Franchise Interviews 4.0

In this episode, we take you inside the "Super Bowl of Franchising" alongside industry giants Tom Portesy (President of MFV Expositions) and Joel Goldstein (Group Marketing Director). Then, we sit down with Paul Mann, founder of Fetch! Pet Care, to reveal how aspiring entrepreneurs can build a profitable, high-growth business centered around pet care. Fetch! Pet Care is America’s largest pet-sitting and dog-walking franchise,...

What drives a franchise industry insider to take the leap into pet care? In this episode, we sit down with Kim Musso, who spent 21 years with Primrose Schools—rising from franchise assistant to Director of Franchise Recruitment and franchisee—before spotting a major opportunity right in her own neighborhood.

Kim shares how noticing local trends led her family to capitalize on the booming $70 billion pet industry by open...

What does it take to revolutionize a multi-billion-dollar pet care industry? In this episode, we sit down with Central Bark co-founders Jackie Jordan and Chris Gaba to trace their 15-year journey from a simple vision—providing safe, clean, top-tier care for every dog—to pioneering the modern "UnKennel" franchise concept.

Jackie and Chris break down their signature "Whole Dog Care" approach, which balances a dog's physic...

Recently, I had the privilege of interviewing legendary bassist Rudy Sarzo for my Rock Star MBA podcast.

Like many rock fans, I first became a fan during Rudy's years with Ozzy Osbourne and Quiet Riot. But what inspired me to reach out wasn't just his remarkable career, it was his memoir, Off the Rails.

There are books that tell you what happened, and then there are books that make you feel like you're sitting across the table from...

How do you take a luxury wellness concept and successfully scale it nationwide? In this episode, we sit down with Jeni Garrett, the Founder, President, and CEO of The Woodhouse Day Spa. Named the "Best Day Spa Chain in America" by DAYSPA magazine, Woodhouse has revolutionized the upscale wellness industry. Jeni shares her insider secrets on building a high-end franchise model, maintaining premium quality across locations, and why s...

How do you take a single wellness retreat and scale it into a national brand? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Schubiger, Chief Development Officer of Heights Wellness Retreat (formerly Massage Heights). We discuss their recent brand evolution, their family-owned roots, and how they’ve successfully scaled to over 100 locations across the U.S. and Canada by offering resort-quality wellness.

Bonus: Stick around for Part ...

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are diving into the booming beauty and wellness industry with a true industry pioneer. We’re sitting down with the team behind Jon’Ric International—the brand that revolutionized the upscale 'Specialty Spa' and co-branding franchise model.

With decades s of experience, Jon’Ric takes a highly selective approach to growth, partnering only with top-tier business m...

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! We have a fantastic show lined up for you today. Joining us is Todd Leff, the CEO and President of Hand & Stone. He's diving deep into how they've mastered the wellness industry by providing top-tier, personalized therapeutic massages, alongside a look at the history and growth of the organization.

But that's not all—later in the show, we’re featuring our very own 'Diamond' Don ...

Today, we are diving into a massive lifestyle shift that is completely changing the face of franchising: the rise of the "Dadpreneur."

According to U.S. Census data, the number of work-from-home and stay-at-home dads has more than doubled over the last decade, showing a major shift in how modern families approach work and childcare. Joining us today is a man living this trend every single day—Rick Werner of Unishippers.

Based...

Think back to the last time you moved to a brand-new city or neighborhood. How did you figure out where to get your morning coffee, find a reliable mechanic, or choose a new dentist? You had to start entirely from scratch.

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are exploring a franchise that has turned that exact transitional moment into a massive growth driver for local businesses. We are sitting down with Brian Mattingly...

When you think of a successful coworking space, you probably think of good coffee and comfortable chairs. But what happens when fifty people try to jump on a video call at the exact same time and the Wi-Fi crashes?

Welcome to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are talking to Jason Anderson, President of Venture X—the fastest-growing coworking franchise in the industry. Venture X is on a massive mission to bring upscale, flexible...

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are sitting down with Mike Thakur, the mastermind behind the WorkLodge franchise opportunity. Now, Mike’s journey to the business world is anything but ordinary. After moving from the UK to Houston, planting a church, and working in high-stakes international security, he noticed a major problem: the shared workspaces he was forced to use felt less like a community and more like ...

Scaling a Commercial Landscaping Empire: Ken Hutcheson, President of U.S. Lawns

What does it take to build a commercial grounds management network that spans over 250 locations nationwide? In this episode, we sit down with Ken Hutcheson, President of U.S. Lawns, to discuss how this premier franchise keeps communities beautiful while empowering local business owners.

Operating out of their Home Office in Orlando, Florida, U.S. Lawns...

Empowering Communities & Saving Lives: Inside Silverback Self Defense with Robert Webre

How do you take a life-saving passion and scale it into a nationwide franchise? In this episode, we sit down with Robert Webre, Founder and Owner of Silverback Self Defense—a professional safety and self-defense company rewriting the rules of personal protection.

Silverback Self Defense specializes in highly customizable training progr...

Showhomes CEO Matt Kelton: Transforming Real Estate into a Franchise Powerhouse

What does it take to scale a home-staging business into a multi-billion dollar franchise network? In this episode, we sit down with Matt Kelton, CEO of Showhomes—the nation’s leading home-staging and redesign franchise.

Founded in 1986, Showhomes has helped Realtors and homeowners sell more than 25,000 residential properties worth over $8.5 ...

Thank you for registering for the New York Public Library program titled “Rock Star MBA - Untapped Lessons on Marketing from Artists” on Monday May 18th 2026 with my guest speaker Martin J. McDermott. Thank you, Martin J. McDermott for a highly informative and engaging program and everyone who registered for this event. Bio:  Martin J. McDermott, DBA, brings over 25 years of experience as a business professor and m...

Welcome back to the show! Today, we are speaking with Andrea Pirrotti-Dranchak, the Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Office Evolution—which just happens to be the fastest-growing and number-one coworking franchise in the US.

With the traditional 9-to-5 still completely up in the air, companies and entrepreneurs are looking for flexibility, and Office Evolution is stepping right into that gap. We’re going to d...

2M+ Followers: Scaling the American Dream Description: What does it take to turn a small, local repair business into a national franchise powerhouse? In this episode, we sit down with Sergei Kaminskiy, founder of Kaminskiy Care and Repair, to dissect a 20-year journey of strategic growth and brand building.

From his early days as a recent immigrant to the U.S. to cultivating an organic social media audience of millions, Sergei epit...

In a world of 28 million small businesses, everyone is looking for that one marketing 'silver bullet.' But what if the best ROI isn't found in a digital ad, but in a handshake? Today, we’re meeting with Scott Talley, the founder of Network In Action.

Scott saw an industry that was stuck in the past—demanding 100-plus hours a year for weekly meetings that most owners just don't have. NIA flipped the script. They moved to...