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The Working Lunch

Align Public Strategies
Minneapolis
New York City
Dietary Guidelines 2025-2030
Credit Card Competition Act
Extended Producer Responsibility
National Restaurant Association
Minimum Wage
Universal Child Care
Portland
One Fair Wage
Election 2026 / Gubernatorial Races
Penny Policy
RFK Jr. MAHA Movement
New Mexico
Chicago
San Francisco
Ultra Processed Foods
Donald Trump
Food Industry
International Franchise Association

This weekly podcast comes from Align Public Strategies, a full-service public affairs and creative firm that helps corporate brands, governments and nonprofits navigate the outside world and inform their internal decision-making. #WorkingLunch #Align

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes398Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Business

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Artwork for The Working Lunch

Latest Episodes

Steak n’ Shake, never shy when it comes professing their admiration of the Trump Administration, upped the ante last week when it appointed a new Chief Make America Healthy Again Officer. We’ll discuss the political and policy impacts that this may h... more

To showcase his no tax on tips victory, President Trump leveraged Tax Day to have a “DoorDash Grandma” deliver McDonald’s right to the door of the Oval Office. Shamelessly staged event? Of course. Perfectly executed? Of course. We’ll discuss his ongo... more

Over the last week, RFK, Jr. and his MAHA movement have been all over the headlines. From his national road shows to his new attack on microplastics to his new podcast, he has become a one-man news cycle. We’ll discuss how the industry should be view... more

We sit down once again with the team from Washburn Consulting, advisors to many key industry brands and associations, and get an update on the state of play with regard to Extended Producer Responsibility. Michael Washburn and Chloe Kapanen will stop... more

Key Facts

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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

Jonathan Mays
Editor-in-chief of Restaurant Business
Restaurant Business
Episode: Episode 400 - New RFK Battle Brewing. The Secretary Turns His Focus To Plastics
Kim Gaczmarek
Production/Podcast Engineer (Informa)
Informa
Episode: Episode 400 - New RFK Battle Brewing. The Secretary Turns His Focus To Plastics
Sean Kennedy
National Restaurant Association representative
National Restaurant Association
Episode: Episode 400 - New RFK Battle Brewing. The Secretary Turns His Focus To Plastics
Mike Watley
Industry commentator
Independent
Episode: Episode 400 - New RFK Battle Brewing. The Secretary Turns His Focus To Plastics
Ashley Conniff
Inspire Brands executive
Inspire Brands
Episode: Episode 400 - New RFK Battle Brewing. The Secretary Turns His Focus To Plastics
Joanne Franklin
Inspire Brands executive
Inspire Brands
Episode: Episode 400 - New RFK Battle Brewing. The Secretary Turns His Focus To Plastics
Michael Washburn
Principal of Washburn Consulting
Washburn Consulting
Episode: Episode 399 - Will Restaurants Ultimately Pick Up The Tab For Packaging Waste?
Chloe Kapanen
Director of Policy Engagement for Washburn Consulting
Washburn Consulting
Episode: Episode 399 - Will Restaurants Ultimately Pick Up The Tab For Packaging Waste?
Phil Wilson
CEO of the Labor Relations Institute
Labor Relations Institute
Episode: Episode 398 - Industry Impacted By Recent Labor Union Developments

Hosts

Joe Kiefover
Host of The Working Lunch; Align Public Strategies
Franklin Coley
Co-host of Working Lunch; Partner at Align Public Strategies

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 27 ratings
  • SRVP Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association

    You must listen to this podcast if you are in the restaurant business. It's packed with “must-know” information about the latest laws, rules, and regulations that may be arriving at your restaurant very soon. Enjoy.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Bobo da hunter
    United States4 years ago
  • Friday May 7th

    After 48 years and employing thousands of minimum wage workers I’ve never been so insulted as compared to listening to this haughty voice doing this podcast.

    Don’t believe your lying eyes or your everyday experiences running 4 restaurants where you are constantly shorthanded, you spend thousands advertising for help, only to have applicants show up, interview (or work one shift) and then disappear to satisfy unemployment.

    When I heard Neanderthal grunting, moronic, intellectually dishonest, cl... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Sammy Jankis1
    United States5 years ago
  • Great content for food industry

    A very informative show on current topics for the restaurant/food industry discussing new and upcoming laws and how they might effect our businesses.

    They strike a perfect balance on light hearted banter and the dry information of government regulations. Keep up they great work.

    However, my only hope is that they work on the sound. I have to listen to show with my hand on the volume. Some speakers come in loud and clear while others are much quieter requiring me to turn up the volume to unders... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JoeCoffee148
    United States7 years ago
  • Content: 5, Production Quality: 1

    this podcast consistently delivers quality content especially for business owners, restaurant and c-store operators. But please guys can you fix microphone levels! Some episodes are impossible to listen to unless you want to burst an eardrum!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    B PDX
    United States8 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Insights are practical for operators navigating evolving regulations
Strong coverage of regulatory and labor topics relevant to hospitality brands
Guests provide industry context that helps translate policy into business actions
Sound quality and production could be improved according to some listeners

Top Business Podcasts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Episode 395: Industry Gets Big Wins In Court On Both Interchange Fees and EPR
Q: What happened in Illinois regarding interchange fees and why does it matter?
A federal judge ruled that Illinois' law barring interchange fees on tax and tip portions of card transactions is not preempted by federal law, meaning states can pursue reforms to curb swipe fees; this clarifies that these fees are network-set and not bank-set, which changes the legal dynamics and offers a model for other states.
Episode 392: Trump Drops the Hammer on Swipe Fees
Q: Walk us through what happened on the House floor this week with the labor bills and why they were pulled or changed.
Matt Haller explains that five labor-related bills faced challenges due to a one-vote majority in the House, requiring a delicate coalition and contingent on broader labor-biz support; ultimately, leadership pulled them as consensus could not be secured, highlighting the need for bipartisan coalition-building and alternative pathways.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Frequently Asked Questions About The Working Lunch

What is The Working Lunch about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A weekly public affairs program focused on restaurant, policy, and business landscapes, often analyzing regulatory shifts, labor dynamics, packaging and sustainability rules, and how these issues affect operators and brands. Episodes frequently feature policy consultants, industry advocates, and senior executives from restaurant, retail, and franchise sectors, offering practical takeaways for operators, franchisors, and PR teams. Notable strengths include in-depth policy breakdowns, real-world operator perspectives, and a track record of timely commentary on midterm politics, regulatory actions, and industry lawsuits that shape the restaurant ecosystem. The show stands out for its pragmatic briefings tailored to operators and brands, with g... more

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Which podcasts are similar to The Working Lunch?

These podcasts share a similar audience with The Working Lunch:

1. A Deeper Dive
2. Extra Serving: A restaurant industry podcast
3. Restaurant Daily
4. Take-Away with Sam Oches
5. The Daily Punch

How many episodes of The Working Lunch are there?

The Working Lunch launched 9 years ago and published 398 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact The Working Lunch?

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What guests have appeared on The Working Lunch?

Recent guests on The Working Lunch include:

1. Jonathan Mays
2. Kim Gaczmarek
3. Sean Kennedy
4. Mike Watley
5. Ashley Conniff
6. Joanne Franklin
7. Michael Washburn
8. Chloe Kapanen

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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