Podcast artwork thumbnail for Fast Casual Nation

Fast Casual Nation

Paul Barron, Cherryh Cansler

Booking Overview

This is a weekly restaurant-industry interview show featuring executives, founders, marketers, and technology leaders from fast-casual and broader foodservice businesses. PR agencies could credibly pitch restaurant CEOs, franchise leaders, brand and marketing executives, and specialists in restaurant technology, workforce solutions, or consumer trends; booking difficulty is medium because guests are established industry leaders but generally accessible professionals rather than mainstream celebrities.

Metrics

Episodes: 219

Frequency: Weekly

Rating: 4.8/5.0

Estimated listeners: 100 - 1,000

Gender skew: Neutral

Listener location: USA

YouTube: 525.0k subscribers

Instagram: 3.7k followers

Contact Information

Publicly listed emails

producer@foodabletv.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

Host

Paul Barron - Restaurant-industry pioneer, investor, and author of The Chipotle Effect.

Cherryh Cansler - Editorial leader behind Fastcasual.com with expertise in the fast-casual restaurant industry.

Booking Intelligence

Booking Requirements

medium
Typical Credentials:  
Restaurant and hospitality CEOs, founders, franchise leaders, senior marketing executives, and executives or specialists from restaurant technology and workforce-solution companies.
Required Achievements:  
Scaling restaurant brands and franchise networks, Leading major brand, marketing, or operational initiatives, Launching or applying technology in foodservice, Building restaurant companies and consumer brands

Recent Guest Discussions

Suzie Tsai - Artificial Intelligence, Supply-chain Forecasting, Localized Marketing, Kiosk Ordering, Data Privacy, And Global Restaurant Growth

Elisia Flores - Fast-casual Expansion, Franchise Operations, Brand Identity, Restaurant Technology, Loyalty Programs, And Hyper-local Marketing

Tal Clark - Restaurant-worker Financial Stress, Earned Wage Access, Instant Tip Payouts, And Employee Retention

Kelly O'Rourke - Dirty Soda, Non-alcoholic Beverages, Brand Expansion, Energy Drinks, And Partnerships

Pinky Cole Hayes - Restaurant Entrepreneurship, Franchising, Brand Rebuilding, Operations, Artificial Intelligence, And Personal Branding

Recent Topics

Fast Casual, Restaurants, Franchising, Foodservice, Restaurant Technology

Episodes

Here's the recent few episodes on
Fast Casual Nation
:

Emerging Brand Survival Kit

October 06, 2026

How Biscuit Belly's CEO Turned a Cracker Barrel Exit Into a Growth EngineWhat 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 ...

Real Estate Decisions That Can Make or Break a Restaurant

September 29, 2026

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...

The $10 Cocktail: Will It Work In Fast Casual?

September 22, 2026

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 #BeveragePr...

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Frequently asked questions

Here's some frequently asked questions for
Fast Casual Nation
:

How do I get in touch with Fast Casual Nation?

Fast Casual Nation is hosted by Paul Barron and Cherryh Cansler. Its publicly listed email is producer@foodabletv.com. For guest bookings, the host or producer is usually the best person to reach. Podseeker helps you find direct host and producer contacts and pitch from your own inbox.

What is the email for Fast Casual Nation?

The publicly listed email for Fast Casual Nation: producer@foodabletv.com.

How many listeners does Fast Casual Nation have?

Podseeker estimates Fast Casual Nation reaches 100 to 1,000 listeners per episode. Only the publisher has exact numbers.

Who is an ideal guest for Fast Casual Nation?

Fast Casual Nation typically books industry leaders. Typical guest background: Restaurant and hospitality CEOs, founders, franchise leaders, senior marketing executives, and executives or specialists from restaurant technology and workforce-solution companies. Common among recent guests: Scaling restaurant brands and franchise networks; Leading major brand, marketing, or operational initiatives; Launching or applying technology in foodservice. Recent guests include Suzie Tsai, Elisia Flores, and Tal Clark.

How hard is it to get booked on Fast Casual Nation?

Medium. Guests usually need solid credentials in the topic and an idea that fits the show.

What topics does Fast Casual Nation cover?

Recent episodes cover Fast Casual, Restaurants, Franchising, Foodservice, and Restaurant Technology. Pitch an idea tied to one of these topics and mention a recent episode.

Publicly listed emails

producer@foodabletv.com

Looking for the right person? Join Podseeker to find direct host and producer contacts and manage your podcast outreach.

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