#41 Start Before You’re Ready: Chef JJ Johnson’s Blueprint

#41 Start Before You’re Ready: Chef JJ Johnson’s Blueprint

Join me on The Randall Osché Podcast as I sit down with Chef JJ Johnson, a James Beard Award-winning chef, author, and cultural tastemaker who was recently named to the Time 2026 Closers list. JJ shares his journey from standing on a milk crate in his grandmother's kitchen to breaking away from rigid, uniform Eurocentric fine dining to build his own fast-casual culinary empire. We talk openly about what it actually costs to dream, the unfair roadblocks Black founders face when trying to raise money, and why you have to stop trying to do everything yourself if you want to scale a business. What you’ll Learn: * The difference between working in your business versus working on your business.   * Why you should look at older, successful brands in their early days, rather than where they are today.   * How to use your frontline staff as a feedback loop to find out what customers actually want.   * What it takes to survive the months when you can't take a paycheck as an entrepreneur. Don't miss this episode. We explore the realities of entrepreneurship, overcoming self-doubt, and what it takes to build something on your own terms. Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Platform: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-randall-osch%C3%A9-podcast/id1731575791] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eFDgNuukXDBPmahGG5UKL?si=08e8f330304f4ee3&nd=1&dlsi=2fa0557712bc421b] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randallosche/podcasts] Find Chef JJ: * Website [https://www.chefjj.co] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chef-jj-johnson-4805a53/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/chefjj/] * Tiktok [https://www.tiktok.com/@chefjj] Find Randall: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therandalloschepodcast/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@randalls.podcast.clips] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallosche/] * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] Subscribe to Our Newsletter for More Inspiring Stories [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] About The Randall Osché Podcast: Every episode is a conversation with remarkable people who share their unique stories, challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned. Through honest and insightful dialogue, we explore what shapes us, what moves us, and what we learn from the experiences along the way. Contact Us: * Email: info@randallosche.com * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] * Support the Show [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support] * Link to “Buy Coffee” [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support#:~:text=Buy-,Coffee,-Monthly%20Supporter] * Link to Hat [https://podcast.randallosche.com/product-page/tenerife-waypoint-cap] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2179199/support]

#40 The Chef’s Journey: Finding Balance, Sobriety, and Success with Nick Liu

Join me on The Randall Osché Podcast as I sit down with Chef Nick Liu, a Toronto-based executive chef and owner of the award-winning restaurant DaiLo and cocktail bar Lo Pan. Nick shares his incredible journey from being a troubled, undiagnosed dyslexic kid who fell through the cracks of the school system, to completely hitting rock bottom, living out of his car, and moving back in with his parents. We get into how he found his identity in the kitchen, his battle with addiction, and what it took to finally achieve true work-life balance and sobriety after 30 years in a grueling industry. What you’ll Learn: * How dyslexia and feeling like an outsider helped shape Nick's success * Why cooking was the first thing that made him feel capable and confident * The lessons learned from failed restaurant launches and crushing debt * How finding the right business partner changed the trajectory of his life * Why sobriety, fitness, and self-awareness transformed his relationships and career Don't miss this conversation about resilience, identity, second chances, and what happens when you finally find the thing that makes sense. Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Platform: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-randall-osch%C3%A9-podcast/id1731575791] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eFDgNuukXDBPmahGG5UKL?si=08e8f330304f4ee3&nd=1&dlsi=2fa0557712bc421b] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randallosche/podcasts] Find Nick: * Website [https://dailoto.com/] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/nick-liu-4361ba35/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/ninjachef/] Find Randall: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therandalloschepodcast/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@randalls.podcast.clips] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallosche/] * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] Subscribe to Our Newsletter for More Inspiring Stories [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] About The Randall Osché Podcast: Every episode is a conversation with remarkable people who share their unique stories, challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned. Through honest and insightful dialogue, we explore what shapes us, what moves us, and what we learn from the experiences along the way. Contact Us: * Email: info@randallosche.com * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] * Support the Show [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support] * Link to “Buy Coffee” [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support#:~:text=Buy-,Coffee,-Monthly%20Supporter] * Link to Hat [https://podcast.randallosche.com/product-page/tenerife-waypoint-cap] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2179199/support]

#39 Building One of Ireland’s Most Loved Restaurants - Pádraic Óg Gallagher

Join me on The Randall Osché Podcast as I sit down with Pádraic Óg Gallagher, chef, restaurateur, Irish food champion, and founder of Gallagher’s Boxty House. Pádraic Óg shares the story behind building one of Dublin’s most iconic Irish restaurants and how a simple potato pancake helped spark a lifelong mission to preserve and celebrate Irish food culture. From washing pots in Venezuela to surviving financial crashes, COVID shutdowns, and decades in hospitality, this conversation takes a look at resilience, leadership, travel, and what it really means to create an experience people remember. What you’ll Learn: * Why hospitality teaches life skills most jobs never will * How travel shaped Pádraic’s worldview and business philosophy * The hidden history and cultural significance of Irish food * What it takes to survive nearly 40 years in the restaurant industry * Why creating memorable experiences matters more than perfection Don’t miss this episode about resilience, hospitality, Irish identity, and building something that lasts. Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Platform: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-randall-osch%C3%A9-podcast/id1731575791] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eFDgNuukXDBPmahGG5UKL?si=08e8f330304f4ee3&nd=1&dlsi=2fa0557712bc421b] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randallosche/podcasts] Find Pádraic Óg: * Website [https://www.boxtyhouse.ie] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/p%C3%A1draic-%C3%B3g-gallagher-2997129/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/bacstai/] Find Randall: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therandalloschepodcast/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@randalls.podcast.clips] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallosche/] * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] Subscribe to Our Newsletter for More Inspiring Stories [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] About The Randall Osché Podcast: Every episode is a conversation with remarkable people who share their unique stories, challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned. Through honest and insightful dialogue, we explore what shapes us, what moves us, and what we learn from the experiences along the way. Contact Us: * Email: info@randallosche.com * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] * Support the Show [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support] * Link to “Buy Coffee” [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support#:~:text=Buy-,Coffee,-Monthly%20Supporter] * Link to Hat [https://podcast.randallosche.com/product-page/tenerife-waypoint-cap] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2179199/support]

#38 Why Curiosity Wins - Richard Erskine

Join me on The Randall Osché Podcast as I sit down with Richard Erskine, a Cambridge PhD turned enterprise information management consultant, as he shares his journey from science into the “real world” and the lessons he learned along the way. Richard opens up about walking away from a lifelong dream, navigating uncertainty, and building a 30-year career grounded in curiosity, trust, and human connection. This is a conversation about redefining success, thinking differently, and having the courage to trust yourself. What you’ll Learn: -Making hard decisions when your “dream path” no longer fits -Why curiosity is one of the most valuable skills you can develop -The real reason most organizations fail to solve problems -How trust and listening create real impact in business -Why technology alone never fixes anything Don’t miss this episode about trusting yourself, thinking deeper, and building a life that actually fits who you are. Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Platform: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-randall-osch%C3%A9-podcast/id1731575791] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eFDgNuukXDBPmahGG5UKL?si=08e8f330304f4ee3&nd=1&dlsi=2fa0557712bc421b] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randallosche/podcasts] Find Richard: * Website [https://www.trustedknowledge.org] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/richarderskine/] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/richard_w_erskine/] * BlueSky [https://bsky.app/profile/richarderskine.bsky.social] * Book [https://www.amazon.com/Trusted-Knowledge-digital-fragmented-world/dp/B0D7NG255Q] Find Randall: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therandalloschepodcast/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@randalls.podcast.clips] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallosche/] * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] Subscribe to Our Newsletter for More Inspiring Stories [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] About The Randall Osché Podcast: Every episode is a conversation with remarkable people who share their unique stories, challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned. Through honest and insightful dialogue, we explore what shapes us, what moves us, and what we learn from the experiences along the way. Contact Us: * Email: info@randallosche.com * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] * Support the Show [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support] * Link to “Buy Coffee” [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support#:~:text=Buy-,Coffee,-Monthly%20Supporter] * Link to Hat [https://podcast.randallosche.com/product-page/tenerife-waypoint-cap] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2179199/support]

#37 Turning Cancer Into Confidence - Helinka Carr

Join me on The Randall Osché Podcast as I sit down with Helinka Carr, founder of Unspoken Rosebud, who shares her journey from a diagnosis of bowel cancer to building a business that empowers women living with a stoma. What started as a personal challenge became an opportunity to create something to help others. Helinka opens up about her treatment decisions, the emotional and physical realities of life after cancer, and how she turned something “unspoken” into a source of confidence and strength. What you’ll Learn: -Turning life’s hardest moments into purpose -Why mindset and personal responsibility matter in healing -The gaps in healthcare beyond physical treatment -Building a business from lived experience Don’t miss this powerful conversation about resilience, identity, and creating something lasting from life’s toughest challenges. Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Platform: * Apple Podcasts [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-randall-osch%C3%A9-podcast/id1731575791] * Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/1eFDgNuukXDBPmahGG5UKL?si=08e8f330304f4ee3&nd=1&dlsi=2fa0557712bc421b] * YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@randallosche/podcasts] Find Helinka: * Etsy [https://www.etsy.com/shop/Unspokenrosebud?dd_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F] * LinkedIn [https://uk.linkedin.com/in/unspoken-rosebud-534272199] * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/unspokenrosebud/] Find Randall: * Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/therandalloschepodcast/] * TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@randalls.podcast.clips] * LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallosche/] * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] Subscribe to Our Newsletter for More Inspiring Stories [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] About The Randall Osché Podcast: Every episode is a conversation with remarkable people who share their unique stories, challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned. Through honest and insightful dialogue, we explore what shapes us, what moves us, and what we learn from the experiences along the way. Contact Us: * Email: info@randallosche.com * Website [https://podcast.randallosche.com/] * Support the Show [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support] * Link to “Buy Coffee” [https://podcast.randallosche.com/support#:~:text=Buy-,Coffee,-Monthly%20Supporter] * Link to Hat [https://podcast.randallosche.com/product-page/tenerife-waypoint-cap] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2179199/support]