Grit Won't Quit

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Maya Bundesen-Magier, founder of Map My Milk, to talk about how a personal experience led her to create an AI-powered platform helping parents better understand infant food allergies and sensitivities. A former occupational therapist with no coding background, Maya shares how she taught herself the tech side of building a startup after struggl...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Leo Cervantes of Chilangos Mexican Restaurant for an inspiring conversation about hard work, opportunity, and perseverance. Originally from just outside Mexico City, Leo shares his journey of coming to America in search of a better future. From getting his first job as a dishwasher without even knowing what a dishwasher was, to learning Englis...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit , Tom sits down with Karina Gaudier, founder of Autism Workforce Solutions, to talk about the untapped potential of neurodiverse talent and why so many companies are missing the mark when it comes to hiring and retaining autistic employees. Drawing from her own experiences as an autistic professional, Karina shares how those challenges inspired her to build a com...

In this Chef Series episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom and Chef Mike are joined by Joe Leone of Joe Leone's Italian Specialties for a conversation about friendship, food, and the realities of the restaurant industry. With Mike and Joe having been friends for over 30 years, the episode dives into everything from starting out in wholesale and chasing payments to how the industry has changed over time....

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Angela Mancini, founder of La Luna Counseling & Wellness and The Drop In Nest, for a conversation about mental health, entrepreneurship, and building support systems that people truly need. After experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression herself, Angela was inspired to create La Luna Counseling & Wellness, a practice built around helping...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Scott Mahoney of Family Wealth Management to talk about what it really takes to survive and succeed in the financial services industry. Scott shares his journey from the early days of struggling to find clients to building a thriving business over the past 20 years. He opens up about the challenges most advisors face, including low conversion...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit , Tom sits down with Maurice Greene to talk about the transition from college football to building a successful career in HR and sales. Maurice shares how the mindset, discipline, and work ethic he developed through sports carried over into his professional life. From putting in extra effort to staying consistent through long sales cycles, he breaks down what it...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom is joined again by Aaron Levine for another Book Club conversation, this time diving into The Science of Scaling by Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Tom and Aaron give an honest take on the book, including why some of the concepts are hard to embrace and the level of commitment it truly takes to create massive change. They talk about setting aggressive timelines that for...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Hadri Jaffal, the force behind Iron Body Fit, to talk about what it really takes to grow a business when traditional funding isn't an option. After facing a major setback with a failed bank loan, Hadri shares how he shifted his mindset and focused on building momentum instead of chasing the perfect pitch. By leveraging storytelling, relationsh...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Jonathan Ramadan of Father and Son Custom Homes to talk about building a business the right way from the ground up. Jonathan shares how he's been around construction his entire life, starting out working in restaurants before fully committing to the family business. As he grew into his role, he realized that success meant more than just workin...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Anthony and Toni Ann of Accurate Billing Group to talk about building a business that supports medical providers where they need it most. Starting during the early days of COVID, this husband and wife team saw a gap in the industry and stepped in to help. With over 25 years of experience, Toni Ann shares how they've built a company focused on...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit , Tom sits down with Adam Greenberg of Restaurant Zone, the group behind Hunters Bar and Grill, Potomac Pizza, and Bagel and Grinds, to talk about what it really takes to survive and grow in the restaurant industry. With over 30 years in the business, Adam shares how he's navigated major challenges including massive snowstorms, the COVID-19 pandemic, and constant...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Shane Clayton of Zoom Drain to talk about taking a leap into a completely new industry and building a trusted local brand from the ground up. With a military background and no prior plumbing experience, Shane shares how he got into the home service space through franchising and what it's taken to grow in a competitive market. He talks about th...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Michele Agosta of Agosta Real Estate in Hazlet, NJ to talk about building a business rooted in relationships, integrity, and purpose. Michelle shares her journey of growing a boutique real estate team into a thriving business, driven by her commitment to the people around her. She opens up about the responsibility she feels toward her agents,...

Tom sits down with Katarina Kiseli, licensed therapist and founder of Project Me Therapy in Brick, NJ. Katarina came up through a path that most people would not expect, starting her career as an FBI analyst before transitioning into the mental health space and opening a practice dedicated to helping people treat themselves like a project worth investing in. Tom and Katarina connected through Trac...

Tom and Chef Mike sit down with Chef Roy Rollins, Executive Chef at Park Social, a sophisticated restaurant and lounge in Neptune City known for its wood fired pizza, chef driven plates and elevated atmosphere on the Jersey Shore. Roy is a chef with a deep respect for the craft and he holds nothing back. He talks about the wave of gimmicks flooding the restaurant scene and why great food has never...

Tom sits down with Stacey Ellison, Certified Divorce Lending Professional and founder of Divorce Mortgage Solutions in Middletown, NJ. Stacey has been in the mortgage industry for 30 years and specializes in one of the most overlooked and emotionally complex areas of divorce — what happens to the home. Tom and Stacey connected through the networking group 3C and in this episode she breaks down wha...

Tom and Chef Mike sit down with James Costello, owner of Ohana Grill in Lavallette, a Hawaiian inspired BYOB restaurant that has become one of the most beloved dining spots on the Jersey Shore. James came into the industry through the bar side and has spent years building Ohana into a year round destination known for its food, its food truck, and its commitment to the community. In this episode Ja...

Tom sits down with Jim McNamara, VP of Community Relations and Sales and Executive Director of BlueClaws Charities for the Jersey Shore BlueClaws. Tom and Jim go back through their connection via the Big Brothers program and talk about how networking and community have always been at the core of what the BlueClaws are about. Jim gets into why Minor League Baseball is recession proof, how the BlueC...

Tom and Chef Mike sit down with Chef Doug Walsh, owner of Jersey Shore BBQ, one of the original BBQ spots on the Jersey Shore. Doug spent years mastering the craft of traditional smoked meat before building JSBBQ into one of the most recognized BBQ restaurants on the Shore, including a feature on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Doug gets into what it means to operate 100% from scratch aft...

Tom sits down with Amber Fernicola, a Jersey Shore native and luxury realtor at Keller Williams Realty in Spring Lake, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to build a career in real estate and what the market has in store for 2026. Amber breaks down her predictions for the spring market, why more homeowners deciding to move could finally open up much needed inventory, and why prici...

Tom and Chef Mike sit down with Chef James Avery, a Jersey Shore native and Gordon Ramsay's former sous chef on Hell's Kitchen, for a conversation about what thirty years in the restaurant industry really looks like. James started as a pizza delivery boy on the Jersey Shore and worked his way through some of the most demanding kitchens in the country before building his own name in the culinary wo...

Tom sits down with Jen Gouldstone, founder of Craft Loft — a multi-craft studio offering hands-on arts and crafts experiences through live hosted workshops, walk-in DIY projects, and private events. Unlike most craft studios that focus on one type of project, Craft Loft is a multi-craft concept where guests can make everything from succulent terrariums and mosaic coasters to moss art and fairy gar...

Season 2 of Grit Won't Quit is back, and we're kicking things off with the Chef Series — a recurring segment where host Tom Mirabella and Chef Mike Jurusz bring a fellow culinary pro to the table for real, unfiltered conversations about the restaurant industry. First up is Chef Chris Brandl, owner of the acclaimed Brandl. restaurant on the Jersey Shore. Chris pulls back the curtain on what it real...

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Glenn Scher, owner of Carpets To Go, to talk about building a business rooted in community, trust, and long-term relationships. Glenn shares the story behind their incredible pay-it-forward event, where Carpets To Go gave away over 400 rugs to college students furnishing their dorm rooms. With locations in Brick and Howell, Glenn explains why...