Advice Line with Steve Ells of Chipotle

April 9, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

The Format: This is a classic advice podcast format. It's a structured interview where host Guy Raz brings in a legendary founder to help solve listener business problems. The show is called "The Advice Line" from the "How I Built This" podcast.
The Key Players:
- Guy Raz: The host. He's the warm, curious, and insightful guide who frames the problems and keeps the conversation moving.
- Steve Ells: The guest. He is the legendary founder of Chipotle, the massive fast-casual restaurant chain. He's also the founder of the now-pivoted concept, Kernel, and his new venture, Counter Service. He brings a wealth of experience in scaling a food business, differentiation, and brand-building.
The Vibe: The vibe is Educational, Supportive, and Engaging. It's a mix of serious business strategy and genuine human connection. Steve is humble and reflective, while Guy is an enthusiastic and empathetic interviewer.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

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What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Steve Ells (Chipotle Founder)**
2 (03:11) **The Kernel Post-Mortem & The Pivot to Counter Service**
3 (08:36) **Caller #1: Rebecca Smith (Streaky Bay Distillers)**
4 (11:52) **Advice for Rebecca: Differentiation in a Crowded Market**
5 (20:10) **Caller #2: Shri Holima (Mat Zero)**
6 (22:16) **Advice for Shri: Balancing Mission vs. Multiple Markets**
7 (30:54) **Caller #3: John Rarick (Cantina di Rosina)**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Today’s callers: Rebecca from Australia wants to make her small-batch spirits stand out in a crowded market. Then, Sri from England wonders how to balance commercial and humanitarian interests for her heated mats. And John from Pennsylvania hopes to reach younger customers with his Italian wines despite declining alcohol consumption.

Plus, Steve talks about the evolving role of robots in food service—and how he hopes to find his next rocketship in a fresh take on the sandwich shop.

Thank you to the founders of Streaky Bay Distillers, Mat Zero, and Cantina Di Rosina for being a part of our show.

If you’d like to be featured on a future Advice Line episode—where Guy and former show guests take questions from early-stage founders—leave us a one-minute message that tells us about your business and a specific question you’d like answered. Send a voice memo to [email protected] or call 1-800-433-1298.

And be sure to listen to Chipotle’s founding story as told by Steve on the show in 2017.

This episode was produced by Chris Maccini with music by Ramtin Arablouei. It was edited by John Isabella. Our audio engineer was Robert Rodriguez.

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