you think putting money into the business should automatically earn loyalty, trust, or influence, this episode will challenge that fast. Tyrell shares why staff respond to consistency, humility, support, and real value, not...

In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Adam Marks, known online as I Am Pizza Adam, for a conversation about pizza from a different angle. Adam is not building a pizzeria, chasing a pop-up model, or trying to turn pizza into a full-time business. He is a true pizza enthusiast, someone who makes pizza because he loves the craft, loves the process, and loves sharing the experience with others. 

That is w...

If your store runs smooth when you’re there, then falls apart when you leave, this episode is for you. 

In this Takeout Tip, Tyrell Reed breaks down a simple truth. The dinner rush is not the problem. Your lack of readiness is. When the team gets slammed and starts scrambling for sauce, boxes, printer paper, backups, or a stocked line, the rush exposes every missed step from earlier in the day. That chaos turns into slower ticket ti...

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Rob Te Braake of Insight Matters, a fractional CFO and accounting firm, for a practical conversation on the numbers that keep a pizzeria alive.

Rob breaks down why most owners get in trouble, not because they work hard, but because they stay too optimistic and avoid the weekly discipline of forecasting and review. You will learn what to track (gross profit, net pr...

Tyrell Reed is back with a Takeout Tip and a real store update from the Pizza King turnaround. He shares why taking a break matters before burnout hits, then gets into the numbers, the moves, and what your shop can copy this week. 

You will hear the last three weekly results, including sales around $8.6K to $8.9K, and a strong week at about 12.9% profit. Tyrell breaks down what is driving the change, including daily deal emails, wee...

You hire teenagers. You coach teenagers. You lead teenagers. So this episode matters.

I sit down with Coach Tony Le from egelloC (Eagle Lock), a former UC Berkeley admissions reader who has reviewed over 10,000 applications. 

tony-le-x-pizza-king-podcast He breaks down what actually moves the needle in college admissions, and what families waste time overthinking.

We get into the real pillars that drive outcomes, GPA versus ...

If you run a pizzeria, you do not need more hype. You need better decisions, cleaner systems, and a team that can hold standards without you babysitting every shift.

In this episode, we break down the real moves that protect profit in a pizza shop. Sales channels, food cost, labor control, prep and portioning, speed of service, and the management habits that keep results consistent. You will hear practical ways to spot leaks fast, f...

Stacy Richter, CEO of Live Lingua, joins Tyrell Reed on The Pizza King Podcast to talk about the people skills that build a stronger pizzeria. Stacy started in a Pizza Hut kitchen, moved through front of house, and turned those restaurant lessons into a career across sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. 

You will learn how to build trust fast with customers and with your team, how to sell without sounding pushy, and how to start ...

Chris Battiste from Mia Ava East Coast Pizza breaks down what it takes to run a fast New York style slice shop and still compete at a high level. We talk speed of service, premium ingredients, and how to build a product that stays consistent day after day.

You will hear how Chris uses pizza competitions to sharpen his craft, why he wants the score sheet and notes, and what “balance” really means when you judge sauce, cheese, and top...

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In this Takeout Tips episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed breaks down GM planning and leadership routines during week four of the Valrico store takeover. This is the point where most turnarounds either gain traction or slide back into old habits. 

Tyrell shares his actual weekly P&L and walks through the numbers live. Not a dashboard. Not a summary. The real tool used every week with the GM. He answ...

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Detroit pizza in New York. Two locations. Big creativity with tight standards.

In this episode, Tyrell sits down with Tori Tiso to talk pizza leadership and real operations. You’ll hear how she builds new pies without losing consistency, why she simplified the menu to protect profit and labor, and how she trains people like a coach so the product stays right when the owner is not on the line.

If...

Third-party delivery can wreck a great pizza fast.

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Bam, VP of Sales and Marketing at Perfect Crust Pizza Liners, to talk about the real fix. Protect the product from oven to customer door. We break down why packaging and food protection matter more than most operators admit, because customers do not blame DoorDash.

Customers blame your brand.

We also get practical on pricing and margin protection....

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In this Takeout Tips episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed gives a real behind the scenes update from week two inside the shop, focused on one of the most overlooked drivers of profitability for pizzeria owners. Cash management.

This episode breaks down how tightening up cash handling, deposits, tip policies, and discounts creates clarity for your team and control for you as the owner. Tyrel...

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In this episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed sits down with Logan Whitehouse, co-founder of Virnika AI, to break down how AI phone automation is changing restaurant operations. 

The conversation stays focused on real operator problems. Missed calls. Labor pressure. Inconsistent upselling. Customer experience during peak hours. Logan explains how AI voice agents can take orders, answer menu q...

Thrive POS helps pizzeria operators gain control of sales, labor, and reporting with tools built for growing shops.

Request a demo here: https://thrivepos.com/pizzaking 

In this Takeout Tips episode of the Pizza King Podcast, Tyrell Reed breaks down the first five days of taking over an existing pizzeria in Valrico and the exact steps he used to create fast wins without overwhelming the team. This episode focuses on food safety, equi...