Best A Workweek Friend Podcasts (2024)

1
S9 E10: How Slick City Became an Adventure Park on Steroids 36:05

1d ago36:05

36:05

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Bron Launsby, the mastermind behind Slick City, a thriving franchise in the recreation center space. Learn the secrets behind their success, from innovative performance slides to exceptional customer experiences. Bron shares ambitious expansion plans, aiming to open up to 40 new locations by 2025, with a vision of…

1
S9 E9: 130 Units in 60 Months: Inside Soccer Stars’ Booming Franchise Model 44:02

9d ago44:02

44:02

Who can forget being shuffled around to soccer games in the back seat of mom’s minivan, eagerly waiting to find out what post-game snacks awaited you at the end of your little league matchup? What if there was a franchise that could capture that same magic? The Wolf talks to Adam Geisler and John Erlandson, the co-founders of Youth Athletes United,…

1
S9 E8: Unpacking beem Light Sauna’s Formula to Success 43:19

16d ago43:19

43:19

How does the co-founder of beem Light Sauna think about scaling a thriving health and wellness franchise? The Wolf talks with Cynthia May, CEO and Co-Founder of beem Light Sauna, to discover her secret to scaling from 0 to 65 locations in a little over four years. Cynthia reveals her biggest challenges and successes in scaling a franchise brand, un…

1
S9 E7: How Checkers & Dave’s Hot Chicken Became a National Cult Obsession 32:21

23d ago32:21

32:21

Before it became a media franchise sensation, Dave’s Hot Chicken was a pop-up shop in East Los Angeles creating a line as long as the eye could see. Now it has a national cult following with investors like Drake and Usher invested in the Nashville-style chicken chain. The Wolf sits down to chat with founding franchisees, Andrew Feghali and Lawrence…

1
S9 E6: How Dinesh Goswami Acquired 125+ Pizza Huts, Popeye’s, and Taco Bells 42:39

30d ago42:39

42:39

Did you know when it comes to where your franchise is situated, there’s a breakfast side and a dinner side of the street? Dinesh Goswami certainly does, and with 125+ franchise locations open, including Pizza Hut, Popeye’s, , Taco Bell, and Checker’s, he knows why understanding your location is the #1 thing you can do to ensure the longevity of you…

1
S9 E5: Mobile Station Mogul: Gas Biz Guy on the Future of the Gas Industry 36:33

1M ago36:33

36:33

What’s the latest Twitter beef with an army of minions going to war for Gas Biz Guy? Is it a joke or is there legitimate beef behind the brawl? Join The Wolf as he sits down with viral Twitter personality Gas Biz Guy (aka Chris Hellgeth), a self-made entrepreneur who turned a ten-cent cigarette sale into a $100 million-a-year gas distribution busin…

1
S9 E4: The Visionary Leader Behind Pearle Vision's Eyewear Empire, with Bill Noble 43:50

1M ago43:50

43:50

How did a West Point flight school graduate become the founder of 79 optical stores across the US? Bill Noble, Pearle Vision’s largest multi-unit franchise owner, joins the pod to chat with the Wolf about his fascinating journey from sitting in the cockpit to building a nationwide franchise empire. From his early days at Harrah's Entertainment to h…

1
S9 E3: Deb Merrill’s Jimmy Johns Journey 34:52

2M ago34:52

34:52

Deb Merrill had no idea she was destined for franchise management until her brother-in-law asked if she’d be interested in running a Jimmy John’s. Realizing that stage management wasn’t the dream job she had hoped it would be, Deb left her theater career behind for the food service industry. In this candid conversation with the Wolf, Deb opens up a…

1
Crypto Expert Jarrod Dicker on the Future of Subscription-Based Media 35:29

2M ago35:29

35:29

NFTs, blockchain, and web3, oh my! If money never sleeps—then crypto has so much caffeine coursing through its veins, that it literally couldn't sleep even if it tried. But you still have to. So as a media company, how can you keep up with the rollercoaster ride that is crypto? Meet crypto expert Jarrod Dicker, lead partner and creator of TCG Crypt…

1
S9 E2: The King of Chicken and Beef: How Drew Gressett Opened 80+ Zaxby’s and Hat Creek Locations 36:56

2M ago36:56

36:56

Drew Gressett’s sitting down with the Wolf to discuss his personal journey in the restaurant industry—from his journey founding Hat Creek Burger Company to owning 60+ Zaxby’s. Hear Hat Creek Burger Company’s humble origin story—from starting as a food truck in 2008 to now having 26 brick-and-mortar locations, Drew shares the challenges and triumphs…

1
Car Dealership Guy Steps Out of Anonymity and Into a New Era 43:42

2M ago43:42

43:42

Meet the anonymous man behind the revolutionary Twitter account that’s making the automotive industry more transparent than ever before. That's right—Yossi Levi’s finally stepping out of the shadows of anonymity and sitting down with Adam to share his personal experience and insights into the automotive industry. From starting an anonymous account …

1
S9 E1: How Adam Saxton Turned McAlister’s Deli Into an Unstoppable Franchise Beast 38:18

2M ago38:18

38:18

You’ll never be able to operate 90+ franchises if your first franchise isn’t golden to begin with. Take it from Adam Saxton, operator of over 90+ McAlister’s Delis and co-CEO/Owner of the Saxton Group. With territories in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, Adam chats with the Wolf about his unusual philosophy for franchise expansion, including a unique o…

1
How 6AM City Became the Nation’s Fastest-Growing Newsletter-First Local Media Company 27:47

3M ago27:47

27:47

How does the co-founder of the nation’s fastest-growing newsletter-first media company think about scaling, investing, and running a local media company? Adam sits down with Ryan Heafy, the CEO of 6AM City, to discuss the ins and outs of local media and the challenges and opportunities it presents. Ryan shares how his passion for the local economic…

1
S8 E10: Listener Mailbag: Negotiating Franchise Agreements, Back Office Solutions, & the Nashville Chicken Wars 17:13

3M ago17:13

17:13

Buckle up because the Wolf is taking another stab at your best Twitter questions in this solo question-and-answer pod. Should you be able to negotiate a franchise agreement? If so, how much of an agreement is negotiable, or are most franchise agreements a take-it-or-leave-it proposition? Then the Wolf uncovers his #1 recommendation for back-office …

1
Pandemic Is Over, but South Korea's Medical Crisis Has Just Begun 11:53

3M ago11:53

11:53

In this episode, I talk about why South Korea is having a medical crisis that we didn't have even during the pandemic. Also, you'll learn Korean vocabulary about counting days. If you liked my podcast, ⁠⁠⁠buy me a coffee⁠⁠⁠ to support my work! It'll help me keep talking and be very much appreciated :D This podcast is an audio version of my weekly n…

1
How to Build a $300 Million SaaS Company, with Craig Fuller, CEO of FreightWaves 41:20

3M ago41:20

41:20

Discover the fascinating story behind FreightWaves and its founder, Craig Fuller, who scaled the niche media company into one of the most authoritative voices in the supply chain industry. Craig shares insights into the challenges of running a founder-driven business and the importance of building relationships with direct revenue. What was the pro…

1
S8 E9: How Lucas Mitchell Bought 20 Five Guy’s With Just $700k 47:45

3M ago47:45

47:45

The Wolf chats with french fry master, Lucas Mitchell, a successful entrepreneur and franchisee of Five Guys, to discuss the ins and outs of scaling a franchise business. From building strong relationships with franchisees to managing shiny object syndrome, Lucas shares valuable insights and lessons learned along his journey. How did Lucas go from …

1
How to Make Korean Friends Easily 12:34

3M ago12:34

12:34

In this episode, I talk about the most important Korean table manner and how to make friends easily. Also, you'll learn how to curse idiots in Korean. If you liked my podcast, ⁠⁠buy me a coffee⁠⁠ to support my work! It'll help me keep talking and be very much appreciated :D This podcast is an audio version of my weekly newsletter. ⁠⁠Subscribe⁠⁠ to …

1
A Candid Conversation with One of Sports’ Fastest-Growing Media Companies, with Adam White of Front Office Sports 20:57

4M ago20:57

20:57

Think sports media is mainstream? Meet the company that believes sports media isn’t nearly mainstream enough. It’s Adam v. Adam as Adam White, CEO and founder of Front Office Sports drops by the pod to discuss the future of sports media and reveal how FSO is creating a unique and engaging media experience by merging the brand with the power of its …

1
S8 E8: Stretching the Limits: The Rise of StretchLab, with Steve Hitzemann 46:27

4M ago46:27

46:27

Loosen up. Literally. StretchLab is the Austin-based company helping others to increase performance and decrease joint pain. The Wolf chats with owner Steve Hitzemann about the fast-growing franchise’s rapid ascent to success. How did Steve dare to dream of a business model based on nothing more than stretching? Hear how Steve made the impossible p…

1
Can Exorcism Be a Party? (Yes, It Can in Korea) 17:24

4M ago17:24

17:24

Annyeong, my dear listeners! I finally came back after a long break. I didn't know it took a whole year. Time really flies. I hope you missed me :D In this episode, I talk about the difference between Korean exorcism and Western exorcism and a mystery thriller movie that is outperforming Dune: Part 2. Also, you'll learn some grave-related vocabular…

1
The YouTuber Who Scaled Epic Gardening into a $27 Million Empire 38:00

4M ago38:00

38:00

How did the internet’s most successful gardening content creator go from homesteading in his backyard to garnering a multi-million dollar investment deal? Kevin Espiritu, founder of Epic Gardening, chats with Adam about building an ecosystem of content and finding ways to focus on the core pillars of your business that matter most. Learn how Kevin’…

1
S8 E7: A Bundt Cake Franchise With ~$300k In Profits?! 15:31

4M ago15:31

15:31

The Wolf’s taking a break from his normal podcasting format to break down the latest in franchising news this week. Is Orange Theory’s acquisition by Self Esteem Brands a good thing or a sign of impending doom? With Orange Theory’s numbers diminishing since the initial insanity of their boom, could this spell disaster or is it a shrewd business mov…

1
The Secret Formula to Building an Authentic, Niche Media Empire, with Michael Bosstick 48:29

4M ago48:29

48:29

Discover the secrets to building a successful media network and one of the largest female marketplaces in audio with Michael Bosstick, CEO of Dear Media. In this episode, Michael shares his insights on managing hybrid environments, the importance of authenticity in media, and the value of niche content. Learn how Dear Media has navigated the changi…

1
Print Media Isn’t Dead, with Community Impact CEO John Garrett 34:15

4M ago34:15

34:15

Discover the story behind Community Impact, a hyperlocal news source distributing information by print and email to millions of local residents in the Austin area. John Garrett, the founder of Community Impact, chats with Adam about his entrepreneurial journey and the critical moments that shaped the business. John shares why risk-taking is essenti…

1
S8 E5: Listener Mailbag: Your Hottest Franchising Questions Answered 32:41

4M ago32:41

32:41

The Wolf is breaking it down solo for this special Q&A session, where he’s answering your most burning questions about the world of franchising. What are the different strategies and considerations involved in owning one to two locations versus four to five locations? Are home services and non-brick-and-mortar franchises the place to hedge your fra…

1
The Power of Podcasting: How Wildcatters is Building the Next Generation of Energy Professionals, with Collin Mclelland 39:37

4M ago39:37

39:37

Meet the man responsible for giving the oil and gas industry a much-needed reboot. Collin Mclellan drops by the pod to chat with Adam about how he’s changing the way the world thinks about energy, starting with his company, Digital Wildcatters, a community-based organization dedicated to connecting energy workers to other professionals. Collin shar…

1
S8 E4: The Hand and Stone Massage Franchise Who Has Built a $80m/year Empire 47:38

4M ago47:38

47:38

Eric Danver is the man who’s owned 100+ franchise locations over the course of his impressive career, including 58 Hand and Stone locations and 53 Philadelphia-based Papa John’s. He chats with the Wolf about his storied franchise career and the new challenges and opportunities the business presents in an ever-changing landscape. From his humble beg…

1
Building a Newsletter Business for the Godfather of Fantasy Sports, with Eliot Crist 29:40

5M ago29:40

29:40

How do you build one of the most successful fantasy football newsletters around? According to Eliot Crist, CEO of Matthew Berry’s Fantasy Life Newsletter, it’s all about recognizing strengths within each individual and understanding your growth goals. Eliot sits down with Adam to share his insights on maintaining engagement with your audience, leve…

1
S8 E3: When a Fad Turns into Failure: How to Defeat the Franchise Hype Cycle, with Dru Capenito 47:39

5M ago47:39

47:39

Everyone wants to be the next Crumbl. But let’s face it—not every new and hot franchise can be the next Crumbl. Fads aren't always bad. But sometimes they can spell failure. So how can you protect yourself against becoming the next franchise fad failure? The Wolf chats with friend of the podcast and franchise consultant, Dru Carpenito about the fra…

1
Keeping It Weird with SXSW Co-President & CPO Hugh Forrest 30:18

5M ago30:18

30:18

SXSW is quintessential Austin. So how did this main staple of Austin culture grow to its astounding 36 years of festival success since its initial conception in 1987? Join Adam Ryan as he interviews Hugh Forrest, Co-President & Chief Programming Officer at SXSW, to learn how the organization thinks about creating lasting, impactful cultural moments…

1
S8 E2: AMA with The Wolf of Franchises 21:38

5M ago21:38

21:38

It’s time for the listeners to “Ask Me Anything”! When does a franchise restaurant become a viable investment? The answer may vary depending on factors such as the number of units and states involved, as well as an individual's risk appetite. Discover the key considerations that can help determine the right time to invest in a franchise. In this ep…

1
S8 E1: The Family Who Owns 78+ McDonald’s 1:04:38

5M ago1:04:38

1:04:38

Join The Wolf as he sits down with John Valluzzo and his sons, Michael and Nick, to explore their reign of owning over 80+ McDonald's locations as they dive deep into the fascinating world of the iconic fast-food franchise. The Valluzzos share their family's deep-rooted connection to McDonald's and explain their incredible journey to owning such a …

1
SparkLoop and beehiiv Go To War on Twitter 11:58

5M ago11:58

11:58

The newsletter world stopped being polite and started getting real this week, and TBH this is the moment Adam’s been waiting for his whole life. He breaks down the Twitter feud between SparkLoop’s Lewis Nicholls and beehiiv’s Tyler Denk, which ended with Tyler responding, “Didn’t you sell your failed company in a fire sale?” to the SparkLoop Co-Fou…

1
Is the New York Times Lawsuit the Beginning of the End for ChatGPT? 5:12

6M ago5:12

5:12

The New York Times is suing OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, claiming the language learning model stole thousands of its articles to train its machines, and allowing millions of other sites to profit off of the backs of its employees’ hard-earned labor. So what happens next if the New York Times wins their suit? Adam’s back, and he’…

1
S7 Ep6: How Candidly Delivered Nearly $1 Billion in Student Loan Savings, with Laurel Taylor 41:05

6M ago41:05

41:05

Student loan debt is a major issue in the United States, affecting millions of Americans. Nicole sits down with Laurel Taylor, CEO and Founder of Candidly, to discuss how her company is using technology to empower individuals and help them navigate the complexities of student loan repayment. Laurel shares her personal journey and the challenges she…

1
S7 E12: A Look Back at 2023's Greatest Moments 29:06

6M ago29:06

29:06

As 2023 draws to a close, we’re taking a step back to take a look at some of the best moments we’ve had here on Franchise Empires. Over the last two years, the Wolf has had the chance to interview some incredible franchise players, and we’ve compiled some of the best, most impactful moments over the course of his entire run for this year-end retros…

1
S7 E11: The Portfolio Franchise Company Dominating the Home Services Industry & Building a Home Services Empire 39:26

7M ago39:26

39:26

Meet Zach Beutler, the mastermind behind Horsepower Brands, a dynamo company dominating the home services franchise industry. With a portfolio of eight successful franchises, Zach shares his personal journey as a third-generation entrepreneur and the many valuable lessons he's learned along the way. How does Horsepower Brands combine incubation and…

1
S7 E10: From College to Business Partners - Lessons from 5 Territory Owner Group of Ace Handyman Service 45:50

7M ago45:50

45:50

In this week’s ep, the Wolf’s chatting with Dan Giacomazzi and Artem Lopatchenko, two business partners in one of America’s fastest-growing home services franchises, Ace Handyman Services, about the benefits of having a franchising partner. Discover Dan and Artem’s journey in expanding their franchise territory and learn about their favorite strate…

1
S7 E9: From Motherhood to Magnolia: The Inspiring Journey of Magen Bynum, Founder of Magnolia Soap 35:52

7M ago35:52

35:52

Magen Bynum, the founder of Magnolia Soap and Bath, drops by to chat with the Wolf about how she turned a plant-based alternative for sensitive skin into a franchise empire. Discover the inspiring story behind Magen’s creation of Magnolia Soap and how her daughter’s desire for a chemical-free solution led to her franchising journey. With plans to o…

1
S4 BONUS EPISODE: The Secret B2B Formula for Conquering Multiple Verticals, with Endeavor Media GroupCEO Chris Ferrell 33:46

7M ago33:46

33:46

Figuring the right marketing fit as a B2B can feel like throwing spaghetti at a wall—sooner or later at least one strategy has to stick… right? But how can you optimize the path to finding the right verticals in the meantime? Join Adam Ryan as he sits down with Chris Ferrell, CEO of Endeavor Business Media, to discuss the ins and outs of the media …

1
S7 E8: Rolling Suds’ Squeaky-Clean Saga Towards Franchise Success, with Aaron Harper 1:00:43

7M ago1:00:43

1:00:43

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Aaron Harper, the CEO of Rolling Suds, one of the fastest-growing power-washing franchises in the country. Aaron reveals how Rolling Suds scaled to 59 units in 16 states since February of this year, and explains the game-changing strategies and systems that contributed to Rolling Suds’ overwhelming success. From t…

1
S7 E7: Creating a Differentiated Franchise - Carmelo Marsala, Founder of Spray-Net 43:43

8M ago43:43

43:43

Meet the first person to mass-market a factory-finished painting solution at the convenience of your home. Join The Wolf as he sits down with Carmelo Marsala, Founder and CEO of Spray-Net, to discuss the ins and outs of franchising and scaling a business. Carmelo shares his experiences and insights on the challenges of scaling a territory model, on…

1
S7 Ep5: Nina Mohanty on the Immigrant Experience and Financial Inclusion 36:15

8M ago36:15

36:15

In this episode, Nicole sits down with Nina Mohanty, the founder of Bloom Money, a platform that provides financial options for immigrants. Nina shares her personal experience as a first-generation immigrant and discusses the importance of diversity in the fintech industry. She also chats with Nicole about the need for financial inclusion and expla…

1
S7 E6: From Delivery Boy To Domino’s Franchisee (And Mahana Fresh Founder) - Dave Wood’s Journey 45:19

8M ago45:19

45:19

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Dave Wood, the mastermind behind Mahana Fresh, a healthy bowl concept that’s taken the restaurant industry by storm. Discover the challenges and triumphs of opening three restaurants during the midst of a global pandemic, and how Mahana Fresh has adapted and thrived in the face of adversity. Dave discusses his jou…

1
S7 Ep4: Breaking Barriers with Fintech’s Most Powerful Women (Live from Money 20/20) 41:43

8M ago41:43

41:43

Meet fintech’s most influential women in the industry. Sasha Pilch, Principal at Fin Capital, Emma Zhang, Founder and CEO of Pactfi, and Kathryn Petralia, Co-Founder of Keep Financial, join Nicole live from Money 20/20 to discuss the importance of female representation and empowerment in fintech. With women making up less than 30% of the fintech wo…

1
S7 E5: Franchising’s Hottest Takes, with Erik van Horn of “The Franchise Secrets Podcast” 53:37

8M ago53:37

53:37

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Erik van Horn, host of "The Franchise Secrets Podcast," for a special crossover episode. In this lively conversation, they dish out some hot takes on the franchise industry and discuss the importance of transparency and financial literacy for franchisees. From the value of item 19s to the power of content marketin…

1
S7 Ep3: Breaking Fintech Barriers and Trusting the Journey, with Anaid Chacon 36:08

8M ago36:08

36:08

Trust is a crucial element in the fintech industry, and Anaid Chacon, SVP of Product Development at Argyle, knows just how important it is to establish trust with customers. In this episode, she and Nicole discuss the challenges of building trust in fintech and how incorporating behavioral finance elements into Argyle's product helps to create a mo…

1
S7 E4: How Hoppin’ Became America’s First Self-Serve Bar Franchise, with Rich Moyer 31:50

8M ago31:50

31:50

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Rich Moyer, the mastermind behind Hoppin’ Franchise Group, to discuss Hoppin’s unique self-serve taproom concept that aims to revolutionize the bar and restaurant industry. Discover how Hoppin’ eliminates the headaches typically associated with owning a bar to provide a seamless and enjoyable experience for custom…

1
S7 Ep2: Banks, Fintech, and the Latin American Landscape: A Candid Conversation with Cristina Ciaravalli 33:01

8M ago33:01

33:01

In this candid conversation, Nicole takes a beat to talk with Cristina Ciaravalli about her storied career in the fintech industry, from her early beginnings working for Goldman Sachs to meeting and falling in love with tech startup, Plaid. The two chat about the differences between working for an organization like Goldman versus working for fintec…

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