About this episode

Walter Johnson shares his journey from cooking across the U.S. to creating a viral brand called Tendernism.

Walter Johnson cooked for 50 years across 50 states before a single camera found him. He started cutting wingtips off chicken in his brother's restaurant in Robbins, Illinois. He worked casinos, restaurants, and backyard cookouts across the South, collecting seasonings and techniques from every state he passed through. Then a video went viral and the world learned his name. Forbes wrote about him. Snoop Dogg invited him to the compound. Now he's building a seasoning line, planning a national food festival, and turning a lifetime of craft into a brand empire. He calls it Tendernism. The rest of us call it proof that your moment comes when it comes and not a second before. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Guest: Walter Johnson

Topics covered

• branding
• cooking
• entrepreneurship
• viral marketing
• food culture

Keywords

• Walter Johnson
• Tendernism
• cooking
• seasoning line
• food festival
• viral video
• entrepreneurship

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Forbes

Products: Tendernism

Places: Robbins, Illinois

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