This week, Troy welcomes Hildee Isaacs, a seasoned expert in promotional products, swag, and branded merchandise. Hildee shares her inspiring journey from her early days in New York’s film industry and her entrepreneurial ventures in Atlanta to becoming a leading consultant in the promotional products space.

Hildee shares her thoughts on the true meaning of hospitality; of how it goes beyond service to include thoughtful branding and product choices that leave lasting impressions. Hildee explains that when selecting branded items, it’s important to remember utility, quality and personalization. These factors enhance your brand’s visibility to create real connections.

Another great idea Hildee discusses is how you can level up on your company’s gifting strategy by offering curated, and memorable gifts through a simple giveaway or using luxurious custom packaging. Before she goes, Hildee points out that working with a partner will help avoid common pitfalls so your promotional efforts stand out.

Topics discussed in the episode:

• The true meaning of hospitality and its correlation with brand experience

• Hildee’s background and journey into promotional products and swag

• The importance of utility, quality, and personalization in branded items

• Strategies for elevating brand gifts with curated, high-end packaging

• Working with experienced partners for maximum impact

Connect with Hildee Isaacs:

http://www.hildee.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hildee/

https://www.instagram.com/geigergetsit/

https://www.facebook.com/geiger/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/geiger

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_dTykc-_MO6NeqGqJdfH6A

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

This week, Troy welcomes industry leader Eric Knott to discuss his journey from childhood in upstate New York to becoming a prominent restaurant executive. Eric shares insights on the true essence of hospitality, making people feel welcome, and expands on the implementation of it throughout your business, from the staff to operations. Eric talks about how important culture, leadership, and empowering your staff is to create a resilient and connected team, especially as your company or restaurant grows and scales.

Eric also shares about his recent role at Tiki Taco, a vibrant fast-casual concept he is helping expand through strategic location placements, community engagement, and technological innovation. Important topics such as hiring principles, maintaining brand integrity, and envisioning future growth, including potential franchising and joint ventures are also discussed in more detail. This is a power packed episode you don’t want to miss!

Topics discussed in the episode

• The true meaning of hospitality and its importance in business
• Eric Knott’s background and journey into the restaurant industry
• Building and maintaining company culture as the brand scales
• Strategies for hiring, empowering staff, and reducing turnover
• Tiki Taco’s growth plans, community focus, and future expansion

Connect with Eric Knott:

https://www.tikitaco.com/

https://www.instagram.com/tikitaco/

https://www.facebook.com/tikitaco/

https://twitter.com/tikitaco_

https://open.spotify.com/user/l8dhha2fmgtwi7xe6ugkcbd1s?si=qxwFUBHIT8um13cuiuZoMw

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-knott-96504973/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/tikitaco/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

This is a lively episode of The Pineapple Perspective, with Troy welcoming Jimmy Frischling and Michael “Schatzy” Schatzberg from Branded Hospitality. While the episode opens with humor and banter, it transitions into meaningful reflections on hospitality, evolving dining habits, and the state of restaurant technology.

Jimmy and Schatzy share their roots in the industry, how Branded Hospitality blends investment, operations, and media, and why personalization and community are at the heart of hospitality today. They emphasize how operators can use technology not as a gimmick but as a tool to elevate the guest experience. The trio point out how Pepper Lunch's hospitality model provides a great example of how blending tech and human interaction can improve business outcomes.

• Definitions of hospitality from different industry perspectives

• The origin and mission of Branded Hospitality

• Evolving consumer dining trends, especially among Gen Z and Gen Alpha

• Effective integration of restaurant technology (e.g., kiosks, loyalty tools, feedback platforms)

• Industry collaboration, influencer involvement, and events like RLC

Connect with Michael ‘Schatzy’ Schatzberg and Jimmy Frischling:

www.thehospitalityhangout.com

www.HospitalityHeadline.com

www.BrandedStrategic.com

https://www.linkedin.com/company/branded-ventures/

https://www.instagram.com/brandedstrategichospitality/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesfrischling/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-%E2%80%9Cschatzy%E2%80%9D-schatzberg-9a16ba5/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy sits down with consultant, coach, and mentor Richard Liverman. Broadcasting from the UK, Richard shares his perspectives on hospitality, branding, and the power of storytelling in business. Drawing from a diverse background from horticulture to luxury brands he illustrates how service and connection can define success across industries.

The conversation centers around Richard’s core mantra, “Don’t be boring,” which he uses as a lens to challenge clients’ thinking, brand execution, and communication. He introduces listeners to the concept of “scaffolding” for personal and professional growth, highlighting systems and support that help leaders and entrepreneurs perform at their best.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Defining hospitality through meaningful connection and consistency

• The role of storytelling in branding and customer engagement

• “Don’t be boring” as a mindset for challenging assumptions and innovating

• Personal and business “scaffolding” for sustainable growth

• Staying fresh and relevant through clarity of brand DNA

Connect with Richard Liverman:

https://richersolutions.com/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-liverman/ https://www.instagram.com/richer_solutions_global/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this milestone 50th episode of The Pineapple Perspective, Troy Hooper sits down with longtime friend and returning guest Shawn Walchef, founder of Cali BBQ Media, for the podcast's first-ever on-location recording at Pepper Lunch in Las Vegas. They reflect on the journey of launching and sustaining a media-driven business strategy in the hospitality industry, discussing how consistent storytelling builds brand authority, trust, and growth over time.

Troy credits Shawn as the original inspiration behind starting the show, and they dive into topics such as overcoming fear of publishing content, building a personal brand through video and audio, and the power of showing up consistently. Throughout the episode, they offer practical encouragement for entrepreneurs to share their stories publicly, embrace imperfect content, and use digital media as a long-term investment in visibility and influence.

• The value of consistency and speed in content creation

• Storytelling as a strategy to build trust and brand awareness

• How media transformed Troy Hooper’s leadership and business reach

• Overcoming fear and self-doubt in publishing content

• Creating a content habit to drive long-term visibility and growth

Connect with Shawn Walchef:

www.betheshow.media

https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnpwalchef

https://www.instagram.com/shawnpwalchef/

https://www.instagram.com/calibbq/

https://www.instagram.com/calibbqmedia/

https://www.tiktok.com/@calibbq

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyKV0F1uggLgiPbBsnPSeUA

https://twitter.com/CaliBBQMedia

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Tammy Billings, a seasoned marketing and technology advisor in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Tammy shares her journey from starting in hospitality at In-N-Out Burger to becoming a sought-after voice in MarTech and decision intelligence. She explains the evolution from traditional marketing roles into tech consulting, emphasizing how hospitality principles like listening and anticipating needs still apply in a data-driven world.

They also discuss SaaS fatigue, the complexity of vendor ecosystems, the role of POS systems in data access, and how SignalFlare.ai is using AI and external data to deliver more accurate pricing and marketing insights. Tammy’s blend of service-oriented mindset and technical knowledge offers valuable perspectives for operators navigating rapid tech shifts.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• Tammy’s transition from marketing roles to technology advisory

• Challenges of SaaS pricing models and vendor consolidation

• SignalFlare’s data modeling and pricing tools for restaurants

• Importance of data access and ownership in POS systems

• Using composed external data for targeted marketing and site selection
  
  

Connect with Tammy Billings:

http://signalflare.ai

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tammykbillings/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/signalflareai/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In Episode 048 of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Erin Levzow, a seasoned marketing and technology leader with more than two decades of experience in hospitality, restaurants, and consulting. Erin shares her insights on what hospitality truly means—emphasizing emotional connection over transactional service—and why every business, regardless of industry, should consider itself part of the hospitality sector.

The conversation explores current trends in marketing tech, including the tendency for brands to misdiagnose their marketing issues, the over-accumulation of disconnected tech tools, and the importance of consolidating tech stacks for efficiency and ROI.

Erin also breaks down her approach to fractional consulting, helping businesses uncover the real problems behind their perceived challenges and align their technology and brand strategy to drive revenue. The episode closes with her personal reflections on redefining career priorities and integrating work-life balance through her consulting practice.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• The meaning and business value of authentic hospitality

• Common misconceptions in diagnosing marketing problems

• Evaluating and consolidating the tech stack

• Understanding data usage versus data accumulation

• Erin's consulting philosophy and work with fractional clients

Connect with Erin Levzow:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/erinlevzow/

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.

In this episode of The Pineapple Perspective, host Troy Hooper sits down with Rev Ciancio, a hospitality marketing expert and dynamic personality in the restaurant industry. Known for his extensive social media presence, food crawl leadership, and straight-talking marketing advice, Rev shares insights into hospitality, influencer marketing, and creating meaningful guest experiences. He reflects on the early roots of his hospitality mindset, the role of convenience and experience in consumer decisions, and how independent restaurants can leverage influencer marketing for long-term results.

The conversation also covers tactical marketing strategies, the value of nano and micro-influencers, and the importance of aligning content with business goals. Throughout, Rev keeps it real with stories, humor, and actionable advice restaurant operators can use right now.

Topics Discussed in the Episode:

• The role of convenience and experience in defining hospitality

• How Rev Ciancio uses influencer marketing as an “always on” strategy

• Why nano and micro-influencers are critical for local restaurant growth

• The importance of aligning influencer content with business initiatives

• Examples of real-life hospitality from chains and independents alike

Connect with Rev Ciancio:

https://www.instagram.com/revciancio/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/revciancio/

www.restaurantsgrow.tv

https://www.tiktok.com/@revciancio

This show is sponsored by Pepper Lunch. Find a location near you!

Production and Administration work completed by Smart Podcast Solutions and Elevate Virtual Business Solutions.