Shows
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #35: Attitude Reflects Leadership with Amy ScottAnother guest today! Eric and Riley talk with our Director of Operations, Amy Scott! She shares a clip with us from "Remember the Titans" where Gerry and Julius talk about how attitude reflects leadership. We discuss the importance of encouraging our team as well as telling them we believe in them. Having the right attitude makes a huge difference when leading teams.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-06-0517 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #34: Did You Try Restarting It? - Technology Conversation with Adam GarciaWe are bringing you more guests! Today we have our Technology Manager, Adam Garcia with us to talk about his teams development and the program he's helping build. We talk about the importance of investing in your technology and people to keep the most robust systems online and ready for business.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-06-0312 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #33: Growth Fuels EverythingSebastian's TikTok is full of great wisdom. So much so that Eric and Riley talk about his video on Growth Mindset and the notion that if you focus on growth, the rest will follow and we agree!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-2908 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #32: Where Did You Find the Blueberries?This funny story found on TikTok talks about focusing on the wins rather than challenges. It's easy to talk negative but Eric and Riley challenge themselves to start seeing the wins and sharing them! It's not bragging, it's sharing ideas on how to be successful and maybe, just maybe someone else will benefit too!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-2710 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #31: GOAT StatusToday Eric & Riley talk about a basketball legend, the GOAT him self, Kobe Bryant. In a TikTok clip he discussed a few EIQ things as well has helping his team be successful throughout his career. They then discuss these topics as it relates to the restaurant world and how to make people feel a part of the team all the while being successful!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-2210 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #30: Let's Move up a BrickMost people want to be a part of something bigger than themselves, a part of a solution or the bigger picture. Most of the time though we get lost in the day to day and have a hard time spotting those moments where we are making a difference. Natoutofoffice on TikTok shares a story about bricklayers and how engaged they are while working on a project.
Eric and Riley unpack Nat's story and relate it to our industry. It's possible to be the third bricklayer, we as leaders just need to help our team see it.
Thanks for listening and...2025-05-2011 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #29: It's Okay to Have Fun!"How do you follow Will Smith in the snow?"
"You follow the fresh prints."
Today Eric and Riley have a good laugh at themselves and share how a good sense of humor can help you connect and lead your teams. With the likes of Simon Sinek on TikTok and his words of wisdom, the pair discuss how having fun, laughing and telling dad jokes can help boost your culture.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-1507 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #28- "Are You in or Out?" - Getting Team Buy-InOn this comedy run we stumbled across Dwayne Johnson and Kevin Hart's movie Central Intelligence and in this clip Kevin hart is asked if he's in or out. As it turn out it's harder to get your team's buy-in sometimes. Eric and Riley discuss the clip and emphasize the importance of building trust with your team. It's okay to be out but you have to be honest about it!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-1309 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #27 - "Whatever, I don't Care!" - Group Chats & MiscommunicationHave you ever read a text from your boss and thought, "What the heck!", well Eric and Riley dive into the world of miscommunication. It's hard to understand tone and intention in a text message or group chat. Key + Peele from Comedy Central shows an exaggerated example of miscommunication through texting.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-0814 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #26: Lead with Focus- If Everything is Important, than Nothing IsToday the duo discuss overwhelming your team with to many high priorities. Focus can get lost quickly if your team doesn't know what's actually important. Think "if everything is important, nothing is", as leaders we have to be clear and focused with our goals. The team needs that to perform with confidence. They understand that there will be many priorities in your restaurant and that those priorities shift but within the walls of your restaurant you set the tone, energy and focus.
Help your team out and lead with focus!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us...2025-05-0616 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #25: Leadership FactoryToday Eric and Riley talk about succession planning! In the fast food industry it's more important than ever because of our innate high turnover. They talk about ways to identify and develop people that you might want to invest in. It's important to follow through on your investment! Avoid the crisis promoting and develop your people into the leaders they can be.
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-05-0117 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #24: Encouragement & Accountability with Hailey BenishWe have a guest today! Hailey Benish is our organization's Employee Relations Coordinator, she works directly with our leadership team to help coach and develop them, as well as handles many general HR functions. Eric and Riley chat with her about the importance of accountability (+ the 4C's) to really understand how Clarity, Coaching, Consistency and Consequences really matter in our restaurants. All the while encouraging our team to create a culture of Fun & Accountability!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3lea...2025-04-2929 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #23: The Consequences of Cutting CornersShort cuts sound great, but they usually are the longest road. Eric and Riley talk about their experiences with taking short cuts and caution against them. It might seem worth it but they are a gamble and it's better to take the time and do it right than risk mistakes or problems down the road. Don't be intentional in giving something less than it deserves!
Share your story about a short cut with us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3lea...2025-04-2420 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #22: Who's Doing the Dishes - Understanding Your RoleToday Eric and Riley dive into the different roles in our restaurants and what comes with it. Every role is important and is vital to a restaurants success. It's up to the leaders in the restaurant to help empower and develop them to be successful and beyond. They also don't take for granted the team members who perform the simplest of tasks because we will miss them if they leave!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-04-2223 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #21: Everyone Gets a Floor Mat! - Asking Open Ended QuestionsToday Eric and Riley discuss the difference between asking closed and open questions. While both are necessary the true gold in a conversation is mined by using open ended questions. They provide texture and context about how the team member thinks, what they value and who they are! It's a great way to connect with people. If their body language says otherwise you know to walk slowly through the crowd!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-04-1727 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #20: This is Not a Pizza Party - Rewarding our EmployeesToday Eric and Riley share the exciting news that their organization just launched a rewards system that helps keep employees engaged and empowers them to choose what prizes they want! Earning points on Birthday's & Anniversaries to hitting key targets, our team can redeem the points they earn for exciting prizes or raffles! Pizza parties are one thing but this is some exciting stuff! Take a listen and let us know if you have any suggestions!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3...2025-04-1518 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #19: Hard Conversations - Who Spilled the Milk?We need to talk. Meet me in my office. HR has been invited to this meeting. These are all gut wrenching things your manager or boss might say to you. This episode Eric and Riley discuss how to have hard conversations with our people with opportunities. Set the standard, have consistent meetings and hold them accountable. The conversations might not get easier but they will become more natural. It's not what you say it's how you say it. Listen, learn and lead with us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have...2025-04-1022 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #18: Talking Smart Money with Kay WadsworthIt's tax time, W2s are being sent out and everyone is excited to get their refund. We want everyone to be successful and have the tools and resources to make good decisions. We work hard for our money! Listen as Eric and Riley chat with the Vice President of Illinois Bank & Trust, Kay Wadsworth, about some things to watch out for with your money especially during tax season!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-04-0828 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #17: Habits Take Persistence - Tie Your ShoesToday Eric & Riley dive into building habits and sticking to them so they are just like tying your shoes! They find that sometimes motivation and big ideas only get you so far. Shorter episode today but what are you going to do to take that next step into your healthy habit?
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-04-0314 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #16: NCNS - Who's the Manager?Today's episode Eric and Riley talk about how to handle poor attendance in your team. We've all heard the question when calling people in to work "Who's the manager?" While it's easy to place blame and talk about the one's who don't show up, why not motivate the team that did show up!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-03-2718 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #15: Weather Conversations = Connecting With Your TeamHave a hard time connecting with your team? Small talk awkward? Today Riley and Eric break down how to connect with your team! It sounds cheesy but you can connect over topics as simple as the weather. Find out how by listening!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-03-2422 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #14: Level 2 Leadership - Listen, Learn & LeadEric & Riley are back with level 2 of leadership! If you missed last weeks episode be sure to learn more about level 1 leadership.
This is the relationship level, where you really start to connect with your team. They stick around because they want to not because they have to. Learn to listen actively and observe!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-03-2022 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #13: Level 1 Leadership - Pass Go, Collect $200Eric and Riley discuss the John Maxwell Levels of Leadership and start to define what Level 1 Leadership really is and it's importance. Level 1 allows us the time to grow and develop ourselves to be the best leader and get to the next level which they will talk about next week! It's all about finding out what type of leader you want to be and using these Levels of Leadership to guide you will produce some crazy results! Stay curious about your growth and ask why!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you...2025-03-1323 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #12: The Secret Sauce- Dealing with Upset CustomersThis episode is jam packed with practical tips on dealing with upset guests. Eric and Riley debrief the LCR concept. Listen, Connect and Resolve are our team's secret sauce when handling these types of feedback. Think about a time where this might be helpful with the kiddos too! Listen, learn and lead with us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-03-1120 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode 11: Customer Feedback is a Gift!On today's episode Eric and Riley define customer satisfaction and accepting feedback. It's not all that bad! It's what we choose to do with that feedback that really matters. The customer wants us to get better and be better, let's show them we can and take their feedback seriously. Listen, Learn and lead with us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-03-0621 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #10: Our Vision & WIGsRiley and Eric share what our organization's vision is as well as our WIG! We don't mean the things you wear on your head. We mean Wildly Important Goals! We are setting the standard for our team and that makes all the difference! Listen, Learn and Lead with us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-03-0419 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #9: Digging Deeper into Knowing Thyself with Amanda KieperEric and Riley have a special guest on the podcast to dive deeper into Emotional Intelligence. Amanda Kieper has been teaching public speaking and leadership development at Rock Valley College for over 25 years. She is also a Clinical Mental Health Counselor and a Corporate Trainer who loves helping people uncover blind spots, recognize and break unhealthy patterns, and design lives that lead to fewer regrets.
We are so excited for you to hear this episode unfold and start to uncover your blind spots. We have them and the odds are you do too.
Dive in with us!
Participate, learn and...2025-02-2727 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #8: Agendas & Growth Mindset- Guide on Preparing and Attending MeetingsBonus Episode!
This episode is Buns, Burgers &. Big Idea's first BONUS episode. Eric & Riley have a big meeting coming up and they share tips on how to prepare and attend a meeting. A growth mindset and planning ahead of time will help ensure a successful meeting. Participate, learn and lead!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-02-2417 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #7: Leveling Up Your ConfidenceIn this episode Eric and Riley discuss ways to help grow our confidence. Sometimes it's as easy as doing. They discuss how taking risks can pay off when we step outside our comfort zone and just try it. You never know what might happen!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-02-2016 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #6: Is Empowering Your Team Scary?Eric & Riley talk about empowering your team and the importance and power it has. It's a great way to motivate your people. It can be scary but listen close and learn how to be more comfortable with empowering your team!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-02-1325 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #5: Do You Know Yourself?We're not talking therapy rather how do we manage our team's and our own emotions. Jam packed with emotional intelligence and real life examples on how to connect with guests and customers. We have to take care of our customers on both sides of the counter! It all starts with knowing yourself and taking steps to get to know your team. Join us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-02-0623 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #4: Set Your GPSDon't be like Riley, set your GPS and stay on track! Detours and road blocks can happen and should happen, but it's important to get back on track. Take time to refuel and keep going! Make sure your team knows where you're going too! Keep the wallpaper relevant and fresh and put action behind them!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-01-3019 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #3: Celebrating = MotivationRiley & Eric talk about motivation and remaining self-aware to crush your goals! Take a look in the mirror with them as we find what motivates us. Focus on one goal and keep at it! In no time we'll all be crushing our mountains one at a time! Don't forget to celebrate!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-01-2320 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #2: Lead Yourself FirstThis week Riley & Eric talk about taking the steps to lead yourself first. Making your own development a priority will set you apart from being a manager. You don't know what you don't know.
Start now and tune in next week for more leadership insights!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-01-1629 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #1: Why does Mindset Matter?Take a listen as Eric and Riley dive into what a leader's mindset is and why it's important.
Set yourself up for success to crush your goals and become more confident. Keep the passion and energy going as you start your leadership journey! Believe in yourself, you can do it!
Keep stretching that leadership muscle and follow us!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: (608) 728-8103‬2025-01-0926 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasEpisode #0: Welcome to Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasLearn about the experience Riley and Eric have in the restaurant industry and get ready to start your leadership journey with them!
These two dudes talk about their "Why". Why they do what they do. It ultimately comes down to people and developing themselves so they can lead others.
It's just the beginning so stick around!
Thanks for listening and please feel free to contact us with feedback or if you have any insights to share we are here for you!
📧: bx3leadership@gmail.com
📱: ‪(608) 728-8103‬2025-01-0920 min
Buns, Burgers & Big IdeasBuns, Burgers & Big Ideas TrailerDid you hear what's coming! A new exciting podcast designed for QSR leaders! We are excited to start bringing you content starting January 9th! Get ready to learn and grow!2024-12-1200 min