Episodes

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with legendary bar designer and hospitality innovator Tobin Ellis, founder of Studio Barmagic and one of the most influential thinkers in modern bar design. With more than three decades ...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Christin Marvin — hospitality leadership coach, author, and founder of Solutions by Christin — to unpack the realities of leadership in modern restaurants and bars. From opening mul...

In this Post Shift Shot crossover with the Bread & Butter Collective Podcast — a series created by restaurateurs Sam Jones and Calen McNeil to share the real, non-scripted side of running hospitality businesses — Shawn Soole ...

In this conversation, Shawn Soole sits down with hospitality veteran Richie Barrow — renowned bar leader, culture builder, and mentor — to unpack what it truly takes to run great teams, build resilient service cultures, and l...

In this Post Shift Shot, Shawn Soole pulls back the curtain on the reality of owning in hospitality. No hype. No Instagram fantasy. Just truth. Entrepreneurship in this industry isn’t just cocktails, creative freedom, and pac...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Colin Asare-Apiah — award-winning bartender, educator, and globally respected leader in cocktail culture — for a thoughtful conversation about hospitality craft, community building,...

In this Post Shift Shot, Shawn Soole breaks down a hard truth in modern hospitality: not everyone is built to be an entrepreneur — and that’s not a weakness. With the rise of “cool entrepreneurship,” social media has glamoriz...

In this revealing episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Alexandre Gabriel, visionary founder of Maison Ferrand and one of the most influential thinkers in the global spirits world. From reviving historic brand identities to ste...

In this episode, Shawn Soole digs into one of the most pivotal topics in hospitality and beyond: leadership that evolves with the times. Whether you’re just stepping into a lead role or you’ve been guiding teams for years, th...

In this special “Get to Know Me” episode, Shawn Soole sits down without notes, filters, or industry jargon — and invites you into the story behind the journey. From early shifts and first pours to building culture, teams, and...

In this Post Shift Shot, Shawn Soole tackles a tough but necessary truth: hard work and sacrifice still matter in hospitality — even in a world obsessed with shortcuts, instant success, and surface-level wins. This isn’t abou...

In this powerful episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Kris Hall, co-founder of The Burnt Chef Project — a global initiative dedicated to improving mental health, work culture, and human connection within hospitality. Kris offe...

In this week’s Post Shift Shot, I dig into how the rise of remote work is quietly impacting the hospitality ecosystem — from empty downtown cores to shrinking lunch rushes and unpredictable revenue patterns. This isn’t an ant...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Ann Squires Ferguson, interior designer and hospitality space strategist, to explore how design shapes behaviour, influences service flow, and ultimately determines whether a hospit...

Whenever I talk about training, the first question is always the same: “What’s the ROI?” In this week’s Post Shift Shot , I break down the real numbers behind staff training and show how a relatively small investment in your ...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Michael Dargie — branding strategist, creative thinker, and author of BrandJitsu — for a sharp, no-fluff conversation on how brands are really built, why most messaging fails, and h...

DOWNLOAD Business Clarity Workbook - https://www.soolehospitality.com/free-resources-1/business-clarity-workbook Welcome back to the Post Shift Podcast! I'm bringing back the Tuesday episodes, the Post Shift Shots, to offer m...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Sean Finter — operator, trainer, and mastermind behind some of North America’s most respected hospitality playbooks. From frontline execution to strategic leadership, Sean breaks do...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with chef-entrepreneur and hospitality operator Calen McNeil, founder of Zambris and Big Wheel Burger. Calen breaks down how he’s built loyal teams and passionate communities around two ...

In this special seminar recorded live at Portland Cocktail Week, Shawn Soole delivers one of his most personal and impactful talks: Turn & Burn to Build & Belong — a deep dive into the culture of hospitality, the burnout cycl...

In this episode, host Shawn Soole sits down with longtime industry veteran John Gakuru — a globally seasoned bar professional, brand strategist, and now founder of Coruscent Co.. John brings decades of experience across conti...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with renowned drinks author and journalist Noah Rothbaum — a true heavyweight in cocktail culture and spirits storytelling. From deep dives into whiskey history to thoughtful reflections...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with industry legend Sean Kenyon—third-generation bartender, owner of the award-winning Williams & Graham and more—where they explore the true meaning of bar culture, legacy, and operati...

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with hospitality trail-blazer April Wachtel — a bartender-turned-entrepreneur with more than 25 years in the beverage world, now founder and CEO of Cheeky Cocktails. She opens up about s...