The Cutting Onions Podcast
by Bobby Shaw
On the Cutting Onions Podcast, restaurant executives Bobby Shaw and Myles Gift celebrate leaders and organizations that build strong people cultures that develop other leaders. Bobby and Myles interview leaders who have built amazing cultures in their organizations through developing great leaders who produce amazing results, the right way.
Episodes
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121. Bobby & Myles talk Success vs. Significance
In today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I focus on changing the conversation from Success = what you accomplish for yourself to Significance = positive impact on others Here is some of what we tackle in this episode: The Sustainability Gap: Success without significance often...
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120. Building a Restaurant Company: The Grit, Growth, and Leadership Behind the Brand
On this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I are excited to share our conversation with an entrepreneur who is making a lot of noise in the Atlanta restaurant scene, Teneshia Murray Butler, owner of T's Brunch Bar and T's Burger Bar. But that is just the start of Teneshia's story....
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119. The Real Cost of Leadership Silence
Have you ever stopped to think about how much damage a conversation that never happens can do? Not something someone said. Not a bad decision someone made. But something that needed to be said, and wasn't. In this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles Gift and I are digging into a…
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118. Bobby & Myles talk about C-Store vs. QSR competition
What if one of the biggest threats to the quick-service restaurant industry isn’t another restaurant at all? Welcome back to The Cutting Onions Podcast. Today, Myles Gift and I are talking about something that I think restaurant operators need to be paying a lot more attention to: the evolution…
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117. Tim Robinson talks Leadership, Career Lessons, and Being Present.
On this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I sit down with my longtime friend and former Freebirds colleague, Tim Robinson. I’ve known Tim since 2013, and we worked closely together across Operations and Finance during my time at Freebirds. His career has taken him through…
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116. Leadership, Vulnerability, Failure, and the Stories We Don't Tell.
We live in a world where everybody is building in public. We're sharing our accomplishments, our wins, our new businesses, and our successes. And that is great to do, of course. But we have been asking ourselves this question: Why are we so comfortable building in public, but we fail in private?...
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115. Aaron Anderson, franchisor of Sunrise Social joins us today to talk about his unique point of view as a Franchisee and a Franchisor.
Welcome back to The Cutting Onions Podcast. Today’s conversation is one Myles and I have really been looking forward to because our guest has experienced the restaurant business from almost every angle. Aaron Anderson has been a franchisee, a multi-unit restaurant operator, a concept creator, an...
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114. Carlo D'Amore, Founder of Live In Theatre, Talks about the Importance of Play and the Power of Story
Welcome back to The Cutting Onions Podcast. Myles and I are so excited to present this conversation with Carlo D’Amore. Carlo is an actor, playwright, director, producer, experience designer, and the founder/creative director of Live In Theater (LIT). His professional theater career spans more…
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113. Mike DeJong, Restaurateur and Author of Grow Smart joins us today for a conversation about The Operator Trap
What happens when the thing that made you successful becomes the very thing holding your business back? On this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we sit down with Mike DeJong for a conversation about growth, leadership, systems, and one of the hardest transitions entrepreneurs and operators...
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112. Jim Varney, co-founder of Wavelength Coffee Roasters talks Coffee, Sustainability, and Storytelling.
On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we are excited to feature our conversation with Jim Varney. Jim is an industrial designer, engineer-minded entrepreneur, sustainability advocate, and co-founder of Wavelength Coffee Roasters. After roughly 25 years in product development and…
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111. The Lost Art of Restaurant Orientation
On today’s episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I continue to the conversation about the basics of the business and talk about the lost art of restaurant orientations. This is a basic fundamental of the business that is crucial to having engaged, inspired, and excellent team members....
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110. The Return of Operational Discipline
Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I talk about the return of operational discipline. Here’s what we know: Restaurants are entering a season where fundamentals matter more than ever. Technology, AI, dashboards, kiosks, loyalty platforms, delivery, and automation are all useful tools,...
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109. Simplifying Leadership with Jason Brooks
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast! On today's episode we are excited to feature our conversation with restaurant executive and author, Jason Brooks. Jason has an incredible leadership story, which we get into on the podcast and it's equal parts inspiring and tactical. Jason has just written a...
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108. Gratitude & Grit: The Two Engines of Leadership
Welcome back to The Cutting Onions Podcast. In today’s episode, we’re talking about Gratitude and Grit: The Two Engines of Leadership. Because leadership is not just about pushing harder, and it’s not just about staying positive. It takes both. Gratitude keeps us grounded, humble, and connected…
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107. Bullets Before Cannonballs & The 20-Mile March
Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I discuss two principles from Jim Collins’ excellent book, Great By Choice, published in 2012. Jim has a new book coming out on April 7th titled What To Make of A Life, and we can’t wait to get our hands on it! In today’s conversation, we discussed...
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106. The Power of Storytelling in Hospitality and in Life
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast. This is episode 106, and today’s conversation we're talking about the power of storytelling in hospitality and in life. Alongside my co-host, as always, Myles Gift, we’re really excited about this conversation. We believe storytelling has become a really...
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105. Bobby and Myles Discuss The 4 Leadership Needs of Every Follower
Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast, Bobby and Myles talk about the Four Leadership Needs of every follower in every organization. Gallup recently studied people across 52 countries and found something powerful: No matter where you live, no matter the industry, the people you lead have four core...
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104. Joshua Sims talks Entrepreneurship and the intersection of Marketing & Operations
Today we are excited to host Joshua Sims Sr.on The Cutting Onions Podcast. Joshua is an entrepreneur and marketing executive, and the Founder of The Fossil Group, an omni-channel, digital, and data-forward marketing agency focused on driving digital sales for franchisees, emerging brands, and...
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103. The Ultimate Priority: Acquire As Many Of The Best People As You Can
On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I tackle a quote from leadership author and expert Jim Collins. His quote, "If I were running a company today, I would have one priority above all others: to acquire as many of the best people as I could." Naturally, that resonates with…
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102. Building Trust In New Teams
On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I tackle the subject of building trust in new teams. Both he and I have recently taken on new roles and we have new teams. As we, and you, our listeners, end 2025 we know many of you are taking on new roles and working with new teams as...
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101. Success Coach and Sales Expert Jacob Hicks joins us today on Cutting Onions.
Today we are excited to feature our conversation with Jacob Hicks. Jacob is a coach, keynote speaker, and sales expert with over a decade of experience helping individuals and businesses unlock lasting success. He delivers practical insights and actionable strategies that your listeners can...
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100. On our 100th episode we highlight Myles' new role and the impact he has had in the industry.
Today, this little podcast is turning 100 episodes old! Thank you all for your support of Cutting Onions over the years. From our little corner of the interweb, we do our best to highlight leaders across all industries who have built amazing people cultures that have fueled organizational…
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99. Leaders Who Stay In The Fire: The Cost of Consistency
On today's episode, Episode 99, we’re talking about something rarely celebrated but always essential: consistency, especially when it’s hard. Especially when you’re in the fire. We all know what the fire is: • Pressure. • Repetition. • Crises. • Cultural fatigue. • Emotional burnout. Today, we...
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98. Bobby and Myles discuss Texas Roadhouse and their innovative Managing Partner Program
In today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we take a look at Texas Roadhouse and their innovative Managing Partner program and how it fuels their results. We also look at the difference between a traditional GM role and a Managing Partner, and how Texas Roadhouse has built its company on...
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97. William Espey, former brand voice for Chipotle joins us for an incredible conversation on how the Genius of Naiveté fueled the brand voice over the first two decades at Chipotle Mexican Grill
In the latest episode of the "Cutting Onions Podcast," Myles and I are excited to present this conversation with William Espey, the brand voice of Chipotle Mexican Grill for almost two decades. In this conversation, William discusses his early journey with Chipotle, detailing how he transitioned...
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96. Don Champion, SVP of Penn Station East Coast Subs joins us to talk Franchising, Culture, and Leadership
Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast, Don Champion, Senior Vice President of Sales and Development for Penn Station East Coast Subs joins us. Penn Station has 322 restaurants across 14 states. Don is a seasoned leader in franchising with decades of experience. As a former franchise owner, he…
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95. Kristen Pechacek, CEO of MassageLuxe joins us today to talk Franchising, Growth, and Culture
Welcome to Episode 95 of The Cutting Onions Podcast. On today's episode, we speak with CEO Kristen Pechacek. Kristen is the President and CEO of MassageLuXe, a franchise surpassing 100 units in 2024. She was recently named as one the Top 50 Game-Changing CMOs in 2023 by Entrepreneur Magazine and...
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94. Founder and CEO Ingrid Schneider shares her Leadership Journey, how AI can help your business, and why being an Empathetic Leader matters
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast! This is Episode 94 and Myles and I are excited to feature our conversation with Ingrid Schneider, the founder and CEO of Stay In Your Lane and Train In Your Lane. These two businesses are helping teams in many diverse industries bolster their teams for their...
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93. Jim Taylor talks about Bold Operations, Hospitality and Helping People Love the Restaurant Industry
For more than 20 years, Jim Taylor has both helped to fuel the growth of a leading national restaurant brand, as well as consulted with hundreds of other restaurants to navigate the ever changing restaurant industry. Jim recently launched his first book, “Bold Operations - Building the Foundation...
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92. Entrepreneur Bennett Maxwell shares his thoughts on Entrepreneurship through the lens of Wellness
Bennett Maxwell is a multifaceted entrepreneur renowned for his innovative approach to business and commitment to enhancing the entrepreneurial landscape. He is currently the driving force behind Dirty Dough Cookies, a fast-growing national cookie brand with over 80 stores open and dozens more…
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91. Entrepreneur and Franchise Advisor Paul Tran joins us for a conversation on all things Franchising
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast. On today’s episode Myles and I welcome Paul Tran back to the podcast for another great conversation around franchising in the restaurant industry. Paul is a great friend to the podcast and we are excited to host him once again. Paul is a serial entrepreneur...
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90. Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison joins us to talk about the power of Local Store Marketing
Today on The Cutting Onions Podcast we are honored to feature our conversation with Certified Coach and Marketing Expert Jessica Harrison. Jessica is a certified Executive Coach (ICF-ACC) and consultant focusing on coaching others to find greater balance, navigate transitions and leverage their...
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89. Christine Schindler, CEO of Pathspot Technologies Talks Food Safety and Serving Others
On this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we dive into a captivating conversation with Christine Schindler, CEO and Co-Founder of PathSpot. A Duke-alum and Biomedical Engineer, Christine's innovative approach has revolutionized health and safety in the restaurant industry through PathSpot’s...
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88. Founder/CEO Kevin Cochran talks to us about his amazing vegan concept, Jackie Mays Burger.
On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, we talk to entrepreneur and founder, Kevin Cochran for an inspiring conversation on the restaurant industry, technology in restaurants, and his new concept, Jackie Mays Burger. After ten years of working in restaurants at the beginning of his...
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87. Jen Wherrell from Benetrends talks all things Franchising!
Jen is currently a Senior Funding Consultant at Benetrends financial. Jen was the proud CEO, President and CF of My House Fitness Franchise. In 2004 after the birth of her first child, Jennifer put her lifelong passion for fitness to the test and began her position as Group Fitness Coordinator…
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85. Chick Fil A Owner/Operator Justin Lindsey Joins Us Today to Talk About the 3-Day Workweek
Today we welcome Justin Lindsey to The Cutting Onions Podcast. Justin has been a Chick-fil-A Owner/Operator for nearly 14 years. He is currently the Owner/Operator of Chick-fil-A Kendall located in Miami, Florida. Chick-fil-A Kendall is one of the Top 5 busiest restaurants in the entire…
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86. Subway Franchisee and Entrepreneur Kristen Chandler joins us on the podcast today!
We are so proud to bring you this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast where we interview Subway Franchisee and Entrepreneur, Kristen Chandler. This was an incredibly inspiring conversation that we are sure you will enjoy. Kristen gave us a masterclass in what it means to display grit in the…
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84. David DeSantis joins us today to share how he blended Ops with Tech
David DeSantis is a well-known name in the pizza industry. With 27 years of experience in the restaurant business, he has created six successful brands and owned 17 restaurants. However, his latest venture sets him apart from others in the industry: the creation of a cutting-edge supplier...
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83. Purpose, Avoiding Burnout, and a Shorter Work Week
On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I have a great conversation regarding an article that we read on LinkedIn from Emma Codd, who is the Global Chief Diversity Officer at the Deloitte. In this article, Emma unpacks some incredible information and data around the mental...
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82. Joseph Szala joins us to talk about Loyalty, Digital and the UX!
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast, Episode 82 which features Joseph Szala in a compelling conversation to talk about all things digital, loyalty, and how to create an amazing guest experience. Joseph serves as Vice President of Digital Experience for Rapturous, a wing of 3 Owl. His...
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81. Bobby and Myles talk with Daniella Sardi at SoundHound about AI Voice Technology and it's Growing Impact
Today we chat with Daniella Sardi from about AI Voice Technology. Daniella Sardi is the Head of Enterprise, Restaurants at SoundHound, specializing in strategic territory development and fostering collaborative teams. She brings extensive experience as a successful sales leader across multiple...
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80. Bobby and Myles talk about AB 1228 and the impact on the restaurant industry.
In this week's episode we talk about the new California law, AB 1228 which raises the minimum wage to $20.00 as of April 1, 2024 at all fast food restaurants with 60 units or more in their portfolio. We take a look at both sides of this issue and try and gauge the impact this new law will have on...
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79. AI and Robotics in the Restaurant Industry
On this week's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast and on the heels of the Restaurant Franchising Innovation Summit held in Kansas City by Fast Casual, we talk about Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. We highlight some of what we learned this week about the future of AI and Robotics, and...
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78. Bobby and Myles talk Ramping Up for Spring and all the things that come with it!
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast, Episode 78! In today's conversation Myles and Bobby talk about ramping up in the hospitality and retail business and all the things that need to be in place for that to happen successfully. We also talk about team communication, scheduling, deployment, and…
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77. Bobby and Myles continue the conversation about how to take over a challenging operation and protect your most important asset. Your people.
On today's episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast, Myles and I continue the conversation we started last week around what it looks like to enter into a situation that is at best a struggle, and at worst broken, in the restaurant industry. We get super granular in this episode building on the ideas...
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76. Taking on Challenging Ops Situations
Welcome to The Cutting Onions Podcast, Episode 76! In this episode Myles and I start a conversation about what it looks like as a leader to enter into a situation where you might have a restaurant, district, market, area, region, or company that has significant challenges. Where you do you start?...
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75. In this episode of The Cutting Onions Podcast we chat with CHRO Michael Morello talking HR, Culture, and Leadership.
a seasoned and strategic human resources executive with 25 years of experience in leading HR teams and functions across diverse industries and sectors, including Fortune 500 companies. As a Chief Human Resources Officer, Michael oversees all aspects of human capital management, aligning HR…
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74. Prior To Service: What Great Restaurateurs Understand About Leadership. In this episode we talk about our new Mastermind Group project and we can't wait for you to hear all about it!
Listen in behind the scenes to Myles Gift, Jay Timms, and me as we talk about our new project, a Mastermind Group that we are calling "Prior To Service: What Great Restaurateurs Understand About Leadership". This community is being built for three tiers of hospitality leadership, with the first...
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73. Myles chats with Pepper Lunch CEO Troy Hooper on today's episode and it was a great conversation! Myles & Troy chat entrepreneurship and what it takes to succeed in leadership.
In this episode Myles has a great conversation with Pepper Lunch CEO Troy Hooper. Troy began his career in the Caribbean cutting his teeth in hotel restaurants and private clubs. A serial entrepreneur, Troy knows what it takes to succeed in business and has built his career on tried and true...
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72. Bobby & Myles talk sticking the landing when entering an organization and discuss a few ideas in the classic book Great By Choice from Jim Collins.
In this episode we discuss how to enter an organization regardless of the level of leadership you are coming in at, and also some key principles from Great By Choice by Jim Collins, which we think is incredibly underrated. The two ideas we unpack today are the 20-mile march and firing bullets...
About this show
On the Cutting Onions Podcast, restaurant executives Bobby Shaw and Myles Gift celebrate leaders and organizations that build strong people cultures that develop other leaders. Bobby and Myles interview leaders who have built amazing cultures in their organizations through developing great leaders who produce amazing results, the right way.
Hosted by
Bobby Shaw
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