Insights from recent episode analysis
Audience Interest
Podcast Focus
Publishing Consistency
Platform Reach
Insights are generated by CastFox AI using publicly available data, episode content, and proprietary models.
Total monthly reach
Estimated from 2 chart positions in 2 markets.
By chart position
- 🇺🇸US · Food#1885K to 30K
- 🇬🇷GR · Food#593K to 10K
- Per-Episode Audience
Est. listeners per new episode within ~30 days
4K to 20K🎙 ~2x weekly·46 episodes·Last published 3w ago - Monthly Reach
Unique listeners across all episodes (30 days)
8K to 40K🇺🇸75%🇬🇷25% - Active Followers
Loyal subscribers who consistently listen
3.2K to 16K
Market Insights
Platform Distribution
Reach across major podcast platforms, updated hourly
Total Followers
—
Total Plays
—
Total Reviews
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* Data sourced directly from platform APIs and aggregated hourly across all major podcast directories.
On the show
Recent episodes
Preston Nguyen: Pressure, Leadership & Staying Grounded (Part 2)
Apr 23, 2026
25m 10s
Preston Nguyen: Winning the World Food Championships at 18 (Part 1)
Apr 7, 2026
28m 10s
AI Isn’t the Problem. Culture Is. - Ian Heller
Mar 26, 2026
38m 16s
The AI Confession: What Foodservice Sales Leaders Aren’t Ready to Hear - Dr Elena Park
Feb 26, 2026
9m 52s
From Military to Sales Leadership: Finding Purpose After the Uniform - Shawn Porter
Feb 12, 2026
42m 10s
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| Date | Episode | Description | Length | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4/23/26 | 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... | 25m 10s | ||||||
| 4/7/26 | 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 ... | 28m 10s | ||||||
| 3/26/26 | 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 t... | 38m 16s | ||||||
| 2/26/26 | 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... | 9m 52s | ||||||
| 2/12/26 | 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 unc... | 42m 10s | ||||||
| 1/29/26 | 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... | 30m 34s | ||||||
| 1/6/26 | 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 co... | 37m 31s | ||||||
| 11/25/25 | 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 ... | 32m 57s | ||||||
| 11/13/25 | 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. | 28m 51s | ||||||
| 10/30/25 | 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 paus... | 31m 12s | ||||||
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| 7/24/25 | Comfort Food Crusade - Myles Powell's Food Network Survivor's Tale | What happens when a civil engineer discovers his true calling isn’t in concrete and steel—but in cast iron and cornbread? Meet Myles, the founder of Myles Comfort Foods, who traded spreadsheets for skillets and built a frozen food brand that’s shaking up supermarket aisles. In this episode, Myles shares his extraordinary journey from corporate burnout to Food Network competitor to bold food entrepreneur. For him, the dinner table was always sacred—a place where southern comfort classics broug... | 30m 49s | ||||||
| 7/10/25 | Unshakable: Women’s Wisdom from the Frontlines of Foodservice, Sales & Startups | Nancy Ridlen shares ten hard-earned lessons for women in foodservice, sales and entrepreneurship, drawing from her 25 years of experience navigating spaces that weren't always built for women. These personal confessions offer a roadmap for staying authentic while confronting biases and building successful careers in any industry. Embrace Who You AreKnow You Will Face ChallengesUnderstand Communication PerceptionAddress Harassment and Microaggressions Head-OnBe Kind and Uplifting to Other Wome... | 24m 19s | ||||||
| 5/29/25 | Beyond the Sale: How Jason Morgan Earns Trust and Delivers Results | What separates a top-tier sales rep from the rest? Jason Morgan, DSR of the Month at Edward Don & Company, shares how a customer-first mindset, operational insight, and strategic problem-solving helped him earn one of foodservice’s highest honors. In this episode: • How Jason uses his restaurant background to anticipate customer needs • Managing multiple roles: sales, logistics, credit & more • Navigating industry shifts: price transparency, e-commerce & AI &nbs... | 25m 51s | ||||||
| 5/7/25 | Work Hard, Laugh Harder: Real Strategies for Workplace Joy | 10 Real Things to Make the Job Fun So let’s be honest, work is work. But, that doesn’t mean it has to be boring, stressful, or something you just ‘get through’. At W3 Sales we believe that fun isn’t just a perk, it’s a part of the process. From inside jokes to team banter to real vacation and Think Tanks that spark some really crazy ideas we found that building a connected, energized culture makes everything better. So today we are sharing 10 real things we do to make the job fun. And spoiler... | 18m 29s | ||||||
| 4/17/25 | Restaurant Visionary: Mark Brezinski's Creative Journey | In this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, listeners are taken behind the scenes with restaurant industry veteran and creative powerhouse Mark Brezinski—author of Fork Fight and the visionary behind some of the country’s most iconic dining concepts. From the early days of Macaroni Grill to the launch of Pei Wei and collaborations with brands like Pizza Hut and Velvet Taco, Brezinski has left a lasting mark on the foodservice landscape. This conversation explores the emotional and often u... | 39m 31s | ||||||
| 4/10/25 | Beyond The Hustle: The Raw Truth About Entrepreneurship | Want the real deal on what it takes to build a successful food service business? Nancy Ridlen keeps it honest, sharing a decade’s worth of hard-earned lessons they don’t teach in business school. After landing two dream clients, she thought she’d made it—but real growth came from the unexpected twists, tough decisions, and learning to lead with clarity over people-pleasing. As an Enneagram Three “Achiever,” Nancy admits she used to run at 150 mph. But building W3 taught her that sustainable... | 29m 31s | ||||||
| 3/25/25 | What’s Your Relationship Status with Food?! | On this episode of Confessions Beyond the Food, Liz Oba takes us on a deliciously personal journey—from hospital dietitian to Real Food Mission Ambassador at Thomas Cuisine. Her story is filled with food love, health revelations, and plenty of myth-busting along the way. Food Was Her First Love: Growing up with adventurous-eating parents, Liz learned to try new foods without fear or pressure—whether it was a funky veggie or an exotic dish. Her Dad Was the Food Police: When her physici... | 33m 50s | ||||||
| 2/25/25 | Leading with Legacy: A Father-Daughter Story | Bill Burden and his daughter Jennifer Rolander explore the deep connections of family, legacy, and leadership that define their business journey. Their conversation reveals how childhood experiences shaped their professional paths and the critical importance of mentorship in family-run enterprises. • Bill's journey in Burden China from childhood involvement • Jennifer's early influences and desire for the family business • The significance of family values in business pract... | 35m 53s | ||||||
| 2/11/25 | Scaling a Chocolate Empire without Sacrificing Quality | Just in time for Valentines' Day! 😍 The Real Life Willy Wonka of the Midwest, Dan Abel Jr joins Nancy Ridlen on the latest episode. Dan shares how he scaled the family business without sacrificing quality. What is so fascinating about the company history is that the Bissinger's roots go back to 1668 in Paris, France, and revolve around King Louis the XIV & Napolean Bonaparte! For over 200 years, the company had the distinction of being Confectioner to the Empire. Once a brand ... | 25m 48s | ||||||
| 1/28/25 | Passion and Perseverance: Jennifer Rolander’s Culinary Journey | Jennifer Rolander's journey through the food service industry reveals the importance of passion, connection, and mentorship in achieving success. Her experiences highlight the value of lifelong learning and the profound impact of fostering relationships, especially among aspiring culinary professionals. • Jennifer’s early experiences in her family's pottery business • Transitioning from restaurant ownership to corporate roles • Pursuing an MBA later in life for personal and... | 30m 35s | ||||||
| 1/9/25 | Successful Sales Strategies - Top 10 Ways to Kick Off Your New Year | Celebrating 10 years of W3 Sales provides a platform for reflection, growth, and valuable lessons learned. Nancy delves into the importance of learning from mistakes, nurturing team culture, adapting to market challenges, and embracing failure as part of the journey. • Reflecting on the past as a critical step for growth • Importance of learning from mistakes to avoid the insanity cycle • People-centered approach as the company's DNA • Establishing and maintaining a strong ... | 24m 24s | ||||||
| 12/23/24 | Leading a Successful Sales Firm in a People First Culture | We explore the importance of relationships and a people-first culture in the food service industry with Jeff Griffiths, President of eSource Miller & our host, Nancy Ridlen. From employee empowerment to customer connections, this episode is packed with insights on creating a thriving business environment. • Discussing the journey and experiences in the food service industry • Importance of relationships and culture in business • Empowering teams by understanding individ... | 32m 20s | ||||||
| 12/5/24 | Embracing Tradition in a Digital Age | What if you could transform a century-old company's digital presence while preserving its cherished traditions? Caroline Webre, Ben E Keith's innovative social media marketing manager, shares her inspiring journey of revitalizing this well-established brand's online footprint. With a focus on meaningful interactions over mere follower counts, Caroline reveals her strategies for aligning Ben E Keith's family-oriented, reliable, and friendly culture with modern content platforms like LinkedIn a... | 19m 31s | ||||||
| 11/15/24 | From Cake Pops to Culinary Fame: Chef David Burke's Journey | How did Chef David Burke rise from a time when being a chef wasn't highly regarded to become an international culinary ambassador? Listen as we promise to reveal the secrets behind his remarkable journey. From his inventive cake pop creations to his travels across 30 countries, Chef Burke's story is a testament to passion and perseverance in the culinary world. Managing multiple restaurants across states is no small feat, especially with the intense work hours and extensive travel. Hear first... | 44m 10s | ||||||
| 9/13/24 | Redefining Senior Living Services with Aaron Fish | What happens when you blend the precision of computer science with the heart of hospitality? Join host Nancy Ridlen in this insightful episode of Confessions Beyond the Food as she interviews Aaron Fish, CEO of Trestle Hospitality Concepts. Aaron shares how senior living communities are transforming with strategic growth, creative revenue opportunities, and elevated dining experiences to meet the demands of a new generation. Discover how innovative culinary approaches, smart regional expansi... | 27m 41s | ||||||
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Chart Positions
2 placements across 2 markets.
Chart Positions
2 placements across 2 markets.