The $600K gamble: Why Jae Kim nearly 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…

How Juice It Up leads the modern beverage boom

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

In this podcast episode, Juice It Up CEO Susan Taylor discusses how the brand has maintained its leadership in the booming beverage franchise market by…

Fueling growth from 1 cup to 100+ locations

Brandon Knudsen, co-founder and CEO of Ziggi’s Coffee, shares critical advice on how he bootstrapped Ziggi's from a single coffee shop to more than 10…

The 4:30 am grind: How a cotton-field startup turned into an artisan pizza empire

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

In this episode of the Pizza Marketplace Podcast, host Mandy Detwiler, editor of Pizza Marketplace, talks to Joe Carlucci, founder and owner of Valentina's…

Data-driven survival: Unpacking the economic forces reshaping fast casuals

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…

Presented by Mailwise DBA direct2you

How Velvet Taco avoids 'Starbucks-style' drift

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…

Presented by Momos

The legacy glow-up: How Paul Damico is tech-enabling Perkins, Huddle House

Strategic sizzle: Why Houston TX Hot Chicken prioritizes smart growth over rapid expansion

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Houston TX Hot Chicken is leveraging its "electric" brand energy and massive social media following to drive organic franchise leads and fuel a strategic…

Scaling sweet success: How Rita’s Italian Ice navigates franchise growth

When Lawrence Brown, Chief Development Officer at Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard, joined Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler on Fast Casual Nation, he brought…

Jeff's Bagel Run: From garage bagels to 30 and growing

by Kathleen Wood — Founder, K. Wood Partners

On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I talk with Jeff Perera, co-Founder of Jeff’s Bagel Run and a member of the inaugural…

Peter Piper Pizza truly engrained in the communities it serves

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

In this podcast episode, Peter Piper Pizza CMO Genaro Perez discusses how the 50-year-old legacy brand drives growth through affordable lunch buffets and a…

The power players: Inside the playbooks of Fast Casual’s 2026 rising stars

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 2…

Presented by Jeff's Bagel Run

Zenzap helps restaurateurs control IP, communication in house

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Zenzap, a communication app for restaurants, can help operators control intellectual properties and notifications.

Presented by Zenzap

Texas Restaurant Association’s Emily Williams Knight on the power of shared insight

In this episode, Kathleen Wood and Emily Knight discuss why Founders benefit from being part of strong communities, whether through state restaurant…

The Beverage revolution: Why drinks are the new dining destination

Fast Casual Nation explores how Taco Bell, craft innovators and the sober-curious movement are reshaping restaurant revenue.

No tips, higher wages, low prices: How CAVA's Brett Schulman is rewriting the restaurant playbook

Join hosts Paul Barron and Cheryl Cansler as they kick off 2026 with CAVA Co-Founder and CEO Brett Schulman for an in-depth conversation about navigating…

Riko's Pizza's unique style sets it apart as brand grows on East Coast

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Networld Media Group

Riko's Pizza's unique thin-crust pizza sets it apart from the heavy competition on the East Coast. The brand is growing and now has 12 locations.

Fast Casual Nation reveals top 2026 restaurant trends

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…

The 24% boost: How Shipley Do-Nuts is winning the AI race

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…

1 question every Founder should ask (Most never do)

In our latest Founderology podcast episode, Ellis Winstanley and I discuss his Founder’s journey, from being an 18-year-old who refused to accept he couldn't…