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.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
How Biscuit Belly's CEO Turned a Cracker Barrel Exit Into a Growth Engine
What does it take for an emerging restaurant brand to scale without losing its identity? On this episode of Fast Casual Nation, hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler sit down with Chad Coulter, founder and CEO of Biscuit Belly, for a practical survival kit for founders.
Coulter shares his unlikely path from pharmacist to paint-and-sip studios to a five-unit wine bar restaurant concept, and the hard lesson that simplicity is what makes a brand scalable. He then breaks down Biscuit Belly's acquisition of Maple Street Biscuit Company from Cracker Barrel: why the real estate made sense, how five-week conversions beat multi-year ground-up builds, how the deal was funded, and what he thinks went wrong at Maple Street. He also covers working alongside his wife, the "founders hire founders" principle, his first three hires if he were starting over, and how he balances value and premium in a K-shaped economy.
If you're building, buying, or converting a restaurant brand, this one is for you. Subscribe to Fast Casual Nation so you never miss an episode, and let us know in the comments: what's the best lesson you've learned scaling a brand?
This episode is sponsored by Mountaire®
It’s time to get cooking with premium chicken from Mountaire® Black Label. Popular primal cuts with real profit potential, like the new hand-selected premium chicken tenderloins and convenient flat pack party wings. Learn more at: www.mountaireblacklabel.com (https://www.mountaireblacklabel.com)
#FastCasualNation #BiscuitBelly #RestaurantGrowth
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ (https://www.savor.fm/)
Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.
Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory (https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory)
29 Sept 2026
Restaurant Real Estate - The Empire Builder
On this episode of Fast Casual Nation, Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler talk with Claudia Lezcano, CEO of Fuku, about how the David Chang chicken brand is growing through stadiums, airports and college campuses before it franchises. Lezcano covers the economics of "quick culinary," the lessons from Fuku's corporate restaurants in West Palm Beach and Coral Gables, and how she negotiates with landlords, sports teams and airport operators. She also shares how she was paid $400,000 to exit a lease and lays out the plan for 15 to 20 franchise locations by the back half of 2028. The hosts also discuss why restaurant resales fell in 2026 and preview the Fast Casual Executive Summit, October 4 to 6.
#FastCasualNation #Fuku #RestaurantRealEstate
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ (https://www.savor.fm/)
Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.
Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory (https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory)
22 Sept 2026
The $10 Cocktail: Will It Work In Fast Casual?
Bartender and James Beard nominee Ivy Leyenda joins Fast Casual Nation to break down whether cocktails belong on the fast casual menu. She talks batching for consistency, realistic price points ($12–$15), why she's skeptical of automated pour systems and pricey mocktails, and which accessible spirit brands can add a "craft" signal without wrecking your pour cost. Plus: a first look at this year's Perfect Pitch competitors ahead of the Fast Casual Executive Summit.
#FastCasualNation #BeverageProgram #CocktailMenu #RestaurantIndustry #Mixology #FastCasual #RestaurantOperators #HospitalityBiz
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/fast-casual-nation--3598490/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss).
Get Your Podcast Now! Are you a hospitality or restaurant industry leader looking to amplify your voice and establish yourself as a thought leader? Look no further than SavorFM, the premier podcast platform designed exclusively for hospitality visionaries like you. Take the next step in your industry leadership journey – visit https://www.savor.fm/ (https://www.savor.fm/)
Capital & Advisory: Are you a fast-casual restaurant startup or a technology innovator in the food service industry? Don't miss out on the opportunity to tap into decades of expertise. Reach out to Savor Capital & Advisory now to explore how their seasoned professionals can propel your business forward. Discover if you're eligible to leverage our unparalleled knowledge in food service branding and technology and take your venture to new heights.
Don't wait – amplify your voice or supercharge your startup's growth today with Savor's ecosystem of industry-leading platforms and advisory services. Visit https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory (https://www.savor.fm/capital-advisory)
Who has been a guest on Fast Casual Nation Podcast
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Daniel Ceniceros
Brandon Rhoten
Suzie Tsai
Elisia Flores
Kelly O'Rourke
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,678,974
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
20 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
5 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 75 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
79
Social presence
0
YouTube
93
Engagement
85
Contact Fast Casual Nation Podcast
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
