Living Your Legacy Podcast
Host: Rudy Mawer
Episode: Founder of BBQ Productions: From Small Hustles to 5 Powerhouse Locations
Guest: Chris Schoenberger, Founder of BBQ Productions
Date: February 13, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode centers on Chris Schoenberger’s entrepreneurial journey from humble childhood hustles—like selling rocks—to establishing and expanding BBQ Productions, a barbecue restaurant group now boasting five thriving locations. Chris candidly shares his personal motivations, challenges, and pivotal moments, emphasizing the importance of core values, leadership through adversity, team-building, and leaving a legacy based on uplifting both customers and employees. The conversation is both inspiring and practical for anyone aspiring to grow their own business from scratch.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Origins as an Entrepreneur
[02:14–03:10]
- Chris recounts his earliest business as a child in Illinois—selling cleaned and painted rocks instead of lemonade to stand out in a crowded market.
"At 6 years old, everybody was selling lemonade. Okay. And I knew that in order to sell and be successful, I needed a unique product...So I was trying to be unique and I could sell rocks, though, Because I'm cute." — Chris Schoenberger [02:37]
2. The Birth of BBQ Productions
[03:17–04:00]
- A love of cooking, nurtured by his mother, evolved into a family catering company, then a restaurant.
- His mother’s encouragement and values continue to inspire his approach, even after her passing.
"She, you know, instilled these amazing values in me of doing what you do with love. You'll never fail. And she said she was going to help me. Unfortunately, she passed away when we opened." — Chris Schoenberger [03:44]
3. Scaling Up: From 1 to 5 Locations & the Power of Delegation
[04:00–07:41]
- Learning on the job: Chris admits he lacked restaurant experience and had to learn every aspect—bartending, serving, cooking—while paying others and learning from them.
"They don't give you a book and say, here's how you run a restaurant. You have to learn..." — Chris Schoenberger [04:07]
- Key to expansion: Delegation and trust become crucial as operations spread; developing systems and procedures is transformative.
"I used to like to do everything myself, but I also didn't have all the answers myself. So I had to find who had the answers, learn from them, but then also adapt it and grow it into the vision of what I wanted the company to be." — Chris Schoenberger [05:45]
- Challenges with growth: Trust but verify; theft and oversight are ongoing issues.
4. Pivotal ‘Oh Crap’ Moments & Responding with Community Impact
[07:41–09:43]
- The week after opening his first location and his mother’s passing, a tornado hit the town. Instead of panicking, Chris distributed food and drinks to first responders and locals, setting up makeshift kitchens in the heart of the disaster for 10 days—all for free.
"The week we opened, after my mom had passed away, our town got hit with a tornado...I put up a bunch of tents on a street, literally on a street corner, set up tents, put one of my trailers there, and we cooked for 10 days...free food for everybody. And that was my oh. Moment. Like, I'm gonna go broke. But that right there is what I think really steered my company to where it is today." — Chris Schoenberger [07:52–09:26]
5. Struggles with Delegation, Catering Snafus, and Building the Right Team
[10:03–14:31]
- As growth accelerated, Chris tried to oversee all catering orders himself, leading to missed contracts and costly mistakes—until he finally hired a dedicated catering manager.
"I was handling all of the catering stuff still, too...We were over an hour and a half late, and we ended up losing that deal, that big contract with that company...After the second time...I hired somebody." — Chris Schoenberger [10:10–11:32]
- Chris highlights the importance of surrounding yourself with competent, empowered team members and fostering bottom-up feedback.
"A quarterback is only as good as offensive line and his wide receivers...there's times where we're in the restaurant and I tell people, like, listen, if I'm doing something wrong, tell me, because it's up to all of us to make sure this works." — Chris Schoenberger [12:25]
- Humility and risk-taking are recurring entrepreneurial themes:
"Often their biggest breakthroughs is like taking a risk in life. Like, I've never done weddings. Most people would say no, right? But I say, as crazy ones, we'll go like, yes, girl, we can do that. And then you like, figure it out somehow." — Host Rudy Mawer [13:39]
6. Letting Go, Letting Teams Thrive, and Surreal Owner Moments
[14:00–15:47]
- Chris emphasizes how, as the business grows, he’s become less hands-on—and sometimes isn't even recognized by his own staff, which he views as a sign of successful delegation.
"I showed up one day and I was walking around...she goes, can I help you? And I'm like, no, I own...I guess I own the place." — Chris Schoenberger [15:05]
7. Future Vision: Expansion, Innovation, and Living the Dream
[16:09–17:56]
- Plans include converting a fire truck into a food truck and possibly expanding the brand to warmer U.S. states—a lifestyle and business decision.
"Our company vehicle is a fire truck. Because I said, why not? You know?...I think one of the things that I might want to try next is opening up a location in another state..." — Chris Schoenberger [16:22–16:56]
- Rudy and Chris discuss how entrepreneurship can create the freedom to build a life anywhere, encouraging listeners to pursue big dreams.
8. Legacy and Impact: Changing Lives, Living Core Values
[18:49–20:04]
- Chris views his mother’s legacy as the seed for his own; he strives to “be somebody for somebody” both as an employer and through customer experiences.
"I say that when her legacy died, mine started. And so really, it's about changing people's lives. Not only both customers externally, but also internal with employees..." — Chris Schoenberger [18:54]
- The “one person at a time, one meal at a time, one experience at a time” philosophy is central to his mission.
9. Advice for Growing Entrepreneurs
[20:04–21:45]
- Top guidance: Hire for knowledge gaps.
- Establish core values early—they serve as a “blueprint” for leadership and company culture.
- Define and regularly revisit the business’s unique selling point (USP)—not just internally, but in the eyes of the customer.
"If you don't know the answer, hire somebody who does. I wish something that I did from the beginning was have core values, because I didn't have my core values until probably my third year in." — Chris Schoenberger [20:15]
"I'm so excited to get home and. And really just start, you know, seeing what the next thing brings." — Chris Schoenberger [21:45]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- "You have to learn as. But one of the things that's really important to me, to my core values, is partnerships and having the right partner." — Chris Schoenberger [04:07]
- "It's a challenge. Every day I'm learning something new." — Chris Schoenberger [07:19]
- "That was my oh. Moment. Like, I'm gonna go broke. But that right there is what I think really steered my company to where it is today." — Chris Schoenberger [09:21]
- "A quarterback is only as good as his offensive line and his wide receivers." — Chris Schoenberger [12:25]
- "I want to be somebody for my staff...changing people’s lives, one person at a time, one meal at a time, one experience at a time." — Chris Schoenberger [18:53]
- "If you don't know the answer, hire somebody who does." — Chris Schoenberger [20:15]
Key Timestamps for Important Segments
- Earliest Hustle/Entrepreneurial Spirit: 02:14–03:10
- Founding BBQ Productions, Mom’s Influence: 03:17–04:00
- Learning by Doing, Value of Partnerships: 04:00–05:45
- Delegation & Growing to Multiple Locations: 05:45–07:41
- The Tornado & Defining the Company Culture: 07:41–09:43
- Scaling Issues: Catering Breakdown: 10:03–11:32
- Empowering the Team, Entrepreneurial Risks: 12:25–14:31
- Owner Moments, Letting Go: 15:05–15:47
- Future Expansion, Food Truck Innovation: 16:09–17:56
- Legacy & Core Values: 18:49–20:04
- Advice for Entrepreneurs: 20:04–21:45
Final Thoughts
Chris Schoenberger’s path from painting rocks at a Fisher Price table to leading a multi-location restaurant group embodies the grit, heart, and adaptive mindset found in memorable entrepreneurs. The episode is packed with actionable lessons, candid advice, and motivating stories—anchored in the philosophy that legacy isn’t just about success, but about transforming lives inside and outside the business.
Listeners are left with a clear take-away: embrace challenges, value your team, stand by your core values, and never underestimate the power of a unique idea—no matter how small its beginnings.