Good Neighbor Podcast: Bergen

Ever wondered why we wait until we're sick to see a doctor? Zach Dancel from Nava Health challenges this reactive approach to healthcare, sharing a powerful personal story that transformed his family's understanding of medicine and launched their mission to revolutionize wellness. Zach's journey from Division I football player with NFL dreams to healthcare innovator began when his m...

What happens when a 31-year teaching career meets a husband's dietary diagnosis and a passion for baking? Eleanor Bradley's unexpected journey from classroom to kitchen reveals how life's challenges can inspire remarkable entrepreneurial ventures. Eleanor, owner of Bradley Bake Shop in Bogota, NJ, joins us to share how her stress-relieving baking hobby transformed into a flourishing...

Meet Steve Finley, the man behind Finley Plumbing and Heating, whose unexpected career journey proves that genuine expertise and old-fashioned values still power the most trusted local businesses in Bergen County. Steve's story begins behind bars – not the legal kind, but the Manhattan watering holes where he spent his early career as a bartender. Through a serendipitous connection with an ir...

What happens when an ex-Israeli Navy SEAL becomes frustrated with typical recovery methods? Innovation that transforms backyard wellness.  Leeron Mosayov joins us to reveal how Cielo Wellness emerged from personal necessity during COVID's darkest days. When her husband—an ultra-marathon runner and Ironman competitor—felt dissatisfied with disjointed sauna and ice bath experiences, he designed...

Spring brings renewal, and what better way to revitalize than by spring cleaning your diet? Dr. Dan DeFeo of the Osteopathic Family Medicine Practice of Northern New Jersey returns to share wisdom about seasonal eating that transforms not just your meals, but your health. Many Americans struggle with vegetables, but Dr. DeFeo suggests this aversion might stem from eating out-of-season produce lack...

The real estate landscape has transformed dramatically in recent years, and few professionals understand these shifts better than Chris Sapienza of Keller Williams' SEG Group. With experience dating back to 1991 and over 250 transactions closed in just five years, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge about Bergen County's distinctive market conditions. What makes today's real estate m...

Sarah Gorenstein takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of dementia care, sharing insights from her transition from the United Kingdom to becoming a pivotal figure in reimagining how we support families facing cognitive decline in America. The conversation reveals how our understanding of dementia has transformed over generations. What was once dismissively labeled as "going sen...

What happens when you need long-term care but haven't planned for it? Barbara Martin, elder law attorney at   Beattie Padovano,, pulls back the curtain on the often overwhelming world of estate planning, revealing solutions most families discover too late. The financial reality is sobering - assisted living in Bergen County costs up to $12,000 monthly, with memory care reaching $18,000. These...

Ever wonder what happens when your apartment window gets stuck or shatters unexpectedly in the middle of Manhattan? Meet Juart  Reyes from Manhattan Windoors INC, a family-owned business that's been solving the glass emergencies of New York City since 2016. Juart  shares the compelling story of how his father Angel transformed his career from building superintendent to business owner out of n...

Marie Wood's remarkable journey with Tumble-Bee Gymnastics pans nearly four decades—from being among the first students when its doors opened in 1986 to becoming its passionate owner. This beautiful full-circle story embodies the very essence of what makes Tumblebee special: genuine community connection that transcends generations. What distinguishes Tumble-Bee Gymnastics from both national f...

What happens when we stop doing the activities that once brought us joy? For many aging adults, this gradual disconnection from favorite pastimes often leads to isolation, cognitive decline, and diminished quality of life. Enter Brian Blotner of Silver Stage Motivators, who's created a revolutionary approach to eldercare focused on rekindling joy through meaningful engagement. After 25 years...

What happens when potential customers reach out to your business after hours? For most small businesses, the answer is nothing—and it's costing them thousands in lost revenue.  Dean Steinman, founder of Presentation Multimedia, reveals the shocking truth about response time on this eye-opening episode. "If somebody fills out a form and you don't get back to them within eight minutes...

Professional organizer Hope Kerner transforms cluttered households into peaceful sanctuaries through her Bergen County business, All Things Neat by Hope. As she explains, organizing isn't merely about aesthetics—it's about reclaiming your time, reducing stress, and creating functional systems that work with your lifestyle rather than against it. After 25 years as a personal trainer, Hope...

Carol Silver Elliott's journey from communications graduate to President and CEO of Jewish Home Family reveals how passion for service can transform an entire field. After holding leadership positions in hospital systems and career development, she found her true calling in long-term care – a field some find depressing but that she describes as a daily gift of wisdom and connection from the e...

Michael Donofrio's fitness journey wasn't always picture-perfect. After failing his NASM certification twice in his early twenties, many would have given up. Instead, he pivoted, obtained an alternative certification, and began building what would become Donofrio Fitness—now a thriving studio in Mahwah, New Jersey celebrating its sixth year in business. What makes this fitness community...

Nik Agharkar doesn't just prepare your taxes – he transforms how you think about your entire financial life. After nearly 20 years as an attorney, including building and selling his own law firm, Nik discovered his true passion lay at the intersection of legal expertise and financial strategy. His journey from litigation to financial advisory reflects a powerful insight: most people struggle...

Imagine waking up on your birthday to discover your front lawn has been transformed into a massive personalized celebration display – complete with custom signs featuring your favorite hobbies and interests. That's the world Ward Blackwell of LOL Yards brings to Bergen County residents, as he reveals on this episode of The Good Neighbor Podcast. Ward shares how he pivoted from his digital mar...

What happens when a stylist with 23 years of experience brings East Village flair to suburban Ridgewood? April Luna, owner of 21 Godwin boutique salon and apothecary, has created an answer that's been thriving for over a decade in a market saturated with competition. With exposed brick walls and an eclectic, rock-and-roll aesthetic, 21 Godwin isn't your typical Bergen County salon. April...

Arthur Toufayan's culinary journey begins like a fairytale turned on its head – born into his family's bakery business after they fled war-torn Egypt in the 1960s, he witnessed firsthand how a small North Bergen bakery grew into the nationally recognized Toufayan's Bakery brand. But rather than continuing directly in the family business, Arthur's path took an unexpected turn wh...

What does healthy connection look like in today's fragmented world? Therapist Trisha Sanders reveals powerful insights from her 20-year journey helping families, couples, and teens rebuild meaningful relationships through a holistic lens. Drawing from both professional expertise and personal experience, Trisha shares how her own marital separation and reconciliation transformed her approach t...

What makes a truly memorable family photograph? According to photographer Christine De Savino, it's capturing authentic moments that reveal the essence of a person - whether peaceful, playful, or pensive. Christine joins us to share her fascinating journey from 1990s film industry stills photographer to award-winning family portrait artist. Working alongside lighting technicians (including he...

Have you ever walked into a space and immediately felt at ease—or conversely, inexplicably uncomfortable? That's your sensory system responding to your environment, and it's exactly what Beatrice Tokayer, owner of BRT Interior Design, has built her unique interior design practice around. In this fascinating conversation, Beatrice shares how her journey from Montreal to Bergen County, cou...

Your home's comfort system is more than just a convenience—it's essential infrastructure that directly impacts your family's health and wellbeing. In this revealing conversation with Joe Cascone, founder of Climate Plus Heating and Air, we explore the fascinating journey of a 38-year HVAC veteran who stumbled into the trade by accident but discovered a lifelong passion. Joe shares c...

Ever wondered about a hair removal technique so gentle it actually improves your skin? In this fascinating conversation with Marisa Kochnover, we uncover the ancient practice of sugaring that's revolutionizing modern skincare while honoring techniques dating back to Cleopatra's Egypt. sugaringLA isn't just another beauty franchise – it's a complete reimagining of hair removal u...

What happens when roofing expertise meets unwavering integrity? In our illuminating conversation with John Cannizzo of Roof Shark, we discover why choosing a roofing contractor based solely on price might be the most expensive mistake a homeowner can make. John shares the origin story behind his company's distinctive name – inspired by sharks being "top of the food chain" and repres...