ON THE DELO: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories

Step inside ON THE DELO Podcast: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories. Hosted by David “DeLo” DeLorenzo—entrepreneur, insurance expert, and connector of people—this show dives deep into conversations with chefs, restaurateurs, brewers, and creators shaping the industry. Beyond business, DeLo explores health, mindset and community, exploring what it really takes to thrive in hospitality and in life.This podcast is here to help you get connected, stay protected, and keep growing.Subscribe now and join a community where hospitality, health, and hustle come together.

ON THE DELO: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories is a business podcast hosted by David "The DELO" DeLorenzo, with 226 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.

David "The DELO" DeLorenzo hosts ON THE DELO: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories, a business show with 226 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.

• 

  Episode #225

  Exceptional Vibes: Events, Community & Marketing with Johann Warnholtz | EP225

  Aug 16, 202643 min

  What does it take to create an event people remember? In EP225 of On The Delo, Delo sits down with Johann Warnholtz, Chief Vibes Officer of Exceptional Vibe, for a real conversation about building community, creating meaningful experiences, and betting on yourself in Greater Phoenix. Johann shares how a childhood around endurance races, years of event and marketing work, and a love for Arizona’s food-and-beverage scene shaped Exceptional Vibe. From the risk of selling tickets in a last-minute market to designing events that give vendors real one-on-one connection, this episode is packed with practical perspective for operators, marketers, and anyone building something you want people to show up for. Chapter Guide (Timestamps) (0:00 - 1:41) Welcome, the Exceptional Vibe Name, and a One-Person Business (1:41 - 6:02) Endurance Sports, Race Lab, and Finding a Love for Events (6:02 - 9:05) From Freelance Marketing to Phoenix Magazine (9:05 - 11:52) The First Exceptional Vibe Events and Tempe Checkpoints (11:52 - 15:53) Launching Exceptional Vibe and Building Its Marketing Side (15:53 - 18:49) The Risk of Events, Last-Minute Tickets, and Self-Funding Growth (18:49 - 22:50) Brunch Fest, Soup Fest, and Following Event Potential (22:50 - 26:42) Vendor Value, Foodie Audiences, and Turning Attention Into ROI (26:42 - 30:43) Event Flow, Music, Seating, and Interactive Experiences (30:43 - 34:29) Arizona Community, Local Restaurants, and the Agency Vision (34:29 - 38:51) Exercise, Focus, and Rapid Fire (38:51 - 42:22) What’s Next for Exceptional Vibe and Delo’s Close If this conversation about events, marketing, and building community resonated with you, hit Subscribe for more honest conversations on hospitality, business, and mindset. Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments, then share this episode with a local operator, marketer, or community builder who is ready to create a better experience. Learn more about Exceptional Vibe: https://www.exceptionalvibe.com/ Connect with Johann Warnholtz on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johann-warnholtz-08991664 Follow Exceptional Vibe on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexceptionalvibe LINKS: Connect with Delo: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo Grab Delo’s FREE eBook: https://iamthedelo.com/3f-method-book Delo’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1 ️ Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #224

  15 Years of PV Burger: Building a Cult Following with Grit, Quality & By Staying Independent | EP224

  Aug 9, 202640 min

  What started with a Craigslist ad and a love of food turned into one of Arizona’s most recognizable independent burger spots. In Episode 224 of On The Delo, Delo sits down with Bret Shapiro, Chef/Owner of Paradise Valley Burger Company, to talk about 15+ years of PV Burger, the realities of restaurant ownership, and why Bret has never been interested in following the traditional growth playbook. Bret shares the story behind taking over the original restaurant, building a loyal crew and customer base, and eventually moving PV Burger from its longtime 40th Street and Bell Road location to Scottsdale. They get into staying independent, using his own capital to grow, keeping restaurant footprints small, navigating rising costs, and the advice Bret has followed from the beginning: if something has to change, raise the price before you lower the quality. Of course, they talk burgers too—from the story behind the Burger Brulee and Paradise Burger to the TV appearances that put PV Burger in front of a national audience, including Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Man v. Food, Guy’s Grocery Games, and Check, Please! Bret also shares what’s next, his early-morning routine, and why after 15 years in business, consistency still matters more than hype. Chapter Guide (Timestamps) (0:00 - 3:24) Welcome, Meeting Bret Shapiro, and the PV Burger Office Story (3:24 - 7:23) Origin Story: From Music to Food and a Craigslist Ad That Changed Everything (7:23 - 11:10) Losing the Lease at 40th and Bell and the Overnight Move to Scottsdale (11:10 - 14:21) Taking Care of the Crew and Whether Chefs Make Good Business Owners (14:21 - 18:03) Staying Independent, Lease Advice, and Reading Today's Arizona Market (18:03 - 20:39) Footprint, Dine-In vs. Takeout Shift, and Learning From Deluxe Burger (20:39 - 25:06) Fries, Jalapeno Ranch, and the Stories Behind the Burger Brulee and Paradise Burger (25:06 - 28:02) Life on TV: Diners Drive-Ins and Dives, Man v. Food, and Guy's Grocery Games (28:02 - 30:19) The Hardest Part of 15 Years and Why You Never Step Down on Quality (30:19 - 34:25) Morning Routine, Walking With Dad, and Changing His Relationship With Alcohol (34:25 - 35:22) What's Next: A New Sandwich Shop and Reviving Paradise Valley Pizza (35:22 - 38:23) Rapid Fire: Trucks, Scuba, Sushi, and a Month of Travel (38:23 - 39:39) Social Handles, Closing Thoughts, and Supporting Local Restaurants If you enjoyed this conversation, hit Subscribe for more conversations with the people building businesses, restaurants, and brands their own way. Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway and share this episode with someone in the restaurant or hospitality industry. Check out Paradise Valley Burger Company at https://pvburgercompany.com/ Connect with Bret Shapiro on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bret-shapiro-5a5857176 LINKS: Connect with Delo: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo Grab Delo's FREE eBook: https://iamthedelo.com/3f-method-book Delo's Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1 ️ Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #223

  Hospitality AV & Lighting Secrets + the Sunday Ticket Shakeup | EP223

  Aug 2, 202643 min

  Step into Episode 223 of On The Delo as Delo sits down with longtime friend Chase Goodman, Systems Integrator at Cactus Sight and Sound, for a candid conversation about audio, video, lighting, and a change that’s about to hit sports bars hard. From car stereos and houseboats to designing high-end restaurant systems, Chase pulls back the curtain on what really makes a hospitality space feel right and warns operators about the NFL Sunday Ticket shift that could cost them thousands right before football season. This episode blends practical AV wisdom with an urgent heads-up for anyone in hospitality. Chase explains why lighting and sound matter as much as the food, why getting AV involved at the design stage saves money and headaches, and how his team hides speakers, tunes lighting to the time of day, and tailors systems to each concept. Then the conversation turns to the big one: DirecTV’s decades-long exclusive on Sunday Ticket has ended, with commercial rights now controlled by Everpass Media—backed by Redbird Capital and the NFL’s own equity arm, 32 Equity—and moving to streaming only. Chase breaks down what that means for bandwidth, hardware, cost, and control, and why many bars may decide it’s no longer worth it. If you own or advise a bar or restaurant, this is a must-listen before the season kicks off. Chapter Guide (Timestamps) (0:16 - 2:53) Catching Up: Marriage, a New Baby, and Life at 42 (2:53 - 5:19) Origin Story: From Car Audio to Bar and Restaurant AV (5:19 - 9:55) Why Getting AV in at the Design Stage Matters (9:55 - 13:20) Lighting Done Right and the Mistakes Owners Make (13:20 - 16:46) Tiering Systems and Everything Cactus Does (16:46 - 19:44) The Team, the Shop, and 20 Years in Business (19:44 - 24:48) What’s Next: Lighting, Cameras, and Data Storage (24:48 - 34:02) The DirecTV Sunday Ticket Shakeup Explained (34:02 - 37:09) What It Costs Operators and Why It’s Happening (37:09 - 42:36) Rapid Fire and Delo’s Close If this conversation about hospitality AV and the Sunday Ticket shakeup was useful, hit Subscribe so you never miss future deep dives on running and protecting your business. Share this with a bar or restaurant owner who needs the heads-up before NFL season, and drop your biggest takeaway in the comments. And if you’re planning a build or upgrade, check out Chase’s team ay https://cactussightandsound.com . LINKS: Connect with Chase Goodman on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chase-goodman-7a12571b9 Connect with Delo: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo Grab Delo’s FREE eBook: https://iamthedelo.com/3f-method-book Delo’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1 ️ Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025 Chapter Guide (Timestamps)

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #222

  The Revenue Stream Most Hospitality Businesses Are Missing with Samia Kohler | EP222

  Jul 26, 202639 min

  Private events may be the most overlooked revenue stream in hospitality. In Episode 222 of On The Delo , Delo sits down with Samia Kohler, Founder of Event Sphere Solutions and creator of SPHERE, to explore how restaurants, bars, hotels, wineries, breweries, and event venues can unlock significant revenue through smarter private event sales. From 18 years in hospitality across France, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and now Phoenix, Samia breaks down how the right system can turn any space with four walls, food, and beverage into a revenue machine. This conversation goes deep on the difference between chasing tables and building an experience, why so many restaurants leave event revenue on the table, and how Samia built her own software after finding no CRM truly made for hospitality. She shares how her clients have seen a 189% increase in event sales, how the platform buys back 20+ hours a week, and how she built AI directly into the system so even a busy GM can capture leads around the clock without losing the human touch. If you run a restaurant, bar, or hospitality group and want a smarter way to grow revenue, this episode is packed with real, usable perspective. Chapter Guide (Timestamps) (0:00 - 2:06) Welcome and Meeting Samia Kohler (2:06 - 6:02) Hospitality Around the World: France, Shanghai, and Hong Kong (6:02 - 11:48) How She Got Into Hospitality and the Private Event Sales Gap (11:48 - 15:54) Building Event Sphere Solutions and Learning the Tech (15:54 - 21:05) How It Works: Pricing, Commission, and a 189% Sales Lift (21:05 - 26:11) Ideal Clients and Buying Back 20+ Hours a Week (26:11 - 29:15) AI in Hospitality: Sphere and Sphere Plus (29:15 - 33:27) Non-Negotiables and Scaling Beyond Arizona (33:27 - 38:15) Rapid Fire and Delo's Close If this conversation about growing revenue, systemizing your sales, and thinking bigger resonated with you, hit Subscribe for more deep dives on hospitality, business, and mindset. Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share this episode with an owner or operator who’s ready to unlock a whole new revenue stream. Learn more about Event Sphere Solutions at https://www.eventspheresolutions.com Connect with Samia Kohler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samia-kohler LINKS: Connect with Delo: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo Grab Delo’s FREE eBook: https://iamthedelo.com/3f-method-book Delo’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com Facebook: https://facebook.com/IAmTheDelo Instagram: https://instagram.com/iamthedelo LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/daviddelorenzo1 ️ Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025

  ListenShow Notes
• 

  Episode #221

  He Quit Drinking—and Ran 256 Miles Across Arizona | Kiefer's Journey | EP221

  Jul 19, 202647 min

  Step into Episode 221 of On The Delo as Delo sits down with Keifer Gilbert - a tattooed small-town Arizona kid turned elite craft bartender turned sober ultra runner - for one of the most honest, raw, and inspiring conversations the show has delivered. From getting fired from Applebee's reeking of Jäger at 20, to helping launch Counterintuitive cocktail bar, to blacking out nightly while raising a newborn, Keifer's story is a masterclass in rock bottom, reinvention, and what it actually takes to do hard things sober. They cover the Phoenix and Scottsdale hospitality scene in depth - Cashmere, Cowboy Chow, Bitter & Twisted, Counterintuitive - and then pivot into the real story: how sobriety on Christmas Day 2018 led to Keifer trading shots for trail running and ultimately finishing the Cocodona 250, a 256.3-mile race from Black Canyon City to downtown Flagstaff with 37,000 ft of elevation gain in 108 hours. If you've ever struggled to let go of an identity that no longer serves you, or wondered if it's too late to become someone new, this episode will hit different. Chapter Guide (Timestamps): (0:17 - 1:25) Ep 221 Intro: Consistency, Repetition & Being a Little Psychotic (1:26 - 6:23) Getting Started: Flagstaff, Applebee's, Getting Fired, and One Semester at GCU (6:24 - 9:37) Landing at Cashmere & Cowboy Chow - Finding His Footing in Fine Dining (9:38 - 12:36) Counterintuitive: 32 Seats, 12 Hours of Prep, 8 Hours of Service - Craft Cocktails Done Right (12:37 - 17:20) Life at Bitter & Twisted: Long Shifts, Late Nights at Tally Ho, and a Body Falling Apart (17:21 - 19:26) Identity, Blackouts, and the Bar Industry's Dark Side (19:27 - 23:59) Sobriety: Christmas Day 2018, Cooper at 6 Months, and the Decision That Changed Everything (24:00 - 27:30) 8 Years Sober: The Emotional Lightning Rod Phase, the Three-Year Switch, and Life Today (27:31 - 29:01) From Jiu Jitsu to COVID Runs: How Ultra Running Accidentally Took Over (29:02 - 35:00) Cocodona 250: The Race, the Prep, the First Day Disaster, and 30,000 Calories Burned (35:01 - 40:18) What 256 Miles Does to Your Identity - And Cam Haines Cheering From the Trail (40:19 - 44:30) What's Next: Front-End Developer, USCA Certified Ultra Coach, and What Keifer Promotes (44:31 - 46:20) Rapid Fire: Climbs vs. Downhills, Warrant vs. Ratt, Bears on Mingus Mountain & More If Keifer's story of sobriety, grit, and running through the Arizona backcountry resonated with you, hit Subscribe for more honest conversations on health, hospitality, and living fully. Drop a comment with your biggest takeaway and share this with someone who needs a reminder that reinvention is always on the table. Check out Keifer’s Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKeiferMadnessPodcast Connect with DELO: https://linktr.ee/iamthedelo Entrepreneur Community: https://www.builtdifferentcommunity.com Grab DELO’s Free eBook: https://toastability-production.s3.amazonaws.com/iiaxm3o0iqiawpe96g9o5efki5gh DELO’s Preferred Business Service Partners: https://iamthedelo.com/connect Restaurant Resources: https://www.runningrestaurants.com/subscribe DISCOUNT CODE: DeLo2025

  ListenShow Notes

Recent guests on ON THE DELO: Arizona Restaurant & Hospitality Stories. Study who booked and why before you pitch.

Based on semantic analysis of episode topics and host coverage, this show is a strong guest fit for executives in:

Industry fit is computed by PitchCentric using vector embeddings of the show's episode catalog.