In this episode of the say86 podcast, Tim speaks with Jeff Tonidandel and Jamie Brown, founders of the Tonidandel-Brown Restaurant Group, about building and scaling a successful hospitality business. From starting with a single 11-table restaurant to creating multiple award-winning concepts including Supperland, they share their journey through over 15 years in the restaurant industry.

We dive into the realities of restaurant growth, multi-site expansion, and what it takes to operate in today’s challenging hospitality environment. The conversation covers everything from opening your first restaurant, managing costs and margins, and building sustainable concepts, to marketing, social media, and the operational challenges that come with scaling a restaurant group.

As a husband and wife team, Jeff and Jamie also offer a unique perspective on leadership, teamwork, and building a strong company culture across multiple locations. This episode is packed with practical insights for restaurant owners, hospitality operators, and anyone looking to grow a business in the food and beverage industry.

Kendall Peterson joins the say86 podcast for a wide-ranging conversation on leadership, performance, and what it really takes to build and scale effective teams. Now leading Fugoid International, Kendall works as an executive coach and transformation specialist, partnering with leaders to grow their businesses while sharpening their professional edge.

With over 25 years in senior leadership roles across global organisations including NextEra Energy, Subway and Verizon, Kendall brings a grounded, real-world perspective on what high performance actually looks like. In this episode, the conversation explores the role of mission statements in shaping culture, the difference between managing and leading, and why clarity of purpose is often the missing piece in underperforming businesses.

Known for his ability to simplify complexity and drive meaningful change, Kendall shares practical insights on building strong teams, addressing underperformance, and leading with intent. Alongside his professional work, he remains deeply committed to family life and community, offering a balanced view of leadership that extends beyond the workplace and into how people live and show up every day.

You can download Kendall's eBook HERE.

On this edition of the say86 podcast, Tim sits down with Courtney Kocak, writer, podcaster and comedian, to talk about her journey from working in restaurants to building a career in storytelling.

Courtney gets into what it really means to be an author, comedian and podcast host, beyond the surface level. The reality of the work, the pressure to create, and what it takes to build something that people actually connect with.

She shares how she found her voice, how she thinks about storytelling across different formats, and what separates content that cuts through from everything else.

A great conversation on creativity, persistence and understanding people, and why those things matter whether you are building a career, a brand or a business.