Social Geek

Happy New Year, Geeks! And welcome to Year 17 of Social Geek Podcast and our New Year’s Day Special. We’ve got 26 Franchise Pros sharing their goals for ‘26: Heather McLeod Ricky Richardson Susan Beth Jania Bailey John Hayes Kris Stuart Emily George Paul Segreto Lauren Fernandez Brent Greenwood Edith Wiseman Jerry Akers Robert Mitchell Martha Tomas Flynn Gabby Wong Richie Huffman Jennifer Durham M...

Today on the most popular franchise podcast, we’re wrapping up 2025 with the Franchise Rock Stars. What did we learn this year? What worked? What did NOT work?  Today's Franchise Rock Star Panel: Derrick Ableman, Scott Greenberg, Kristen Pechacek, and Danielle Wright joining host Jack Monson. We’re missing Ali Kraus today --  see you in January! Thanks to all of our sponsors for 202...

We talk a lot about Multi-Unit Owners and Legacy Brands in franchising. But the life blood for the future of franchising and small business ownership is the Emerging Brand. Today on the most popular franchise podcast, we’re live at the SMB Franchise Summit hearing from new Emerging Franchisors about how they’re growing in 2026! Thanks for joining us: Marc Howland of Breadless Dominique Sandu of D....

We're back live at Franchise Expo Austin! In Part Two, host Jack Monson is chatting with more franchise development leaders and CEOs of some the top brands in franchising. We’ll find out about their goals and plans for 2026. Joining today's show: Scott McIntosh, Mr Gatti's Pizza Marcus Fuller, Beef-A-Roo Bruce Granger, NaturaLawn of America Ty Brewster, FranReal Randolph Clarito, 1 Heart Caregiver...

Today we are live at Franchise Expo Austin! Host Jack Monson is chatting with the franchise development leaders and CEOs of some the top brands in franchising. We’ll find out about their goals and plans for 2026! Joining today's show: Kyla Dufresne, Foxy Box Jack Hall, Cicis Pizza Blaine Young, NaturaLawn of America Kevin Brickner, The Goddard School Rhea Lana, Rhea Lana's Franchise Systems Jeneph...

It doesn’t matter what you do with AI. There…I said it. Come and get me, snake oil salesman. What DOES matter is what your candidates and customers do with AI and how they’re finding you. It’s the Marketing & Innovation Update for October on the most popular franchise podcast, Social Geek! Patti Rother, Founder and CEO of Root + Rise, is here to help Fran Dev pros feed the Large Language Model...

What do brands really need from their partners and vendors? And how can suppliers best manage those relationships? It’s Episode 1200 of Social Geek! The Franchise Rock Stars are back on the most popular podcast in franchising: Kristen Pechacek, Ali Kraus, Derrick Abelman, and Danielle Wright. We’re diving deep into the three-legged stool of Franchisors, Franchisees, and Suppliers to...

Where are your best new leads coming from? What’s your go-to source for the best candidates who will make the best franchisees? Franchise Development Marketing is the focus on today’s show with some of my favorite franchise brand leaders recorded LIVE at Franchise Expo West in LA. You’ll hear from: Robert Bhagwandat, Checkers & Rally’s Megan Birkey, McDonald’s Mark Treptow, Gong Cha Jimmy Week...

It’s the Franchise Marketing Fall Preview on Social Geek! Matt Haller, CEO of The International Franchise Association gives a preview of this year’s IFA Advocacy Summit in DC and the association’s view on top issues for small business. Ali Kraus of Benetrends and Bloomin’ Blinds’ Kristopher Stuart discuss the launch of Furry Frans, the franchise community’s exciting new non-profit project. Ford Sa...

Recorded live at IFE 2025 in New York with MFV Expositions! It's the final chapter in our 4 part series of conversations with founders, CEOs, and Franchise Development leaders including: Richard Snow of Brooklyn Robot Foundry Rochelle Castiglione of Merry Maids Ben Woodruff of WOOPS! Collin Benyo of The Melting Pot Giles Brake of Alliott Global Alliance Thanks to Northeast Color, Franzy, Hughes, a...

Recorded live at IFE 2025 in New York with MFV Expositions! It's part 3 in our series of conversations with founders, CEOs, and Franchise Development leaders including: Will Richards of Dill Dinkers Pickleball Greg Salzano of Philly Pretzel Factory Jeff Brazier of Kiddie Academy Utkash Yadav of Sigri Indian BBQ Kizito Paganini of Wrap City Thanks to Northeast Color, Franzy, Hughes, and Furry Frans...

Recorded live at IFE 2025 in New York with MFV Expositions! Special thanks to Dawn Abbamondi and the team at SMB Franchise Advisors for introducing me to so many interesting emerging Franchise brands. Today, we’re speaking with: Jon Sieber, Storytime Chess / Chess at Three Mike Chidester, Chiddy’s Cheesesteak Kate Pawlowski, DDH Eddie Fahmy, Doner Haus Diane, Alvin, and Eric Thomas, New Life Assis...

We’re only as bad as today. We’re always getting better tomorrow. -Sam Stanovich   Recorded LIVE at The International Franchise Expo 2025 in New York with MFV Expositions! We kicked off IFE 2025 speaking with one of my favorite franchisors and restauranteurs, Sam Stanovich of Craveworthy Brands. Sam is always up for sharing ideas about new innovations in both the board room and the kitchen at...

It’s the Marketing & Innovation Update for July. Generative Search or AI Search is shifting the SEO game from getting from a list of results to a single answer to a question. Steve Buors, CEO and co-founder of ReShift Media is here to answer franchisors’ questions like: Is your website traffic declining already due to AI?  How strong is your brand’s authority? How will all of this change...

The Social Geek Marketing & Innovation series rolls on with video help from a pro. YouTuber Amy Landino of AmyTV is here to help you make better videos. Amy discusses: Long-form versus short-form video How to pull people in at the beginning of your video The importance of hooks and thumbnails And she shares her proven 5-step formula that will make your videos perform better today. Subscribe to...

Today: One On One with restaurant expert and entrepreneur Lauren Fernandez of Full Course. Lauren brings us up to speed on all things food & franchising. We'll discuss restaurant trends and hot topics including labor, digitization, robots, menu trends, Nowstalgia, and consumer behavior. Thanks to Vendasta , Franzy , Hughes , and Citrin Cooperman http://vendasta.com/franchise https://franzy.com...

It’s the Marketing and Innovation Update for June, 2025. Entrepreneur, Podcaster, and now Franchisee Richard Snow shares an update on the IFA Franchise Ascension Initiative. Next, Sherry McNeil of the Canadian Franchise Association joins the podcast to wish all of you a Happy World Franchise Day! Today’s show is brought to you by  Vendasta , Franzy , Hughes , and Thunderly ⚡ Special Guests:...

Today we’ve got a two-part conversation with Gini Dietrich of Spin Sucks. First, Gini returns to Social Geek with an update on the PESO model – the relationship of implementing Paid, Earned, Shared, and Owned media strategies. She shares stories about: • Challenges in measuring all media but in different ways • The effect of AI on the PESO model and what’s next • Creating good content still matter...

“There are two types of Franchises…” Jon Taffer, restauranteur, entrepreneur, and host of Bar Rescue. Jon Taffer joins the podcast to share stats visits to restaurants, the branding behind Taffer’s Tavern, and why it’s a Tavern, NOT just a bar. Our friends Josh Halpern and Sam Stanovich from Craveworthy Brands also join us for a compelling conversation about how connectivity makes an establish gre...

Welcome to Just Jania, the podcast hosted by Jania Bailey and powered by FranNet. Today Jania welcomes Jason Feifer, Editor in Chief of Entrepreneur Magazine, back to the podcast for conversation about opportunity  management, championing innovation, and the relationship between content & connection.

Bad Bosses. We’ve all had them and we don’t wanna be them. Today The Franchise Rock Stars are here to share some horror stories and some advice. Join Ali Kraus, Danielle Wright, Derrick Ableman, Kristen Pechacek, and Scott Greenberg! For more details on the amazing new certification program Scott mentioned, please visit www.hemsworldwide.com Thanks to Vendasta, Franzy, Hughes, and Citrin Cooperman...

2015 called and wants its marketing strategy back. It's the Social Geek Marketing & Innovation update for May with outspoken innovative marketer, Maresa Friedman. Maresa joins host Jack Monson for a round of venting about some bad trends in marketing especially for franchise brands including: AI-generated LinkedIn posts LinkedIn “heroes” Marketing personas Sales funnels Vanity metrics Pre-scri...

Shelly Sun Berkowitz joins a One On One conversation with Social Geek host Jack Monson. She describes her recent sale of her successful franchise brand BrightStar Care to a Private Equity partner, moving from CEO to Executive Chairwoman of the Board, and remaining involved in the home care industry and franchising. Shelly shares advice for leaders regarding: Turning over “your baby” to new owners...

It’s Part 2 of our Social Geek Podcast series recorded live at Franchise Expo Charlotte. In this double-sized episode, we’re talking to franchise development pros, CEOs, and founders about what makes their brand unique and getting their take on the what’s up in franchising for the rest of 2025. You’ll hear from: Raj Bhasin, Autism Center of Excellence Shannon Wilburn and Brian Luciani, SMB Franchi...

AI Sherpa is back on Social Geek. This month, Robert Mitchell welcomes guest Eric Cook, Franchise Owner with WSI. Robert and Eric discuss the consulting side of WSI’s AI work with a focus on how AI is impacting community banks and other local businesses.   Also, our monthly update on the latest AI tools for Franchises including Robert’s take on DeepSeek, the completive landscape for apps, and...