In this episode of PIE 2 PIE, Alex sits down with Mike DeNunzio, owner of Fine Folk Pizza in Fort Myers, Florida. With nearly a decade of experience running his own pizzeria and a lifetime in the industry, Mike shares his insights on building a strong team culture, implementing effective systems, and fostering personal growth. He emphasizes the imp…

In this episode of PIE 2 PIE, we sit down with Alex White and Justin Ford, two of the owners of Yukon Pizza in Las Vegas. They share the incredible journey of Yukon Pizza - from cooking 40-50 pies a night in Alex's backyard during the pandemic, to getting their start the first ever Vegas test kitchen, to partnering with a developer to build out the…

In this episode of Pie 2 Pie, Alex Koons sits down with Audrey Kelly, owner of Audrey Jane's Pizza Garage located in Boulder, Colorado. Audrey discusses what it was like growing up in the family’s thriving bagel business, as well as her journey into pizza making when she began working for pizza legend Tony Gemignani in San Francisco. She opens up a…

In this episode, Scott Sandler, a pizza industry veteran from St. Louis, joins the show. Scott has opened three successful pizza concepts over the years and ultimately sold two of them. He shares his insights on the importance of understanding restaurant finances and numbers, staffing properly, and when it might make sense to sell your business. Sc…

In this episode, Nick Sanford, owner of Toss & Fire Pizza in Syracuse, NY, shares his inspiring journey from working in corporate America to building a thriving, multi-unit pizza empire. Nick discusses the risks he took, the challenges he faced, and the critical decisions that led to Toss & Fire's rapid expansion. He emphasizes the importance of ma…

In this episode, meet Ben Stix, founder of The BeHive, a Nashville-based company making some of the best plant-based meats and cheese available on the market today. Ben shares his entrepreneurial journey building The BeHive from the ground up. We discuss the challenges of scaling a wholesale food manufacturing business, and what it actually takes t…

In this episode, Alex heads to Hesperia, in the High Desert of California to visit the meet the minds behind Slice Godz. Brothers Kyle and Jacob share their inspiring journey of turning a passion project into a thriving pizza haven in their community. Mixing dough by hand, getting savagely creative with their oven setup, these guys epitomize the "w…

In this episode, Alex Koons sits down for the second time with Chris Wallace, owner of Ozzy's Pizza, to discuss Chris's incredible journey over the past year. From essentially popping-up in an underground sports bar to opening on a patio in Glendale and receiving a stellar review form from Dave Portnoy, Chris's trajectory has been nothing short of …

In this episode, Alex sits down with Hunter of Detroit Pizza Depot in Los Angeles to discuss his journey from Michigan to Los Angeles and the art of crafting "authentic" Detroit-style pizza. Hunter shares his humble beginnings, from running a food truck in his hometown to opening a cloud kitchen near USC, and reveals his exciting plans for a new br…

In this Pie to Pie episode, host Alex Koons interviews Vito DeCandia, owner of Angel City Pizza in Venice, CA. Vito shares his journey from growing up in Brooklyn and Long Island where pizza was the family business to opening his own West Coast pizzeria.They discuss the challenges of running a restaurant, navigating regulations, high costs, and wor…

In this episode of Pie 2 Pie, we sit down with Michael Fiorelli and Liz Gutierrez of Fiorelli Pizza, a wood-fired pizza venture based in a community garden in Venice, Los Angeles. Mike and Liz share their unique journey from working in fine dining to nearly opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant of their own to deciding to pursue a mobile pizza conc…

In this episode, meet Jean and Grace, the husband and wife duo behind Montreal's Brigade Pizza. The first Neapolitan pizza lineup concept in Canada, Brigade has been serving up beautiful Neapolitan pies and sparking conversations since 2014. They discuss the merits and pitfalls of VPN certification, the evolution of their dough recipe, and the stru…

Alex sits down with the one and only Angelo Womack of Rad Times Pizza for a no-bullshit, hilarious pizza chat that’s equal parts sage advice and ruthless roasts. Shots are fired, tea is spilled, and no one is safe, but primarily this episode is about the importance of keeping pizza FUN. Angelo is someone who keeps it 100 all the time, dropping trut…

In this episode, Alex sits down with Luca of The LA Food Podcast and The LA Countdown to talk about a new era of food critics and their influence over the restaurant scene and the individuals who own and operate restaurants. Luca shares his origin story, starting back in 2021 when he embarked on an epic quest to devour 100 slices of pizza across Lo…

In this episode, meet Zack and Kara, the rad duo behind LA's Boy Blue. Blasting onto the scene last summer these two started popping up making incredible pizzas, but quickly began to expand their menu outside the realm of za, wondering, ‘what else can we cook in a Gozney Dome?’ Zack has worked at such reputable institutions as Roberta's, Prime Pizz…

In this episode of Pie 2 Pie, host Alex Koons sits down with the Holt Family of Sunday Pizza Company - a family of 4 that makes Detroit-style square pizza together. John and Laura, Johra, and Kaiden started making pizza at home on Sundays as a family activity which eventually turned into a booming mobile pizza pop-up. We get insight into their jour…

In this episode, we’re getting all dressed up to sit down with Caitlin and Daniel, owners of the highly acclaimed, Ronan Los Angeles. Tucked away on bustling Melrose Avenue, Ronan has earned a reputation for creating an elevated dining experience that puts pizza at the forefront. A relationship forged in the fires of professional kitchens, we discu…

In this episode, Jose and Bronwen of Naughty Pie Nature join PIE 2 PIE to discuss their incredible journey going from starting their pizza pop-up to opening a brick-and-mortar shop in LESS THAN A YEAR. After years of working in big corporate restaurants and missing the creative control and hands-on experience of pizza, they quickly snowballed into …

Join us as we chat with Ryan Mondragon, owner of Sanctuary Pizza the mobile catering legend out of Turlock, California. Ryan takes us through his journey from learning wood-fired pizza basics while working at a local restaurant to launching his own catering operation and acquiring a pizza trailer during the pandemic. He shares how he built up his b…

In this episode, we sat down with Damien Moore of Jackknife Brewing in British Columbia, Canada to chat about his metal inspired brewery and pizzeria.Av Alex Koons

Meet the genius behind Fire and Wood Catering, Thomas DeSantis! Thomas gives us an inside look at what it takes to operate a mobile wood-fired pizza and event catering operation at the highest level. Get an inside look at Thomas' journey from starting in New York to launching his own business in Los Angeles. We discuss how to grow a mobile operatio…

In this episode, we talk with Chris Laramie, owner of Fat Lip Pizza about his journey from starting a pizza pop-up out of a retired mail truck during the pandemic to opening his brick-and-mortar restaurant in Corona, CA. Chris shares about his culinary career and departure from fine dining to finding a unicorn second-gen brick-and-mortar pizza shop…

In this special year-end wrap-up episode, Alex takes us through some of the highlights and unforgettable moments from the 33 episodes of Pie2Pie in 2023. As we look back, we want to give a massive thanks to everyone who has been a guest on our humble podcast and to all the listeners out there for your support. It’s always been about the community. …

Join us as we chat with 2 of the finest pizza makers out of San Diego, the dynamic duo behind TNT Pizza - Kevin Gist and Joseph Ghafouri Wehrly. After 18 years in the pizza industry, hear how these two friends joined forces to open their very own pizza joint. We dig into how they got their space up and running for much less money than you would thi…

On this episode we sit down with Matt Lyons, owner of Tribute Pizza in San Diego, to discuss his journey. From getting his start delivering pizzas on his skateboard as a teen to traveling to Kenya to consult on a new pizzeria and soon after opening his critically acclaimed restaurant. Matt gives an insightful look at his passion for the craft. We t…

On this episode of PIE 2 PIE, Marc Schechter from Square Pie Guys joins the podcast to dish about his journey going from working in sales and doing comedy to putting Detroit-style pizza on the map in San Francisco. We follow along as he rises from humble pizza pop-up beginnings, catapulted by a fateful wedding catering gig into a pizza empire takin…

In this solo episode, host Alex Koons reflects on his motivations for starting the Pie 2 Pie podcast. An endeavor to build community and connections in the pizza industry, as well as to gain inspiration and knowledge by having candid conversations with other owners. If you're enjoying this podcast, please go on Apple Podcasts and leave us a quick r…

In this episode of Pie 2 Pie features brothers James and Thom Elliott, founders of the popular London-based pizza chain, Pizza Pilgrims. The Elliott brothers recount how they fell in love with Neapolitan pizza on a trip to Italy, leading them to start their business in London in 2011. They share the origin story of buying a tuk-tuk in Sicily to put…

In this episode, another round table discussion, this time we find out what it takes to go from popping up to growing into a brick-and-mortar pizzeria. Meet Chris of Ozzy’s Apizza, Sean of Secret Pizza LA, and Tommy of LaSorted’s. These passionate pizzaiolos recount their journey from hobbyists perfecting pies at home to opening their own beloved p…

On this mouth-watering episode of Pie 2 Pie, Alex chats with veteran pizza maker Mark Mebus, owner of the acclaimed 20th Street Pizza in Philadelphia. Drawing on his extensive experience in the NYC and Philly pizza scenes, Mark reflects on the rise and fall of his first pizzeria, Blackbird, imparting the hard lessons he learned about expanding and …

In this episode of Pie 2 Pie, meet Patrick Elston from Gus Franco's Pizza! Patrick shares his journey from pizza hobbyist to pizzeria owner. Inspired by his wife, Patrick went from perfecting pizzas at home on weekends to opening his own pizza shop named after his two kids. Patrick gives us an inside look at transforming an old dentist's office int…

In this episode of Pie 2 Pie, learn how Mike Hauke of Tony Boloney's built his empire from the crust up. 🍕🎧 Mike joins us to discuss his journey from selling frozen food out of a house in Atlantic City to building the acclaimed Tony Boloney’s pizza empire. 🔥🍕 Mike started Tony Boloney’s in an empty block of AC with plans to sell food and goods to c…

Get ready to bake up some knowledge with our deep dish interview with Jim McHugh of McHugh’s Pizza on his 40 years of pizza shop stories. 🍕 Jim started slinging slices as a teenager when his mom got a job across from his high school. In this episode, we get into how Jimmy has kept his employees around (some for over 20 years) with only a 1% turnove…

In this round table discussion, pizza restaurant owners Alex Koons of Hot Tongue Pizza, Janet Kang of Pizza Baby LA, Paul Cody of Pie Trap Pizza, and Nick Camacho of Lucky Nick’s gather to talk about marketing strategies for their various pizza businesses. They share tips on collaborations, social media, paid advertising, and attracting customers. …

In this episode of PIE 2 PIE Jeff Barris tells the tale of how he went from number crunching to kneading dough, and how he made the leap from finance to food when he acquired renowned LA pizzeria Hail Mary Pizza. Hear Jeff's journey from corporate suits to aprons, how he strategically searched for the perfect restaurant to purchase, the pros and co…

In this episode of PIE 2 PIE, Alex Koons sits down with Zach Fishman, co-owner of the acclaimed Prime Pizza restaurants in Los Angeles. Zach shares the origin story of Prime Pizza, from falling in love with NY pizza as a kid to opening their flagship Fairfax location in 2014. He provides an inside look at Prime's expansion to 7 shops, discussing ev…

Welcome back to another episode of Pie 2 Pie! Today, we're diving into the world of Gorilla Pies with Ben Osher located in the beautiful Valley Village, Los Angeles. Gorilla Pies isn't your average pizzeria, they've made waves on "best of" lists and even graced the evening news. Rumor has it, Ben might have had a secret life as a Russian spy, given…

In this episode of PIE 2 PIE, meet the incredible Chadwick Corcoran of Two Doughs in Agoura Hills.From dialing in their sourdough process with the precision of a scientist, to marketing tactics to grow your brand & catering biz, to finding forgiveness after getting their pizza oven trailer stolen.Chadwick is among the most knowledgeable bakers I’ve…

In this episode, we had the incredible privilege of sitting down with Jason Winters of Speak Cheezy in Long Beach, CA. Join us as we delve into the inspiring transformation of Speak Cheezy from an incognito venture to a thriving catering dynasty. We unravel the story of how Jason went from having the dream of selling pizzas out of a van to catering…

In this last episode of Pie 2 Pie Season 2, we had a special conversation with Odie O'Connor, former owner of Baby Blue and current owner of Boxcar Pizza. Joining us all the way from Portland Oregon. We discussed his transition from Neapolitan pizza to his all Detroit-style square pizzas at Boxcar. Odie's pizza is all plant-based, showcasing his ma…

Welcome to another wild episode of PIE 2 PIE Pizza Podcast on Hot Tongue TV! Today, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Daniel Holzman, the genius behind Danny Boy's Famous Original Pizzeria, nestled in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. It was a beautiful, sunny L.A. morning and we got to chat right outside the restaurant. Daniel is not only …

Join us for an incredible episode of PIE 2 PIE Pizza Podcast featuring Roy Elam, the visionary behind Donna Jean. From discussing the challenges of the restaurant's build-out to sourcing farm-fresh produce, we dive deep into Roy's journey. As a 20-year vegan, Roy shares his expertise in plant-based cuisine, crafting remarkable flavor experiences. D…

In this episode of PIE 2 PIE Pizza Podcast, we had the pleasure of sitting down with Tommy Breckert, the mastermind behind La Sorted's Pizza in Silverlake, Los Angeles. Tommy is such a great dude and we covered so much in this episode. We delved into his journey with pizza, how he got started, how he started popping up and grew his catering busines…

Welcome back to Part 2 of this episode with Ali Haider from 786 Degrees. It was an absolute pleasure to have Ali on the show. He shared an abundance of knowledge from his origins in pizza falling in love with pizza Napoletana, and traveling to Italy to learn the ways of the pizzaiolo and his story was truly captivating. Ali is no stranger to the ca…

In this episode, we had the incredible opportunity to sit down with Ali Haider from 786 Degrees. It was an absolute pleasure to have Ali on the show. He shared an abundance of knowledge from his origins in pizza falling in love with pizza Napoletana, and traveling to Italy to learn the ways of the pizzaiolo and his story was truly captivating. Ali …

Welcome back to another incredible episode of the PIE 2 PIE Pizza Podcast! Prepare yourself to enter the 36 Chambers of Good Pizza as we explore the world of Pie Trap Pizza and meet Shaun & Paul Cody, the brothers behind it. From the moment we met, it felt like I had known Shaun and Paul for years. This conversation was filled with great energy and…

Welcome back to Pie 2 Pie! In this episode, we have an incredible conversation with Kyle Lambert, the mastermind behind Little Dynamite Pizza. Originally from New Jersey, Kyle has honed his pizza-making skills from East Coast to the West Coast. He brought his square pie sourdough pizzas to Los Angeles in 2019 and has faced numerous challenges and t…

Welcome to Season 2 of PIE 2 PIE! In this episode, we sit down with Kyle, the man behind Dough Daddy LA, and have a candid conversation about the highs and lows of his business journey. We delve into important topics such as mental health, which is often overlooked in the restaurant industry, and how Kyle has navigated the stress and challenges tha…

Welcome to the final episode of Season One of the PIE 2 PIE podcast! In this episode, we sat down with Brandon and Carolina of Quarantine Pizza, a duo that makes some of the best pizza in L.A. They share their story of pivoting into a new career, working with sourdough, and just putting themselves out there. Their dynamic is truly special, with Bra…

In this episode, we sat down with Janet and Robin from Pizza Baby LA to discuss the power of friendship in food. We caught up with them at their ghost kitchen in Los Angeles after only being open for three weeks. Their love and passion for food shines like none other and their knowledge of cuisine and cooking was truly impressive. We talked about t…