Building a Pizza Empire: The Story Behind Square Pie Guys + Creative Force @Pizza | Ep 72

Building a Pizza Empire: The Story Behind Square Pie Guys + Creative Force @Pizza | Ep 72

Every once in a while, you meet someone whose story reminds you that life’s biggest left turns usually lead exactly where you’re supposed to go. For me, as someone who grew up watching my grandfather turn a life in the coal mines into a family pizza business back in 1960, I’ve always known that pizza is so much more than just food. It’s legacy, it’s comfort, and sometimes, it's a lifeline ♥️. That is exactly what I felt talking to today’s guest, the brilliant mind behind Square Pie Guys and the creative curator of the Internet’s most iconic food page @pizza Marc Schechter 🍕. Long before Marc was feeding the West Coast or dictating viral food trends to millions of followers, he was just a kid from New York with a marketing degree and a completely blank roadmap. His path to the kitchen wasn't paved with culinary school or family recipes; it was forged in the fires of cold calling. Marc spent years in the brutal trenches of software sales, dialing the phone 100 times a day, weathering a relentless storm of "no." Little did he know, learning to navigate that constant rejection was the ultimate training camp for entrepreneurship. But the true spark didn't ignite until Marc moved to California. On a casual moving day, a close friend handed him a pizza cookbook, a stone, and a peel with a challenge: “You can’t make restaurant-quality pizza at home.” Those words unlocked an obsession. Soon, Marc was spending hours watching dough rise, throwing backyard pizza parties, and finding a deep sense of joy in feeding people. When his tech startup vanished overnight, Marc didn't look for another corporate desk. He chose the kitchen 👨🏻‍🍳. The empire we know today as Square Pie Guys actually started by complete accident. Armed with only three Detroit-style pans he was using to test recipes, Marc was put on the spot to feed a couple scouting a wedding venue. They fell so madly in love with the thick, crispy square pies that they hired him on the spot. That single quote paid for his first 30 pans, launched a wildly successful pop-up, and eventually led to opening his first brick-and-mortar shop in downtown San Francisco in July 2019. In this beautiful, candid conversation, Marc pulls back the curtain on the magic and the grit of his journey. We talk about how he literally slid into the DMs of a major media company to take over the @pizza brand, the "algorithmic luck" that allowed his business to survive and thrive through a global pandemic, and the deeply personal way pizza healed him after a painful life transition 🙌🏽. 🔗 Connect: Follow Square Pie Guys on Instagram: @squarepieguys Follow the ultimate pizza community: @pizza  🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/  Subscribe to the channel for more incredible stories from founders who took their hobbies to the big leagues! #pizza #squarepieguys

Inside Paulie Gee’s Journey: Corporate IT to NYC Pizza Icon | Ep 71

Have you ever sat at your corporate desk, stared at the glowing monitor, and realized you were exhausting your energy to build someone else’s dream instead of your own 😫? Today’s guest took that exact terrifying, exhilarating leap, except he did it at 56 years old, after 30 years in the corporate IT world. He walked away from the safety of a steady paycheck to open what would quickly become an absolute Brooklyn institution 🙌🏽. In this episode of The Pizza Story Podcast, I’m sitting down with the ultimate pizza artisan, a true neighborhood legend, and a phenomenal storyteller, Paulie Gee 🍕. Paulie takes us on an incredible, deeply personal journey through his life. We talk about growing up in Kensington, Brooklyn, in a vibrant Italian-Jewish household where Sunday dinners were sacred, and how a childhood obsession was born out of simply being denied a Friday night slice. He opens up about hitting the "not-a-geek glass ceiling" in the tech world, the mindset shift it took to break free, and how a backyard DIY brick oven with a strict Thanksgiving deadline changed the trajectory of his entire life. We pull back the curtain on the grueling reality of the restaurant industry. From the harrowing early days in Greenpoint operating without a liquor license, to overflowing dough emergencies, to the beautiful moment the local pizza community stepped in to save his friends-and-family night. Paulie also explains the genius behind his legendary 1960s-style Slice Shop, sharing why great traditional pizza is exactly like vinyl records: a nostalgic, analog experience that a whole new generation is hungry for. Whether you're a die-hard pizza enthusiast, a budding entrepreneur, or someone sitting in a cubicle right now wondering if it's too late to start over, Paulie’s story is a masterclass in courage. It is living proof that we all have seeds of greatness within us, and it is never, ever too late to build your best life 💪🏼. 🔗 Connect with Paulie & Support the Shops Follow Paulie Gee on Instagram: @pauliegee [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/pauliegee&authuser=1] Check out the 500+ Pizza Hat Collection: @pauliegeespizzaproject [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/pauliegeespizzaproject&authuser=1] Visit the Official Website: www.pauliegee.com [http://www.pauliegee.com/] Love a good comeback story? Make sure to hit that Subscribe button so you never miss an episode of The Pizza Story Podcast. Drop a comment below letting us know: What's the dream project you're waiting to speak into existence ❤️? 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers, dough geeks, and backyard hobbyists who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993]  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/]  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #nypizza

From Deputy Head Teacher to Pizza Obsessed: The Story of the UK’s Pizza Inferno | Ep 70

Today, we are crossing the pond to chat with the incredible George Lambrou, co-founder of Pizza Inferno based out in the UK 🇬🇧. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when a self-proclaimed non-pizza fan gets absolutely infected by the pizza-making bug, this episode is for you 🍕.  George takes us on his journey from being a deputy head teacher (the UK equivalent of a vice principal) to launching a roaring mobile pizza business with his brother, Tony.  From obsessing over fermentation science to traveling straight to the heart of Naples to get schooled by the masters, George’s story is a masterclass in turning a lockdown hobby into a burning passion. We talk about the literal "inferno" temperatures required to make a true Neapolitan slice, the hilarious (and messy) reality of early-stage pizza fails, what it's really like running a business with family, and how they are changing the mainstream pizza narrative across the UK. Grab a slice, hit that subscribe button, and let’s dive into today’s story ✨! 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:31 George shares his background growing up in London in a food-loving Greek Cypriot family, his career in education, and the sudden shift in 2023 when he and his brother went all-in on pizza. ✅ 03:19 George breaks down his deep dive into the history of pizza, AVPN standards, hydration percentages, and the magic of pre-ferments like poolish and biga. ✅ 07:40 George gets vulnerable about his early-stage catastrophes: tearing dough, over-proofing disasters, and creating a few "Frankenstein monsters" along the way. ✅ 11:22 What’s in a Name? The Concept Behind "Inferno": Why temperature is everything. George explains the science of cooking at 450°C (842°F) plus, flash-cooking toppings, and getting that perfect leopard-spotted crust. ✅ 16:03 A tour of the Pizza Inferno menu, including how they balance respect for Neapolitan traditions with fun flavor profiles like Southern fried chicken and Cypriot tahini drizzles. ✅ 19:01 George shares his favorite part of the job—chasing that "wow" moment from guests—and discusses the expanding UK pizza scene and their mission to upskill home cooks with their new studio kitchen and magazine. ✅ 24:09 How to connect with the guys for events, check out their content, and grab a copy of their summer magazine. 🔗 Follow Pizza Inferno on Instagram: @pizzainferno.uk [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/pizzainferno.uk&authuser=2] 📚 Bookings & Magazine: Head to their website to check out the Pizza Inferno Magazine summer edition or secure a mobile booking for your private events (they are already booking into 2027!). 🍕🇮🇹 About the Podcast This is where we dive deep into the world's greatest pizzerias and sit down with the passionate makers, dough geeks, and backyard hobbyists who turned their obsession into a lifestyle. From secret family recipes to the wild journeys of building a pizza empire, we share the authentic, messy, and delicious stories behind every perfect slice. 🎧 Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell so you never miss an episode with the world's most passionate pizza makers ♥️! Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993]  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/]  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #pizzainferno #ukpizza

How This Tiny Apartment Side-Hustle Became Lori Anne’s Pizza: Kingston’s Favorite Pop-Up | Ep 69

In this episode, host Erica D’Arcangelo sits down with Meredith Egan, the award-winning artisan and culinary mastermind behind Lori Anne’s Pizza in Kingston, Ontario 🍕. From growing up as one of six kids in a hectic, country-raised Irish family to climbing the ranks of the Kingston restaurant industry, Meredith shares his journey of falling in love with the craft of wood-fired pizza. Discover how a tight-budget investment during COVID, a Gosney Roccbox pizza oven with nowhere to use it; snowballed into a massively successful local pop-up, a booming farmer's market staple, and a journey toward opening a brick-and-mortar pizzeria. Meredith talks about the adrenaline of competing in the Canadian Pizza Expo, the beautiful community that rallies behind local food, the secret behind his seasonal ingredient specials, and the heartwarming inspiration behind the name "Lori Anne's." If you love pizza, entrepreneurship, and inspiring stories of community-driven food businesses, this episode is a must-watch! 📌 Episode Highlights ✅ 00:00 Meet Meredith Egan of Lori Anne's Pizza. ✅ 00:32 Growing up Irish in the Ottawa Valley: 6 kids, country life, and "feral" boys. ✅ 02:31 Big family dynamics: From childhood mayhem to lifelong best friends. ✅ 04:36 Family cooking and grandmother's kitchen gatherings. ✅ 05:32 The classic Ontario-style family pizza night tradition. ✅ 06:38 Starting from washing dishes to managing the line at Kingston institutions. ✅ 07:44 The COVID pivot: Buying a portable pizza oven with no balcony to use it on. ✅ 08:40 Selling 60 pizzas and relying on industry support. ✅ 10:59 Scaling up: Doing weddings, events, and building a Sunday farmer’s market empire. ✅ 12:21 Dealing with self-criticism and finding your zone in the kitchen. ✅14:42 How Meredith, his wife Rebecca, and his friend Mitch pull off 120 pizzas in a single morning. ✅ 16:33 Competing on the big stage: The Canadian Pizza Expo experience. ✅ 18:26 The Menu Breakdown: Sourcing seasonal specials from local market vendors. ✅ 19:42 The Roasted Butternut Squash & Red Onion pizza creation. ✅ 20:47 Where to find Lori Anne's Pizza & the search for a brick-and-mortar home. ✅ 21:21 The inspiration behind the name: A beautiful tribute to Mom. 🍕 Connect with Our Guest Are you in the Kingston, Ontario area? Come grab a slice! From May to October, find Lori Anne's Pizza every Sunday at the Memorial Centre Farmers' Market (9:00 AM – 2:00 PM). Instagram: @loriannespizzaco [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/loriannespizzaco&authuser=2] Inquiries: Check their Instagram bio for direct email details. 🎙️About the Podcast We celebrate the passion, history, and community behind the world's favorite food: pizza. From backyard hobbyists to industry titans, we dive deep into the stories of the people who put their heart into the dough. 🇮🇹 Don't forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more mouth-watering interviews!  Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993]  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/]  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #canadapizza #capizza

Pizza in the Jungle to Latin America’s Top 50: The Story of Seba's Restaurant | Ep 68

How does a person go from working a soul-crushing corporate bank job to running one of the most celebrated, award-winning restaurants in the middle of the Costa Rican jungle 🍕? This episode of the Pizza Story Podcast uncovers the jaw-dropping journey of Sebastian Gallucci, the culinary force behind Seba’s Restaurant and Alma Cocina 🌴! Sebastian practically grew up inside his family's kitchens  from the age of four, soaking up an old-school hospitality education that no culinary school could ever replicate. But before finding his paradise, he took a few massive detours. From a college soccer scholarship in Texas to a corporate desk job that completely drained his spirit, Sebastian knew he needed to break free. Inspired by the movie Chef 🎬, he took a total gamble, bought a 50-foot food truck on a line of credit, and quickly exploded onto the Toronto food scene, winning best sandwich in the city and landing features on the Food Network and Vice! But the story takes its craziest turn when the pandemic hit. Right at the peak of running a massive Argentinian Supper Club in Toronto, the world shut down. Instead of giving up, Sebastian, his wife, and their three-month-old baby packed up just three luggages, gave away everything else they owned, and boarded a flight to Costa Rica the exact day the borders closed 🧳. From building an off-grid bamboo home to launching an intimate tasting menu in their jungle kitchen, Sebastian eventually opened Seba’s Restaurant. He added just six pizzas to the menu using local, farm-fresh ingredients, and the next thing he knew, Italy's prestigious 50 Top Pizza 🏆 came calling. Now a three-time Green Oven Award winner for global sustainability, Sebastian proves that when a person refuses to compromise on quality and passion, the world will find them, no matter how deep in the jungle they are. Listeners can grab a slice, settle in, and get ready for one of the most inspiring restaurant turnaround stories ever told on the show ♥️🙌🏽! 🎙 Episode Highlights ✅ 03:33 Tacos Over Textbooks: Chasing a soccer career leads to a full scholarship on the Texas-Mexico border, where authentic street food quickly beats out business class. ✅ 06:53 Buying a Food Truck on a Whim: Inspired by Hollywood, Sebastian risks it all, buys a massive mobile kitchen 🚚, and completely flips his life upside down overnight. ✅ 09:50 The Supper Club Era: Launching a red-hot Argentinian dining experience in Toronto that seamlessly transformed from a steakhouse into a late-night dance party. ✅ 12:46 Planting Roots from Zero: Building an eco-friendly bamboo home, planting 150 fruit trees, and building a brand-new local reputation through private jungle dinners. ✅ 15:06 An Unbelievable Invite: The shocking moment an elite international pizza committee tracked down a tiny jungle restaurant to rank them among the best in Latin America. 🔗 Connect with Sebastian & Seba’s Restaurant: Instagram: @sebgallucci [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/sebgallucci&authuser=2] Restaurant: @sebasrestaurant [https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.instagram.com/sebasrestaurant&authuser=2] Lifestyle & Eco-Project: @almauvita [https://www.instagram.com/almauvita] 🇮🇹 About the Podcast  The Pizza Story Podcast dives into the intersection of heritage, artistry, and the perfect slice. Listen, subscribe, and comment. Website: https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/ [https://www.astoryaboutpizza.com/]  Substack: https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza [https://substack.com/@astoryaboutpizza]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/ [https://www.instagram.com/astoryaboutpizza/]  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza [https://www.tiktok.com/@storyaboutpizza]  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza [https://www.youtube.com/@AStoryAboutPizza]  A Story About Pizza Book: https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993 [https://www.amazon.com/Story-About-Pizza-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/1917116993]  Pietro’s Pizza Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Pizza-Story-About/dp/B0DTYZ15WB/]  Pietro’s Pizza Toppings Children’s Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0 [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0FJM15W22/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0] Pietro’s Italian Christmas: https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/ [https://www.amazon.com/Pietros-Italian-Christmas-Erica-DArcangelo/dp/B0G2GQX78W/]  #pizza #costarica #latam