The Founderz Lounge

The Founderz Lounge Episode #75 with Nikki Boxler.

In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Nikki Boxler, founder of The Maple Farmer, to talk about the truth behind maple syrup, farm entrepreneurship, and what most people don’t realize about how real maple products are made.

Nikki shares her journey growing up on a dairy and maple farm in Western New York, leaving for corporate work, and eventually returning home to b...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #74 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what brands are doing right, what they are doing wrong, and what is changing in culture.

This episode kicks off with Taco Bell opening a real wedding chapel in Las Vegas and what it says about owning your brand instead of playing it safe. From there, they jump into br...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #73 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what’s happening in business, what’s changing in culture, and what owners need to stop whining about and start fixing.

This one starts light, then gets real fast.

They rip through the top menu trends shaping 2025, from boba and Dubai chocolate to Korean flavors, matcha...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #72 with Scott Volquartsen.

In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Scott Volquartsen of Volquartsen Firearms to unpack what it really takes to scale a legacy business without compromising quality, culture, or craftsmanship.

Scott shares the story of growing up in a family-owned company, taking over the business with his brother, and navigating the challenges of expansion in one of the most...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #71 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle, without the corporate fluff.

At one point, Quiznos had more than 5,000 locations and was one of the fastest-growing franchise brands in the world. A few years later, it was in bankruptcy. This episode digs into how g...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #70 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle, without the corporate fluff.

It starts with a simple observation. Protein is suddenly in everything.

From Sweetgreen’s 106-gram protein bowl to protein water showing up on shelves, Don and Steve question whether this ...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #69 with Codie Aljets.

In this episode, Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Codie Aljets of Sage Country Customs to unpack a story shaped by adversity, creativity, and grit. After a battle with stage 4 colorectal cancer, Codie was forced to slow down, reassess his priorities, and ultimately rebuild his life around purpose and craftsmanship.

Codie shares how his journey from firefighter to full-time meta...

Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle, without the corporate fluff.

It starts with a simple question. What is the most you would ever pay for a cup of coffee?

That question gets real when a café in Dubai offers a $980 cup made from rare Nido 7 Geisha beans, with only 400 cups available worldwide. Absurd, or brilliant...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #67 with Evonne Varady.

In this episode, hosts Don Varady and Steve Bon sit down with Evonne Varady, co-founder and partner at Clean Eatz, for a real look at how the brand was actually built. Evonne shares her journey from small-town farm life to helping create a purpose-driven company powered by grit, instinct, and relentless problem-solving.

Don and Evonne reflect on their unconventional path to e...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #66 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

Don and Steve are back with another round of “Business & Bullsh*t,” where real entrepreneurs talk wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle in business without the corporate fluff.

They kick things off with camping like “homeless men” and wild childhood clubhouse stories, then pivot into why U.S. franchise chains are growing faster internationally than at hom...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #65 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

This week, Don and Steve tackle a big question with real bite. Is the middle class dead, or just being redefined? They break down what that shift means for marketers, brands, and everyday buying behavior.

Then they go fully Business & Bullsh*t with the fun stuff. A Golden Corral escape room idea that somehow makes too much sense, plus Zoom nightmare stories that prove...

The Founderz Lounge Episode #64 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.

Don and Steve are back with another edition of “Business & Bullsh*t.” These are no-fluff, straight-shooting conversations where real entrepreneurs break down the wins, the losses, the headlines, and the hard truths behind building something from nothing.

In this episode, they dive into everything from innovative marketing trends in the restaurant industry to the impac...

Business & Bullshit Episodes are your no-fluff, straight-shooting podcast where real entrepreneurs talk real business—with a side of BS. Hosted by Don Varady and Steve, these episodes dive into the wins, losses, headlines, and hot takes that matter to founders, franchisees, and anyone bold enough to build something from scratch.https://instagram.com/donvarady https://instagram.com/stevebon8https://instagram.com/thefounderzloung...

Ruben Arriaga, originally from Houston, Texas, is the owner of Clean Eatz College Station in College Station, Texas. After graduating high school in 1996, Ruben enlisted in the U.S. Army and began his career in the infantry. He later attended Special Forces Assessment and Selection, earning his Green Beret after two years of rigorous training.

Ruben spent 20 years with the 5th Special Forces Group, arriving as a Sergeant and retirin...

We did a remote location show at the Clean Eatz National Convention in Wrightsville Beach NC. We talked to four Franchise Partners in the brand that shared their experiences in the beginning and gave a few nuggets of wisdom to other Clean Eatz Partners but they also translated to anyone in any business. The event was the 10yr Anniversary of Clean Eatz being a Franchise brand and was an amazing event. One of the best yet. https://ww...

Description: We did a remote location show at the Clean Eatz National Convention in Wrightsville Beach NC. We talked to four Franchise Partners in the brand that shared their experiences in the beginning and gave a few nuggets of wisdom to other Clean Eatz Partners but they also translated to anyone in any business. The event was the 10yr Anniversary of Clean Eatz being a Franchise brand and was an amazing event. One of the best ye...

Description: In this episode of The Founderz Lounge, Don Varady sits down with Chase Whitehead — multi-unit franchisee of both Clean Eatz and Orangetheory Fitness — to talk about what it really takes to build multiple successful brands in the health and wellness space.Chase opens up about the lessons he’s learned balancing two powerhouse franchises, his leadership philosophy, and how he develops teams that perform at a high level w...

In this episode we brought in a fellow knuckle dragging Operations guy, Clean Eatz Head of Operations, Quinn Newhall. Quinn came to Clean Eatz back in June. He brings a wealth of knowledge in the food business and has been on both sides of the isle in Franchising as a Franchisee and working on Executive Teams in multiple food brands his entire career. He is a great leader and we are lucky to have him in the Clean Eatz Family. https...