He started as a water delivery driver who was publicly humiliated by his boss — then bought a rundown Great Clips with no money and a handful of Post-it coupons. In this episode, Greg Thomas tells a straight-shooting story of anger turned into action: a humiliating moment becomes a vow, a tiny coupon becomes a growth engine, and a restless hustler becomes one of the largest Great Clips franchisees.

Listen as Greg maps the risks, the wild scrambles for cash, the opportunistic buyouts, and the unorthodox leadership playbook that centers on paying people well and teaching them to win. It’s a tale of stubborn grit, creative marketing, and relentless reinvention — the kind of messy, human journey that proves very big ventures truly start small.

Meet Ken Baker: the finance leader whose story moves from a family grocery born from unexpected ash of a volcanic eruption to the backstage of Disney and the front lines of restaurant kitchens. In this episode, Ken traces the unlikely thread that led him from wardrobe rooms to Universal Studios, Planet Hollywood, and the scrappy days at Hawkers—where a passion for hospitality and a hunger for data collided. You’ll hear the human moments, the hard pivots, and the small, stubborn decisions that shaped a career.

Then watch the spark become a plan. Ken unveils Roasted Data, a mission to turn dashboards into actions by simulating restaurant flow and delivering simple, high-impact recommendations for managers on the floor. It’s a practical, people-first vision for using analytics to coach leaders, protect guest experience, and drive margin—showing how one idea, quietly built, can change the way an industry operates. Tune in for a story about conviction, craft, and the very big venture still ahead.

In this exclusive panel discussion, industry experts Jeff Kolton and Alicia Miller will share insights on how both emerging franchises and established brands can prepare their operations, financials, and strategies for a smooth, successful transaction.

Discover the secrets to scaling and managing a growing business with Lee Allen, Head of Commercial Real Estate at PetVet Care Centers. With a portfolio of over 450 locations across the United States, Lee has navigated the complexities of rapid expansion, operational challenges, and real estate management at scale.

Josh Liggins, Director of Franchising at Inspire Brands, whose portfolio includes nearly 32,000 Arby's, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin', Jimmy John's, and Sonic; and Dipak Patel, Chief Executive Officer & President of Anna Management, a Dunkin franchisee who has made history opening over 100 locations for Dunkin, join us in this episode. 

This episode includes speakers Salem Najjar, CEO of Serve Hospitality Group, one of the largest and highest performing Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisees in the Midwest, as well as Kevin McTigue, Manager, Solutions Engineering at Restaurant365 and Taj Adhav, Founder of Leasecake, as they discuss maximizing profitability & efficiency.

Join us for an exclusive podcast with Diego Pacheco, Chief Growth Officer at Ace Pickleball Club to learn about how Ace Pickleball Club evolved from a visionary idea into a thriving enterprise, expanding its footprint across multiple locations and redefining the pickleball experience.

Listen to learn the secrets behind Dave's Hot Chicken's remarkable expansion. Featuring Carolyn Canady, Chief Development Officer of Dave's Hot Chicken, and Deryl Pangelinan, COO of Cluckin, one of Dave’s largest and fastest-growing franchisees, these industry experts explore the importance of strong relationships, the impact of a people-centric approach, and the dynamics of effective franchisee-franchisor collaboration.

Bob Folsom, a franchise owner of Anytime Fitness, shares his insights and experience working at a rapidly expanding fitness franchise, including his tips, tricks, and tools used to find and add new locations to their portfolio with a lean team.