Brews & Banter

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...

On this episode of Brews & Banter, hosts Roman and Frank pour two beers and welcome real-estate pro Shelley Hoffman — broker/owner of HHC Realty in Baldwinsville, NY and passionate community builder. Shelley takes us behind the scenes of her brokerage (in business since 2016), shares how she partners with non-profits and uses her love of local community to build business and relationships. We...

This week on Brews & Banter, hosts Roman and Frank crack open a couple of cold ones with two standout guests: Mary Batchelor MSPT, the mobile physical therapist behind Vitality PT of CNY who brings outpatient PT right to your home, and Dr. Elisabeth “Lis” Auburn, PT, DPT, the founder of Blue Pelvic Physical Therapy PLLC whose practice specializes in pelvic-floor therapy with a whole-body, pers...

The boys are back in town! Kevin and Ryan return to the Brews & Banter studio for a hilarious night of beers, BS, and belly laughs. It all starts when Kevin shows up with “healing stones” for Roman and Frank — and before anyone can finish roasting him, Ryan bursts out laughing and admits he stole a few stones from Kevin’s house. From there, it’s all downhill (in the best way possible). Between...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank sit down with Chelsey Morenotuesta, the owner of Goddess Esthetics in Baldwinsville, NY. Chelsey’s not your average esthetician — she blends skincare, healing, and spiritual energy into a one-of-a-kind experience that’s as uplifting as it is relaxing. From facials and dermaplaning to reiki and tarot nights, Chelsey’s passion for helping people...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank welcome an old friend: Bill Brewster from the Josh Taylor Project (JTP). Bill and Frank have known each other for two decades, and this is Bill’s first time on the show. Over a couple of craft beers, we dive into Bill’s musical journey, from how he started out to what it’s like performing with JTP. We get the inside scoop on their performances...

On this episode of Brews & Banter, Frank and Roman sit down with PJ Glassey — founder of X Gym, exercise scientist, author, and biohacker — for a deep dive into how we train, eat, and think. PJ has been experimenting with fitness techniques since the late ’80s and later launched X Gym, a system built around short, high-intensity workouts (just 21 minutes, twice a week) paired with brain-traini...

The bar was definitely open in this episode! Jennie returned to the studio, this time bringing her friend Mary — her fellow bartender and cocktail wizard. What started as a chill catch-up turned into a two-hour session full of laughs, stories, and some seriously good drinks. While Mary mixed up her signature Old Fashioneds (and a few surprises), we talked about everything from life behind the bar...

This week on Brews & Banter, we crack open some cold ones with Cindy Clarke — host on local favorite PAC-B TV. A little while back, we were guests on her show, and now the tables have turned. Cindy shares how she found her way into hosting, the history of PAC-B TV (including the different spots their studio has called home), and how the team has grown into a hub for local events, news, and unf...

In this episode of Brews & Banter, we raise a glass and dive into the past and future of our region’s lifeblood: the Erie Canal. We’re joined in the studio by Vickie Freyleue, one of the organizers of the October 3 celebration at Paper Mill Island in Baldwinsville and Steven McMahon, local historian extraordinaire. Vickie gives us a behind‑the‑scenes look at the event, including the special vo...

In this episode, we’re joined by Ryan, bassist for The Josh Taylor Project (JTP), and his longtime friend Kevin for a laid-back and laughter-filled hangout. Over a couple of cold ones—generously sponsored by Roaring 20s Brewing Co.—we dive into stories from the band, the power of true friendship, and how these two have supported each other through life’s ups and downs. From backstage moments to pe...

Big things are happening with our very first recording in the brand-new studio and celebrated with our new beer sponsor, Roaring 20s Brewing Company, featuring their smooth Mexican Lager. Joining us at the table were our returning friend Jennie and special guest Mike Breed, owner of Between the Buns. We dove into Mike’s unique business, his vision for growth, and Jenny’s past role in helping shape...

In this episode, we’re pouring a mix of stories and sports. Fresh off a North Carolina trip, we hit up some local breweries before diving into the adrenaline of IMSA racing at Watkins Glen and the drama of Formula 1. But not everything went as planned—an unexpected storm turned our Airbnb stay into a sudden evacuation adventure. We also take a swing at baseball history with the Red Sox’s iconic “r...

From tropical vibes to tech vibes, this episode takes you on a riotous ride. We open with Frank fresh off his Hawaii vacation — sunshine, surf, and stories. We dive straight into our current brew, Talking Cursive, but quickly pivot into a laughter-fueled tangent about bodily functions. Yep, we’re talking poop — Frank recounts attending a “Depends diaper party,” and he dubs yours truly the “diaper...

In this heartfelt episode, we sit down with Matt Hunt, President of the Greater Baldwinsville Chamber of Commerce, as he shares some big news — his upcoming retirement from the role. But don’t worry, Matt isn’t going far! He’ll still be around to support and stay involved with GBCC. Matt reflects on his 11 impactful years with the Chamber, highlighting the dedication of its members and the strengt...

In this special on-location episode of Brews & Banter , we sit down with Derek Grout , founder of Harvest Spirits Distillery , recorded right at the heart of Golden Harvest Farms in Valatie, NY. Golden Harvest Farms, a third-generation orchard established in 1957, is home to some of the Hudson Valley’s finest apples—and it’s here that Derek pioneered New York’s very first licensed farm distill...