What does it really take to scale a business without losing the foundation that made it work in the first place?

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Scott Abbott, founder of Five Star Franchising and Five Star Painting, for a conversation about leadership, franchising, data, culture, and the discipline required to build organizations that last.

Scott shares how he built Five Star Painting, sold it to Neighborly, and continued building Five Star Franchising into a platform with thousands of franchise locations across multiple brands.

Together, Joel and Scott discuss why scaling is not just about growth, ambition, or selling more franchises. It is about knowing the business deeply, tracking what works, building strong unit economics, and creating a culture where leaders continue to grow.

They also explore why leaders must stay close to the details, why your team will not exceed your own level of leadership, and why companies should nail the model before trying to scale it.

Scott shares how values, feedback, customer experience, and intentional culture shape the way a franchise system grows.

In this episode:

● Why leaders need to know their business inside and out

● How data helps companies scale with discipline

● Why your team will not exceed your level of leadership

● Why you need to nail it before you scale it

● How feedback helps leaders and teams improve

● Why culture is strategic and does not happen by accident

If you are trying to scale a business, lead a franchise system, or build a stronger organization, this episode will challenge you to look beyond growth and ask whether your foundation, leadership, data, people, and culture are truly ready for the next level.

Connect with Joel Worthington and tune into more conversations on Tell Me More.

What does it look like to lead a business with humility, clarity, and the willingness to keep learning?

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Shannon Wilburn, founder of Just Between Friends and Shine Executive Coaching, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, core values, and what it takes to build a company people want to follow.

Shannon shares how Just Between Friends started as a small consignment event with friends and grew into a national franchise system. She reflects on the lessons she learned while building the business, including the importance of asking for help, choosing mentors wisely, staying humble, and learning how to lead through seasons of growth and challenge.

Together, Joel and Shannon discuss why leadership is not just about knowing numbers, systems, or strategy. It is also about how you treat people, how clearly you communicate expectations, and whether your values are actually lived inside the company.

In this episode:

● Why great leaders are willing to ask for help

● How humility shapes the way people respond to feedback

● Why core values need to be clearly defined and repeated

● How unclear expectations can hurt a team or organization

● Why clarity is kind in leadership

● How taking responsibility builds trust

If you are building a business, leading a team, or trying to create a stronger culture, this episode will challenge you to look at the kind of leader you are becoming and whether your people truly understand what you expect, value, and believe.

Connect with Joel Worthington and tune into more conversations on Tell Me More.

Innovation isn't a department. It's a leadership mindset.

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Michael Glatts, founder of 901 Innovation and former Pfizer leader, to explore why the most innovative organizations don't just create better products. They create cultures where people feel safe to think differently.

After spending more than 26 years at Pfizer leading global teams, Michael left corporate America to help organizations unlock creativity, improve employee engagement, and build innovation into their everyday culture. Together, Joel and Michael discuss why empathy, psychological safety, curiosity, and trust are essential ingredients for innovation, and why leaders who say "yes, and..." consistently outperform those who default to "no."

In this episode, you'll learn:

• Why innovation is critical for long-term business growth and competitive advantage
• How empathy helps leaders uncover unmet customer needs
• Why psychological safety is the foundation of innovative teams
• How the "Yes, And" mindset encourages creativity and collaboration
• Why great leaders create environments where employees feel heard
• How fear of failure shuts down innovation and engagement
• Why organizations should experiment, prototype, and learn quickly instead of waiting for perfection
• How innovation improves employee engagement, customer experience, and organizational culture

Michael also shares how his background in improvisational comedy shaped his approach to leadership development, and why some of the best business breakthroughs happen when leaders stop trying to have all the answers and start creating space for new ideas.

Because innovation doesn't begin with technology.

It begins with leaders who are curious enough to listen, humble enough to learn, and courageous enough to say, "Tell me more."

When people feel safe to contribute, organizations don't just innovate. They thrive.

Lean in — and tell me more.

Connect with Joel:
LinkedIn: Joel Worthington
Instagram: @joelworthington

Connect with Michael Glatts:
Website: 901Innovation.com
LinkedIn: Michael Glatts

What if the biggest thing holding your organization back isn’t your strategy, your market, or your ambition, but the leadership ceiling inside the business?

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Brian Petranick, CEO of Molly Maid and former longtime CEO of Right at Home, for a conversation about leadership, franchising, scaling organizations, building trust, and making the hard people decisions that allow a company to grow.

Brian shares the lessons he learned while helping grow Right at Home from one location into a franchise system with hundreds of locations and nearly a billion dollars in systemwide revenue.

Together, Joel and Brian explore why early franchise owners matter so much, how trust becomes the foundation of scale, and why the people who help an organization reach one stage may not always be the same people who can take it to the next.

They discuss the importance of evolving as a leader, building the right team for the current strategy, recognizing when someone is no longer the right fit, and checking the bias and narratives that can cloud leadership judgment. Brian also shares why culture must be built intentionally, why organizational structure matters, and why great leaders need both character and competency to create trust.

In this episode:

• Why your first ten franchise owners can help sell your next hundred
• How trust becomes the foundation for scaling a franchise system
• Why the team that gets you to one level may not get you to the next
• How CEOs must constantly evolve as the organization grows
• Why leaders are often the lid on their own organization
• How to pressure test talent before promoting people too far
• Why smart, driven people still need integrity to be trusted
• When to make the hard decision that someone is no longer the right fit
• How bias and internal narratives can distort leadership judgment
• Why culture forms whether you are intentional about it or not
• How organizational structure, strategy, and people decisions work together
• Why leadership requires both soft skills and business competency

If you’ve ever wondered why some organizations scale successfully while others stall, this episode will challenge you to look beyond strategy and ask harder questions about leadership, trust, talent, culture, and the kind of person you must become to take the business to the next level.

Connect with Joel Worthington and tune into more conversations on Tell Me More.

Culture doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when leaders consistently live and reinforce their values.

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Doug Dwyer, President and Chief Stewarding Officer of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen and founder of God Is CEO, to explore the powerful connection between leadership, values, culture, accountability, and business growth.

Having spent a lifetime in franchising, Doug shares lessons learned from growing up in the Dwyer family, helping build one of the most influential franchise organizations in America, and leading companies rooted in faith, stewardship, and service. Together, Joel and Doug discuss why great leadership requires both encouragement and accountability, how values create alignment inside organizations, and why culture ultimately determines long-term success.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why clearly defined values are the foundation of strong organizational culture
• How great leaders balance encouragement with accountability
• Why work ethic, discipline, and responsibility still matter in leadership
• How repeating values consistently creates alignment and trust across teams
• The role humility and teachability play in leadership success
• Why involving employees and franchisees creates stronger buy-in and innovation
• How culture impacts employee engagement, retention, and performance
• Why leadership is about stewardship, not authority

Doug also shares insights from decades of franchise leadership, including lessons from DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen, Neighborly’s founding family, and the development of God Is CEO, a movement helping leaders align business success with faith, purpose, and service.

Because leadership isn’t just about achieving results.
It’s about building people, creating trust, and establishing values that endure long after the leader is gone.

When leaders consistently model what they believe, culture becomes more than words on a wall — it becomes the way people work, serve, and grow together.

Lean in — and tell me more.

The fastest way to kill innovation, engagement, and growth? Stop asking questions.

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Jon Bassford, bestselling author of The Curious Leader, speaker, operations strategist, and host of the Trust the Process podcast. Together, they explore why curiosity may be the most overlooked leadership skill in modern business.

Drawing from his experience in law, nonprofit leadership, startups, and executive operations, Jon shares how great leaders create cultures where people feel safe to speak up, challenge assumptions, and contribute ideas. The conversation dives deep into leadership mindset, organizational culture, employee engagement, psychological safety, and the hidden dangers of ego-driven leadership.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why curiosity is one of the most powerful leadership skills you can develop
• How fear and ego quietly sabotage innovation and team performance
• Why leaders should speak last and listen more
• How psychological safety drives employee engagement and accountability
• The danger of favoritism and inconsistent standards in company culture
• Why great leaders act more like orchestra conductors than dictators
• How to build a culture where employees bring solutions, not just problems
• The connection between leadership, culture, and sustainable business growth

Jon also shares practical insights from his book The Curious Leader, including how organizations can unlock better ideas, stronger communication, and higher levels of trust by creating environments where people feel valued and heard.

Because leadership isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about creating a culture where the best answers can emerge.

When leaders replace control with curiosity, they build teams that think, innovate, and grow together.

Lean in — and tell me more.

Connect with Joel:
LinkedIn: Joel Worthington
Instagram: @joelworthington

Connect with Jon Bassford:
Website: JonBassford.com

The difference between great leaders and everyone else isn’t talent. It’s how they show up when the pressure is on.

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with Dr. Amy Athey, performance psychologist, executive coach, former collegiate athlete, and founder of AT Performance, to explore what it really takes to perform at your best in the moments that matter most.

Drawing from more than 20 years of experience working with elite athletes, military special operations teams, executives, and high-performing organizations, Dr. Amy shares the science behind resilience, emotional regulation, leadership presence, and sustainable high performance. Together, Joel and Amy unpack why so many leaders struggle under pressure and how intentional preparation can transform the way we lead, communicate, and connect.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why emotional regulation is a leadership superpower
• How great leaders maintain composure during difficult conversations
• The role of breathing, recovery, and self-awareness in peak performance
• Why business leaders should practice leadership the same way athletes practice their sport
• How to build confidence through preparation instead of relying on talent alone
• The four keys to becoming “moment ready”: composure, clarity, connection, and courageous action
• Why sleep, recovery, and renewal are critical to long-term leadership success

Dr. Amy also shares lessons from her work in crisis psychology, collegiate athletics, military performance programs, and executive coaching, offering practical tools leaders can use immediately to improve decision-making, communication, and resilience.

Because leadership isn’t measured when things are easy.
It’s revealed in the moments that matter most.

When leaders learn to regulate their emotions, connect with purpose, and prepare intentionally, they create trust, inspire confidence, and perform at a higher level.

Lean in — and tell me more.

Connect with Joel:
LinkedIn: Joel Worthington
Instagram: @joelworthington

Connect with Dr. Amy Athey:
Website: ATPerformance.com
LinkedIn: Amy Athey
Instagram: @DrAmyAthey

The best leaders don’t have all the answers — they ask better questions.

In this episode of Tell Me More, Joel Worthington sits down with franchise industry powerhouse Mary Thompson, CEO of BNI and former COO of Neighborly, for a masterclass on leadership, growth, culture, and influence. Drawing from decades of experience leading franchise organizations, scaling businesses, and developing high-performing teams, Mary shares the leadership lessons that transformed her from a tactical operator into a visionary CEO.

Together, Joel and Mary unpack why leadership is not about titles, authority, or having the quickest answer — it’s about creating clarity, asking compelling questions, listening deeply, and helping people grow into their potential. From “bottom line up front” leadership to building cultures rooted in accountability and trust, this conversation is packed with practical wisdom for leaders at every level.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why leadership is about influence, not position
• How asking better questions creates better leaders
• Why “Tell Me More” is one of the most powerful phrases in leadership
• The difference between tactical leadership and visionary leadership
• How great leaders build culture through values, curiosity, and accountability
• Why leaders must allow people to “fail forward” in order to grow
• How to create employee engagement by helping people see where they fit

Mary also shares hard-earned lessons from leading major franchise organizations, scaling teams through rapid growth, and learning how to slow down, listen, and lead with intentionality.

Because leadership isn’t about controlling people.
It’s about equipping them, inspiring them, and helping them become more than they thought possible.

Lean in — and tell me more.

Host:
Joel Worthington

Guest:
Mary Thompson — CEO of BNI, Former COO of Neighborly, Former Chair of the International Franchise Association

Show:
Tell Me More

Connect with Joel:
LinkedIn: Joel Worthington
Instagram: @joelworthington

Connect with Mary Thompson:
BNI: BNI.com