• Show Notes

This week on the Stay Tuned with Preet podcast, Danny Meyer, renowned restaurateur and founder of Shake Shack and Union Square Hospitality Group, joins Preet to discuss his new book, What Could Possibly Go Right? The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture.

Through personal stories and many metaphors, Meyer shares the most important lessons he’s learned from opening, closing, and reopening restaurants across New York City, including why it’s so important not to fear failure. Meyer also explains what drew him to hospitality in the first place and why fomenting the culture of his restaurants matters just as much, if not more, than the food being served. Finally, Meyer shares why he believes “no tax on tips” will actually widen the wage gap, and why the United States is unlikely to ever do away with tipping at restaurants.

At the end of the episode, Preet answers listener questions about the Justice Department’s efforts to revive its criminal case against former FBI Director Jim Comey. Plus, Preet’s thoughts on civil disobedience.

In the bonus for Insiders, Meyer shares his takes on competitiveness and what it’s like to dine at his own restaurants.

Join the Insider community for access to bonus content from Stay Tuned and weekly episodes of the Insider podcast hosted by Preet and Joyce Vance. Visit staytuned.substack.com to sign up. Thank you for supporting our work.

Shop Stay Tuned merch and featured books by our guests in our Amazon storefront.

Have a question for Preet? Ask @PreetBharara on BlueSky or Twitter with the hashtag #AskPreet. Email us at staytuned@cafe.com, or call 833-997-7338 to leave a voicemail. 

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Stay Tuned with Preet is brought to you by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network.

REFERENCES & SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS:

  • Danny Meyer, “What Could Possibly Go Right? The Essential Journey to Scale an Enduring Culture,” Random House, 9/29/26
  • “Why Is Danny Meyer, the Happy Face of Hospitality, Serving Up Regrets?,” NYT, 9/14/26
  • Danny Meyer, “Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business,” Ecco, 10/13/09
  • “Restaurateur Danny Meyer Says Building a Career in Hospitality Is ‘Absolutely’ a Calling: ‘No One Does This Because It’s Easy’,” People, 9/14/26
Danny Meyer Hospitality No tax on tips Restaurants Shake Shack