Momentum

Joe Cayre went from selling handkerchiefs door-to-door to help feed his family to building multi-billion-dollar businesses across music, film, home video, and real estate. In this episode, Joe shares the stories behind his biggest deals, including signing the World Trade Center lease weeks before 9/11, building an empire with exclusive Walmart distribution rights, negotiating million-dollar licens...

Jack Kassin is the Chairman of Best Brands Consumer Products, a company that grew from a small family towel business into a national enterprise with products in more than 20,000 stores across the country. In this episode, Jack shares the lessons he learned from over six decades in business, the values that guided his success, and how he built wealth without sacrificing family, integrity, or purpos...

David Mizrahi is the founder of Salt Restaurant Group, a booming hospitality brand behind some of the most in-demand kosher dining experiences in the country, including Salt Steakhouse. In this episode, I sit back down with David for a follow-up conversation over dinner (from his restaurant!). David opens up about what it really takes to build and scale high-end restaurants, the chaos behind the s...

Joseph (Joey) Jerome is the co-founder of JEMB Realty, a behemoth real estate development, investment and management firm based in New York City. In this episode, I sit down with Joey for a follow-up conversation over dinner. Joey opens up about his journey from working in his father’s deli to DJing his way into owning two homes by 25, surviving a seven-year real estate collapse, why giving back i...

Avi Houllou is the founder of iBuy, a multi-billion dollar global electronics distribution powerhouse with offices in NJ and Miami. In this episode, I sit back down with Avi for a follow-up conversation over dinner. Avi gets real about losing tens of millions of dollars, refusing to file for bankruptcy, rebuilding from zero, and the mindset that’s carried him through loss, leadership, and life’s h...

June Aboksis was kicked out of school and told she’d be “nothing in life.” Then she went on to build Junee, the largest modest-wear clothing brand in the world, with stores across NY, NJ, and Israel. In this episode, I sit back down with June for a follow-up conversation over dinner. June opens up about building her business from coupon-clipping days to global success, running a company with dysle...

Eric Goldstein spent 31 years as a partner at Paul Weiss before walking away to lead UJA-Federation of New York, the largest local nonprofit in the world, raising $2.8 billion under his leadership. In this episode, Eric shares why he left elite Big Law, what leadership really looks like in moments of crisis, and the lessons he learned when he realized he wasn’t as indispensable as he once thought....

Josh Feltman is a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz who has helped lead some of the most consequential restructurings of the last two decades - including Toys “R” Us, AMC, Expedia, and Express. In this episode, Josh walks through his unlikely path from Harvard to Wachtell, the weekend he helped the U.S. Treasury nationalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the lessons he’s learned steer...

Eli Beer is the founder of United Hatzalah, Israel’s volunteer-based emergency medical service that reaches any scene in under 90 seconds and has treated over 7.5 million people worldwide. In this episode, Eli opens up about being kicked out of school at 12, how a childhood trauma sparked his lifelong mission to save lives, and the story behind building one of the most impactful humanitarian organ...

Eddie Rishty is a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, where he represents some of the world’s most prominent real estate investors, including JP Morgan Asset Management, Carlyle, and one of the highest-net-worth individuals on the planet. In this episode, Eddie opens up about his journey from getting waitlisted at Princeton to becoming a partner at one of the world’s top law firms. He breaks down...

Samuel Krost is the founder of KROST, a mission-driven fashion brand now sold in Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks, and around the world. In this episode, Samuel opens up about scaling his label into a multimillion-dollar business, the lessons he learned from getting caught inside the infamous Fyre Festival, and how his network and philanthropy have shaped the future of KROST. Enjoy! __________ Chec...

Abie J. Cohen is the founder and managing partner of Centre Street Partners, an NYC–based venture capital firm that’s backed dozens of startups with their latest $60M fund. In this episode, Abie breaks down how venture capital really works, why he bets on people over ideas, and what thousands of startup pitches have taught him about success. Enjoy! __________ Check out Ezra Dweck on Momentum Abie’...

David Dweck is the founder and owner of Camp Allsport, a premier summer camp in New Jersey. Each summer, he employs a staff of over 230, welcomes more than 850 campers, and manages a waitlist of 400. In this episode, David opens up about his journey - from getting fired from his first camp counselor job to building a business that brings in millions of dollars while working just two months a year....

Cookie Falack is a serial entrepreneur who is best known as the founder of Cookie's Kids, the largest children's department store in America. A 3PL (third-party logistics) company that serves clients nationwide Real estate investments across the country Genesis, and Israeli-focused fund that backs companies improving humanity And, most recently, a partnership on cutting-edge photonic chips...

Mordechai Salem is a hazzan (cantor) and wedding singer who’s led prayers in synagogues and performed at weddings and events around the world, from Brooklyn to Cabo to the south of France. In this episode, he shares his journey from a 14-year-old hazzan in Israel to becoming the premier voice of our community, balancing family, faith, and a career that rarely leaves a free night. __________ SPONSO...

David Mizrahi is the founder of Salt Restaurant Group, the hospitality company behind five restaurants on the Jersey Shore in just five years - including the world-famous Salt Steakhouse. David’s story is anything but traditional. He dropped out of high school, made millions in real estate as a teenager, and then shifted into hospitality, where he’s now redefining what a kosher dining experience c...

René Rofé is the founder of René Rofé Lingerie, a global lingerie company whose can be found in retailers across the globe. In this episode, Rene shares his unlikely path from engineering and investment banking to “peddling panties,” how a napkin sketch landed him a Victoria’s Secret order, and the persistence that turned a discount-store hustle into a decades-long success story. __________ Check...

In this special episode of Momentum, I sit down with NYC Mayor Eric Adams. He opens up about his childhood: getting bullied as the "dumbest student," working the streets squeegeeing car windshields, and the 5-second moment that transformed his life. We also got into his fight for NYC: public safety, affordability, and his plan to take down Zohran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa. __________...

Ray Tawil is the founder of PREPT by Ray T, a hospitality business based out of Brooklyn specializing in high-end catering, events, and food delivery. In this episode, Ray opens up about what it's really like to run a hospitality company–and it's not what you think. __________ SPONSORS: • Yazdi Entertainment, New York's premiere event production company. https://www.instagram.com/yazdi...

Haim Dabah is a serial entrepreneur who’s built and sold billion-dollar companies across fashion, venture capital, real estate, and healthcare. In this episode, we break down the rise and fall of his billion-dollar brand Gitano, how he pioneered designer collaborations with mass retailers, and the mindset that’s kept him building ever since. Help us build the Sephardic Mikveh of Gravesend: https:/...

June Aboksis was kicked out of school and told she’d be “nothing in life.” Then she went on to build Junee, the largest modest-wear clothing brand in the world, with stores across NY, NJ, and Israel. In this episode, June opens up about how she turned rejection and hustle into a global empire. Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group's factoring services can help power your business's financi...

Jack Aini is the founder of Aini & Associates, a thriving law firm in New York. He served as President of SBH (Sephardic Biker Holim) and is currently President of his shul, SLC (Sephardic Lebanese Congregation). Help us build the Sephardic Mikveh of Gravesend: https://raisethon.com/gravesend Partner with Kosher Media, the premiere advertising network for Jewish communities worldwide: https://...

In this special episode, Marshall Mizrahi (my 3rd-ever guest) interviews me (Victor Braca, aka your host) about my journey starting and growing Momentum. I open up about how my “cute side project” changed my life, how I went from idea to execution in just 5 days, and some of the funniest stories from my time hosting Momentum. Plus, Marshall puts me on the spot with a challenge to match memorable q...

Avi Akiva has closed over 3,500 commercial real estate leases and transacted hundreds of millions of dollars worth of real estate. All before turning 30! Avi is Partner and Executive VP at TriState Commercial Realty, where he leads the sales team, which he helped grow to over 60 agents. Explore smarter insurance solutions for your real estate portfolio:  https://www.elicohenagency.com Atomic Habit...

Jack Ezon built 2 of the world’s largest luxury travel companies. Most recently, he founded Embark Beyond, a $250M+ business with over 300+ employees that plans unbelievable getaways around the world. In this episode, Jack opens up about quitting big-law to chase his passion, renting out private islands for $40 MILLION parties, and how he launched a travel business just 6 months before COVID. Brou...