The Post Shift Podcast with Shawn Soole

In this special “Get to Know Me” episode, Shawn Soole sits down without notes, filters, or industry jargon — and invites you into the story behind the journey. From early shifts and first pours to building culture, teams, and his philosophy on hospitality leadership, this is the episode where the host becomes the guest.
No deep tactical frameworks this time — just honest reflection, personal milestones, and the lessons that shaped a career in hospitality.

🧠 What You’ll Learn
• How Shawn first fell in love with hospitality — and why he never looked back
• The wins, the misses, the mindset shifts and the moments that mattered
• What Post Shift Podcast really represents and why it exists
• Personal reflections on mentorship, burnout, growth, and purpose
• What’s next: the future of the brand, community, and work still to come

⏱ Timestamp Highlights (Approximate)
• 00:02:30 – Early beginnings: first bar shifts and the lessons hospitality taught young Shawn
• 00:12:15 – The reality of grind culture vs intentional growth
• 00:23:40 – Why hospitality culture matters more than technique
• 00:38:00 – Turning hard lessons into leadership frameworks
• 00:49:30+ – What’s next: personal goals, podcast mission, and community direction

🎯 Who It’s For
Bartenders, operators, creators, and anyone who’s ever wondered why they keep showing up — especially on the days that feel long, hard, or ungrateful. This episode isn’t a strategy session — it’s a human one.

✅ If You Loved This Episode
• Hit Like
• Subscribe and tap the 🔔 to follow the journey ahead
• Share your own story or biggest takeaway in the comments
• Share this with a friend, coworker, or team member who’s been with you along the way

In this Post Shift Shot, Shawn Soole tackles a tough but necessary truth: hard work and sacrifice still matter in hospitality — even in a world obsessed with shortcuts, instant success, and surface-level wins.
This isn’t about glorifying burnout. It’s about respecting the process. The long nights, the reps, the missed weekends, the uncomfortable growth — the things that still build skill, character, credibility, and trust behind the bar and beyond it.
🧠 What This Shot Covers
• Why sacrifice isn’t outdated — it’s just misunderstood
• The difference between intentional hard work and toxic grind culture
• Why mastery, leadership, and credibility still require time and effort
• How shortcuts erode culture, standards, and long-term opportunity
• A reminder that earning your place still matters — for yourself and your team

🎯 Who It’s For
Bartenders, managers, operators, and hospitality professionals navigating the tension between work-life balance and earning your stripes — especially those who want longevity, leadership, and real growth in the industry.

✅ If This Hit Home
• Like the video
• Subscribe for more Post Shift Shots on leadership, culture, and real hospitality talk
• Drop a comment: Where do you draw the line between sacrifice and sustainability?
• Share this with someone who needs the reminder

In this powerful episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Kris Hall, co-founder of The Burnt Chef Project — a global initiative dedicated to improving mental health, work culture, and human connection within hospitality. Kris offers candid insight into the systemic challenges faced by teams and leaders alike and actionable frameworks for creating workplaces that nurture people, not just profits.
This conversation goes beyond burnout statistics — it explores why hospitality can be hard, how culture fails us, and what it truly takes to build compassion-driven teams that stay and thrive.
🧠 What You’ll Learn
• Kris’s journey: what sparked The Burnt Chef Project and its mission to shift hospitality culture
• The root causes of burnout in hospitality — and how systems, not individuals, must change
• Practical strategies for supporting mental health, psychological safety, and team resilience
• How restaurants and bars can create environments where staff feel seen, heard, and valued
• Live Q&A: culture transformation, tough conversations, and tools leaders can use today
⏱ Timestamp Highlights (Approximate)
• 00:02:45 – Kris’s beginnings and the origin story of The Burnt Chef Project
• 00:15:00 – Why burnout isn’t about weakness — it’s about systems that fail people
• 00:29:20 – Designing workplaces that elevate dignity, belonging, and connection
• 00:43:10 – Live Q&A: real-world scenarios, culture practices, and interventions that work
• 00:58:00+ – What’s next: scaling impact, training leaders, and changing the industry narrative
🎯 Who It’s For
Hospitality leaders, operators, trainers, HR partners, and anyone who’s felt the weight of burnout — or has seen team culture struggle under it. If you care about people first, and want to build environments where teams belong, contribute, and grow, this is a must-watch.
✅ If You Loved This Episode
• Smash Like
• Subscribe and hit the 🔔 for more vital conversations on hospitality culture
• Drop your key takeaway, question, or experience in the comments
• Share this with your team or anyone invested in changing the industry from within

In this week’s Post Shift Shot, I dig into how the rise of remote work is quietly impacting the hospitality ecosystem — from empty downtown cores to shrinking lunch rushes and unpredictable revenue patterns.
This isn’t an anti-remote rant; it’s a reality check on how shifts in work culture ripple through restaurants, bars, and the people who rely on them. If you operate in hospitality, this is a conversation we can’t afford to ignore.

In this episode, Shawn Soole sits down with Ann Squires Ferguson, interior designer and hospitality space strategist, to explore how design shapes behaviour, influences service flow, and ultimately determines whether a hospitality venue succeeds or struggles.
From restaurants and bars to multi-use hospitality spaces, Ann breaks down how thoughtful design goes far beyond aesthetics — impacting staff efficiency, guest comfort, dwell time, and revenue. This conversation connects design thinking to real operational outcomes.

🧠 What You’ll Learn
• How interior design directly affects hospitality operations, service flow, and guest experience
• The psychology of space: how layout, lighting, materials, and scale influence behavior
• Common design mistakes operators make — and how to avoid expensive missteps
• How to design hospitality spaces that support both brand identity and team performance
• Live Q&A: renovation planning, budget trade-offs, and future-forward design trends

⏱ Timestamp Highlights (Approximate)
• 00:02:30 – Ann’s background in interior design and hospitality space planning
• 00:14:45 – Designing for function first: flow, efficiency, and human behaviour
• 00:29:00 – Brand-led design: translating concept into physical space
• 00:43:10 – Live Q&A: renovations, mistakes to avoid, and working with designers
• 00:58:00+ – The future of hospitality design: flexibility, wellness, and longevity

🎯 Who It’s For
Hospitality operators, restaurateurs, bar owners, developers, and anyone planning a build-out or renovation who wants spaces that look great, work hard, and last — not just photograph well.

✅ If You Loved This Episode
• Hit Like
• Subscribe and ring the 🔔 for more conversations bridging design, operations, and culture
• Drop your biggest design takeaway or question in the comments
• Share this episode with your partners, designers, or anyone planning a hospitality space