The Business of Joy

Hosted by Lisa W. Miller

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Aug 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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August 25, 202640 min

Building a Factory in a Disaster Zone | Julie Colombino Billingham

Ten days after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was alone, no safety plan, no contacts and no evacuation plan. Julie Colombino Billingham had quit her job, sold her Florida home and landed in Port-au-Prince with only $7,000 in her pocket. Many days, she only ate an avocado and drank a single coca-cola. THE PIVOT POINT: It came when a woman grabbed her arm: "I don't want your water, I need a job." As a trained disaster responder, she experienced the brutal truth: handing out free aid destroys local economies by undercutting local businesses and local job. JOB CREATION: That moment shifted Julie’s focus from temporary aid to job creation and ultimately building an off-grid factory making beautiful handbags and accessories by hand. I’ve already bought one. Loved it so much, another is on its way. JULIE’S IMPACT: Her stories are absolutely heart wrenching at the same time inspiring. A few of my favorite moments: The Mindset: Her co-founder Jolina, after losing everything: "We're going to take back everything that the earthquake stole." Operational Grit: After four stolen generators, Julie converted the entire facility to solar power to survive total infrastructure collapse. The Scale: Today, a native executive team is tackling a 79% regional unemployment rate and selling products in Nordstrom. From Loss to Legacy is Julie’s new book. Please take a look! Deux Mains: https://deuxmains.com REBUILD Globally: https://rebuildglobally.org Julie's book, "From Loss to Legacy": https://www.amazon.com/Loss-Legacy-Fashion-Business-Haitis-ebook/dp/B0FYBJ3WRN

August 4, 202647 min

The Chaos Strategist: Fred LeFranc on Working Above Your Value

"I don't like mission statements on walls… they have to live in the hearts and minds of the people." — Fred LeFranc Think about that for a second. How many companies have beautiful words framed in the lobby and a working culture that says the opposite? On this week's episode of The Business of Joy, I had the joy of talking with Fred LeFranc (aka "The Chaos Strategist”), founder of Results Thru Strategy. We dive into: 🧠 How pattern recognition helps him stay calm when companies are in chaos ❤️ The "guest journey" — why memorable experiences are activities fused with emotion 🤖 Staying relevant in the age of AI (hint: it starts with curiosity, not fear) 🎨 Why he wears colorful jackets, and what a client's judgmental comment taught him about personal branding #BusinessOfJoy #ChaosStrategist #Leadership #PersonalBranding

July 21, 202640 min

The "Two-Minute Rule" for High-Stakes Leadership | Amy Hom

How do you build a culture where employees stay, guests thrive, and profit follows? In this episode of The Business of Joy, Lisa W. Miller sits down with industry veteran Amy Hom to discuss the "Origin Story" of a fearless leader. From picking peaches in St. Louis to running some of the most iconic restaurant brands in the country, Amy reveals the unconventional strategies that drive true job satisfaction and operational excellence. In this episode, we discuss: The Gen Z Confidence Crisis: Why only 16% of Gen Z feel "capable" at work and how to fix it. The Two-Minute Rule: Amy’s personal framework for navigating high-stakes leadership stress. Autonomy vs. Control: How giving chefs 70% menu autonomy drives massive retention and profit. The "Heart Check": Why every executive meeting should start with a human pulse check. RESOURCES MENTIONED: The GLEAM Network: https://www.gleamnetwork.net/ Barcelona Wine Bar: https://barcelonawinebar.com/ Lisa’s Gen Z Research: https://www.lwm-associates.com/genz-workshop

June 30, 202629 min

Building the Largest Drone Delivery System on Earth | Zipline's Keller Rinaudo Cliffton

What do delivering blood in Rwanda and your Chipotle order have in common? Zipline - the largest automated delivery system on Earth! And they do it with drones, not trucks! You may or may not have heard of this company… but with a $7 Billion valuation, you will soon! I had the honor of interviewing founder/CEO Keller Rinaudo Cliffton on The Business of Joy show! Here are some of my favorite parts: 1. From a walk-in refrigerator to a $7 Billion Valuation: Six bucks an hour. A heavy down jacket in 120-degree Phoenix heat. That's where Keller learned more than he did in four years of high school. 2. Rwanda's blood network to your Chipotle burrito: Same technology. Same objective. "A teleportation service that delivers what you need, when you need it." 3. The curiosity factor: Curiosity is innate… “the challenge is how do you not stamp it out?”

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 schools graduating high school in Singapore and 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 skill Great 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!