Going Beyond the Deal

What if the secret to long-term success isn’t about who you can work with but who you refuse to? In this candid solo episode, Michael J. Fischer breaks down a principle that’s shaped both his personal and professional life: The No Asshole Rule. From his early years as a “baby banker” grinding through endless networking events to his current role as Managing Director at DBD Investment Bank, Michael...

What if your greatest opportunity for growth starts the moment your comfort zone ends? In this powerful solo episode, J. Michael Fischer, Jr. shares a raw, personal reflection on how personal development transformed not just his career but his identity. From working as a janitor and rebuilding alternators to becoming Managing Director at a bespoke investment bank, Michael reveals the pivotal minds...

What if the future of business isn’t just about hiring more people, but about creating organizations where humans and AI collaborate to unlock 100x growth? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal Podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. speaks with Amos Bar Joseph, co-founder and CEO of Swan AI, a company building AI agents designed to transform go-to-market operations for modern businesses. Amos shar...

What would make someone leave a high-paying Big Four accounting career, take a 50% pay cut, and join a four-person startup with no systems in place? And how do you grow that business into a globally recognized health and wellness brand? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal Podcast, host J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Chase Ramey, CFO of Organifi, a purpose-driven supplement company...

What happens when you achieve everything you thought would bring happiness — and still feel empty? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal Podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Reggie Ford, a TEDx speaker, bestselling author of Perseverance Through Severe Dysfunction, and founder of the Vulnerability Muscle framework. Reggie shares his extraordinary journey from growing up in poverty...

What does it take to walk away from a secure, successful career in commercial banking to pursue something entirely new? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. speaks with Blake Balsamo, Executive Director, Americas at i2i Logic. Blake shares how he transitioned from being one of New Jersey’s most well-known commercial bankers to helping transform the way bankers a...

How do you build a brand in the digital age without falling for hype, gimmicks, or empty metrics? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, host J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Abe Kasbo, marketing strategist, entrepreneur, and author of the upcoming book Irresponsibly Digital , to unpack what’s really working in marketing today. With over two decades of experience leading succes...

What if financing your business didn’t feel like being capped by traditional bank constraints or compromising majority control and equity? In this insightful episode of Going Beyond the Deal, J. Michael Fischer sits down with George Alifragis to explore how private credit is reshaping the world of business financing. George opens up about his personal entrepreneurial journey and how that experienc...

What happens when a high-performing sales engineer with ADHD launches a nootropics company from scratch and actually makes it work? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with TJ Bongiorno, founder of Ramp Health, for a dynamic and wide-ranging conversation about entrepreneurship, brain performance, personal development, and building a business that...

What does it mean to build a business around purpose instead of profit? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. speaks with Trent Steele, founder of the Anti-Predator Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to combating human trafficking and sexual predators in the United States through the use of specially trained private investigators. Alongside their inv...

In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. speaks with Jeff Parnell, a seasoned CEO, advisor, and author with deep expertise in helping businesses navigate major transitions. With decades of experience spanning ecommerce, consumer goods, food manufacturing, and more, Jeff shares how his work with companies of all sizes, especially family-owned and private-equity-b...

In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. welcomes John Carpenter, National Practice Partner at ERA Group and a strategic advisor known for helping companies stop cash leakage and improve profitability through smarter expense management. John shares real-world strategies for driving EBITDA growth by optimizing vendor contracts, identifying overlooked cost centers...

What does it take to build a law firm that runs like a high-performance business—not just a legal practice? In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, host J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Chris Murphy, partner and co-founder of Murphy Schiller & Wilkes LLP, to explore the entrepreneurial mindset behind building a thriving, people-centered commercial real estate law firm. Chris...

What does it take to transform innovation from buzzword to impact? Michael Johnson, PhD, has built his career around bridging the gap between ideas and execution across biotech, business, and fatherhood. In this episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. dives deep into Michael’s remarkable career path—from his early days in a Rutgers lab to building and selling a drug di...

Ever wonder what it takes to keep clean water flowing to millions of homes—day after day, year after year? For Zach Kuehne, it’s more than a job. It’s a family legacy spanning over a century. As the president of the Kuehne Company, Zach is on a mission to modernize one of the oldest and most vital services in the world: water disinfection. In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal, host J. Michael...

How can business owners thrive in a tech-driven world without losing human connection? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with executive and cybersecurity expert Darek Hahn for an eye-opening conversation about navigating business growth, technology, and authentic leadership. Far from a typical tech talk, this episode focuses on how genuine relations...

What if the defining moment of your life came at 17, and you had to grow up overnight? In today’s episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with the one and only Buddy Valastro, a.k.a. the Cake Boss, for a deeply personal conversation about legacy, leadership, and the drive that turned a Hoboken bakery into a globally recognized brand. From taking over Carlo’s...

What if the real pivot in your life isn’t about chasing more, but choosing growth over comfort? In today’s episode of the Going Beyond the Deal podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Charles Scott, former Intel Corporation executive turned executive mentor, to explore what it truly means to live a life of vitality, purpose, and self-directed growth. Charles shares the deeply personal journ...

In today’s episode of the Going Beyond the Deal Podcast, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Bill Duerr, President and CEO of Hatteras, a leading print and packaging company with deep family roots and a strong innovation streak. What began as a bold move by Bill’s father in 1983 has since evolved into a thriving middle-market business that blends traditional craftsmanship with cutting-edge data-...

What drives an entrepreneur to leave a successful corporate career and start something entirely their own? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, I sit down with Manuel Aczualdez, founder and CEO of Drink Good Spirits, to uncover the story behind his journey from working for industry giants like Diageo and Clase Azul to creating a brand that blends sustainability, authenticity, and craf...

What does it take to transition from family business leadership to venture capital, M&A, and sustainable investing? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, I sit down with John Ziss, President of Coral EV, to discuss his journey through entrepreneurship, leadership, and strategic business growth. John shares how growing up in a family business shaped his leadership mindset and why st...

How do you build a multi-eight-figure company from scratch without taking on debt or investors? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, I sit down with Kyle Shroufe, CEO and Co-Founder at Opal Energy Group, to discuss his journey in the commercial solar industry and the strategies behind his company's massive success. Kyle shares how he went from working in real estate and project manage...

What happens when you blend the precision of engineering with the strategic thinking of finance? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, I sit down with Ted Stone, Managing Partner at TechCXO’s New York office, to explore how the right systems and leadership can make or break a business. From his early career as a “recovering engineer” to guiding companies through complex financial and o...

What makes a trusted advisor in accounting truly exceptional? In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal Podcast, Michael Fisher interviews Steve Poliseo, a partner at Citrin Cooperman and a highly regarded accountant in the New Jersey market. Steve shares his personal journey, from a blue-collar upbringing to becoming a trusted resource for business owners and an integral part of their success stor...

Ever wondered what it takes to turn an iconic architectural firm into a global powerhouse? Imagine navigating the complexities of succession planning, acquisitions, and a rapidly evolving industry—all while preserving a legacy that spans over half a century. In this episode of Going Beyond the Deal podcast, I sit down with Joe Furey, the President and CEO of Michael Graves and Associates, a global...