Restaurant Masterminds Podcast
Savor Podcast Network • Arts, Business, Food, Entrepreneurship
Savor Podcast Network • Arts, Business, Food, Entrepreneurship
Restaurant Masterminds Podcast
Savor Podcast Network • Arts, Business, Food, Entrepreneurship
Savor Podcast Network • Arts, Business, Food, Entrepreneurship

About

Are you a restaurant owner or operator looking to navigate the chaos of the ever-changing hospitality industry? Look no further than the Restaurant Masterminds Podcast - "Journey Of Success"

Hosted by industry experts with decades of combined experience in leadership, marketing, technology, and operations, this podcast is your ultimate guide to overcoming challenges and achieving success in the restaurant business.


Hosts
Rudy Miick - Culture Guru
Paul Barron - Futurist and Tech Fortune Teller
Anna Tauzin - Branding Brainstormer
Paul Molinari - Go To Market Ring Master
Stacey Kane - The Brand Maker

Each episode dives deep into a critical aspect of running a hospitality business, from adapting to changing consumer behaviors and leveraging technology for growth to building a resilient brand and cultivating a winning culture. The hosts provide the insights and strategies you need to thrive in the face of adversity through engaging discussions, real-world examples, and practical tips.

Episodes

  • Fast Casual Trends for 2026
    Join Paul Barron and the Restaurant Masterminds team—Paul Molinari, Anna Tauzin, and Rudy Miick—as they dive deep into fast casual trends shaping 2026. From Dave's Hot Chicken's billion-dollar valuation to Cava's impressive 28% growth, discover why...
  • Boutique Hospitality Meets Restaurant Innovation
    Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Barron, Stacey Kane, and Rudy Miick dive into what restaurants can learn from boutique hotels in today's challenging economy. From membership models and personalization strategies to navigating the growing divide...
  • Building Community Through Hospitality: Jeff Gigante's Blueprint for Upscale Casual Success
    Jeff Gigante, founder of Next Level Brands, joins Restaurant Masterminds to share how his Tampa-based restaurant group generates nearly $40 million with just three locations through "laid-back luxury" hospitality. Learn his strategies for employee...
  • Paris Baguette: Scaling A Bakery Empire
    Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Molinari and Anna Tauzin as they dive deep with Paris Baguette's Chief Development Officer Nick Scaccio about the brand's audacious plan to reach 1,000 North American locations by 2030. From their current 253...
  • Greenlane: Healthy Drive-Thru Is The Future
    Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Barron, Rudy Miick, and Stacey Kane dive deep with Greenlane co-founders Erica Spector Wishnow and Chris Kern to explore their game-changing approach to fast-casual dining. Discover how this Tampa-based concept...
  • The Future of Healthy Fast Casual
    In this episode of Restaurant Masterminds, Oliver Barwin, CEO of Bushfire Kitchen, shares his remarkable journey from Wall Street to running a fast-growing healthy fast-casual chain. Barwin discusses taking over the family business during the...
  • Building an AI Integrated Workforce
    Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Barron, Paul Molinari, and Stacey Kane as they dive deep into the future of restaurant workforce management with Legion Technologies CEO Sanish Mondkar. Discover how AI is revolutionizing employee scheduling,...
  • Family Owned Business Make or Break
    Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Stacey Kane and Robin Blanchette as they sit down with Frank Carpenteri, CEO of Garden Catering, to explore how this Connecticut-based chicken concept has maintained its cult-like following while preparing for...
  • Technology Disruption With Catering
    Restaurant industry legend Earl Dardick joins Paul Barron and Anna Tauzin on Restaurant Masterminds to reveal how catering can transform your restaurant's profitability. From his experience with Off Premises Growth Academy, Earl shares why CEO buy-in...
  • How Houston Hot Chicken Conquered the Fast-Casual Space
    Serial entrepreneur Edmond Barseghian shares how he built Houston Hot Chicken from a pandemic recipe with his sister into one of America's fastest-growing restaurant brands, selling 100 franchises in just 5 months and becoming Las Vegas's #1...
  • Dave's Hot Chicken Takes Home Fast Casual Top 100 Crown for Second Time
    Dave's Hot Chicken takes home their second Fast Casual Top 100 award in three years! Join hosts Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler as they sit down with Jim Bitticks, President & COO of Dave's Hot Chicken, to discuss the brand's explosive growth from...
  • How AI Voice Orders Will Make or Break Your Restaurant (Oracle Warning)
    The restaurant industry is about to experience a massive technological transformation, and Oracle's Senior Director of Strategy, Amber Trendell, reveals it's happening faster than anyone expected. In this deep dive, we explore how voice AI is...
  • Brand Series: How Lime Fresh Mexican Grill is Redefining the Experience
    Join Restaurant Masterminds hosts Paul Barron and Rudy Miick as they sit down with Patrick Fore, CEO of Lime Fresh Mexican Grill, to explore how this 21-year-old brand is revolutionizing the fresh-mex space. Discover how Lime Fresh 2.0 is blending...
  • BRAND SERIES: Casual Dining's Fight for Survival | Who's Winning, Who's Failing
    In this eye-opening episode of our Brand Series, restaurant industry experts Paul Barron and Paul Molinari dissect the current crisis in casual dining and reveal why some chains are thriving while others file for bankruptcy. Discover how Chili's...
  • Gen Z Corner: Kids Weigh In on the Best Brands
    In this eye-opening Gen Z Corner segment of Restaurant Masterminds, host Paul Barron sits down with 8-year-old Colette and 9-year-old Graham to uncover what truly attracts the youngest consumers to restaurant brands. Colette reveals why texture,...
  • Balancing Price vs. Value: Insights from Dickey's Barbecue
    In this insightful episode of Restaurant Masterminds, host Paul Barron and co-hosts Robin Blanchette and Rudy Miick welcome Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue, to discuss the critical balance between price and value in today's challenging...
  • Loyalty Programs Connecting With Gen-Z
    In this thought-provoking episode of Restaurant Masterminds, host Paul Barron and fractional CMO Stacy Kane challenge traditional loyalty programs, revealing why Gen Z's $12 trillion spending power demands a fresh approach. The duo dissects Starbucks'...
  • Culture Do's and Don'ts: 3 Steps to Building A Great Company Culture
    In this episode of the Restaurant Masterminds podcast, host Paul Baron and culture expert Rudy Miick explore how to build a "badass brand" through strong company culture. They discuss the difference between "win-lose" versus inspirational leadership...
  • Mastering Social Media for Restaurants (PT 2) Content Marketing for Your Restaurant
    Paul Barron and Paul Molinari discuss the transformative power of content marketing for restaurants. They explore key strategies to enhance both local and national branding, including: Local Marketing: Building community ties through partnerships with...
  • Mastering Social Media for Restaurants (PT 1)
    In this episode of Restaurant Masterminds, host Paul Barron and co-hosts Paul Molinari and Anna Tauzin explore effective social media strategies for restaurant brands. Anna Tauzin, CMO of MAC Corporation, shares insights from managing nine diverse...