Founderology
Welcome to Founderology – Built to Breakthrough, the ultimate podcast created by Founders, for Founders. Hosted by Kathleen Wood—Founder and CEO of Kathleen Wood Partners and creator of the Founders Growth Summit. Founderology is your go-to resource for actionable insights and proven strategies to propel your business and yourself to new levels of success.
Kathleen brings over 20 years of expertise, working side-by-side with Founders to turn small businesses into award-winning concepts, national expansions, and billion-dollar brands. Each episode is designed to speak the unique language of Founders and address the challenges, opportunities, and triumphs of the Founder journey.
What you’ll gain from Founderology:
- Inside track insights from successful Founders who have broken through.
- Proven strategies and practical solutions to grow your business.
- Tools and resources to strengthen yourself, your team, your business and your bottom line.
- Expert advice on building your net worth through developing powerful networks.
- Competitive insights to help you dominate your market and breakthrough.
This isn’t just another business podcast—it’s a Founder’s inside track for success. Join us on Founderology – Built to Breakthrough and get inspired, motivated, and equipped to take your business—and yourself—to the next level.
Episodes
28 episodes
How R&R Brands scaled from a single brand to a multi-brand platform
I sat down with Scott Taylor, Founder and CEO of R&R Brands, a visionary and an industry icon whose fingerprints are on some of the most important brand-building work of the last two decades. He is also a great friend, past-colleague and de...
Bango: From a 300-square-foot acai shop to leading a 'Better for You' movement
Every Founder hits a moment where the business is too big to be small but too small to be big. I call it the Stuck Zone. And what you do next determines everything.On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I ta...
Fueling Growth from a Single Cup to Over 100 Locations and Growing
On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I talk with Brandon Knudsen, Co-Founder and CEO of Ziggi's Coffee and a member of the inaugural class of Visionary Restaurant Founders recognized at the Foundero...
Jeff's Bagel Run: From garage bagels to 30 and growing
Every Founder hits a moment where the business is too big to be small but too small to be big. I call it the stuck zone. And what you do next determines everything.On this episode of the Founderology — Built to Breakthrough podcast, I ta...
Texas Restaurant Association’s Emily Williams Knight on the power of shared insight
Community is not support. It is a strategic imperative.Founders make stronger decisions when they stay connected to people, resources, and real-world insight.That belief carries real weight when it comes from a leader who represen...
1 question every Founder should ask (Most never do)
Almost a year ago, I stood on a plot of land in Austin with Ellis Winstanley. He pointed to an empty space and said, "Here's my vision. I'm going to have an event center there."I remember thinking: yes, of course, you are and I was so co...
Inside the Founder shift: What 2025 sparked and why 2026 is ready to ignite
As we close out 2025, I keep coming back to one undeniable truth: this year moved fast. Faster than many even realized. Technology accelerated. Consumer expectations evolved. Leadership required more courage, clarity and community than ever bef...
From Shark Tank to Goldbelly: The strategic expansion of Topsail Steamer
Danielle Mahon, the Founder of seafood steam pot brand Topsail Steamer, joined host Kathleen Wood on a recent episode of the "Founderology" podcast to discuss the evolution of her company from a local storefront to a national franchise.D...
The essential insights every Founder needs to scale with clarity, strength and intentionality
Zane Tarence enters this conversation like a force of nature — fast, sharp and fully dialed in. His pace alone tells you he has lived this work. His experience comes through every sentence with the confidence of someone who has built companies,...
Leading with flavor, heart, vision: The Tacodeli way
Every Founder has a story — a spark that becomes the heartbeat of a brand. Some stories begin with a dream, others with a dish, and every now and then one begins with a taco that turns into a brand that is built to breakthrough.In this e...
Built to be investor grade: Do you know the value of your restaurant?
It's the answer every business owner wants to know and very rarely gets a direct answer about it — UNTIL NOW — at the Founderology Growth Summit, that answer becomes reality.Founders w...
Fueling Delicious Growth – Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream
Every Founder knows the spark that starts an idea and then the journey begins. In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, we talk with Donna and Daniel Golik, Mother and Son Founders of Chill-N Nitrogen Ice Cream...
Founderology Growth Summit: The Breakthrough Experience Founders MUST Attend
Built for Founders. Powered by Founders.The Founderology Growth Summit is a breakthrough experience designed for Founders who are looking to scale. Every moment, from the first conversation to the final celebration, is crafted wit...
Breaking Boundaries: Derrick Hayes on Purpose, Power, and Building Big Dave’s Cheesesteaks
I have been inspired by Derrick Hayes and Big Dave's Cheesesteaks starting as an Instagram follower and then as a customer. I actually drove from Tampa to Orlando ...
From Maine to Milan: The global journey of Mason’s Famous Lobster Rolls
How do you take a Maine lobster roll—yes, the classic, buttery, delicious kind—and build a brand that stretches from the East Coast to the heart of Milan, Italy?That's the kind of breakthrough story we love to feature at Founderology: Bu...
How Slutty Vegan Founder turned $20M in debt into a $100M comeback
I have been a fan and follower of Pinky Cole Hayes and Slutty Vegan since her first opening in Atlanta. Her entrepreneurial drive is unmatched. She has built a brand that reimagines vegan food, empowers her community and sets a new standard for...
Keeping the Maine Thing the Main Thing: How Two Cousin’s Built a Global Brand
What do late-night drinks, a lobster roll, and a cross-country cousin connection have to do with building a national brand?Everything.In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, Sabin Lomac—co-founder of Cousi...
How Fry the Coop founder traded everything for freedom (and fried chicken)
How far would you go to escape a life that's crushing your spirit? Would you:Walk away from a steady paycheck?Sell your house?Move across the country with a newborn?Start a restaurant… with no sign, no mon...
From Teen Entrepreneur to Hospitality Powerhouse - Daniella Senior’s Mission to Scale the Colada Shop
What if the key to scaling a great brand was reconnecting with your roots?This week on Founderology, I sat down with powerhouse entrepreneur Daniella Senior — the Founder and CEO of Colada Shop, Bresca, Ser...
From Founder to Franchisee: How Chronic Tacos Built a Brand That Still Breaks Through
What happens when a visionary Founder and a passionate franchisee come together to build something bigger than burritos? You get a conversation packed with insight, real talk, and game-changing strategies that every restaurant Founder needs to ...
Crazy Pita: From $30 to scaling a legacy
What does it take to build a lasting brand from the ground, and turn a single idea into a multi-brand growth engine?This week on Founderology – Built to Breaktrough, I sat down with Medhi Zarhloul, the powerhouse Founder of ...
How Red Chickz founder went from dishwasher to national brand builder
Paths to Success: Achieving the American Dream What if your next breakthrough came from a dishwasher-turned-Founder or a tech innovator who transformed chaos into a scalable business? This episode of Founderology – Built t...