What happens when a visionary Founder and a passionate franchisee come together to build something bigger than burritos? You get a conversation packed with insight, real talk, and game-changing strategies that every restaurant Founder needs to hear.

In this episode of Founderology, I sit down with Randy Wyner, Founder and franchisor of Chronic Tacos, and Caleb Walker, multi-unit franchisee and entrepreneurial powerhouse. Together, they share the inside story of building one of the most craveable brands on the market—and the human relationships and bold moves that made it all possible.

Why Founders Should Listen In:

• Two Sides, One Vision: Randy brings the franchisor's lens—brand building, scale, innovation. Caleb brings the franchisee's boots-on-the-ground perspective—operations, team leadership, customer experience. The magic? How aligned they are in purpose and values. This is a masterclass in healthy, high-impact franchisor/franchisee partnerships.
• The Real Cost of Going Too Fast: Both Randy and Caleb talk candidly about the importance of not rushing into franchising. Founders, if you're thinking about scaling—this episode offers a front-row seat to the right way to do it: with integrity, strategy, and a whole lot of heart.
• Culture Isn't Just a Buzzword: From taco values to real-life leadership, they reveal how intentional culture—both in corporate and in the restaurants—drives loyalty from employees, customers, and franchisees alike.
• How to Make a Brand That Lasts: Chronic Tacos launched in 2002. In 2025, it's still cool, still cravable, and still growing. Founders—if you want staying power in a fast-moving market, this episode delivers the mindset and moves that matter.

Common Ground Between Randy & Caleb:

• Passion for hospitality that goes way beyond the plate.
• A relentless commitment to building great teams and strong relationships.
• Deep respect for the brand and each other.

What Sets Them Apart (and Why It Matters):

• Randy's focus is scaling with purpose and protecting the brand.
• Caleb's focus is delivering every day in-store and in-market.

Together, they show what franchise success really looks like—aligned values, shared vision, and mutual respect.

Whether you're a Founder dreaming of franchising or a restaurant operator ready to expand, this episode will open your eyes, spark ideas, and give you a roadmap for what's possible.

Tune in now. Get inspired. Get moving.

What does it take to build a lasting brand from the ground, and turn a single idea into a multi-brand growth engine?

This week on Founderology – Built to Breaktrough, I sat down with Medhi Zarhloul, the powerhouse Founder of Crazy Pita, Chicken Genius and Salad Madness. His journey began in Casablanca, Morocco, where at just 15 years old, he came to America with $30 in his pocket, no English, and no roadmap — just grit, drive and a dream.

Fast forward to today, and Medhi is building a bold, scalable restaurant group rooted in authentic flavor, relentless innovation and a deep commitment to community. What makes his story so compelling isn't just the outcome — it's how he thinks, leads and grows.

Here are just a few top takeaways for Founders:

• You don't need perfect conditions — you need unstoppable commitment. Medhi's path began with entry-level jobs and early failures, but his determination to learn, lead and grow transformed every obstacle into momentum.
• Have a clear destination — and build your plan around it. One of Medhi's biggest lessons: know where you want to be five, 10 or 15 years from now, and reverse-engineer your strategy. That clarity is what helped him transition from running a lifestyle business to building a legacy brand.
• Innovation is your edge. Whether it's embracing virtual cashiers or streamlining operations with new tech, Medhi stays ahead by leaning into change — not resisting it. He sees every challenge as a catalyst for better systems and smarter solutions.
• Community is not a campaign — it's a commitment. Medhi's investment in his community has become a foundational part of his business model. His belief: when you give first, your community becomes your strongest partner in growth.
• Surround yourself with leaders. Medhi doesn't just hire for skills — he builds teams of leaders who believe in the mission, share the vision and bring their best every day. That's what transforms a good brand into a great one.

Medhi's journey is more than a great story — it's a roadmap for every Founder ready to level up. Whether you're navigating your next big leap, refining your model or scaling with intention, this conversation delivers real-world insight and bold inspiration. If you're building something that matters, this episode will remind you exactly what's possible.

Paths to Success: Achieving the American Dream

What if your next breakthrough came from a dishwasher-turned-Founder or a tech innovator who transformed chaos into a scalable business? This episode of Founderology – Built to Breakthrough is packed with real-world insights for Founders building bold growth for lasting impact.

In “Paths to Success: Achieving the American Dream,” you’ll hear the powerful journeys of Shawn Lalehzarian, Founder of Red Chickz, and John Dorer, Founder of EB3.Work. These are journeys of success—they're living proof that with vision, grit, and the right strategies, anything is possible.

Inspiring Paths for Making Your Dream a Reality

From Dishwasher to National Brand Builder: Shawn came to the U.S. from Iran not knowing English. He started in the dish pit and never left the restaurant industry. Today, he’s leading Red Chickz with over 1 million TikTok followers, multiple locations, and a growing franchise system.

Shawn’s ability to transform setbacks—like a one-star Yelp review—into fuel for growth is a strategy every Founder can learn and be inspired by as they grow they transform their dream to reality.

Workforce Solutions that Fuel Growth: John Dorer saw the labor crisis in the restaurant industry and stepped up with a smart solution. His company, EB3.Work, helps multi-unit restaurant operators overcome high turnover and chronic staffing shortages by connecting them with qualified international workers through the EB-3 visa program.

These are vetted, committed team members who want to build long-term careers in hospitality—providing operators with the stability and reliability they’ve been struggling to find.

Key Founder Insights from Shawn and John

Your past is preparation: From early jobs to hard lessons, every experience is equipping you for what’s next.

Use adversity as a catalyst: That one-star review? Shawn turned it into his blueprint for franchising. Your criticism could be your next great idea.

There is no one path to success: John develops the paths for highly qualified international workers to connect with multi-unit operators so they both can achieve their vision and goals.

Solve real problems with real systems: From TikTok marketing to immigration support, these Founders built solutions that deliver results.

Focus on solutions, not setbacks: “Spend 30 seconds on the problem—and three minutes on the solution.” That mindset alone can transform your leadership.

If You’re a Founder with Big Goals, this is 40 Minutes Well Spent

Whether you're trying to grow your brand, build a high-performance team, or solve your staffing crisis—this episode offers practical insights and bold strategies to help you do it better, faster, and with more purpose.

Discover what’s possible when you align your passion with purpose—and your systems and solutions with scale.

The restaurant industry is still the one industry where anyone at any time can put themselves on a path to living their American Dream.

Listen now to “Paths to Success – Achieving the American Dream” on Founderology – Built to Breakthrough.