Best Orangetheory Co Podcasts (2024)

1
Tips from the Top: Expert Franchise Insights 10:42

7h ago10:42

10:42

Why take advice from just anyone when you can hear it from the best in the biz? From the master of locations, Dinesh Goswami, to the mad genius behind the cult sensation, Dave’s Hot Chicken, we’ve had so many master-level franchisors on the podcast this year, that I just had to share some of their hottest insights. So, I compiled the best advice an…

1
Tips from the Top: Franchising’s Best Advice 10:39

4d ago10:39

10:39

It seems like anyone and their mom is ready to give you advice about franchising. But why not take advice from franchising’s greatest who successfully scaled from the bottom to the top of the industry? This week, we’re mixing it up and compiling some of the best bits of advice and wisdom from franchising’s finest minds. I’ve hand-picked some of my …

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

18d 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

25d 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

1M 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
#155 True Ventures' Partner Puneet Agarwal 1:02:51

1M ago1:02:51

1:02:51

Puneet Agarwal brings a strong mix of operational and investment experience to his partner role at True. He began his career as a product manager at CrossWorlds Software, an early startup focused on software integration, which was sold to IBM. He then spent time in technology investment banking at J.P. Morgan and later in venture capital at the May…

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

1M 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

2M 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 31:42

2M ago31:42

31:42

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
#154 Greycroft's Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Ian Sigalow 51:30

2M ago51:30

51:30

Ian Sigalow is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Greycroft. He has over 20 years of experience in seed-to-growth venture capital, investing in and supporting innovative companies across multiple sectors, including fintech, consumer marketplaces, enterprise software, healthcare, insurance, and media. You can learn more about: How to build an ic…

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

2M 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
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
S9 E1: How Adam Saxton Turned McAlister’s Deli Into an Unstoppable Franchise Beast 38:18

3M 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
#153 Slipstream Investors' Founder and GP, QED Investors' former COO & General Counsel Alex Edelson 53:07

3M ago53:07

53:07

Alex Edelson is the Founder and General Partner of Slipstream Investors. Before starting Slipstream, he worked at QED Investors, a top fintech-focused venture capital firm with $4.3 billion in assets under management. Alex joined as Nigel Morris's Chief of Staff and became the Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel. He previously worked at a f…

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

4M 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
S8 E9: How Lucas Mitchell Bought 20 Five Guy’s With Just $700k 47:45

4M 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
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
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
#152 Trust Fund's Managing Partner, Nasty Gal's founder, Sophia Amoruso 45:25

5M ago45:25

45:25

Sophia Amoruso is the founder and managing partner of Trust Fund, an early-stage venture fund focused exclusively (yet broadly) on investing in tech-enabled products that help people start and build businesses. Trust fund’s investors include Marc Andreessen, Chris Dixon, David Sacks, Jason Calacanis, Ev Williams, Naomi Gleit, Andrew Chen, Jeff Jord…

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

5M 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
S8 E4: The Hand and Stone Massage Franchise Who Has Built a $80m/year Empire 47:38

5M 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
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
S8 E2: AMA with The Wolf of Franchises 21:38

6M 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

6M 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
#151 Orangetheory Fitness CEO and Co-Founder Dave Long 57:58

6M ago57:58

57:58

Dave Long is the CEO of Orangetheory Fitness. He leads the company's franchise model, regional development, and product development strategy. After founding the company in 2010 with two partners, Dave has led the brand through countless pivotal achievements, including launching two apps, creating a proprietary heart rate monitor with strategically …

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

7M 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
#150 Ballistic Ventures’ General Partner, former Managing Director at Lightspeed, Jake Seid 1:04:15

7M ago1:04:15

1:04:15

Jake Seid is the Co-Founder and General Partner at Ballistic Ventures, a VC firm focused on early-stage cybersecurity and security-related venture investments, with a debut fund of $300M. Before working at Ballistic, Jake was a Managing Director at Lightspeed Venture Partners and founder and Managing Director at Stone Bridge Ventures—his portfolio …

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
#149 Roble Ventures’ Founding Partner, Sergio Monsalve 53:39

7M ago53:39

53:39

Sergio Monsalve is the Founding Partner of Roble Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm investing in entrepreneurs building human enablement technologies. Before founding Roble Ventures, Sergio was a Partner at Norwest Venture Partners and the Board Member and Investor of Udemy. He also invested in other billion-dollar companies such as Kaho…

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

8M 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
#148 Maverick Ventures’ Managing Director, Ambar Bhattacharyya 53:14

8M ago53:14

53:14

Ambar Bhattacharyya is the Managing Director at Maverick Ventures. During his venture capital career at Maverick Ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, and Bain Capital Ventures, Ambar has led or been actively involved in investments resulting in 16 IPOs & acquisitions, with six companies achieving valuations of over $1B in the public markets. Ambar …

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

8M 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
S7 E8: Rolling Suds’ Squeaky-Clean Saga Towards Franchise Success, with Aaron Harper 1:00:43

8M 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
#147 Afore Capital's Managing Partner Gaurav Jain 50:08

8M ago50:08

50:08

Gaurav Jain is the Co-founder of Afore Capital, one of the top venture funds ($300M AUM) dedicated to pre-seed investments. Some of the investments Gaurav and/or Afore have been involved in include Modern Health (leading mental health platform), Hightouch (leader in data infra), Cruise Automation (acq by GM for $1B+) and Firebase (acq by Google). Y…

1
#146 Canvas Ventures’s Co-Founder and General Partner, Rebecca Lynn 54:33

8M ago54:33

54:33

Rebecca is a Co-Founder and General Partner at Canvas Ventures where she leads early-stage investments in Fintech, Healthtech, and AI. Rebecca has been named to the Forbes Midas List five years running, a Woman to Watch: Senior Deal Maker by the Wall Street Journal, and a Top Woman VC by the New York Times. Some of her notable investments include L…

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
#145 OkCupid's Co-Founder, ex-The Match Group's CEO, Corazon Capital's Managing Director, Sam Yagan 44:19

8M ago44:19

44:19

Sam Yagan is the co-founder and Managing Director of Corazon Capital, a leading Chicago-based Seed and Series A venture fund. Their portfolio includes companies like SpotHero, Songfinch and Stellar, among others. Prior to Corazon, he served as CEO of ShopRunner and led its 2020 acquisition by FedEx Corp. Previously, as CEO of Match Group, he spearh…

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
#144 MasterClass' CEO David Rogier 44:46

9M ago44:46

44:46

David Rogier is the founder and CEO of MasterClass, the streaming platform where anyone can learn from the world’s best across a wide range of subjects. Instructors include Anna Wintour, Serena Williams, Gordon Ramsay, Chris Voss (our former guest), and more. With MasterClass at Work, companies can develop durable skills that transform employees in…

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

9M 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
#143 Norwest Venture Partners’ General Partner, Dave Zilberman (Portfolio: Slack, DocuSign) 59:35

9M ago59:35

59:35

Dave Zilberman is a General Partner at Norwest Venture Partners. Norwest Venture Partners manages more than $12.5 billion in capital. They have invested in over 600 early-to-late-stage companies, with more than 200 currently active. Dave primarily focuses on early to late-stage investments in enterprise and infrastructure—some of his portfolios inc…

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

9M 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
#142 M13's Managing Partner, Karl Alomar, ex-COO of DigitalOcean (NYSE: DOCN) 57:19

9M ago57:19

57:19

Karl Alomar is the Managing Partner at M13, a consumer technology venture capital firm with a $400 million fund to invest Seed and Series A startups offering Software and Services into the future of work, commerce, health, and money. M13's portfolios include Daily Harvest, Matterport, Ring, Rothy’s, and more. Before joining M13, Karl was the COO of…

1
S7 E3: The Only Pharmaceutical Franchise— With Multi-Unit Owner, Jim Kodman 31:02

9M ago31:02

31:02

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Jim Kodman, a pharmacist and franchise owner of Vital Care, an acute and chronic infusion service franchise, as he reveals how Vital Care became the fastest-growing infusion franchise company in the nation, with over 60+ locations. Jim shares his journey of becoming a franchise owner and unpacks exactly how Vital …

1
#141 Lead Edge Capital's Founder & Managing Partner, Mitchell Green (Portfolio: Alibaba, Spotify) 39:03

9M ago39:03

39:03

Mitchell Green is the founder and Managing Partner of Lead Edge Capital, a growth-stage investment fund with over $5B AUM investing $25 million to $300 million across public and private tech companies globally. Their portfolio companies are across the internet, software, consumer, and tech-enabled services sectors - including Alibaba, Asana, Benchl…

1
10 of the Most Fascinating Franchise Facts 21:58

9M ago21:58

21:58

Join The Wolf as he dives into the fascinating world of franchising with a data-driven episode. In this episode, The Wolf shares ten intriguing statistics about the franchise industry, providing valuable insights for both aspiring entrepreneurs and established franchise owners alike. He’s breaking down the vital stats any aspiring or current franch…

1
#140 Kindred Ventures’ Founder & Managing Partner, Investor of Uber, Coinbase, Postmates, Steve Jang 1:09:22

10M ago1:09:22

1:09:22

Steve Jang is the Founder and Managing Partner at Kindred Ventures. An early-stage VC firm raised $312 million across two new funds in 2022. Over the past 14 years, Steve has backed over 100 companies across different theme areas, including Uber, Coinbase, Postmates, Tonal, Color Health, Humane, DYDX, Zora, and Blue Bottle Coffee. Since 2009 and up…

1
S7 E1: How Pickleball Became America’s Hottest New Franchise Opportunity, with Joe Sexton 54:51

10M ago54:51

54:51

Join The Wolf as he sits down with Joe Sexton, President of Ace Pickleball Club, to discuss the booming popularity of pickleball and the exciting opportunities it presents for franchise owners. Discover why pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America and how it brings people of all ages together. Joe shares insights into the real estate aspe…

1
S6 E14: From 12 to 140+ Locations: The Franchisee Who Skyrocketed Orangetheory to Fame 51:31

10M ago51:31

51:31

Meet Jamie Weeks, a dynamic entrepreneur who's not afraid to make waves in the franchising industry. With a remarkable portfolio of 140 Orangetheory fitness studios and plans to launch 60 Dogtopia franchises, Jamie recently stepped into the entrepreneurial arena with his own brand, Sweathouz. In this deep dive into the archives, the Wolf revisits h…

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