Nashville Restaurant Radio

In this episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio, Brandon sits down with Kevin Finch, Executive Director of Big Table, and Becky Kinder, City Director for Big Table. Big Table is a nonprofit that exists to care for those who care for us—the people working in restaurants and hospitality.

Together, we dive into:

• What sets Big Table apart from other restaurant and hospitality-focused charities.

• The role of faith and values in thei...

Guests:

• Jacob Steiner – Brand Ambassador, Robert Mondavi Winery

• Jessika Hickman – Field Sales Manager, Constellation Brands

• Jennifer Alexander – Key Account Manager (On-Premise), Lippman Brothers

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Episode Overview

In this episode, we sit down for an impromptu but lively conversation with three people shaping the way wine is experienced and sold in Nashville and beyond. From Napa Valley to Broadway, we dig into the history, tren...

In this episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio, Ryan Reisdorf—founder of Placemat—joins us to explore how healthy, at-home dining and hospitality can foster community well-being. A former nursing student turned entrepreneur, Ryan shares the journey that led him to launch Placemat out of a passion for health and connection.

Episode Highlights

• From Nursing School to Meal Platform

Ryan began studying nursing and metabolic disease a...

Hey y’all, welcome back to Nashville Restaurant Radio — I’m your host, Brandon Styll, and today I have the honor of sitting down with one of the most fascinating and talented chefs in our city — Jake Howell, chef and partner at Peninsula Restaurant here in Nashville, and the 2025 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: Southeast.

This is a marathon of an episode — just over two hours — and honestly, I could’ve kept going.

Jake is a t...

In this episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio, Brandon sits down with Tyler Lechtanski, the creative force behind Jambox, one of Nashville’s most talked-about sandwich shops. From his roots in fine dining to launching a concept rooted in nostalgia and bold flavor, Tyler shares the journey that led him to create a neighborhood favorite that’s redefining what a sandwich shop can be.

We dive into:

• Tyler’s culinary background, includ...

In this episode, we’re joined by Aaron Vaccaro, CEO of Liquor Lab, a hands-on, interactive cocktail experience with locations in Nashville and Louisville.

Aaron shares the story behind Liquor Lab’s unique concept — part mixology class, part social event — and how it’s become a go-to destination for team building, date nights, and unforgettable group experiences. We talk about what makes the Liquor Lab model so successful, how his ba...

In this lively episode, we sit down with Janell and Mike Bass, the husband-and-wife duo behind PonyBoy Slings, the ready-to-drink bourbon cocktail that’s quickly taking the market by storm.

We kick things off by learning how they met, the proposal story (yes, it’s a good one), and whatever Bumble is—because, apparently, your host needed a quick dating app tutorial.

From there, we dive into their backgrounds in bartending, acting, and...

In this episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio, Brandon sits down with Mark Waldo, the founder of Waldo’s Chicken & Beer — one of the fastest-growing chicken concepts in the Southeast.

Mark shares the story behind Waldo’s: from opening the first location in Germantown, to now expanding into multiple states with a clear mission — great chicken, cold beer, and genuine hospitality. We talk about what makes Waldo’s different in a cro...

This special bonus episode is a little different. Today, we’re sharing an episode from another podcast — Shut Up and Thrive! — where our very own Brandon Styll was the guest.

Over the past year, Brandon has experienced profound personal loss. Within a single month, he lost his cousin Blake, his grandmother, and his beloved cat, Mr. Business. While he hasn’t talked much about this journey on Nashville Restaurant Radio, the emotional ...

It’s Mental Health Awareness Month and Men’s Health Month — and we’re diving deep into both.

Today’s guest is Dr. Joe Pazona, board-certified urologist and founder of Pazona MD, who joins us to talk about something we all need more of: preventative health.

From prostate health and prostate cancer screenings to erectile dysfunction, GLP-1 medications for weight loss, hormone optimization, and the importance of regular checkups — we co...

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Matthew Clements, Partner at Robins Insurance Agency, and a trusted expert in hospitality-focused risk management. Before we dive into our conversation, I take a moment to share some background on the Nashville Area Restaurant Alliance (NARA) — a growing community of local restaurant owners working together to leverage collective buying power, improve vendor relationships, and support each other ...

In this powerful and practical episode, we sit down with Kristine Mylls, founder of Mylls Hospitality Marketing, right after her return from the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. Kristine brings the heat with her Top 10 actionable tips restaurant operators can implement today to improve their marketing efforts. From current trends to the rise of hospitality influencers, we cover it all—with plenty of laughs and real ...

Today on the podcast, we’re joined by Ken Pelletier, Co-Founder of Calexo, to break down the newly signed legislation HB 1376, recently approved by Governor Bill Lee.

Ken brings clarity to what this bill actually means for the Tennessee hospitality and beverage industry, especially for restaurants and bars looking to serve hemp-derived THC beverages.

We cover:

• ✅ What’s changing under HB 1376

• 📅 When the new regulations go into effe...

In this episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio, host Brandon Styll sits down with Vince Lanni, a multifaceted leader in Nashville's hospitality scene. Vince wears many hats: he's the General Manager at Greenery Co., a fresh, fast-casual restaurant in Hillsboro Village known for its locally sourced salads, bowls, and seasonal dishes . He's also the founder of Serve Up Strategies, a consultancy dedicated to helping bars and restaurant...

We’re thrilled to welcome Leesa Leclaire, President & CEO of the Greater Nashville Hospitality Association (GNHA), to the podcast today!

In this episode, Leesa breaks down the important work the GNHA is doing to support and advocate for local restaurants and hospitality businesses. We dive into the current state of the industry in Nashville, the challenges operators are facing, and the exciting ways GNHA is stepping up to make a...

This special episode of Nashville Restaurant Radio was recorded live at Team Hidi 2025, Giving Kitchen’s annual fundraiser hosted at iconic Truist Park in Atlanta, GA. The energy was electric, the cause was powerful, and the stories were unforgettable.

We set up our mobile studio and spent the evening speaking with passionate supporters of Giving Kitchen, an organization dedicated to providing emergency assistance to food service wo...

In this episode, we hit the road to Waynesboro, Tennessee, to sit down with Jason Crews, owner of C&B Linen. Get ready—this company is shaking up the linen rental industry in a big way.

C&B Linen is all about transparency and simplicity. No contracts. No sneaky “creative” fees. Just top-tier quality and unmatched service. Sounds too good to be true? We thought so too—until we heard how they’re making it happen.

Jason shares t...

Today’s guest is the amazing Olivia Britton – Publisher of NFocus Magazine and Executive Director of the Music City Food and Wine Festival!

We dive deep into all the details of this year’s event – from how it’s coming together behind the scenes to what attendees can expect during one of Nashville’s most anticipated weekends. Olivia walks us through the full experience, including the highly-anticipated Iron Fork, which is happening r...

We’ve got something truly special for you today! This episode was recorded live from the TN Flavors event at Nashville State Community College, home of the incredible Randy Rayburn School for Culinary Arts. It was an amazing night filled with food, community, and conversation—and we had so much fun capturing it all!

We spoke with a fantastic mix of chefs, entrepreneurs, city leaders, and hospitality pros—each with their own unique s...