Justin Spencer: Junk Rock to Smash Burgers | Ep. 58

He played 8,000 shows in Las Vegas. Won 27 Emmys. Built a kindness empire. And now he's in the burger business -- and he's only 6 months in. In Episode 57 of Beyond the Plate with Carol, Carol Erickson sits down with Justin Spencer -- founder of Recycled Percussion, creator of the Emmy Award-winning Chaos & Kindness TV series, and co-owner of the fast-growing NH smash burger concept BAD BRGR. What starts as a conversation about burgers turns into one of the most raw, funny, and deeply honest episodes we have ever recorded. What you'll hear in this episode: -- How Justin went from a trailer park in Goffstown, NH to the Las Vegas Strip and why he says kindness became his "drug of choice" -- Why he stayed completely incognito as a BAD BRGR owner for 6 months before he would put his name on it -- and what finally convinced him -- What the BAD BRGR experience actually looks like: free candy for kids, free video games, live music stages, and every customer gets Justin's personal phone number -- The brutal honest truth about restaurant margins -- "at the end of the month you go, wow, we made 400 bucks" -- The gratitude alarm that fired live on camera mid-conversation -- and what Justin said he was most thankful for -- Plus: 7 marathons on 7 continents in 7 days, hiding $10,000 somewhere in New Hampshire the day of this recording, and a bathroom mannequin story you will not forget 📍 BAD BRGR -- badbrgr.com Manchester -- 1015 Elm Street Manchester -- Mall of New Hampshire Rochester -- 195 Wakefield Street, Lilac Plaza Nashua -- Pheasant Lane Mall (opening June 2026) Instagram: @bad_brgr | Facebook: BAD BRGR Subscribe to Beyond the Plate with Carol on YouTube -- new episodes every Tuesday. 🔔 Follow us on Instagram and Facebook: @beyondtheplatenh Like, comment, and share if this episode gave you something. Find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH ________________________________________ This episode is sponsored by Red Arrow Diner. 4 NH locations: Manchester, Concord, Londonderry, and Nashua -- open 24/7. redarrowdiner.com | Instagram: @redarrow24diner | Facebook: Red Arrow Diner ________________________________________ ABOUT BEYOND THE PLATE WITH CAROL Carol Erickson, owner of Red Arrow Diner since 1987, sits down with the people behind New Hampshire's food and hospitality scene. It's not just about the food -- it's about the journeys, the community, and what drives people to go beyond. Follow Beyond the Plate -- find us everywhere: linktr.ee/BeyondtheplateNH Follow Carol: Instagram @carolsew24 ________________________________________ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro 0:58 - Who is Justin Spencer? 1:26 - Raised in a trailer park / broken home 2:31 - Recycled Percussion: the origin (1995) 2:52 - America's Got Talent & 10 years in Las Vegas 4:19 - "My drug of choice was kindness" 5:02 - Chaos & Kindness: 150+ episodes, never paid a dime 6:44 - Elliot Tatleman / Jordan's Furniture connection 7:34 - The $100K investment that changed everything 9:05 - At 49 -- what do I want to build next? 11:05 - Ian and the origin of BAD BRGR 12:22 - Walking through the BAD BRGR experience 13:13 - Free candy, video games, and the customer obsession 😄 13:44 - Every customer gets Justin's personal phone number 16:52 - The brutal truth about restaurant margins 😄 18:56 - Carol weave-in: 39 years at the Red Arrow 22:26 - The gratitude alarm goes off LIVE on camera 23:03 - "I'll take love 11 days out of 10 over money" 25:21 - 6 months as a silent investor 26:30 - "What account?" -- The incognito owner moment 😄 32:22 - Rochester out-earns both Manchester locations combined 35:29 - 7 marathons, 7 continents, 7 days 38:20 - Hiding $10,000 somewhere in NH today 😄 42:04 - Jimmy Love and Davin 44:54 - Moe the Mug goes to a wedding 49:48 - Meet Billy Bad Burger: Justin's alter ego 51:12 - ⚡ Lightning Round 55:06 - NH hospitality story: the $100 gift card 58:14 - Closing