Jimmy John and Waddell Reveal Keys to Business and Hunting Success in New Episode
DENVER (January 5, 2026) – Jimmy John Liautaud, the founder of the iconic sandwich chain Jimmy John’s, joins his good friend and hunting buddy Michael Waddell on the latest episode of The Michael Waddell Podcast, presented by Spandau Arms and in partnership with Folds of Honor, Cigars International, The Texas Trophy Hunters Association and Spartan Precision. The good friends sit down for a far-ranging, heartfelt conversation about Jimmy John’s early days, growing his famous sandwich chain from its first shop in 1983 to nearly 2,800 stores when he gave up controlling interest in 2016, as well as the business moves and personal philosophies that not only made him a billionaire restaurateur but also an outspoken American patriot, philanthropist, and hunter-conservationist.
The Michael Waddell Podcast is produced by Outdoor Sportsman Group and is available widely on Outdoor Channel YouTube, MyOutdoorTV, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and OutdoorChannel.com, to name a few.
In this episode, Jimmy John tells the well-known story of how he opened his first sandwich shop in a converted garage near a college campus in Charleston, Illinois, and details the steps for amazing growth of that popular franchise. At the same time, he emphasizes the incredible hard work involved and the underlying inspiration that his inventor father provided, having survived and recovered from multiple bankruptcies before partnering with his son. “What came of it was my father got stronger, tougher, better,” said Jimmy John. “My father said I’ll never have debt again, and you pay for everything; even more so, when I opened my first Jimmy John’s store my dad gave me a check book, and he put $25,000 in the check book, and it had a ledger, and he said, ‘Son, you pay for everything C.O.D, and you keep this check book, and that way you live in reality.’”
That’s exactly what Jimmy John did. He saw what made the ledger go up and what made it go down and he got really good at math, and he got really good at running and expanding his business, too! But while there isn’t much Jimmy John can’t afford these days, his measure of wealth probably isn’t what you think. For him, it has been about his life’s journey and the people he has brought along the way. “My joy,” Jimmy John confided, “came from people [franchisees] wanting to do this and helping people win and helping them make a lot of money, and helping them be successful. ”
For Jimmy John, hunting and conservation also have been central components of his life’s journey. First introduced to hunting in the early ‘90s by Troy and Jay Link (of Jack Link’s Beef Jerky), Jimmy John has since invested a significant amount of time, money, and effort in pursuit of, and conservation of, high country species like sheep and goats. “What hunting did for me, and especially sheep hunting, is it expanded my capacity to be uncomfortable…it gave me that perspective, let alone meeting the most amazing people in the world. Hunting has brought a lot to me, a lot of soul, a lot of connection to the Earth.” Now Jimmy John is sharing that connection with everyone around him, and anyone who will listen.
“I can’t express enough how much I appreciated the time Jimmy John spent with us,” said Waddell. “I love his transparency and his willingness to share his ‘secrets,’ whether it’s a family recipe, how to make money, his philosophy on life and philanthropy, or his big picture approach to all kinds of hunting and conservation. He’s a true American treasure!”
The Michael Waddell Podcast releases new episodes every other week.
Waddell’s story began in the backwoods of Booger Bottom, Georgia, where he grew up surrounded by nature, family, and a love for the outdoors. A self-proclaimed “rowdy redneck,” his passion for hunting and storytelling led him to win a Realtree turkey-calling contest, which launched his career in the outdoor industry. From guiding and filming hunts to creating hit shows like Realtree Road Trips and Bone Collector, Waddell has become a beloved figure in the outdoor world.
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