Restaurant Leadership Podcast: The Show for Multi-Unit Operators Ready to Scale

Hosted by Christin Marvin

Business ManagementInterviews guests

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Episodes

116

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the Restaurant Leadership Podcast...the show for independent restaurant owners who are done surviving and ready to scale.Your host, Christin Marvin, founder of Columbine Hospitality and creator of the Independent Restaurant Framework (IRF), has spent over two decades in the industry...from line cook at 15 to managing partner by 30. She knows what it takes to build a restaurant group that runs without you in it.Each week, Christin brings you real conversations and straight talk on the three things that actually move the needle in a multi-unit restaurant group: People, Process, and Profit.This podcast is for you if you're ready to stop putting out fires and start building a business that scales with intention.This podcast will help you answer:How do I build a leadership team I can actually trust?How do I create systems that run without me?How do I scale to multiple locations without burning out?How do I increase profitability as I grow?How do I go from operator to CEO?Grab your copy of Multi-Unit Mastery at irfbook.com and follow Columbine Hospitality on LinkedIn.Voice Over, Mixing and Mastering Credits:L. Connor Voice - LConnorvoice@gmail.comLconnorvoice.comArtwork by Solstice Photography, Tucson, AZ. https://solsticephotography70.pixieset.com/

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60 recent

May 11, 2026Episode 11426 min

Episode 114: Stop Repeating the Same Meeting

Your manager meeting keeps circling the same issues because nobody leaves with a real commitment that can be measured, owned, and finished. We tackle one of the most expensive leadership gaps in restaurants: goal setting that actually gets executed, not just discussed. We walk through the SMART goals framework, where it came from, and why it matters so much in high-pressure restaurant operations where urgent tasks crowd out important work. You will hear exactly how vague statements like "improve communication," "reduce turnover," or "work on training" quietly kill momentum, waste meeting time, and chip away at manager credibility. Then we rebuild those intentions into clear SMART goals with a defined owner, a number, and a deadline that creates accountability. You will also get a practical meeting framework you can use immediately: reserve the last 10 to 15 minutes to set one commitment per person, write it down, and open the next meeting by reviewing what you said you would do. We explain how this simple habit turns firefighting into root-cause problem solving, strengthens strategic thinking, and helps multi-unit restaurant operators build systems across labor, training, and the guest experience. If you found this useful, subscribe, share it with a restaurant leader on your team, and leave a review with the SMART goal you are committing to before your next meeting. 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

April 27, 2026Episode 11323 min

113: How Leadership Alignment Makes Scaling Possible

If you co-own a restaurant group, try one question today: "What does success look like in three years?" If you're not 100% sure your partner would answer the same way, you're not alone and you're not stuck, but you are exposed. I share two real scenarios I see constantly in the independent restaurant world: a fast-growing family business held back by an unspoken succession plan and murky owner roles, and a 15-year partnership that realizes they've been building the same company toward two different destinations. When owners aren't aligned, everyone feels it. Leaders get mixed signals, teams fill in the gaps with their own version of "success," and the guest experience turns inconsistent across shifts and locations. We dig into why leadership alignment is the single most important work a multi-unit operator can do, and how misalignment quietly drains profitability, time, and traction even when sales look strong from the outside. Everything we talked about in today's episode — the systems, the leadership structure, the framework that makes quarterly planning actually work — it all lives inside the Independent Restaurant Framework. Want the full blueprint? Pick up your copy of Multi-Unit Mastery at IRFbook.com. This is the book I wish every multi-unit operator had in their hands before they started scaling. 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

April 13, 2026Episode 11226 min

112: Turn Reactive Operators into Intentional CEOs

Most multi-unit restaurant operators don't have a growth problem, they have a focus problem. When your leadership team doesn't know what matters most for the next 90 days, everything turns into a fire, your ops meetings drift into venting, and you become the decision bottleneck for every location. We walk through the most underused tool in a multi-unit operator's arsenal: the quarterly planning meeting, and why it's often the difference between a restaurant group that scales and one that stalls. We share what a great quarterly planning meeting looks like in the real world, including how to start with an intentional check-in that builds trust, how to review the prior quarter using wins, losses, P&L, guest feedback, and a simple scorecard, and how to spot trends your team keeps repeating without connecting the dots. From there, we get into the part most teams skip: true problem identification that goes beyond symptoms, so you stop putting band-aids on issues and start fixing root causes across people, process, and profit. Everything we talked about in today's episode — the systems, the leadership structure, the framework that makes quarterly planning actually work — it all lives inside the Independent Restaurant Framework. Want the full blueprint? Pick up your copy of Multi-Unit Mastery at IRFbook.com. This is the book I wish every multi-unit operator had in their hands before they started scaling. 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

March 30, 2026Episode 11118 min

111: Danny Meyer

I walked into a talk with Danny Meyer expecting a few good notes on hospitality, and walked out with four leadership reminders I'm still thinking about as a restaurant coach. Hearing him reflect on the 20-year legacy of Setting the Table, alongside Bobby Stuckey in Denver, made the ideas feel even more relevant for independent restaurant owners trying to scale without losing their standards or their sanity. We dig into why scaling restaurants only works long term when the motive is bigger than ego. Danny shared how long it took him to expand from Union Square Cafe to Gramercy Tavern, and how fear can quietly stall growth until you connect expansion to something meaningful, like creating opportunity for your team. From there, we talk about excellence versus perfection, and why perfection is a trap in restaurant operations. I also unpack a simple debrief tool he uses that helps leaders balance pride with improvement without beating the team down. If you lead a restaurant team, run multiple locations, or care about hospitality leadership, you'll take away practical standards you can apply immediately. Subscribe, share this with a fellow operator, and leave a review with the one behavior you're no longer willing to tolerate. 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

March 16, 2026Episode 11030 min

110: The $75,000 Mistake You're Making

Ever wonder why "Everything's fine" keeps blowing up into last-minute fires? We dig into the uncomfortable truth: avoiding one-on-ones quietly drains profit, trust, and talent—and we put a real number on it with a $75,000 turnover case. As restaurant operators scale, hallway chats and line-side banter feel productive, but they miss the root causes. We walk through a simple, repeatable one-on-one system that reveals what's actually happening across locations, builds psychological safety, and keeps your best people from walking when the kitchen gets hot. You'll also hear a client case study: six months after adopting this approach, manager turnover dropped to zero while clarity, accountability, and morale rose. We tie insights back to the three pillars—people, process, and profit—so you can see how small weekly conversations lead to cleaner training, better scheduling, smarter pricing decisions, and stronger guest experiences across units. If you're ready to stop firefighting and start leading like a CEO, this is your playbook for retention, performance, and scale. 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

March 2, 2026Episode 10920 min

109: Breaking The Bottleneck

Ever felt that uneasy pull that says there's more growth on the table, but you don't have the energy or structure to reach it? We've been there. This week we share a pivotal shift: Solutions by Christin is now Columbine Hospitality, and we're pairing a clear visionary role with a proven integrator to scale the impact of our coaching for independent multi-unit restaurant operators. We break down what actually changes when a founder stops being the bottleneck. That starts with the visionary–integrator model: Christin owns relationships, content, and long-term direction while Andrew, our new COO and longtime collaborator, drives systems, accountability, and execution. Together we rebuilt the mission and core values, mapped a 1, 5, and 10-year vision, and set concrete financial targets that align people, process, and profit. You'll hear how a weekly leadership cadence and quarterly resets create the consistency multi-unit brands need to reduce chaos, elevate managers, and deliver a guest experience that sticks. If you feel stuck between firefighting and strategy, this conversation gives you a path: name your unique ability, hire to your gaps, and install a cadence that keeps everyone moving in the same direction. Subscribe, share this with a fellow operator, and leave a review to help more restaurant leaders scale with confidence. 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

February 23, 202642 min

108: Turn No‑Shows Into Reliable Teams

Peak season is here and the schedule is bleeding. We sit down with leadership and customer service expert Michelle Pascoe to unpack why restaurants are seeing more call‑outs, how assumptions about today's workforce backfire, and what owners can do right now to stabilize staffing without burning out their best people. From hiring scripts that set crystal‑clear expectations to team norms that harness Gen Z's group mindset, this conversation is a playbook for calmer Saturday nights and happier crews. Naming flawed assumptions that drive poor staffing decisions Leveraging AI and social fluency to modernize systems Listening to new ideas and testing them fast Anchoring culture in trust, safety and guest connection If you're ready to cut call‑outs, protect your managers' sanity, and build a bench that can actually lead, this one's for you. Hit play, then share your biggest scheduling headache or the one policy you'll change this week. And if the show is helping you lead with more confidence, subscribe, share it with a fellow operator, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Michelle's Links: Website: https://www.michellepascoe.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellepascoe/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichellePascoeVIP Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michelle.pascoe/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MichellePascoe 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

February 2, 2026Episode 10718 min

107: Hire, Coach, and Keep the Right Leaders

Growth shouldn't require living at the restaurant or gambling on every new hire. We dig into a clear, repeatable way to hire leaders who fit your multi‑unit reality, coach them with confidence, and keep them long enough to scale without burning out your best people. In this episode, Christin discusses: • how to define core values with observable behaviors • coaching leaders through personal challenges while holding standards • designing 30‑60‑90 onboarding tied to values • building sustainable leadership so owners can step away • reviewing and refining values quarterly as the business evolves Go to www.irfbook.com right now and grab your copy Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

January 19, 2026Episode 10620 min

106: Turn a Callout Crisis into a Profitable Operation

Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: Book a Call with Christin We break down how fear of callouts can lead to costly overstaffing and how chronic callouts can wreck service, burn out managers, and drain profit. Two real cases show how cross-training, intentional scheduling, and a clear callout protocol restore accountability and margin. • Cross-training servers and bartenders to de-risk shifts • Publishing schedules early and honoring aces in places • Tying roles to guest impact to build buy-in • Reducing burnout by protecting the plan If you've been loving the content I'm providing, please take a moment to leave a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcasts. Head to https://www.christinmarvin.com/contact for a complimentary coaching session and let's talk about what's possible for your restaurant group 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/

January 5, 2026Episode 10547 min

105: From Chaos To Choice: Lead With Presence

We coach Brandon Sharp, owner of three restaurants in Chapel Hill, through the tension between being everywhere at once and showing up with presence that develops his leaders. He realizes he must let go of covering shifts, codify decision rights, and model vulnerability to retain and grow his managers. • using presence as respect and a path to flow • inverted pyramid leadership and decision rights • outsourcing low-leverage tasks to regain focus • vulnerability that invites ownership and honesty • raising standards for long-tenured managers Go to irfbook.com within 24 hours to get the entire book absolutely free Head to www.christinmarvin.com/contact for a complimentary coaching session Please leave a rating and review wherever you listen to your podcast Please share this episode with anyone in the industry that you know who could benefit 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 Here is my calendar link so you can book time with me: https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/christin-marvin-personal-calendar-r1jjarmnw Podcast Production: https://www.lconnorvoice.com/