Join me on The Randall Osché Podcast as I sit down with Stella Dennig and Finn Stern, the owners of Daytrip Counter in Oakland, California.

Stella and Finn’s journey started with a shared interest in food and community and eventually led them to open Daytrip, a restaurant that received national recognition from Bon Appétit, The New York Times, the San Francisco Chronicle, and more.

But success from the outside didn’t necessarily mean the business was working behind the scenes.

We talk about what they learned from building their first restaurant, the difficult decision to change course, and how they used those lessons to create Daytrip Counter. We also get into the realities of running a small independent restaurant, why community sits at the center of their work, and how constraints can sometimes lead to a stronger business.

Along the way, Stella and Finn share their thoughts on leadership, persistence, knowing when to quit, and why failure can sometimes be the education you need before figuring out what actually works.

What you’ll Learn:

• Why outside recognition doesn’t always equal a sustainable business.
• How constraints can create better, more focused businesses.
• Why employees and community remain central to Stella and Finn’s approach.
• How to recognize when it’s time to stop, pivot, and build something differently.
• Why persistence isn’t always about sticking with the same idea; it can mean finding a better way forward.

What happens when the thing you worked so hard to build isn’t working? Stella and Finn share what it took to change course, take the lessons with them, and build again.

Listen to This Episode on Your Favorite Platform:

• Apple Podcasts
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• YouTube

Find Stella & Finn:

• Website
• Instagram

Find Randall:

• Instagram
• TikTok
• LinkedIn
• Website

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About The Randall Osché Podcast:
Every episode is a conversation with remarkable people who share their unique stories, challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned. Through honest and insightful dialogue, we explore what shapes us, what moves us, and what we learn from the experiences along the way.

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