Shawn Walchef is the founder of Cali BBQ Media and a leading voice in the Business Creator Economy. He teaches restaurant owners, tech founders, and hospitality leaders how to thrive in the digital age through Smartphone Storytelling and his Digital Hospitality framework.
As host of Restaurant Influencers (produced by Cali BBQ Media and published by Entrepreneur Media), Shawn has built one of the most impactful shows in the hospitality industry. The podcast and video series has been viewed more than 71 million times and features top executives, operators, and innovators shaping the future of restaurants.
Shawn is also the owner of Cali BBQ, a restaurant brand in San Diego that has grown from a local hotspot into a national example of how hospitality can thrive by embracing technology and storytelling.
A keynote speaker at leading restaurant and technology shows, Shawn has partnered with Toast, Uber Eats, Pepsi, US Foods, Restaurant365, and Google to create authentic content that drives awareness and growth. His mission: help businesses stop being invisible online by teaching them to "Be The Show, Not the Commercial."
More From Shawn P. Walchef
Dirty Dough Founder Bennett Maxwell on Mental Fitness and Podcasting with Purpose
Pepper Lunch Team on Seizing Unique Opportunities for Global Growth
Lawrence Longo of Off the Menu on the Secret to Business Partnerships
Joy Zarembka of Busboys and Poets on Inviting Customers to Take a Deliberate Pause
Steve Chang of Copa Vida on Building Organic Community in Coffee Shops
Shootz Restaurant CEO Harold Walters on Connecting with a Large, Organic Audience
Honeygrow Founder Justin Rosenberg on Making Customers Happy with Kick Ass Service
Sam Fonseca of Roll-Em-Up Taquitos on Simplicity for Successful Restaurants
Andy Hooper of Hart House on Pioneering a Plant-Based Revolution
Charles Bililies of Souvla on Creating a Fast-Fine Greek Restaurant
Guga of GUGA FOODS on Breaking the Rules of BBQ and Social Media
Mr. Bake Kareem Queeman on Telling Your Product Story
Steele Smiley of Steele Brands on Moving from Fitness to Restaurants
Shawn Walchef of Cali BBQ Media talks Toast and Digital Hospitality
Josh Halpern of Shaq’s BIG CHICKEN on BIG Fun and BIG Ideas
Jeff Fenster of Everbowl on How To Start a Media Company
Ford Fry of Rocket Farm Restaurants on Making Memorable Customer Experiences
Chris Do of The Futur on his 1 Billion Mission
André Moraes of PepsiCo Foodservice Digital Lab on Helping Restaurants Be Future-Proof
Téa Ivanovic of Immigrant Food on the Cause Casual Restaurant Mission
Jamie & Kayla Giovinazzo of EAT CLEAN BRO on Creating a Meal Prep Business
Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s on Visioning with Love and Humility
Charlie Eblen of Single Tree BBQ on Becoming the “Nike of BBQ”
Meredith Sandland of Empower Delivery on the Steps to Digital Maturity
Kim Malek of Salt & Straw on Modernizing the Ice Cream Industry
Rob Dyrdek on Designing a Desirable Life
CookUnity CEO Mateo Marietti on Connecting Chef to Consumer
David “Rev” Ciancio on How To Master Restaurant Marketing