The Woman Who Bought Applebee’s: Julia Stewart on Firing Your Old Boss and Fixing Your Sleep

In this episode of Stacy Phillips & Friends, Stacy is joined by co-host Angela Reddock-Wright to sit down with their powerhouse friend Julia Stewart — the former CEO of IHOP and Applebee’s who went from teenage food server to one of the most influential women in the restaurant industry. Julia opens up about her early days in hospitality, the leadership lessons that shaped her, and the now-famous story of being denied the CEO role at Applebee’s… only to later acquire the entire company.Julia also shares the deeply personal journey that led her to create Alurx, a wellness platform rooted in daily routines, stress management, sleep rituals, and now powered by AI. She breaks down the habits that changed her health, the small steps that lead to big transformation, and why women often embrace wellness technology long before men do.This is an inspiring, girlfriend-to-girlfriend conversation about resilience, reinvention, and the power of knowing when it’s time to leave a job - or change a pillow. If you’re ready for some motivation, some wisdom, and a few laugh-out-loud moments, pull up a chair. Julia brought the receipts.✨ EPISODE HIGHLIGHTSHow Julia rose from IHOP server to CEO of two global restaurant brands.The real story behind Applebee’s, the promotion she didn’t get, and the iconic “turnabout” moment years later.Why she created the Alurx wellness app and how it changed her own health.The daily routines that transformed her energy, sleep, and stress levels.Why women are the early adopters of wellness, and how they bring the men along.Follow Stacy at https://www.instagram.com/stacydphillipsesq/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacydphillips/ Follow Julia at https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliastewart-founder-ceo/Follow Angela at https://www.instagram.com/iamangelareddockwright/ and listen to the The Legal Lens Podcast at https://pod.link/1774764488 🕒 TIMESTAMPS00:54 – Stacy shares how she and Julia first met and why Julia’s story still amazes her.03:24 – Julia describes the moment she was denied the CEO job and how she kept her cool.06:30 – The unforgettable call where Julia tells the Applebee’s CEO his job is no longer needed.09:16 – How years in the restaurant industry led Julia to create the Lurx wellness app.12:53 – The daily habits that dramatically improved Julia’s sleep and stress levels.20:24 – Angela opens up about stress in mediation and finding healthier boundaries.26:35 – Stacy reflects on the structure COVID unexpectedly brought into her life.30:21 – Julia explains her philosophy on women, leadership, and knowing when to move on.38:03 – How to sign up for the next-generation Lurx app and where to reach Julia.