The Founderz Lounge Episode #96 with Bill Praschak.
In this episode, Steve holds down the lounge solo while Don is out handling some HVAC chaos, and sits down with Bill Praschak, founder of Fully Loaded Defense, to talk about what it really takes to train civilians, businesses, churches, and organiz…
The Founderz Lounge
by Don Varady & Stephen Bon
Don Varady, Co-Founder of Clean Eatz, and Stephen (Steve) Bon, Co-Founder of Bon's Eye Marketing, met years ago on the franchising scene. Kick back, as they hit on all things business and bullshit. Ever grab a drink with friends and blow off entrepreneurial steam or share some successful moves? Well, you just walked into that moment online. Join us for a few minutes... Promise to make you think and laugh.
Latest Episodes
The Founderz Lounge Episode #95 with Eric Chesser.
In this episode, Don and Steve sit down with Eric Chesser of HUSH to talk about how hunting content turned into a real brand. Eric shares how a deep obsession with antlers, the outdoors, filming hunts, and documenting what most people kept secret ev…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #94 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down why growth exposes the founder before it exposes the business. They start with a wild franchise story about the second-largest Arby’s franchisee adding 155 restaurants in a…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #93 with Brad Dunn.
In this episode, Don and Steve sit down with Brad Dunn of Reliant Fitness to talk about why so many men lose themselves in their 30s and 40s, and what it really takes to rebuild your body, mindset, and identity. Brad shares how he went from chaos, bad …
The Founderz Lounge Episode #92 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down the rise of the super franchisee and what it means for the future of franchising. They get into how larger operators and private equity groups are buying up more territory,…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #91 with Jeff Washington.
In this episode, Don and Steve sit down with Jeff Washington of Mission Fit to talk about what it really takes to build a gym people actually believe in. Jeff shares how his military background, coaching experience, and frustration with gimmicky …
The Founderz Lounge Episode #90 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down why nostalgia marketing is winning in 2026 and why old-school brand experiences are suddenly feeling fresh again. They get into Pizza Hut’s move back to its classic look, w…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #89 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down why community still wins in a distracted digital world. They talk about the startup boom in America, what the rise in entrepreneurship really means, and why more people are…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #88 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
In this episode, Don and Steve sit down with Matt Hall to break down what actually makes a successful franchisee. Matt shares his story from the factory floor to becoming one of the top operators in the Clean Eatz system, and why consist…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #87 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down why simple businesses will win in 2026. They talk about Clean Eatz 2.0, why the brand is moving back toward a faster and more human customer experience, and how overcomplic…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #86 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
Why do franchisees and business owners fail even when they have access to better tools, stronger systems, and more information than ever before?
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down the real reasons franchisee…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #85 with Scott Balaban.
What actually keeps people playing mobile games, watching ads, coming back the next day, and spending money inside an app?
In this episode of The Founderz Lounge, Don and Steve sit down with Scott Balaban, co-founder of Gameblend Studios, to break …
The Founderz Lounge Episode #84 with Jamie Mottram.
How do you turn a viral sports moment into a product fans will actually buy before the hype disappears?
In this episode of The Founderz Lounge, Don and Steve sit down with Jamie Mottram, president of BreakingT, to break down the business of real-ti…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #83 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
Everyone’s an expert now. Everyone’s a guru. Everyone has advice. And somehow, half of it sounds like it came from the same recycled LinkedIn post.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve dig into the fake guru era, unsolic…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #82 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
AI is everywhere, fake experts are multiplying, and somehow modern business keeps rewarding noise over real execution.
In this episode of Business & Bullsh*t, Don and Steve break down what happens when AI hype, white-labeled apps, surfac…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #81 with Matt Davis.
What actually makes video work now that everyone has a camera, content is everywhere, and AI can fake almost anything?
In this episode of The Founderz Lounge, Don and Steve sit down with Matt Davis, founder of LifeStage Films and Harvest Filmworks, to…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #80 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what founders actually face versus what business culture pretends is true.
This episode challenges the modern obsession with “CEO mode”…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #79 with Mike Manzo.
What does it take to grow a franchise brand without drifting away from the things that made it work in the first place?
In this episode of The Founderz Lounge, Don and Steve sit down with Mike Manzo, former COO of Jersey Mike’s, to talk about the disc…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #78 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what founders are dealing with right now, what’s changing in business culture, and what most people get wrong about leadership and grow…
The Founderz Lounge Episode #77 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.
Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down what brands are doing right, what they are doing wrong, and what is changing in culture.
This episode kicks off with the business behin…