Franchise Whispering Wed, 06 May 2026 16:28:58 -0400 https://franchisemarketingnews.buzzsprout.com en-us © 2026 Franchise Whispering yes e7ed19a2-2a21-558e-81da-67111d15e1c2 Franchise Marketing News episodic false Franchise Whispering is the podcast from Franchise Marketing News that goes beyond the headlines to explore what’s really shaping growth in franchising today.


Hosted by FMN Board member Bob McKay, CEO of McKay Advertising and Activation, each episode features candid conversations with franchisors, franchise executives, marketers, operators, and industry insiders who are driving innovation across franchise marketing, development, and brand strategy. From scaling systems and supporting franchisees to navigating emerging technology, consumer behavior shifts, and industry change, Franchise Whispering delivers real insight from the people inside the business.


This is not surface-level commentary or recycled advice. It’s a thoughtful, experience-driven discussion designed for franchise leaders who want to understand not just what is happening in the industry, but why it matters and what to do next.


New voices. Real stories. Smarter franchise marketing.

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) Franchise Marketing News https://storage.buzzsprout.com/3gda5ehcjhy6mk5j0grdfebxrj5r?.jpg Franchise Whispering Bob McKay Franchise Whispering - "AI-Proofing the Next Generation": Compressing the Franchise Sales Cycle w/ Christina Parsons Franchise Whispering - "AI-Proofing the Next Generation": Compressing the Franchise Sales Cycle w/ Christina Parsons Did you know the average franchise sales cycle has dramatically shrunk from over 100 days to just 58 days?

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Christina Parsons, Chief Intelligence Officer at United Franchise Group (UFG)—the largest privately-owned franchise group in the US. Christina drops an absolute masterclass on modern Franchise Development (FranDev), breaking down exactly why today's buyers are moving faster, showing up more educated, and how marketing teams must adapt to capture them.

Christina reveals UFG's cutting-edge approach to marketing: integrating HubSpot and AI pixel data for true first-party attribution, shifting from traditional SEO to AEO (Artificial Engine Optimization) to rank on Large Language Models, and testing new media waters like Reddit and CTV. She also shares a fascinating new demographic trend: parents buying franchises to "AI-proof" their kids' futures in an uncertain corporate job market.

Whether you are a FranDev professional trying to lower your cost-per-lead, or a marketing leader learning how to "fail fast" and innovate, this episode is packed with actionable intelligence!

Key Takeaways

  • The 58-Day Sales Cycle: Why highly educated buyers are moving through the franchise sales pipeline faster than ever, and how to weed out unqualified leads upfront.
  • AEO vs. SEO: How to optimize your content for Artificial Engine Optimization (AEO) so your brand gets recommended by LLMs like ChatGPT.
  • True Lead Attribution: Using HubSpot and AI-enabled pixels to validate the net worth and demographics of website visitors before they even fill out a form.
  • "AI-Proofing" the Next Generation: Why parents are increasingly buying franchises to secure their children's futures and build generational wealth amid corporate layoffs.
  • The Authenticity Play: Why getting your brand presidents on podcasts and video content is the ultimate conversion tool for prospective franchisees.

Standout Quote

"We are seeing a lot of parents that are coming in... and a lot of the sentiment around that is that we're gonna kind of AI-proof these kids and make sure that we can help them secure a future. It's an asset that they can pass down to them if they're not going to own it outright upfront, and it keeps it in the family." — Christina Parsons

About Our Guest

Christina Parsons is the Chief Intelligence Officer at United Franchise Group (UFG), the world's largest privately-owned franchise group representing a massive portfolio of award-winning brands. With a deep background in digital agency leadership, Christina drives UFG's data strategy, lead attribution, and FranDev marketing innovations.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Did you know the average franchise sales cycle has dramatically shrunk from over 100 days to just 58 days?

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Christina Parsons, Chief Intelligence Officer at United Franchise Group (UFG)—the largest privately-owned franchise group in the US. Christina drops an absolute masterclass on modern Franchise Development (FranDev), breaking down exactly why today's buyers are moving faster, showing up more educated, and how marketing teams must adapt to capture them.

Christina reveals UFG's cutting-edge approach to marketing: integrating HubSpot and AI pixel data for true first-party attribution, shifting from traditional SEO to AEO (Artificial Engine Optimization) to rank on Large Language Models, and testing new media waters like Reddit and CTV. She also shares a fascinating new demographic trend: parents buying franchises to "AI-proof" their kids' futures in an uncertain corporate job market.

Whether you are a FranDev professional trying to lower your cost-per-lead, or a marketing leader learning how to "fail fast" and innovate, this episode is packed with actionable intelligence!

Key Takeaways

  • The 58-Day Sales Cycle: Why highly educated buyers are moving through the franchise sales pipeline faster than ever, and how to weed out unqualified leads upfront.
  • AEO vs. SEO: How to optimize your content for Artificial Engine Optimization (AEO) so your brand gets recommended by LLMs like ChatGPT.
  • True Lead Attribution: Using HubSpot and AI-enabled pixels to validate the net worth and demographics of website visitors before they even fill out a form.
  • "AI-Proofing" the Next Generation: Why parents are increasingly buying franchises to secure their children's futures and build generational wealth amid corporate layoffs.
  • The Authenticity Play: Why getting your brand presidents on podcasts and video content is the ultimate conversion tool for prospective franchisees.

Standout Quote

"We are seeing a lot of parents that are coming in... and a lot of the sentiment around that is that we're gonna kind of AI-proof these kids and make sure that we can help them secure a future. It's an asset that they can pass down to them if they're not going to own it outright upfront, and it keeps it in the family." — Christina Parsons

About Our Guest

Christina Parsons is the Chief Intelligence Officer at United Franchise Group (UFG), the world's largest privately-owned franchise group representing a massive portfolio of award-winning brands. With a deep background in digital agency leadership, Christina drives UFG's data strategy, lead attribution, and FranDev marketing innovations.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-19137045 Wed, 06 May 2026 16:00:00 -0400 1784 1 17 full false Franchise Whispering - "Motion Without Results": Turning Marketing into a Growth Engine w/ Felicia Reeves Franchise Whispering - "Motion Without Results": Turning Marketing into a Growth Engine w/ Felicia Reeves  

How do you turn marketing from an "arts and crafts" department into a measurable, revenue-driving growth engine?

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Felicia Reeves, a seasoned marketing executive in the home services space. With 14 months under her belt at Empower Brands (representing heavy hitters like Wallaby Windows, Koala Insulation, Conserva Irrigation, and Archadeck), Felicia shares her playbook for building a modern, high-performing marketing organization.

Felicia unpacks the evolving dynamics of the home services market, explaining how the post-COVID demand shift requires franchisees to double down on trust and credibility. She also dives into the practical application of AI for local owners, why consumer loyalty is dropping in favor of "speed-to-lead," and why the modern CMO is perfectly positioned to become the CEO of the future.

Whether you are a local owner-operator looking to close more tickets or a corporate leader trying to prevent team burnout, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

Key Takeaways

  • The Practical AI Advantage: How Empower Brands uses AI to improve "speed-to-lead" and provide real-time sales coaching for franchisees, without adding operational complexity to their plates.
  • The "Crumpled Paper" Sales Hack: A brilliant, old-school local marketing tactic one franchisee uses to instantly build credibility and increase close rates in the home.
  • Navigating Consumer Apathy: Why consumers are less brand-loyal than ever, and how local owner-operators can beat massive legacy competitors through speed, trust, and accountability.
  • The CMO to CEO Pipeline: Why marketing's shift from a catch-all "arts and crafts" department to a data-driven growth engine is preparing today's CMOs for the CEO seat.
  • Preventing Burnout with EOS: How utilizing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) prevents "motion without results"—the true cause of team burnout.
  • The 3 C's of Local Growth: Felicia’s ultimate advice for struggling franchisees: Consistency, Credibility, and Community.

Standout Quotes

"Burnout usually doesn't just come from hard work. It comes from motion without results." — Felicia Reeves"Speed, trust, and accountability often in this space matter more than your historical experience with the brand." — Felicia Reeves

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]>  

How do you turn marketing from an "arts and crafts" department into a measurable, revenue-driving growth engine?

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Felicia Reeves, a seasoned marketing executive in the home services space. With 14 months under her belt at Empower Brands (representing heavy hitters like Wallaby Windows, Koala Insulation, Conserva Irrigation, and Archadeck), Felicia shares her playbook for building a modern, high-performing marketing organization.

Felicia unpacks the evolving dynamics of the home services market, explaining how the post-COVID demand shift requires franchisees to double down on trust and credibility. She also dives into the practical application of AI for local owners, why consumer loyalty is dropping in favor of "speed-to-lead," and why the modern CMO is perfectly positioned to become the CEO of the future.

Whether you are a local owner-operator looking to close more tickets or a corporate leader trying to prevent team burnout, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

Key Takeaways

  • The Practical AI Advantage: How Empower Brands uses AI to improve "speed-to-lead" and provide real-time sales coaching for franchisees, without adding operational complexity to their plates.
  • The "Crumpled Paper" Sales Hack: A brilliant, old-school local marketing tactic one franchisee uses to instantly build credibility and increase close rates in the home.
  • Navigating Consumer Apathy: Why consumers are less brand-loyal than ever, and how local owner-operators can beat massive legacy competitors through speed, trust, and accountability.
  • The CMO to CEO Pipeline: Why marketing's shift from a catch-all "arts and crafts" department to a data-driven growth engine is preparing today's CMOs for the CEO seat.
  • Preventing Burnout with EOS: How utilizing the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) prevents "motion without results"—the true cause of team burnout.
  • The 3 C's of Local Growth: Felicia’s ultimate advice for struggling franchisees: Consistency, Credibility, and Community.

Standout Quotes

"Burnout usually doesn't just come from hard work. It comes from motion without results." — Felicia Reeves"Speed, trust, and accountability often in this space matter more than your historical experience with the brand." — Felicia Reeves

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-19104909 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400 1816 1 16 full false "Preparation and Personalization": The Next Generation of Franchise Marketing with Sydney Kleinsasser "Preparation and Personalization": The Next Generation of Franchise Marketing with Sydney Kleinsasser  

What happens when you grow up with franchising in your DNA? In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Sydney Kleinsasser, a self-proclaimed "franchise nepo baby" who has channeled her lifelong exposure to the industry into a dynamic marketing career.

Currently the Digital Marketing Manager for the highly immersive basketball training brand Shoot 360, Sydney brings a fresh, next-generation perspective to the franchise space. She breaks down her transition from the vendor side to the brand side, how her early days at the Ritz-Carlton shaped her approach to franchisee support, and how Shoot 360 uses NBA-level tech and local storytelling to build passionate communities. Sydney also dives into the millennial and Gen Z work ethic, explaining why younger marketers aren't lacking drive—they are just relentlessly intentional about the impact of their work.

Whether you are a seasoned franchisor looking to understand the next generation of leadership or a marketing coordinator trying to engage your first franchisee, Sydney’s insights are incredibly valuable!

Key Takeaways

  • The Next-Gen Mindset: Debunking generational myths in the workplace. Why younger marketers prioritize intentionality, clarity, and passion-alignment over the traditional "grind."
  • The Ritz-Carlton Lesson: How taking the core hospitality principles of preparation and personalization can completely transform the way franchisors support their franchisees.
  • Marketing an Experience: How Shoot 360 uses localized, community-driven storytelling—rather than just selling product features—to get people through the doors of their high-tech basketball facilities.
  • Vendor vs. Brand Side: The unique stressors of jumping from the supplier side to managing national strategy and local execution for a growing brand.
  • Fire 35: A look inside the networking community built specifically to empower, connect, and elevate rising franchise executives under the age of 35.

Standout Quote

"Remember, the most effective franchise systems are the ones where digital efficiency and human experiences at the local level work together, creating a seamless and elevated customer journey." — Sydney Kleinsasser

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]>  

What happens when you grow up with franchising in your DNA? In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Sydney Kleinsasser, a self-proclaimed "franchise nepo baby" who has channeled her lifelong exposure to the industry into a dynamic marketing career.

Currently the Digital Marketing Manager for the highly immersive basketball training brand Shoot 360, Sydney brings a fresh, next-generation perspective to the franchise space. She breaks down her transition from the vendor side to the brand side, how her early days at the Ritz-Carlton shaped her approach to franchisee support, and how Shoot 360 uses NBA-level tech and local storytelling to build passionate communities. Sydney also dives into the millennial and Gen Z work ethic, explaining why younger marketers aren't lacking drive—they are just relentlessly intentional about the impact of their work.

Whether you are a seasoned franchisor looking to understand the next generation of leadership or a marketing coordinator trying to engage your first franchisee, Sydney’s insights are incredibly valuable!

Key Takeaways

  • The Next-Gen Mindset: Debunking generational myths in the workplace. Why younger marketers prioritize intentionality, clarity, and passion-alignment over the traditional "grind."
  • The Ritz-Carlton Lesson: How taking the core hospitality principles of preparation and personalization can completely transform the way franchisors support their franchisees.
  • Marketing an Experience: How Shoot 360 uses localized, community-driven storytelling—rather than just selling product features—to get people through the doors of their high-tech basketball facilities.
  • Vendor vs. Brand Side: The unique stressors of jumping from the supplier side to managing national strategy and local execution for a growing brand.
  • Fire 35: A look inside the networking community built specifically to empower, connect, and elevate rising franchise executives under the age of 35.

Standout Quote

"Remember, the most effective franchise systems are the ones where digital efficiency and human experiences at the local level work together, creating a seamless and elevated customer journey." — Sydney Kleinsasser

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-19062083 Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:00:00 -0400 1269 1 15 full false Franchise Whispering - "The People Own the Brand": Scaling Big Dave's Cheesesteaks from a Gas Station to a National Franchise with Derrick Hayes Franchise Whispering - "The People Own the Brand": Scaling Big Dave's Cheesesteaks from a Gas Station to a National Franchise with Derrick Hayes From hustling out of a small gas station in Dunwoody, Georgia, to serving up the most iconic food item in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Derrick Hayes is changing the culture of the franchise industry. Derrick founded Big Dave's Cheesesteaks to honor his late father and build a lasting legacy for his children. Today, it ranks among the top fast-casual concepts in America.

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering podcast, host Bob McKay talks with Derrick about the grind, the vision, and the immense patience required to build an authentic brand. Derrick shares the strategic moves that fueled his growth—including a pivotal supply chain deal with Philadelphia's famous Amoroso bakery—and explains why he believes the community, not the founder, truly owns a brand.

Whether you are an aspiring franchisee or a seasoned business owner, Derrick’s story of bringing Allen Iverson-level swagger and authenticity to the restaurant space will leave you inspired to get to work.

Key Takeaways

  • The Gas Station Grind: How embracing the struggle of operating out of a tiny convenience store taught Derrick the hardest and most valuable lessons in business.
  • Supply Chain as Marketing: Why partnering with Amoroso rolls wasn't just about food costs, but a crucial marketing strategy to guarantee authentic Philly flavor worldwide.
  • The True Brand Owners: Why the community has the biggest voice in your company, and how giving back during crises (like COVID-19) builds unbreakable brand loyalty.
  • Cultivating Internal Leadership: How to incentivize employees with phantom equity, peer reviews, and cross-training to maintain an incredible 4.9-star standard across locations.
  • A Culture Shift: How Derrick and his wife (founder of Slutty Vegan) lean on each other to scale their empires, and why he channels his idol, Allen Iverson, to do things his own way in the fast-casual space.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> From hustling out of a small gas station in Dunwoody, Georgia, to serving up the most iconic food item in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Derrick Hayes is changing the culture of the franchise industry. Derrick founded Big Dave's Cheesesteaks to honor his late father and build a lasting legacy for his children. Today, it ranks among the top fast-casual concepts in America.

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering podcast, host Bob McKay talks with Derrick about the grind, the vision, and the immense patience required to build an authentic brand. Derrick shares the strategic moves that fueled his growth—including a pivotal supply chain deal with Philadelphia's famous Amoroso bakery—and explains why he believes the community, not the founder, truly owns a brand.

Whether you are an aspiring franchisee or a seasoned business owner, Derrick’s story of bringing Allen Iverson-level swagger and authenticity to the restaurant space will leave you inspired to get to work.

Key Takeaways

  • The Gas Station Grind: How embracing the struggle of operating out of a tiny convenience store taught Derrick the hardest and most valuable lessons in business.
  • Supply Chain as Marketing: Why partnering with Amoroso rolls wasn't just about food costs, but a crucial marketing strategy to guarantee authentic Philly flavor worldwide.
  • The True Brand Owners: Why the community has the biggest voice in your company, and how giving back during crises (like COVID-19) builds unbreakable brand loyalty.
  • Cultivating Internal Leadership: How to incentivize employees with phantom equity, peer reviews, and cross-training to maintain an incredible 4.9-star standard across locations.
  • A Culture Shift: How Derrick and his wife (founder of Slutty Vegan) lean on each other to scale their empires, and why he channels his idol, Allen Iverson, to do things his own way in the fast-casual space.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-19022512 Wed, 15 Apr 2026 16:00:00 -0400 1427 1 14 full false Franchise Whispering - "Blow Their Minds": Maintaining Cult Status & Overcoming the Growth Plateau with Brandon Rhoten Franchise Whispering - "Blow Their Minds": Maintaining Cult Status & Overcoming the Growth Plateau with Brandon Rhoten How do you take a brand with cult-like status and scale it to 400 locations without losing its edge? On this episode, host Bob McKay sits down with Brandon Rhoten, the marketing mind behind Wendy's viral Twitter roasts and the current CMO fueling explosive growth at Dave's Hot Chicken.

Brandon explains why he ignores vanity metrics in favor of strict foot-traffic attribution, why Dave's relies on raw User-Generated Content (UGC) over polished influencer ads, and how to overcome the 300-unit growth plateau. Whether you are an emerging franchisor or seasoned CMO, this is a must-listen!

Key Takeaways

  • Art in Service of Commerce: Why creative campaigns only matter if they drive traffic and same-store sales.
  • The 300-Location Plateau: Why scaling brands stall out and how to pivot when legacy marketing channels hit diminishing returns.
  • Menu as Marketing: Using intentional menu innovation—like the Cauliflower "Not Chicken" sandwich—to unlock new customer occasions.
  • UGC > Influencers: Ditching highly-produced corporate ads for raw customer reactions to maintain brand authenticity.
  • Foot Traffic Attribution: Why your P&L is the only metric that matters, and how to track footfall from channels like Connected TV (CTV).

Standout Quote

"At the end of the day, marketing is art in service of commerce. It's our job to grow sales and traffic... My P&L tells the story, not reach or impressions. Those things are signals, but to me, they're not important." — Brandon Rhoten

About Our Guest

Brandon Rhoten is the CMO at Dave’s Hot Chicken. A veteran of franchise marketing, he has driven massive brand evolution for industry heavyweights like Wendy’s, Papa John’s, and Potbelly.

Host: Bob McKay, Franchise Marketing News 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> How do you take a brand with cult-like status and scale it to 400 locations without losing its edge? On this episode, host Bob McKay sits down with Brandon Rhoten, the marketing mind behind Wendy's viral Twitter roasts and the current CMO fueling explosive growth at Dave's Hot Chicken.

Brandon explains why he ignores vanity metrics in favor of strict foot-traffic attribution, why Dave's relies on raw User-Generated Content (UGC) over polished influencer ads, and how to overcome the 300-unit growth plateau. Whether you are an emerging franchisor or seasoned CMO, this is a must-listen!

Key Takeaways

  • Art in Service of Commerce: Why creative campaigns only matter if they drive traffic and same-store sales.
  • The 300-Location Plateau: Why scaling brands stall out and how to pivot when legacy marketing channels hit diminishing returns.
  • Menu as Marketing: Using intentional menu innovation—like the Cauliflower "Not Chicken" sandwich—to unlock new customer occasions.
  • UGC > Influencers: Ditching highly-produced corporate ads for raw customer reactions to maintain brand authenticity.
  • Foot Traffic Attribution: Why your P&L is the only metric that matters, and how to track footfall from channels like Connected TV (CTV).

Standout Quote

"At the end of the day, marketing is art in service of commerce. It's our job to grow sales and traffic... My P&L tells the story, not reach or impressions. Those things are signals, but to me, they're not important." — Brandon Rhoten

About Our Guest

Brandon Rhoten is the CMO at Dave’s Hot Chicken. A veteran of franchise marketing, he has driven massive brand evolution for industry heavyweights like Wendy’s, Papa John’s, and Potbelly.

Host: Bob McKay, Franchise Marketing News 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18984567 Wed, 08 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400 1537 1 13 full false Franchise Whispering - "The Menu is the Marketing": Navigating Franchise Growth & Local Autonomy with Ashley Mitchell Franchise Whispering - "The Menu is the Marketing": Navigating Franchise Growth & Local Autonomy with Ashley Mitchell  

Ever wonder why once you get into the franchise industry, you never want to leave? On this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Ashley Mitchell, a seasoned franchise marketing expert and fractional CMO. From her early days doing local marketing for the Walt Disney Company to scaling brands like Goldfish Swim School, East Coast Wings & Grill, and Sammy’s Sliders, Ashley brings a masterclass in franchise growth.

Ashley unpacks the unique challenges of the franchisor/franchisee dynamic, explains why the menu is your most powerful marketing tool, and shares the clinical approach her team at Zorability uses to determine if a brand—and its founder—are truly "franchisable."

Whether you are an emerging franchisor trying to untangle your tech stack or a seasoned marketer looking for fresh LTO (Limited Time Offer) strategies, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

Key Takeaways

  • The "Franchise Bug": Why the collaborative, unicorn-like nature of the franchise community keeps top talent locked in.
  • Balancing the Zor/Zee Dynamic: How to give franchisees a "big enough box" to localize their business while fiercely protecting the core brand.
  • Menu as Marketing: The difference between meticulously data-driven LTOs and opportunistic, highly-shareable "stunt" menu items.
  • Inside the Franchise Incubator: A look at how Zorability’s pod system diagnoses brands and scales them across supply chain, tech, and marketing.
  • Tech Stack Truths: Why chasing "shiny object" software can cripple an emerging brand, and the absolute necessity of parent-child system architecture.
  • Leadership & Trust: Ashley’s transparent, anti-micromanagement philosophy for building high-performing teams.

Standout Quote

"I tell everybody the first time I meet them: If we have problem A and we have to get to solution Z, I expect you to fill in the alphabet. I'm not going to give you the alphabet... I trust you." — Ashley Mitchell


About Our Guest

Ashley Mitchell is a Board Member for Franchise Marketing News and an experienced Fractional CMO. She works with a diverse portfolio of brands, including East Coast Wings & Grill, Sammy's Sliders, and Zorability (The Franchise Incubator). Known for her deep understanding of unit-level economics and franchisee relations, Ashley is a powerhouse in driving franchise marketing success. 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]>  

Ever wonder why once you get into the franchise industry, you never want to leave? On this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Ashley Mitchell, a seasoned franchise marketing expert and fractional CMO. From her early days doing local marketing for the Walt Disney Company to scaling brands like Goldfish Swim School, East Coast Wings & Grill, and Sammy’s Sliders, Ashley brings a masterclass in franchise growth.

Ashley unpacks the unique challenges of the franchisor/franchisee dynamic, explains why the menu is your most powerful marketing tool, and shares the clinical approach her team at Zorability uses to determine if a brand—and its founder—are truly "franchisable."

Whether you are an emerging franchisor trying to untangle your tech stack or a seasoned marketer looking for fresh LTO (Limited Time Offer) strategies, this episode is packed with actionable insights!

Key Takeaways

  • The "Franchise Bug": Why the collaborative, unicorn-like nature of the franchise community keeps top talent locked in.
  • Balancing the Zor/Zee Dynamic: How to give franchisees a "big enough box" to localize their business while fiercely protecting the core brand.
  • Menu as Marketing: The difference between meticulously data-driven LTOs and opportunistic, highly-shareable "stunt" menu items.
  • Inside the Franchise Incubator: A look at how Zorability’s pod system diagnoses brands and scales them across supply chain, tech, and marketing.
  • Tech Stack Truths: Why chasing "shiny object" software can cripple an emerging brand, and the absolute necessity of parent-child system architecture.
  • Leadership & Trust: Ashley’s transparent, anti-micromanagement philosophy for building high-performing teams.

Standout Quote

"I tell everybody the first time I meet them: If we have problem A and we have to get to solution Z, I expect you to fill in the alphabet. I'm not going to give you the alphabet... I trust you." — Ashley Mitchell


About Our Guest

Ashley Mitchell is a Board Member for Franchise Marketing News and an experienced Fractional CMO. She works with a diverse portfolio of brands, including East Coast Wings & Grill, Sammy's Sliders, and Zorability (The Franchise Incubator). Known for her deep understanding of unit-level economics and franchisee relations, Ashley is a powerhouse in driving franchise marketing success. 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18946664 Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:00 -0400 2204 1 12 full false Franchise Whispering - Rescuing an Iconic Brand - The Hooters Turnaround & Franchise Leadership with Neil Kiefer Franchise Whispering - Rescuing an Iconic Brand - The Hooters Turnaround & Franchise Leadership with Neil Kiefer  

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with a true industry legend: Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Management Corporation. From its humble beginnings in Clearwater, Florida in 1983 to becoming a global phenomenon, the Hooters brand has seen it all. But what happens when an iconic brand loses its way?

Neil shares the candid, behind-the-scenes story of why his team had to step in and reclaim control of the brand after years of private equity missteps. He details the grit required to execute a massive turnaround in today’s challenging restaurant landscape, emphasizing a return to the brand's core roots: great food, community involvement, and a welcoming culture.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

  • The Turnaround Strategy: How Neil's team is correcting course after previous owners over-sexualized the brand and deviated from their proprietary recipes.
  • Community-First Marketing: Why embedding your business in the local community is the ultimate defense against the "corporate chain" stigma.
  • Franchisee Collaboration: The power of giving franchisees a seat at the table to drive innovation, plus Neil's vision for a consolidated, dividend-paying exit strategy for aging owners.
  • Expanding the Brand: Leveraging the iconic Hooters name to scale online merchandise, launch a new YouTube series, and partner with cultural icons like John Daly.
  • The Coach's Playbook: How Neil’s background as a high school and college basketball coach translates to C-suite leadership and building a culture where every voice is heard.

Whether you are navigating a business turnaround, looking to strengthen your leadership skills, or simply love the history behind famous restaurant brands, this episode delivers a masterclass in resilience and authentic leadership.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]>  

In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with a true industry legend: Neil Kiefer, CEO of Hooters Management Corporation. From its humble beginnings in Clearwater, Florida in 1983 to becoming a global phenomenon, the Hooters brand has seen it all. But what happens when an iconic brand loses its way?

Neil shares the candid, behind-the-scenes story of why his team had to step in and reclaim control of the brand after years of private equity missteps. He details the grit required to execute a massive turnaround in today’s challenging restaurant landscape, emphasizing a return to the brand's core roots: great food, community involvement, and a welcoming culture.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

  • The Turnaround Strategy: How Neil's team is correcting course after previous owners over-sexualized the brand and deviated from their proprietary recipes.
  • Community-First Marketing: Why embedding your business in the local community is the ultimate defense against the "corporate chain" stigma.
  • Franchisee Collaboration: The power of giving franchisees a seat at the table to drive innovation, plus Neil's vision for a consolidated, dividend-paying exit strategy for aging owners.
  • Expanding the Brand: Leveraging the iconic Hooters name to scale online merchandise, launch a new YouTube series, and partner with cultural icons like John Daly.
  • The Coach's Playbook: How Neil’s background as a high school and college basketball coach translates to C-suite leadership and building a culture where every voice is heard.

Whether you are navigating a business turnaround, looking to strengthen your leadership skills, or simply love the history behind famous restaurant brands, this episode delivers a masterclass in resilience and authentic leadership.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18914002 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0400 1690 1 11 full false Franchise Whispering - Selling the Franchise Dream with Purpose & Empathy with Kelli Schroeder Franchise Whispering - Selling the Franchise Dream with Purpose & Empathy with Kelli Schroeder In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with Kelli Schroeder (MBA, CFE), VP of Franchise Development at Threshold Brands. With a rich background spanning Wellbiz brands, international scaling with Wingstop, and her current leadership role managing a diverse portfolio of 10 home service concepts, Kelli brings a masterclass in franchise development.

Kelli breaks down why selling a franchise is never just a transaction—it is a life-changing decision where buyers are putting their 401Ks, HELOCs, and life savings on the line. She shares her candid approach to guiding candidates, matching buyer profiles to the right business model, and why she views "semi-absentee" ownership as a major red flag for her brands.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

  • The Development Mindset: Why successful franchise sales require treating candidates with immense empathy and guardianship.
  • Brand Versatility: How Threshold Brands navigates selling everything from low-investment owner-operator models (like Men in Kilts) to higher-investment, scalable empire models (like Granite Garage Floors).
  • The Marketing Mix: Insights into why broker networks drive 60% of their deals, the complexities of lead attribution, and how buyers now spend up to 7 hours researching online before ever making contact.
  • What Buyers Actually Want: The crucial need for strong unit economics (Item 19), raw authenticity during the validation process, and deep trust in the franchisor's leadership team.
  • The "Yoko Ono" Effect: Why identifying and engaging hidden stakeholders (like spouses and partners) early in the process is vital to closing the deal.
  • Global vs. Domestic Franchising: Kelli shares wild stories from international expansion—including eating with locals and holding wild eagles in the freezing Gobi Desert of Mongolia.
  • Lightning Round Insights: Kelli shares why The First 90 Days is her go-to leadership book, the danger of prioritizing numbers over people, and why AI literacy is the undisputed top skill for modern franchise marketers.

Whether you are a franchisor looking to refine your development strategy or a prospective buyer navigating the landscape, this episode is packed with actionable insights and genuine leadership wisdom.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with Kelli Schroeder (MBA, CFE), VP of Franchise Development at Threshold Brands. With a rich background spanning Wellbiz brands, international scaling with Wingstop, and her current leadership role managing a diverse portfolio of 10 home service concepts, Kelli brings a masterclass in franchise development.

Kelli breaks down why selling a franchise is never just a transaction—it is a life-changing decision where buyers are putting their 401Ks, HELOCs, and life savings on the line. She shares her candid approach to guiding candidates, matching buyer profiles to the right business model, and why she views "semi-absentee" ownership as a major red flag for her brands.

Key Takeaways from this Episode:

  • The Development Mindset: Why successful franchise sales require treating candidates with immense empathy and guardianship.
  • Brand Versatility: How Threshold Brands navigates selling everything from low-investment owner-operator models (like Men in Kilts) to higher-investment, scalable empire models (like Granite Garage Floors).
  • The Marketing Mix: Insights into why broker networks drive 60% of their deals, the complexities of lead attribution, and how buyers now spend up to 7 hours researching online before ever making contact.
  • What Buyers Actually Want: The crucial need for strong unit economics (Item 19), raw authenticity during the validation process, and deep trust in the franchisor's leadership team.
  • The "Yoko Ono" Effect: Why identifying and engaging hidden stakeholders (like spouses and partners) early in the process is vital to closing the deal.
  • Global vs. Domestic Franchising: Kelli shares wild stories from international expansion—including eating with locals and holding wild eagles in the freezing Gobi Desert of Mongolia.
  • Lightning Round Insights: Kelli shares why The First 90 Days is her go-to leadership book, the danger of prioritizing numbers over people, and why AI literacy is the undisputed top skill for modern franchise marketers.

Whether you are a franchisor looking to refine your development strategy or a prospective buyer navigating the landscape, this episode is packed with actionable insights and genuine leadership wisdom.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18871603 Wed, 18 Mar 2026 18:00:00 -0400 1761 1 10 full false Franchise Whispering - The Fractional CMO Solution: Taming Franchise Marketing Chaos with Liane Caruso Franchise Whispering - The Fractional CMO Solution: Taming Franchise Marketing Chaos with Liane Caruso Are you an emerging franchisor trying to bridge the gap between your lean startup team and the massive scale you're aiming for? In this episode of The Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with franchise royalty: Liane Caruso. As a Certified Franchise Expert, founder of Hello CMO, and co-founder of the Franchise Assembly, Liane breaks down exactly why what got you to 25 units won't get you to 200.

Dive into the highly specialized world of franchise marketing as Liane explains the immense value of the Fractional CMO model. From untangling messy vendor tech stacks to acting as the ultimate "franchisee whisperer," Liane shares her playbook for turning marketing operations from chaos into a scalable, well-oiled machine.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

  • The Fractional CMO Advantage: Discover how bringing in high-level marketing operations expertise can align your consumer marketing, brand fund, and franchise development efforts.
  • Simplifying the Tech Stack: Why you might not need a massive "data lake" right now, and how consolidating basic data can eliminate up to 30% of wasted marketing spend.
  • Empathy in Operations: Learn the "therapy session" approach to franchisee relations and why giving franchisees a space to be heard is the ultimate tool for buy-in.
  • The Missing Link in Field Support: Why your Franchise Business Coaches must understand local marketing to effectively advocate for both the brand and the franchisee.
  • The Power of Personal Branding: Why founders and CEOs need a strong public presence to attract high-quality franchisees who are essentially "marrying" the business.

Connect with Liane Caruso:

  • Follow Liane on LinkedIn for more franchise insights.
  • Check out Hello CMO to learn more about her strategic consulting and fractional marketing services.

 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Are you an emerging franchisor trying to bridge the gap between your lean startup team and the massive scale you're aiming for? In this episode of The Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with franchise royalty: Liane Caruso. As a Certified Franchise Expert, founder of Hello CMO, and co-founder of the Franchise Assembly, Liane breaks down exactly why what got you to 25 units won't get you to 200.

Dive into the highly specialized world of franchise marketing as Liane explains the immense value of the Fractional CMO model. From untangling messy vendor tech stacks to acting as the ultimate "franchisee whisperer," Liane shares her playbook for turning marketing operations from chaos into a scalable, well-oiled machine.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

  • The Fractional CMO Advantage: Discover how bringing in high-level marketing operations expertise can align your consumer marketing, brand fund, and franchise development efforts.
  • Simplifying the Tech Stack: Why you might not need a massive "data lake" right now, and how consolidating basic data can eliminate up to 30% of wasted marketing spend.
  • Empathy in Operations: Learn the "therapy session" approach to franchisee relations and why giving franchisees a space to be heard is the ultimate tool for buy-in.
  • The Missing Link in Field Support: Why your Franchise Business Coaches must understand local marketing to effectively advocate for both the brand and the franchisee.
  • The Power of Personal Branding: Why founders and CEOs need a strong public presence to attract high-quality franchisees who are essentially "marrying" the business.

Connect with Liane Caruso:

  • Follow Liane on LinkedIn for more franchise insights.
  • Check out Hello CMO to learn more about her strategic consulting and fractional marketing services.

 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18831840 Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:00:00 -0400 1523 1 9 full false Franchise Whispering - Empowering Youth Sports & Mastering Franchise Marketing with Madison Gates Franchise Whispering - Empowering Youth Sports & Mastering Franchise Marketing with Madison Gates  

Welcome to the very first in-person episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, brought to you by Franchise Marketing News!

In this episode, host Bob McKay sits down with Madison Gates, VP of Marketing at i9 Sports and founder of Empowered Consulting. With over a decade of experience driving growth for powerhouse franchise brands like Carstar, Maaco, and Neighborly, Madison brings a wealth of knowledge on how to scale effectively while keeping the customer experience front and center.

Drawing from her background as a Division 1 soccer player at the University of Michigan, Madison shares how the lessons she learned on the field translate directly to leading successful franchise operations and empowering local franchisees. We dive deep into the data-driven world of modern marketing, the pushback against youth sports burnout, and why customer retention is the ultimate key to profitability in 2026.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

  • The Evolution of the Executive Suite: Why the CEO of the future is more likely to come from the CMO's desk than the CFO's office.
  • Balancing Data and Emotion: How to blend hard operational metrics with the emotional needs of consumers and franchisees to build lasting trust.
  • The i9 Sports Mission: Pushing back against hyper-specialization, NIL culture, and youth sports burnout to create a foundation of fun and development for kids ages 3 to 14.
  • Winning in 2026: Why shifting your budget from customer acquisition to customer retention is the most critical move for businesses facing rising digital costs.
  • Aligning Marketing & Ops: The three pillars for getting franchisee buy-in and ensuring local operations deliver on the marketing promise.

About Our Guest: Madison Gates is a seasoned franchise marketing executive and the VP of Marketing for i9 Sports. She is also the founder of Empowered Consulting, where she helps franchise brands align their marketing, operations, and revenue strategies.

Connect With Us:

  • Brought to you by Franchise Marketing News
  • Subscribe to the Franchise Whispering Podcast wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode!

 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]>  

Welcome to the very first in-person episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, brought to you by Franchise Marketing News!

In this episode, host Bob McKay sits down with Madison Gates, VP of Marketing at i9 Sports and founder of Empowered Consulting. With over a decade of experience driving growth for powerhouse franchise brands like Carstar, Maaco, and Neighborly, Madison brings a wealth of knowledge on how to scale effectively while keeping the customer experience front and center.

Drawing from her background as a Division 1 soccer player at the University of Michigan, Madison shares how the lessons she learned on the field translate directly to leading successful franchise operations and empowering local franchisees. We dive deep into the data-driven world of modern marketing, the pushback against youth sports burnout, and why customer retention is the ultimate key to profitability in 2026.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

  • The Evolution of the Executive Suite: Why the CEO of the future is more likely to come from the CMO's desk than the CFO's office.
  • Balancing Data and Emotion: How to blend hard operational metrics with the emotional needs of consumers and franchisees to build lasting trust.
  • The i9 Sports Mission: Pushing back against hyper-specialization, NIL culture, and youth sports burnout to create a foundation of fun and development for kids ages 3 to 14.
  • Winning in 2026: Why shifting your budget from customer acquisition to customer retention is the most critical move for businesses facing rising digital costs.
  • Aligning Marketing & Ops: The three pillars for getting franchisee buy-in and ensuring local operations deliver on the marketing promise.

About Our Guest: Madison Gates is a seasoned franchise marketing executive and the VP of Marketing for i9 Sports. She is also the founder of Empowered Consulting, where she helps franchise brands align their marketing, operations, and revenue strategies.

Connect With Us:

  • Brought to you by Franchise Marketing News
  • Subscribe to the Franchise Whispering Podcast wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode!

 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18791367 Wed, 04 Mar 2026 15:00:00 -0500 1957 1 8 full false Franchise Whispering - Reinventing Icons & The Courage Barometer with Kevin Keith Franchise Whispering - Reinventing Icons & The Courage Barometer with Kevin Keith What does it take to turn a 25-year-old legacy brand into a Gen Z favorite?

In this episode of The Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with Kevin Keith, a veteran CMO whose pedigree spans legendary agencies (JWT, Ogilvy) and iconic franchise brands (Orange Theory Fitness, Edible). Kevin shares why he’s stepped away from the corporate C-suite to become a "Simon Cowell style" consultant—delivering the blunt, direct truths that brands need to hear to survive in 2025.

We dive deep into the "re-enrichment" of Edible, the shift from being data-driven to insight-driven, and how AI is finally making "turnkey marketing" a reality for local franchisees.

Key highlights from this episode include:

  • The Courage Barometer: Why some brands want to reinvent themselves but lack the "stomach" to actually do what’s required.
  • Insights > Data: Kevin’s blunt take on why we are "drowning in data but starving for insights."
  • The Rise of "Treat Culture": How Edible tapped into Gen Z’s mindset of rewarding themselves to drive self-consumption sales.
  • The Hybrid Media Model: Why Chipotle and other leaders are winning by fusing TikTok influencers with traditional TV ads.
  • AI Agents for Franchisees: How Kevin helped build an AI agent that maps global playbooks to local stores, removing the marketing burden from the "Zee."
  • Personalization vs. Creepiness: Why the next golden age of creativity belongs to those who can master hyper-relevant, personalized storytelling.

About Our Guest: Kevin Keith is a seasoned marketing executive with over 30 years of experience. He previously served as Chief Brand Officer at Orange Theory Fitness and CMO at Edible. He is currently an independent consultant and adjunct lecturer at Emory University, helping brands navigate the intersection of human behavior and emerging tech.

Timestamps for your Show Notes:

  • 00:00 – Meet the "Simon Cowell of CMOs"
  • 03:52 – The Edible Journey: Rebranding a 25-year-old icon
  • 05:55 – Do you have a "Courage Barometer"?
  • 08:26 – Building Marketing Capability vs. just Campaigns
  • 11:15 – Orange Theory’s "More Life" platform: Turning a brand into a rallying cry
  • 15:08 – Why Kevin is "Insight-Driven," not just Data-Driven
  • 19:53 – "Treat Culture" & How Gen Z searches differently (TikTok vs. Google)
  • 24:19 – AI Search & Hallucinations: Garbage In, Garbage Out
  • 29:47 – Final Advice for Zors & Zees: Make it Easy to Win

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> What does it take to turn a 25-year-old legacy brand into a Gen Z favorite?

In this episode of The Franchise Whispering Podcast, Bob McKay sits down with Kevin Keith, a veteran CMO whose pedigree spans legendary agencies (JWT, Ogilvy) and iconic franchise brands (Orange Theory Fitness, Edible). Kevin shares why he’s stepped away from the corporate C-suite to become a "Simon Cowell style" consultant—delivering the blunt, direct truths that brands need to hear to survive in 2025.

We dive deep into the "re-enrichment" of Edible, the shift from being data-driven to insight-driven, and how AI is finally making "turnkey marketing" a reality for local franchisees.

Key highlights from this episode include:

  • The Courage Barometer: Why some brands want to reinvent themselves but lack the "stomach" to actually do what’s required.
  • Insights > Data: Kevin’s blunt take on why we are "drowning in data but starving for insights."
  • The Rise of "Treat Culture": How Edible tapped into Gen Z’s mindset of rewarding themselves to drive self-consumption sales.
  • The Hybrid Media Model: Why Chipotle and other leaders are winning by fusing TikTok influencers with traditional TV ads.
  • AI Agents for Franchisees: How Kevin helped build an AI agent that maps global playbooks to local stores, removing the marketing burden from the "Zee."
  • Personalization vs. Creepiness: Why the next golden age of creativity belongs to those who can master hyper-relevant, personalized storytelling.

About Our Guest: Kevin Keith is a seasoned marketing executive with over 30 years of experience. He previously served as Chief Brand Officer at Orange Theory Fitness and CMO at Edible. He is currently an independent consultant and adjunct lecturer at Emory University, helping brands navigate the intersection of human behavior and emerging tech.

Timestamps for your Show Notes:

  • 00:00 – Meet the "Simon Cowell of CMOs"
  • 03:52 – The Edible Journey: Rebranding a 25-year-old icon
  • 05:55 – Do you have a "Courage Barometer"?
  • 08:26 – Building Marketing Capability vs. just Campaigns
  • 11:15 – Orange Theory’s "More Life" platform: Turning a brand into a rallying cry
  • 15:08 – Why Kevin is "Insight-Driven," not just Data-Driven
  • 19:53 – "Treat Culture" & How Gen Z searches differently (TikTok vs. Google)
  • 24:19 – AI Search & Hallucinations: Garbage In, Garbage Out
  • 29:47 – Final Advice for Zors & Zees: Make it Easy to Win

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18749048 Wed, 25 Feb 2026 16:00:00 -0500 1900 1 7 full false Franchise Whispering - Major League Marketing & Community Impact with Derek & Jillian Pipkorn Franchise Whispering - Major League Marketing & Community Impact with Derek & Jillian Pipkorn Franchise marketing is a team sport, and today we’re joined by two of the MVP players in the Mathnasium system. Derek and Jillian Pipkorn are multi-unit franchisees in the Milwaukee area who have mastered the art of "taking it personally" to ensure every family in their territory knows they exist.

In this episode, Bob McKay explores the unique partnership between Derek (an educator) and Jillian (a marketing strategist) and how they’ve turned a math learning center into a community powerhouse.

Key highlights from this episode include:

  • The Two-Pronged Sale: How to address the "tears at the kitchen table" for parents while building a "wow factor" that makes kids actually want to show up.
  • The Claw Machine Innovation: How a franchisee-driven idea became a viral rewards tool across their six locations.
  • The Milwaukee Brewers Partnership: The story behind "Math Day" at the ballpark, an event that brings nearly 10,000 students and teachers together for math-based baseball curriculum.
  • Breaking Into Schools: Practical advice on how to turn an "absolutely not" from a principal into a thriving "Math Night" partnership.
  • Regional Collaboration: Why working with "competitor" franchisees in your DMA can lead to massive branding wins (like the Milwaukee County Zoo sponsorship).

About Our Guests: Derek and Jillian Pipkorn own and operate six Mathnasium centers in Wisconsin. With a blend of education expertise and corporate marketing strategy, they have become leaders in the Mathnasium network for their creative community activations and regional marketing efforts.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise marketing is a team sport, and today we’re joined by two of the MVP players in the Mathnasium system. Derek and Jillian Pipkorn are multi-unit franchisees in the Milwaukee area who have mastered the art of "taking it personally" to ensure every family in their territory knows they exist.

In this episode, Bob McKay explores the unique partnership between Derek (an educator) and Jillian (a marketing strategist) and how they’ve turned a math learning center into a community powerhouse.

Key highlights from this episode include:

  • The Two-Pronged Sale: How to address the "tears at the kitchen table" for parents while building a "wow factor" that makes kids actually want to show up.
  • The Claw Machine Innovation: How a franchisee-driven idea became a viral rewards tool across their six locations.
  • The Milwaukee Brewers Partnership: The story behind "Math Day" at the ballpark, an event that brings nearly 10,000 students and teachers together for math-based baseball curriculum.
  • Breaking Into Schools: Practical advice on how to turn an "absolutely not" from a principal into a thriving "Math Night" partnership.
  • Regional Collaboration: Why working with "competitor" franchisees in your DMA can lead to massive branding wins (like the Milwaukee County Zoo sponsorship).

About Our Guests: Derek and Jillian Pipkorn own and operate six Mathnasium centers in Wisconsin. With a blend of education expertise and corporate marketing strategy, they have become leaders in the Mathnasium network for their creative community activations and regional marketing efforts.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18707600 Wed, 18 Feb 2026 14:00:00 -0500 1922 1 6 full false Franchise Whispering - Making a Splash: Purpose-Driven Marketing & The "Neighborhood Test" with Heather Anderson Franchise Whispering - Making a Splash: Purpose-Driven Marketing & The "Neighborhood Test" with Heather Anderson  

In this episode of The Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Heather Anderson, Head of Marketing for Safe Splash Swim Schools (part of the Youth Enrichment Brands portfolio).

Heather shares her unique journey from growing up in the world of creative agencies to leading marketing and operations in the franchise space. We dive deep into how Safe Splash is moving beyond "digital-only" marketing to revitalize grassroots community connections and why every marketing idea must pass the "Tuesday at 3:00 PM" operational reality check.

Key highlights from this episode include:

  • The Bridge Between Marketing & Operations: Why Heather believes marketing leaders need "operational muscles" to ensure brand promises can actually be executed at the local level.
  • The Safer Swimmer Promise: A look at Safe Splash’s first-of-its-kind program that guarantees 10 essential self-rescue skills for students, moving from "risk" to "reward" for parents.
  • The Four C’s of Progress: How to categorize the customer journey through Comfort, Capable, Confident, and Competitive stages.
  • Celebrating Success: Why signing the "Starfish Wall" and ringing the bell creates the emotional stickiness that drives long-term retention.
  • Humanizing the Brand: Leveraging the incredible stories of franchisees—including Olympians—to build local trust.

About Our Guest: Heather Anderson is a seasoned franchise executive with extensive experience at The Little Gym and now Youth Enrichment Brands. She specializes in purpose-driven growth and building family-first marketing strategies that scale.

Connect with Franchise Marketing News:

  • Website: https://franchisemarketingnews.com/
  • Mission: To elevate the conversation of franchise marketing through innovation, impact, and intelligence.

 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]>  

In this episode of The Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Heather Anderson, Head of Marketing for Safe Splash Swim Schools (part of the Youth Enrichment Brands portfolio).

Heather shares her unique journey from growing up in the world of creative agencies to leading marketing and operations in the franchise space. We dive deep into how Safe Splash is moving beyond "digital-only" marketing to revitalize grassroots community connections and why every marketing idea must pass the "Tuesday at 3:00 PM" operational reality check.

Key highlights from this episode include:

  • The Bridge Between Marketing & Operations: Why Heather believes marketing leaders need "operational muscles" to ensure brand promises can actually be executed at the local level.
  • The Safer Swimmer Promise: A look at Safe Splash’s first-of-its-kind program that guarantees 10 essential self-rescue skills for students, moving from "risk" to "reward" for parents.
  • The Four C’s of Progress: How to categorize the customer journey through Comfort, Capable, Confident, and Competitive stages.
  • Celebrating Success: Why signing the "Starfish Wall" and ringing the bell creates the emotional stickiness that drives long-term retention.
  • Humanizing the Brand: Leveraging the incredible stories of franchisees—including Olympians—to build local trust.

About Our Guest: Heather Anderson is a seasoned franchise executive with extensive experience at The Little Gym and now Youth Enrichment Brands. She specializes in purpose-driven growth and building family-first marketing strategies that scale.

Connect with Franchise Marketing News:

  • Website: https://franchisemarketingnews.com/
  • Mission: To elevate the conversation of franchise marketing through innovation, impact, and intelligence.

 

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18664190 Wed, 11 Feb 2026 11:00:00 -0500 1861 1 5 full false Franchise Whispering - Scalable Foundations and the "Devil’s Calculator" with Madeleine Zook Franchise Whispering - Scalable Foundations and the "Devil’s Calculator" with Madeleine Zook In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Madeleine Zook, co-founder of Catalyst and a USA Today "Top 10 CMO to Watch." Madeleine brings a rare perspective to the table—acting as a multi-unit franchisee, a franchisor, and a high-level advisor.

She breaks down the blueprint for how emerging brands can behave like industry giants by building a "shiftable" foundation that scales from unit one to unit 10,000.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Building a Nimble Infrastructure: Why your marketing foundation must be designed to flex and shift as you grow.
  • The Accountability Funnel: A step-by-step framework to stop the "blame game" between franchisors and agencies. Madeleine explains how to identify if your problem is budget, creative, technical, or operational.
  • Moving the Middle: Why focusing on your bottom-tier performers is a losing game, and how shifting your "third quartile" into the second can exponentially boost your system’s ROI.
  • The Rise of "Answer Engines": How AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT are changing search behavior, and why Google Reviews are now your most critical SEO asset.
  • The "Devil’s Calculator": A reality check on what it actually costs to hit your revenue goals through local marketing.

Key Highlights:

"The whole purpose of franchising is not recreating the wheel. Build a scalable foundation that can grow with you—not one that locks you into what you need today, but what you’ll need in three years." — Madeleine Zook

Timestamps & Topics:

  • [02:12] Creating a "shiftable" foundation for emerging brands.
  • [04:49] The 3 Pillars: Website/SEO, Paid Digital, and Local Empowerment.
  • [09:05] The 4-step analysis for media performance and accountability.
  • [18:43] Why you should focus on your middle-performing franchisees.
  • [24:26] The "Marketing Loop": From organic social to Google reviews.
  • [43:27] A leadership lesson on the "heart" of franchising.

About Our Guest:

Madeleine Zook is a powerhouse in the franchise space. As the co-founder of Catalyst, she specializes in fractional CMO services and strategic advisory for brands looking to professionalize their marketing stacks. She is a frequent speaker at IFA events and is widely recognized for her "giving back" mentality within the franchise community.

Connect with Us:

  • Franchise Marketing News: [Link]
  • Follow Madeleine Zook on LinkedIn: [Link]

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Madeleine Zook, co-founder of Catalyst and a USA Today "Top 10 CMO to Watch." Madeleine brings a rare perspective to the table—acting as a multi-unit franchisee, a franchisor, and a high-level advisor.

She breaks down the blueprint for how emerging brands can behave like industry giants by building a "shiftable" foundation that scales from unit one to unit 10,000.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Building a Nimble Infrastructure: Why your marketing foundation must be designed to flex and shift as you grow.
  • The Accountability Funnel: A step-by-step framework to stop the "blame game" between franchisors and agencies. Madeleine explains how to identify if your problem is budget, creative, technical, or operational.
  • Moving the Middle: Why focusing on your bottom-tier performers is a losing game, and how shifting your "third quartile" into the second can exponentially boost your system’s ROI.
  • The Rise of "Answer Engines": How AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT are changing search behavior, and why Google Reviews are now your most critical SEO asset.
  • The "Devil’s Calculator": A reality check on what it actually costs to hit your revenue goals through local marketing.

Key Highlights:

"The whole purpose of franchising is not recreating the wheel. Build a scalable foundation that can grow with you—not one that locks you into what you need today, but what you’ll need in three years." — Madeleine Zook

Timestamps & Topics:

  • [02:12] Creating a "shiftable" foundation for emerging brands.
  • [04:49] The 3 Pillars: Website/SEO, Paid Digital, and Local Empowerment.
  • [09:05] The 4-step analysis for media performance and accountability.
  • [18:43] Why you should focus on your middle-performing franchisees.
  • [24:26] The "Marketing Loop": From organic social to Google reviews.
  • [43:27] A leadership lesson on the "heart" of franchising.

About Our Guest:

Madeleine Zook is a powerhouse in the franchise space. As the co-founder of Catalyst, she specializes in fractional CMO services and strategic advisory for brands looking to professionalize their marketing stacks. She is a frequent speaker at IFA events and is widely recognized for her "giving back" mentality within the franchise community.

Connect with Us:

  • Franchise Marketing News: [Link]
  • Follow Madeleine Zook on LinkedIn: [Link]

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18626327 Wed, 04 Feb 2026 15:00:00 -0500 2512 1 4 full false Franchise Whispering - Scaling Sweet Success: From One Location to 100+ with Greg George Franchise Whispering - Scaling Sweet Success: From One Location to 100+ with Greg George In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Greg George, a dynamic figure in the franchise world with over 100 locations under his belt. Greg shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the dessert franchise industry, highlighting the importance of authenticity and innovation. Discover how Greg's unique approach to franchising, his passion for diverse product offerings, and his commitment to local marketing have set his brands apart in a saturated market. Tune in to learn valuable insights on maintaining brand presence and the power of storytelling in business.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> In this episode of the Franchise Whispering Podcast, host Bob McKay sits down with Greg George, a dynamic figure in the franchise world with over 100 locations under his belt. Greg shares his journey from humble beginnings to becoming a leader in the dessert franchise industry, highlighting the importance of authenticity and innovation. Discover how Greg's unique approach to franchising, his passion for diverse product offerings, and his commitment to local marketing have set his brands apart in a saturated market. Tune in to learn valuable insights on maintaining brand presence and the power of storytelling in business.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> https://franchisemarketingnews.com/ Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18578431 Wed, 28 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 2233 Franchise Success, Authentic Leadership, Franchise Marketing, Business Growth, Recovery Journey, Business Growth, Authentic Leadership, Mentorship, Sobriety, 1 3 full false Franchise Whispering - Why Marketing Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Franchising with Kristen Pechacek Franchise Whispering - Why Marketing Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Franchising with Kristen Pechacek In this conversation, Kristen discusses the transformative role of marketing in today's business landscape. She emphasizes that marketing is no longer just about traditional advertising but has evolved into a critical function that drives business innovation through consumer insights and data. Kristen argues that marketers are uniquely positioned to understand consumer demand and should lead the charge in shaping business strategies.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> In this conversation, Kristen discusses the transformative role of marketing in today's business landscape. She emphasizes that marketing is no longer just about traditional advertising but has evolved into a critical function that drives business innovation through consumer insights and data. Kristen argues that marketers are uniquely positioned to understand consumer demand and should lead the charge in shaping business strategies.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> https://franchisemarketingnews.com/ Franchise Marketing News Buzzsprout-18540773 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500 2148 marketing, consumer insights, business innovation, brand strategy, data-driven marketing 1 2 full false Franchise Whispering - Scaling Health and Wellness with Guy Coffey Franchise Whispering - Scaling Health and Wellness with Guy Coffey In this inaugural episode of the Franchise Whispering podcast, host Bob McKay interviews Guy Coffey, a seasoned expert in the franchise industry. They discuss Guy's journey from international relations to becoming a successful franchisee and franchisor in the fitness and beauty sectors. The conversation explores the evolution of marketing in franchising, the impact of COVID-19 on the fitness industry, and emerging trends in health and wellness. Guy shares insights on franchisee selection, the importance of community engagement, and the significance of personal branding in marketing. The episode concludes with a lightning round of quick insights and recommendations for aspiring franchisees and entrepreneurs.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> In this inaugural episode of the Franchise Whispering podcast, host Bob McKay interviews Guy Coffey, a seasoned expert in the franchise industry. They discuss Guy's journey from international relations to becoming a successful franchisee and franchisor in the fitness and beauty sectors. The conversation explores the evolution of marketing in franchising, the impact of COVID-19 on the fitness industry, and emerging trends in health and wellness. Guy shares insights on franchisee selection, the importance of community engagement, and the significance of personal branding in marketing. The episode concludes with a lightning round of quick insights and recommendations for aspiring franchisees and entrepreneurs.

Join the Conversation

Thanks for tuning in to the Franchise Whispering Podcast, published by Franchise Marketing News. Our mission is to elevate the franchise marketing conversation by aligning franchisors and franchisees around Intelligence, Impact, and ROI.

If you found value in today’s episode, please subscribe on your favorite platform and leave us a review. Your support helps us continue to bring the brightest minds in franchising to the table.

Stay Connected:

Have a topic you want us to whisper about? Reach out to our team at [Matt@franchisemarketingnews.com].

© 2026 Franchise Marketing News. Whispering the truth, delivering the results.

]]> https://franchisemarketingnews.com Buzzsprout-18507404 Wed, 14 Jan 2026 10:00:00 -0500 4265 franchising, fitness, wellness, marketing, franchise development, entrepreneurship, business growth, franchisee selection, health trends, beauty industry 1 1 full false