Leaders + Legends Podcast

On this episode Michael talks with Nick Friedman, Host of Hunks Talking Junk Podcast and much more! Nick Friedman is a serial entrepreneur, author, and the co-founder of College HUNKS Hauling Junk & Moving , one of the fastest-growing moving and junk removal franchises in the United States. He launched the company in 2005 alongside his childhood friend Omar Soliman, starting with a simple idea...

What does it really take to grow a roofing business, build a brand, and create a life you actually want? In this episode of  Leaders + Legends , host Michael Calamaras sits down with Trey Martell — owner of Strong Roofing and co-host of the  Sarasota Speax  podcast — to talk about the real, unfiltered journey behind building a service-based business. This conversation goes beyond roofing. Trey sha...

In this episode Michael talks with David McCombie. David is an entrepreneur and dealmaker. He is founder and CEO of McCombie Group, an investment banking and M&A advisory firm guiding mid-market businesses to build, fund, and sell. To date, he has successfully closed billions in transactions. Unique amongst advisors, he has successfully led various private equity investments himself. David is...

In this episode Michael talks with Mike Kolb the founder of XWERKS. Michael and Mike share similar passions of CrossFit, Car Racing, and enjoying life! Mike founded XWERKS, a sports nutrition company launched in 2014. Based in Lakewood Ranch, he leads his brand focused on performance driven supplements for athletes and fitness enthusiasts, with an emphasis on quality and transparency. XWERKS: http...

In this episode of Leaders + Legends, host Michael Calamaras sits down with  Joey Coco , a Sarasota-based business owner and  Budget Blinds  franchise owner, for a powerful conversation about entrepreneurship, resilience, and perspective. Joey shares his journey into franchise ownership in the home-services industry, along with how personal adversity reshaped the way he approaches business, leader...

In this episode of Leaders + Legends, we sit down with Krystal Roberts, a wife, mother, mentor, and trusted health advisor with USHEALTH Advisors. Krystal’s story is one of balancing business success with family values. As a wife and proud mom, she understands firsthand the importance of protecting what matters most. That perspective has fueled her career in insurance—helping families, individuals...

In this episode of Leaders + Legends, we sit down with Shelbi Loftin and Therese Johnson, the powerhouse duo behind the Beyond Tradition Podcast. These two women are redefining what it means to grow a business—and a life—that breaks the mold. We dive into their entrepreneurial journeys, the real stories behind building bold brands, and how they balance ambition with authenticity. From the boardroo...

On the menu for this episode, join Phil Mancini, thelegendary co-founder of  Michael’s On East  and one of the most beloved figures in Florida’s catering world, alongside Michael Calamaras, a Forbes-ranked financial planner andentrepreneur with a passion for people, planning, and purpose. This episode dives into the stories behind building aworld-class catering business — from the early days of wa...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Michael Sclafani, founder of Tide Line Sports Performance, to go beyond just sports rehab and talk about the mindset, business strategy, and life lessons that come with building a performance-driven brand. Michael shares how he grew his sports performance and rehab facility from the ground up, the challenges of entrepreneurship in the fitness space, and w...

In this eye-opening episode, we sit down with John Bowman, CEO of  Sure Med Compliance , to explore how his mission-driven company is tackling the opioid epidemic by empowering healthcare providers through cutting-edge compliance and prescription monitoring technology. John shares the personal story that ignited his passion for addiction prevention, how Sure Med is using predictive analytics and r...

In this episode Michael talks with Erin Silk, the CEO of the Sarasota Economic Development Corporation. Silk has almost a decade of economic development experience in Sarasota County and is a Certified Economic Developer (CEcD). Conferred by the International Economic Development Council, CEcD status is recognized globally and is considered the most prestigious designation in the economic developm...

In this episode Michael Calamaras & Lisa Krouse talkabout personal and professional development. Lisa Krouse is a highly accomplished leader with extensive experience in the insurance industry and HR community. She is currently a Board Member of FCCI Insurance Group, a regional property and casualty insurance company based in Sarasota, Florida, and serving 19 states and the District of Columbi...

In this episode Michael talks with Garrett Garcia the President of PPK! About Garrett: As a Tampa native, Garrett is passionate about contributing to the overall growth and success of the region. That's one of the reasons he decided to stick around and help grow PPK from a small five person start up to the advertising and production agency of over 100 it is today. As PPK's President, Garrett is re...

In this episode Michael talks with Kris Pritchard, the CEO of Simple Network Consulting (SNC). SNC is a leading global IT consulting and professional services company. Their aim is to simplify the painful process of technology procurement and provide professional services consulting. SNC’s impact has continued to grow domestically and internationally in public and private sectors. About Kris Kris...

In this episode Michael talks with President & CEO of PANEX, RJ Burr. RJ is a third generation producer of American oil. About RJ Born into the industry, Mr. Burr was on his first location before he could walk and has been fascinated by the production of oil his entire life. Within 3 months of graduating high school, Mr. Burr funded his first partnership and never looked back. With a main focu...

In this episode Michael talks with Celebrity Chef & Big Brother Reality TV Star, Lisa Weintraub! About Lisa Chef Lisa Weintraub is changing the food culture in Los Angeles, California. Creating a new way of dining, Plates by Lisa offers a customized, in-home, gourmet dining experience. Sourcing organic + sustainable ingredients from the local farmers' market and creating healthy cuisine inspir...

In this episode Michael talks with Ron Earley the CEO of GreyWolfe about life, entrepreurship, and what it takes to succeed! About Ron: Ron Earley isn't just a businessman; he's a force of nature in the business world. With numerous multi-million-dollar ventures under his belt, including the powerhouse Greywolfe Investing and its dynamic sister company, Legacy Wholesale, Ron has rewritten the play...

In this episode Michael talks with visionary owners, Stacey Marks & Kari Schroeter, the CEO & COO of Fly Dance Fitness!   About Fly Dance Fitness   In a society where women are often pitted against each other, Fly Dance Fitness® rebels against this by bringing women (and men) together through dance and fitness. Together, they all leave their worries, opinions, and differentiating beliefs a...

In this episode Michael talks with Adrian Tolentino about life, business & networking. About Adrian Adrian is the Founder & CEO of DryPro Inc, a water, fire & mold remediation company in Sarasota, Florida. Originally from Puerto Rico, he’s been in the Lakewood Ranch area for about 28 years. He’s a UCF grad and always had a knack for entrepreneurship. He’s a girl dad first and business...

In this episode Michael talks with Marcus Walfridson the founder or Sarasota Paradise! Marcus Walfridson is the visionary founder of Sarasota Paradise, a dynamic soccer club currently competing in USL League Two and set to advance to USL League One. With a rich background in soccer coaching, Marcus authored "Lessons From The Beautiful Game: How to Become a More Efficient Coach," a must-read for as...

In this episode Michael talks with Adam Jabaay, the Co-Founder & Motorsports Director of #GRIDLIFE a motorsports enthusiasts dream. Adam and his best friend Chris Stewart started GridLife and it has grown into a national organization that hosts multiple festival-style motorsports weekends across the country as well as an annual racing league. The festival events are reminiscent of "Forza...

On this episode Michael talks with Justin Bellante, the Co-Founder of Titan Placement Group, a healthcare recruiting firm in Sarasota, Florida. About Justin He's been in healthcare recruitment arena for 10 years now but a little over 2 years ago, a couple of colleagues and Justin quit our jobs and struck out on their own. It's been almost 2 years and they are at over 200 placements! They f...

On this episode the Michael C talks with Michael B about becoming a business owner in the construction industry and all about life! A bit about Michael Butler: Michael Butler, 27, is a Vice President and part owner at J.E. Charlotte Construction, LLC which is a general contracting company based in Venice, FL. Michael moved to Sarasota in 2020 for an opportunity to work at JEC after spending time w...

In this episode Michael talks with JaNiece Cranmer, the President of Scentsational Candles. Based in Venice, Florida, she proudly oversees the production of millions of American-made soy-blend scented candles. About JaNiece JaNiece relocated from Oklahoma to Florida over seven years ago after accepting a producer position at HSN. Following an 11-year career in television, she transitioned to lead...

On this episode Michael talks with Moe Kahn, the founding engineering of BluePallet a company that recently sold! About Moe: Born in Bangladesh in 1984, came to the US as a baby. Lived in NY, MI, OH, and finally VA. Went to school at University of Mary Washington where I got degrees in Biology, History, Computer Science and Applied Mathematics. Started a Master's Program at SMU.  Software Engi...