https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bricks-and-clicks--6702242
Hosted by Cliff Hudson, former CEO of Sonic Drive-In, and Craig Miller, veteran strategist and technology leader, this podcast goes inside the C-suite to explore how traditional businesses can evolve, innovate, and lead in a fast-changing, AI-driven world. Each episode features actionable, in-depth discussions with visionary executives, digital pioneers, and brand builders who are redefining what it means to serve customers in the age of disruption. From transformational leadership in legacy companies to digital strategy, operational reinvention, and customer-centric innovation in the era of AI, Bricks and Clicks offers candid, practical conversations packed with takeaways you can apply to your own business.

Whether you're in the boardroom, a member of the C-suite, part of the front-line leadership, or building a business from the ground up, join Cliff and Craig as they talk with the minds shaping the future of business—where physical and digital meet, and transformation becomes reality.

Bricks and Clicks is a production of Forbes Books.]]>enBusinessForbes Bookshttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/192fcd65d7f6a9bc98a8c33e8485b7c5.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/bricks-and-clicks--6702242Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:40:20 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerCliff Hudson and Craig Millerjpardavila@theauthoritycompany.comWhat does it really take to lead a legacy brand into the digital era—and keep it thriving in the era of AI? Why do some companies succeed, and others don't? Bricks and Clicks is a masterclass in modern business strategy, discplined execution, and...
Hosted by Cliff Hudson, former CEO of Sonic Drive-In, and Craig Miller, veteran strategist and technology leader, this podcast goes inside the C-suite to explore how traditional businesses can evolve, innovate, and lead in a fast-changing, AI-driven world. Each episode features actionable, in-depth discussions with visionary executives, digital pioneers, and brand builders who are redefining what it means to serve customers in the age of disruption. From transformational leadership in legacy companies to digital strategy, operational reinvention, and customer-centric innovation in the era of AI, Bricks and Clicks offers candid, practical conversations packed with takeaways you can apply to your own business.

Whether you're in the boardroom, a member of the C-suite, part of the front-line leadership, or building a business from the ground up, join Cliff and Craig as they talk with the minds shaping the future of business—where physical and digital meet, and transformation becomes reality.

Bricks and Clicks is a production of Forbes Books.]]>falsee86d14e2-875c-5f0a-94da-9ebee32ac4c4episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ai-guardrails-without-gridlock-with-former-congressman-brad-carson--73852034
Brad is the president of Americans for Responsible Innovation, a bipartisan organization focused on AI policy and reasonable guardrails around emerging technology. In this episode, he explains why AI regulation doesn’t have to slow innovation, how smart guardrails can build consumer confidence, and why the public backlash against AI is becoming impossible for business leaders to ignore.

Cliff, Craig, and Brad discuss what companies can learn from past regulatory models like the FAA, FDA, Federal Reserve, and nuclear oversight. They also explore how CEOs should think about AI inside their organizations, why AI strategy can’t be handed off to “the tech guy,” and how businesses can balance automation with the human experiences customers still value.

Brad also breaks down the workforce implications of AI, including which jobs may change, why implementation is the real choke point, and how companies that adopt AI early may gain a major competitive advantage.This conversation is essential for CEOs, founders, executives, board members, policymakers, and business leaders trying to understand how AI will reshape organizations over the next five years.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Bricks and Clicks
00:53 Introducing Brad Carson
01:10 What Is Americans for Responsible Innovation?
02:49 The AI Policy Landscape in Washington
04:40 Can Regulation Help AI Adoption?
06:28 Where the AI Debate Got Off Track
08:15 AI, Populism, and the New Gilded Age
10:56 Why AI Regulation Is Becoming Bipartisan
12:32 Lessons from Past Technology Shifts
13:12 What AI Can Learn from the FAA, FDA, and Nuclear Regulation
16:49 What the Public Misunderstands About AI
17:30 Data Centers, Energy, and AI’s Environmental Debate
19:37 How Businesses Are Underestimating AI
21:22 How AI Helps Small Businesses Compete
22:46 Where CEOs Should Begin with AI
24:36 Why AI Strategy Has to Start at the Top
25:56 Rethinking the Operating Model
28:36 Reshaping vs. Replacing Jobs
31:49 The Implementation Gap
33:18 What Will Separate AI Winners from Losers
34:30 Robotics, Automation, and Customer Experience
36:25 What Should Businesses Automate?
38:23 Where to Learn More About ARI]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73852034Thu, 03 Sep 2026 12:00:02 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerGo inside the C-Suite with former U.S. Congressman Brad Carson as he joins Cliff Hudson and Craig Miller on Bricks and Clicks for a timely conversation about artificial intelligence, business leadership, regulation, and the future of work. Brad is...
Brad is the president of Americans for Responsible Innovation, a bipartisan organization focused on AI policy and reasonable guardrails around emerging technology. In this episode, he explains why AI regulation doesn’t have to slow innovation, how smart guardrails can build consumer confidence, and why the public backlash against AI is becoming impossible for business leaders to ignore.

Cliff, Craig, and Brad discuss what companies can learn from past regulatory models like the FAA, FDA, Federal Reserve, and nuclear oversight. They also explore how CEOs should think about AI inside their organizations, why AI strategy can’t be handed off to “the tech guy,” and how businesses can balance automation with the human experiences customers still value.

Brad also breaks down the workforce implications of AI, including which jobs may change, why implementation is the real choke point, and how companies that adopt AI early may gain a major competitive advantage.This conversation is essential for CEOs, founders, executives, board members, policymakers, and business leaders trying to understand how AI will reshape organizations over the next five years.

Chapters
00:00 Welcome to Bricks and Clicks
00:53 Introducing Brad Carson
01:10 What Is Americans for Responsible Innovation?
02:49 The AI Policy Landscape in Washington
04:40 Can Regulation Help AI Adoption?
06:28 Where the AI Debate Got Off Track
08:15 AI, Populism, and the New Gilded Age
10:56 Why AI Regulation Is Becoming Bipartisan
12:32 Lessons from Past Technology Shifts
13:12 What AI Can Learn from the FAA, FDA, and Nuclear Regulation
16:49 What the Public Misunderstands About AI
17:30 Data Centers, Energy, and AI’s Environmental Debate
19:37 How Businesses Are Underestimating AI
21:22 How AI Helps Small Businesses Compete
22:46 Where CEOs Should Begin with AI
24:36 Why AI Strategy Has to Start at the Top
25:56 Rethinking the Operating Model
28:36 Reshaping vs. Replacing Jobs
31:49 The Implementation Gap
33:18 What Will Separate AI Winners from Losers
34:30 Robotics, Automation, and Customer Experience
36:25 What Should Businesses Automate?
38:23 Where to Learn More About ARI]]>2328falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-universal-playbook-for-brand-building-in-the-21st-century--67277347and operator profit – is non-negotiable in the 21st century. Drawing on Sonic’s transformation (from $1B to $5.5B+ in sales fueled by innovations like mobile order/pay), they reveal why technology must be woven into the customer experience, not bolted on. The duo tackles the universal challenge of "messy middles" in complex implementations and emphasizes that their strategic framework – starting with the customer, not the tech – applies across industries. Miller also demystifies AI ("augmented intelligence"), linking it to predictive tools they pioneered at Sonic. Essential listening for leaders navigating digital transformation.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277347Tue, 02 Dec 2025 09:50:07 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerFormer Sonic CEO Cliff Hudson and tech executive Craig Miller (ex-CIO, Planet Fitness & Sonic) distills five critical takeaways from their series on integrating technology with brand strategy. They argue that genuine customer value creation –...and operator profit – is non-negotiable in the 21st century. Drawing on Sonic’s transformation (from $1B to $5.5B+ in sales fueled by innovations like mobile order/pay), they reveal why technology must be woven into the customer experience, not bolted on. The duo tackles the universal challenge of "messy middles" in complex implementations and emphasizes that their strategic framework – starting with the customer, not the tech – applies across industries. Miller also demystifies AI ("augmented intelligence"), linking it to predictive tools they pioneered at Sonic. Essential listening for leaders navigating digital transformation.]]>1950false19fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-messy-middles-navigating-the-organizational-conflict-of-digital-transformation--67277346
Key takeaways: Why digital overhauls demand unprecedented collaboration, how to sell long-term ROI to skeptical operators, and why acknowledging organizational conflict isn’t failure—it’s strategy. A masterclass in scaling change when every piece depends on the next.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277346Tue, 18 Nov 2025 08:40:07 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerWhen legacy brands pivot to digital, the path is rarely linear. In this candid discussion, Sonic Drive-In’s former CEO Cliff Hudson and executives Craig Miller and Eddie Saroch dissect the turbulent rollout of their 21st-century "Integrated Customer...
Key takeaways: Why digital overhauls demand unprecedented collaboration, how to sell long-term ROI to skeptical operators, and why acknowledging organizational conflict isn’t failure—it’s strategy. A masterclass in scaling change when every piece depends on the next.]]>1835false18fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/new-world-new-challenges-new-opportunities-rewiring-legacy-for-the-digital-era--67277348years before COVID-19. Joined by ThoughtWorks leaders Brandon Byars and Ryan Murray, they unpack Sonic’s gamble: upgrading legacy systems leveraging emerging technologies, and integrating all data sources to create seamless customer experiences. Learn why prioritizing APIs over point solutions, betting early on mobile ordering (“First in Line Every Time"), and overhauling operating models positioned Sonic to thrive when rivals scrambled. A masterclass in transforming brick-and-mortar DNA into digital agility—proving that foresight beats reaction every time.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277348Tue, 04 Nov 2025 09:25:07 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerSonic Drive-In’s former CEO Cliff Hudson and tech strategist Craig Miller reveal how they defied restaurant industry norms to build a future-proof digital platform years before COVID-19. Joined by ThoughtWorks leaders Brandon Byars and Ryan Murray,...years before COVID-19. Joined by ThoughtWorks leaders Brandon Byars and Ryan Murray, they unpack Sonic’s gamble: upgrading legacy systems leveraging emerging technologies, and integrating all data sources to create seamless customer experiences. Learn why prioritizing APIs over point solutions, betting early on mobile ordering (“First in Line Every Time"), and overhauling operating models positioned Sonic to thrive when rivals scrambled. A masterclass in transforming brick-and-mortar DNA into digital agility—proving that foresight beats reaction every time.]]>2643false17fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/retooling-the-enterprise-taking-it-to-scale-navigating-the-hazards-of-large-scale-execution--67277351https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277351Tue, 21 Oct 2025 07:35:07 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerFormer Sonic Drive-In CEO Cliff Hudson and cohost Craig Miller get together with key architects John Budd and Christina Vaughan to dissect one of retail’s most ambitious transformations: retrofitting 3,500 drive-ins with integrated POS, digital menu...2894false16fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-medium-is-the-modus-operandi-sonic-drive-in-s-media-revolution--67277343https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277343Tue, 07 Oct 2025 07:40:07 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerHow a fast-food giant rewrote its playbook for the digital media era. Former Sonic CEO Cliff Hudson and co-host Craig Miller reunites with media strategist Rob Jayson (USIM) to dissect Sonic’s landmark 2012 media pivot. Facing a franchise crisis in...2323false15fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-digital-plumbing-how-sonic-s-technology-overhaul-turbocharged-momentum--67277345https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277345Tue, 23 Sep 2025 12:52:09 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerWhen outdated tech throttles growth, what’s the fix? For Sonic Drive-In franchise giant DL Rogers Group – operating 269+ stores – the answer was ripping out legacy systems and installing "new digital plumbing." Host Cliff Hudson and former Sonic tech...1938false14fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/innovation-is-not-a-luxury-rewriting-the-qsr-playbook--67277350
Rosenberg reveals how Dunkin’ turned doughnut scraps into the billion-dollar Munchkin phenomenon during the 1970s oil crisis, while Domino’s boardroom bets on digital ordering catapulted it from stagnation to 80% online sales dominance.

Hudson reflects on Sonic’s early "pay-at-your-stall" tech gamble inspired by gas pumps, proving that incremental customer-centric shifts — not just flashy tech — build lasting brands.

The trio argues why convenience now trumps even product quality, and why franchises that ignore the "techno-oval" risk obsolescence.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277350Tue, 09 Sep 2025 08:00:08 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerFast-food legend Robert Rosenberg — architect of Dunkin’s global expansion — joins Sonic’s Cliff Hudson and tech leader Craig Miller to dissect the unbreakable link between innovation, convenience, and survival in quick-service restaurants....
Rosenberg reveals how Dunkin’ turned doughnut scraps into the billion-dollar Munchkin phenomenon during the 1970s oil crisis, while Domino’s boardroom bets on digital ordering catapulted it from stagnation to 80% online sales dominance.

Hudson reflects on Sonic’s early "pay-at-your-stall" tech gamble inspired by gas pumps, proving that incremental customer-centric shifts — not just flashy tech — build lasting brands.

The trio argues why convenience now trumps even product quality, and why franchises that ignore the "techno-oval" risk obsolescence.]]>1884false13fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fortune-favors-the-prepared-sonic-s-billion-dollar-timing--67277344https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277344Tue, 26 Aug 2025 08:20:08 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerFormer CEO Cliff Hudson and franchisee Buddy McClain unpack Sonic’s 20-year tech evolution—from skeptics to industry leaders. They reveal how early credit card readers boosted tickets by 40%, why legacy POS systems nearly crippled growth, and how...2100false12fullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sonic-accelerates-growth-in-the-digital-age-1b-1997-to-5-8b-2021--67277349https://api.spreaker.com/episode/67277349Tue, 12 Aug 2025 14:33:05 +0000Cliff Hudson and Craig MillerFormer Sonic CEO Cliff Hudson and tech architect Craig Miller reveal how a digital transformation—sparked by Hudson’s 2004 'techno-oval' customer-engagement vision propelled the drive-in chain to $5.8B. They detail overcoming legacy 'tech debt,'...1495false11full