{"podcast":{"title":"Defining Hospitality","slug":"defining-hospitality-4474091","podcast_index_feed_id":4474091,"rss_url":"https://feeds.transistor.fm/defining-hospitality-podcast","website_url":"http://www.defininghospitality.live","image_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/OzoyXev3ftWKuyY_-NovZJmcbLN9d-mYgaYpwVNfSZw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9zaG93/LzM5MzU3LzE2ODE4/MjI1NTUtYXJ0d29y/ay5qcGc.jpg","author":"Dan Ryan","episode_count":261,"summary":"Welcome to Defining Hospitality, the podcast focused on highlighting the most influential figures in the hospitality industry. In each episode we provide 1 on 1, in depth interviews with experts in the industry to learn what hospitality means to them. We feature expert advice on working in the industry, behind the scenes looks at some of your favorite brands, and in depth explorations of unique hospitality projects. Defining Hospitality is hosted by Founder and CEO of Agency 967, Dan Ryan. With over 30 years of experience in hospitality, Dan brings his expertise and passion to each episode as he delves into the latest trends and challenges facing the industry. Episodes are released every week on Wednesday mornings. To listen to episodes, visit https://www.defininghospitality.live/ or subscribe to Defining Hospitality wherever you get your podcasts.","last_synced_at":"2026-07-22T18:21:25.387597+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/defining-hospitality-4474091"},"episode":{"title":"Niching Down then Grow - Alex Kuby - Defining Hospitality","slug":"niching-down-then-grow-alex-kuby-defining-hospitality","published_at":"2026-06-24T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/defining-hospitality-4474091/niching-down-then-grow-alex-kuby-defining-hospitality","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/defining-hospitality-4474091","url":"https://share.transistor.fm/s/ef8c3d9a","audio_url":"https://media.transistor.fm/ef8c3d9a/c3022bf1.mp3","summary":"This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Alex Kuby, Associate Principal at Dyelot and a lifelong student of how built environments shape human experience. From his early days at HBA in Santa Monica to helping lead a studio through a full brand transformation, Alex has spent his career asking what it really means to make people feel seen, supported, and cared for inside a space. Together, Dan and Alex explore approachable hospitality, the power of integrated services, and what niching down actually looks like when you are doing it from the inside. About the Guest: On this episode, Dan Ryan sits down with Alex Kuby, Associate Principal at Dyelot, a hospitality interiors studio bolstered by branding, procurement, and architectural services. Alex has been part of the firm since its days as RDC, helping shape its evolution into a focused, values driven hospitality design practice. When he is not leading visioning workshops or authoring the Dylot blog, he is probably thinking about how a grocery store can double as a neighborhood heartbeat. Chapters: 00:42 Show Intro and Sponsor 01:04 Meet Alex Kuby 01:31 Shared Roots and Catching Up 03:19 Defining Hospitality 03:58 Approachable Hospitality 05:25 RDC to Dyelot Story 09:34 WELL and Sustainable FF&E 20:59 Capital ROI and Visioning 32:23 Sustainable Sponsor Shoutout 32:41 Design Meets Procurement 35:38 Why Branding Comes First 39:04 Blogging and Brand Transition 41:49 Niching Down the Studio 43:22 Grocery as Community Hub 46:09 Public Spaces and Connection 50:12 Career Advice and Mentorship 53:28 Memory Lane and Farewell Quote of the Show: \"Hospitality is the humanity in the built environment, that is the way in which we express care and facilitate all of those great high touch point, high emotional engagements that the best hosp…","meta_description":"This week, Dan Ryan sits down with Alex Kuby, Associate Principal at Dyelot and a lifelong student of how built environments shape human experience. From…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":3520,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/defining-hospitality-4474091/episodes/niching-down-then-grow-alex-kuby-defining-hospitality/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/defining-hospitality-4474091/niching-down-then-grow-alex-kuby-defining-hospitality.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}