Franchise Whispering
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.
Episodes
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 toda...
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), F...
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-gen...
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 Mc...
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 Co...
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 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 ...
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 ju...
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...
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 ...
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, di...
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...
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 revit...
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 sca...
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 offerin...
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 stra...
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 he...
Popular Podcasts
Hey Jonas! The official Jonas Brothers podcast. Hosted by Kevin, Joe, and Nick Jonas. It’s the Jonas Brothers you know... musicians, actors, and well, yes, brothers. Now, they’re sharing another side of themselves in the playful, intimate, and irreverent way only they can. Spend time with the Jonas Brothers here and stay a little bit longer for deep conversations like never before.
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by Audiochuck Media Company.
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.