The Hot Slice
The Hot Slice brings you inspiring stories, strategies and lessons learned from successful pizzeria professionals and top experts. This podcast is hosted by the team at Pizza Today, the premier network for pizzeria professionals. We’re bringing our award-winning interviewing and 37 years as a trusted pizza restaurant partner to the airwaves with real, in-depth conversations with pizzeria owners, champion pizza makers, industry pros and others to help make your business better.
Episodes
237 episodes
237. The Drop on Pizza Expo Competition Updates with Jeremy Galvin
The International Pizza Challenge at Pizza Expo 2025 is set to be the biggest and best pizza competition. Executive Editor Denise Greer went one-on-one with Jeremy Galvin, who along with Michael LaMarca oversee the competitions. Je...
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Episode 237
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29:09
236. A Sit Down with Pizzeria Operators at Pizza Con
During PizzaCon 2024 in Philadelphia, Executive Editor Denise Greer took the opportunity to sit down with various pizzeria operators in person to talk pizza shop. Conversations in this episode include: Corey DiGiovanni,
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Episode 236
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29:31
235. Our Young Entrepreneur of the Year at PizzaCon
We caught up with this year’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year Weather Preston with her mom and business partner, Donna Grainger, at PizzaCon in Philadelphia. They, along with Jim Grainger, own the quirky and fun family-run pizzeria,
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Episode 235
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15:21
234. Thanksgiving Day REPLAY - Flour + Water = a Vibrant, Growing Pizza Concept
This week, we talk with co-executive chefs and partners Thomas McNaughton and Ryan Pollnow at San Francisco-based Flour + Water to get the skinny on the direction their taking their highly successful pizza concept. Check out more details provid...
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Episode 234
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33:25
233. Pizza Champion Nicole Bean from PizzaCon
This week, we share our conversation with Nicole Bean, co-owner of Houston-based Pizaro’s Pizza Napoletana. During PizzaCon 2024 in Philly, Executive Editor Denise Greer had a lively conversation w...
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Episode 233
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17:42
232. Rising from the Ashes
Two years ago, Chris and Angela Woodbeck received the call that many operators have feared. Their beloved pizzeria, Mangia Macrina’s in New Hartford, New York was on fire. Worse, when they arrived, they found out it was arson. It ...
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Episode 232
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36:15
231. Getting my Pizza into Walmart with Katie Lee
Katie Lee owns Katie’s Pizza & Pasta with three locations in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Recently, the pizza company scored a huge client for its frozen pizza line to be sold in Walmart grocery stores starting in mid-to-late 2025.
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Episode 231
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32:43
230. Halloween Edition
Today is one of the busiest days for pizzerias so the crew at Pizza Today bring you a lighthearted episode where Josh, Jeremy and Denise talk Halloween in pizzerias, favorite Halloween pizzas, interesting Halloween finds.Here is the infa...
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Episode 230
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28:28
229. The Za Report with Miriam Weiskind
Miriam Weiskind has already amassed a huge following in the pizza industry with The Za Report. Now, she is set to open her first brick-and-mortar pizzeria, Yums of PDX in Portland, Oregon. If you are looking for an inspiring episod...
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Episode 229
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49:00
228. Keeping Business Rolling in Pizza Truck with Louise Joseph
Denise goes one-on-one with Louise Joseph on life in her pizza truck business, Dough Girls in Greenwich, Connecticut. Dough Girls specializes in wood-fired pizza on the go. Dough Girls rolls to local events, fairs, festivals,...
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Episode 228
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31:48
227. Building Momentum in the Chicago Market with Robert Garvey
This week, Denise and Josh chat with Robert Garvey, co-founder of Robert’s Pizza & Dough Co. in Chicago, Illinois. Robert had just returned from Italy, where his pizzerias was honored as a Top 50 of “The Best 100 Pizzerias in the World” by ...
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35:29
226. The One Pizza That Caused Business to Explode
This week, Josh and Denise sit down with Jay Hansji, owner of Pizza Buzz in Watauga, Texas. He shares how one pizza catapulted his business into a huge 6,000-squre-foot building. He even tried to discontinue the pizza and the people revolted.
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Episode 226
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31:05
225. Big Months Ahead for Pizzerias
The Pizza Today crew is back together again. Jeremy, Denise and Josh hop on the podcast together for a special episode on the big 4th quarter for pizzerias and us. We’re here to help you get ready. We kick things off highlighting Pi...
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Episode 225
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32:28
224. Thinking Big with a Small Town Pizzeria
This week, Denise goes one-on-one with Rick Herman, CEO of Log Home Wood Fired Pizza in McGregor, Minnesota, with a population of 350 people. So how has this business thrived for 10 years? Rick dives into the pivotal anniversary, focus of the b...
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Episode 224
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35:58
223. Mashing Up Two Beloved Pizza Styles
This week on The Hot Slice Podcast, Josh and Denise chat with Ryan Ososky, owner of DTown Pizzeria in Hollywood, California. He caught our attention on Instagram for marrying two great pizza styles into one: Detroit and Tavern. We get into how ...
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Episode 223
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30:27
222. Happy National Cheese Pizza Day
It’s National Cheese Pizza Day, September 5. We celebrate the quintessential holy trinity of pizza, the cheese pizza. It is the classic combination of cheese, red pizza sauce and crust.
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Episode 222
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32:58
221. Tech Savvy 50-Year-Old Pizzeria
This week we’re exploring tech in pizzerias with George Panagopoulos, owner of Dedham House of Pizza, in Dedham, Massachusetts. This tech-savvy operator has taken over an over 50-year-old pizzeria. He is driving the business into future by deve...
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Episode 221
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33:03
220. Competing & Thriving in the Columbus Market
This week on The Hot Slice Podcast, Denise and Josh chat with Jessica Hellaine and Nick MacDonald, owners of Black Dog Pizzeria in Dublin, Ohio. First, we learn what Columbus-style pizza is. Black Dog also serves New York-style piz...
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Episode 220
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37:08
219. From Chef to Owner with Jeff Cincotta
This week, Jeremy and Denise chat with Jeff Cincotta, Chef Owner of Molinari's Italian Eatery & Pizzeria and Ravello Italian Kitchen in Watertown, Massachusetts. Prior to opening Molinari nine years ago, Jeff spent his career as an executiv...
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Episode 219
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38:57
218. Creating a Magical Vibe
This week, we chat with Candy Yiu, who owns The Turning Peel in Portland, Oregon. She meticulously selected all the design elements that went into the pizzeria that resides in a house turned commercial space. The result is an enchanting and mag...
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Episode 218
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36:38
217. Rising Stars Jillana Miller & Ahmad Butler
This week, Executive Editor Denise Greer interviews Jillana Miller and Ahmad Butler, Owners & Chefs at Miller Butler in San Pedro, CA, They have quickly gained a reputation for amazing pizza in the LA pizza scene. What started o...
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Episode 217
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38:38
216. Evolving Your Pizza Dough & Earning Employee Buy-In with Thomas Ardito
This week, Editor-in-Chief Jeremy White goes one-on-one with Thomas Ardito, co-owner of Brooklyn DOP in Brooklyn, New York. A fitness enthusiast and gym owner, Ardito grew up tinkering with pizza at home and first got involved in ...
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Episode 216
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32:20
215. Rising Star Marisol Doyle, Leña – Pizza + Bagels, Cleveland, Mississippi
Over the next few episodes of The Hot Slice Podcast, we’re excited to let you get to know pizza makers and owners who we named Rising Stars in the Pizza Industry. We’re so impressed by Marisol Doyle, Co-owner/Pizzaiola, Leña – Pizza + Bagels in...
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Episode 215
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39:36