Guac on the Rock: Tequila, Food, and Bringing People Together

The Power of Grit and Accountability. Convo with Trent Bryson, CEO of Bryson Financial

Welcome to Fi$H Factor, where multi-generational grit meets real-world strategy. In this episode, Mike Ungaro sits down with Trent Bryson, CEO of Bryson Financial and host of the Grit Rising podcast, to talk about family business, leadership, accountability, and the role grit plays in building both successful companies and successful kids. From growing up around the family business to chasing Olympic dreams as a Nike-sponsored athlete, Trent shares how discipline, adversity, and obsession with improvement shaped his career. The conversation also dives into hiring high performers, why hospitality creates better leaders, and the challenges of balancing ambition, parenting, and legacy inside a family business. In this episode, you’ll learn: * Why grit and adversity are critical for long-term success * How accountability can transform company culture * Why hospitality creates stronger business leaders * How family businesses balance legacy, pressure, and growth Episode Links * Trent Bryson LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trent-bryson-3114946/ * Bryson Financial LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bryson-financial/ * Bryson Financial: https://brysonfinancial.com/ * Grit Rising Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/grit-rising/id1612149639

The Viral Video That Shut Down Freeway Off-Ramps

What happens when a single piece of content changes the trajectory of your entire business? In this episode of Fi$H Factor, Mike Ungaro breaks down why storytelling has become one of the most important tools in modern business and how a viral moment helped transform San Pedro Fish Market into a nationally recognized brand. From early lessons inside the family business, where marketing was dismissed as “hocus pocus,” to experimenting with social media, customer storytelling, and the launch of Kings of Fi$H, Mike shares the real experiences that changed his perspective on branding, audience building, and business growth. He also tells the story of the viral Foodbeast “Super Tray” video that brought tens of thousands of customers to San Pedro Fish Market and showed the true power of content distribution and partnerships. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why storytelling is one of the most valuable business tools today - How customer-generated content helped grow San Pedro Fish Market - Why great marketing starts with understanding human connection - How one viral video created massive real-world business results - Why operators should stop letting other people tell their story

Your Restaurant Needs To Be Using AI. Convo with Matt Wampler, CEO of ClearCOGS

Welcome to Fi$H Factor, where multi-generational grit meets real-world strategy. In this episode, Mike Ungaro sits down with Matt Wampler, co-founder and CEO of ClearCOGS and host of the Restaurant AI podcast, to talk about how AI and predictive analytics are changing restaurant operations. From forecasting prep and labor to reducing waste and improving profitability, Matt shares how restaurants can use data to stop reacting and start planning ahead. Mike also connects the conversation back to the real-world challenges of running San Pedro Fish Market, where preparation, forecasting, and guest demand can make or break the day. In this episode, you’ll learn: - How predictive analytics helps restaurants make smarter operational decisions - Why AI should support operators, not replace human judgment - How better forecasting can improve food quality, labor, and profitability - Why restaurant operators need to start paying attention to AI now Episode Links - Matt Wampler on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewjwampler/ - Clear COGS: https://www.clearcogs.com/ - The Restaurant AI Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/restaurant-ai/id1818590384

Bigger Than A Restaurant

Welcome back to Fi$H Factor, where multi-generational grit meets real-world strategy. In this episode, Mike Ungaro shares the vision behind Kings Of Fi$H and breaks down how restaurants, media, products, merchandise, and storytelling all work together to build a modern hospitality enterprise.  Inspired by a business mind map created by Walt Disney, Mike explains how San Pedro Fish Market, Kings Of Fi$H Media, the Fi$H Factor podcast, nationwide shipping, branded products, and future locations all connect back to one mission: celebrating food, family, and community. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why modern restaurant brands must think beyond four walls - How storytelling and media help drive loyalty and awareness - Why products and merchandise extend brand reach - The importance of building an ecosystem, not just a business - How a larger vision creates opportunities for partnerships and growth

Strategy and Execution: How to Build What Others Can’t

Welcome back to Fi$H Factor, where multi-generational grit meets real-world strategy. In this episode, Mike Ungaro sits down with Scott Choppin, Founder and CEO of Urban Pacific Group, to break down what it really takes to develop projects, solve complex problems, and build in industries where timelines are long and stakes are high. From growing up in a real estate family to leading innovative workforce housing developments, Scott shares how his approach to strategy and execution has shaped his career. The conversation dives into the realities of development, navigating bureaucracy, aligning stakeholders, and why most projects succeed or fail long before construction even begins. Scott also explores how AI is beginning to transform the development industry, why most operators are behind, and how those who adopt it early will gain a massive competitive advantage. From autonomous agents to real-world applications, this episode highlights the intersection of technology, leadership, and long-term thinking. In this episode, you’ll learn: - Why great strategy and great execution must work together to succeed - How real estate development is ultimately a business of constant problem solving - The concept of “product-market fit” and how it applies to building projects - Why workforce housing is an overlooked opportunity in today’s market - How AI will reshape operations, decision-making, and competitive advantage - The importance of controlling your narrative when explaining innovative ideas Learn more about Scott Choppin - Website: https://www.urbanpacific.com - Follow Scott on X: https://x.com/scottchoppin Subscribe, leave a review, and follow @KingsOfFish and @SanPedroFish for more real stories on building business, leadership, and legacy.