Show overview
The Prep List launched in 2025 and has put out 37 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 4 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a weekly cadence, with the show now in its 2nd season.
Episodes typically run under ten minutes — most land between 5 min and 7 min — though episode length varies meaningfully from one episode to the next. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-language Business show.
The show is actively publishing — the most recent episode landed 4 days ago, with 17 episodes already out so far this year. Published by Open Pantry Co..
From the publisher
Start your week with a sharper mindset and a better plan. Hosted by Shaun de Vries from Open Pantry Co., The Prep List is your under 10-minute Monday hit of hospitality insights, made for venue owners, operators, and team leaders who don’t have time to scroll or sit through an hour-long podcast. Each week, you’ll get: – One trend to watch – One tool to test – One real-world operator move – One smart question for your team If you run a venue, manage a crew, or just want your week to feel a little less chaotic, this is your mise en place for the mind.
Latest Episodes
View all 37 episodesEpisode 37 : What Your Venue Is Saying Without Saying Anything
Episode 36 : What Your Guests Feel Before They Order
Episode 35: The Engine Room Behind The Service
Episode 34 : Dead Square Metres
Episode 33: The Second-Site Moment
Episode 32: Making the Most of Where You Are
Episode 31: The Rent Review Nobody Modelled
Episode 30: The Address Didn't Change. Everything Around It Did.
Episode 29 - When You Know Your Numbers, the Decisions Get Obvious
Episode 28 - The Wrong Cuts Cost More
Episode 27 - Busy Isn't the Same as Healthy
Episode 26 - Your Numbers Are Lying to You (But Not How You Think)
S2 Ep 24Episode 24 - Your Brand Doesn't Show on Your Best Day
Most venues look fine when things are calm. Brand shows up when the chef calls in sick, the POS goes down, a customer complains, and the team is stretched. In this episode, Shaun explains why pressure is the real test and how to make sure your venue defaults to its values instead of improvising them.This week's actions:Think of a realistic tough service — short staff, tech failure, unhappy guestAsk: what do we say to customers, what does staff say to each other, and who makes decisions?If the answers change depending on who's on shift, write down a shared expectation: how we behave when it's hardWant help with this? Aligning behaviour under pressure is at the heart of the Pantry Review. Get in touch: [email protected] episode: Why the strongest brands aren't louder, they're clearer.How to connect with Open Pantry Co.Reach out to us here: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: Link
S2 Ep 25Episode 25 - The Brands That Win Aren't the Loudest — They're the Clearest
The instinct when trade softens is to do more...more posts, more promos, more noise. But if customers don't really get you yet, more volume won't fix it. In this final episode of the brand series, Shaun explains why clarity compounds and noise doesn't, and how to check whether what you already have is actually aligned.This week's actions:Pick four touchpoints — menu, service style, job ads, socials or websiteAsk: do they all sound like they belong to the same venue?Ask your team: where are we accidentally sending mixed signals?That's a wrap on the brand series. If any of it has surfaced work worth doing, the Pantry Review is where we help venues sharpen before they scale. Get in touch: [email protected] series: Money — what actually makes hospitality work.How to connect with Open Pantry Co.Reach out to us here: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: Link
S2 Ep 23Episode 23 - Are You Running a Venue or a Collection of Ideas?
Brand drift doesn't happen overnight. It happens one reasonable decision at a time — a new dish here, a service tweak there, until the venue stops feeling intentional and just feels busy. In this episode, Shaun introduces a single filter question to help operators spot drift before it stalls performance.This week's actions:Before adding or changing anything, ask: does this make us more us, or just more busy?Run that filter across your menu, service style, hours, and marketingAsk your team: what do we do today that no longer fits who we are?Want help with this? Pruning before pushing harder is one of the first things we look at in the Pantry Review. Get in touch: [email protected] episode: Where brand really shows up — and it's not on your best day.How to connect with Open Pantry Co.Reach out to us here: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: Link
S2 Ep 22Episode 22 - If You Can't Say It in One Sentence, Neither Can Your Team
Brand confusion doesn't show up in your logo — it shows up operationally. Menus that feel scattered, service that changes depending on who's rostered, teams making different calls because no one's clear on what matters most.In this episode, Shaun introduces the One Sentence Brand Test: a simple tool to find the gap and close it.This week's actions:Write your venue's brand in one sentence — no "and also"Ask two team members to say it back in their own wordsIf you get three different answers, that's your gapWant to work on this? The Pantry Review at Open Pantry Co. is exactly this kind of work. Get in touch.Next episode: What happens when a venue becomes a collection of ideas — and how to pull it back.How to connect with Open Pantry Co.Reach out to us here: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: Link
S2 Ep 21Episode 21- Trailer for the Season 2 and what to expect
This episode discusses the upcoming changes to The Prep List podcast, focusing on shorter, more targeted series to better serve busy operators in the hospitality industry. Learn about the new format, structure, and upcoming topics designed to keep content both relevant and efficient.Key Topics:Transition to short, fortnightly series with four episodes per ingredient themeFocus on core hospitality ingredients: brand, money, location, space, menu, supply, systems, peopleMaintaining a consistent format: one trend, one tool, one operator move, one team questionEpisode length capped at under 10 minutes for concise, actionable insightsFirst series will focus on "Brand," launching next MondayRationale behind changing to suit operator needs and content consumption habitsHow the new format aligns with client frameworks used daily in hospitality consultingThe importance of delivering high-value, manageable content for busy professionalsHow to connect with Open Pantry Co.Subscribe to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: Link
S1 Ep 20Episode 20 - What this year taught us
SummaryIn this episode, Shaun reflects on the key lessons learned in the hospitality industry over the past year, emphasising the importance of clarity, the necessity of systems, strategic cutting for profitability, and evolving recruitment trends. He encourages operators to focus on building a strong foundation for 2026 by learning from past experiences and making thoughtful decisions.TakeawaysClarity beats speed in decision-making.Operators who paused for clarity outperformed others.Systems are essential for operational success.Cutting wisely can lead to better profitability.Smaller menus with a strong identity are more effective.Recruitment trends show a shift towards stability and growth opportunities.People seek belonging in their workplace.Investing in onboarding leads to better team retention.Pruning complexity can foster growth.Reflecting on what to leave behind can reset team dynamics.How to connect with Open Pantry Co.Email us at Open Pantry Co: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: LinkMentioned in this episode:Now Book ItGo to https://www.nowbookit.com/Now Book ItGo to https://www.nowbookit.com/
S1 Ep 19Episode 19 - Reset Your Mindset for 2026
SummaryIn this episode, Shaun emphasises the importance of preparing for the upcoming year in the hospitality industry. He discusses the need for operational tidying and financial reviews before the busy January period, highlighting key areas such as rostering, supplier reviews, menu costings, and staff management. The conversation encourages operators to take proactive steps now to ensure a smoother transition into the new year, ultimately leading to greater success and reduced stress.Key takeawaysStart your year with a clear mindset and strategy.Focus on small operational resets to avoid stress later.Review rostering templates to prepare for staff changes.Conduct regular supplier reviews to save costs.Analyse menu costings to identify underperforming items.Clean up tech systems to ensure accurate data.Establish clear team structures and roles before January.Engage your team in identifying operational friction points.Momentum is key; start the process now.Seek professional help for strategy cleanups and recruitment.Links to brands we talked about in this show:Termina: WebsiteHow to connect with Open Pantry Co.Email us: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: LinkMentioned in this episode:Now Book ItGo to https://www.nowbookit.com/Now Book ItGo to https://www.nowbookit.com/
S1 Ep 18Episode 18 - Transforming Hospitality Through Employee Wellness
SummaryIn this episode, Shaun discusses the critical role of wellness in the hospitality industry, emphasising its impact on employee retention, service quality, and overall operational success. He presents a compelling case for why wellness should be viewed as a strategic priority rather than a luxury, highlighting measurable ROI through reduced turnover and improved team dynamics. Practical tools and strategies are shared to foster a culture of care and connection among staff, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and productive work environment.TakeawaysWellness is a measurable lever for improving culture.A basic wellness program can significantly reduce turnover.The cost of replacing staff is substantial in the hospitality industry.Simple wellness practices can enhance team connection.Asking the right questions can uncover practical solutions.Wellness initiatives can lead to better customer interactions.Operational strategies should prioritise employee well-being.Small changes can have a big impact on team morale.Positioning wellness in job ads attracts better candidates.Leadership should focus on creating a supportive environment.How to connect with Open Pantry Co.Email Open Pantry Co: [email protected] to the 🥪Sandwich Press Newsletter: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Website: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Instagram: LinkOpen Pantry Co. YouTube: LinkOpen Pantry Co. LinkedIn: LinkOpen Pantry Co. Linktree: LinkMentioned in this episode:Now Book ItGo to https://www.nowbookit.com/Now Book ItGo to https://www.nowbookit.com/