Handling the Heat

Handling the Heat takes you behind the line and into the heart of the food service industry. Each episode dishes up real stories of operators facing the fire—navigating challenges, making tough calls, and finding a way to keep service going strong. It’s about grit, grace under pressure, and what it really takes to run a kitchen (or a whole operation) when the heat is on.

Handling the Heat is a business podcast hosted by Zach Sherman, with 16 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Zach Sherman hosts Handling the Heat, a business show with 16 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #16

  Mighty Meals

  Dec 16, 202534 minS0

  <p>Stefano Marzano, co-founder of Mighty Meals, shares his journey growing up in a multi-generation restaurant family and building a meal prep business from the ground up. The conversation covers the early grind, scaling challenges, product-first thinking, and how Mighty Meals evolved into a national brand with an increasing focus on purpose and impact.</p> <h3>Chapters</h3> (00:00:12) - Handling The Heat(00:01:05) - Stephonano on His Food(00:01:35) - Stephano on Working in the Family Restaurant(00:06:08) - Starting a Business at 14(00:07:00) - Stefano on Starting a Business at 19(00:11:25) - Vita Fitness's Transition From Line Cook to Head Chef(00:16:38) - Vegetable Meals...

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  Episode #15

  GreeneFood

  Dec 2, 202542 minS0

  <p>Graham and Ali Greene join Zach for a conversation about their path from meeting at the CIA to working inside some of the most respected restaurants in San Francisco. They talk about what originally drew them to cooking, the realities of learning in high end kitchens, and how those early experiences shaped the way they think about craft, creativity, and building a life around food. Along the way, they share stories from the walk-in, moments that pushed them, and the point where they began rethinking what success in the industry actually looked like for them.</p> <p>Today, Graham...

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  Episode #14

  Cafe Little Armenia

  Nov 18, 202540 minS0

  <p>From growing up in an Armenian household surrounded by food to working in some of New York’s most respected kitchens, Ararat El-Rawi’s journey to opening Café Little Armenia is a story of culture, grit, and craft. We talk about how a small COVID pop-up outside his Brooklyn apartment evolved into one of Greenpoint’s most soulful neighborhood restaurants, driven by a deep respect for hospitality and the belief in getting “better today than yesterday.”</p> <p>In this episode, Ararat reflects on building a restaurant that feels like home, the realities of turning passion into a business, and why suc...

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  Episode #13

  Renfro Foods

  Oct 21, 202532 minS0

  <p>From sweeping factory floors as a sixth grader to leading product innovation, finance, and marketing, Doug Renfro’s story with Renfro Foods and Mrs. Renfro’s Salsa is one of heritage, reinvention, and scale. After years in corporate finance, Doug returned to the family business - founded by his grandparents in Fort Worth over 85 years ago - and helped guide it into a new era of flavor development and operational sophistication. Known for their bold varieties like Mango Habanero, Ghost Pepper, and the new Spicy Pickle collaboration, Renfro Foods now produces 195 jars of salsa per minute while still holding tigh...

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  Episode #12

  Tipsy & Baked

  Oct 7, 202531 minS0

  <p>From a childhood “baking cabinet” and self-taught experiments to fashion-week brand moments, Amanda’s path with Tipsy and Baked is equal parts hustle and design. After starting an Instagram during COVID to document bakes, a nudge from friends turned into her first paid private-chef gig. The real ignition came with Everything But The Dress, a West Village bridal pop-up where she showcased sculptural display cakes and ran daily tastings. That week of long hours and sheet cakes set off a chain reaction of inbound orders, new relationships, and a growing network of female founders.</p> <p>Today she juggles brand...

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