Chicago Sam's Franchise GPS
Building a successful franchise requires a map, but scaling one requires a GPS. Whether you just signed your first agreement or you’re managing a growing multi-unit portfolio, Franchise GPS is your bi-weekly roadmap to operational excellence. Hosted by industry veteran Sam Stanovich, this podcast drops twice a month to deliver raw, unscripted conversations with real-world operators, multi-unit owners, and industry innovators who are actively in the trenches. We bypass corporate fluff to bring you actionable playbooks on what it actually takes to run a profitable business—from mastering local marketing and managing food costs to building high-performing teams and leveraging data. Hit subscribe to get the real strategies, hard-learned lessons, and operational nuggets you need to navigate your business toward long-term growth. New episodes release every other Monday.
Episodes
In this episode of Chicago Sam's Franchise GPS, guest host Justin Egan sits down with Alexis Gillette, Vice President of Marketing at Craveworthy Brands, to deliver a tactical masterclass on local store marketing, grand opening strategies, and unit-level restaurant growth.
Alexis leverages over 22 years of experience across retail, experience-based businesses, and major restaurant brands like Raising Cane's to break down why so man...
"Chicago Sam" Stanovich sits down with Donovan McAdams, President of Vendita Digital, to deliver a tactical, unfiltered masterclass on modern franchise go-to-market (GTM) strategies, local store marketing, and customer acquisition.
Donovan leverages over ten years of commercial construction experience and digital strategy expertise to break down why so many franchise operators plateau—and how to build a scalable, repeatable ma...
"Chicago Sam" Stanovich sits down with Brandy McAdams, Chief Revenue Officer at Vendita AII, for an in-depth masterclass on navigating commercial real estate, site selection, and lease negotiations for franchise operators.
Commercial leases are a 5-to-10-year commitment—akin to a business marriage. Brandy reveals how modern franchise brands are abandoning manual site tours in favor of AI-powered market mapping and data analyti...
Are you blindly trusting ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude to map out your next franchise location? In this episode of Franchise GPS, host "Chicago Sam" Stanovich sits down with Doug Sullinger, tech veteran and founder of Vendita AI, to break down why open-source AI tools are actually costing you time, money, and valuable real estate deals.
Doug pulls back the curtain on how open models are only about 60% accurate and discusses the absolut...
Everyone talks about franchising like it’s as simple as signing an agreement and opening a restaurant. But the real game begins the exact second you start looking for commercial real estate. One bad lease, an unreliable general contractor, a delayed permit, or a location chosen for the wrong reasons can bleed your dream business dry before you ever open your doors.
What does it take to grow a franchise brand without hollowing it out?
In Episode 2 of Franchise GPS, host Justin Egan sits down with Cassie Miller, Chief Marketing Officer at Craveworthy Brands, for a conversation that cuts to the heart of one of franchising's hardest problems: scaling without losing the soul.
Cassie has been in the trenches of building and expanding emerging restaurant concepts — and she's learned that the bra...
Welcome to Episode 1 of Franchise GPS with Sam Stanovich — the podcast where franchise leaders, operators, and entrepreneurs share real-world strategies for building successful businesses and thriving community brands.
In this debut episode, Sam sits down with Nandini Mangroo, multi-unit franchisee of Taffer's Tavern and one of the original operators to join the Jon Taffer franchise family. From opening her first location in A...
Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Josh Halpern in conversation with Brian Smetana of 25/7 Digital Labs and Adam Salinas of LG Electronics USA.
Together, they explore the major shifts reshaping the restaurant industry, starting with the evolution of digital signage from a perceived expense into a long-term cost-saving and revenue-driving tool. What once felt like a luxury is quickly ...
In this episode of Room for Seconds, guest host Josh Halpern sat down with Avi Goren at CraveCon 2025, co-founder of Marqii, to unpack one of the most overlooked—but critical—drivers of restaurant success: discoverability.
As the guest journey becomes more fragmented than ever, Avi explains why simply having great food and service is no longer enough. Restaurants today have to win before the customer even walks in the do...
Filmed live at CraveCon 2025, guest host Josh Halpern sits down with Chris McKenty of Edward Don & Company to explore the hidden systems that make restaurants actually work — from kitchen design to equipment strategy.
Chris walks through the critical role that kitchen layout plays in the success of a restaurant. Often designed months before a location opens, the kitchen acts as the operational engine of the business. If wo...
Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, guest host Josh Halpern sits down with Rachael Nemeth, CEO and Co-Founder of Opus Training, to unpack why traditional restaurant training is failing today’s workforce — and what operators must do next.
Rachael shares the core insight that sparked Opus: while roughly 80% of the global workforce is deskless, nearly all training technology has historically been built for people sitting at com...
Recorded live at Crave Con 2025, this special episode of Room for Seconds flips the script. Guest host Josh Halpern sits down with his longtime collaborator and fellow podcast host, Jimmy Frischling, co-founder of Branded Hospitality.
Jimmy pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build the business of hospitality in today’s environment. From investing in restaurant brands and operator-first technology to navigating...
Live from CraveCon 2025, Room for Seconds welcomes guest host Sam Stanovich for an in-depth conversation with Matt Ensero and Justin Egan, the co-founders of Wing It On — a brand redefining what a modern wing concept can be.
The episode opens with the origin story behind Wing It On, from late-night wing experiments and a coffee-shop naming moment to building a fast-casual concept rooted in authentic Buffalo-style wings. Matt a...
Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Josh Halpern in conversation with Greg Zamfotis, founder and CEO of Gregorys Coffee, for a wide-ranging discussion on passion, product obsession, and building a brand rooted in craft and community.
Greg traces his journey back to growing up in a family-run food business in New York City—working deliveries as a kid and learning the fundamentals...
Recorded live at CraveCon 2025, this episode of Room for Seconds features guest host Sam Stanovich in conversation with Fresh Brothers co-founder Scott Goldberg—aka “The Pizza Man”—for a deep dive into the entrepreneurial journey behind one of the West Coast’s most respected pizza brands.
Scott traces his origin story back to 1985, when he took a leap of faith and used $7,000 of his college tuition to p...
At the 2024 Prosper Forum, Gregg Majewski, CEO of Craveworthy Brands, captivated attendees with his fireside chat alongside Michael Gottlieb. The discussion centered on his unique philosophy on leadership, employee rewards, and franchise success. From his commitment to building millionaire employees to his focus on franchisee profitability, Gregg reveals the values that drive his approach to business. Listen in to hear how he creat...
In this episode from the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, Gregg Majewski sits down with David Jobe, founder of The Prosper Company, to discuss how the Prosper Accelerate program is transforming restaurant industry leadership. They explore building better tables by building better businesses, the importance of mentorship, and why developing the next generation is the key to a thriving hospitality industry. Learn...
Filmed at the site of the 2025 National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago, IL., Gregg Majewski sits down with Shawn Walchef—the podcast king of the restaurant industry, owner of Cali BBQ in San Diego, and founder of Cali BBQ Media. Shawn shares his journey from struggling barbecue joint to industry influencer, highlighting how building in public, embracing social media, and staying curious can transform a brand. This epi...
We’ve hit a major milestone—one full year of Room for Seconds—and to celebrate, we’re bringing you five unforgettable moments from the past 53 episodes that showcase the grit, growth, and game-changing ideas shaping the restaurant industry.
From Super Bowl champ turned restaurateur to the minds behind Big Chicken and Badass Breakfast Burritos, these conversations are packed with leadership insights, brand-bui...
Popular Podcasts
In this intensely divided moment, one of the few things everyone still seems to agree on is Dolly Parton—but why? That simple question leads to a deeply personal, historical, and musical rethinking of one of America’s great icons. Join us for a 9-episode journey into the Dollyverse. Hosted by Jad Abumrad. Produced and reported by Shima Oliaee. Dolly Parton’s America is a production from OSM Audio and WNYC Studios.
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.