From slots to the 9th Island, Andre Filosi has spent nearly his entire working life with Boyd Gaming. He’s currently the General Manager of Boyd’s three downtown properties, the Fremont, Main St. Station and the California. Andre shares his own journey up the ladder, as well as how the California went from the verge of bankruptcy to the most popular destination in Las Vegas for Hawaiians. It’s another great episode highlighting the history of Las Vegas Downtown.

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

When you need a license to run a casino in Nevada, Dennis Gutwald is that man to see. That’s what Jonathan did when he took over the Plaza a decade ago. Gutwald was also an investigator for the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

These days, along with gaming, he also advises people in the cannabis business. He shares stories of his long career, including how he helped then 29-year old Jonathan become the youngest person ever to be licensed as a casino operator.

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Casinos, online gaming, and online travel reservations. Tim Poster has been successful in all three. He made his first fortune turning a Vegas-centric telephone hotel reservation service into a company that Expedia would buy.

He bought the Golden Nugget, then sold it for a profit after only 18 months – becoming a reality TV star along the way. He tells all – in one of our most comprehensive episodes yet!

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

It’s quite an accomplishment to become the head of Las Vegas casino. But Marilyn Spiegel has been at the helm of SEVEN casinos in her career. 

From the Holiday Casino to not one but TWO tenures as president of Wynn/Encore, Marilyn has seen and done a lot.

Just reciting her resume is a mini history of The Strip and beyond. But she goes above and beyond when sharing her amazing story with Jonathan and Lisa. 

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

The song title from the legendary musical “South Pacific” was the theme of Oscar Goodman’s last dinner series talk. He shared stories of the important women in his life, starting with his grandmother, wife and daughter.

Then it’s off to the races, as Oscar tells the tales of a sleepy judge, a con woman client and a brilliant prosecutor. And, Oscar being Oscar, he veers into a couple of other stories about “challenging” clients. 

John O’Donnell is the bartender at One Steakhouse at the Virgin Hotel. That’s kinda like saying LeBron James is a noted basketball player. John’s been at the center of the action for nearly 30 years – most notably during his years at  N9NE Steakhouse at Palms.

He also led the creation of the East Fremont scene at La Comida, and made Crush the place to be at the MGM Grand. John shares his journey from rural Ireland to London, New York and then the city of his dreams, Las Vegas. 

A trial is supposed to be about the prosecution and the defense. But Oscar Goodman says, in most of his mob-related cases, it was him against the world – meaning the prosecution and the judge.

In the episode, we bring you the best of Oscar’s recent dinner series talk on ‘Rotten Tomato Judges,’ as well as a conversation a couple weeks later amplifying some stories. 

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Like so many others here, Las Vegas native and City Council member Cedric Crear started his career on a casino floor. And he used that experience, plus his time at Howard University, to grow his own businesses and serve the public.

His resume is filled with advisory board positions. And since 2018 he’s represented Ward 5, which includes the Historic Westside and the land on which the Plaza sits, on the Las Vegas City Council. Cedric talks about all of that, and his plan to add another job to his resume: mayor. 

Hold percentages. Smoking or non-smoking. The Showroom’s future. Doug Stanhope. Demolition Derby. And yes, resort fees. Plaza CEO Jonathan Jossel tackles questions both easy and difficult that podcast listeners and social media fans have submitted.

Helping JJ with answers, and making his first podcast appearance: Plaza’s all-around creative, F-and-B and entertainment consultant, Bronson Olimpieri. Also: listen to learn how you can win an Ultimate Plaza Getaway Weekend: two nights, dinner at Oscar’s and drinks at The Sand Dollar Downtown! 

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed

Ted Pappageorge may be the most impactful person in Las Vegas over the past four decades when it comes to casino workers. He’s Secretary-Treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, which represents about 60,000 people.

Ted traces his career from busboy to bartender to union activist, looking to ensure that he, a single father, and his two children continued to have quality healthcare. 

Hosts: Jonathan Jossel, Lisa Melmed