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From Layoff to Legacy: How Charlie Eblen Built a BBQ Empire | 2025 Create Conference
In this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Charlie Eblen — founder of Single Tree BBQ and host of Single Tree Nation on ESPN Radio — to share one of the most inspiring stories in hospitality.
When the pandemic hit, Charlie lost his corporate job overnight. Instead of playing it safe, he followed his wife’s advice: “Go do what you love.” Out of a 26-foot food trailer and a few thousand dollars in savings, Single Tree BBQ was born.
What started as a way to feed his community became something much bigger — a movement built on authenticity, storytelling, and service. With zero media experience, Charlie picked up a phone, went live on Instagram, and started sharing his journey. Three years later, he’s running a thriving restaurant, hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, and partnering with Toast to grow his brand’s impact.
Charlie shares how vulnerability and community connection fueled his success, the moment that changed his life forever, and why he believes “it takes a community to build a business.”
From sending a child with cancer to Disney World to designing the next flagship BBQ restaurant, this is the story of what happens when you stop waiting for permission — and start betting on yourself.
Episode Links:
00:00 Intro
00:45 Welcome, Charlie Eblen!
01:22 Restaurateurs becoming media companies
02:26 Charlie's story
04:40 Growing the Single Tree brand
06:40 Becoming the "Nike of BBQ"
07:50 Starting from a single food truck
08:20 Getting laid off was the "best worst day of my life"
10:30 The next Single Tree BBQ
11:45 The legacy of Single Tree BBQ
12:35 Outro
View all episodes
By Matt WamplerIn this episode of the Restaurant AI Podcast, host Matt Wampler, Co-Founder and CEO of ClearCOGS, sits down with Charlie Eblen — founder of Single Tree BBQ and host of Single Tree Nation on ESPN Radio — to share one of the most inspiring stories in hospitality.
When the pandemic hit, Charlie lost his corporate job overnight. Instead of playing it safe, he followed his wife’s advice: “Go do what you love.” Out of a 26-foot food trailer and a few thousand dollars in savings, Single Tree BBQ was born.
What started as a way to feed his community became something much bigger — a movement built on authenticity, storytelling, and service. With zero media experience, Charlie picked up a phone, went live on Instagram, and started sharing his journey. Three years later, he’s running a thriving restaurant, hosting a nationally syndicated radio show, and partnering with Toast to grow his brand’s impact.
Charlie shares how vulnerability and community connection fueled his success, the moment that changed his life forever, and why he believes “it takes a community to build a business.”
From sending a child with cancer to Disney World to designing the next flagship BBQ restaurant, this is the story of what happens when you stop waiting for permission — and start betting on yourself.
Episode Links:
00:00 Intro
00:45 Welcome, Charlie Eblen!
01:22 Restaurateurs becoming media companies
02:26 Charlie's story
04:40 Growing the Single Tree brand
06:40 Becoming the "Nike of BBQ"
07:50 Starting from a single food truck
08:20 Getting laid off was the "best worst day of my life"
10:30 The next Single Tree BBQ
11:45 The legacy of Single Tree BBQ
12:35 Outro