The LFG Podcast

Join Liane Caruso (Co-Founder, Franchise Assembly and HelloCMO), Aditya Varanasi (CEO & Founder of Awarity) and Pat O'Toole (CMO of Unleashed Brands) as they explore the full funnel approach to today's digital marketing landscape and what happens when you ignore top of funnel and brand awareness marketing.  They discuss: - Meet the customers where they are in their journey  - how the u...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Frank Tommy Brotke, VP of Product Marketing of Papirfly, to learn all about Franchise brand control in the zero-click era We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Joe Gagnon, CEO & Co-Founder, and Garth Fasano, President & Co-Founder of Raynmaker, to learn all about fully automated sales processes. We even learn about the tools that are making sales without anyone interacting with the lead. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Kenny Stocker, VP of Sales & Partnerships at V Digital Services, to learn all about how to show up and convert in the modern AI world. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhya...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Kaia Watkins of Flint Direct to learn all about valuation and funding readiness as a franchise brand. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: http://linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠http://linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect wi...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Sean Marzola and Geoff Suval of Xceleran to learn all about valuation and funding readiness as a franchise brand. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connec...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Tony Zaccario, CEO of Stretch Zone to learn all about the organic franchise marketing that grew the brand from 4 to 420+ locations.  We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranc...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Derrick Skogsberg & Sam Phelps of Franchise Now to learn all about the modern era of franchise financing. They discuss Franchise Now and what happens when you pay the franchise fee up-front to speed up the franchising process. As well as the impact of 10-minute pre-qualification, and how AI is making the financing process more transparent. We als...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Gabby Powers to learn all about the realities of modern franchise marketing from NetSertive. Gabby discusses how to get ops, marketing, and sales on the same page, AI search and local visibility insights, advice about tying marketing to revenue, and more. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with website designer and copywriter at Belle White Creative to dig into marketing, content, AI, and websites in 2026. From the role of humans and AI in modern marketing, to organizational strategies for leaders while navigating change. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Li...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Greg Cook, Member Strategist & Dana Besbris, Coaching and Training Specialist at The Entrepreneur Source to learn all about ZorCoach and Coaching Fran Dev Teams. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Megan Center of Faegre Drinker  to learn all about semi-absentee and multi-unit franchisees. Misconceptions, FDD tips, and how to market your franchise offer successfully! We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Mich...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Matt Martin & Alex Preddie to learn all about Franchisee-First Marketing We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Alex: linkedin.com/in/alexpred...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Don Traxler, CEO & Founder of RevSpark Media and author of The Franchise Advertising Excellence Playbook. Don breaks down why so many franchise locations underperform, the 4 pillars of his high-performance franchise advertising framework, and how technology (like RevSpark’s SuperPixel) is helping franchisors and franchisees win with real revenue-...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Chris Stark, Senior Insurance Executive at Advantage Insurance Brokers to learn all about franchise insurance – the do’s and don’ts and surprising truths! We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.c...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Art Coley of CGI Franchise to learn all about the biggest misconceptions around franchise development. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Art:...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Scott English, CFE, Founder and Global Brand Director of Elite Franchise to learn all about the EF100 rankings for emerging and established franchise brands We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Josh Allen of Location3 to learn all about AI, changes in search, and everything else marketers need to know for 2026! We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠⁠ C...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with this incredible group of franchise development leaders to learn all about the state of fran dev half-way through 2025, the impact of the Hello Mastermind groups, and rapid-fire questions about leading franchise growth. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ li...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Aditya Varanasi, Founder & CEO of Awarity to learn all about cutting through the noise with awareness advertising. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow⁠⁠⁠⁠ C...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Chris Conner, President of Franchise Marketing Systems, to learn all about the strategies and perspectives to REALLY scale your franchise.  We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhy...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Trevor  Rappleye, CEO & Storyteller of FranchiseFilming to learn all about telling real, emotional franchise stories through video. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfr...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with LaMar Van Dusen, founder of PFG Financial Group to learn all about franchise financials, red flags when awarding franchises, and planning exits. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/mich...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Brooke Janousek from Garage Experts to learn all about what CMOs are thinking about right now - from AI to CRMs to fran dev. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com/in/michaelhyamfranchiseshow...

Tune in this week for a great conversation with Jim DiRugeris & Amanda House from Lightbridge Academy to learn all about the magic that’s possible when fran dev & marketing truly collaborate!. We also share franchise news, highlight our LinkedIn Royals of the week, and talk about upcoming events. Connect with Liane: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ linkedin.com/in/lianecaruso⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Michael: ⁠⁠linkedin.com...