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PODCAST

Confessions Beyond the Food

Nancy Ridlen, W3 Sales

Confessions Beyond the Food is a podcast about working in the Food Industry. People who work in the Food Industry have grit and lots of stories to tell. W3 Sales, a sales & marketing company, will host this podcast with their confessions on how they have a new, fresh approach and invite guests to confess their secrets to their sauce.

arts food

All Episodes

28:51

The Bourbon Badass: Leadership with Heart

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/11/13

From sales strategy to social influence — and a little bourbon in between 🥃 This week on Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy Ridlen sits down with Anthony Salemi, VP of Strategic Sales at Ace Mart and the man behind Bourbon Badass. They talk about how the foodservice industry is evolving, what fuels his competitive spirit, and one powerful moment that brings it all back to what really matters. 🎧 Listen now — you’ll laugh, you’ll nod, and you might even tear up.

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31:12

Faith, Family, Then Food - A Frank Conversation with...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/10/30

What happens when a chef known for speed, standards, and scaling brands decides to flip the script and live “God first, family second, work third”? We sat down with our friend John Franke—chef, leader, and founder of Franke Culinary Consulting—to talk about faith in a high-pressure industry and how convictions hold up when tickets are firing, clients are waiting, and home life is loud. John opens up about the long arc from kitchen chaos to steady leadership, including a season when work paus...

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30:49

Comfort Food Crusade - Myles Powell's Food Network...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/07/24

What happens when a civil engineer discovers his true calling isn’t in concrete and steel—but in cast iron and cornbread? Meet Myles, the founder of Myles Comfort Foods, who traded spreadsheets for skillets and built a frozen food brand that’s shaking up supermarket aisles. In this episode, Myles shares his extraordinary journey from corporate burnout to Food Network competitor to bold food entrepreneur. For him, the dinner table was always sacred—a place where southern comfort classics broug...

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24:19

Unshakable: Women’s Wisdom from the Frontlines of...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/07/10

Nancy Ridlen shares ten hard-earned lessons for women in foodservice, sales and entrepreneurship, drawing from her 25 years of experience navigating spaces that weren't always built for women. These personal confessions offer a roadmap for staying authentic while confronting biases and building successful careers in any industry. Embrace Who You AreKnow You Will Face ChallengesUnderstand Communication PerceptionAddress Harassment and Microaggressions Head-OnBe Kind and Uplifting to Other Wome...

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25:51

Beyond the Sale: How Jason Morgan Earns Trust and...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/05/29

What separates a top-tier sales rep from the rest? Jason Morgan, DSR of the Month at Edward Don & Company, shares how a customer-first mindset, operational insight, and strategic problem-solving helped him earn one of foodservice’s highest honors. In this episode: • How Jason uses his restaurant background to anticipate customer needs • Managing multiple roles: sales, logistics, credit & more • Navigating industry shifts: price transparency, e-commerce & AI &nbs...

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18:29

Work Hard, Laugh Harder: Real Strategies for...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/05/07

10 Real Things to Make the Job Fun So let’s be honest, work is work. But, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring, stressful, or something you just ‘get through’. At W3 Sales we believe that fun isn’t just a perk, it’s a part of the process. From inside jokes to team banter to real vacation and Think Tanks that spark some really crazy ideas we found that building a connected, energized culture makes everything better. So today we are sharing 10 real things we do to make the job fun. And spoiler...

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39:31

Restaurant Visionary: Mark Brezinski's Creative Journey

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/04/17

In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, listeners are taken behind the scenes with restaurant industry veteran and creative powerhouse Mark Brezinski—author of Fork Fight and the visionary behind some of the country’s most iconic dining concepts. From the early days of Macaroni Grill to the launch of Pei Wei and collaborations with brands like Pizza Hut and Velvet Taco, Brezinski has left a lasting mark on the foodservice landscape. This conversation explores the emotional and often u...

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29:31

Beyond The Hustle: The Raw Truth About Entrepreneurship

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/04/10

Want the real deal on what it takes to build a successful food service business? Nancy Ridlen keeps it honest, sharing a decade’s worth of hard-earned lessons they don’t teach in business school. After landing two dream clients, she thought she’d made it—but real growth came from the unexpected twists, tough decisions, and learning to lead with clarity over people-pleasing. As an Enneagram Three “Achiever,” Nancy admits she used to run at 150 mph. But building W3 taught her that sustainable...

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33:50

What’s Your Relationship Status with Food?!

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/03/25

On this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Liz Oba takes us on a deliciously personal journey—from hospital dietitian to Real Food Mission Ambassador at Thomas Cuisine. Her story is filled with food love, health revelations, and plenty of myth-busting along the way. Food Was Her First Love: Growing up with adventurous-eating parents, Liz learned to try new foods without fear or pressure—whether it was a funky veggie or an exotic dish. Her Dad Was the Food Police: When her physici...

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35:53

Leading with Legacy: A Father-Daughter Story

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/02/25

Bill Burden and his daughter Jennifer Rolander explore the deep connections of family, legacy, and leadership that define their business journey. Their conversation reveals how childhood experiences shaped their professional paths and the critical importance of mentorship in family-run enterprises. • Bill's journey in Burden China from childhood involvement • Jennifer's early influences and desire for the family business • The significance of family values in business pract...

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25:48

Scaling a Chocolate Empire without Sacrificing Quality

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/02/11

Just in time for Valentines' Day! 😍 The Real Life Willy Wonka of the Midwest, Dan Abel Jr joins Nancy Ridlen on the latest episode. Dan shares how he scaled the family business without sacrificing quality. What is so fascinating about the company history is that the Bissinger's roots go back to 1668 in Paris, France, and revolve around King Louis the XIV & Napolean Bonaparte! For over 200 years, the company had the distinction of being Confectioner to the Empire. Once a brand ...

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30:35

Passion and Perseverance: Jennifer Rolander’s...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/01/28

Jennifer Rolander's journey through the food service industry reveals the importance of passion, connection, and mentorship in achieving success. Her experiences highlight the value of lifelong learning and the profound impact of fostering relationships, especially among aspiring culinary professionals. • Jennifer’s early experiences in her family's pottery business • Transitioning from restaurant ownership to corporate roles • Pursuing an MBA later in life for personal and pro...

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24:24

Successful Sales Strategies - Top 10 Ways to Kick Off...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2025/01/09

Celebrating 10 years of W3 Sales provides a platform for reflection, growth, and valuable lessons learned. Nancy delves into the importance of learning from mistakes, nurturing team culture, adapting to market challenges, and embracing failure as part of the journey.• Reflecting on the past as a critical step for growth • Importance of learning from mistakes to avoid the insanity cycle • People-centered approach as the company's DNA • Establishing and maintaining a strong compa...

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32:20

Leading a Successful Sales Firm in a People First...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/12/23

We explore the importance of relationships and a people-first culture in the food service industry with Jeff Griffiths, President of eSource Miller & our host, Nancy Ridlen. From employee empowerment to customer connections, this episode is packed with insights on creating a thriving business environment. • Discussing the journey and experiences in the food service industry • Importance of relationships and culture in business • Empowering teams by understanding individual ...

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19:31

Embracing Tradition in a Digital Age

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/12/05

What if you could transform a century-old company's digital presence while preserving its cherished traditions? Caroline Webre, Ben E Keith's innovative social media marketing manager, shares her inspiring journey of revitalizing this well-established brand's online footprint. With a focus on meaningful interactions over mere follower counts, Caroline reveals her strategies for aligning Ben E Keith's family-oriented, reliable, and friendly culture with modern content platforms like LinkedIn a...

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44:10

From Cake Pops to Culinary Fame: Chef David Burke's...

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/11/15

How did Chef David Burke rise from a time when being a chef wasn't highly regarded to become an international culinary ambassador? Listen as we promise to reveal the secrets behind his remarkable journey. From his inventive cake pop creations to his travels across 30 countries, Chef Burke's story is a testament to passion and perseverance in the culinary world.Managing multiple restaurants across states is no small feat, especially with the intense work hours and extensive travel. Hear firsth...

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27:41

Redefining Senior Living Services with Aaron Fish

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/09/13

What happens when you blend the precision of computer science with the heart of hospitality? Join host Nancy Ridlen in this insightful episode of Confessions Beyond the Food as she interviews Aaron Fish, CEO of Trestle Hospitality Concepts.Aaron shares how senior living communities are transforming with strategic growth, creative revenue opportunities, and elevated dining experiences to meet the demands of a new generation. Discover how innovative culinary approaches, smart regional expansion...

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29:11

Mixology Masterclass with Rebecca Dowda

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/08/30

Join our host, Nancy Ridlen, as she sits down with Rebecca Dowda, CEO of More Than Mixology and iSi ambassador. Rebecca shares her inspiring journey as an entrepreneur in the world of handcrafted cocktails. She reveals her passion for fresh ingredients, expert mixology technique, and training the next generation of cocktail creators. Whether you’re looking to elevate your cocktail game or just starting out, this episode is packed with tips and insights that will inspire your next creatio...

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36:55

How to Open a Restaurant with Bradford Thompson

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/08/16

Join us as we sit down with the extraordinary Chef Bradford Thompson, a James Beard Award-winning chef, culinary consultant, and CEO of Bellyful Hospitality. Born and bred in New York City, Chef Bradford shares his experiences of raising a family in the heart of Harlem, where his kids have grown up with a love for cooking and an appreciation for the art of dining. From the bustling streets of NYC to opening over 40 restaurants across the country, Chef Bradford reveals the challenges and rewar...

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35:13

Luxury Creations with Chef Robbie Rensel

Confessions Beyond the Food ·

2024/07/12

In this episode, Chef Robbie shares the essence of his culinary journey, emphasizing the importance of simplicity, quality, and passion in cooking. From humble beginnings to mastering the art of cooking, Chef Robbie highlights the value of hands-on experience, teamwork, and consistency in the kitchen.He discusses the often-overlooked challenges chefs face, from meeting high diner expectations to managing the complexities and costs of luxury dining. Despite these hurdles, Chef Robbie's unwaver...

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39 results

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