Charlie welcomes Tom Krouse, CEO of Donatos Pizza, onto the podcast (2:47). Krouse shares stories from his early career, including his tenure at Wendy's working directly under Dave Thomas. He also discusses some early missteps at Donatos and what it took to build the brand up to where it is today. Later in the show, Brian and Charlie discuss Hot Oil Bar Pizza on Style Guide with Brian Hernandez (46:54).

Andrew Simmons of Mamma Ramona's Pizzeria joins the podcast to talk about how he came to own and operate one of the more tech-forward independent pizza brands in the country (3:07). Simmons also discusses the innovative subscription program he runs at Mamma Ramona's. Later in the show, Brian Hernandez joins Charlie to discuss a groundbreaking way the duo will evaluate different pizza styles on Style Guide with Brian Hernandez (51:47).

Jim Mirabelli of NEPA Pizza Review joins the show to discuss how he got his start as an accidental pizza influencer (2:53). Jim also dives into some of the unique pizza styles of Northeastern Pennsylvania and what makes him want to review a given pizzeria. Later in the show, Brian Hernandez discusses the upcoming The California Pizza Challenge (Sponsored by Real California Milk), and how to sign up (39:20).

More details for The California Pizza Challenge can be found here: https://uspizzateam.com/cpc25/

Arthur Bovino of Pizza Pod Party and @NYCBestPizza joins the show to discuss his early career at the New York Times and other media outlets, and how he began dedicating a large portion of his career to covering pizza (2:37). Later in the podcast, Brian Hernandez and Charlie discuss Ohio Valley pizza (34:41).

Pizza Power Forum: Pizzapowerforum.com

Pizza Pod Party: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pizza-pod-party/id1688028195

Shahpour Nejad, CEO and founder of Pizza Guys, joins the podcast to discuss what it was like growing up in Iran and how he got started in the pizza business (3:55). Nejad goes on to share why he began franchising and how he's grown his pizza empire to 90 locations. Later in the show, Brian Hernandez makes his triumphant return to discuss the US Pizza Team's trip to Parma, Italy, and how the team did in the annual World Pizza Championship (40:27).

Pizza Power Forum: www.pizzapowerforum.com.

Louise Joseph of Dough Girls pizza truck of Greenwich, Connecticut, joins us to chat about Women's Pizza Month, the origins of her business and what it was like growing up in West Haven, Connecticut (3:54). Later in the pod, special guest Jeremy Jamoulis, COO of Cape Cod Cafe, joins Charlie to chat about South Shore Bar-Style pizza (37:23). It's a style his grandfather invented in the 1930's and is now enjoying a moment.

Register for the Pizza Power Forum: https://pizzapowerforum.com/

For more on Louise Joseph: https://www.pmq.com/louise-joseph-dough-girls/

For more on South Shore Bar-Style pizza: https://www.pmq.com/bar-hopping-south-shore-bar-style-pizza/

Charlie sits down with Brandon and Zane Hunt, founders of Via 313, a Detroit-style pizza brand out of Austin, Texas (2:32). They talk about their journey of scaling the brand from one single food truck to nearly 20 locations. Later in the show, Charlie and Brian discuss updates involving the United States Pizza team (42:41).

For info on the Pizza Power Forum, where Brandon and Zane Hunt will be speaking, check out the event's website: https://pizzapowerforum.com/

On this week's episode, we are joined by Christy Alia (@realcleverfood), founder of Women's Pizza Month (3:05). Christy discusses what made her want to launch Women's Pizza Month and how it's evolved since 2021. She also talks a bit about starting her Instagram account and how she's built up over 41,000 in less than four years. Later in the show, Charlie chats with Frank Zabski, AKA the Polish Pizzaiolo (29:48). Frank talks about what he'll be doing at the International Pizza Expo, and later shares the story behind his brand new New Haven-Style Apizza anthem. The song in question plays at the end of the show (40:17).

More notes: to get the pizza kit Christy alludes to, or to apply for the scholarship, visit: https://corto-olive.com/products/pizza-kit.

On our third episode, we chat with Peyton Smith, owner and operator of Mission Pizza Napoletana in Winston-Salem, North Carolina (2:58). Smith tells us about what he's been up to with his brand, which has been recognized on the 50 Top Pizza list several years running. He also shares some parallels between playing soccer and making pizza. Later in the show, on Style Guide With Brian Hernandez, Charlie speaks with Brian about Colorado Mountain Pizza (41:04).

This episode we chat with Joey Karvelas, founder and co-owner of Karvelas Pizza Co., based in Georgia. Joey shares his unique story and some of the things he's learned during his 10-plus-year stint in the pizza business (2:21). Later, we catch up with Brian Hernandez and conduct a US Pizza Team check-in. Brian gives a high-level overview of the USPT and some upcoming places where they will appear (28:24).

Relevant links:

Atlanta Eats YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ATLEATS

Karvelas Pizza Co.: https://www.karvelaspizzaco.com/