Restaurant Leadership Podcast: Overcome Burnout, Embrace Freedom, and Drive Growth

104: Curiosity Creates Hospitality, Connection Beats Checklists

Guests don’t come to a full‑service restaurant for a transaction; they come hoping to feel something. We dig into how to deliver that feeling on purpose through connected hospitality, turning routine steps into genuine moments of care that guests remember long after the check drops.We start by grounding everything in food, then layer in the human element that differentiates you in a crowded market. You’ll hear how:We reframed performance reviews into get‑to‑know‑you conversations.Why curiosity is a trained skill not a personality trait, “Ping pong” questions replace scripts to create real dialogue.Growth requires humility, we unpack a one‑star reviewIf you’re ready to coach curiosity, hire for heart, and transform checklists into connections, press play. If the conversation sparks ideas, subscribe, share the episode with your team, and leave a quick review so more operators can find it. What’s the one question you’ll ask at your next table touch?P.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.com Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

103: From Scarcity To Service: Mindset Tools for Restaurant Leaders

A new executive chef gets thrown into the deep end: understaffed, undertrained, and staring down six tough weeks. We use that moment to unpack a bigger question every operator faces—how do you stay mentally strong and lead with purpose when the room is half full and the pressure won’t let up?We dig into:The gap vs. gain framework from Dan Sullivan and Dr. Benjamin Hardy Eight simple questions that snap you out of scarcity and into progress.Eric Cacciatore opens up about imposter syndrome, why service beats ego, and how choosing “impact over reach” changes the way you scale.Six guiding principles for resilient entrepreneurs: prioritize real If you’re an independent multi‑unit operator aiming to build systems, grow leaders, and protect your mindset, this conversation gives you practical tools, a clearer North Star, and a community-first path forward. Listen, share with your team, and tell us your biggest gain from today. If this helped, subscribe, leave a review, and send it to a fellow operator who could use a lift.P.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.com Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

102: Scaling without Chaos: Grow Sustainably with People, Process, and Profit

Growth shouldn’t mean chaos. We lay out a practical roadmap for independent multi-unit restaurant owners who want scalable systems, stronger leaders, and healthier margins without losing the creativity that makes their concepts special. From the early cracks that show up at three and seven units to the org design that prevents constant firefighting, this conversation blends hard-won lessons with a clear framework you can apply right away.We start with people: defining leadership roles, hiring by capability instead of loyalty, and building layers of ownership so founders can stop being the answer desk. Then we move into process: what to standardize to protect guest experience, how to balance brand consistency with local flavor, and why a quarterly operating rhythm with scorecards and leading indicators keeps everyone aligned. Throughout, we return to culture—core values that drive hiring and reviews, not just posters on a wall—and the internal communication systems that deliver one message clearly across every location.There’s also a candid look at the human side of scale. Losing your voice during fast expansion is real. We talk about the shift that happens when you redesign your week, get support, and align daily decisions with your values. The payoff is a calmer, faster organization where change sticks, leaders grow, and profit follows because people and process are strong.If you’re an independent operator ready to move from survival mode to sustainable growth, this is your blueprint. P.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.com Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

101: Coach More, Fix Less: How Restaurant Leaders Build Strong Teams

Want fewer fires, stronger managers, and a calmer shift without losing speed? We dig into the simple coaching moves that turn constant problem-solving into shared ownership. Hospitality leader and author Jason E. Brooks joins us to unpack three deceptively small skills—asking better questions, listening with intent, and giving feedback that actually lands in a roaring kitchen—and shows how they scale across multiple locations.We explore:  • choosing to coach instead of fix• building trust to stop 2 a.m. calls• listening that lowers defenses and reveals context• giving feedback that lands in a loud kitchenGo to irfbook.com right now and grab your copyHead to christinmarvin.com/contact for a complimentary coaching session and let's talk about what's possible for your restaurant groupFind Jason’s books on Amazon or at jasonebrooks.comP.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.com Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

100: Unlock Thriving Restaurant Excellence

Milestones matter when they sharpen your focus. As we hit 100 episodes, Christin welcomes chef Britt Rescigno of Fiama in Sun Valley, a TV chef turned mountain-town restaurateur who pairs sexy, high-end Italian with a culture built on respect. The conversation cuts through hype and gets tactical about what it takes to open strong, stay open through off-season, and keep a team engaged when the crowds thin.Britt shares the boundary that makes running a restaurant with her spouse work: leave home emotions at home and speak with intention on the line. That standard lifted the whole crew, turning high-heat moments into calm, decisive service. We talk brand and guest experience that feel elegant yet approachable, the pricing confidence that comes from making everything in-house, and why clear storytelling on your website and socials sets expectations before guests ever sit down.If you’ve wondered how to pick the right city, Britt’s year of pop-ups becomes a blueprint for market research. She and Kinsey cooked 50 dinners across the country, read demand signals, and chose Sun Valley because the niche fit the people, not just the postcard views. We unpack PR as an upfront investment that compounds early, how to measure its real-world impact, and why cutting it first can stall momentum. Then we face Slack season head on: holding firm on hours, launching a true apertivo hour to seed early covers, and keeping staff employed so you don’t pay the tax of retraining when the snow hits.Britt also opens up about her TV path from a liquid-courage Chopped application to national competitions, and how that platform feeds the restaurant with credibility and fresh ideas. Finally, we look forward: more Fiama locations, possibly in other mountain towns, and a commitment to mentoring young cooks so they see culinary as a craft worth chasing.If you lead in restaurants, you’ll walk away with a playbook: respect as policy, consistency as strategy, pop-ups as research, PR as acceleration, and offers that protect brand while driving covers. Enjoy the conversation, share it with someone who needs a lift, and tell us your best tactic for staying busy through the off-season. Resources:Britt RescignoFiammaChristin MarvinMulti Unit MasteryP.S. Ready to take your restaurant to the next level? Get the Independent Restaurant Framework that's helped countless owners build thriving multi-location brands. Grab your copy at https://www.IRFbook.com Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/