NWA Founders: Food & Drink founders, episode pages (no audio)

Ep. 33: Todd Simmons, Simmons Foods

Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:00:00 GMT

Lead with values - Simmons Foods has scaled because its leadership is rooted in long-term principles not short-term trends.

Culture doesn’t scale automatically - You have to fight for it, reinforce it daily, and protect it as you grow.

Stewardship is a strategy - Treating a company like something you’re building for the next generation leads to better decisions.

Ep. 25: Carl Garrett, Table Mesa Restaurant Group

Tue, 14 Oct 2025 10:00:00 GMT

There are no shortcuts in hospitality, Carl built his brand by sweating every detail and showing up when it mattered most

Get back to the basics, Many people open restaurants, but few last. Carl reminds us that staying power is built on character, consistency, and care.

Service is the true bottom line, Every one of Carl’s restaurants exists to serve people

Ep. 14: KK Goodwin, Mamaka Bowls

Tue, 13 May 2025 10:00:00 GMT

Start scrappy, scale intentionally, KK’s first two stores were launched without loans, and her story proves you don’t need big capital to build a big business, just consistency and care.

Culture is a competitive advantage, Mamaka’s daily metrics calls and internal team systems help the brand maintain quality and unity across nine locations.

Pausing can be powerful, After explosive growth, KK is stepping back, not because growth has stopped, but because the best next step is building a business that lasts.

Ep. 7: Sam Russell, The Buttered Biscuit

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Meet a real market need, Buttered Biscuit thrived because Sam and his wife listened to the community and built their business model around a clear demand for high-quality, made-from-scratch breakfast.

Brand culture drives consistency, The Buttered Biscuit Brand Card ensures employees understand and embody the company’s values, creating a strong and unified work environment.

Growth should be intentional, Rather than expanding too quickly, Sam and his team focused on building a scalable, high-quality model that supports future expansion without compromising execution or culture.

Ep. 6: Andrea Allen, Onyx Coffee Lab

Tue, 21 Jan 2025 11:00:00 GMT

Make the work the reward, Andrea doesn’t chase external validation, she finds meaning in doing the work with excellence every single day.

Clarity creates alignment, The reason Onyx scales well is because everyone, from baristas to leadership, knows the mission and standards inside and out.

Build what you want to see in the world, Andrea and Jon created Onyx to reflect their ideals. In doing so, they built something the world needed: something beautiful, honest, and world-class.

Ep. 4: Jordan Wright, Wright's BBQ

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 11:00:00 GMT

Go all in even if it’s not perfect, Jordan didn’t wait for a business plan or investor he just started with what he had and let the work speak for itself.

Your product only matters if your people are aligned, Great barbecue got Wright’s noticed but a strong team and culture are what made it last.

Grow the brand, not just the business, Wright’s success isn’t just about brisket it’s about building something people believe in, wear, and want to bring home.

Ep. 2: Lewis Chase, Feed and Folly, City Park, The Guisinger

Tue, 12 Nov 2024 11:55:00 GMT

Creativity thrives in chaos, Whether it was legal setbacks or launching during COVID, Lewis and his team embraced the messy parts and made them part of the story.

Take care of your people, Offering stability, benefits, and room to grow isn’t just good ethics. It’s also good business.

Design matters, but culture lasts, Every space they create feels intentional, but the real differentiator is how people feel when they walk in and when they leave.