Pod Meets Eat at Chain

Pod Meets World

In this fun and quirky episode of Pod Meets World, hosts Danielle Fishel, Ryder Strong, and Will Friedle dive into the world of chain restaurants with a

Key takeaways

• Chain redefines fast food by blending high culinary artistry with playful absurdity.

Main topics

• Experimental fast food
• Chain restaurant culture

Notable quotes

You cannot even think this thought. You know, BJ as a comedian had this idea that was rooted in comedy, but there's truth in comedy.

Conclusion

By the end of the episode, the hosts embrace the playful absurdity of

Transcript preview

Speaker 6 (0:00) This is an iHeart Podcast. Guaranteed human. Speaker 1 (0:04) Hey, this is Robert Lamb. And this is Joe McCormick, and we're the hosts of the Stuff to Blow Your Mind podcast. This week on the show, it's Star Trek. So we're going to be talking about the Borg all week long. Are you ready to get some probes put in your flesh? Speaker 4 (0:18) That's right. Tune in. Resistance is futile. We're going to talk science, the culture of the Borg, various interpretations, and we're going to talk about Star Trek First Contact on Weird House Cinema on Friday. Listen to Stuff to Blow Your Mind on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 5 (0:34) Hey there, everybody. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes here from the Amy and TJ Podcast. We are your one-stop shop for the biggest news-making headlines of the day. We've got you covered. Speaker 4 (0:44) Yeah, there's a lot of news happening these days, and some of it's breaking. We are on top of it every single day. There's a bunch of true crime going on out there as well, and so much of it dominating on social media. We have our eye on it all. Speaker 5 (0:56) Listen to the Amy and TJ podcast on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Speaker 6 (1:03) Is there an epidemic against literature? More specifically, Black literature? I'm Jacquees Peace Thomas, and on this season of the Black Lit Podcast, we're outside asking why. They don't want a whole bunch of little Ella Bakers, Malcolm Xs, and Martin Luther Kings running around. And when you look at a lot of different cultures, they're like, we need to know where you came from. And considering this is Black Reading Month, the only real question is, what are you reading next? Listen to Black Lit from the Black Effect Podcast Network on our iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 4 (1:35) What up? This is Jay Valentine, co-host of the R &B Money Podcast alongside my brother, R &B legend Tank. Together, we've built a space for artists, executives, and fans of R &B music. to reminisce and tell the real stories behind the music. I Speaker 7 (1:48) have no money. I was hood famous. Speaker 4 (1:50) They think you're going to get everybody out. We Speaker 7 (1:51) lived in a project. Real love came out. They're hearing the music and we had nothing. From Speaker 4 (1:55) Smokey Robinson to Mary J. Blige, B2K to Jill Scott, if you're a super dedicated R &B fan, this is where you belong. Listen to R &B Money from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, Speaker 1 (2:07) or wherever you get your podcasts. 30 years ago, an island off Manhattan almost brought down New York City. Speaker 4 (2:15) Who will you trust? Your friends and neighbors? Or will you trust the people five miles overseas? Speaker 1 (2:20) This is a story about neighbors turning on each other and what happens when a forgotten place decides it's had enough. Speaker 7 (2:27) But we're not stopping, are we? Speaker 1 (2:31) Listen to Revisionist History, The Staten Island Problem on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Speaker 2 (2:51) Welcome to Pod Meets World. I'm Danielle Fischel. Speaker 7 (2:53) I'm Ryder Strong. And I'm Will Friedle. Speaker 2 (2:56) We got a minor complaint about our Disney Plus show. Everyone wanted to know where our pre-show chatter was. Which Speaker 7 (3:02) is basically where we talk about nothing. Yeah, where we talk about absolutely nothing. For several minutes. Yeah, for a few minutes. I love it. Which is usually my favorite part. Mine too. Unless Will brings up medical issues. Or time. Or Speaker 2 (3:16) food. Speaker 7 (3:16) Or the weather. What do you... Yeah. I wouldn't just drop a pin. Let me know what your ailment is, my friend, while I eat this cheeseburger. I want to talk about something before we started rolling. Danielle, you made this comment. Which makes no sense. Speaker 1 (3:28) Will Speaker 7 (3:28) said something about the blonde who was on Dancing with the Stars. And he reached over and said, not you. You weren't the blonde on Dancing with the Stars. And you said the blonde. The other blonde. And then you said, it never occurs to you because you never think of yourself as a blonde? Yeah, I know Speaker 2 (3:42) that I have blonde hair. But if someone says, shh. I Speaker 7 (3:47) met a blonde the other day. Or like Speaker 2 (3:50) as an identifier. She's the blonde. Why? Because my hair isn't blonde enough to be called the blonde. So what do you Speaker 8 (3:59) consider? Is it brown? Hazel? Speaker 2 (4:02) I think people would say my hair is blonde. But when someone uses it as the identifier, I think of platinum. More toward a platinum. It's just color of hair. It's Speaker 7 (4:14) not a Speaker 2 (4:14) type of Speaker 7 (4:14) personality. Speaker 2 (4:15) Definitely not a type of personality. I thought maybe that's what you Speaker 7 (4:18) meant, that you were like, I would never be the blonde in a situation. I didn't know if that meant like, maybe you weren't tall enough. Well, Speaker 8 (4:24) you and I Speaker 7 (4:24) always refer to her as the tall girl with black hair. Speaker 8 (4:26) Right. Which I know. And then we know we're talking about you. Then I know for sure Will's talking about me there. But Speaker 2 (4:32) no, it's just funny because like, that would not be a way I think someone would describe me. Speaker 8 (4:36) Right. The blonde. Speaker 7 (4:37) Oh, Speaker 2 (4:38) she's the blonde. Right. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe somebody would. Do people say like Speaker 7 (4:43) the blonde from Boy Meets World? Speaker 2 (4:45) No, they just say the Speaker 7 (4:46) girl from Boy Meets World. That's not true. I know that's not true. But yeah, if you say the girl from Boy Meets World, Speaker 8 (4:54) you're talking about Topanga. I guess that's true. Or one of the Little Sisters. Speaker 2 (4:58) Yeah, I guess so. Speaker 8 (5:01) Well, Speaker 2 (5:02) we hope that made you happy. Hello and welcome to another episode of Pod Meets World, visually on Disney +, audibly wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Danielle Fishel. I'm Speaker 8 (5:15) Ryder Strong. And I'm Will Friedle. Speaker 2 (5:17) You guys, I could not. be more excited about our episode this week. We picked the wrong day to Speaker 8 (5:25) start with pre-show chatter. Speaker 2 (5:26) We are combining two of my favorite things in the world, chain restaurants and the mall, more specifically the Topanga Mall. Speaker 8 (5:38) Topanga Mall. Speaker 8 (5:41) What the actual f*** was that? Speaker 2 (5:44) I Speaker 8 (5:44) can't hear you. Let's get a t-shirt. What just happened? Speaker 2 (5:49) What just happened? That's Speaker 6 (5:52) a Speaker 2 (5:52) stinger from my other podcast called Teen Beat. Really? You used that stinger? Yeah, because... Because Speaker 7 (5:59) you Speaker 2 (5:59) talk about the pangamol all the time? That much? All the time. Wait a minute, Ryder, are Speaker 8 (6:03) you not... Listening to Teen Beat on a regular basis? No. He's such a Sagittarius. That's such a Sagittarius. I'm going to kill Speaker 1 (6:09) you Speaker 8 (6:09) guys. Speaker 7 (6:12) Horoscopes are racism. You heard it here first. I said it. Horoscopes. Guys, horoscopes are racism. Think about it. Speaker 2 (6:19) Yep. Okay. Listen, I want to, before, there's too many things to get to with that. We can't. But you've never been to the Topanga Mall? Speaker 7 (6:27) I don't think so. I can't. Really? No. Even when Venus is in retrograde? Speaker 7 (6:32) It's such a typical Sagittarius thing to go to the Topanga Mall. Have you really? You've never been to the Topanga Mall? I don't think so. I know the name, obviously. But no, I think I probably would have seen the name and been like, nah, I don't want to be a, like, recognize it. I don't want to be a sociable. Don't worry, whatever it is. Speaker 8 (6:49) So there's two malls. There was the old school mall, which is gone. Was that, that wasn't the Topanga Mall. Speaker 2 (6:57) No. They didn't call Speaker 8 (6:58) that Topanga, right? No. That was just the Westfield. Promenade. Speaker 2 (7:01) The Promenade, correct. You can't speak it, Speaker 8 (7:04) you're not on the show yet. That was the voice of God. Speaker 2 (7:07) We are thrilled to be joined by the team behind Chain, a company that apparently lives inside my brain. This is Nicholas Kraft. Hello. Hello. Speaker 3 (7:18) I'm a team. Speaker 2 (7:19) No, he is the co-founder of the company, who alongside actor, writer, director BJ Novak, who everyone knows, of course, from The Office, and... Former French laundry chef Tim Hollingsworth did the unthinkable. Nikki, please tell the boys what chain is all about. It's Speaker 3 (7:38) unthinkable. Speaker 2 (7:39) Unthinkable. You Speaker 3 (7:40) can't even think this thought. You cannot. You know, BJ as a comedian had this idea that was rooted in comedy, but there's truth in comedy. And it's what if we got some of the best chefs in the world to apply their craft and care to the food everyone actually secretly loves. chain food oh there's no secret because they you know you're obsessing over some seafood foam on a cornet wonderful lovely i'd rather have a burger i'd rather have a chicken tender i'd rather have a cinnamon bun yeah so that is shane we we work with some of the best chefs in the world to reimagine and recreate these nostalgic dishes did Speaker 7 (8:11) any chefs turn you down you Speaker 3 (8:12) know what's amazing no um because it seems Speaker 7 (8:15) like a cool exciting challenge you Speaker 3 (8:17) know chefs are real artists yeah and i think when you have a restaurant the menu doesn't necessarily represent your artistry. It's what's going to sell. What can the team create? What can we source? This is a fun sandbox. It's what are you most excited and nostalgic about? Just a single dish for each chef will handle the creation, the, you know, putting Speaker 7 (8:35) the team together. So Speaker 3 (8:35) do you tell them which Speaker 7 (8:36) chain they have to use? No, it's Speaker 3 (8:38) entirely about their own personal nostalgia. And it's fun to see where people go. Like Roy Choi immediately was like mall, food court, teriyaki bowl. He's like, remember you'd walk through and they'd always like hand out the samples. He was literally at the mall. If I say Topanga Mall, do they do the stinger? Oh, God. Speaker 7 (8:52) Will they? Will they really? In post. They will. Speaker 3 (8:55) He's literally wandering around the mall like passing out teriyaki chicken samples. Speaker 8 (9:01) Wow. That's Speaker 3 (9:02) awesome. So is it Speaker 2 (9:03) a pop-up at the mall? We are there for six Speaker 3 (9:05) months. Yes, it is there, available Speaker 2 (9:07) now, and for six months. Available Speaker 7 (9:10) where? Speaker 2 (9:10) At the Topanga Mall. Speaker 3 (9:15) Topanga Mall. We're going to set the record on the show. Speaker 8 (9:18) I'm Speaker 3 (9:19) just going Speaker 8 (9:19) to keep saying it. Speaker 3 (9:19) I'm Speaker 8 (9:19) just going to keep saying it. Was there any specific dish that when you heard this idea, you were like, we have to do X, Y, Z? Speaker 3 (9:27) I will say May Lin, top chef winner and just acclaimed chef, was immediately like, I love Szechuan food. I love Taco Bell. I was like, those things don't seem to go together, but I'm intrigued. So we have it here. It's a mapo wagyu ragyu. Cruncho Perfecto. She's inspired by the Crunchwrap, one of the all-time great formats. And it's shocking. Everything's shockingly good. Yes. But it's like, it's so confusing because it has the texture and feel of a dish. Of a Crunchwrap. Of a Crunchwrap, but a completely different flavor profile. Speaker 8 (10:00) But Speaker 2 (10:00) it wasn't always, chain wasn't always, it didn't start this Speaker 3 (10:04) way. Speaker 2 (10:04) We did not start at Speaker 3 (10:05) the Topanga Mall. Speaker 2 (10:06) No, you did not start at the Topanga Mall. You did not start as a pop-up. You actually started in a house. Right. Speaker 3 (10:11) We were in parking lots for a little bit as just like a fun thing to do. Wow. It's that moment in Los Angeles where it was like, come to this parking lot and we'll give you like a Bloomin' Onion we've made. And it was Speaker 2 (10:22) by invitation only. Speaker 3 (10:25) Everyone was invited. It was just you had to know. Because I wanted to go. Did you go? No, I wanted Speaker 8 (10:29) to go. I Speaker 3 (10:29) didn't have your number. You Speaker 8 (10:30) wouldn't Speaker 3 (10:30) have been there. It was Speaker 8 (10:30) awesome. Speaker 2 (10:31) Okay. Well, Speaker 3 (10:32) it was in Los Angeles. I know you're not allowed to leave the Valley. That's Speaker 2 (10:35) correct. So Speaker 3 (10:35) that's why you didn't get invited. There's Speaker 2 (10:36) a Speaker 3 (10:36) place outside the Speaker 2 (10:37) Valley? Yeah, there is. It's not as great. Speaker 3 (10:39) I was going to say. You're like Belle. You're just like, I want to go out beyond the valley. This provincial valley. We took over a house. Yes. And it was fun. Like from the outside, it's just like this normal little house in West Hollywood. But inside, we made it feel like a chain restaurant. We had like a Bob's Big Boy statue and a Colonel Sanders statue. Speaker 2 (10:59) And like Speaker 3 (10:59) one of those Pizza Hut lamps. Speaker 2 (11:00) Yes. Speaker 3 (11:01) But people would like get the secret address and we'd watch them on the ring cam. And they'd be like, certainly I'm not in the right place. Yeah, this can't be the right place. And then they'd walk through the doors and there's like 100 people enjoying these wild creations. We'll speak easy. We befriended the neighbors, of course. I Speaker 8 (11:14) already thought of the one that popped into my head instantly that I want to have done. What? Remember how much we all loved from, was it Planet Hollywood, the Captain Crunch chicken fingers? Oh, yes. With that secret dipping sauce. It was like. the sickest thing in the world. We'd always go there to get that. That's right. Amazing. Captain Speaker 3 (11:31) Crunch Speaker 8 (11:31) chicken. Speaker 3 (11:32) You're like, I remember. Speaker 8 (11:34) Yeah, yeah. It was the only thing I remember ordering. Yeah, Speaker 7 (11:36) because Speaker 8 (11:36) it's all we ever wanted. We'd just get plates and plates of the Captain Crunch chicken. I think Captain Speaker 3 (11:39) Crunch is a base ingredient. It's like flour. It's like olive oil. It's Captain Crunch. It's Captain Crunch. These are the pantry staples. So Speaker 7 (11:44) we Speaker 3 (11:44) went to a Speaker 7 (11:44) restaurant that said that they had, it was, where were we? We were on tour and we went to a really fancy restaurant somewhere. and they served as a special their version of a Big Mac. And we were pretty excited. And then you were like, no, no, no. Yeah, no, because I know a Big Mac. You're like, I know Big Macs. I know my way around a Big Mac. You're like, I need to talk to the chef. This is wrong. There's three Speaker 3 (12:03) pieces of bread. I only count Speaker 8 (12:04) two. They were Speaker 7 (12:05) just kind of trying to recreate it. It wasn't like their own Speaker 8 (12:08) twist on it. Speaker 7 (12:08) Yeah, if it's not reheated Speaker 8 (12:09) by some high school kid, it's not a Big Mac. It's not a Big Mac. No, our Speaker 3 (12:12) opinion is the Big Mac is perfect. Why recreate it? Right. But, you know, a great chef is like, well. I have this culinary background or I want to try a different, you know, process or ingredient. And so it's, it really is a re-imagining and a fun spin. Is Speaker 8 (12:25) there anything that's hands-off? Like we're not allowed to touch this chain. You're not going to make an In-N-Out burger. You're not going to, I mean, is there something where it's like, hey, let's stay away from that? Or is it just kind of bring us what you got? Speaker 3 (12:36) I think it's a bring us what you got. That's cool. We try and have, let the box be as big as a chef wants it to be. I mean, sometimes we work in collaboration with these brands, which is the crazy thing. Like this is just like, you know, we started this out of reverence for your Pizza Hut, your Taco Bells, your Outbacks. But it's like, I don't know if they're going to feel that way. And then they're like, hey, we'd love to work with you because we're celebrating. And so sometimes there is like a, hey, we really want to focus on the Bloomin' Onion. Speaker 5 (13:01) Hey there, everybody. Amy Robach and TJ Holmes here from the Amy and TJ podcast with midterm elections just around the corner. We're breaking down the biggest political stories leading up to November. And Speaker 4 (13:13) some of those big political stories aren't just what's happening on Capitol Hill. Yes, we just saw Lindsey Graham, the death of a longtime senator. Also, we've got a couple of missing. Members of Congress. Also, we got a lot of members of Congress behaving badly. We got accusations, allegations flying all day long on Capitol Hill. It's just like a reality show. Speaker 5 (13:33) We're going to cover everything you need to know during this heated political season. Speaker 4 (13:38) And it starts with our morning run. Yes, go for a run with us. Maybe you can take us along when you're on your actual run outside. Or if you don't feel like going out, still, you get what we're saying. It's our morning run. It's our daily news rundown of the top stories that will get you going before you even finish that first cup of coffee. Speaker 5 (13:55) Listen to Amy and TJ on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your podcasts. Your Speaker 2 (14:03) merch is incredible. I love merch. I love chain merch. You are not only... This Speaker 3 (14:14) seems like it was planned. That's got your name on it. It's Speaker 2 (14:16) got my name on it. Speaker 3 (14:17) But wait, this one happens to say Ryder. Speaker 8 (14:20) Wow. What are the odds? I'm guessing there's no heart in that bag for me. There's no Speaker 3 (14:24) will. Oh, no. Here Speaker 2 (14:27) you go. Yes. So do you have to get permission from the brands? We work Speaker 3 (14:32) with them. It's a fun thing. I'm opening. All right, you each get some different things. Speaker 2 (14:36) Oh my gosh. Is this great? Now, can I trade hats with you? I love this hat so much, and I love this one too, but I took a picture of that one. Speaker 3 (14:48) It's like Halloween candy. You're like trading hats. This is great. Thank you so much. So we work with Cheerios. And so this is, you asked, do we have permission? We quite literally work with the brands. Or we're working with Lucky Charms. They're always after me, Lucky Speaker 2 (15:01) Charms. That's how they get you. Oh my Speaker 7 (15:03) God, that's great. Speaker 3 (15:04) But look, the marshmallow spell chain. I know. It's a little subtle. That's Speaker 7 (15:07) so cool. Cute. Do Speaker 6 (15:08) you Speaker 7 (15:08) remember Speaker 8 (15:08) what they added? There was a special marshmallow at one point. It was green, pink hearts, yellow stars. Green diamonds, purple horseshoes, and then at one point they added... Speaker 3 (15:19) Lovers and balloons, pots of golden rainbows, and me red