Mastering Pizza & Culinary Excellence with Chef Dan Czuba

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Chef Dan Czuba from the North American Pizza and Culinary Academy in Lisle, Illinois. From fine dining to fast-casual, Chef Dan has done it all, and he shares his journey from nearly dropping out of high school to becoming a master instructor in the pizza world.

We dive into the art and science of pizza making, the evolution of the restaurant industry, and the hard lessons learned from years in the kitchen. Dan also shares insights on equipment selection, dough fermentation, and why the “angry chef” culture is a thing of the past. Plus, we talk about his upcoming Pizza Expo appearance and the cutting-edge innovations shaping the future of pizza.

Whether you're a seasoned pizzeria operator or just passionate about pizza, this episode is packed with valuable takeaways. Don't miss it!

🎧 Listen now and connect with Chef Dan: PizzaCulinaryAcademy.com

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Mikey and Amanda from Fire & Smoke BBQ—a powerhouse couple turning their passion for barbecue into a growing brand. We talk about their journey from running pop-ups in Chicago to building a BBQ business in St. Augustine, Florida, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way.

Mikey shares his evolution from pizza kitchens to pitmaster, how their signature seasonings and sauces took off, and why their shiitake seasoning is both their best seller and biggest challenge. Amanda gives us a behind-the-scenes look at running the business, managing operations, and why working with your spouse is both rewarding and, let’s be honest, a little chaotic.

We also get into:

✅ The strategy behind selling out at pop-ups

✅ How they built a nationwide seasoning and sauce brand ✅ The importance of quality control and smart marketing ✅ Why their brisket pairs perfectly with cornbread instead of bread

✅ A killer BBQ mac & cheese pizza recipe you need to try

If you’re in the food business or just love a good hustle story, this episode is packed with insights on branding, scaling, and making damn good barbecue.

🎧 Tune in now and support Fire & Smoke BBQ at fireandsmokebbq.com.

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Lynn from Lynn’s Chicago Pizza to hear her incredible journey from a simple at-home pizza night to running a thriving pizzeria on Chicago’s South Side.

Lynn shares how she and her partner, Chef Brandon, accidentally stumbled into the pizza business after making a deep-dish pizza from scratch at home. What started as a fun experiment quickly turned into something bigger as friends and family raved about their pizzas. Before they knew it, they were selling personal-sized deep-dish pies at a local bar, taking bulk orders, and making a name for themselves.

We talk about how they went from running pop-ups to securing a lease for their first brick-and-mortar location—competing against another concept in a pop-up challenge and winning over their community with great food and a full-on experience (DJ included!). Lynn also opens up about the challenges of funding their startup, the reality of small business finances, and how they had to get creative to make it all work.

One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation is the power of marketing and community engagement. Lynn and Chef Brandon have used Instagram, social media influencers, and local events to build a loyal following. They’ve turned their restaurant into more than just a pizza shop—it’s a community hub with live music, open mic nights, wine dinners, and more.

If you’ve ever thought about starting your own pizzeria, this episode is packed with real-life lessons on taking risks, building a brand, and betting on yourself. Lynn’s story is proof that sometimes the best businesses happen unexpectedly—you just have to be ready to run with it.

📍 Want to check out Lynn’s Chicago Pizza? Follow them on Instagram or Google them to find their location.

🎧 Listen in, get inspired, and if you're in Chicago, go try that Dorchester deep-dish—trust me, it sounds like a must!

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Adam Nathan, co-founder and CEO of Blaze, the #1 AI marketing tool designed for small businesses and content creators.

We dive into how AI is changing the game for entrepreneurs who don’t have the time, budget, or expertise to create high-quality marketing content.

Key Takeaways:

🍕 AI can save you hours – Blaze automates content creation for social media, blogs, newsletters, ads, and more, all in your brand’s unique voice.

🍕 Small businesses benefit the most – While big corporations have marketing teams, solo entrepreneurs and pizzeria owners can now compete with professional-level marketing at a fraction of the cost.

🍕 No need to be an AI expert – Blaze simplifies content generation with easy-to-use tools—no complicated prompts required.

🍕 The future of marketing is now – AI is no longer just a trend; it’s a necessity for business owners who want to grow efficiently.

🍕 Adam’s entrepreneurial journey – From working at Apple and the White House to building Blaze, Adam shares what led him to create a tool that empowers small business owners.

If you’re struggling to keep up with marketing, Blaze might be the solution you’ve been looking for. Try it out with a free trial atBlaze.ai and see how it can streamline your content creation.

Get Blaze CEO Adam Nathan's cheat codes to building and growing a $150M company in your inbox every week with Startup Tycoon. Powered by Adam's experience shipping product to millions, raising $46M, and hyper-scaling to $7M+ in revenue in 15 months with only 25 people.

Subscribe here https://startuptycoon.com/

Let’s make better content, save time, and grow our businesses!

Ready to open your first pizza business? Get my FREE New Store Checklist 

go.tyrellreed.com/free

Todd's Curry Sauce - Enjoy 10% Off All Orders using code: PIZZAKING

www.toddscurrysauce.com

Bag Genie Pizza Bags - Buy and 4 bags and get a 5th bag for free using Code: PIZZAKING

www.baggenie.net

In this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with my guy, Farris Roach—newest franchise owner of VODA Cleaning & Restoration. We dive into his transition from a 20-year banking career to owning his own business, the challenges of stepping into an unfamiliar industry, and the power of franchising as a path to entrepreneurship.

Farris shares why he chose VODA, how franchising provided him with a roadmap to success, and the importance of community within a franchise system. We also talk about his mission to spread awareness of business ownership opportunities, particularly within underrepresented communities. Plus, he’s offering a special deal for Tampa Bay listeners—tune in to find out how to get 40% off your first service!

Key Takeaways:

✅ The benefits of franchising and how it provides a proven system for success

✅ Overcoming fear when making the leap from corporate life to business ownership

✅ How having a strong franchise community can set you up for success

✅ Why it's important to expand awareness of franchising in underrepresented communities

✅ The mindset shift needed to embrace entrepreneurship and financial freedom

🔗 Connect with Farris and VODA: 

Instagram

Facebook

🎧 Listen now!

On this episode of The Pizza King Podcast, I sit down with Elliott Ramsdell, the mastermind behind the rapid rise of Todd’s Curry Sauce. We dive into his journey from running a digital agency to launching a game-changing sauce brand and how he’s disrupting the food industry one bottle at a time.

Elliott shares how he went from branding and marketing to rolling up his sleeves and scaling a sauce business with a unique vision: getting Todd’s Curry Sauce into as many mouths as possible. We talk about the power of relationships in business, how great products spread through word-of-mouth, and why loyalty—both in customers and in partnerships—drives long-term success.

🔥 Key Takeaways:

Plus, we swap some killer pizza topping ideas using Todd’s Curry Sauce (trust me, you’ll want to try this). If you're a restaurant owner, marketer, or just love hearing about innovative food brands, this episode is packed with gems!

👉 Tune in and hear why this sauce is making waves—and how you can get your hands on some!

Ready to open your first pizza business?

Get my FREE New Store Checklist 

go.tyrellreed.com/free

Todd's Curry Sauce - Enjoy 10% Off All Orders using code: PIZZAKING

www.toddscurrysauce.com

Bag Genie Pizza Bags - Buy and 4 bags and get a 5th bag for free using Code: PIZZAKING

www.baggenie.net

Hey Pizza Fam! This week, I’m diving into some of the most common questions I’ve been getting from all of you about opening a pizzeria. We’re talking about startup costs, picking the right location, and negotiating lease terms – all the stuff that sets you up for success before you ever make your first pizza.

I also share one of the funniest (and most frustrating) stories I’ve had in a while involving a customer who had some... creative ideas about what “mild sauce” means. It’s a good reminder of how we adapt and improve our processes to keep things running smoothly.

Here’s What I Cover in This Episode:

A Funny (and Frustrating) Story: You won’t want to miss this one! I talk about a customer who thought mild wing sauce was pizza sauce (yes, really). I’ll let you decide who was in the wrong here, but it inspired me to make some simple adjustments to avoid future confusion.

Resources I Mentioned:

Let’s Connect: I love hearing from you! Keep sending your questions on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. If you’re not subscribed to my YouTube channel yet, check it out – we’re building a great community over there. Got a question or want to share your thoughts on today’s episode? Email me at [email protected].

What’s Coming Up: Next month is going to be packed with value! I’ve got four amazing guests lined up to share their expertise and stories. Trust me, you won’t want to miss it.

Thanks for tuning in, Pizza Fam. See you next week!

Ready to open your first pizza business? Get my FREE New Store Checklist 

go.tyrellreed.com/free

Todd's Curry Sauce - Enjoy 10% Off All Orders using code: PIZZAKING

www.toddscurrysauce.com

Bag Genie Pizza Bags - Buy and 4 bags and get a 5th bag for free using Code: PIZZAKING

www.baggenie.net

This week, I took the podcast on the road and recorded live from West Shore Pizza Kingsway. It’s not something I usually do, but with so much happening right now, I wanted to share my thoughts, advice, and support directly from the heart of our business. Here’s what I talked about:

Resources I Mentioned:

Shoutouts:

Let’s Connect: If you have questions or want to learn more about the tools and resources I’ve mentioned, visit TyrellReed.com. I’d love to hear from you.

Ready to open your first pizza business? Get my FREE New Store Checklist 

go.tyrellreed.com/free

Todd's Curry Sauce - Enjoy 10% Off All Orders using code: PIZZAKING

www.toddscurrysauce.com

Bag Genie Pizza Bags - Buy and 4 bags and get a 5th bag for free using Code: PIZZAKING

www.baggenie.net

Episode 33

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Michael Jacobson, the CEO of French Florist. At first, I wasn’t sure how a florist’s business would resonate with us pizza folks, but after diving into Michael’s story, I realized just how much we all have in common as business owners. From leadership lessons to franchise strategies and innovative technology, there’s a lot we can learn from the way French Florist operates. Whether you’re running a pizzeria or another type of business, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss.

What You'll Hear About:

Why This Episode Matters:

If you’ve ever wondered how to grow your business while maintaining quality and culture, Michael offers some great perspectives. We also talked about the parallels between our industries—pizza and flowers—and how focusing on people and processes is key to success, no matter what you sell.

Connect with Michael Jacobson:

Favorite Quotes:

Ready to open your first pizza business? Get my FREE New Store Checklist 

go.tyrellreed.com/free

Todd's Curry Sauce - Enjoy 10% Off All Orders using code: PIZZAKING

www.toddscurrysauce.com

Bag Genie Pizza Bags - Buy and 4 bags and get a 5th bag for free using Code: PIZZAKING

www.baggenie.net

As we close out an incredible year, I’m taking this solo episode to reflect on the highs, the lessons, and the growth of 2024. From launching 25 impactful episodes to growing our community across platforms like YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts, this year has been nothing short of transformative.

Here’s what we covered in this special recap:

What’s Next for 2025:

Join the Conversation:

Are you a passionate pizzeria operator, industry expert, or just someone with a great pizza story to share? I’d love to have you on the show! Visit PizzaKingPodcast.com to apply to be a guest or connect with me directly.

Stay Connected:

Don’t forget to grab your free New Pizzeria Opening Checklist at TyrellReed.com. Let’s make 2025 our best year yet!

Peace, and see you next year!