We sit down with real-life bartender, actor, and social media creator Matthew Rangel (@therealmattyrangel) an hour before he needed to open one of the three bars at which he works in Wisconsin to talk neighborhood bars, dive bars, mental health, social media, and the Midwest.

For those who haven't yet come across Matty's bartending videos, they're quick, funny, and relatable to anyone who has worked behind the stick, or worked at a bar or restaurant. Matty breaks down his approach to creating his videos, which is a quicker process than most would likely expect. He also explains that people don't need to buy the most expensive recording gear or spend hours editing to make impactful videos.

Matty also discusses mental health and the hospitality space, in particular bartending. He hosts Mental Health Mondays each week, hoping for people to reach out, share, connect, and work through their struggles.

Cheers!

Notes

Matty Rangel IG

Matty Rangel TikTok

Matty Rangel YouTube

Matty Rangel Facebook

Matty Rangel Linktree

Heard game website

Bar Hacks IG

David Klemt IG

KRG Hospitality IG

KRG Hospitality website

We managed to squeeze three real-world hospitality situations into episode five of ReFire!

On the last episode, David and Bradley talked about guest perception, and how the "little" things can have a big impact. This time, they discuss brand perception, and how quickly a misstep can turn into a catastrophe.

Then, they talk about "skunking," and how it impacts your team.

Finally, David and Bradley take a look at a restaurant's new SOPs shared by a team member, and why they're a problem.

Cheers!

Notes

Bar Hacks IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Bradley Knebel IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@sommfabulousguy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@KRG.Hospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠KRGHospitality.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Guest experience drives perception, and perception shapes value. As you may have already learned, perception can be impacted on what may feel trivial to operators and their teams but is incredibly important from guest to guest.

On this episode of Bar Hacks: Refire, David Klemt, partner at KRG Hospitality, and co-host Bradley Knebel of Empowered Hospitality break down a real-world story of two restaurants offering the same menu and pricing, but with vastly different outcomes. One felt like a letdown because of disorganization and sloppy service; the other delivered a memorable experience simply by getting the fundamentals right.

The duo dig into why poor guest experience makes food and drinks taste worse; why discounting without strategy sends the wrong message; and why every detail—from lighting and music volume to greetings and check drop—matters. If your guests don’t feel good about the experience, they won’t feel good about the value. And if they don't see value, they won't see a point in returning for more visits.

Tune in to rethink what you're really selling.

Notes

Bar Hacks IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠

Bradley Knebel IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠@sommfabulousguy⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG:⁠⁠⁠⁠@KRG.Hospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website:⁠⁠⁠⁠KRGHospitality.com⁠⁠⁠⁠

Empowered Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@empoweredhospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠

Empowered Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredHospitality.com⁠

Hayden Lambert, co-founder of the unique and award-winning Above Board bar in Melbourne, Australia, pops by for an incredible chat.

When Lambert would explain the reductionist philosophy behind the concept for Above Board to others in the industry, he was told it wouldn't work. Well, nearly ten years of operation, a few appearances on the World's 50 Best Bars list, and other accolades later, Above Board continues to prove that its unique approach works.

On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, Lamber discusses his journey through hospitality, traveling the world, still being tested as a bartender, "simplexity," how brands can succeed in a bar without a back bar, the magic that is making guests feel like their experience was easy, and much, much more.

Lambert drops a ton of useful information and experience in this episode that veteran, new, and hopeful bar owners need to hear and consider. Cheers!

Notes

Above Board website: Aboveboardbar.com

Above Board IG: @AboveBoardBarMelb

Above Board Facebook: @AboveBoardBar

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠@krg.hospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Jackie Williams, event vice president of Bar Convent Brooklyn, pops in to chat about this year's BCB!

If you're listening to this podcast, you're likely well aware of BCB. But, just in case, this annual show, which takes place in New York City, of course, is a chance for hospitality professionals to network with peers and learn about new trends, techniques and products in the domestic and international markets, plus attend demonstrations, keynote addresses, and panel discussions with leading industry experts.

The 2025 Bar Convent Brooklyn takes place from June 9 through June 11 at the Industry City complex, a very cool place to gather, sip, and learn. Register today!

Notes

Bar Convent Brooklyn website: BarConventBrooklyn.com⁠

Bar Convent Brooklyn IG: @barconventbrooklyn

Bar Convent Brooklyn Facebook: @barconventbrooklyn

Bar Convent Brooklyn LinkedIn: @barconventbrooklyn

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠@krg.hospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On this episode, host David Klemt sits down with William Brooks, the Global Brand Ambassador for Tequila Herradura. With a background from Johnson & Wales University and extensive experience in the spirits industry, William shares his fascinating journey from whiskey to agave.

Discover the unique qualities of tequila, as William dispels common myths and misconceptions. He dives into the importance of terroir, the differences between lowland and highland agave, and how these factors influence flavor profiles. The conversation also covers the innovative practices at Tequila Herradura, including sustainability efforts, and the creation of the reposado category.

Plus, William shares his favorite tequila cocktails, perfect food pairings, and tips on how to properly taste tequila (hint: replace the lime). Whether you're a seasoned agave enthusiast or just starting to explore, this episode is packed with valuable insights and delicious ideas.

Cheers!

Notes

William Brooks IG: @cuppateaquila

Tequila Herradura website: Herradura.com

Tequila Herradura IG: @herradurateq

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠@krg.hospitality⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Suomi Design Works is an award-winning hotel design studio dedicated to approaching every hospitality project with an exceptional level of creativity. In fact, Michael Suomi, president of the studio, actively seeks out unique, challenging projects.

On this episode of the Bar Hacks podcast, host David Klemt chats with Michael about a number of these extraordinary projects. Further, Michael shares his approach to onboarding clients, building unique teams for exceptional projects, trends he thinks may stand out in 2025 (and which he'd like to see disappear), and more.

Cheers!

Notes

Suomi Design Works: ⁠footprintsuccess.org/⁠⁠

Suomi Design Works IG: @suomidesignworks

Suomi Design Works FB: @suomidesignworks

Suomi Design Works LI: www.linkedin.com/company/suomi-design-works

Bar Hacks IG: @barhacks⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: @krg.hospitality⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: @david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're back! Hosts David Klemt and Bradley Knebel tackle two real-life restaurant and bar situations in the first ReFire of 2025.

The two tackle the topic of an operator who's hesitant to believe it when multiple employees claim a culinary team member is rude, hostile, and abusive...but believes that team member when they make the same accusation against a quiet but hard-working back-of-house peer. Don't worry - it gets worse!

Then, David and Bradley take a look at a stunning, on-the-spot termination of a bartender who had been in role since day one. The restaurant was busy, the bar was slammed, and the word of a regular got the bartender of five years fired instantly. Something doesn't add up!

Look, firing someone is never pleasant. However, it's going to happen. Operators and leadership team members need to have standards in place and communicated clearly, a process for terminations, and the understanding that how they fire people speaks to their credibility and reputation.

Notes

Bar Hacks IG:⁠⁠⁠@barhacks⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG:⁠⁠⁠@david.ex.machina⁠⁠⁠

Bradley Knebel IG:⁠⁠⁠@sommfabulousguy⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG:⁠⁠⁠@KRG.Hospitality⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website:⁠⁠⁠KRGHospitality.com⁠⁠⁠

Empowered Hospitality IG:⁠⁠⁠@empoweredhospitality⁠⁠⁠

Empowered Hospitality website:⁠⁠⁠EmpoweredHospitality.com⁠

In 2008, Barbara Harmon volunteered at an outreach program for individuals with mental illness. Half of the patients attending the program wanted to work but were told by their clinical staff that the stress of working would cause more symptoms and more hospitalization.

Barbara began researching organizations that helped individuals with mental illness find employment. She read an article about Fountain House in New York City. Fountain House is the first Clubhouse and is the blueprint for 320 Clubhouses around the world.

Barbara opened a Clubhouse in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2010. Since starting Foot Print to Success Clubhouse, the organization has offered people with mental illness hope and opportunities to achieve their full potential.

On this episode of Bar Hacks, Barbara shares the Foot Print to Success Clubhouse mission, talks about the benefits to program participants and hospitality operators, addresses the stigma of mental illness, and more. Cheers!

Notes

Foot Print to Success: footprintsuccess.org/⁠

FPTS IG: instagram.com/fptsclubhouse

FPTS FB: facebook.com/FootPrintSuccess/

FPTS X: x.com/FPTS_Clubhouse

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠instagram.com/david.ex.machina/

Giuseppe Gallo has accomplished a lot in his two decades-plus in the hospitality and beverage spaces: he's a respected vermouth and amaro expert, the winner of the 2014 Spirited Award for Best International Brand Ambassador, an educator and drinks historian, and a bartender's bartender.
Among other topics, this episode explores the creation of

Notes

SAVOIA website: https://casa-savoia.com/savoia-orancio/

SAVOIA IG: https://www.instagram.com/casa.savoia/⁠

ITALICUS website: ⁠https://rosolioitalicus.com/

ITALICUS IG: https://www.instagram.com/ItalicusRDB

Giuseppe Gallo LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppe-gallo-b3a81b14/

Giuseppe Gallo IG: https://www.instagram.com/peppegallo1/

ItalSpirits website: https://italspirits.com/

Bar Hacks IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/barhacks/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/krg.hospitality/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

KRG Hospitality website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://krghospitality.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

David Klemt IG: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/david.ex.machina/