This episode felt like a reunion.

Caroline Galzin — former co-host of Nashville Restaurant Radio — is back behind the mic along with her husband Tony Galzin, chef and owner of Nicky’s Coal Fired. Since we hadn’t seen each other in a while, the conversation starts with some catching up, a little fantasy football talk (Tony is part of the NRR league), and reflecting on Caroline’s time helping build the podcast in its early days.

From there, the conversation shifts into something that recently put Nicky’s in the spotlight.

Caroline and Tony hosted an event at their event space, The Maxwell Room, featuring California Governor Gavin Newsom. While they were excited to host the gathering and open their doors to a political figure, the reaction from the public was far more intense than they expected. We talk candidly about what it’s like when a restaurant suddenly finds itself in the middle of a political conversation — and how operators navigate those moments.

We also zoom out into a bigger conversation about local politics, public perception, and the role restaurants play as community gathering spaces.

To end on a more fun note, we announce an upcoming event for the hospitality community happening May 12th at Nicky’s Coal Fired — a chance for restaurant folks to get together, connect, and enjoy a night with their peers.

This one is part catch-up, part real talk about running restaurants in a politically charged world, and part invitation to come hang out with the Nashville hospitality community.

In This Episode

• Caroline’s return to the NRR mic and what she’s been up to

• Tony’s life in the NRR fantasy football league

• Hosting Governor Gavin Newsom at The Maxwell Room

• The unexpected public reaction and what it felt like on the inside

• Restaurants as community spaces in political moments

• Local politics and hospitality culture

• Announcement: Hospitality community event at Nicky’s Coal Fired – May 12