Empires explores the top brick & mortar businesses through stories, and interviews of multi-unit franchise operators, founders, and executives.
empirespod.substack.com (https://empirespod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast)
Jay Diedrich, co-founder and CEO of Ace Pickleball Club, breaks down the business behind the pickleball boom. We discuss why clubs are struggling despite the sport’s popularity, how high rents and unrealistic revenue projections are hurting operators, and why Ace paused franchising. Jay also shares Ace’s expansion into media and why he remains optimistic about pickleball’s future - even as he predicts a major industry shakeout.
OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires
CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com (https://empirespod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
24 Sept 2026
From Quiznos Employee to 10+ Unit Restaurant Owner
Kayla went from working at Quiznos at 16 to helping Mike’s Red Tacos sell hundreds of franchises—and then buying a majority stake in a multi-unit portfolio spanning Arby’s, McAlister’s, and Little Caesars. We discuss her move from franchise sales to ownership, turning around a struggling restaurant group, and building Red Door Brands into an operating partner for other franchisees.
OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires--CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com (https://empirespod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
10 Sept 2026
How Slick City Puts up 7 Figure EBITDA
Bron Launsby shares how he went from an initially skeptical franchise prospect to building a nine-location Sky Zone portfolio in under a decade. He explains why trampoline parks offered unusually attractive economics, how he kept locations relevant through constant reinvestment and new attractions, and why he ultimately sold the entire portfolio in 2024.
Bron then tells the origin story of Slick City, an indoor entertainment concept built around dry slides. After installing an early slide prototype inside one of his trampoline parks, he saw it become one of the location’s most popular attractions. That insight led him to partner with slide inventor Gary Schmidt, invest in the manufacturing company behind the technology, and develop a completely new concept supported by nearly 70 patents.
The conversation explores Slick City’s rapid growth from one location to nearly 50 in four years, along with its striking unit economics: the first three locations averaged just under $5 million in annual revenue with EBITDA margins around 40%. Bron also breaks down the business’s revenue mix, massive facilities, staffing requirements, safety systems, franchisee investment requirements, and strategy for continually introducing new attractions. Finally, he discusses Slick City’s international expansion and its potential to support 400–600 locations in the United States and approximately 150 across Europe.
OPEN NEW LOCATIONS IN WEEKS WITH CLOUDKITCHENS: https://l.cloudkitchens.com/empires (https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUM4Zm9rUThoQ3NrWUdqUVFKSnJJRVNOT2hyNHxBTl9pYzRkYkVUbWZQeVNEOExuUVZyQVI0c00zNktqQlRhRmtMM2ZKRm5KYklrNnBnQTZhYVB5Mzl6NmNvSUpsbHBfU1F6U0syOGRZaERjdmtEXzdHN0dOanFDZUwxOGNLX0hR&q=https%3A%2F%2Fl.cloudkitchens.com%2Fempires&v=Hv6VUH0fqtk)
CONSIDERING SELLING YOUR BUSINESS?https://www.empirespod.com/for-multi-unit-owners
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit empirespod.substack.com (https://empirespod.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)
Who has been a guest on FranDawgs
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Jacob Jaber
Bret Borock
Taylor Byington
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,466
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
13 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
18 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
20
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
51
Contact FranDawgs
Guest appearances
Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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