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Take-Away with Sam Oches

Nation's Restaurant News
Franchising
Entrepreneurship
Social Media Marketing
Restaurant Industry
Influencer Marketing
Domino's Pizza
Community Engagement
Ziggi's Coffee
Customer Engagement
Marketing Strategy
Catering
Covid-19
Philly Pretzel Factory
Healthy Eating
AI and Robotics
Tony Roma's
Beverage Innovation
Customer Experience
Food Service
Nothing Bundt Cakes

Hosted by Nation’s Restaurant News’ editor in chief, Take-Away with Sam Oches features interviews with CEOs and founders of restaurant companies big and small, sharing their stories and ideas for the future but also real, tangible insights for how to innovate in our foodservice future. Each episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches provides key take-aways from Oches’ interviews, with on-the-go observati... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes149Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BusinessEntrepreneurship

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Artwork for Take-Away

Latest Episodes

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Ahsan Jiva, executive vice president of strategy and transformation at Mellow Mushroom, a brand that’s grown to about 170 locations in 17 states in its 50-plus years in business. Mellow Mush... more

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Steve Kislow, CEO of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, a polished casual chain based in North Carolina that now has nearly 70 locations in 21 states. Steve started as a GM with Firebirds more than... more

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with CEO Kevin Miles and CMO Alicia Mowder of Mendocino Farms, a Los Angeles-based sandwich and salad fast casual with about 100 locations in six states. Mendocino Farms — affectionately known to... more

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Debbie Stroud, CEO of Whataburger, a 76-year-old company that now has more than 1,000 locations across 17 states. Debbie spent more than 30 years as an executive at McDonald’s and Starbucks ... more

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Recent Guests

Steve Kislow
CEO, Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
Episode: Firebirds CEO Steve Kislow on the tools beyond price that create value
Kevin Miles
CEO, Mendocino Farms
Mendocino Farms
Episode: Mendocino Farms CEO and CMO on building the future of fast casual
Alicia Mowder
Chief Marketing Officer, Mendocino Farms
Mendocino Farms
Episode: Mendocino Farms CEO and CMO on building the future of fast casual
Debbie Stroud
CEO of Whataburger
Whataburger
Episode: Whataburger CEO Debbie Stroud on the benefits of leading like a family
Rachel Cope
Founder and CEO of 84 Hospitality
84 Hospitality
Episode: 84 Hospitality founder Rachel Cope on 5 elements that go into a great restaurant experience
Rafael LaRue
Chief Creative Officer, Fast Fine Restaurant Group and Livit
Fast Fine Restaurant Group / Livit
Episode: Future restaurant trends to watch, according to this global expert
Justin Rosenberg
Founder of Honeygrow
Honeygrow
Episode: Honeygrow’s founder on the brand reset that sparked consistent growth
Garrett Reed
CEO of Layne's Chicken Fingers
Layne's Chicken Fingers
Episode: Layne’s Chicken Fingers CEO on the incredible runway for chicken chains
Jack Gibbons
CEO of FB Society, Dallas-based hospitality group
FB Society
Episode: FB Society CEO Jack Gibbons on the recipe for developing a successful new restaurant

Host

Sam Oches
Host of the show and editor-in-chief at Nation's Restaurant News, focused on leaders in restaurant brands and growth strategies.

Chart Rankings

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso on inspiring culture and leadership among your team
Q: What was the impact of going public on your approach to business and brand?
Tomasso notes that the IPO formalized public reporting but emphasized that execution and customer focus remained constant; he learned to maintain long-term discipline and avoid knee-jerk, short-termism.
First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso on inspiring culture and leadership among your team
Q: How has writing handwritten notes and staying accessible impacted your leadership and culture?
He explains the practice humanizes leadership, reduces intimidation, and reinforces a culture where employees feel valued, which in turn supports performance and retention.
First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso on inspiring culture and leadership among your team
Q: What attracted you to First Watch and how did you rise to a leadership role there?
He joined First Watch as Chief Marketing Officer, learned to lead from within the organization, and gradually took on broader responsibilities, before being positioned by founders and investors to eventually become CEO.
First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso on inspiring culture and leadership among your team
Q: Tell me about your childhood and early experiences in restaurants.
Tomasso describes being shy as a kid, then finding early opportunities in his uncle's pizza place and in high-volume Amish buffet restaurants, which shaped his understanding of culture and hands-on leadership.
Cameron Mitchell on how great hospitality leads to industry-leading AUVs
Q: What drives the high performance of Ocean Prime and site selection?
The emphasis is on trophy locations, continuous brand refinement, and a culture that prioritizes people and quality, which together sustain high AUVs and strong guest satisfaction across newer and better-located restaurants.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Take-Away

What is Take-Away about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show features interviews with CEOs, founders, and senior executives in the restaurant and foodservice space, focusing on growth strategies, brand transformation, operational discipline, and the role of culture and guest experience in scaling concepts. Episodes typically explore how brands differentiate beyond price, leverage technology and data, and balance rapid expansion with maintaining quality and identity. Noteworthy patterns include leadership lessons from turnaround efforts, franchising and unit economics, and how hospitality and community-focused programs drive long-term value. The format often pairs practical takeaways with actionable insights for operators, marketers, and investors looking to navigate a rapidly evolving dinin... more

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How many episodes of Take-Away are there?

Take-Away launched 5 years ago and published 149 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 Take-Away?

Recent guests on Take-Away include:

1. Steve Kislow
2. Kevin Miles
3. Alicia Mowder
4. Debbie Stroud
5. Rachel Cope
6. Rafael LaRue
7. Justin Rosenberg
8. Garrett Reed

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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