Confessions Beyond the Food

Hosted by Nancy Ridlen, W3 Sales

Entrepreneurship Arts FoodInterviews guests

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Apr 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Confessions Beyond the Food is a podcast about working in the Food Industry. People who work in the Food Industry have grit and lots of stories to tell. W3 Sales, a sales & marketing company, will host this podcast with their confessions on how they have a new, fresh approach and invite guests to confess their secrets to their sauce.

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47 recent

April 23, 202625 min

Preston Nguyen: Pressure, Leadership & Staying Grounded (Part 2)

In Part 2 of Confessions: Beyond the Food, the conversation shifts from winning… to what it takes to sustain it.After early success, the real test isn’t talent — it’s leadership, discipline, and how you show up when people are counting on you.Preston Nguyen opens up about what it’s like leading in high-pressure environments — from running kitchens at international music festivals to working alongside chefs from different cultures where systems, expectations, and communication all change.We talk about the reality behind “success”:The pressure that comes with itThe responsibility of leading teams older and more experienced than youThe discipline it takes to stay grounded when everything is moving fastLeading high-performance kitchens under pressureCooking for VIP guests at international festivalsAdapting to different cultures and kitchen systemsThe hidden pressure of early successTreating staff with respect in a high-stress industryBlending old-school discipline with modern leadershipStaying grounded through faith and family Preston also shares his approach to leadership — blending old-school standards with a new-school mindset, treating staff with respect, embracing criticism, and constantly pushing himself to grow.For him, success isn’t just about winning.It’s about staying rooted in what matters:Faith.Family.And creating a real hospitality experience — for both guests and the people beside you.This episode is about character, growth, and what it actually takes to lead at a high level.

April 7, 202628 min

Preston Nguyen: Winning the World Food Championships at 18 (Part 1)

At 18, Preston Nguyen didn’t plan on competing in the World Food Championships.He was going to volunteer.Instead, a last-minute opportunity put him in the competition — alongside his parents — going up against chefs with decades more experience… and they walked away as Rookie of the Year.In Part 1 of Confessions: Beyond the Food, Preston shares how everything changed — from a COVID pivot into cooking, to winning Rookie of the Year, to stepping onto Next Level Chef at just 19.This episode is about what happens when success hits early — and the pressure that comes with it.In this episode, we cover:Growing up around family restaurants — but planning a future in architectureThe COVID pivot that changed everythingGetting a last-minute “golden ticket” into the World Food ChampionshipsWinning Rookie of the Year at 18 — and the pressure that followedCatching and cooking his own fish (despite a childhood trauma)Using TikTok to solve a high-level culinary challengeWhat Next Level Chef is really like behind the scenesThe pressure of performing with cameras on and no second chances

March 26, 202638 min

AI Isn’t the Problem. Culture Is. - Ian Heller

AI isn’t the barrier in distribution.Culture is.In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy sits down with Ian Heller — AI expert and Chief Strategy Officer at Distribution Strategy Group — to explore what’s really slowing adoption across foodservice, sales, and manufacturing.They unpack:• Why this AI shift is fundamentally different from past technology cycles• The growing gap between leadership urgency and frontline skepticism• How AI challenges the traditional identity of the sales rep• The fears reps don’t openly admit — from exposure to irrelevance• Why “AI isn’t accurate” may be more about control than data• The leadership mistakes that stall real adoption• How culture quietly overrides strategy inside organizationsThis conversation goes beyond technology — into trust, identity, and the uncomfortable truths shaping the future of distribution.Learn more about Applied AI for Distributors here: https://appliedaifordistributors.com/speakers/

February 26, 20269 min

The AI Confession: What Foodservice Sales Leaders Aren’t Ready to Hear - Dr Elena Park

Foodservice sales has always been built on relationships.But what happens when intelligence evolves?In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy sits down with Dr. Elena Park, an AI strategist specializing in sales transformation, to explore how artificial intelligence is already influencing territory management, pricing strategy, commission models, and performance expectations across the foodservice industry.They discuss:• How AI is quietly shaping sales decisions• Whether reps should feel threatened• What will never be automated• How leaders should frame AI internally• What separates average reps from elite onesThis conversation challenges assumptions — and asks a bigger question:Are you preparing your team for what’s already here?

February 12, 202642 min

From Military to Sales Leadership: Finding Purpose After the Uniform - Shawn Porter

Life can pivot on a single decision — sign the contract, board the plane, lace up before dawn.Shawn Porter’s journey spans a family legacy of military service, deployment to Iraq, and now leading one of the largest sales districts at Edward Don & Company. He shares what it was like returning home to a world that hadn’t changed — while he had — and how he learned to replace military structure with self-discipline in business.We talk about transition, backplanning success, thriving in uncomfortable rooms, and why veterans often excel when persistence decides the outcome. Shawn also reveals how running 100 miles — including the Leadville 100 — became his training ground for leadership.The lesson: choose hard on purpose, so unexpected hard doesn’t own you.Whether you’re a veteran navigating transition, a salesperson building momentum, a leader developing people, or someone chasing a goal that feels just out of reach, you’ll walk away with practical tools for structure, accountability, and resilience you can actually apply. Zero reret living.Resources:W3 Shop - https://w3salesonline.com/collectionsMission Roll Call - https://missionrollcall.org/Outdoor Adventure Therapy for Heroes - https://www.thewarriorskeep.org/

January 29, 202630 min

No Sugarcoating: How Leaders Drive Alignment and Trust

In this episode, Nancy Ridlen sits down with Jeanette Brick, President of iSi North America, for a grounded, no-fluff conversation on leadership built on customer truth, mentor-driven growth, and disciplined listening.Jeanette explains why learning to sell before leading marketing keeps brands from talking to themselves - and how retail instincts translate into food service, where emotional connection meets operational reality. She reflects on the mentors who raised her standards, challenged her thinking without sugarcoating, and pushed her forward without taking control - because comfort may feel kind, but clarity is what works in life and in business.Listening is a leadership performance tool. Jeanette shows how truly hearing people uncovers the real problem, speeds alignment, and drives negotiations. She explains how brand values - quality, safety, savings - flex by customer segment and shares a five-step framework for tough conversations that protects high performers, stops quiet quitting, and rebuilds trust - no “compliment sandwich” required.We close with a candid confession with baking over cooking - precision over improvisation - and the bigger leadership lesson it reveals about staffing to strengths.Resource: https://lnkd.in/gGSma3Cm

January 6, 202637 min

Leading Beyond Comfort

When friends and colleagues get together, you’re bound to learn—and laugh.In this episode, host Nancy Ridlen, Principal at W3 Sales, sits down with Shannon Tallon, VP of Merchandising at Edward Don & Company, for a candid conversation about growth, leadership, and facing fear head-on.Shannon pulls back the curtain on the moment her promotion felt both surreal and deeply earned. Together, Nancy and Shannon explore what happens after the big win: navigating new responsibility, choosing courage over comfort, and leading with intention in an industry that often prioritizes speed over connection. From the surprising appeal of janitorial and margin strategy to the power of strong operator–distributor partnerships, this episode blends honest reflection with real-world insight.In true confession style, Shannon also shares what it’s like to be an introvert learning to lead—by stepping directly into the fear that once held her back.In this episode, you’ll hear about:The surreal promotion moment and first reactionsFear, uncertainty, and responsibility after a big winOperators and distributor reps as complementary expertsSpeed expectations vs. the need for real relationshipsAn unexpected love for janitorial—and margin strategyChanges at Edward Don alongside an enduring cultureThe funniest customer product request (and setting boundaries)Balancing assertive and approachable leadershipAn introvert’s confession on moving through fear🎙️ Honest, insightful, and refreshingly human—this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

November 25, 202532 min

Grit, Grace, Gratitude, And Pastries

What does it take to build a national pastry brand without losing your soul—or your partner? Nancy Ridlen sits down with KRMA Foods co-founders Rachel Oostman and Marine Crile to share the real story behind their QVC debut, late-night spreadsheets, and the values that kept them grounded when things got tough.They unpack how their partnership evolved, the principles that shaped their culture, and the moments that nearly broke the business before they finally hit break-even. Rachel and Marine also challenge old playbooks for women in food, showing how vulnerability, intuition, and aligned decision-making led them to the right deals and the right people.If you’re building a business, considering a partner, or love a behind-the-scenes look at food entrepreneurship, this episode blends grit, heart, and practical wisdom.

November 13, 202528 min

The Bourbon Badass: Leadership with Heart

From sales strategy to social influence — and a little bourbon in between 🥃 This week on Confessions Beyond the Food, Nancy Ridlen sits down with Anthony Salemi, VP of Strategic Sales at Ace Mart and the man behind Bourbon Badass. They talk about how the foodservice industry is evolving, what fuels his competitive spirit, and one powerful moment that brings it all back to what really matters. 🎧 Listen now — you’ll laugh, you’ll nod, and you might even tear up.

October 30, 202531 min

Faith, Family, Then Food - A Frank Conversation with John Franke

What happens when a chef known for speed, standards, and scaling brands decides to flip the script and live “God first, family second, work third”? We sat down with our friend John Franke—chef, leader, and founder of Franke Culinary Consulting—to talk about faith in a high-pressure industry and how convictions hold up when tickets are firing, clients are waiting, and home life is loud.John opens up about the long arc from kitchen chaos to steady leadership, including a season when work paused, family tensions rose, and he had to choose surrender over spin. He shares how therapy and faith worked together, why boundaries are not posturing but proof, and how he measures success by integrity instead of applause. We unpack the shift from reputation with people to reputation with God, the daily practice of gratitude, and a simple idea that changed everything: enough. Enough time for family dinners. Enough humility to listen. Enough provision to keep moving when contracts fall through.If you’re feeling frayed by the restaurant grind—or any hustle—this conversation offers practical steps and honest encouragement. You’ll hear how to set clear boundaries without burning bridges, how to lead teams without playing hero, and how to trust provision when plans take an unexpected turn. We end on a fun note with a candid food confession that proves even serious chefs savor simple comforts.If this episode helps you exhale, share it with a friend who needs a reset. Subscribe for more candid conversations that put first things first, and leave a quick review to tell us what part hit home.For more on Franke Culinary Consulting: https://www.frankeculinaryconsulting.com/aboutChristian Counselors Network:https://www.christiancounselordirectory.com/?https://ChristianCounselorDirectory.com&gad_source=1Recovery: https://celebraterecovery.com/Focus on the Family: Offers a free, one-time phone consultation with a licensed or pastoral counselor at 1-855-771-HELP (4357).