Brews & Banter

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank connect remotely with Jessica Merritt, also known as @beerbabejess — a marketing and creative director, craft beer enthusiast, and author of Rethink Everything You Know About Craft Beer. Joining us from California, Jess shares her journey through the craft beer industry, how she built her brand, and what inspired her to challenge the way people thin...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank sit down with Kelly and Angel for a fun and meaningful conversation about community, family, and giving back. Kelly shares the story behind her annual Bowling for Autism event — something she started in Pennsylvania and has now brought to Central New York. Inspired by her autistic brother, Kelly has been creating a space where families can come toge...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank are joined by two great guests — Nate from Lock 1 Distilling Company and returning guest Mike, the man behind Rockstar Music Bingo. Nate makes his first appearance on the show and comes prepared, bringing along some delicious beers from Heritage Hill Brewhouse to keep the conversation flowing. We get into what’s happening over at Lock 1, the local c...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank welcome back Chong, owner of Science of 8 Limbs, along with coach Sam, for an awesome conversation about growth, discipline, and the art of Muay Thai. Chong shares the story behind the rapid expansion of his gym, including the opening of a new location complete with a full sparring ring — a huge step forward for his students and the local fight comm...

In this remote episode of Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank sit down with Anthony Dyer, author of Moon Child: A Warrior's Reckoning with War & Addiction. Anthony shares his journey from Appalachia to serving as a Combat Special Missions Aviator on AC-130 gunships, and the challenges he faced transitioning back to civilian life, including PTSD and personal struggles along the way. The convers...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank welcome back friend of the show Chris Thompson for a great conversation about photography, business, and leveling up your creative game. Chris is the owner of CST Media Productions, where he provides professional photography and media services for real estate, families, sports, and drone work — and has now expanded into social media marketing and co...

Listener Note: This episode discusses sensitive topics, including violence and loss of life. Listener discretion is advised. This episode of Brews & Banter is one of the most powerful and emotional conversations we’ve had. Roman and Frank sit down with Heather Wood, founder of Stupendous Love, to share her story of unimaginable loss and incredible resilience. Heather opens up about the tragic...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank reconnect with returning guest Lance Manyon, host of the Real Bad Radio. Joining us remotely from Canada, Lance shares what life has been like since his move from Colorado and how he’s been getting involved in the local music scene. Lance talks about playing in a band for live gigs, his experiences building a music presence in a new place, and what’...

PJ Glassey returns to the Brews & Banter studio for another fun and insightful conversation about fitness, motivation, and what happens after the New Year’s gym rush fades away. Roman and Frank talk with PJ about why so many people drop off their workout routines after a few months and how finding new, exciting ways to train can help people get back into the habit. The conversation dives into...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank welcome Tina Selig into the studio to talk about the world of local speed dating and modern romance. Tina gives us the inside scoop on what it’s like running live dating events and what people are really looking for when they show up ready to connect. Of course, we didn’t keep it classy the whole time. The conversation quickly spiraled into bizarre...

In this remote episode of Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank sit down with Sarah Wingate (Instagram: @sarahkatw) for a laid-back conversation about the outdoors, adventure, and living closer to nature. Sarah shares her passion for hiking, fishing, and homesteading, along with stories from the trail and lessons learned from living an outdoor-driven lifestyle. We swap experiences about nature, self...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank welcome Kara, the energetic voice you’ve heard on local radio stations 95X and 93Q, into the studio for a conversation that hits all the right notes. We dive into her journey in radio, her love for music and travel, and what it’s like being part of the local broadcast scene. Of course, we couldn’t stop there — the conversation naturally swerved into...

Emily Gozy is back in the Brews & Banter studio, and we’re kicking off the year talking fitness, nutrition, and realistic habits as everyone heads back to the gym. Emily, founder of Nourished with Emily, joins Roman and Frank for another fun and educational conversation about fueling your body properly, staying consistent with workouts, and building routines that actually last beyond January....

This episode of Brews & Banter takes a legendary turn as Roman and Frank sit down with Snake, the self-proclaimed Bigfoot hunter behind Bigfoot’s Remains. Snake shares his incredible (and controversial) claim that he discovered and preserved the remains of Bigfoot — even performing taxidermy to protect what he believes is one of the greatest discoveries of our time. We dive into how his journe...

This episode of Brews & Banter is loaded with great beer, solid laughs, and behind-the-scenes brewery talk as Roman and Frank welcome Pete and Sean from Eastwood Brewing Company into the studio. Pete, the owner and brewer, and Shawn, the master brewer, showed up the best way possible — with a full lineup of Eastwood beers ready to be sampled. As the pints kept flowing, the guys talked about ho...

This episode of Brews & Banter brings back two fan-favorite guests for an awesome conversation centered around food, community, and cold beer. Roman and Frank welcome Jeff Rogers, owner of Angry Garlic, Angry Smokehouse, and Angry Waters, along with Anthony Tringale, founder of Eat Local NY. The guys dive into what’s happening right now with Baldwinsville Dining Weeks, highlighting why it’s su...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, hosts Frank and Roman sit down with Maddi Violet, owner of Ve Oh Lay Acres Winery, for a relaxed and honest conversation about turning passion into a poured product. Maddi shares her journey into winemaking, what it takes to build and run a winery, and the realities of operating a local business in a competitive industry. From the early days of Ve Oh Lay Acre...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman welcome Cydian Kauffman from Pure Water Northwest for a deep dive into the complex world of water quality and filtration. Cydian explains the critical distinction between "legal" and "healthy" water standards, highlighting how contaminants like arsenic can still be present in water that meets federal regulations. They discuss the realities of...

In this episode of Brews and Banter, hosts Frank and Roman are joined by Hunter Ziesing, a former Wall Street professional who pivoted his career toward health and wellness. Hunter discusses his background founding the Charity of Choice Foundation to benefit Livestrong and his current venture, Longevity Health, which aims to make high-end preventative testing—such as VO2 Max, Dexa scans, and blood...

Frank and Roman are back with a full house, welcoming Melanie, Mary Anne, and Shelley to discuss Baldwinsville’s coolest tradition, the 19th annual B-Ville Big Chill. The crew dives into the icy details of the event at Mercer Park, discussing everything from the logistics of breaking the frozen Seneca River to the "Best in Bowl" food competition and the Poker Bear Express pub crawl. The conversati...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman sit down with a truly trailblazing guest: Jessica Cox, the world’s first airplane pilot certified to fly with her feet. Born without arms, Jessica has shattered expectations not only in aviation but also as the first armless black belt in the American Taekwondo Association, a surfer, and a scuba diver. In this conversation, we discuss: Defying...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman sit down with Adam Ruszkowski, the founder of AR Physical Therapy PC, to explore his unique approach to rehabilitation and patient care in Central New York. Adam shares the inspiring story behind opening his private practice in Jamesville and discusses the importance of personalized, one-on-one treatment sessions that prioritize the patient's...

Join us for a fun, lively conversation with Michyy (Michaela), the ambitious founder of Claws by Michyy and For the Girls Salon and Company, located just "eight tiles down" from our studio. Michyy shares her unexpected journey from earning a Bachelor's in Psychology to becoming a successful nail technician and salon owner. Learn how she went from an unfulfilling internship in foster care to openin...

On this Brews & Banter “podcast with friends” episode, Roman and Frank welcome a crew that feels like family: Catherine and Blake, visiting all the way from Florida, plus Catherine’s sister Jessica, a young entrepreneur from Syracuse who’s already making moves in real estate investing. (Jessica’s boyfriend hung out off-camera — shy but present for the chaos 😄) Over a round of drinks, we catch...

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank throw back a few cold ones with Gabby Downing — former high-fashion model turned full-throttle car builder, drifter, and content creator. Gabby shares the raw, honest version of her journey: from the glam of the runway to the grease-under-the-nails reality of wrenching on a 1987 Honda CRX with her late dad’s old toolbox. We dive deep into what made...