CREW TABLE

About CREW TABLE

Crew Table – The Podcast That Goes Beyond the Spotlight Step behind the scenes of business, creativity, and high-pressure industries with Crew Table, hosted by George John, an acclaimed wedding photographer and creative entrepreneur. This isn’t just about weddings—it’s about the hustle, the setbacks, the personal struggles, and the unfiltered truths behind success. Each week, George sits down with powerhouse guests from the worlds of luxury fashion, photography, business, and events—from celebrity designers and high-end creatives to entrepreneurs and industry disruptors. They reveal what it

Publisher

crewtable

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

23 Oct 2024

Latest episode

1 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

34 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   1 Sept 2026

   032. KERBSIDE EATERY [VIDEO]

   Jonathan Israfil, founder and owner of Kerbside Eatery (https://www.instagram.com/kerbsideeatery/), joins George John (https://www.instagram.com/georgejohnphotography/) on CREW TABLE (https://www.instagram.com/crewtable/) for an honest, funny and incredibly practical conversation about getting fired, starting from nothing, building a hospitality business and learning to back yourself when the traditional path doesn’t work out. Before Kerbside, Jonathan studied civil engineering and spent several years trying to build the career he thought he was supposed to have. The problem? In his own words, he was a terrible engineer, an even worse employee and completely unfulfilled by the life he was working towards. Then he got fired. It happened just as Australia entered its first COVID lockdown. Engineering jobs disappeared, rejection emails piled up and Jonathan found himself lying in bed at midday feeling like he had wasted years of his life. Then his girlfriend Danielle, now his wife, called him on her lunch break and reminded him about a random idea he had once mentioned at the family dinner table: cheesecake on a stick. He practically hung up the phone and got to work. What started as Jonathan and his sister selling cheesecake from a marquee outside their parents’ home became Kerbside Creamery, then food trucks, collaborations and eventually Kerbside Eatery. Today, Kerbside has grown into one of Western Sydney’s most recognisable hospitality brands, with multiple locations, a team approaching 100 people and a fiercely loyal online community. In this episode, Jonathan takes us right back to the beginning and breaks down what starting a business actually looked like when he had no roadmap, no hospitality background and very little idea what he was doing. We talk about the Facebook community post that unexpectedly changed everything, working alongside his entire family in a freezing cold tent, how collaborating with other small businesses opened the door to Kerbside Eatery, and how he went from cheesecake on a stick to building an entire savoury menu and opening a restaurant in just weeks. Jonathan also gives an unusually open look at the realities of scaling a restaurant business: working 80–90 hour weeks, hiring and managing staff, choosing locations, signing long-term leases, restaurant fit-outs, equipment costs and why every new store still carries enormous risk. The conversation also dives deep into social media and personal branding. Jonathan originally wanted absolutely nothing to do with being the face of Kerbside. He hated being photographed and was terrified of looking cringe online. But as TikTok changed how businesses reached customers, he realised he had a choice: stay afraid or evolve. We unpack the viral chocolate videos that changed his relationship with social media, why people care far less about you than you think they do, and why getting comfortable with judgement became one of the biggest turning points in Kerbside’s growth. We also talk about Jonathan’s controversial approach to openly sharing Kerbside recipes online, why he believes knowledge should be shared rather than protected, what makes a good employee, why attitude matters more than experience and what being a bad employee taught him about becoming a better boss. And despite four stores and customers lining up before doors even open, Jonathan admits he still doesn’t really feel successful. He rarely stops long enough to appreciate what has been built because he is constantly thinking about what needs improving next. Eventually, the conversation turns from business to something much bigger: family. Jonathan shares why his ultimate dream isn’t simply opening more restaurants. He wants to buy an entire street, put his family in the homes along it and one day name the street after them. It’s a conversation about business, but underneath it all, it’s about family, resilience, risk, confidence and learning that sometimes getting fired from the life you thought you wanted can be the beginning of the life you were actually meant to build. HOSTED BY George John PRODUCED BY Daniel John

2. 

   17 Aug 2026

   031. ALEX SARKIS [VIDEO]

   Australian author Alex Sarkis (https://www.instagram.com/alex_sarkis/) joins George John (https://www.instagram.com/georgejohnphotography/?hl=en) on CREW TABLE for a funny, honest and unexpectedly deep conversation about writing, Western Sydney, Lebanese-Australian identity, faith, fear and what it actually takes to become a published author. Alex is the author of Something Blue (https://www.dymocks.com.au/something-blue-by-alex-sarkis-9781761153761) and Something New (http://dymocks.com.au/something-new-by-alex-sarkis-9781761154393), two novels deeply connected to Sydney’s West, family, community, belonging and the characters that make Western Sydney unlike anywhere else. But becoming an author was never part of some perfectly mapped-out career plan. Alex studied accounting and worked in her family business while writing quietly in the background. What began as a creative outlet during a period where she felt bored and directionless eventually became Something Blue — and remarkably, the only two books she has ever written are also the two books she has had published. In this episode, Alex takes us inside that journey: from being terrified to let other people read her work, to pitching her first manuscript, getting a publishing deal and then immediately questioning whether she had made a terrible mistake. We also unpack the side of publishing most readers never see. Alex speaks candidly about author royalties, why selling a book for $30 doesn’t mean the author is making anywhere near $30, the PR and marketing expected of modern authors and why publishing a successful book doesn’t necessarily mean becoming rich. The conversation goes far beyond books. Alex opens up about growing up in a Lebanese family in Western Sydney, why Something Blue became a love letter to the community she knows so well, stereotypes and representation in Australian storytelling, why she believes telling a great story should always come before ticking boxes and why Sydney itself became almost another character in her work. We talk about the meaning of home, feeling trapped inside your own expectations, imposter syndrome, criticism, social media and BookTok, why she doesn’t particularly enjoy promoting herself online and whether the constant noise of social media is making us more connected or increasingly lonely. And then the conversation turns to faith. Alex shares why her relationship with God has become central to her life, why she doesn’t believe in manifestation without God, learning to surrender control, the private moments that strengthened her faith and why she now believes taking a risk can itself be an act of faith. There are also rapper ambitions, a missing CD that Alex desperately hopes never resurfaces, Bible studies, brutal family honesty and perhaps the greatest piece of fatherly advice ever delivered during a publishing-induced meltdown. This is a conversation about much more than becoming an author. It’s about creating something before you feel ready, putting your work into the world when you’re terrified of being judged and having enough faith to pursue the thing you can’t stop thinking about. Follow Alex Sarkis on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alex_sarkis/ (https://www.instagram.com/alex_sarkis/) Follow CREW TABLE: https://www.instagram.com/crewtable/ (https://www.instagram.com/crewtable/)

3. 

   3 Aug 2026

   030. RYAN PATROS [VIDEO]

   Ryan Petros (https://www.instagram.com/ryanpatrosofficial/) is one of Australia’s leading luxury bridal couture designers, renowned for creating breathtaking custom gowns for brides around the world and dressing some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Selena Gomez, Ciara, Camila Cabello and Sofia Vergara. His work has also been featured by Harper’s Bazaar, after Beyoncé wore a Ryan & Walter design. (Harper’s Bazaar (https://www.harpersbazaar.com.sg/life/beyonce-wears-luxe-bridal-gown-holiday-photo/?utm_source=chatgpt.com)) In this episode of CREW TABLE, George John (https://www.instagram.com/georgejohnphotography/?hl=en)sits down with Ryan for an honest conversation about building one of Australia’s most respected couture fashion houses. From the sacrifices behind launching his brand to designing for A-list celebrities, Ryan shares what it really takes to succeed in the world of luxury bridal fashion. Together, they discuss the evolution of bridal couture, working with celebrity clients, building a globally recognised fashion label, balancing creativity with business, social media’s influence on the luxury market, and why exceptional craftsmanship will always outlast trends. Whether you’re a bride searching for the perfect wedding dress, a fashion enthusiast, wedding supplier, designer, entrepreneur or creative business owner, this episode offers an inspiring behind-the-scenes look into one of the industry’s most fascinating careers. In this episode: • Building a luxury bridal couture brand • Designing gowns for Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Selena Gomez, Ciara, Camila Cabello and Sofia Vergara • The story behind Ryan & Walter • Celebrity styling and red carpet fashion • The business of luxury fashion • Bridal trends and the future of couture • Creativity, entrepreneurship and building a premium brand — About CREW TABLE CREW TABLE is a long-form podcast hosted by award-winning wedding photographer George John, featuring candid conversations with some of the world’s most influential creatives, entrepreneurs and industry leaders. From luxury weddings and bridal fashion to business, design and storytelling, each episode uncovers the journeys, mindset and lessons behind extraordinary careers. If you enjoyed this episode, follow CREW TABLE on Spotify and leave a rating to help others discover the show.

Who has been a guest on CREW TABLE

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Ann Hassarati
• Tina
• Sandra
• Astrid

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

4.8 / 5

73 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

64

Social presence

97

YouTube

0

Engagement

51

Contact CREW TABLE

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

Questions about CREW TABLE