What Christian Radio Can Learn from Chick-fil-A: Reinventing Your Life, Your Station, and Your Impact

“The world is changing faster than the speed of light. You’re either a chameleon or a dinosaur.” 

I’ve lived by those words my entire career. Whether it was launching Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy!, The Oprah Winfrey Show, or building KeepTheFaith Radio, I’ve always known that if you don’t adapt, you’ll become extinct. 

That’s true for the media industry, and it’s especially true for Christian radio and music today. 

Listeners have more choices than ever before. They can listen to a podcast, stream a playlist on Spotify, or get breaking news from TikTok—all in the time it takes for your station to get through a single commercial break. The old methods of simply playing music and reading encouragement liners won’t cut it anymore. 

It’s time to think differently. 

And if you want a masterclass on reinvention, look no further than Chick-fil-A. 

Yes, I’m serious. Chick-fil-A didn’t just build a fast-food empire. They revolutionized the entire industry, using innovation, storytelling, and a relentless focus on the customer experience. 

Their success holds the blueprint for how Christian radio can thrive, and perhaps more importantly, how we can apply those same principles to our personal lives—because if you want to succeed professionally, you have to be your best personally. 

“It’s time to live that life in living color, because it’s a lot more fun than living it in black and white.” — my sign off on every CIA: Contagious Influencers of America podcast episode. 

 

1. The “Game Film” Mentality: Audit Your Life & Your Station Like a CEO 

Chick-fil-A’s Lesson: 

Chick-fil-A doesn’t hope things improve—they study what works and what doesn’t. 

They use drones, security footage, and real-time analytics to break down bottlenecks, improve efficiency, and deliver a flawless customer experience. 

Chick-fil-A’s Service & Hospitality Team even records “game film” of their busiest hours, analyzing how cars move through their drive-through and how employees handle peak demand. 

 

What Christian Radio Can Learn: 

Now, think about this…When was the last time you did that for your station—or your life? 

Too often, we keep doing the same things simply because they’re familiar. But what if we took a deep audit of our lives and our work to pinpoint: 

• What’s working? What’s helping your station engage listeners and deepen their faith? What’s energizing you personally? 
• What’s slowing you down? Are you relying on old strategies that no longer serve you or your audience? Are you weighed down by stress or distractions?
• What needs to change? What new opportunities do you need to pursue, and what old habits or commitments do you need to let go of?

 

How to Apply This: 

• Monthly Station & Personal Audit – Every month, review your station’s content, engagement levels, and personal goals. 
• Use Data, Not Assumptions – Just as Chick-fil-A uses analytics to make decisions, you should rely on real listener feedback, engagement data, and team input. 

Get Outside Perspective – Even the best leaders need coaches and mentors. Surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow and see what you can’t. 

2. Reinvent Drive-Time Like Chick-fil-A Reinvented Drive-Throughs 

Chick-fil-A’s Lesson: 

Chick-fil-A realized that their traditional drive-through model was too slow—so they rebuilt them from the ground up. Instead of just accepting long lines, they stationed employees outside to take orders, added multiple lanes, and even built drive-through-only locations to improve speed and efficiency. 

They even redesigned their kitchens to serve drive-through customers without affecting the quality of the food—because they knew if they didn’t adapt, they’d lose customers. 

And of course, they infused it all with exceptional service. No matter which location you visit, when you say “Thank you,” the response is always:  “My pleasure.” 

 

What Christian Radio Can Learn: 

Now think about your station’s drive-time programming. 

Are you giving listeners a reason to stay engaged, or are you just going through the motions? 

Listeners have more choices than ever. If they get bored, they’ll switch to a podcast, YouTube, or Spotify in a heartbeat. 

Christian radio needs its own “My pleasure” mindset—where every listener interaction feels intentional, meaningful, and worth coming back for. 

 

What Drive-Time Needs: 

• Interactive Content – Real-time engagement through texts, calls, or social media. 
• Short, Impactful Segments – Quick bursts of content that meet listeners where they are, whether it’s a personal testimony, a short devotional, or life advice. 
• A Reason to Stay – What can you offer that no other platform can provide? 

 

How to Apply This: 

• Engage Listeners Directly – Build segments that rely on live listener interaction, such as prayer requests, Q&A sessions, or short “wins” from their day. 
• Deliver Bite-Sized Impact – Use 60 to 90-second stories and features that leave listeners with something powerful to take with them. 
• Leverage HDL: HyperDrive Local™ – Christian radio has something that streaming services don’t: real people, real stories, and boots-on-the-ground engagement. 

 

3. The Power of HDL: HyperDrive Local™ & Hope, Direction, Life 

In Christian radio, I look at HDL has having two powerful meanings: 

• HyperDrive Local™ – There’s nothing more important than a good story. Over the past decade, we’ve produced and archived some 50,000 stories and pieces of premium content for our affiliates. They’ve been meta-tagged, indexed and archived in our proprietary Producer In The Sky™ digital library system. The ongoing use of this material elevates listener engagement and is customized with your station talent voicing the wrap-arounds. So, they get the best of both worlds: Highly produced, five-star stories combined with that trusted voice your listeners have come to love—and trust. 
• Hope, Direction, and Life – The three core needs every listener has—and what Christian radio is uniquely positioned to deliver. 

 

Chick-fil-A’s Lesson: 

Chick-fil-A knows that success isn’t just about selling chicken—it’s about creating a brand experience that feels personal, local, and deeply connected to the customer. 

They tailor their service to each market, adjusting store designs and certain menu ingredients to fit regional differences. 

They empower local operators to run their restaurants as if they were their own, ensuring a hometown feel at every location. 

They don’t just serve food—they serve people by creating moments of hospitality, kindness, and consistency. 

 

What Christian Radio Can Learn: 

Christian radio, like Chick-fil-A, thrives when it builds trusted, personal connections with its audience. Chick-fil-A’s ability to make every customer feel at home is exactly what Christian radio needs to do with listeners. 

• Familiarity Matters – Chick-fil-A adapts to local communities, and Christian radio should do the same by integrating content that speaks directly to its audience’s needs, culture, and faith journey. 
• Stories Build Connection – People don’t just return to Chick-fil-A for the food; they return for the experience. Christian radio should leverage and invest in the production of real-life listener stories to create an emotional bond that keeps people engaged. 
• Authenticity Wins – Chick-fil-A’s consistency in service makes it stand out. Christian radio needs to ensure consistent messaging and meaningful content that reflects faith, encouragement, and real-life struggles. 

 

How to Apply This: 

1. Leverage HyperDrive Local™ – Over the past decade, we’ve produced and archived nearly 50,000 stories and pieces of content for our affiliates. This vast database is available to you to create relevant, localized content with high production values and well-crafted storytelling. 
2. Use Familiar Talent for Connection – Just as Chick-fil-A locations feel like part of the neighborhood, stations should highlight trusted voices who resonate with the community. 
3. Offer Hope, Direction, and Life – These are the three core needs of listeners: ○ Hope – Uplifting content that fuels faith and optimism. 

○ Direction – Practical wisdom that helps people navigate life’s challenges. 

○ Life – Content that speaks to their hearts, relationships, and real struggles. 

 

By focusing on HDL: HyperDrive Local™ and providing Hope, Direction, and Life, Christian radio can become an indispensable part of listeners’ daily lives—just like Chick-fil-A has done with its customers. 

When you combine these two meanings, you create an unstoppable listener experience. Yes, Chick-fil-A has its secret sauce, and so do we. 

 

4. A Step Beyond Hope and Encouragement 

Have you ever walked into a Chick-fil-A and not felt welcomed? Probably not. That’s because every team member makes it their mission to treat you like family, ensuring every visit feels like home. They go above and beyond the norm. 

 

Chick-fil-A’s Lesson: 

Chick-fil-A isn’t just about serving food—they’re about serving people. 

They train their employees to personally engage with customers and even offer table service in the dining room to make guests feel valued. 

 

What Christian Radio Can Learn: 

We realized that simply providing uplifting music and encouraging stories wasn’t enough—we needed to give listeners practical tools to improve their lives. 

That’s why KeepTheFaith teamed with leading professionals to launch an online therapy platform featuring some 30,000 licensed therapists across the nation. It’s called the KeepTheFaith VIPTherapy+ Membership Suite, and it’s available at KeepTheFaith.com. 

Listeners don’t just need hope and inspiration—they need: 

• Mental health support. 
• Personalized coaching. 
• Practical strategies to navigate life’s toughest challenges. 

At KeepTheFaith, we realized that encouragement alone isn’t always enough—people need real tools to navigate life’s challenges. That’s why we extended our mission beyond the airwaves, providing access to professional therapy and practical support. The impact has been life-changing. 

Now, imagine if every Christian radio station took this step—offering not just uplifting words, but tangible resources to help listeners heal, grow, and thrive. If this resonates with you, I would love to help. Reach out, and I’ll personally guide you through the process. Together, we can make a lasting difference. 

 

Where Do We Go from Here? 

• Deepen Your Connection – Consider how HyperDrive Local™ storytelling can strengthen engagement and bring your audience closer to the heart of your mission. If you’d like to explore it, I’d be happy to walk you through it. 
• Commit to Growth – Whether personally or professionally, we all need to evolve. Surround yourself with people who challenge and encourage you. 
• Offer More Than Encouragement – People need practical tools, not just uplifting words. If integrating professional support, like KeepTheFaith’s therapy initiative, could serve your audience, I’d love to help you explore it. 

 

Oh, And One More Thing—Chick-fil-A’s Crushed Ice Is the Best (And I’ve Tried Them All!) 

If you know, you know. Chick-fil-A’s crushed ice isn’t just good—it’s the best. I’ve tried them all, from Sonic to Zaxby’s to your local gas station, and nothing comes close. It’s the perfect texture, the ideal crunch, the kind of ice that somehow makes every sip taste better. 

What does this have to do with Christian radio? Everything. 

Chick-fil-A doesn’t just settle for good—they go for great in every detail, even down to the ice in their drinks. And that’s exactly how Christian radio needs to approach the competition for ear space. 

In a world where listeners can get content anywhere, anytime, we can’t afford to just be another option on the dial. We have to be the go-to choice, the Chick-fil-A crushed ice of audio content—the one thing people crave because it stands out, feels different, and delivers something no one else can. 

So, let’s not just play the same old playlist. Let’s not just assume people will stick around because we’ve been here for years. Let’s innovate, engage, and create an experience so good, so refreshing, and so irresistible that listeners come back again and again. 

Because when done right, Christian radio can be more than just background noise—it can be the best part of someone’s day. Just like that perfect cup of Chick-fil-A ice.

Again: The world is changing faster than the speed of light. Are you going to be a chameleon—or a dinosaur? The choice is yours. 

 

David Sams is a 9-time Emmy-winning producer, media strategist, and entrepreneur known for transforming how audiences engage with faith, storytelling, and entertainment. As the co-founder and CEO of KeepTheFaith Media Networks, he has helped shape the #1 syndicated Christian radio programming in America and developed HDL (HyperDrive Local™), a digital archive system containing thousands of pieces of content designed to deepen listener engagement. 

Chick-fil-A® is a registered trademark of Chick-fil-A, Inc. This article is not affiliated with or endorsed by Chick-fil-A, Inc.