logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2022
1h 15m

Famous Dave's: Dave Anderson (2020)

Guy Raz | Wondery
About this episode

Growing up in 1960's Chicago, Dave Anderson didn't eat much deep dish. Instead, his dad took the family to the South Side for barbecue, and those memories—and aromas—stayed with him.

For years, Dave tinkered with his own recipes for sauces and sides while working as a salesman and business advisor to Native American tribes. Finally in 1994, he opened his first barbecue shack in the last place you might expect to find one: the little town of Hayward, Wisconsin.

The chain grew quickly—too quickly—and Dave developed a love-hate relationship with the brand he'd created, but never lost his passion for smoked ribs and brisket. Today, Famous Dave's has over 100 restaurants across the U.S., making it one of the largest barbecue chains in the country.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Yesterday
(July 2021) Ben Chestnut: From Side Business to $12 Billion – The Accidental Triumph of Mailchimp
In 2001, three web designers built a quirky email tool called Mailchimp.It wasn’t their main business.It wasn’t even meant to make real money.For years, Ben Chestnut and his partners survived on web-design gigs, while Mailchimp earned just enough to cover lunch.Then…one surprisin ... Show More
1h 19m
Aug 21
Advice Line with Jamie Siminoff of Ring (August 2024)
Ring founder Jamie Siminoff joins Guy on the Advice Line, where they answer questions from three founders about balancing short- and long-term goals. Today, we meet Vico, an industrial designer in southern California who's launching a crowdfunding campaign for his patented ergono ... Show More
51m 54s
Aug 18
Madison Reed: Amy Errett
Amy Errett had a successful career in finance and venture capital before taking a leap into an entirely new business: hair color. When her wife complained about the indignities of coloring her hair at home, Amy realized the sector was ripe for a makeover. At age 56, she dove into ... Show More
1h 18m
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2023
1009: Dave Nitzel and Dave Domzalski Authors of Hospitality DNA
Dave Nitzel is the co-author of Hospitality DNA: Career Journeys with Unprecedented Insights from Industry Award Winners and The Bar Shift: 41 Short Management Lessons You Don't Have to Learn the Hard Way! He left executive roles at Fortune 500 companies about 10 years ago. After ... Show More
1h 52m
Sep 2017
#221: Dave Ramsey—A 25 Year Celebration
From local radio to national syndication, Dave Ramsey and longtime producer Blake Thompson have been on quite a journey together. While the scope and reach of The Dave Ramsey Show have grown immensely, the focus still remains on one singular thing: providing hope for every listen ... Show More
54m 3s
Mar 2021
KFC vs Chick-fil-A | The Birth of the Bucket | 3
It’s the 1950s in Kentucky and Harland Sanders faces bankruptcy once again. 65-years-old, broke, unemployed and desperate, he barnstorms the country, living out of his car, selling his secret fried chicken recipe to restaurant and diner owners. Franchising is a new concept and it ... Show More
24m 41s
Nov 2020
"David Chang"
In this tasty episode of the pod, we bring in Mr. David Chang to have a seat at the table and indulge in a line of questioning by our gang of idiots. As one of the most important chefs and restaurateurs alive today (and he doesn't care), Dave educates the gents on food & the rest ... Show More
46m 11s
Mar 2023
978: Derrick Hayes CEO and Founder of The Famous Big Dave's Cheesesteaks
Derrick Hayes is the Founder and CEO of Big Dave's Cheesesteaks in Atlanta, GA. Derrick Hayes was born and raised in Philadelphia and moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the end of his teen years. He started selling "water ice" just outside Atlanta from a gas station in 2014 and in 2016 ... Show More
1h 32m
Mar 2021
KFC vs Chick-fil-A | Guns, Guts, and Gravy | 1
It's the Great Depression, and in one of Kentucky’s toughest corners, Harland Sanders defends his gas station business with sheer moxie and a loaded shotgun. He expands it into a thriving motel and restaurant, but impatient tourists balk at long wait times for his most popular di ... Show More
21m 56s
Jun 2023
#25- Hattem Mattar (World’s 1st Arab BBQ Pitmaster) on finding your radio frequency
Hattem Mattar is the World’s first Arab BBQ Pitmaster and the king of BBQ in the UAE. He was nominated the culinary ambassador to the UAE Embassy in the United States, cooking for seventeen thousand people across 62 US cities over 100 days. Hattem shares stories of personal sacri ... Show More
1h 7m
Jun 2015
029: Dave Carroll – How To Create A Movement Through Storytelling (United Breaks Guitars)
Episode 029: Dave Carroll – How To Create A Movement Through Storytelling (United Breaks Guitars) Known as a master storyteller, Dave Carroll’s incredible talent was introduced to millions when his 2009 anthem ‘United Breaks Guitars’ became a worldwide sensation. The song chronic ... Show More
42m 42s
Jan 2024
The New Era of Entrepreneurs - Doing Good While Still Making Money with Kurt Long
Kurt Long believes in ‘business as a force for good’. He has grown and sold three successful businesses and serves as an investor, advisor and board member for others. He is currently co-founder of BUNKR. Top 3 Value Bombs 1. Aligning business goals with life priorities can help ... Show More
24m 15s
Sep 2022
The condiments (and sauces) that never change
Tabasco sauce has been around since 1868, Lea and Perrins’ Worcestershire Sauce since 1837. So how have these brands managed to survive for so long? David Reid explores why some brands outlive their founders by more than a century.David speaks to Harold Osborn, CEO of McIlhenny C ... Show More
18m 30s