Spotlight On Hospitality Entrepreneurs: Steve Schussler
Podcasts > Culinary Confidential with Christina Cates
Monday, February 16, 2026
Week 3 of the Spotlight On Hospitality Entrepreneurs series brings along one of the most imaginative forces in modern dining: Steve Schussler, the visionary behind Rainforest Cafe and founder of Schussler Creative.
Schussler's career reshaped what a restaurant could be. From globally recognized concepts like Rainforest Cafe to immersive destinations like T-Rex Cafe, Yak & Yeti, & Disney Springs' The Boathouse, he built more than just brands. He built worlds. His work blends storytelling, spectacle, and emotional connection, proving that hospitality is as much about experience and escapism as it is about food.
As the founder of Schussler Creative and author of It's A Jungle In There, Schussler brings decades of creative insight, creative risk-taking, and philanthropic purpose to the table. He shares conversations behind scaling concepts internationally, the reinventions that helped shape his path, and the mindset that's required for creating such enduring ideas.
Related Episodes
Culinary Confidential's Mother's Day Spotlight with Jody & Richard Kreush
Monday, February 16
Brandon Manly & Casey Cooley
Monday, February 16
Steve Lombardo III and the Lombardo Legacy
Monday, February 16
