Unemployable with Jeff Dudan
Unemployable with Jeff Dudan is for people who are done clocking in for someone else’s dream. I’ve built, scaled, and sold companies — now I’m here to help you build yours. This show is about creating your own path, owning the upside, and building something that lasts. If you’re ready to bet on yourself, you’re in the right place. Head over to www.homefrontbrands.com or www.jeffdudan.com to learn more. Let's get you Unemployed in the best way possible. On The Homefront is brought to you by Homefront Brands and hosted by Jeff Dudan.
The CIA Operation That Almost Went Wrong with Ex-CIA Agent Andrew Bustamante
A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF JEFF'S BOOK DISCERNMENT HERE
Former covert CIA intelligence officer Andrew Bustamante sits down with Jeff Dudan for one of the most fascinating conversations ever featured on the Unemployable Podcast. Andrew reveals how he was recruited into the CIA, the brutal realities of covert operations, how intelligence agencies identify moles, and the terrifying moment he realized he had been made during a high-stakes operation inside a hostile foreign country. This episode goes far beyond spy stories. Andrew and Jeff break down: how terrorist cells inspired CIA operational structure, why espionage operates like a...
Why 95% of Business Owners Leave Millions on the Table When They Sell with Matt Uhler
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What if you've been building your business wrong this entire time - not in how you operate it, but in how you're preparing to eventually sell it? In this episode of the Unemployable Podcast, Jeff Dudan sits down with Matt Uhler, a 28-year veteran business broker, entrepreneur, investor in 20+ small businesses, and host of the What's Your Deal podcast. Matt has completed 800+ transactions, analyzed 3,000 businesses, and participated in deals totaling over $350 million in combined value. Matt breaks down exactly why 95% of business owners are unprepared when they go to...
Why You Should Never Fully Trust What AI Tells You (And What to Do Instead)
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book: https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment
What does AI actually mean for your job, your business, and your future? In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Jaffrey Ali, Chief AI Officer at FranConnect, for a raw and honest conversation about the real impact of artificial intelligence on franchising, white-collar work, and human relationships. Jaffrey shares the 3 AI tools every franchise business owner should be using daily - including the hidden Claude integration inside Excel that eliminates the need for macros or complex modeling. He breaks down his unique 3...
What You Actually Get When You Buy a Franchise (Most People Have No Idea)
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What is franchising - really? In this episode of Franchise Fridays, Jeff Dudan breaks down the franchise model from the ground up, explaining why franchising is not just a business but a business model that can be applied to almost any product or service. Jeff covers how franchising creates leverage, shared costs, speed to market, and access to enterprise-level tools that would cost six figures to build independently. Jeff reveals why the smartest franchise opportunity in 2025 is not where most people are looking - and makes a compelling data-backed...
The Three-Letter Secret That Took This Business From Zero to $600 Million with Tommy Mello
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What does it actually take to build a $600 million home service company starting from painting garage doors for $100 each? Tommy Mello, founder of A1 Garage Door Service, breaks down the exact journey from broke to billionaire-in-progress - and he holds nothing back. In this episode, Tommy shares the $100 million whiteboard brainstorm that his own managers laughed at, the painful partnership breakup that forced him to call his mom for help, and the mindset shift that finally made him love Mondays. He reveals why the best employees are never on...
AI Brain Fry Is Real - And It's Burning Out Your Best Employees Faster Than You Think
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What if the reason you're burned out, overwhelmed, and can't seem to get ahead has nothing to do with your workload - and everything to do with your THOUGHT LOAD? In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Dr. Liane Davey - organizational psychologist, New York Times bestselling author, and the Teamwork Doctor - to unpack the invisible forces draining your team's energy, destroying your focus, and quietly burning out your best people. Dr. Davey breaks down the difference between workload and thought load, why urgency addiction is making...
Award-Winning Lawyer's Secret Double Life: Meth Dens, Private Planes & Total Collapse
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What does it look like when a man has everything - and still loses himself completely? Judd Shaw was a celebrated New Jersey attorney with his name on billboards, a private plane, a yacht, a gated estate, and a country club membership. From the outside, he had won. But behind closed doors, he was driving into sketchy neighborhoods every night to spend hours in methamphetamine dens - and then coming home, showering, and pretending nothing had happened. In June 2020, everything collapsed. A false arrest, a divorce, a night in...
The Fastest Way To Create Momentum In Your Business with Chris Collins
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What separates leaders from managers? What does a car dealership turnaround have in common with raising your kids? And why is 'love yourself' some of the worst advice ever given? In this episode of the Unemployable Podcast, Jeff Dudan sits down with Chris Collins - child of missionaries, former broke drummer in the Seattle grunge era, record-setting automotive GM, and now one of the most respected turnaround experts and leadership educators in the country. Chris is the author of the groundbreaking two-volume book set I AM LEADER, a...
The CEO of the World's Largest Referral Network Says AI Will Make This One Skill Worth Everything
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What if the most valuable skill in an AI-dominated world is something you already have - and just haven't fully leveraged? Graham Weihmiller, former CEO and Executive Chairman of BNI - the world's largest business referral organization with 11,500 chapters in 77 countries and 350,000 global members - sits down with Jeff Dudan on the Unemployable Podcast to share the leadership principles, entrepreneurial lessons, and contrarian insights that shaped his extraordinary career. Graham opens up about growing up in financial hardship (broken plumbing, buckets in the bathtub, couldn't fill the gas tank...
The #1 Rule Great Franchisors Never Break (Most Get This Wrong) with Jeff Dudan & Cordell Riley
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book: https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment What separates a great franchisor from one that quietly destroys franchisee trust? In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with franchise industry veteran Cordell Riley to unpack the three core responsibilities of every great franchisor - visionary, marketer, and training organization - and why most brands only get one right. Cordell shares his 20 "success clues" drawn from years at Driven Brands and beyond, including the single most important principle he's ever heard: franchisee success is not optional. Jeff and Cordell dig into the real difference...
The Blind Spot That Kills Most Entrepreneurs (Ryan Pineda's Brutal Truth)
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
Ryan Pineda went from making $1,200/month in the Oakland A's minor leagues to building a multi-million dollar real estate and education empire - but the real story is what he learned along the way that most entrepreneurs never figure out. In this conversation, Ryan breaks down why rental properties are a flawed cashflow strategy in today's market, why he shut down multiple businesses in 2024 to focus on what actually works, and why he believes wholesaling real estate is the best business model available right now - high returns, low...
The Man Who Built 1,300 Gyms Says You'll Choose to Live to 120 Within 5 Years with Anthony Geisler
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
Anthony Geisler built LA Boxing to 200 locations and sold it to the UFC. Then he acquired Club Pilates with 12 locations and scaled it to over 1,300 as the flagship brand of publicly traded Exponential Fitness. Now he's doing it again with Sequel Brands - a longevity-focused franchise platform built around the science of living better, longer. In this episode, Anthony and Jeff Dudan go deep on the real reason muscle mass is a longevity issue (not a vanity issue), why GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are essentially duct tape, what the...
After 20 Years He Walked Away and Rebuilt Everything From Scratch with Dustin Hillis
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What if the most powerful business skill isn't charisma, work ethic, or even intelligence - but coachability? In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Dustin Hillis, former CEO of Southwestern Family of Companies and president of Safe Space Global Corporation (SSGC), to unpack the rare mindset that separates top performers from everyone else. Dustin shares the counterintuitive truth he learned selling educational books door-to-door at 18 years old - working 85 hours a week, 1,000 miles from home, on straight commission - and how being 'dumb enough to be smart enough...
Why Successful Business Owners Stay Stuck at Half Their Potential (The 4 C Trap) with Jeff Dudan
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book: https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment Are you running a good business when a great one is within your reach? In this episode of Franchise Friday, Jeff Dudan - founder of Homefront Brands and operator across 8 franchise brands with over 800 franchise owners - breaks down the 4 Cs that trap small business owners at the first level of success: Comfort, Competence, Commitment, and Capital. Jeff explains why comfort is the most dangerous place a business owner can be, how your greatest strengths may actually be capping your growth, what true commitment looks...
AI Will Destroy Your Business If You Don't Do This Now with Scott Clary
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
Scott Clary - Canadian entrepreneur, investor, podcast host of Success Story, and creator with 8.2 million Instagram followers - sits down with Jeff Dudan to break down the real playbook behind building a personal brand, monetizing an audience, and using media as leverage to build a billion-dollar portfolio. Scott shares the exact step-by-step content system that lets a small business owner create a full week of content in under four hours using AI tools like Opus Pro, Claude, and Otter.ai. He gets brutally honest about why angel investing burned...
Why the People Closest to You Are Destroying Your Potential (Priceline Co-Founder's Hard Truth)
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What does it take to go from a broke kid in the Arizona desert to co-founding Priceline.com - the backbone of what became Booking.com, now valued at over $160 billion? Jeff Hoffman didn't follow the script. He invented it. In this episode of the Unemployable Podcast, host Jeff Dudan sits down with serial entrepreneur, Grammy and Emmy award winner, and global impact leader Jeff Hoffman for a wide-ranging conversation that covers the mindset behind building world-changing companies, why the people closest to you may be the biggest threat t...
The #1 Reason Customers Stop Using Your Business (It's Not What You Think) with Jay Baer
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What if the fastest way to grow your service business had nothing to do with better marketing, better pricing, or even better service delivery? In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with bestselling author and marketing legend Jay Baer to unpack the science of speed, responsiveness, and word of mouth - and why the businesses that respond fastest are quietly winning the market. Jay shares research from the largest study ever conducted on speed and responsiveness in business, revealing that 51% of customers will hire whoever contacts them first - r...
The Only Question That Matters Before Buying a Franchise (Most People Never Ask It) with Jeff Dudan
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
After awarding over 800 franchises, Jeff Dudan has noticed something shocking - not one person has ever asked him the single most important question before buying a franchise: "Will anybody buy it?" In this episode of Franchise Friday, Jeff breaks down why beginning with the end in mind is the ultimate framework for franchise success. He walks through the four critical characteristics every business must have to attract sophisticated or strategic buyers willing to pay an outrageous price: scalability, durability, sustainability, and compelling value. Whether you're exploring franchise ownership for...
Why 98% of Business Owners Are Stuck at the Same Number Forever with Brandon Dawson
Jeff Dudan's free digital copy of his book
What does it actually take to build a business that survives, scales, and eventually sells for life-changing money? Brandon Dawson - co-founder of Cardone Ventures alongside Grant and Elena Cardone - has lived every phase of this journey: from growing up watching a stepfather build a $375M hearing aid company, to raising $28M with Warburg Pincus at 29 and ringing the American Stock Exchange bell, to losing it all when his investors exited, to building his most recent company and selling it for 77x EBITDA. Today, Brandon has been directly...
Why Great Businesses Still Struggle on Social Media with AJ Kumar
Get a FREE DOWNLOADABLE COPY of Jeff Dudan's Book Discernment HERE
In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan featuring AJ Kumar, founder of The Limitless Company and author of Guru Inc, Jeff and AJ break down what it really takes to build a personal brand in today’s market, why social media is the new television, how founders can turn content into commerce, and why building authority online is both an art and a science. If you’re a founder, CEO, entrepreneur, author, coach, or expert trying to grow your brand, attract the right audience, and beco...
FBI Negotiator Reveals The REAL Secret To Influence with Chris Voss
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This is a short segment from the full episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan featuring former FBI hostage negotiator Chris Voss. In this clip, Chris Voss and Jeff Dudan break down the real power of tactical empathy, why most people misunderstand negotiation, and how focusing on “common ground” might actually be hurting your results. If you’ve ever felt stuck in a deal, struggled to influence others, or wondered why conversations don’t go your way… this is a must-watch.
🎯 Watch the FULL EPISODE here
👉...
Why Franchise Ownership Is the Smartest Way to Start a Business with Jeff Dudan
DOWNLOAD A FREE DIGITAL COPY OF JEFF DUDAN'S BOOK HERE
Start your Business Journey Here: https://www.homefrontbrands.com
Jeff Dudan breaks down why starting your business ownership journey with a franchise can be one of the smartest moves you make. In this episode of Franchise Friday on the Unemployable Podcast, Jeff shares 4 key reasons why franchise ownership gives aspiring entrepreneurs a faster, smarter, and more supported path into business ownership. From lower startup costs and speed to first dollar, to access to customers, equity creation, and cash flow, this episode is all about helping y...
The FBI Knocked on Her Door… and Everything Fell Apart with Rashmi Airan
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🚨 Can you go to prison without knowing you did anything wrong? In this episode of Unemployable, Jeff Dudan sits down with Rashmi Airan—former attorney, Wall Street investment banker, law professor, entrepreneur, and globally recognized transformation expert—for one of the most powerful conversations we’ve had on the show. Rashmi shares the unbelievable story of how a fast-paced legal career, pressure, ambition, and one series of decisions led to an FBI investigation, federal charges, prison, and ultimately a complete transformation of her life and purpose. This episode i...
The Hidden Cost of Growing Your Business with Laura Gassner Otting
Watch the FULL EPISODE HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McEqzZemnKI
Get a FREE DIGITAL COPY of Jeff Dudan's Book Discernment HERE
🚨 Feeling successful… but not fulfilled? This episode will change how you see growth forever. 👉 Watch till the end to understand the hidden cost of success—and how to take back control. In this episode of Unemployable, Jeff Dudan sits down with Laura Gassner Otting to unpack the concept of “WonderHell”—the moment when success feels both incredible… and overwhelming. You’ll learn why building a business, scaling a franchise, or achieving your goals can trigger anx...
The Franchise Model Most People Still Don’t Understand with CEO of Homefront Brands Jeff Dudan
📘 Get a FREE Digital copy of Jeff’s book Discernment HERE
A great franchisor isn’t just a brand—it’s a marketing engine, a learning system, and a platform built for outcomes. In this Franchise Friday episode, Jeff Dudan breaks down what most people still don’t understand about franchising. From how Homefront Brands scaled to hundreds of owners, to why outcomes—not royalties—should be the goal, this is a masterclass for anyone thinking about buying or building a franchise. If you want to build real wealth, create optionality, and understand how franchising actually works… start here.
The Difference Between Running a Business and Building One with Ryan Groth
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In this episode of the Unemployable Podcast, Jeff Dudan sits down with Ryan Groth of Sales Transformation Group to talk about why some roofing companies stay small while others scale. They break down the role of business acumen, sales culture, leadership, private equity, recruiting, and the future of the trades — plus what Ryan looks for in sales athletes and why the roofing industry is changing fast. If you liked this conversation, check out more episodes of the Unemployable Podcast for real talk on business growth, leadership, and entrepre...
What Happens When Franchise Owners Show Up for Their Community | Franchise Friday with Jeff Dudan
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Franchise ownership isn’t just about building a business — it’s about building stronger communities. At Homefront Brands, one of the most important responsibilities of becoming a franchise owner is finding meaningful ways to give back. Philanthropy is not an afterthought in our system — it’s a core value. When our franchise owners succeed, we believe our communities should succeed too. That’s exactly what this episode of Heroes on the Homefront is all about. In this episode, Jeff Dudan and the Window Hero team partner with Ambassador Christi...
Before You Start a Business, Check These 3 Things with Cameron Bawden
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Many entrepreneurs start businesses without doing the real math. In this clip from the Unemployable Podcast, Cameron Bawden explains the key factors he looks at before starting or investing in a business — including margins, pricing control, recurring revenue, and the right operating partner. If you’re thinking about launching a business, these principles can save you from making costly mistakes.
WATCH THE FULL EPISODE HERE! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyxWisvV7Ss
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Check out...
You Might Be Chasing Someone Else’s Dream with Best Selling Author Laura Gassner Otting
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Jeff Dudan sits down with bestselling author and leadership expert Laura Gassner Otting to talk about ambition, success, leadership, and why so many high performers still feel stuck—even after doing everything “right.” They discuss why ambition is not a dirty word, how many people are unknowingly chasing someone else’s definition of success, and what today’s workforce really wants: calling, connection, contribution, and control. If you're an entrepreneur, leader, or business owner, this conversation will challenge the way you think about success and help you unlock your nex...
The Secret to Getting Better Deals Without Pushing with Hostage Negotiator Chris Voss
Get a FREE DOWNLOADABLE COPY of Jeff Dudan's Book Discernment HERE
What can an FBI hostage negotiator teach entrepreneurs, franchise owners, and business leaders about getting better outcomes? A lot. In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan, Jeff sits down with Chris Voss — former FBI hostage negotiator, author of the global bestseller Never Split the Difference, and founder of The Black Swan Group. Chris spent more than two decades negotiating life-or-death situations around the world. Now he teaches the same negotiation frameworks to business leaders, entrepreneurs, and Fortune 500 companies.
In this conversation, Chris and Jef...
Most Businesses Lose Money. Here’s Why. With The Great Game of Business Steve Baker
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Most businesses don’t have a people problem — they have a clarity problem. In this episode, Jeff Dudan sits down with Steve Baker (VP, The Great Game of Business | co-author of Get in the Game and the 20th Anniversary edition of The Great Game of Business) to break down why “open-book management” isn’t about spreadsheets… it’s about building ownership, accountability, and a winning culture. ✅ What you’ll learn: Why leaders hide financials (and why it backfires) The real goal of open-book management: education + transparency How to get employees to think like owners...
The 3 BIGGEST Energy Mistakes Killing Your Vibe with "Energy Expert" Erin King
Grab a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan's Book DISCERNMENT HERE
CHECK OUT THE FULL EPISODE HERE!
What if you don’t actually have “low energy”… you just have BLOCKS In this powerful conversation with Erin King: @MrsErinKing , we break down the real science of vibe, leadership energy, and why trying to “do more” is actually draining you. You’ll learn why energy isn’t something you create — it’s something you access. We unpack: The 3 biggest energy mistakes killing your vibe Why quitting isn’t the answer (shifting is) How clarity instantly boosts your energy The 5 energy types — and...
The 4 Freedoms Entrepreneurship Buys You (And How to Earn Them) with Jeff Dudan
Grab a FREE copy of Jeff Dudan's Book Discernment HERE
Freedom is the point. But freedom means different things depending on how you grew up, what you value, and what you’re willing to risk. In this episode of Franchise Fridays, I break down the 4 freedoms entrepreneurship can create — and how to think about building them intentionally: ✅ Freedom of Opportunity — more options, more pathways, more control over “what’s next” ✅ Freedom to Pursue Curiosity — following the thread that turns problems into innovation ✅ Freedom to Create Great Experiences — choosing the who, when, and where that make life meaningful ✅ Financial Freedom — secu...
3,500 Speeches Later… Here’s What Actually Commands a Room with Phil M. Jones
Claim a Free Copy of Jeff Dudan’s Book “Discernment”: 👉 https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment
Connect with Phil M Jones: 🌐 https://www.philmjones.com 🌐 https://www.exactlywhattosay.com
Most leaders think confidence comes from eliminating filler words. Phil M Jones says that’s wrong. In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan, Phil breaks down what actually creates authority in a room — and it’s not better vocabulary. It’s mastering the moment. With over 3,500 presentations delivered in 59 countries, Phil explains: Why tension creates attention The power of adding a “third speed of speech” Why scripts don’t create auth...
He Got FIRED… Then Built 12+ Companies (And Sold Them) With Troy Hazard
FREE COPY OF JEFF'S BOOK DISCERNMENT HERE
What happens when you get FIRED… and it becomes the best thing that ever happened to you? In this episode of The Unemployable Podcast, Jeff Dudan sits down with serial entrepreneur, investor, and former Global President of EO, Troy Hazard. From Australian radio announcer… to building and selling 12+ companies… to turning around distressed businesses and exiting to private equity — Troy shares the exact mindset, leadership philosophy, and exit strategy that changed his life. 🔥 Inside this episode: Why you should start with the end in mind The #1 mistake founders make before they sell H...
Franchise Tech Strategy: When to Build, When to Buy (AI Changes Everything)
Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan’s book DISCERNMENT here: https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment
Technology can accelerate your franchise system. Or quietly break it. In this Franchise Friday segment, I sit down with Jaffrey Ali from FranConnect to answer one of the most important questions facing franchisors today: Should you build your own technology — or buy it? We break down: Why “finite resources” matter more than you think The hidden risk of AI shortcuts and “vibe coding” The real ROI framework for build vs. buy decisions Why security, certifications, and compliance can’t be ignored How AI...
Why Customers Recommend One Company and Forget the Other with Brittany Hodak
📘 Grab Jeff Dudan’s book Discernment: https://www.jeffdudan.com/discernment
Why do people wear another man’s name on their back? Why do fans believe their socks determine whether their team wins? And what does any of that have to do with roofing, plumbing, or installing fences? In this segment from Unemployable, Jeff Dudan sits down with Brittany Hodak to break down the psychology of fandom — and how even “boring” service brands can create customers who come back and bring their friends. You’ll learn: Why people affiliate with brands How tribal psychology drives loyalty Why being great at y...
The Great Game of Business: Why This Works When Everything Else Fails #249
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What if the key to building a winning company isn’t charisma… but teaching everyone the score? In this episode of Unemployable with Jeff Dudan, Jeff sits down with Jack Stack, founder of the Great Game of Business and pioneer of open-book management. After surviving the collapse of International Harvester in the 1980s, Jack helped lead a leveraged buyout and discovered a painful truth: most leaders don’t truly understand their numbers. That realization became a movement. In this conversation, they break down: -Why companies hide financial...
What Private Equity Really Looks For In a Franchise System with Patrick Galleher
Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan’s book DISCERNMENT here: https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment
Private equity is a ladder — and most operators don’t know where they stand on it. In this Franchise Friday segment, Jeff Dudan and J. Patrick Galleher break down:
• Why 8x EBITDA can become 18x • Platform vs. part of a platform — and why it matters • The mistake of sharing financials too early • How territory decisions quietly destroy enterprise value • Why franchisee validation drives multiples • What to fix 24–36 months before you sell If you’re a franchisor, franchisee, or operator thinking about gr...
This Is Why You Keep Losing Opportunities | Bizarre Foods @AndrewZimmern Explains
Get a FREE COPY of Jeff Dudan’s book Discernment here: https://podcast.homefrontbrands.com/en-us/discernment
@AndrewZimmern doesn’t just talk about food — Andrew Zimmern talks about work ethic, addiction, resilience, hunger in America, and what real service looks like. In this conversation, Andrew Zimmern breaks down: • Why getting a job at 14 builds confidence and discipline • How Andrew Zimmern rebuilt his life after addiction • The difference between being the best and being the only • Why America can end child hunger — fast • How processed food, policy, and profit collide • The one sentence Andrew Zimmern believes can change your life: “Ask for hel...
