What happens when a mother and son bet on themselves, go into business together, and take on the world of men’s health?In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen sit down with Connor and Vicki Castleman, a mother-son entrepreneurship duo building multiple GameDay Men’s Health locations in Northwest Phoenix.Connor’s journey started years earlier when he chose an opportunity at Fastlane over a higher-paying corporate path — a decision that ultimately put him in the middle of the franchising world and helped lead him toward entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, Vicki brought years of franchise operations and business ownership experience to the partnership.Together, they share what it really looked like to open their first two locations just months apart, manage the financial realities of a growing business, build a team that stays, navigate working with family, and keep pushing when profitability took longer than expected.They also discuss:• Why they chose GameDay Men’s Health• Building a business with your family• The realities of startup costs and working capital• Opening multiple franchise locations quickly• Creating a culture that retains great employees• Knowing when it’s time to scale• Turning W-2 experience into entrepreneurial skills• Why relationships matter more than tasks• Connor’s advice for young professionals who want to become entrepreneursOne of the biggest lessons from their story: do the right thing every day for 1,000 days in a row.If you’re considering entrepreneurship, franchise ownership, or wondering how to prepare yourself before making the leap, this episode is packed with lessons from people living it in real time.Subscribe for more conversations about entrepreneurship, franchising, business ownership, and building a life on your terms.Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

Why do fewer than 1% of LinkedIn users actually post?

In Episode 51 of The Sidekick Life, Ryan sits down with Holly Joyner—a New York Times bestselling ghostwriter, founder of The Story Spark, and one of LinkedIn’s most-followed coaches—to break down how small business owners can turn LinkedIn into a powerful marketing engine.

Holly didn’t start with a huge audience, a marketing team, or a social media strategy. She came to LinkedIn in 2021 as a single mom of three, with no marketing background and a career that was no longer giving her the control she wanted. After failing twice, she came back with a completely different approach—and eventually built a business that generates leads without actively chasing them.

In this episode, Holly shares the exact systems she uses to make LinkedIn work without letting it become a second full-time job.

Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

50 episodes down and The Sidekick Life is just getting started.In this milestone episode, Ryan and Tyler look back at the guests, stories and unexpected moments that have shaped the podcast so far. They revisit memorable conversations with founders, franchisees and entrepreneurs, including Donald Miller, Dr. Jason Wersland, Paul Reiser, Michelle Poler and more.They also get honest about what did not work, what surprised them about podcasting and why the best episodes came from focusing less on views and more on genuine conversations.From franchise owners who transformed their lives to world-class founders who built businesses with lasting impact, this episode celebrates the lessons learned through the first 50 episodes and looks ahead to what is next.Thank you to everyone who has listened, watched, shared and supported the show through its first 50 episodes.Subscribe for honest conversations, practical frameworks and inspiring stories designed to help you live life on your terms through business ownership.Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

How do you go from a 23-year-old operator to a multi-unit, multi-brand franchise owner with multiple successful exits?In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen sit down with Tanner Holmes, an entrepreneur and franchise operator whose experience spans European Wax Center, Hush Lash Studio, Sola Salons, and Perspire Sauna Studio.Tanner shares how he earned his first ownership stake through sweat equity, helped grow a European Wax Center portfolio from five locations to 12, and eventually participated in major exits, including an 11x return on the studios and a 19x return on the area-development business.But this conversation is about much more than the wins.Tanner opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial family, navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, choosing the right franchise opportunities, working with business partners, and learning why focus, patience, and accountability matter more than chasing unit count.Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

Preston Unck is the founder and CEO of Tee Box, one of the fastest growing golf simulator franchise concepts in the country. What started as a single facility he built for his own family during COVID has grown into a 100+ location franchise backed by a direct data partnership with Trackman, $8 million raised to date, and a new $15 million funding round on the way.In this episode, Preston shares how a neighbor's invite to golf during the pandemic turned into a full blown business. He talks about combining gym training, Trackman simulators, and putting greens into one player development concept, how Trackman approached him about franchising after watching what he built, and why he was intentional about hiring franchise experts instead of trying to figure it out alone.We also get into the discipline it takes to scale responsibly, the biggest misconceptions people have about franchising, what his day to day actually looks like as CEO now versus when he was mopping floors himself, and how Tee Box is using AI and player data to change how golfers train both indoors and out.If you're thinking about franchise ownership or just want to hear how a first time golfer built one of the hottest concepts in the space, this one is worth the watch.Connect with Tee Box: https://tbx.golfFree Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

n this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen talk with franchise owner Doug Anthony about building wealth through franchising.

Doug shares how he went from starting a business on his own to owning multiple franchise businesses, including a staffing franchise and a roofing company. He breaks down why franchising helped him grow faster, how he approached financing, what it takes to build a strong team, and how he created a more semi-absentee ownership model.

This episode is a real-world look at franchise ownership, business growth, leadership, and using entrepreneurship as a path to long-term wealth.

Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

The biggest problem with buying a franchise isn’t the brands — it’s the lack of transparency.

In this episode, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen talk about why franchise buyers often have such a hard time finding real, unbiased information before making a major investment. They break down the problems with paid franchise lists, lead portals, limited franchisee validation, and the lack of true franchise reviews in the industry.

They also introduce Sidekick See Through, Franchise Sidekick’s new platform built to help buyers research brands with more clarity through franchisee reviews, matching tools, territory insights, and brand comparisons.

If you’re considering franchise ownership, this episode will help you understand what questions to ask, what information to look for, and why having the right guidance matters before you invest.

Most people think getting into a franchise is as simple as finding the right brand and writing a check. But for the best franchise opportunities, approval is a two-way street.

In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Mike Silverman sits down with Franchise Sidekick advisor Regan Clemenson, who spent years on the franchisor side of the table helping decide which candidates were approved — and which were not.

Together, they break down what actually happens during the franchise approval process, including Discovery Day, Confirmation Day, validation calls, and the small details that can make or break your chances of getting approved.

You’ll learn how to show up prepared, ask better questions, position yourself as a strong franchise partner, and avoid common mistakes that cause candidates to lose out on the business they want.

If you’re exploring franchise ownership and want to stay in the driver’s seat, this episode will help you understand what brands are really looking for.