Franchise Interviews 4.0

How do you take a single wellness retreat and scale it into a national brand? In this episode, we sit down with Scott Schubiger, Chief Development Officer of Heights Wellness Retreat (formerly Massage Heights). We discuss their recent brand evolution, their family-owned roots, and how they’ve successfully scaled to over 100 locations across the U.S. and Canada by offering resort-quality wellness....

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are diving into the booming beauty and wellness industry with a true industry pioneer. We’re sitting down with the team behind Jon’Ric International—the brand that revolutionized the upscale 'Specialty Spa' and co-branding franchise model. With decades s of experience, Jon’Ric takes a highly selective approach to growth, partnering only with top-tier...

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! We have a fantastic show lined up for you today. Joining us is Todd Leff, the CEO and President of Hand & Stone. He's diving deep into how they've mastered the wellness industry by providing top-tier, personalized therapeutic massages, alongside a look at the history and growth of the organization. But that's not all—later in the show, we’re featuring our...

Today, we are diving into a massive lifestyle shift that is completely changing the face of franchising: the rise of the "Dadpreneur." According to U.S. Census data, the number of work-from-home and stay-at-home dads has more than doubled over the last decade, showing a major shift in how modern families approach work and childcare. Joining us today is a man living this trend every single day—Rick...

Think back to the last time you moved to a brand-new city or neighborhood. How did you figure out where to get your morning coffee, find a reliable mechanic, or choose a new dentist? You had to start entirely from scratch. Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are exploring a franchise that has turned that exact transitional moment into a massive growth driver for local businesses. We ar...

When you think of a successful coworking space, you probably think of good coffee and comfortable chairs. But what happens when fifty people try to jump on a video call at the exact same time and the Wi-Fi crashes? Welcome to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are talking to Jason Anderson, President of Venture X—the fastest-growing coworking franchise in the industry. Venture X is on a massive missi...

Welcome back to Franchise Interviews! Today, we are sitting down with Mike Thakur, the mastermind behind the WorkLodge franchise opportunity. Now, Mike’s journey to the business world is anything but ordinary. After moving from the UK to Houston, planting a church, and working in high-stakes international security, he noticed a major problem: the shared workspaces he was forced to use felt less li...

Scaling a Commercial Landscaping Empire: Ken Hutcheson, President of U.S. Lawns What does it take to build a commercial grounds management network that spans over 250 locations nationwide? In this episode, we sit down with Ken Hutcheson, President of U.S. Lawns, to discuss how this premier franchise keeps communities beautiful while empowering local business owners. Operating out of their Home Off...

Empowering Communities & Saving Lives: Inside Silverback Self Defense with Robert Webre How do you take a life-saving passion and scale it into a nationwide franchise? In this episode, we sit down with Robert Webre, Founder and Owner of Silverback Self Defense—a professional safety and self-defense company rewriting the rules of personal protection. Silverback Self Defense specializes in highl...

Showhomes CEO Matt Kelton: Transforming Real Estate into a Franchise Powerhouse What does it take to scale a home-staging business into a multi-billion dollar franchise network? In this episode, we sit down with Matt Kelton, CEO of Showhomes—the nation’s leading home-staging and redesign franchise. Founded in 1986, Showhomes has helped Realtors and homeowners sell more than 25,000 residential prop...

Thank you for registering for the New York Public Library program titled “Rock Star MBA - Untapped Lessons on Marketing from Artists” on Monday May 18th 2026 with my guest speaker Martin J. McDermott. Thank you, Martin J. McDermott for a highly informative and engaging program and everyone who registered for this event. Bio:  Martin J. McDermott, DBA, brings over 25 years of experience as a busine...

Welcome back to the show! Today, we are speaking with Andrea Pirrotti-Dranchak, the Chief Marketing and Development Officer for Office Evolution—which just happens to be the fastest-growing and number-one coworking franchise in the US. With the traditional 9-to-5 still completely up in the air, companies and entrepreneurs are looking for flexibility, and Office Evolution is stepping right into tha...

2M+ Followers: Scaling the American Dream Description: What does it take to turn a small, local repair business into a national franchise powerhouse? In this episode, we sit down with Sergei Kaminskiy, founder of Kaminskiy Care and Repair, to dissect a 20-year journey of strategic growth and brand building. From his early days as a recent immigrant to the U.S. to cultivating an organic social medi...

In a world of 28 million small businesses, everyone is looking for that one marketing 'silver bullet.' But what if the best ROI isn't found in a digital ad, but in a handshake? Today, we’re meeting with Scott Talley, the founder of Network In Action. Scott saw an industry that was stuck in the past—demanding 100-plus hours a year for weekly meetings that most owners just don't have. NIA flipped th...

After releasing Rock Star MBA, I knew an audiobook was the next essential step. As a listener myself, I know how much more an idea sticks when it’s delivered directly into your ears. My original plan was manual and messy: hours in Audacity, fighting with noise floors and peak levels. Then, a colleague pointed me toward ElevenLabs. The efficiency was staggering, a full manuscript narrated in minute...

Big news…I’ve officially stepped into the Audible recording booth  I’m currently working on the Audible version of Rock Star MBA: 77 Untapped Lessons on Life, Business, Marketing, Entrepreneurship, & Leadership from Rock Stars, and let me tell you, this has been a whole new challenge. If you think podcasting is tough… Audible recording is a different beast entirely. The technical standards are...

40 Years of Excellence: Exploring the Estrella Insurance Franchise Opportunity In this episode, we sit down with Felipe Martinez, Director of Franchise Development, to dive deep into the proven model behind Estrella Insurance. With over four decades of history and 200+ locations nationwide, Estrella isn't just an insurance provider—it’s a powerhouse of franchisee support and industry expertise. Ke...

  Communities and businesses are getting aggressive in the fight against drain and sewage crises caused by FOG (fats, oils, and grease). Enter Aziz Tejpar, founder of EnviroLogik—the expert in commercial drain and odor control. In this episode, we dive into how EnviroLogik is moving beyond industry leadership to become a true industry disruptor. With a first-to-market franchise model and a goal of...

This podcast episode of Rockstar MBA, hosted by Dr. Martin J. McDermott, explores the intersection of music education and business through an interview with Brian Gross, President of Bach to Rock. The discussion highlights how Bach to Rock is revolutionizing music instruction by moving away from traditional, isolated lessons and toward a social, team-based environment—much like a "Little League" f...

Building Legacies: The Backyard Wealth Franchise Journey In this episode, we sit down with Backyard Wealth, a premier real estate education franchise dedicated to turning everyday consumers into savvy investors. We explore how their comprehensive curriculum—covering everything from first-time home buying to multi-unit investing—empowers individuals to master the market. Plus, we dive into their "B...

How do you break into a multi-trillion dollar industry and actually own the space? Today, we’re talking to Reena Bhatia of BidExecs about a franchise model that lets you leverage your local influence and professional know-how to build a powerhouse in contract management. It’s the perfect transition for military officers and consultants ready to take the reins of their own future. Plus, stick aroun...

The AI hosts at Google NotebookLM take a deep dive into Dr. Martin J. McDermott's analysis on the film Deliver Me From Nowhere to extract professional insights from Bruce Springsteen’s creative process during the recording of his album Nebraska. The author highlights how innovation stems from courage and conviction rather than high-end technology, noting that Springsteen chose to release a raw, ex...

Hi everyone, and welcome to a special edition of Franchise Interviews. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been diving deep into the world of social media marketing for franchisors and franchisees. Today, we’re joined by Sophie Nguyen, the CEO of So Gold Marketing. Sophie’s journey began in 2013 at Purdue University, where she spent three years building their online presence through real-time community...

This Deep Dive Podcast explores the concept that innovation is often unnecessary because established paths to achievement already exist. By examining the Rock Star MBA framework, the author illustrates how professionals can mirror the proven strategies of music icons and successful corporations to avoid common failures. The sources emphasize that following a "map"—whether through franchising, ment...

NYC Recording - Untapped Lessons on Entrepreneurship  from Artists Presented by Dr. Martin J. McDermott, Monday, December 22, 2025, 5PM EST, Thomas Yoseloff Business Center Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library Overview Discover entrepreneurship through the arts, not just boardrooms or textbooks. **This event will be online only** Discover entrepreneurship through the arts, not just boardrooms or te...