Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

Join the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast Shaping the Future of The Restaurant Industry! Hosted by Paul Barron, industry pioneer, investor, and author of The Chipotle Effect. Co-hosted by Cherryh Cansler, the editorial force behind Fastcasual.com, this is where restaurant operators get the competitive edge. Every week, this power duo decodes the trends, strategies, and innovations transforming the restaurant business, driven by the Fast Casual mindset, redefining what's possible across all restaurant segments. With over two decades of combined expertise, Paul and Cherryh don't just report on the industry; they've helped build it. This isn't just a podcast. It's your playbook for what's next. Watch the show on YouTube! Become a Guest on the show! Advertise on the #1 Restaurant Business Podcast

Episodes

May 26, 2026 40 mins

In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Paul Barron sits down with Chris Treloar, CEO of PLNT Burger, and Trace Miller, founder of Konala Protein Bowls, to break down what health-forward fast casual actually looks like in 2025 and beyond. From PLNT Burger's high-volume Whole Foods footprint to Konala's drive-thru protein bowl model built for busy families, the conversation covers menu strategy, the rise of nutritional literacy,...

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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Peter Yang, co-founder and Head of Development at Pokeworks, to explore how the 85-location poke brand turned a viral social media moment into a disciplined, founder-led growth story — covering everything from psychographic-driven site selection and hoodless real estate advantages to suburban expansion, unit economics, and why protecting AUV ...

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Is fast casual Italian finally having its breakthrough moment? In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Matt Harding, Chief Culinary Officer of The Piada Group, to discuss how the brand has defied the odds in a category that has swallowed competitors whole — covering national expansion plans, value-driven operations, chef-forward food culture, and what it takes to build a fast casua...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Paul Barron and co-host Cherryh Cansler are joined by Stacey Kane, Fractional CMO for Emerging Brands, to break down the trends reshaping the restaurant industry. The trio explores how major QSR brands like Starbucks, Dairy Queen, Taco Bell, and White Castle are deploying AI — from personalized beverage recommendations to drive-thru order-taking bots boasting 90% accuracy. They also dig i...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Tinku Saini, CEO and co-founder of Tarka Indian Kitchen, to explore how the Austin-based brand has spent nearly two decades cracking the code on fast casual Indian food — from its full-service origins at Clay Pit to nine locations across Texas, covering everything from fresh-to-order curry operations and supply chain hard lessons to the brand...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Cherryh Cansler sits down with Lance Salsman, SVP of Operations & Training at Mike's Red Tacos, recorded live at the Restaurant Franchising and Innovation Summit in San Diego. Lance shares the brand's origin story — from a birria food truck founded by Mike in 2021 to a rapidly expanding franchise concept backed by industry legend Bill Phelps — and breaks down how Mike's is borrowing a...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Randy Sharpe, CEO of Wahlburgers, to discuss one of the more compelling brand turnaround stories in the restaurant industry right now. Sharpe breaks down how he consolidated 17 menus into three, exited underperforming franchise relationships, and repositioned Wahlburgers across four distinct growth platforms — including a groundbreaking partn...
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Jae Kim, founder of Chi'Lantro, joins Fast Casual Nation to share how he built a Korean-Tex Mex fusion brand from a single Austin food truck in 2010 into a 13-location Texas fast casual empire, covering his three Shark Tank auditions, his experience pitching Barbara Corcoran, the unit economics that drove his growth strategy, and why people, not menu or marketing, remain the foundation of everything he builds. #FastCasualNation #C...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist at the National Restaurant Association, to unpack the economic forces reshaping the restaurant industry. From shrinking profit margins and the K-shaped economy to the rise of technology adoption and long-term demographic pressures, Dr. Moutray delivers a data-driven look at what operators are facing right now...
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Chris Schultz, CEO of Velvet Taco, joins Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation to break down the operational blueprint behind one of the restaurant industry's most beloved cult brands. From the legendary Weekly Taco Feature (WTF) — a chef-driven rotating menu item that has launched every single week for nearly 15 years — to the in-house rotisserie Back Door Chicken sold every Monday for $20, Schultz reveals how oper...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Paul Damico, President & CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management, to discuss his bold strategy for reinventing two iconic legacy brands — Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House. Damico shares how cutting-edge Toast POS technology is transforming operations across 600 units, why extended hours are driving 20–40% sales increases at s...
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In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer at Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, to explore how one of America's largest specialty dessert franchises is scaling smart — from its iconic first-day-of-spring tradition and drive-through expansion strategy to franchisee unit economics, community-driven marketing, and what makes the ideal Rita...
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February 3, 2026 38 mins
Discover the rising stars of fast casual dining as hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler interview three breakout brands from FastCasual.com's 2026 list of 25 emerging brands to watch. Jeff Pereira of Jeff's Bagel Run shares how a home kitchen experiment turned into a 26-unit bagel empire with vertical integration and proprietary tech. Brian Simowitz reveals Houston TX Hot Chicken's blueprint for scaling to 300+ locations through r...
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January 20, 2026 40 mins
Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler explore the beverage revolution transforming restaurants with SG Ellison, CEO of Diversified Restaurant Group, and Ryan Maybee, Co-Founder of J. Rieger & Co. Discover how Taco Bell's Live Más Café is reactivating dining rooms with Mexican-inspired drinks, why protein beverages are exploding across chains, and how craft cocktail expectations are reshaping every segment. Le...
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January 14, 2026 39 mins
Join hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they kick off 2026 with CAVA Co-Founder and CEO Brett Schulman for an in-depth conversation about navigating today's challenging restaurant landscape. Schulman reveals why CAVA eliminated digital tipping while paying workers top wages, how the brand has achieved 20% traffic growth while competitors struggle, and their strategy of keeping menu prices 50% lower than industry averages. Lea...
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Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with industry expert Suzy Badaracco from Culinary Tides to forecast the biggest restaurant trends for 2026. This year-end episode explores how Gen Z is reshaping dining expectations, the AI versus hospitality debate, why comfort food isn't making a comeback despite economic pressures, and the rise of mood-based menus and subscription dining services. Discover insights on anti-vi...
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December 24, 2025 43 mins
Join Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation as they dive deep into AI's transformation of the restaurant industry with Kerry Leo, VP of Technology at Shipley Donuts, and restaurant tech consultant Paul Molinari. Discover how Shipley achieved 24% higher average order values through AI-powered ordering, learn why traditional Google search is becoming obsolete, and understand how data unification is creating the "single...
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Join Paul Barron on Fast Casual Nation as he sits down with Jeff Chandler, CEO of Hopdoddy Burger Bar, to discuss how the Austin-based brand is winning in the crowded burger category with 50 locations and 2% traffic growth. Discover their hybrid fast casual-casual dining model, premium protein strategy including bison burgers, the accidental success of burger bowls, and why they're betting on hospitality over discounting in 2026. ...
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Smashburger founder Tom Ryan and CEO Jim Sullivan join Fast Casual Nation to reveal their bold strategy to reclaim the brand's position in the better burger category. Discover how their new "Belief is in the bite" philosophy, innovative $4.99 value platform, and surprise Big Dog success are driving a comeback story. Plus, learn about their aggressive five-year plan to grow from 200 to over 1,000 locations through strategic franchis...
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November 26, 2025 22 mins
Scott Ball, President of FiiZ Drinks, joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fastest-growing specialty soda franchise went from 50 to 70+ locations and sold over 200 units in just one year. The former Dunkin' franchisee reveals the secrets behind FiiZ's low-cost buildout model (half the price of competitors), why 80-85% of sales come through drive-thru, and how customers are visiting 5 times per week for customized dirty so...
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