Restaurant AI with Matt Wampler is a weekly podcast about artificial intelligence in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Host Matt Wampler explores how AI is changing kitchen operations, customer service, marketing, labor management, and guest experience. Each episode includes insights, expert interviews, and real-world use cases for restaurant operators, tech innovators, and hospitality professionals. The show aims to help listeners keep pace with a competitive, technology-driven landscape.
Episodes
Pita Pit: Brand Turnarounds, Menu Creation, and Motivating Today's Workforce
Can you pay someone to care? Pete Riggs says no. You can’t pay people for hospitality with the same money you use to pay them for their time. That one idea took him from running sandwich shops to rebuilding a national brand twice.
Pete Riggs is the Chairman of Pita Pit USA and the founder of WaveWage. He found Pita Pit as a college customer, became a franchisee in Southern California, and in his
Your AI Thinks You’re a Farmer: Patrick Bobrukiewicz on Teaching AI to Speak Restaurant
How many franchise groups have a VP of AI? Patrick Bobrukiewicz might be one of one.
Patrick is VP of AI Strategy and Innovation at Thrive Restaurant Group, the Wichita based operator behind 200 plus restaurants across 18 states, including one of the largest Applebee's franchise groups in the country. He started as a line cook, spent two decades in restaurant tech, and now builds the data brain t
NCR Voyix President on Rebuilding the World's Biggest POS from Scratch
The company that started with the cash register in 1884 just rebuilt its flagship restaurant POS from the ground up. Benny Tadele, EVP and President of Restaurants at NCR Voyix, joins Matt Wampler to explain why, and to make a case most operators will not expect from the man running the most deployed POS in the industry: stop making POS decisions. The terminal went from the center of the restauran
R.AI Podcast Special | Fresh KDS x Groucho's: Building the Restaurant Operating System
In this special episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Deric Rosenbaum, President and CTO of Groucho's Deli, and David Corts, CEO of Fresh Technology, for the show's first three-way roundtable.
Groucho's Deli has been making sandwiches since 1941, before the interstate system existed. Deric spent 26 years building its franchise inf
Bennett Maxwell on Cookie Wars, AI Agents, and Building a Business That Runs Itself
Bennett Maxwell took a single cookie shop to 450 franchises sold, turned a lawsuit from the biggest name in cookies into national headlines on CNBC and Good Morning America, then sold the brand and went all in on building a business that runs itself on AI.
In this episode, host Matt Wampler talks with Bennett, founder of Dirty Dough and CEO of Franchise KI, about architecting AI agents he can tru
John Davie: the future of AI through the eyes of the largest restaurant GPO
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with John Davie, Founder and CEO of Buyers Edge Platform and CEO of CollectivIQ.
John started Buyers Edge in 1998 at 21 years old, knocking on restaurant doors with no resume and no credibility, kept afloat by his father's retirement account. Today the company is the leading digital procure
Noah Glass: Second Party Ordering and the Fight to Get Profit Back to Restaurants
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Noah Glass, Founder and CEO of Olo.
Noah invented restaurant online ordering in 2005, before the iPhone existed, survived eight wilderness years at twelve employees, scaled revenue 50x after product market fit, took Olo public in 2021, and took it private again in 2025 in a two billion
Podcast Legend Eric Cacciatore on How Independents Take Back the Restaurant Industry
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Eric Cacciatore, founder and host of Restaurant Unstoppable, the longest-running podcast in the restaurant industry with nearly 1,300 interviews of America's most successful restaurateurs.
Eric grew up in his parents' small-town restaurant, spent a decade becoming a commercial pilot, a
Shaz Khan: Running a Restaurant Brand with an Engineer's First Principles Mentality.
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Shaz Khan, Co-Founder and President of Tono Pizzeria + Cheesesteaks. Shaz calls himself an accidental restaurateur. He studied electrical engineering at the University of Minnesota and was building a career in industrial automation when his best friend Antonio Gambino convinced him to e
David Cantu: The $150 Billion Problem Hiding in Restaurant Back Offices
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with David Cantu, CEO of Craftable and one of the most experienced operators and builders in hospitality technology.
David co-founded HotSchedules and spent over two decades scaling it into one of the most widely used labor management platforms in the restaurant industry. He later served as
R.AI Special | Shawn Walchef: What Really Happened on the Floor of the Biggest Restaurant Show on Earth
In this special episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Shawn Walchef, founder of Cali BBQ and Cali BBQ Media, fresh off the floor of NRA 2026 in Chicago. They break down what the show actually looked like this year, why confusion was the biggest theme around AI, what the best brands did differently, and why getting outside your four walls matters more than ever. Shawn al
David Corts: The Intelligence Layer Your Kitchen Has Been Missing
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with David Corts, CEO of Fresh Technology, the company behind Fresh KDS. David spent 25 years in enterprise software watching digital transformations unfold across media, e-commerce, and ad tech before betting everything on the most underleveraged asset in the restaurant industry: the kitchen.
Matt and David dig into why billion
The Brain of the Restaurant: How AWS Thinks About AI with Deborah Matteliano
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Deborah Matteliano, Global Head of Restaurants and Food Tech at AWS. A founding member of the Uber Eats sales organization who scaled the platform to over 200,000 restaurants across the US and Canada, Deborah later led Uber's Virtual Restaurants segment to 700% global growth before join
Why Most Restaurant AI Is Just an If-Then Statement | Toby Malbec
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Toby Malbec, a 30+ year restaurant technology veteran who has led technology strategy for brands including Church's Texas Chicken, Subway, and Saks Fifth Avenue. Known in the industry as an "operational technologist," Toby shares why most of what restaurants call AI is really just if-th
Josh Kopel on AI, Systems, and Why Restaurants Must Evolve Now
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Josh Kopel, restaurateur, coach, marketing strategist, and founder of the Restaurant Scaling System.
Josh has built, scaled, and exited restaurants, including earning a Michelin star, but he’s blunt about what actually matters in this industry. From marketing myths to hiring systems po
Aaron Knape: Computer Vision, Privacy, and the Next Leap in AI
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Aaron Knape, Chief Revenue Officer at Amniscient, to unpack one of the most talked-about but least understood areas of AI: computer vision.
While most AI conversations today focus on voice and text, Aaron explains why computer vision is different, and why it may be the missing layer th
How Kristen Corral Built a Community-Driven Restaurant Brand
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Kristen Corral, serial entrepreneur, TEDx speaker, and Co-Founder of Tacotarian, the fast-growing plant-based Mexican restaurant brand redefining how restaurants build community and loyalty.
Kristen shares her unconventional journey from Las Vegas showgirl to restaurant founder, detail
The Future of POS with 'The Restaurant Technology Guy' Jeremy Julian
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Jeremy Julian, longtime restaurant technology leader, founder, and podcast host who has spent decades at the center of the POS and restaurant tech ecosystem.
Jeremy brings a rare, long-range perspective on how restaurant technology has evolved — from hardware-heavy POS s
The Operator Who Made AI His First Employee
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Tim Martin, Co-Founder and Owner of BoxBox, a new Denver restaurant concept built around sharing food and connecting people. Tim isn’t just launching a brand, he’s building one of the most technologically advanced single-unit restaurants in the country. He explains how AI became his “first employee,” helping him document hun
How Zhong Xu Built a $1.4 Billion Restaurant Tech Powerhouse
On this episode of The Restaurant AI Podcast, ClearCOGS co-founder and CEO Matt Wampler sits down with Zhong Xu, the visionary founder behind Deliverect, now valued at over $1.4 billion. Zhong opens up about the relentless execution and radical simplicity that powered Deliverect’s rise from a scrappy MVP to a global restaurant infrastructure platform used by thousands of brands.
Zhong shares the
From Layoff to Legacy: How Charlie Eblen Built a BBQ Empire | 2025 Create Conference
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Charlie Eblen — founder of Single Tree BBQ and host of Single Tree Nation on ESPN Radio — to share one of the most inspiring stories in hospitality.
When the pandemic hit, Charlie lost his corporate job overnight. Instead of playing it safe, he followed his wife’s advice: “Go do what y
Maria Zhang: Building Empathetic AI for the Hospitality Industry | 2025 Create Conference
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Maria Zhang, Co-Founder and CEO of Polona, live from the 2025 CREATE Conference in Nashville. Together, they explore how artificial intelligence can enhance—not replace—the human touch that defines great hospitality.
Maria shares her journey from leading engineering teams at Microsoft,
Avi Goren: AI, Authenticity and How Restaurants Get Found Online
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Avi Goren, Co-Founder and CEO of Marqii — a leading platform helping restaurants manage their digital presence and reputation. Together, they unpack how AI and automation are reshaping discoverability in hospitality, from SEO and generative search to the role of accurate listings, revie
Jacob Williamson: Racing, Data and the Human Edge in the Age of AI
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with professional racing driver and entrepreneur Jacob “Jake” Williamson, Co-Founder of GP Lab Motorsport and owner of multiple businesses spanning motorsports, catering, and more. Together, they explore the fascinating overlap between data-driven decision-making and instinct — from how pre
Erin Levzow: Navigating the Future of Marketing with AI
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, hosts Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, and Erin Levzow, an award-winning marketing innovator whose career spans brands like Wingstop, Del Taco, and the Museum of Ice Cream, dive deep into how AI and data are redefining restaurant marketing.
From her start in Las Vegas casinos to leading marketing for national restaurant brands, Erin sh
Phil Crawford on Why Small Brands are Beating Big Brands with AI
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Phil Crawford, Global Head of Food and Beverage at Adyen. Known for his leadership at Shake Shack and CKE before moving into fintech, Phil shares why he made the jump from running restaurant tech to rethinking payments on a global scale.
They dive into how AI is already reshaping payment opt
Bill Lindsey on 50 Years of Restaurant Tech, Casino Lessons, and AI’s Next Chapter
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Bill Lindsey, Partner and Co-Founder of COGS-Well. Bill’s journey started as a dishwasher at Farrell’s Ice Cream and took him through the Las Vegas Strip—where he learned operations on casino floors, lived through federal raids at the Stardust, and watched “learned intelligence” evolve into
Joe Guszkowski on Cutting Through AI Hype and Finding Real Value for Restaurants
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Joe Guszkowski, Senior Editor at Restaurant Business. With years of experience reporting on the industry’s biggest shifts, Joe offers a journalist’s perspective on how artificial intelligence is reshaping restaurants—from the back office to the front of house.
He unpacks where AI is making
Troy Hooper on Scaling Pepper Lunch and Staying Authentic in Hospitality
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, welcomes Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palette America and Pepper Lunch. With a career spanning three decades across kitchens, consulting, and global brand leadership, Troy offers a masterclass in how to scale an international concept without losing its soul.
He shares the lessons learned from guiding Pepper Lu
PredictHQ Co-Founder Campbell Brown on Forecasting the Future of Restaurant Demand
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Campbell Brown, Co-Founder and CEO of PredictHQ, to explore how artificial intelligence and real-world event data are transforming restaurant forecasting and operations.
Campbell shares the story of building PredictHQ from its early days in New Zealand to becoming the “demand intelligence”
Carl Orsbourn: Navigating the Restaurant Tech Revolution
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Carl Orsbourn, Co-Author of Delivering the Digital Restaurant, Host, The Digital Restaurant Podcast, SVP, Invisible AI, to explore how artificial intelligence and digital transformation are reshaping the restaurant industry.
Carl shares the story behind writing Delivering the Digital Restau
Bite CEO Brandon Barton on The Next Era of Guest Experience
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Brandon Barton, CEO of Bite, to explore how kiosk ordering, AI, and deep restaurant experience are shaping the future of guest interactions.
Brandon shares his 25-year journey from bussing tables in Brooklyn to running the dining room at a Danny Meyer restaurant, making the leap to restaura
Niko Papademetriou on Turning Restaurant Struggles into Scalable Tech Solutions
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Niko Papademetriou, Co-Founder of Qu POS, to trace his unconventional path from investment banking to owning a massive Dupont Circle restaurant, and eventually leading growth at one of the industry’s top enterprise POS providers.
Niko shares candid stories from the trenches of restaurant ow
Wow Bao CEO Geoff Alexander on Turning a Struggling Fast Casual into a National Powerhouse
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Geoff Alexander, CEO of Wow Bao, to unpack the remarkable story of how a small fast-casual concept became a national brand available in 15,000 grocery stores, 500 hot vending machines, and dozens of non-traditional locations—all without traditional funding.
Geoff shares how he took over Wow
Danny Klein on Why Truth Matters More Than Ever in the Age of AI
In this episode of the Restaurant AI podcast, Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Danny Klein, Editorial Director of QSR Magazine, for a wide-ranging conversation on the evolving role of journalism in the restaurant industry, the rise of AI-powered tools, and the importance of trust in a saturated media landscape.
Danny shares his unexpected journey from sports writing t
Michael Ungaro: From Fish Market to Media Company to Future-Proofing a Legacy
Live from the floor of the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show, Restaurant AI host Matt Wampler sits down with Michael Ungaro, third-generation owner and visionary behind the iconic San Pedro Fish Market. In this wide-ranging and entertaining conversation, Michael shares how a family-run seafood operation turned into a cultural phenomenon—with over 3,000 seats, a hit streaming series, and a
Rudy Miick – Designing Restaurants That Restore the Soul and Inspire Growth
In this thought-provoking episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Rudy Miick, Founder and President of The Miick Companies, for a deep dive into what makes restaurant culture truly transformative—and how technology fits into the equation.
With over four decades of experience shaping restaurant brands from the inside out, Rudy shares why restaurants are more than food and
Justin Foster – Building Voice AI for the Chaos of Drive-Thrus and the Realities of Restaurant Tech
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt sits down with Justin Foster, Co-Founder and CRO of Incept AI, for a deep and technical dive into the future of Voice AI in restaurants, particularly in the drive-thru environment.
With years of experience in both restaurants and AI, Justin brings rare insight into what it really takes to build voice technology that works in the chaotic, noisy wo
Jordan Boesch - Streamlining Restaurant Workflows, Replacing Spreadsheets and Building an AI Future
Live from the floor of the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, Restaurant AI host Matt Wampler sits down with Jordan Boesch, CEO of 7shifts, for an energizing conversation about the evolution of labor management.
With 7shifts powering 1 in 9 U.S. restaurant workers, Jordan shares how his team is moving the industry beyond spreadsheets—building intelligent workflows that streamline
Jesse Stein – Scaling Startups, Building AI Agents, and Solving Hospitality’s Hardest Problems
In this episode of The Restaurant AI Podcast, Matt Wampler sits down with Jesse Stein—serial entrepreneur and CEO of Hermetic AI—to unpack how AI agents are transforming the private event sales process in hospitality. From building SportsMemorabilia.com and selling it to Fanatics, to scaling a skincare brand to $48 million in two years, Jesse’s entrepreneurial resume is nothing short of legendary.
Rob Wilder - From Founding Restaurants to Funding Innovation and Feeding the World
In this episode of Restaurant AI, host Matt Wampler, CEO and Co-Founder of ClearCOGS, sits down with Rob Wilder, partner at Jose Andres Group, for a wide-ranging conversation that spans decades of experience in the restaurant industry, the evolution of restaurant technology, and the impactful work of World Central Kitchen.
Rob shares his journey from opening his first restaurant, Austin Grill, i
Stuart McGuigan - Evolution of AI, Why Tech Projects Fail, and Leading Digital Transformation
In the debut episode of Restaurant A.I., ClearCogs Founder Matt Wampler sits down with Stuart McGuigan — former CIO of the U.S. Department of State, Johnson & Johnson, and Liberty Mutual — for a powerful conversation on the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence. (1:00)
With over 40 years of leadership at the intersection of technology and operations, Stuart unpacks:
The ev
Stuart McGuigan - Evolution of AI, Why Tech Projects Fail, and Leading Digital Transformation
In the debut episode of Restaurant A.I., ClearCogs Co-Founder Matt Wampler sits down with Stuart McGuigan — former CIO of the U.S. Department of State, Johnson & Johnson, and Liberty Mutual — for a powerful conversation on the past, present, and future of artificial intelligence.
Show notes and full episode: https://www.clearcogs.com/podcasts/stuart-mcguigan-evolution-of-ai-why-tech-pr
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