Best Turning Point Nashville Podcasts (2024)

1
S9 E4: The Visionary Leader Behind West Point Optical’s Eyewear Empire, with Bill Noble 43:50

2h ago43:50

43:50

How did a West Point flight school graduate become the founder of 79 optical stores across the US? Bill Noble, founder of West Point Optical 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 his transition into the…

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

2d 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

6d 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

13d 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…

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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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

2M 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
S8 E5: Listener Mailbag: Your Hottest Franchising Questions Answered 32:41

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

3M 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

4M 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
S7 E12: A Look Back at 2023's Greatest Moments 29:06

5M 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

5M 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

5M 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

6M 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

6M 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

6M 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 E6: From Delivery Boy To Domino’s Franchisee (And Mahana Fresh Founder) - Dave Wood’s Journey 45:19

6M 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 E5: Franchising’s Hottest Takes, with Erik van Horn of “The Franchise Secrets Podcast” 53:37

6M 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 E4: How Hoppin’ Became America’s First Self-Serve Bar Franchise, with Rich Moyer 31:50

7M 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 E3: The Only Pharmaceutical Franchise— With Multi-Unit Owner, Jim Kodman 31:02

7M 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
10 of the Most Fascinating Franchise Facts 21:58

7M 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
S7 E1: How Pickleball Became America’s Hottest New Franchise Opportunity, with Joe Sexton 54:51

7M 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

8M 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…

1
S6 E13: Transforming the Tanning Industry, with Lauren Rampello Becotte of Pure Glow 40:34

8M ago40:34

40:34

Have you been curious about what it takes to spin your side hustle into your own full-time business? If so, make sure to tune in for this episode! Join The Wolf this week as he sits down with Lauren Rampello Becotte, the founder of Pure Glow Tanning, to discuss her journey from side hustle to opening her first Pure Glow location. Discover the benef…

1
S6 E12: King of Franchises: The Man Who Owns 2400+ Fast Food Locations 38:16

8M ago38:16

38:16

He’s the unabashed king of franchises. Meet Greg Flynn, the visionary behind Flynn Restaurant Group and Flynn Properties, boasting over 2,400 franchises like Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Panera, and more. His $4 billion empire spans 44 states and employs 73,000 people. In this episode from the archives, Greg unveils the secrets of his success, like why h…

1
S6 E11: Ron Holt on Fun, Franchising, and Disrupting the Moving Industry 40:30

8M ago40:30

40:30

Can your movers put on a dance show? Didn’t think so Join The Wolf as he delves into the world of moving franchises with guest Ron Holt, owner of Pink Zebra Moving. Discover Ron's journey from humble beginnings to becoming a franchise guru. Starting with a strong marketing strategy, he built his empire, one unit at a time, with the intent to disrup…

1
S6 E10: How Top Rail Became the Fastest-Growing Fencing Franchise in the US 28:24

8M ago28:24

28:24

Tune in as The Wolf sits down with Todd Bingham, the visionary CEO of Homefront Brands, to take a deep dive into the intricacies of franchising America’s fastest-growing fence rail company. Todd explains how Homefront Brands has cracked the code in commercial fencing with a scalable model that's both ingenious and strategic as he reveals why foster…

1
S6 E9: Building a Dessert Empire - Meet Dan Reese of Milkshake Factory 55:20

9M ago55:20

55:20

Discover the sweet success story of the Milkshake Factory, a beloved Pittsburgh-based franchise that has captured the hearts (and taste buds) of locals and celebrities alike. Join The Wolf as he chats with Dan Reese, the business mastermind behind the franchise, as they discuss the key ingredients to their success, their unique partnership with Cos…

1
S6 Ep8: 6 Brands, 1 Vision: Inside Jeff Dudan's Home Front Revolution 48:54

9M ago48:54

48:54

The Wolf welcomes entrepreneurial dynamo Jeff Dudan, as they dive deep into the captivating story behind Advanta Clean, which rapidly scaled to 250 locations across 40 states. From being on the frontlines during Hurricane Katrina to gaining a holistic perspective on disaster scenes, Jeff's journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Listen in as Jef…

1
The #1 Software Platform for Building Your Future Franchise (Solo Edition) 12:27

9M ago12:27

12:27

This week, the Wolf’s flying solo, and he’s walking you through the best tool in the industry to use for developing your future franchise. Looking for a versatile tool with all of the dirty franchise details you need to know before investing? Wolf's divulging why Krokit is the perfect platform for any aspiring franchisee or owner looking to make th…

1
S6 Ep6: Helping People, Helping Pets— Scenthound’s Membership-Based Grooming Empire 43:34

9M ago43:34

43:34

Tim Vogel’s fascination with dogs began at a young age. Perplexed and compelled by his four-legged friend's behavior, Tim knew that the pet industry was the place where he could create a business that left the world a better place than how he found it. Enter Scenthound, the world’s first membership-based grooming business. On a mission to help peop…

1
S6 Ep5: Sweetgreen - From A College Project to Billion Dollar IPO 50:34

10M ago50:34

50:34

Salad shouldn’t scale. So how did Sweetgreen defy those odds, creating a health food franchise fixated on quality, sustainability, and healthy eating? Now, with nearly 1,000 locations across the US, Sweetgreen co-founder and CEO Jonathan Neman is finally divulging his franchise playbook to the Wolf. Tune in to hear why Sweetgreen grew to the succes…

1
S6 Ep4: How Peter Taunton Built a 9-Figure Franchise (And Why He’s Doing It Again) 37:22

10M ago37:22

37:22

Peter Taunton is proud of the work he’s done— and he’s here to boast about his accomplishments, including how he took Snap Fitness from less than 20 locations to 2400+ and how he’s revolutionizing the acai bowl industry with his latest venture, Nautical Bowls. Peter chats with Wolf about his plans for building the largest acai bowl franchise in the…

1
S6 Ep3: The Secret Reason Why College H.U.N.K.S. Became the Largest Moving Company in the US 38:07

10M ago38:07

38:07

It may have started as a joke, but after scaling to over 200+ locations with nearly 3000 employees nationwide, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving is no laughing matter now. From its early beginnings as a college startup to owner and co-founder Nick Friedman’s hard lessons in franchising, the Wolf’s gathering all the details on exactly how the…

1
S6 E2: The Founder That’s Disrupting McDonald’s, Burger King, and “Big Food” 1:34:50

10M ago1:34:50

1:34:50

Can you name the ingredients in a McDonalds French fry? We’ll give you a hint— there’s over 15 of them. And if that doesn’t give you pause for thought, we don’t know what will. Meet the franchise creator who doesn’t think fast food should be an excuse to skimp out on health or ethics— and he’s doing everything within his power to build a better fas…

1
S6 Ep1: How Buzz Franchise Brands is Building Companies that Get People Talking 44:02

11M ago44:02

44:02

With over 25 years of experience building brands, Kevin Wilson knows a thing or two about creating franchises that last. Kevin stops by the pod to discuss how his decades’ worth of entrepreneurial experience led him to create the multi-brand franchise empire known as Buzz Franchise Brands. From his early experience scaling his startup services comp…

1
S5 Ep13: The Fast Food Style Laundry Chain Disrupting the Way We Wash Clothes 45:23

11M ago45:23

45:23

Think about it— it’s the weekend, and as much as you want to sit down, relax, and pop open an ice-cold bevvie, you’ve got chores to do. And what’s the one thing you hate doing more than anything? Yep, you guessed it— laundry and the average American spends up to 36 hours a month doing it too. Dan D’Aquisto is the one man trying to change it all thr…

1
S5 Ep12: From Boston Consulting Group To Multi-Unit Pet Franchise Owner 33:31

11M ago33:31

33:31

What’s one of the few franchise markets that continues to grow year after year in customer spend? Hint: it’s furry, and it has four legs. Over 90% of people view their pets as family— meet the one franchise looking to make a splash in the pet health and wellness space. Jacob Lee, franchisee to Scenthound, chats with the Wolf about why he chose to p…

1
S5 Ep11: The Early Crumbl Franchisee Who’s Now Building Shaq’s Brand 39:33

11M ago39:33

39:33

Meet the man who knows a thing or two about franchising: Jace Mattinson. Having franchised various brands, including Ace Hardware, Crumbl Cookies, and Big Chicken, Jace’s previous career in private equity was a natural segue into the franchising world. The Wolf sits down to chat with Jace about his early experience franchising with Ace Hardware, as…

1
S5 Ep10: Building vs. Operating Franchise Stores, with Alex Yeater 27:57

11M ago27:57

27:57

How does being an area representative differ from being a franchise owner? Everbowl’s area rep, Alex Yeater, chats with the Wolf about the ins and out of working for a franchisor and the life cycle of opening stores as an area rep. He and Wolf also discuss the lessons he’s learned from opening multiple Everbowl locations and how investing in excell…

1
S5 Ep9: How Biscuit Belly Took the Boring Out of Breakfast 38:28

12M ago38:28

38:28

How do you elevate breakfast food in a novel way that no other franchise is doing? By taking biscuits to a whole ‘nother level. Biscuit Belly is a fast-casual franchise taking the boring out of breakfast and making Instagram-worthy foods all across the Southeast. Owners Chuck Schnatter and Chad Coulter sit down with the Wolf to discuss how they dis…

1
S5 Ep8: The Ben & Jerry's Franchisee Who Also Owns...A Starbucks? 28:32

12M ago28:32

28:32

How did former math teacher turned franchise developer Antonio McBroom open 14 Ben and Jerry’s locations across South Carolina by himself? The answer is equal parts hard work and ingenuity. On this week’s pod, the Wolf finds out how Antonio hustled his way into franchise success by purchasing his own ice cream trailer, opening his stores at 2 am to…

1
S5 Ep7: Building a Consumer-Facing Coffee Brand, with Jacob Jaber 53:07

1y ago53:07

53:07

How did Philz Coffee grow to become synonymous with fueling the likes of tech giants out of Silicon Valley? Co-founder, Jacob Jaber, explains how the vision of Philz Coffee came to fruition from his father, who simply wanted to create a place where people could hang out and share great drinks together. Now, with over 75+ locations, this growing fra…

1
S5 Ep6: How Shelly Sun Built a $639 Million Dollar Franchise 48:20

1y ago48:20

48:20

What’s the best way to drive franchise growth in the senior healthcare industry? According to Brightstar Care CEO Shelly Sun, it’s paying the best people the best salary possible, encouraging accreditation across all locations to ensure franchise consistency, and aggressive nationwide marketing tactics. Shelly talks with The Wolf about her top comp…

1
S5 Ep5: How Chris Kenny Raised $300M To Invest in The Biggest Franchises of Tomorrow 48:06

1y ago48:06

48:06

What do fitness, skincare and swim schools have in common? Get ready to make a splash with Chris Kenny as he dives into the success of consumer service brands, from Heyday to Orangetheory to Big Blue Swim School. Chris is the Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Level5 Capital Partners. With over a decade of experience investing and operating in the …

1
S5 Ep4: Turning Thrift Store Shopping into Franchise Gold with BaseCamp CEOs Zach and Tyler Gordon 56:16

1y ago56:16

56:16

How do resale employees determine how much that five-year-old Lululemon shirt is actually worth? The Wolf sits down with BaseCamp Franchising owners Zach and Tyler Gordon to discover exactly how Uptown Cheapskate and Kid to Kid streamlined resell value subjectivity and turned it into a finely-tuned, fully systematic, operational process across over…

1
S5 Ep3: Always Have a Playbook for Scaling, with Voda CEO Dan Claps and Zach Nolte 55:48

1y ago55:48

55:48

How do you create a 1.7 million dollar franchise beast from a small-scale cleaning company? According to Voda Cleaning and Restoration franchise owners Dan Clap and Zach Nolte, the secret to scaling lies in franchising a business that naturally lends itself to marketing multiple services. Dan and Zach chat with the Wolf about how Voda Cleaning and …

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