Hospitality Meets... with Phil Street

Building a Regenerative Farm StayThis week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with Caitlin Owens, Managing Director and co-owner of Fowlescombe Farm, a luxury farm stay in Devon built on regenerative farming principles.What started as a family meat farm became a pubWhat started as a consulting career became a hospitality adventure.What started as “how hard can it be?” became… chlorine spraying out of beer lines.This episode is about naivety, chaos, regenerative farming, and why hospitality might just be the most beautifully human industry of them all.In This EpisodeQuitting consultancy during lockdown to learn hospitality in SwitzerlandRunning a pub during the wild summer of 2021The science (and danger) of cleaning beer linesWhy hospitality operates permanently on the edge of chaosWhat consulting really taught her (hint: it’s not insurance maths)Bringing regenerative farming into luxury hospitalityWhy “low choice, high quality” beats endless optionsThe rise of the farm stay experienceDescribing humanity to a Martian (yes, really)From Farm to Fork, For RealFowlscombe isn’t just “farm to table” as a marketing lineThe farm is regenerativeThe soil health is measuredAnimals fertilise the land naturallyMonoculture is avoidedThe hospitality exists because of the land, not the other way aroundChaos, Sheep & Beer ShowersRunning the family pub (The Millbrook) during post-lockdown mania meant:Chlorine explosions in the cellarSmelling permanently of aleA sheep on a lead turning up for the village nativityA horse tied to the drainpipe while the chef fed it carrotsSkills from “Outside” HospitalityCaitlin didn’t climb the traditional hospitality ladder.Her background in consultancy gave her:Structured thinkingClear communicationConfidence with tech providersThe ability to not be messed around by suppliersA reminder that hospitality doesn’t need to be a closed shop.Different backgrounds make stronger teams.Regenerative HospitalityFor Caitlin, sustainability isn’t just environmental.It’s about:Less wasteFewer food milesLower choice, higher qualityDoing less, but doing it exceptionally wellYou won’t find 24-hour room service and 200 menu options.You’ll find five carefully chosen cocktails.One menu per day.Ingredients picked from the garden.Intentional. Grounded. Memorable.Standout Line“Hospitality operates on the edge of chaos. The critical success factor is staying on the right side of it”This is an episode about:Taking risks.Backing instinct.Building something rooted in the land.And discovering that sometimes, the best leadership inspiration comes from Ted Lasso.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Why Understanding Drives PerformanceThis week on Hospitality Meets, Phil is joined by Will Fraser, co-founder of Pineapple, founder of 100 & First, and former professional rugby player.What begins as a conversation about people data quickly becomes something deeper, a clear eyed look at why teams struggle, why talent alone isn’t enough, and why most performance problems come down to misunderstanding, not ability.This is a calm, thoughtful episode about clarity, context, and why better conversations beat better strategies.In This EpisodeWhy performance is a by-product, not something you can forceThe difference between thinking you know something and actually knowing itWhy misunderstanding (not laziness) drives most workplace issuesWhat elite sport gets right about teams that business often gets wrongThe hidden cost of constant change and short term thinkingWhy stability can be a genuine competitive advantageHow people data should start conversations, not end themFrom Elite Sport to HospitalityWill’s thinking was shaped during his time at Saracens, where a strong focus on people and culture transformed performance under pressure.After injury ended his playing career, Will began applying those lessons in business, and quickly noticed a gap between how elite teams operate and how most organisations try to drive results.The biggest difference?Shared understandingWhat the Data ShowsThrough Pineapple, Will now works with hospitality businesses to understand patterns around:AttritionInternal progressionTeam stabilityOne consistent insight stands out:Greater stability and internal progression = lower turnover.Simple. Powerful. Rarely acted on.The Talent MythWill challenges the idea that great performers can simply be “moved” and expected to thrive.Drawing on examples from football, including Brighton & Hove Albion and Brentford, he explains why performance is often owned by the system, not just the individual.Change the context, and performance usually dips.Stand-Out Thoughts“Most performance problems aren’t competence problems — they’re understanding problems”“If you think something rather than know it, you haven’t had the conversation”“Stability, not constant change, is often the real advantage”Why ListenThis episode is for anyone who has:Seen good people struggle in new rolesFelt pressure to change something without clarity on whatWondered why common sense is so rarely common practiceIt’s a reminder that teams don’t fail because they don’t care, they fail because they don’t understand.And understanding only comes from time, clarity, and conversation.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

Prepare. To. Be. Happy.Returning to Hospitality Meets, Klaudia Mitura - work psychologist, L&D leader at the Science Museum Group, host of The Happiness Challenge podcast, author of The Alphabet of Happiness, and an actual Certified Chief Happiness Officer (yes, really) delivers one of the most uplifting, honest, and quietly powerful conversations we’ve ever recorded.This episode is not about toxic positivity, pretending everything’s fine, or slapping a smile on life’s messier moments.It’s about science backed happiness, micro habits, curiosity, resilience, and learning how to live with the noise in your head - not silence it.It’s warm.It’s funny.It’s deeply human.And it might just change how you think about happiness altogether.In This EpisodeKlaudia’s return to the podcast nearly four years on, and how life has unfolded sinceLosing a job, being separated from family, rescheduling a wedding four times, a family cancer diagnosis… and why happiness still matteredWhy Klaudia decided to treat her life like a scientific experimentWhat the science of happiness actually tells usWhy happiness isn’t a destination - it’s a starting pointThe power of micro-habits and why 1% changes beat life overhaulsWhy happiness fuels kindness, generosity, optimism and impactThe danger of “I’ll be happy when…” thinkingWhy curiosity might be the most underrated life skill of allHappiness, But Not the Cringey KindKlaudia is very clear on one thing:This is not about toxic positivity.It’s not about ignoring grief, stress, uncertainty, or the very real challenges of life and work.It’s about acknowledging them and giving yourself the tools to cope, recover, and move forward.As Klaudia explains, happiness:Helps us regulate our nervous systemMakes us more resilient under pressureIncreases kindness, generosity and problem solvingGives us the energy to face hard things, not avoid themOr put simply:Happiness doesn’t deny reality.It helps you deal with it.Stand-Out Quotes“Happiness is not a destination. It’s a starting point”“We regret not allowing ourselves to be happier”“You can be going through something hard and still experience joy”“Happiness fuels kindness. Without it, we can’t change anything”“You don’t need a life overhaul - you need small habits, done consistently”Why ListenThis episode is for you if:You’re tired of overcomplicating happinessYou want practical tools, not platitudesYou lead people and want them to thrive, not just surviveYou’re curious about how your brain actually worksYou want permission to feel joy without guiltIt’s a reminder that happiness is not selfish.It’s not fluffy.And it’s definitely not accidental.As Klaudia dares us all to do:👉 Be 1% happier. That’s enough.Get her book here - https://amzn.eu/d/gDRfFydShow PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with Dulcie Swanston, bestselling author, executive coach, leadership trainer, neuroscience and psychology “magpie,” and one of the clearest thinkers you’ll ever meet in hospitality.Dulcie’s career spans 23 years at Bass PLC / Mitchells & Butlers, senior HR leadership, graduate programme design, global executive coaching, and now running multiple businesses that all share one simple mission:Make complicated things simple, and usable now!From accidentally falling into hospitality after realising acting wasn’t for her… to becoming one of the most trusted leadership thinkers in the industry… this episode is packed with stories, insight, Yorkshire humour, and a lot of truth.In This EpisodeWhy Dulcie believes “it’s not bloody rocket science” and why simplicity is a leadership superpowerAccidentally landing a graduate role at Bass PLC because it was the only application deadline still open, and why that changed everythingTurning up on day one… only to be told the marketing department no longer existedBecoming the company’s first ever “commercial graduate” a role nobody could quite defineWorking across finance, property, operations, HR and brand, and why that breadth became a giftManaging O’Neill’s pubs taking £50–60k a week and winning global performance awardsRecruiting and developing women into leadership roles when talent was hidden in plain sightFinding her true calling in HR in her mid 30s and realising leadership is about helping others be great at their jobsThe difference between leaders whose teams perform only when they’re present… and leaders whose teams thrive when they’re notWhy great leaders (and great coaches) aim to make themselves redundantImposter “Syndrome”? Not Here.One of the standout sections of the episode is Dulcie’s reframing of imposter syndrome which she refuses to call a syndrome at all.Instead, she calls it:Well, tune in to find outHer take?“If you think you’re finished as a leader or coach — you’re finished.”She shares powerful imagery about the two voices on our shoulders, why our brains constantly lie to protect us, and how learning to notice those lies without shame is the key to growth.Stand-Out Quotes“Happy people make more money.” Dulcie Swanston“The brain isn’t a video recorder — it’s an editing machine.” Dulcie Swanston“Great leaders get their teams to perform brilliantly when they’re not there.” Dulcie Swanston“If you think you’re done learning — move aside.” Dulcie Swanston“Comfort with ambiguity is one of the greatest leadership strengths there is.” Dulcie SwanstonWhy ListenThis episode is a goldmine for anyone who:Leads people in fast-paced, operational environmentsFeels overwhelmed by complexity and wants clarityWants to understand why great leaders work, not just what they doIs curious about coaching, self-awareness, and better thinkingLoves practical wisdom delivered with warmth and humourIt’s a conversation about leadership without ego, growth without jargon, and thinking better so work doesn’t feel like work.As Dulcie puts it perfectly:“When work doesn’t feel like work — that’s when you know you’re in the right place.”Enjoy!Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy

This week on Hospitality Meets, Phil sits down with Matt McCabe, Founder of Subu Connect - a platform created to bridge the gap between food and beverage suppliers and global buyers across airlines, foodservice and hospitality.Matt’s story is one of curiosity, courage, accidental brilliance, and a lot of beautifully human learning along the way. From a 19-year-old Irish hotel management student taking a leap into a German kitchen… to buying food for prisons, parliaments and planes… to building his own tech platform from scratch - this is a masterclass in connection, leadership, humility and trust.It also includes one of the greatest stories ever told on the podcast involving… mayonnaise.In This EpisodeHow a leap of faith took Matt from hotel school in Ireland to cooking in Germany, Switzerland and London — including a stint at The Dorchester with 120 chefs in the kitchenThe moment Matt realised chefs don’t buy food and how that insight led him into procurement and supply chain leadershipWhy asking for help (and admitting you don’t know something) is one of the most powerful leadership skills you can developWhat running food supply for UK prisons, the House of Lords, and then Emirates Airline Catering taught him about scale, systems and humanityThe emotional and cultural challenge of moving his family to Dubai - and what that transition really felt likeHow a chance LinkedIn event invitation on holiday led to the creation of Subu Connect almost overnightThe reality of becoming a founder: self-belief, risk, financial uncertainty, and emotional investmentWhy Matt believes “Every Connection Matters” - and how relationships compound over timeStand-Out Quotes“I never really believed in myself. I was waiting for the lightbulb moment — and I used that as an excuse not to start”“Every connection matters. No conversation is ever wasted”“I physically feel it when the company struggles — like you would with a child or a loved one”“We’re not the stars — the suppliers are. We’re just the stage”“People didn’t invest in the platform. They invested in me and what I stand for”Why ListenThis episode is a beautiful exploration of:Career reinvention and courageThe hidden emotional side of entrepreneurshipLeadership through vulnerability and trustThe power of curiosity and asking better questionsWhy hospitality skills translate into almost every other industryHow values shape sustainable businessesIt’s a reminder that success is rarely linear, confidence often arrives late, and the most meaningful careers are built through people, not plans.A joyful, human, wise and quietly powerful conversation.Show PartnersA big shout out to the first of today’s show partner, RotaCloud, the people management platform for shift-based teams.RotaCloud lets managers create and share rotas, record attendance, and manage annual leave in minutes — all from a single, web-based app.It makes work simple for your team, too, allowing them to check their rotas, request holiday, and even pick up extra shifts straight from their phones.Try RotaCloud’s time-saving tools today by heading to https://rotacloud.com/philThis podcast uses the following third-party services for analysis: Podcorn - https://podcorn.com/privacy