Shows / The Business of Joy
The Business of Joy
Consumer researcher Lisa W. Miller is an expert at telling the story behind the data. The Business of Joy is a business podcast where C-suite leaders and change-makers share real stories and strategies on how joy✨, purpose, and human connection fuel the top line and bottom line.
Episodes
The Business of JoyThe Inventor Who Saw AI Coming in 1998 Says Joy Comes First | Kevin Surace
The average person racks up dozens of complaints daily. You get ONE complaint a day. Use it, and you’re done. I accept this challenge. Will you? Kevin Surace…
The Business of JoyThe Restaurant Pricing Lesson We Keep Forgetting | Lane Cardwell
What separates iconic, category-defining restaurant brands from the concepts that stall out when scaling? In this masterclass on hospitality leadership…
The Business of JoyBuilding Things Worth Owning | Ellis Winstanley
Ellis Winstanley was 12 when his parents told him if he wanted his own bedroom, he had to build it himself. He's been building things ever since. Restaurants…
The Business of JoyBuilding a Factory in a Disaster Zone | Julie Colombino Billingham
Ten days after the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was alone, no safety plan, no contacts and no evacuation plan. Julie Colombino Billingham had quit her job, sold…
The Business of JoyThe Chaos Strategist: Fred LeFranc on Working Above Your Value
"I don't like mission statements on walls… they have to live in the hearts and minds of the people." — Fred LeFranc Think about that for a second. How many…
The Business of JoyThe "Two-Minute Rule" for High-Stakes Leadership | Amy Hom
How do you build a culture where employees stay, guests thrive, and profit follows? In this episode of The Business of Joy, Lisa W. Miller sits down with…
The Business of JoyBuilding the Largest Drone Delivery System on Earth | Zipline's Keller Rinaudo Cliffton
What do delivering blood in Rwanda and your Chipotle order have in common? Zipline - the largest automated delivery system on Earth! And they do it with…
The Business of JoyJoie de Vivre: How La Madeleine's CEO John Dillon Is Bringing Joy Back to Restaurant Leadership
Joie de vivre. It's a French phrase that translates to "the joy of life." And when I sat down with John Dillon, CEO of La Madeleine, it was clear that joy…
The Business of JoyJoy is The Strategy (with John Goss)
Most executives don’t put the word "joy" in their personal brand statement. John Goss does! As President of Sally Beauty, a global brand with over 2,400 stores…
The Business of JoyThe CEO Who Cut Prices, Raised Wages, and 12x'd Profit Anyway | Brandon Coleman III
Gravy-powered rocket ship. 12x EBITDA. His dad made him write a P&L for his lemonade stand, even though Brandon Coleman III couldn't pronounce the word…
The Business of JoyWhy Leaders Miss Potential in Their Teams (with Kelli Valade)
“That’s a really good question…” when I hear this during my podcast, it really brings me joy and reminds me why I LOVE doing these! Kelli Valade, President and…
The Business of JoyBuilt by 1,000 Touchpoints: How Great Restaurants Actually Create Value (with Robin Blanchette)
There’s a misconception that restaurant brands are built by big ideas, big campaigns, or the next big menu innovation. But the truth is much simpler and much…
The Business of JoyWhy 3rd Grade Reading Levels Matter: America’s Literacy Crisis (with Carol Goglia)
This is NOT OK: If a child is not reading on grade level by 3rd grade, they are 4x LESS LIKELY to graduate high school, and if living in poverty, 13x LESS…
The Business of JoyFrom Performing Joy to Living It: Why Presence Beats Performance (with Chadwick Boyd)
What happens when you get really good at performing joy…but realize you’re not actually living it? We reward performance in business. The ability to “turn it…
The Business of JoyAre We Measuring the Joy Out of Restaurants? (with Melissa Doolin Koehne)
The restaurant industry is under pressure: rising costs, labor challenges, tighter margins, and more data than ever before. But what if some of the tools meant…
The Business of JoyFrom Rough Waters to Real Change: Arshay Cooper on Teamwork, Healing, and Hope
THIS podcast conversation is one you won’t forget! I met Arshay in 2019 through my rowing team. He is an entrepreneur and speaker who shares his message around…
The Business of JoyScaling With Soul: How Toni Ronayne Is Reimagining Leadership
For Toni Ronayne, her journey started as a 13-year-old coat check girl… staying up late, learning the value of tips, hospitality, and connection long before…
The Business of JoyThe Human Side of NASA | Turning Darkness into Light With Mike Ciannilli
“I’m going to need some tissues. It’s a difficult story… but a beautiful one… because we can turn darkness into light.” -NASA’s Michael Ciannilli Season 7…
The Business of JoyLeading with Curiosity and Calmness: Lessons From Dorothy Jones
From growing up in her family’s Black-owned grocery store in Memphis to leading major brands across CPG, nonprofits, and higher ed… this is a story of grace…
The Business of JoyBrett Schulman on Building CAVA: Heart, Health, and Humanity at Scale
Joy, soul, and hospitality aren’t soft words… they're a growth strategy! That’s the message from Brett Schulman, CEO & Co-Founder of CAVA, who joined me on The…
The Business of JoyJohn Blakey on Trust, Leadership, and the “Thrival Kit” for CEOs
🎙️ We’re Baaaack! The Business of Joy Podcast 🔥 What if the biggest myth in leadership is the idea of the superhero CEO? My guest, John Blakey, is one of the…
The Business of JoyWhy “I Don’t Know” Can Be a Superpower: Joe Davis on Leading People, Not Just Processes
At 13 years old, Joe Davis wrote a list of life goals. Fast forward decades later… it turned out to be the blueprint for his life! For this episode of the…
The Business of JoyFrom Jukebox Quarters to 166 Diners: Bruce Dean on Building Black Bear Diner
Imagine working 16 hours a day… and paying yourself in quarters from a jukebox! That’s how Bruce Dean’s journey began. In this episode, Bruce, co-founder of…
The Business of JoyWinning Stories, Not Just Games: Lessons from 15-Time Emmy Winner Newy Scruggs
There’s a difference between reporting sports... and sharing the stories of sports. That’s what makes Newy Scruggs, the 15-time Emmy-winning Sports Director at…
The Business of JoyThe Power of Generous Laughter: How Chris Hoyle Builds Brand Loyalty and Culture at Simple Modern
While most brands are chasing tomorrow’s sales, Chris Hoyle, Chief Marketing Officer of Simple Modern, focuses on driving brand connections and loyalty through…
The Business of JoyAsk the Right Questions: Michael Lukianoff on AI, Data, and the Future of Restaurants
“Everyone wants to just ‘let the data speak.’ But data without a question is just noise.” Right? AI seems to be taking over a lot of our “mind share” these…
The Business of JoyNina McLemore on Timeless Fashion, Fearless Women, and Leveling the Playing Field
What if the right jacket didn’t just fit, but helped you own your seat at the table? In this week’s episode of The Business of Joy, I sat down IN PERSON 🎥 in…
The Business of JoyFrom Headsets to Headquarters: Former KFC COO Monica Rothgery on Leadership, Joy, and Doing What’s Yours to Do
“You’re not burned out because of your job. You’re burned out because you’re doing someone else’s job.” That line stood out to me when I sat down with Monica…
The Business of JoyIt Ain’t Easy: Mark Brezinski on Building Brands, Failing Forward, and Finding Joy
🧠 “I knew right away I wasn’t going to be happy just executing someone else’s plan.” -Mark Brezinski That mindset shaped decades of restaurant innovation, from…
The Business of JoyBe a Learn-It-All: Andrew Smith on Growth, Grit, and Great Leadership
What’s the mistake too many young leaders make? 🚫 Skipping steps. 🚫 Skipping the struggle. This week’s episode of The Business of Joy podcast features Andrew…
The Business of Joy75% Faster Execution? The Case for Ditching the Layers with Rita McGrath
❌ Innovation by committee. ❌ Waiting for approval. ❌ Endless alignment meetings. It’s not working. And Rita McGrath, C-suite strategist, professor at Columbia…
The Business of JoyFrom the Short Stack to the Long Game: Julia Stewart on Strategic Grit and the Power of Staying Curious
From flipping pancakes to flipping strategy—this episode goes where most interviews don’t. 🎙️ Today on The Business of Joy, I’m joined by Julia Stewart, CEO…
The Business of JoyFrom Professional Rugby Fields to Reinvention Playbooks: How Aidan McCullen Helps Business Leaders Stay in Motion Before the Crisis Hits
What if the biggest risk to your business... is your mindset? Many of you know, I just returned from The Reinvention Summit in Dublin, what some are now…
The Business of JoyFrom Paper Routes to $9M AUVs: Portillo’s CFO Michelle Hook on Culture, Confidence, and Craveability
CFO Michelle Hook of Portillo’s joins me to talk about the ingredients behind one of the most craveable brands in the business! From her first paper route at…
The Business of JoyIt All Starts with Listening - VP Editorial Director Danny Klein (QSR/FSR) Shares the Scoop
🌟 NEW PODCAST EPISODE 🌟 I had the absolute joy of sitting down with Danny Klein, VP Editorial Director at WTWH Media (QSR, FSR Magazines), for a conversation…
The Business of JoyNot Just for Kids Anymore: How Build-A-Bear CEO Sharon Price John Sparked a Multi-Generational Brand Reinvention
Brand reinvention is about so much more than products! Sharon Price John is the CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, but she's also a storyteller, an innovator, and…
The Business of JoyGood Guys Can Come First - Former Yum! Brands CEO Greg Creed Dishes on Leadership
🚨 BIG ANNOUNCEMENTS! 🚨 💡 Each episode now ends with my So What? Now What? to help create the insights to actions! 🎉 We’re rebranding to The Business of Joy…
The Business of JoyEpisode 40: Bob Dalton
What world do you want to create? For Bob Dalton, it started with one blanket and a mission to change lives. This week’s episode features Bob Dalton…
The Business of JoyEpisode 38: Becky Johnson
🚀 Stop the Scroll: The Marketing Leadership Playbook for Reinvention, Growth & JOY What separates leaders who stay ahead from those who get left behind?…
The Business of JoyEpisode 37: Stacey Ryan
If you think School of Rock just teaches music lessons, think again! 🎸✨ In this episode, I spoke with Stacey Ryan, President of School of Rock! We just met…
The Business of JoyEpisode 36: Sam Oches
Sam's Band Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2Wkp6yWAqvf6Hvga07alzT?si=ca99ccfad1ac4f08 Live life loudly! Couldn’t agree more! This was a blast!…
The Business of JoyEpisode 35: Wade Allen
For this episode of Bring More Joy to the Table, I talked with my friend Wade Allen, President at Costa Vida! One of Wade’s favorite quotes (from Abraham…
The Business of JoyEpisode 34: Zach Goldstein
The key to being a successful entrepreneur? Being “Irrationally Passionate!” – Wow! I can relate! For this episode of Bring More Joy to the Table, I spoke with…
The Business of JoyEpisode 33: Dr. Shawnda Floyd
Passion + Excellence = Success! In this episode of Bring More Joy to the Table, I had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with my friend, Dr Shawnda Floyd…
The Business of JoyEpisode 32: Clay Dover
From busboy to brand builder, how Clay Dover brings create opportunities and joy in the hospitality industry! We’re back for season four of Bring More Joy to…
The Business of JoyEpisode 31: Andrew Glantz
Boost sales, boost Guest satisfaction…. AND fight hunger… It’s a perfect real world example of the Business of Joy in action! Meet Andrew Glantz, CEO and…
The Business of JoyEpisode 30: Mac Brand
Your mom was right! It’s not what you say but how you say it! For the finale of Season Three, I spoke with the legendary Mac Brand! From his early days working…
The Business of JoyEpisode 29: Chayil Hyland
How today’s leaders can better support the next generation – A student’s perspective. Meet Chayil Hyland! She’s a Senior at Cornell University studying…
The Business of JoyEpisode 28: John Register
From selling lemonade as a child to overcoming a life-changing injury in 1994 that ended his military and athletic careers.... this conversation moved me!…
The Business of JoyEpisode 27: Carolyn Dent
From the farm, and small-town roots, to big city success as a hospitality leader. Wonder what it’s like being the youngest of 11 children and living on a…
The Business of JoyEpisode 26: Kevin Hochman
We’ve all been watching the success of Chili’s lately - even during these crazy challenging times! Want to know Brinker President/CEO Kevin Hochman’s secret…
The Business of JoyEpisode 25: Lauren Fernandez
“How can we do this better?” This one simple, but powerful question sparks endless innovation. Today’s podcast features the one and only, Lauren Fernandez…
The Business of JoyEpisode 24: James Keyes
Education is freedom! Take it from Jim Keyes, the former CEO of 7-Eleven & Blockbuster. In this episode of Bring More Joy to the Table, Jim shares his…
The Business of JoyEpisode 23: Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva
What if I told you that in today's fast-paced world, certainty is the real risk, not uncertainty? For the latest episode of Bring More Joy to the Table, I had…
The Business of JoyEpisode 22: Aquil Abdullah
After losing his first Olympic trial by just 33 hundredths of a second, Aquil Abdullah had a choice – quit or keep rowing. Not only did he keep rowing, but he…
The Business of JoyEpisode 21: Trina Roffino
We're kicking off Season 3 with Trina Roffino, CEO of TMA and Founder of Project Unbroken. From raising horses to leading sports marketing campaigns to…
The Business of JoyEpisode 20: Meredith Sandland
Meredith Sandland, CEO of Empower Delivery. Meredith has truly mastered the trifecta: tech, logistics, and joy! She shares her unlikely journey to the…
The Business of JoyEpisode 19: Emily Williams Knight
Host Lisa W. Miller is joined by Emily Knight, President and CEO of the Texas Restaurant Association. In this episode, you'll hear how Emily's early…
The Business of JoyEpisode 18: Alicia Kelso
How discipline, focus, and commitment as D1 athlete set the stage to become the executive editor covering a trillion dollar industry… In this week's episode of…
The Business of JoyEpisode 17: Amy Hollyfield
What can running a newsroom teach you about effective business leadership? Imagine this… A little 8 year-old girl pulling a wagon and delivering newspapers…