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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
17 episodes
Franchise Whispering - "AI-Proofing the Next Generation": Compressing the Franchise Sales Cycle w/ Christina Parsons
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 Off...
Franchise Whispering - "Motion Without Results": Turning Marketing into a Growth Engine w/ Felicia Reeves
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 seas...
"Preparation and Personalization": The Next Generation of Franchise Marketing with Sydney Kleinsasser
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...
Franchise Whispering - "The People Own the Brand": Scaling Big Dave's Cheesesteaks from a Gas Station to a National Franchise with Derrick Hayes
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 h...
Franchise Whispering - "Blow Their Minds": Maintaining Cult Status & Overcoming the Growth Plateau with Brandon Rhoten
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 fueli...
Franchise Whispering - "The Menu is the Marketing": Navigating Franchise Growth & Local Autonomy with Ashley Mitchell
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...
Franchise Whispering - Rescuing an Iconic Brand - The Hooters Turnaround & Franchise Leadership with Neil Kiefer
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 globa...
Franchise Whispering - Selling the Franchise Dream with Purpose & Empathy with Kelli Schroeder
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 ...
Franchise Whispering - The Fractional CMO Solution: Taming Franchise Marketing Chaos with Liane Caruso
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 Caru...
Franchise Whispering - Empowering Youth Sports & Mastering Franchise Marketing with Madison Gates
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 ...
Franchise Whispering - Reinventing Icons & The Courage Barometer with Kevin Keith
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 (JW...
Franchise Whispering - Major League Marketing & Community Impact with Derek & Jillian Pipkorn
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 per...
Franchise Whispering - Making a Splash: Purpose-Driven Marketing & The "Neighborhood Test" with Heather Anderson
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...
Franchise Whispering - Scalable Foundations and the "Devil’s Calculator" with Madeleine Zook
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...
Franchise Whispering - Scaling Sweet Success: From One Location to 100+ with Greg George
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 ...
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Franchise Whispering - Why Marketing Leaders Are Shaping the Future of Franchising with Kristen Pechacek
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 busin...
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Franchise Whispering - Scaling Health and Wellness with Guy Coffey
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 fr...
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