Not many of us know when we’re very young, just what course our life is going to take. At the age of 19, Johnny Di Francesco knew exactly what he didn’t want.

He had watched his single Mum juggling two jobs working around the clock to bring up three kids, and he learned that grit, determination and very hard work was the recipe he needed for business success, personal satisfaction and financial security. 

Fiercely independent and driven to make his mark, Johnny opened his first business at 19, was running 7 businesses by the age of 23, and fast-forward to today, he sits at the helm of the international Gradi restaurant and retail empire. 

His Neapolitan Pizza was named the best in the world at the World Pizza Championships in Italy, where he beat 600 competitors from 35 countries, and he now plans to continue his international expansion.

But underneath all this, is a man who is insatiably hungry to learn and perfect his craft, who relishes the thrill of the chase, and who takes each and every failure as a learning opportunity. Here’s our chat with ‘Mr Pizza’, Johnny Di Francesco.


Guest: Johnny Di Francesco
Website: 400gradi.com
Socials: Instagram


Hosts: Sabina Read and Madeleine Grummet
Producer: Daryl Missen atPurple Wax

Human Cogs is available on Apple, Stitcher, Spotify, Google Podcasts or via our website.

Got some thoughts on today's episode you'd like to share? 
Join in the convo at insta@human.cogs

Want to support our show? We will sprinkle you with loving kindness and all good things if you CLICK FOLLOW on Apple and Spotify! Or if you're really feeling it, please leave us a REVIEW.

Thanks for listening! 

Not many of us know when we’re very young, just what course our life is going to take. At the age of 19, <a href="https://400gradi.com/about-us/">Johnny Di Francesco</a> knew exactly what he didn’t want.
He had watched his single Mum juggling two jobs working around the clock to bring up three kids, and he learned that grit, determination and very hard work was the recipe he needed for business success, personal satisfaction and financial security. 
Fiercely independent and driven to make his mark, Johnny opened his first business at 19, was running 7 businesses by the age of 23, and fast-forward to today, he sits at the helm of the <a href="https://400gradi.com/">international Gradi restaurant</a> and retail empire. 
His Neapolitan Pizza was named the best in the world at the World Pizza Championships in Italy, where he beat 600 competitors from 35 countries, and he now plans to continue his international expansion.
But underneath all this, is a man who is insatiably hungry to learn and perfect his craft, who relishes the thrill of the chase, and who takes each and every failure as a learning opportunity. Here’s our chat with ‘Mr Pizza’, Johnny Di Francesco.
<a href="https://www.madeleinegrummet.com/"> </a>Guest: Johnny Di Francesco Website: <a href="https://400gradi.com/">400gradi.com</a> Socials: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/johnny.di.francesco/">Instagram</a> 
Hosts: <a href="https://www.sabinareadpsychology.com.au/">Sabina Read</a> and <a href="https://www.madeleinegrummet.com/">Madeleine Grummet</a> Producer: Daryl Missen at <a href="https://purplewax.com.au/">Purple Wax</a>
Human Cogs is available on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/human-cogs-podcast/id1525840415">Apple</a>, <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/human-cogs-podcast#/">Stitcher</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1okDf71XeRCI5RnfxhC6OD">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cub21ueWNvbnRlbnQuY29tL2QvcGxheWxpc3QvNjViYWY0NDctYTQ1ZC00YzE2LTg0ODMtYWJlYzAwNmEwYWM0L2FmZTc0NDMzLTA3N2ItNDA4Zi04NTIwLWFiZWMwMDZhYjJlZC9kMTdhNjM0NS0xM2EyLTQ0NjUtYmU4Zi1hYmVjMDA2ZGI1YjkvcG9kY2FzdC5yc3M?sa=X&amp;ved=0CAYQrrcFahcKEwiowqf95uvqAhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAg">Google Podcasts</a> or via our <a href="https://www.humancogs.com/guests">website</a>.
Got some thoughts on today's episode you'd like to share? Join in the convo at insta <a href="https://www.instagram.com/human.cogs/">@human.cogs</a> Want to support our show? We will sprinkle you with loving kindness and all good things if you CLICK FOLLOW on Apple and Spotify! Or if you're really feeling it, please leave us a REVIEW. Thanks for listening!

What if the stories we hide are the ones that shape us most?

Human Cogs is the podcast that rips the veneer off everyday life to reveal the raw human truths that lie underneath our everyday lives.

Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, startup investor and ABC journalist and presenter Madeleine Hanger (Grummet), alongside psychologist and media commentator Sabina Read, each episode unpacks big ideas, untold truths and the messy magic of being human.

From life’s darkest moments to its most profound joys, our extraordinary guests share secrets they’ve never told, surprising insights into love, loss, success and identity — and the hard-won wisdom that just might change the way you live, think and feel.

If you're curious about what really makes people tick this is the podcast for you.

🎧 Subscribe now and listen wherever you get your podcasts.
🌐 www.humancogs.com

What if the stories we hide are the ones that shape us most?
Human Cogs is the podcast that rips the veneer off everyday life to reveal the raw human truths that lie underneath our everyday lives.
Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, startup investor and ABC journalist and presenter&nbsp;<a href="https://linktr.ee/MadeleineGrummet">Madeleine Hanger (Grummet)</a>, alongside psychologist and media commentator <a href="https://www.sabinareadpsychology.com.au/">Sabina Read</a>, each episode unpacks big ideas, untold truths and the messy magic of being human.
From life&rsquo;s darkest moments to its most profound joys, our <a href="https://www.humancogs.com/guests">extraordinary guests</a> share secrets they&rsquo;ve never told, surprising insights into love, loss, success and identity &mdash; and the hard-won wisdom that just might change the way you live, think and feel.
If you're curious about what really makes people tick this is the podcast for you.
🎧 Subscribe now and listen wherever you get your podcasts. 🌐 <a href="http://www.humancogs.com" data-start="1147" data-end="1192">www.humancogs.com</a>

Human Cogs Podcast

Humans Cogs brings you stories that matter, hard-won wisdom and raw conversations about what's really going on in people's lives.

Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, journalist and investor Madeleine Grummet and psychologist and media contributor Sabina Read, each episode features raw conversations with extraordinary guests who lift the lid on their real lives to help you explore what you think you know about yourself, and the changing world around you.

Human Cogs is a point of universal connection for us all, exploring the things that bring us together, and the things that tear us apart.

Humans Cogs brings you stories that matter, hard-won wisdom and raw conversations about what's really going on in people's lives. Hosted by award-winning entrepreneur, journalist and investor <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/madeleinegrummet">Madeleine Grummet</a> and psychologist and media contributor <a href="https://www.sabinareadpsychology.com.au/">Sabina Read</a>, each episode features raw conversations with <a href="https://www.humancogs.com/guests">extraordinary guests</a> who lift the lid on their real lives to help you explore what you think you know about yourself, and the changing world around you. Human Cogs is a point of universal connection for us all, exploring the things that bring us together, and the things that tear us apart.

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