The Business of Joy

Hosted by Lisa W. Miller

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May 2026

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About the show

Consumer researcher Lisa W. Miller is an expert at telling the story behind the data. The Business of Joy is a business podcast where C-suite leaders and change-makers share real stories and strategies on how joy✨, purpose, and human connection fuel the top line and bottom line.

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60 recent

May 19, 202652 min

Joie de Vivre: How La Madeleine's CEO John Dillon Is Bringing Joy Back to Restaurant Leadership

Joie de vivre. It's a French phrase that translates to "the joy of life." And when I sat down with John Dillon, CEO of La Madeleine, it was clear that joy isn't just a concept for this brand. The brand has been carrying joy in its DNA for 43 years. John's gift was seeing it and turning it up a notch. When John took over as CEO, one of the first things he did was create “Spark Joy Sessions” - conversations with frontline employees to figure out the pain points that actually impacted them on a daily basis. And when he went back a year later to report what had changed because of their feedback? He was surprised… they'd done more than he even realized! That's leadership. That’s a wrap for Season 7 - Hard to believe! Season 8 sneak peek will be coming soon!

April 28, 202649 min

Joy is The Strategy (with John Goss)

Most executives don’t put the word "joy" in their personal brand statement.John Goss does!As President of Sally Beauty, a global brand with over 2,400 stores in the US and Canada, John has built his career around the idea that joy and culture aren’t separate from results - it produces them.In this conversation, we talked about what it really means to lead with joy. Not as a feel-good concept, but as a deliberate strategy. Joy attracts the right people, builds real trust, and drives everything else.We also got into the stuff that doesn't always make it into leadership conversations:growing up as the new kid across eight schoolsgraduating high school in Singaporeand the early career moments that taught him exactly the kind of leader he never wanted to be

April 14, 202642 min

The CEO Who Cut Prices, Raised Wages, and 12x'd Profit Anyway | Brandon Coleman III

Gravy-powered rocket ship. 12x EBITDA. His dad made him write a P&L for his lemonade stand, even though Brandon Coleman III couldn't pronounce the word "quarters" yet.Same kid. Forty years later. Now he's leading major brands.Another story that shaped his leadership style: Early in his career, he walked into a restaurant and ordered his own promotion. His server looks at him and says: "I wouldn't do that." He waited until the rush died down. Pulled her aside. Asked her why. She told him everything. It's a moment that he never forgot. When you actually listen to your servers, managers, and guests, magic happens. At Cotton Patch Café, Brandon did the unthinkable - lowered prices, increased portions and increased wages! People thought he was nuts! Guess what? It worked, driving 12x EBITDA!Ironically, the best ideas are often not found in the boardroom. They're found at the front line!

March 31, 202644 min

Why Leaders Miss Potential in Their Teams (with Kelli Valade)

“That’s a really good question…” when I hear this during my podcast, it really brings me joy and reminds me why I LOVE doing these!Kelli Valade, President and CEO of Women's Foodservice Forum, and I go off-script on this one. That’s when the magic happens, and what comes out of those moments is what makes it worth your time to watch and listen in!A few things you’ll walk away with: 🎙️ Why most people don’t lack ambition… they lack awareness of what’s possible for them 🎙️ Why asking “where do you want to be in 5 years?” isn’t helpful 🎙️ What it actually takes to build confidence in someone (hint: it doesn’t start with them) 🎙️ The hidden costs leaders miss because they aren’t visible on the P&L 🎙️ Where we got innovation right… and where we didn’t 🎙️ Why “being seen” might be the most underutilized leadership tool right now If you lead people, develop talent, or just want to think a little differently about what leadership actually requires today… this episode is worth a listen!

March 18, 202641 min

Built by 1,000 Touchpoints: How Great Restaurants Actually Create Value (with Robin Blanchette)

There’s a misconception that restaurant brands are built by big ideas, big campaigns, or the next big menu innovation.But the truth is much simpler and much harder. Restaurants don’t succeed because of one big home-run moment. They succeed because of thousands of tiny ones.In this episode of The Business of Joy, Lisa Miller sits down with Robin Blanchette, Founder and CEO of Norton Creative, to explore what really drives restaurant growth. Robin shares why brands can “die by a thousand cuts” or be built by thousands of touch points, and how the smallest decisions, like menu design, guest experience, messaging, and leadership, can quietly transform a business.She reflects on the early jobs that shaped her leadership, the hardest moment of her career during COVID, and what it truly means to show up for people, whether you’re leading a team, serving a guest, or advising a brand. In this episode, we discuss:• Why the menu is the most powerful marketing tool in a restaurant• The hidden role great consultants play behind the scenes• The balance between art and science in restaurant marketing (shoutout Melissa)• Why “showing up” might be the most underrated leadership skillGreat businesses, like great relationships, aren’t built all at once. They’re built one joyful moment at a time!

March 3, 202639 min

Why 3rd Grade Reading Levels Matter: America’s Literacy Crisis (with Carol Goglia)

This is NOT OK: If a child is not reading on grade level by 3rd grade, they are 4x LESS LIKELY to graduate high school, and if living in poverty, 13x LESS LIKELY!Carol Goglia, CEO of Catch Up & Read is focused on one of America’s most urgent challenges: early literacy. She has spent her career turning strategy into impact, from her early days at Frito-Lay to leading one of the country’s most powerful giving movements at Communities Foundation/North Texas Giving Day.In this episode, Carol shares this idea of joy as a catalyst for learning and retention. From the “joyful results clubs” that make kids ask, “Is it Catch Up & Read day?” to lessons corporate leaders can borrow from the nonprofit world, this conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes the biggest business signals start in the smallest moments.If you care about the future talent pipeline, team development, or the long game of leadership, I think this will resonate!

February 24, 202658 min

From Performing Joy to Living It: Why Presence Beats Performance (with Chadwick Boyd)

What happens when you get really good at performing joy…but realize you’re not actually living it? We reward performance in business. The ability to “turn it on.” It’s the drive, charisma and energy that fuels us. But what if the skills that build our success disconnect us from ourselves? Chadwick Boyd grew up in a farming community and has spent nearly 30 years shaping how America experiences food. You might have seen him on the Today Show or many Food Network Shows. He realized in 2019 that had given so much of himself, that joy was hard to find. Then, in 2022, a life changing injury forced a reset. It wasn’t just physical, but entirely how he saw himself. Everything stopped. And in that stillness, he realized that presence, not performance, is what sustains people and brands over time. Today, Chadwick consults with brands to help them reconnect with their brand soul and their stakeholders and customers. If you lead teams, build brands, or feel the pressure to always be “on,” I think you will really enjoy this one.

February 10, 202646 min

Are We Measuring the Joy Out of Restaurants? (with Melissa Doolin Koehne)

The restaurant industry is under pressure: rising costs, labor challenges, tighter margins, and more data than ever before. But what if some of the tools meant to help are stripping away what matters most?JOYIn this episode of The Business of Joy, Lisa W. Miller sits down with restaurant industry leader Melissa Doolin Koehne to explore the tension operators are facing right now: how to protect culture, people, and purpose while navigating an unforgiving business environment.Melissa brings decades of experience - from her early days at Carl’s Jr to leadership roles at Black Box Intelligence, launching her own company Elevate 4, and serving as Chairman of the Board for the Texas Restaurant Foundation.Together, they dig into: • How cost-cutting can unintentionally erode brand soul • Why “back to basics” may not be enough anymore • The role of data - when it helps and when it hurts • Why youth should be viewed as the future pipeline, not a labor problem • What truly drives retention, confidence, and long-term leadership in restaurantsThis is a candid conversation for operators, executives, and anyone thinking about the future of hospitality.

December 10, 202547 min

From Rough Waters to Real Change: Arshay Cooper on Teamwork, Healing, and Hope

THIS podcast conversation is one you won’t forget!I met Arshay in 2019 through my rowing team. He is an entrepreneur and speaker who shares his message around the world. His full-length documentary, A Most Beautiful Thing, tells the story of growing up on the West Side of Chicago and how rowing and an entrepreneurship class changed his life. Since it debuted in March of 2020, it’s been a joy to watch all his success!5 years later, he has a second book titled Let Me Be Real with You, which hit #1 on the USA Today best seller list, and he founded a non-profit organization to introduce rowing to youth!We dove deep into stories he doesn’t often share - the gift of his entrepreneur class, how his culinary degree shaped his future, and the power of hope. Rowing introduced him to teamwork, peace, belonging, and the chance to reinvent his future. This is a story about resilience, leadership, and the hope we give and receive.

November 18, 202547 min

Scaling With Soul: How Toni Ronayne Is Reimagining Leadership

For Toni Ronayne, her journey started as a 13-year-old coat check girl… staying up late, learning the value of tips, hospitality, and connection long before she ever stepped into the C-suite.Today, Toni is the Founder & CEO of The C Society, and her story is one of courage, reinvention, and leading with authenticity in an industry that’s changing faster than ever.A few of my favorite insights about Toni’s story: 💡Her superpower: being an “accidental executive” 💡Why restaurants are her true calling 💡The loneliness no one talks about when the title goes away (that is so real!)💡How to scale without losing your soul💡The win/win opportunity for fractional leadersOne of my favorite moments was when Toni said: “At the end of the day, I want people to say I lived my life true to who I am.”Authenticity as a legacy! WOW! It is so fitting!If you’re a leader navigating change, a brand builder, or an executive rethinking what’s next in your career… you’ll want to dive into this one 🔥