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Artwork for Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

Savor.fm
Fast Casual Dining
Gen Z
Franchising
Fast Casual
Catering
Fast Casual Industry
Menu Innovation
Restaurant Industry
Customer Loyalty Programs
Shake Shack
Chipotle
Marketing Strategies
Penn Station East Coast Subs
Smashburger
Social Media Marketing
Starbucks
Community Engagement
Hospitality
Technology
Millennials

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 r... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes202Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
EntrepreneurshipBusiness

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Artwork for Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

Latest Episodes

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... more

YouTube

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 br... more

YouTube

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 individ... more

YouTube

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, ... more

YouTube

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Alicia Mowder
Chief Marketing Officer, Mendocino Farms
Mendocino Farms
Episode: Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars
Casey Hilder
Director of Restaurant Growth, Loop AI
Loop AI
Episode: Winning the Fast-Casual Sandwich Wars
Mike Smith
CBO of Moe's Southwest Grill
GoTo Foods / Moe's Southwest Grill
Episode: Growth Strategies: Shared Resources Without Diluting Brand DNA
Donna Varner
CBO of Schlotzsky's
GoTo Foods / Schlotzsky's
Episode: Growth Strategies: Shared Resources Without Diluting Brand DNA
Jason Kidd
COO of Chipotle
Chipotle
Episode: Gamifying the Burrito: The "Rewards on Repeat" Strategy
Bill Schuff
Representative from Star Micronics
Star Micronics
Episode: Gamifying the Burrito: The "Rewards on Repeat" Strategy
Jodi Boyce
CMO of Teriyaki Madness
Teriyaki Madness
Episode: The "Anti-Burger" Blueprint: How Teriyaki Madness is Out-Scaling the Giants
Trace Miller
Founder of Konala Protein Bowls
Konala Protein Bowls
Episode: The "Macro-Centric" Menu: Why 2026 Diners Want Stats, Not Stories
Chris Treloar
CEO of Plant Burger
PLNT Burger
Episode: The "Macro-Centric" Menu: Why 2026 Diners Want Stats, Not Stories

Hosts

Paul Barron
Industry pioneer and host with a focus on fast casual innovation, branding, and market trends.
Cherryh Cansler
Co-host and editorial force behind Fastcasual.com, shaping program focus and industry insights.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 34 ratings
  • Food Industry insights

    Really glad to have a show that talks to the leaders and shares great restaurant insights on operations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    I Live For Cooking
    United States4 years ago
  • Food Industry Insights

    Incredible interviews with top leaders in the industry. Very educational for those needing insight and tips on staffing an day to day operations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Asila H
    United States4 years ago
  • High content and low calories

    New to the fast casual food business after a long hiatus (30 yrs) in the pizza busting and this podcast is loaded with information that is crucial if you are in or entering the food industry, the informal is served in a low calorie yet filling format so no need to set aside hours for tasteless boring info you can swing by for half hour or so and leave full of info . Caution it’s addictive

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Gennotti R
    United States4 years ago
  • Really great show about the fast/casual food industry.

    Podchaser
    5
    jfpodcasts
    5 years ago
  • Owner operator

    Each time I wonder when Paul will say “cool” or mention his 20 plus years of tracking industry. Just being funny. Like the podcast with duration of 30 minutes or more.. gives time to explore subjects. Keep up good work

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    gumbobaker
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

High-quality interviews with top industry executives and practical operations tips.
Really great leadership and restaurant insights from operators and brand leaders.
A go-to resource for fast casual trends and franchising strategies.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Gamifying the Burrito: The "Rewards on Repeat" Strategy
Q: How does Chipotle balance speed and accuracy in digital orders to avoid disappointing guests?
They use Specific Pickup Time (SPUT) to manage pickup windows, align kitchen throughput with digital demand, and invest in technology to ensure accuracy in both in-restaurant and digital experiences.
Gamifying the Burrito: The "Rewards on Repeat" Strategy
Q: What have been some of the negative traffic trends across the industry, and how is Chipotle addressing them?
Chipotle is focusing on value beyond price, prioritizing customization, high-quality ingredients, and a consistent, quality-driven guest experience to bring back Gen Z and Millennials who are dining less out.
The Impossible Menu: How Tarka Cracked the Code on ”Fast” Indian Food
Q: What was the one thing you did since 2009 to help your brand break through to the consumer?
The pivotal move was simplifying the menu into a balanced set of curries, kebabs, biryanis, and vegetarian options, and letting customers customize by sauce, protein, and spice level, which made Indian food approachable while preserving flavor and quality.
Roam Artisan Burgers: High End Fast Casual
Q: How do you manage keeping in line with food costs while offering high-end ingredients?
We talk to our butcher and ranchers about pricing and availability, and we focus on managing waste effectively.
Roam Artisan Burgers: High End Fast Casual
Q: What has really changed for you guys recently?
There's definitely been a bigger shift towards delivery and takeout, especially in the fast casual sector.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast

What is Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Across recent episodes, the show centers on fast casual dining leadership, brand strategy, and the evolving guest mix from franchisors to operators and beverage leaders. Key threads include legacy brands transforming with new formats, the rise of tech-enabled service and loyalty programs, and the ongoing push to engage Gen Z through value, experiences, and healthful menu innovations. Discussions often spotlight franchise development, hospitality as a differentiator, and how macro trends like inflation, labor markets, and social media shape day-to-day decisions for operators.

A standout angle is the focus on practical growth playbooks—scaling concepts, navigating brand repositioning, and leveraging data and partnerships to drive performance... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast:

1. QSR Uncut
2. How I Built This with Guy Raz
3. Hidden Brain
4. Masters of Scale
5. Take-Away with Sam Oches

How many episodes of Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast are there?

Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast launched 7 years ago and published 202 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast?

Recent guests on Fast Casual Nation Restaurant Podcast include:

1. Alicia Mowder
2. Casey Hilder
3. Mike Smith
4. Donna Varner
5. Jason Kidd
6. Bill Schuff
7. Jodi Boyce
8. Trace Miller

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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