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Fast Casual Nation

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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—alongside 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.

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22 episodes
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Episodes 22

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Today · 47 min
Why Restaurant Real Estate Is Being Rewritten — And What Operators Need to Know
On this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Daniel Ceniceros, Founder & CEO of Connect Media, to unpack how commercial real estate is reshaping the restaurant industry. Daniel breaks down why...
- Transcript
August 25 · 37 min
Dave's Hot Chicken Does Marketing in an AI Age
Dave's Hot Chicken CMO Brandon Rhoten joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-growing chicken chain uses AI on the back end for customer data and financial analysis while deliberately keeping it out of creative and content production....
- Transcript
August 18 · 51 min
AI Winners in 2026 in Restaurant & Hospitality
Bonchon CEO Suzie Tsai joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to talk candidly about the Korean fried chicken brand's AI journey, from admitting its tech stack needed work to building smarter supply chain forecasting, localized...
- Transcript
August 11 · 37 min
The Secret Strategy Behind L&L Hawaiian Barbecue’s Massive Expansion
What does it take to scale a beloved regional icon into a fast-casual powerhouse with over 240 locations? In this episode, hosts Paul and Cherryh sit down with Elisia Flores, CEO of L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, to unpack the strategy, culture, and...
- Transcript
#127
July 30 · 34 min
Mocktails are Winning
On this episode of Fast Casual Nation, host Cherryh Cansler sits down with Kelly O'Rourke, Director of Marketing at FiiZ Drinks, to talk about the explosive growth of the dirty soda category, Gen Z's shift toward non-alcoholic beverages, and what's...
- Transcript
#126
July 21 · 33 min
The "Slutty" Empire: How Pinky Cole Turned a $100M Burger Brand Into a Religion
Slutty Vegan founder and CEO Pinky Cole Hayes joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to share her journey from television producer to restaurant entrepreneur, detailing how she navigated $20 million in debt, bought her company...
- Transcript
#125
July 14 · 1 hr
Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars
Mendocino Farms CMO Alicia Mowder joins Fast Casual Nation to break down how the fast-casual chain hit its 100th location while staying true to chef-driven quality, elevated hospitality, and a private-equity partnership that hasn't compromised its...
- Transcript
#124
July 7 · 26 min
Growth Strategies: Shared Resources Without Diluting Brand DNA
GoTo Foods CBOs Mike Smith (Moe's Southwest Grill) and Donna Varner (Schlotzsky's) join Fast Casual Nation to discuss how a shared brand platform drives menu innovation, prototype design, loyalty data, and cautious AI adoption without eroding...
- Transcript
#123
June 16 · 52 min
Gamifying the Burrito: The "Rewards on Repeat" Strategy
Chipotle COO Jason Kidd joins Fast Casual Nation hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler to break down how the 4,100-unit brand is winning and retaining the next-generation diner. From the full value equation and menu innovation to AI-powered hiring,...
- Transcript
#122
June 9 · 33 min
The "Anti-Burger" Blueprint: How Teriyaki Madness is Out-Scaling the Giants
In this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Jodi Boyce, CMO of Teriyaki Madness, and John Smolen, SVP of Sales at Atmosphere TV, to explore how fast casual brands are evolving beyond burgers and into...
- Transcript
#121
May 26 · 40 min
The "Macro-Centric" Menu: Why 2026 Diners Want Stats, Not Stories
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...
- Transcript
#120
May 19 · 36 min
50 Million Views Later: The Brutal Reality of Scaling a "Viral" TikTok Food Trend
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,...
- Transcript
May 5 · 51 min
The Piada Pivot: Can 'Italian Street Food' Save the Fast-Casual Soul
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...
- Transcript
April 28 · 40 min
Office Market Meltdown Hits Small Business and Restaurants
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...
- Transcript
April 14 · 40 min
The Impossible Menu: How Tarka Cracked the Code on "Fast" Indian Food
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...
- Transcript
April 7 · 17 min
From Food Truck to Franchise Phenomenon: Inside Mike's Red Tacos' Rapid Rise
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...
- Transcript
March 31 · 38 min
The Celebrity Trap: Why Being a "Wahlberg" Wasn't Enough to Save the Brand
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...
- Transcript
March 24 · 39 min
The $600,000 Gamble: Why Jae Kim Almost Walked Away from the Sharks
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...
- Transcript
March 10 · 56 min
The Great Divide: What the Restaurant Industry's Economic Reality Means for Your Business
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...
- Transcript
March 3 · 54 min
How Velvet Taco Built a Cult Brand — and Plans to Keep It That Way
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...
- Transcript

Showing 1–20 of 22 episodes