Best Satyne Doner Podcasts (2025)

1
BONUS: Culture, Care, and Scaling Fast with Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan 21:16

Play Pause

1h ago21:16

21:16

Step into the heart of leadership with Kyla Hanaway-Quinlan, COO and Head of People at Feast & Fettle. As a mom of two and a senior leader at one of the fastest-growing food brands in the country, Kyla is passionate about creating spaces—at home and at work—where people can truly thrive. 🔥 In this bonus episode of the WiRL podcast, Kyla shares what…

1
Data, Decisions, and Doing the Work with Keren Novack and Rachel Buss 42:43

1h ago42:43

42:43

This week, I’m joined by Curion’s dynamic duo: Keren Novack, President, and Rachel Buss, VP of Strategic Insights. Between the two of them, there’s no shortage of sharp insights, career wisdom, and laugh-out-loud moments. We talk leadership wins (and growing pains), how to blend analytics with intuition, and what restaurant brands get totally wrong…

1
Marie Crawford’s Playbook for Operations Success 22:54

13d ago22:54

22:54

Step into the growth of Protein Bar and Kitchen with ops leader Marie Crawford, as she shares her journey from getting started in hospitality to running operations at a fast-growing brand. 💪 We chat about how she’s grown as a leader, staying true to her values while helping a brand expand through franchising, and what it takes to build your own voi…

1
What If the Best Way to Lead Is from the Inside Out? With Jennifer Thomas, Founder of Rooted Connections 39:30

27d ago39:30

39:30

Jennifer Thomas believes leadership isn’t about powering through—it’s about powering down and tuning in. In this episode, the founder of Rooted Connections shares how she stepped away from the hustle and redefined leadership on her own terms. We talk about what it means to lead from the inside out, how to move forward when you’re feeling stuck, and…

1
Even for a Day: How KFC’s Girls Takeover Initiative Is Rewriting the C-Suite 36:37

1M ago36:37

36:37

What if one day in the C-suite could change a young woman’s entire view of what’s possible? In this special episode of the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, we explore the transformative power of representation, partnership, and purpose through KFC’s Girls Takeover—a global initiative in collaboration with Plan International that invites youn…

1
Power, Purpose & Pushing Past Doubt, with Hope Neiman and Judy Chan 35:48

2M ago35:48

35:48

This week on the official #WiRLPod, I'm handing the mic to two women who are leading at the intersection of hospitality and tech—and doing it with boldness, heart, and just the right amount of grit. Meet Hope Neiman, Chief Marketing Officer, and Judy Chan, VP of B2B Marketing and Demand Generation at Tillster. These two powerhouses are not only dri…

1
Chef Iliana de la Vega on Heritage, Motherhood & Mexican Cuisine 28:03

3M ago28:03

28:03

In this heartfelt episode of the #WiRLPod, I sat down with Chef Iliana de la Vega—James Beard Award-winning chef, educator, and founder of El Naranjo in Austin, Texas. From her early days exploring the markets of Oaxaca to leading one of the country’s most respected Mexican kitchens, Iliana shares how heritage, memory, and matriarchal influence hav…

1
Marketing with Impact, with Cassie Pinckney (VP of Marketing, Gastamo Group) 25:00

3M ago25:00

25:00

In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership, I sit down with Cassie Pinckney, Vice President of Marketing at Gastamo Restaurant Group, to explore her dynamic career journey from national brands like Velvet Taco and Pei Wei to leading innovative marketing strategies for a growing portfolio of fast-casual concepts. Cassie shares the key lessons…

1
How Clean Eatz Tackles Ozempic, Gut Health, and the Wellness Revolution 29:56

4M ago29:56

29:56

Can a restaurant brand really change lives? 🤩 In this episode of the WiRL Pod, I'm sitting down with Evonne Varady, Co-Founder of Clean Eatz, a health-focused fast-casual franchise that’s on a mission to transform lives. From its humble beginnings to becoming a leading player in the wellness space, Evonne shares her journey of building a brand that…

1
From Frontline to Future, with Sarah Diehl 28:17

4M ago28:17

28:17

Welcome to the Season 2 debut!! ✨ The restaurant industry is full of incredible career opportunities—if you know where to look. In this episode of the WiRL pod, I'm sitting down with Sarah Diehl, founder of Empowered Hospitality. She joins me to break down the evolving talent landscape in hospitality. 💪 From shifting employee expectations to the po…

1
Elevating Women in Food, with LDEI President Stephanie Jaeger 25:14

5M ago25:14

25:14

In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership, I sat down to chat with Stephanie Jaeger, President of Les Dames d'Escoffier International (LDEI), to explore how the organization is championing women in food, beverage, and hospitality. Stephanie shares insights on LDEI’s most impactful initiatives, the power of mentorship, and her vision for the…

1
BONUS EPISODE: Women Shaping the Future of Pizza 48:13

5M ago48:13

48:13

For the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast SEASON ONE FINALE (can you believe it?!), we’re teaming up with our sister publication PMQ Pizza for a special bonus episode! PMQ senior editor Charlie Pogacar is leading the conversation this time, with pizza industry trailblazers Laura Meyer and Stephanie Swane. 🍕 They dive into the future of pizza, …

1
Tossing Up the Future of Fresh Eats, With Darden Coors and Jenn Ruppert 34:34

5M ago34:34

34:34

What does it take to build a thriving healthy fast-casual empire? I'm sitting down to chat with Darden Coors, CEO of Salad Collective (and Coors family heiress), along with Jenn Ruppert, Salad Collective's VP of Marketing and one of our recent WiRL Together Summit speakers! Darden shares her unique journey from practicing law to leading MAD Greens,…

1
Christine Johnson’s Path From the Courtroom to the Cafe 24:56

6M ago24:56

24:56

How does a legal powerhouse transition into leading a beloved French café brand? ☕️✨🥐 In this episode, we sit down with Christine Johnson, who was COO of la Madeleine at the time of this recording and now serves as executive vice president, to explore her unique journey from practicing law to overseeing operations at a national restaurant chain. Ch…

1
Growth, Leadership, and Empowerment in the C-Suite, with Tropical Smoothie Cafe CDO Cheryl Fletcher 24:23

6M ago24:23

24:23

Ready for another bite-sized episode to get your week started on a good note? In this episode of the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, I'm joined by Cheryl Fletcher, chief development officer at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. She shares her inspiring (and unconventional) journey to the C-suite and what it’s like to lead in the fast-paced world of QS…

1
Finding Your Voice... with MJ Riva, CEO of Pizza Factory 24:00

7M ago24:00

24:00

In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership, I sit down with MJ Riva, CEO of Pizza Factory, to explore her journey in the restaurant industry and the evolution of her leadership style. MJ shares powerful insights on finding your voice, embracing discomfort to grow, and navigating challenges with confidence and authenticity. We discuss how she…

1
The Woman Behind a Wellness Movement, with Vitality Bowls President and Founder Tara Gilad 28:42

7M ago28:42

28:42

Happy New Year, #WiRLFam! In this episode of the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, I’m joined by Tara Gilad, President and Founder of Vitality Bowls, a fast-growing superfood café franchise that has transformed the healthy dining landscape. Tara shares her inspiring journey from her health-conscious upbringing and entrepreneurial roots to fou…

1
Trisha Bovell’s Journey to Building Big Chicken’s Training Playbook 21:13

8M ago21:13

21:13

How does a biology major become one of QSR’s Young Leaders to Watch? In this episode of Women in Restaurant Leadership, I chat with Trisha Bovell, Head of Training at Big Chicken, about her unconventional path into the restaurant industry, her rise from GM to training guru, and her hands-on approach to onboarding that’s helping Big Chicken grow! Tr…

1
Meredith Sandland on the Future of Food, Digital Restaurants, and Building Empower Delivery 29:37

8M ago29:37

29:37

In this episode, I sit down with Meredith Sandland, author of Delivering The Digital Restaurant and founder of Empower Delivery, to discuss the transformative shift in how Americans consume food. Meredith shares her career journey, pivotal lessons learned along the way, and her passion for leading change in the restaurant and delivery industries. W…

1
Game On! How Devour Is Revolutionizing Restaurant Tech, with CEO Shelly Rupel 24:52

9M ago24:52

24:52

Let's talk tech! 👩‍💻🤖🎮 This week, we're catching up with Shelly Rupel, CEO and Co-Founder of Devour—a next-gen engagement platform that's "feeding the future" by weaving seamless food ordering into the world of gaming and streaming. Shelly is a fearless leader in three traditionally male-dominated fields: restaurants, technology, and gaming. With D…

1
Changing Lives One Sandwich at a Time, with Healey Mendicino 31:28

9M ago31:28

31:28

Today I'm joined by Healey Mendicino, who shares her journey to becoming the president of Port of Subs, a beloved 52-year-old nationwide sandwich shop. We also dive into the nuances of franchising and what it takes to successfully grow in today's ever-changing environment. We also learn about Healey's favorite sub order!…

1
The Queen of Brunch Shares Her Recipe for Success, with Brandy Blackwell 35:10

10M ago35:10

35:10

This time on the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, we're joined by Brandy Blackwell, VP of Marketing at Another Broken Egg Cafe. Brandy opens up about her inspiring career journey, unique leadership style, and what it takes to thrive as a woman in a male-dominated industry. We’ll also dive into the “Brunch Boom” phenomenon and explore how Ano…

1
Building a Career You're Proud Of, with CEO Jennifer Dodd 36:14

10M ago36:14

36:14

Today we're joined by Jennifer Dodd, CEO of Main Squeeze Juice Company! In this episode, we talk about everything under the sun when it comes to career growth. With over 30 years of experience leading successful turnarounds, driving strategic growth, and empowering diverse teams across brands like The Melting Pot, Tim Hortons, Dunkin’ Donuts, Apple…

1
Unlocking the Secrets of Modern Restaurant Loyalty, with Emily Rugaber 31:21

11M ago31:21

31:21

This week I'm joined by Emily Rugaber, VP of Marketing at Thanx. She's a leading expert in digital transformation, loyalty, and data-driven restaurant marketing. Together, we explore how customer behavior has evolved over the past few years and the pivotal role that digital transformation plays in shaping loyalty programs today. Emily breaks down t…

1
How Wetzel's Pretzels Built a Snack Food Empire, with CMO Hillary Frei 23:40

11M ago23:40

23:40

Once upon a time, Wetzel's Pretzels was the go-to treat during your annual "school clothes shopping" marathon at the mall. Fast forward to today, and Wetzel's has stepped beyond the mall scene, spreading pretzel joy through food trucks, Walmart partnerships, and stand-alone bakeries. In this week’s episode, Hillary Frei and I dig into how Wetzel's …

1
Co-branded Concepts Are Making a Comeback... with Kristen Hartman 27:07

11M ago27:07

27:07

Auntie Anne's. Cinnabon. Carvel. Moe's Southwest Grill. If these brands sound familiar to you, listen up! On this week's episode, Kristen Hartman, President of Speciality Brands for GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands), discusses the evolution of co-branded QSR concepts. She gets down into the nitty gritty of what makes a co-branded concept successfu…

1
Happy Employees Make for Happy Guests... With Mistie Boulton, Founder of EyeSpy Critiquing & Consulting 28:18

12M ago28:18

28:18

Mistie's seen it all. From mystery shopping to operational development, team training, and more, she helps restaurants and hospitality companies enhance their guest experience through team building and culture development. We discuss some of the biggest challenges facing the industry today in terms of making employees feel seen, heard, and valued..…

1
The Rita’s Way, with CEO Linda Chadwick 28:34

1y ago28:34

28:34

Meet Linda Chadwick, president and CEO of Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard. In today’s episode, we discuss her 25-plus years of experience in the industry, the moments that defined her leadership strategy, the fundamentals that shape Rita’s culture, and the idea of balancing nostalgia with innovation. Plus, I found out what her favorite Rita’s f…

1
Finding Your Groove with Julie Zucker 43:04

1y ago43:04

43:04

On this week’s episode, we're joined by Julie Zucker, CMO of Branded Strategic Hospitality and WiRL advisory board member. We’re talking about all things balance. 🧘🏻‍♀️ How do you find and maintain balance as your priorities shift in your personal and professional life? By sharing her life experiences, Julie tackles the big feelings of guilt, mothe…

1
Introducing the Women in Restaurant Leadership Podcast, with Mindy Armstrong 28:48

1y ago28:48

28:48

Welcome to Episode No. 1 of the Women in Restaurant Leadership podcast, a new initiative from the editors behind QSR and FSR magazines. We start by diving into the world of culinary with WiRL advisory board member Mindy Armstrong, who walks us through a day in her life as VP of Menu Innovation for beloved brands Perkins and Huddle House. We explore…