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Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby

Coffeez for Closers with Joe Shalaby

Wahoo's Founder on AI, Failure, and 38 Years of Grind | Coffeez Ep. 307

Jul 10, 2026 · 1 hr 15 min · 18 segments

Wahoo's Fish Taco founder Wing Lam sits down with Joe after 38 years in the game. Buying Thrifty Ice Cream, why AI still can't replace hospitality, the trades comeback, launching brands on social…

Wahoo's Fish Taco founder Wing Lam sits down with Joe after 38 years in the game. Buying Thrifty Ice Cream, why AI still can't replace hospitality, the trades comeback, launching brands on social media, referrals over everything, the mistakes that cost him a fortune, and why networking is the biggest opportunity most people miss. New episodes every week. Pour up. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Wahoo's Fish Taco founder Wing Lam sits down with Joe after 38 years in the game. Buying Thrifty Ice Cream, why AI still can't replace hospitality, the trades comeback, launching brands on social…

Speakers: Wing LamGuestJoseph ShalabyHostMeredithHost

Spotify Apple Podcasts YouTube Amazon Music Website

Top entities: Wahoo's Fish Taco×20 God×11 Wing Lam×6 Generation Z×4 Artificial intelligence×10

Show signals: SuitabilitySafeBiasNot politicalPopularityTop Podcasttop 1%Audience≈23k followers

Morning Routine & Paddle-Board Challenge1:05 – 2:25

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:05

It's been a couple years since we've had you on the show.

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:07

Has any cha- has anything changed with your morning routine since I asked you last?

1:11

Surfing more, swimming more-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:13

Okay

1:13

... 'cause I'm getting ready for a big event this year.

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:15

What are you swimming for?

1:17

Well, I gotta get in shape for-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:18

You're already in shape

1:19

...

1:20

I, I'm in pretty good shape, but you gotta be in...

1:22

Swimming shape is different, right?

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:23

Mm-hmm.

1:24

Surfing, yes, but there is an annual event that happens every September.

1:29

It's the Ben Carlson-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:31

Oh

1:31

...

1:31

Paddle-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:32

Yeah

1:32

... from Catalina to Newport.

1:34

It's a 30 mile-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:35

You're, you're doing that?

1:35

So just think of that.

1:36

Yeah.

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:37

On your surfboard?

1:38

On a paddleboard.

Wahoo's Fish TacoRestaurantRestaurant chain
99%20 mentions
GodEntitySupreme being
97%11 mentions
Wing LamPersonCo-Founder of Wahoo's Fish Taco
96%6 mentions
Generation ZEntity
94%4 mentions
Artificial intelligenceEntityProfessional field
92%10 mentions
Dominic DeAngelisPersonActor
91%2 mentions
Social mediaEntity
89%2 mentions
PorscheBrandCar make
87%2 mentions
FailureEntity
85%1 mention
CaliforniaAdministrative AreaUS state
84%4 mentions
Thrifty Ice CreamCompanyManufacturing company
82%1 mention
SacramentoCityCity in California
80%1 mention
La-Z-BoyCompanyFurniture company
78%9 mentions
FactoryEntityBuilding use
77%1 mention
Orange CountyAdministrative AreaCounty in California
75%1 mention
AmericansEntityEthnic group
73%1 mention
Muay ThaiEntityMartial arts
72%5 mentions
Newport BeachCityCity in California
70%2 mentions
TexasAdministrative AreaUS state
68%4 mentions
Monster EnergyProductEnergy drink
66%6 mentions
Cox CommunicationsTV ProviderCable television company
65%4 mentions
TikTokSoftware ApplicationWebsite
63%3 mentions
Gen DigitalCompanySoftware company
61%3 mentions
John Wayne AirportAirportAirport in Orange County, California
59%1 mention
AustinCityCity in Texas
58%3 mentions
X GamesEntity
56%4 mentions
SupercutsCompanySalon company
54%3 mentions
Generation AlphaEntity
53%2 mentions
Rubio's Coastal GrillRestaurantRestaurant chain
51%1 mention
Avast AntivirusSoftware ApplicationSoftware
47%1 mention
MoneyLion Inc.CompanyCompany
47%1 mention
Norton AntiVirusSoftware ApplicationSoftware
47%1 mention
United StatesCountryCountry in North America
44%2 mentions
LakewayCityCity in Texas
42%1 mention
Petco ParkStadium or ArenaBallpark in San Diego, California
41%1 mention
El MonteCityCity in California
39%1 mention
Mount EverestPlaceMountain in Asia
37%1 mention
TacoEntityDish
35%1 mention
Long BeachCityCity in California
34%1 mention
Steve CaballeroPersonAmerican skateboarder
31%1 mention
VansCompanyApparel company
31%1 mention
Garden GroveCityCity in California
28%1 mention
PlumberEntityOccupation
27%1 mention
Good Morning AmericaTV SeriesAmerican television program
25%2 mentions
Vans Warped Tour MontrealEntityMusic festival
23%2 mentions
The JetsonsTV SeriesSitcom
22%1 mention
SublimeMusic GroupRock band
20%2 mentions
RobloxVideo GameComputing platform
18%2 mentions
MrBeastPersonAmerican YouTuber
16%2 mentions
Botulinum toxinEntityMedication
15%1 mention

Restaurant IndustryBusiness > Entrepreneurship
Culinary ArtsFood
Physical ActivityHealth > Fitness
FitnessHealth
Customer ExperienceFood > Culinary Arts > Restaurant Management
Culinary TrendsCulture > Lifestyle > Food Culture
Community EngagementEvents
SwimmingHealth > Fitness > Physical Activity
Food EventsEvents > Community Engagement
MarketingBusiness > Entrepreneurship > Restaurant Industry
Restaurant ManagementFood > Culinary Arts
Health
Events
Business
Food
Culture
EntrepreneurshipBusiness
Social MediaBusiness > Entrepreneurship > Restaurant Industry > Marketing
Food TrendsFood > Culinary Arts > Restaurant Management > Customer Experience
SurfingHealth > Fitness > Physical Activity > Swimming
Social DiningCulture > Lifestyle > Food Culture > Culinary Trends
CateringEvents > Community Engagement > Food Events
NetworkingEvents > Community Engagement > Food Events > Catering
Food CultureCulture > Lifestyle
LifestyleCulture

Morning Routine & Paddle-Board Challenge1:05 – 2:25

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:05

It's been a couple years since we've had you on the show.

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:07

Has any cha- has anything changed with your morning routine since I asked you last?

1:11

Surfing more, swimming more-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:13

Okay

1:13

... 'cause I'm getting ready for a big event this year.

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:15

What are you swimming for?

1:17

Well, I gotta get in shape for-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:18

You're already in shape

1:19

...

1:20

I, I'm in pretty good shape, but you gotta be in...

1:22

Swimming shape is different, right?

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:23

Mm-hmm.

1:24

Surfing, yes, but there is an annual event that happens every September.

1:29

It's the Ben Carlson-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:31

Oh

1:31

...

1:31

Paddle-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:32

Yeah

1:32

... from Catalina to Newport.

1:34

It's a 30 mile-

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:35

You're, you're doing that?

1:35

So just think of that.

1:36

Yeah.

J

Joseph ShalabyHost

1:37

On your surfboard?

1:38

On a paddleboard.

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