Ep 7.20 Candor Over Hype: The Free-Agent Mindset for Building Saleable, Resilient Brands
Release Date: 09/18/2025
Ep 7.20 Candor Over Hype: The Free-Agent Mindset for Building Saleable, Resilient Brands
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
In this episode, Meg Schmitz and PR legend Rhonda Sanderson cut through the hype and dig into the hard-earned lessons of business ownership and franchising. From Subway's scrappy beginnings to AI's looming future, they unpack how candor, care, and year-one grind transform shaky startups into resilient, saleable brands. If you're tired of recycled success clichés and ready for raw insight that actually moves the needle, this conversation is your wake-up call.
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Ep 7.19 Build or Buy? The Brutal Truth About Control, Cash Flow, and Courage
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Is it smarter to buy a business with "instant" cash flow or build one from scratch? In this episode, Meg Schmitz and Josh Skolnick expose the brutal truth about control, risk, and what really drives long-term freedom. If you're wrestling with self-doubt and searching for the most reliable path to ownership, this conversation will flip the way you think about your next move.
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Ep 7.18 De-Risk the Leap: The 4-Pillar Blueprint that Turns 'New' into Profitable & Saleable
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Tired of making millions for someone else while your soul shrinks in a cubicle? Rob & Nick of REPM break down how top execs can flip their skills into franchise ownership — with real systems, real support, and real ROI. If you're ready to stop renting your talent and start owning equity, this is the episode that shows you the playbook.
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Ep 7.17 Inside the Franchise Playbook: Leadership Lessons for Executives Seeking Freedom
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Leaving corporate for business ownership is thrilling—and terrifying. Verdine Baker, a franchise executive who’s guided hundreds of owners, shares what really happens when fear meets opportunity—and how resilience and culture create lasting success. With Meg Schmitz leading the conversation, senior executives will discover the playbook to step out confidently and build freedom on their own terms.
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Ep. 7.16 Anthony Geisler and Bob McQuillan on Building Sequel—Franchising's Next Major Force
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Anthony Geisler, the force behind scaling Club Pilates from 12 to 1,300 units and taking Xponential Fitness public with a multibillion-dollar valuation, is back with a new play: Sequel Brands. Alongside industry veteran Bob McQuillan, he's building a wellness platform featuring Pilates Addiction, iFlex Stretch Studios, Beem Light Sauna, and Body20. In this episode, they share how Sequel is engineered with infrastructure, profitability, and innovation from day one—and why they'll never let Wall Street distractions steer the ship again.
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Ep 7.15 The Reality Check of Franching vs. Expectations
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
"Follow the playbook. Be your own boss. Live the dream." But what happens when the dream looks different from what you experience? In this candid conversation, Catherine Wilson shares the lessons, surprises, and wins from her franchise journey — and offers insights on navigating the gap between expectations and reality.
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Ep 7.13 Built Not Born: How One Unemployable Veteran Became the CFO of His Own Life
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Andy Weins is back- and he's not just talking business, he’s talking freedom. From franchise rookie to author and fractional CFO, Andy’s journey is proof that you don’t have to be “born” for entrepreneurship to master it—you build it, brick by brick, mindset by mindset. If you’ve ever wondered if you have what it takes to own your future, this episode will give you the raw truth and the blueprint.
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Ep 7.14 What Happens After You Go Viral?
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Everyone wants to go viral—but what happens next? In this episode, Meg and Thasia Williams unpack the reality behind viral moments, visibility, and the marketing moves that drive revenue. If you're a business owner, franchisee, or sales pro chasing attention, this convo will shift your focus from “likes” to lasting impact.
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Ep 7.12 The Truth About Marketing: Why Playing It Safe Is Killing Your Business
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
There's more to marketing than digital ads and social media. Meg and Karen Wenning unpack why marketing only works when it's integrated, intentional, and relentless—and how skipping steps like direct mail or brand strategy can stall your entire launch. If you want your franchise to thrive, not just survive, this episode will open your eyes.
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Ep. 7.11 Startup, Family Biz, or Franchise? The Wild Pivot That Rewrote Dan's Future
Free Agent with Meg Schmitz
Dan Schauer had a family business in his back pocket and startup dreams in his head—but when layoffs hit, he chose a franchise. In this episode, we dig into the real-life pivot that gave him freedom, legacy, and an exit strategy all in one. If you're stuck between building, inheriting, or buying in—this story will shake up how you see your options.
info_outlineIn this episode, Meg Schmitz and PR legend Rhonda Sanderson cut through the hype and dig into the hard-earned lessons of business ownership and franchising. From Subway's scrappy beginnings to AI's looming future, they unpack how candor, care, and year-one grind transform shaky startups into resilient, saleable brands. If you're tired of recycled success clichés and ready for raw insight that actually moves the needle, this conversation is your wake-up call.