"Fine" Dining14 Mai 2025

Papa Johns: Garlic Dip, CEO Scandals, & the First Bitcoin Pizza

🍕 Papa Johns: Garlic Dip, CEO Scandals, & the First Bitcoin Pizza 🍕

From a broom closet in Indiana to viral garlic sauce bath bombs, Papa Johns has had one of the weirdest journeys in chain restaurant history. In this episode, I explore the story of America's youngest major pizza chain — the sauce that changed the industry, the man who ate 40 pizzas in 30 days, and how a slice of Papa Johns became the first physical purchase made with Bitcoin.

We're talking about Shaq, lawsuits, racial slurs on conference calls, and a clock made of eagles. Yes, really. Comedian Nick Stargu joins me to talk everything Papa Johns!

Does Papa Johns have the most cursed origin story in pizza? Or is it just misunderstood?

🧄 The Garlic Dipping Sauce That Changed the Game
📈 Explosive Growth & a Stock Ticker Called "PZZA"
🚗 Selling a Camaro to Fund the First Oven
👎 CEO John Schnatter's Downfall: NFL Drama & Racist Rants
🤑 The $800 Million Bitcoin Pizza
🛁 Garlic-Scented Bath Bombs for Superfans
📉 How Papa John's Nearly Lost Everything
🍕 Shaq Joins the Board (And Gets His Own Pizza?)
👨‍🍳 From "Better Ingredients" to Better PR Moves?

💬 COMMENT BELOW: What's your go-to pizza chain — and is Papa Johns even in the conversation?

Check out Nick's comedy special here!

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Patreon Producers: Sue Ornelas & Joyce Van

👉 NEXT WEEK: We're actually going to eat Papa Johns. Is it as bad as I remember? Or has it crawled back into crusty relevancy?

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