QSR Uncut

Hosted by QSR magazine

Business Management Arts FoodInterviews guests

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Episodes

385

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

QSR Uncut is a podcast from the editors of QSR magazine—the leading publication for foodservice owners and operators—that discusses the current state and future of the fast-food restaurant industry. Made for restaurant executives, entrepreneurs, consumers, and leaders, each episode candidly shares expert advice from some of the industry's most insightful leaders.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 15, 2026Episode 25345 min

Winning in the Digital Restaurant Economy, with DoorDash’s Jeff Frost

DoorDash leader Jeff Frost joins QSR Uncut this week to talk through an increasingly complex digital ecosystem and where operators should begin. How can you manage growth? What channels are top of mind? How do you take control? We chat through customer acquisition and retention, direct ordering, loyalty, marketing, operational fit, connected technology, and much more, on this wide-ranging discussion into one of the fastest-evolving arenas there is. This episode was brought to you by our partners at DoorDash. Learn more here.

October 8, 2026Episode 25238 min

Smalls Sliders Plans a Big Leap, with Founder Brandon Landry

Brandon Landry joins QSR Uncut this week to discuss what’s ahead for Smalls Sliders, a brand that leapt onto the scene and appears ready to hit its growth stride. We discuss what’s next, what’s driving consumer interest these days, and also take a dive into some thoughts around leadership and what's needed to build an organization with lasting power. Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .

October 1, 2026Episode 25135 min

Tiki Bagel Joins the Bagel Surge, with Founder PJ Powell

All of sudden, bagels are one of the hottest categories in QSR. Let’s meet Tiki Bagel, a St. Pete-based brand that endured early craziness (what else is new in foodservice?) to emerge stronger on the other side. Now, it’s targeting growth via franchising and taking its unique and bold labor model forward into a future rife with potential. Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .

September 24, 2026Episode 25035 min

Why Mike's Red Tacos Could Be the Next Big Thing, with CDO Patrick Cunningham

Few restaurant brands have generated as much buzz in recent months as Mike's Red Tacos, a San Diego-founded concept that has hundreds of units lined up through franchising agreements. CDO Patrick Cunningham joins QSR Uncut this week to discuss the early push and what it's been like stepping into a role with so much whitespace ahead. Can Mike's Red Tacos define a category? We're about to find out. Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .

September 17, 2026Episode 24954 min

Solving Restaurant Tech Fatigue: Turning Friction Into Flow

Tim Busa and Brian Herr of Crunchtime join QSR Uncut this week as we tackle some of the industry’s most-pressing technology topics, from fragmented bloat to why surface-level API integrations haven’t solved the problem yet. We’ll introduce a new vision of a true "Connected Kitchen" and begin to lay out a roadmap for the future of operations in a more-connected restaurant world. This episode was brought to you by our partners at Crunchtime .

September 3, 2026Episode 24854 min

Restaurant Development Trends, from Two Ex-Raising Cane’s Operators

College roommates Eric Ongaro and Matt Salts joined forces at RCO Limited, the first Raising Cane’s franchise partner. Together, they helped grow the company to nearly 50 Ohio locations and $200 million in annual sales before Raising Cane’s bought back the enterprise in late 2021. While scaling RCO, however, the two kept running into development challenges, leading to the creation of an inside operation that ultimately became OLIO Development Group. Today, OLIO works with brands like Cane’s, Panda Express, 7 Brew, CAVA, Shake Shack, and more. Ongaro and Salts joined QSR Uncut to discuss their journey and what the state of development looks like for restaurants today. Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .

August 27, 2026Episode 24736 min

Talking GLP-1s, Wellness, and Crisp & Green’s Next Growth Chapter, with Steele Smiley

Cofounder and executive chairman Steele Smiley returns to QSR Uncut to share his thoughts on why wellness and fitness remain major whitespace opportunities within the restaurant industry. We discuss how Crisp & Green is tapping in from an authentic angle, and what some brands are getting right and wrong about how America really wants to eat. Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .

August 20, 2026Episode 24635 min

The ROI of Restaurant Conferences: There Has to Be a Better Way, with Michael Sien

Industry vet Michael Sien joins QSR Uncut this week to talk about a recent leap—starting faSHOW, a specialist consultancy dedicated to helping organizers, exhibitors, and operators get more out of their industry events. We’ll explore what’s going wrong with the current model and how partners, leaders, and everyone in between can improve ROI while attending in-person experiences (including September’s QSR Evolution Conference ).

August 14, 2026Episode 24533 min

Huey Magoo’s and the Rise of a Chicken Powerhouse, with CEO Andy Howard

At just about 90 locations open across 12 states and 230 signed for development in the coming years, the fast casual tenders focused brand is hitting the growth lever. Andy Howard, known as the “Chicken Guy,” has had stops from Kenny Rogers Roasters to Ranch One to Wingstop before taking on this corner of the category. What’s ahead, how is Huey Magoo’s winning over customers and franchisees—we get into all of it as we explore the future of a surging chicken contender. Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .

August 6, 2026Episode 24445 min

Can AI Make You a Better Leader? with Chick-fil-A Owner-Operator Jon Harmeling

Chick-fil-A owner-operator Jon Harmeling, a former West Point instructor in systems engineering, joins QSR Uncut to chat about his journey with the category leader, but also to break down how he’s developed 10 AI systems that run inside his store. Harmeling speaks to restaurant, franchise, and other frontline leadership audiences about using AI to lead and develop people. His Frontline AI Leadership keynote focuses on coaching, meaningful recognition, and following through on employee goals. Explore Jon’s keynote . Registration is now open for QSR and FSR's Women in Restaurant Leadership Summit. Find your network. Get empowered. Learn from the best. You can find out more and sign up here .