Inside the Life of a Restaurant Owner w/ Katina Talley, Ben Maides, & Paul Urban

We hear consistently that life as a restaurant owner is so hard... but as diners, we can't fully understand what that reality is really like. On this panel, Ben Maides (Au Courant), Paul Urban (Block 16), and Katina Talley (Sweet Magnolias Bake Shop; Know Good) pull back the curtain, tell stories, and lay bare why the restaurant industry is so hard... and why they love it so much that they keep coming back! This episode is raw, honest, and deeply human—giving you a new perspective on the people behind your favorite restaurants. 🌐 Learn more: https://www.sweetmagnoliasbakeshop.com/ https://www.aucourantrestaurant.com/ https://block16omaha.com/ This is a Hurrdat ONE Production. Hurrdat ONE is a podcast network and digital media production company based in Omaha, NE. Find more podcasts on the Hurrdat ONE Network by going to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ or visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Hurrdat ONE YouTube Channel⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!  Timestamps: 00:00:00 – Intro: The Reality of Restaurant Life 00:01:00 – Meet the Panel (Omaha’s Restaurant Leaders) 00:03:00 – Why This Conversation Matters 00:04:00 – When They First Wanted to Open a Restaurant 00:05:00 – Reality Check: It’s Not About Cooking Anymore 00:06:30 – Wearing Every Hat (Owner, Boss, Therapist…) 00:08:30 – “Don’t Do It” – The Industry Joke Explained 00:10:00 – When the Job Becomes About People, Not Food 00:12:30 – Mentorship & Building a Team Culture 00:14:30 – Why They Still Open New Restaurants Anyway 00:15:00 – The Breaking Point: “Why Am I Doing This?” 00:18:00 – 18-Hour Days & The Reality of Burnout 00:20:00 – Restaurant Life = A Roller Coaster 00:22:00 – Myths About Restaurant Life (Food TV vs Reality) 00:25:00 – Chain Restaurants vs Local Restaurants 00:27:30 – Why Local Ingredients Cost More (And Matter More) 00:30:00 – The Truth About Customer Reviews 00:32:30 – Why Restaurants Just Want You to Be Happy 00:35:00 – Taking Risks in Food (And Why It Matters) 00:37:30 – “The Customer Is Always Right?” Debate 00:40:00 – How Restaurant Life Changes You as a Person 00:42:30 – Staffing Challenges & Post-COVID Reality 00:45:00 – The Next Generation of Chefs 00:47:30 – What Success Looks Like in Restaurants Today 00:49:00 – How Diners Can Have a Better Experience 00:52:00 – Why Omaha’s Food Scene Is Special 00:54:30 – Final Thoughts: What Restaurants Want You to Know #RestaurantHoppen #RestaurantLife #ChefLife #OmahaEats #Hospitality Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices