Today we’re announcing the winners of this year’s Franchise Thought Leadership Awards.

We’ll name the 10 Franchise Leaders are currently leading all of us in Franchising to more prosperity and growth by sharing their ideas, speaking up, putting out thoughtful content, getting people talking, and inspiring others to do the same.

The nominees were submitted by you, the Social Geek listeners, and the ten top vote-getters were chosen by a team of independent judges.

Congratulations to all winners and thanks for moving us all forward.

So, Here's The Thing ...

Lauren Fernandez and Jack Monson have been chatting regularly about the changes, acquisitions, and deals in the restaurant space.

Now we're sharing those conversations with you. Please join us!

Special Guest: Lauren Fernandez.

Year 17 of the most popular franchise podcast rolls on!

This week…we’re live in chilly Fort Lauderdale at Franchise Expo South.

The iguanas are freezing, but the franchise opportunities are heating up. We’re talking to fran dev leaders and CEOs of several brands to find out how hot the landscape is for 2026.

On today’s show:

Justin Denham, Pool Duck

Scott SirLouis, FSC Franchise / Beef O’Brady’s / Brass Tap

Bob Crawford, Central Bark

Mike Ackley, Ascent Hospitality / Perkins / Huddle House

Christina Gambino, Jumptwist Ninja

Mark Sturman, My Lobby Mart

Lindsay Morgan, CM Law

Daniel Trigo, UniVista Insurance

Stephen Hitt, Industrious

Thanks to MFV Expositions, Thunderly, and AnswerConnect

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

Marci Kleinsasser

Emma Dickison

Larisa Walega

And we’ll wrap up with the Franchise Rock Star Panel:

Ali Kraus

Danielle Wright

Derrick Ableman

Kristen Pechacek

Scott Greenberg

And your host, Jack Monson

Thanks to today’s sponsors Citrin Cooperman, AnswerConnect, and Thunderly.

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 2025: Citrin Cooperman, Northeast Color, WSI, Hughes, Vendasta, Franzy, Promotex, and Thunderly.

Special Guests: Danielle Wright, Derrick Ableman, Kristen Pechacek, and Scott Greenberg.

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. Sierra Lash Co.
• Fabienne Van Buchem and Aditya Jain of Beambar
• Steve Moore of Epoxy Depot
• Courtney Del Vecchio of Sweatfluence
• Tamika Franklyn of Precision Franchise

And thanks to Steve Beagelman, Dawn Abbamondi and the SMB Franchise Advisors crew for hosting us.

Thanks to Citrin Cooperman, Northeast Color,, Hughes, and Thunderly

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 Services

Josh Kerns, Conquest Padel Club

Chris Wellbaum, Level Up Leak Detection

John Doty, Freshslice Pizza

Jack Stewart, SMB Franchise Advisors

Rodney Frank, Yonutz

And we wrap up the event with Martin Joksimovic, President of MFV Expositions, who gives us a preview of the franchise expos in 2026 in great cities like Fort Lauderdale, New York, Dallas, Cincinnati, and Phoenix.

Thanks to the whole MFV Expositions sales & marketing team for a fantastic year: Linda Thompson, Justin Wood, Frank Fazio, Simone Smith, Rafael Arango.

Thanks to Citrin Cooperman, Northeast Color, Hughes, and Thunderly

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

Jenepher Toups, Zoomin Groomin

Clay Carson, Twisted Egg Shack

Red Boswell, IFPG

Thanks to Citrin Cooperman, Northeast Color, Hughes, and Thunderly