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PODCAST

Take-Away with Sam Oches

Nation"s Restaurant News

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 observations about how each leader’s strategy fits within the broader foodservice context and what actionable

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

44:49

The h.wood Group founders on using exclusive...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/02/10

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with John Terzian and Brian Toll, cofounders of The h.wood Group, an LA-based hospitality group that owns restaurants like Delilah and Nice Guy as well as nightclubs like Keys and Poppy. John and Brian first got into the nightclub business back in 2008 and used their extensive network of celebrities and VIPs to establish their clubs as exclusive, see-and-be-seen destinations. Eventually they expanded into restaurants and infused their concepts

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40:39

BONUS: How to work with social media influencers in 2026

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/02/06

In today’s bonus episode, Sam talks with a social media influencer and a marketing expert about the latest trends in restaurant influencer marketing — and what restaurant operators should and shouldn’t do when working with influencers. Kate Finley is the founder and CEO of Belle Communication, a foodservice PR agency with expertise in earned media, influencer relations, creative strategy, and consumer insights. NRN is a partner with Belle on their Brilli platform, which offers unique insights into

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52:02

Ruby Slipper’s cofounder on how it becomes...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/02/03

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Jennifer Weishaupt, founder of Ruby Slipper, a breakfast, brunch, and lunch joint that first opened in New Orleans in 2008 and has since grown to 26 locations across the South. Jennifer was inspired to open Ruby Slipper after Hurricane Katrina devastated the city, and the restaurant quickly became a cornerstone of the recovering community. Eighteen years later, Ruby Slipper has turned its family-like atmosphere into a burgeoning multiunit

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56:10

Cameron Mitchell on how great hospitality leads to...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Cameron Mitchell, founder and CEO of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, a Columbus, Ohio based group that has 68 restaurants across 20-plus concepts from coast to coast. When Cameron set out to be a restaurateur over three decades ago, before he ever opened a restaurant, he wrote that he wanted to build a company with “great people delivering genuine hospitality,” and that continues to be the mantra driving the renowned hospitality in his group

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01:12:06

First Watch CEO Chris Tomasso on inspiring culture...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/01/21

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Chris Tomasso, CEO of First Watch, a daytime café concept with more than 600 locations doing over a billion dollars in sales annually. Chris is coming up on his 20-year anniversary with the brand, having started as CMO back in 2006 and helping late cofounder Ken Pendery build First Watch into a powerhouse over the course of two decades. Chris has become known for his accessibility as a leader; he hand-writes notes to all employees

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38:56

Nothing Bundt Cakes CEO on how it topped America’s...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/01/13

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Dolf Berle, CEO of Nothing Bundt Cakes, the Dallas-based chain of nearly 800 bakeries that was just named America’s Favorite Chain by Technomic. It wasn’t just the overall winner; it was also best among the top 10 chains in service and hospitality, unit appearance and ambiance, food and beverage, and convenience and takeout, and the No. 1 favorite limited-service brand among millennial consumers. So how do they do it? Dolf, who became CEO

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42:28

Sunny Street Cafe president on nailing the...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2026/01/06

In this episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Mike Stasko Jr., president of Sunny Street Café, a 22-unit franchise based in Columbus, Ohio, that has experienced positive traffic and sales comps even while many of its competitors are struggling. It’s not crazy menu innovation or tech bells and whistles that are driving this success; instead, Sunny Street has simply doubled down on great service and great execution of its core menu items. Sam sat down with Mike in a Columbus Sunny Street

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45:07

2026 marketing trends, from food influencers to AI

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/12/19

In this special bonus episode of Take-Away with Sam Oches, Sam talks with Kate Finley, founder and CEO of Belle Communication, a foodservice PR agency with expertise in earned media, influencer relations, creative strategy, and consumer insights. NRN has partnered all year with Belle on their Brilli platform, which offers unique insights into food influencers and how to leverage them for your business. Kate joined the podcast to talk specifically about how marketing evolved in 2025 and what kinds of

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01:00:34

Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright on his career,...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/12/16

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithScott Boatwright, the CEO of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Chipotle, of course, needs no introduction, but to some degree Scott did last year when he was suddenly thrust into the CEO role after his former boss Brian Niccol left for the chief executive job at Starbucks. Scott has spent his whole career in restaurants, spending the bulk of his early years helping turn around Arby’s before joining Chipotle as COO in 2017. The year since Scott was named

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01:04:00

Roots Natural Kitchen CEO on defying the narrative of...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/12/09

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithHenry Borgeson, CEO of Roots Natural Kitchen, an 18-unit salad and grain bowl concept that was started by some University of Virginia graduates in Charlottesville a decade ago. The premise was straightforward: make natural food radically accessible to everyday consumers. But history is riddled with examples of restaurateurs who thought they could improve the quality of fast food ingredients but still ended up failing. Henry joined the podcast

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39:55

Flynn Group founder Greg Flynn on why he’s finally...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/12/02

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithGreg Flynn, founder and CEO of Flynn Group, which is the largest franchise operator in the world with eight brands in its portfolio doing about $5 billion in annual sales.Flynn Group has spent the past 25 years partnering with some of the biggest chains in the world, including Applebee’s, Wendy’s, Panera Bread, Arby’s, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, but last month it announced that it had entered into a franchise agreement with 7 Brew, marking the

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46:44

Big Dave’s founder on launching a successful...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/11/25

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithDerrick Hayes, the founder and CEO of Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks, a nine-unit franchise that has plans to become the next big thing in cheesesteaks. A native of West Philadelphia, Derrick opened the first location 11 years ago inside a Dunwoody, Georgia, gas station, turning it into a cult favorite with hours-long lines. His big break came when rapper and actress Eve visited Big Dave’s and shared about it on her social channels, catapulting the

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51:32

Habit Burger CEO Shannon Hennessy on the need to be...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/11/18

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithShannon Hennessy, the CEO of Habit Burger & Grill. The California-based better-burger chain has grown to nearly 400 locations over its 56 years and now, with help from parent company Yum Brands, is plotting coast to coast growth. Shannon joined Habit Burger from sister chain KFC back in 2022 and took over as CEO in 2023, and she’s overseeing the strategy to “double charge growth.” On the heels of Habit’s Q3 earnings, which showed system

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39:46

Philz Coffee CEO on the artisanal niche its carving...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/11/12

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithMahesh Sadarangani, the CEO of Philz Coffee, an artisanal coffee brand that, for more than 20 years, has committed itself to serving hand-crafted coffee using sustainably sourced beans from around the world. Mahesh arrived at Philz from Wingstop in 2021, and he set out to modernize and optimize the chain while protecting its quality commitment. He joined the podcast to talk about how Philz manages to obsess over its high-quality coffee even as

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37:27

&pizza CEO Mike Burns on cutting prices and playing...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/11/04

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithMike Burns, CEO of &pizza, a fast-casual pizza joint based in Washington D.C. that has grown to 45 locations. &pizza made headlines earlier this year when it announced it would buck the trend and cut its menu prices, offering unlimited free toppings with its $12 personal-sized pizzas rather than charging for toppings. Mike joined the podcast to share how &pizza is staying profitable with this change and why it’s an especially

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39:56

CAVA CEO Brett Schulman shares the blueprint for the...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/10/28

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithBrett Schulman, cofounder and CEO at CAVA, the Mediterranean fast casual concept that has grown to more than 400 locations across the U.S. Brett sat down with Sam during the Investment Summit portion of the recent CREATE Event for Emerging Restaurateurs, where he shared the blueprint for CAVA’s remarkable growth, which started back in 2010 as a fast-casual offshoot of a full-service Mediterranean restaurant. In this conversation, you’ll learn

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41:05

Domino's CEO Russell Weiner on how the company became...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/10/24

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithRussell Weiner, the chief executive officer at Domino’s Pizza, at the company’s headquarters in Ann Arbor, Mich. Russell shares the strategies that have driven Domino’s to become a dominant global leader in pizza, and he reflects on his 17 years with the company, which included what could be the most remarkable brand transformation in retail history.Sam also talks with Russell about how brand perception can affect product quality, why you have

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44:40

Domino’s CMO Kate Trumbull on the right way to change...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/10/22

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithKate Trumbull, EVP and global chief marketing officer at Domino’s Pizza, in person at the chain’s Ann Arbor, Mich., headquarters. She joined the podcast to talk about why Domino’s takes big swings in its marketing, how it crafts its voice in the social media age, and what went into that major brand refresh the company announced earlier this month.This is part of NRN’s 2025 Brand Icon package featuring Domino’s and powered by The Coca-Cola

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44:55

A chef and social media expert explain the power of...

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/10/14

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithLars Smith, chef and owner of State of Mind Pub in Palo Alto, Calif., and Abby Hughes, head of growth strategy for Belle Communication. They’ve been tracking the rise of chef content on Instagram and TikTok, and joined the podcast to share their tips both for chefs and foodservice businesses on how to leverage chefs for exposure in the age of social media, and why authenticity is key to any partnership between a brand and a chef.In this

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58:38

Wild Wing Café CEO on how to navigate through bankruptcy

Take-Away with Sam Oches ·

2025/10/08

In this episode ofTake-Awaywith Sam Oches, Sam talkswithMark Cote, CEO of both Wild Wing Café and Back Yard Burgers since 2022. The brands each recently emerged from chapter 11 bankruptcy, and Mark joined the podcast to talk about the filing process, how to prepare for it, what it looks like, and why there’s reason for optimism even when it seems like the sky is falling.In this conversation, you’ll find out why:If you hire people with your same skill set, you’ll fail miserablyBankruptcy is about the

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