New York's Business Podcast

What does it take to go from local event rentals to building experiences for brands like American Express, Nike, Amazon, and major sporting events across the country? This week, I sat down with Brandon Havrilla, founder of RedMax Events, to unpack the business decisions that made that growth possible. We talked about why confidence isn't just a mindset—it's knowing your value and standing...

After 13 years as a music teacher in New York City, Allison Noelle Megherian walked away from the classroom to fully step into something she had already been building for years: Motivating the Mindset. Today, Allison helps high-achieving performers, teen athletes, entrepreneurs, schools, and professionals rebuild their identity, reconnect with their purpose, and get out of their own way. In this e...

What happens when someone moves into assisted living or independent living and suddenly loses access to the everyday choices they used to make? That question is at the heart of my conversation with Matt Smith, co-founder of Speak2.Speak2 is building a marketplace for senior housing communities, helping residents access services, content, communication, meals, rides, maintenance requests, activitie...

After 10+ years working inside a large marketing firm, Angela Reina saw a problem that never sat right with her:Small businesses were paying real money for marketing help, but they often weren’t getting the same level of attention, strategy, or care as the bigger clients. So she started Reina Smith Media. Her mission is simple: bring big agency experience to small businesses that actually need som...

What happens when a business owner watches everything he built get carried out onto the street? For Vinny Deriso, founder of Revolution Fitness, that moment could have been the end. Instead, it became the reset. After being evicted from his previous location, Vinny and his community moved fast. Members showed up. Equipment was loaded. A new lease was signed. Classes were back within weeks. And eve...

What started at Alexandra’s kitchen table has grown into a creative wellness brand built around self-care, community, and supporting local businesses. Alexandra, the founder of So Sweet Sentimental, is a therapist by trade — but through her own experience with burnout, she rediscovered how powerful creativity could be. Crafting became more than just making something beautiful. It became a way to s...

At just 20 years old, Jack Reinard is already operating in two very different but connected worlds. He is the founder of Rent-A-Tent, a Long Island tent and party rental company he started as a senior in high school with the goal of doing 15 parties and breaking even. Instead, the company did 140 parties in its first year and has continued to grow into a serious operation serving events across the...

Monica Banks, founder of Mom Creators, is helping redefine what it means to be a creator in today’s economy. In our conversation, Monica breaks down one of the biggest misconceptions in content creation: that you need to be an influencer, go viral, or have a massive following to build a real opportunity online. Through Mom Creators, she supports entrepreneurial and creative moms at every stage of...

What does it really take to turn a passion into a profession? In this episode of the New York Business Podcast, I sit down with musician Mike Alessi — a lifelong performer who went from playing guitar in the streets of Northport as a teenager to building a full-time career in music. This conversation goes far beyond gigs and guitars. We dive into the real side of the industry — learning your value...

Most people think they’re doing the right thing for retirement.401(k)s, IRAs, tax deferral—it’s what we’ve all been told to do. But what if the system itself is flawed? In this episode, I sat down with Jim Capuano, Owner of Integrity Life Brokerage and creator of The Great American Retirement Myth, to break down a perspective that challenges everything most people believe about retirement planning...

Andrea Pascale didn’t plan on entering the beauty industry—she studied behavioral sciences and started her career in social work. But when she realized she was overworked, underpaid, and unfulfilled, she made a decision most people avoid: she walked away and bet on herself. What followed wasn’t instant success—it was failure, pivots, and rebuilding from scratch. After closing her first business, A...

From student… to owner… to multi-business entrepreneur. In this episode of The New York Business Podcast, we sit down with Kelly Peckholdt, founder of Babylon Barre and Position Dance Studio, who turned a childhood passion into a 14+ year business journey built on growth, resilience, and calculated risk. At just 24 years old, Kelly was presented with an opportunity most people would hesitate to ta...

Meet Brandon Smith, owner of Mid-Hudson Security Consultants, a state-licensed security firm based in Newburgh, NY. Known in the industry as “Mr. B,” Brandon has built his company on one core mission: raising the standard of safety through better training, stronger leadership, and a relentless commitment to preparedness. With a background spanning critical care EMT work, security leadership roles,...

Most business owners use social media to sell. Arthur Frischman, the owner of Long Island Sign Guy, took a different approach — he used it to build relationships. Instead of constantly promoting his services, Arthur created content about Long Island itself: its history, its businesses, and the places that make the community unique. The goal wasn’t immediate sales. It was trust, recognition, and co...

Many entrepreneurs build businesses by chasing opportunity. Others build them by solving a problem they experienced firsthand. For Hallie Sherman, founder of Speech Time Fun, the journey began in the classroom as a speech-language pathologist working with middle school and high school students. She quickly realized there was a major gap in resources for professionals working with older students —...

There are seasons in a woman’s life that no one prepares her for. In this episode of New York’s Business Podcast, I sit down with Caitlin Silverstein, LCSW founder of The Nurtured Bloom Therapy in Commack to talk about the realities of women’s mental health from preconception to postpartum… and everything in between. Caitlin specializes in perinatal mental health, infertility, pregnancy loss, birt...

Some entrepreneurs start with a business plan. Others start with an unexpected moment that changes everything. At 41 years old, Don Donneruno wasn’t a baker. He wasn’t running a storefront. He wasn’t chasing cupcakes or custom cakes. He was a lifelong artist working a stable job, supporting his family, and living what many would consider a successful life yet still feeling the pull toward somethin...

Meet Melissa Gund, Founder of The Rested Little Nest—a certified pediatric sleep consultant and mom of two who’s helping families build healthy, sustainable relationships with sleep. Melissa takes a gentle, highly personalized approach to sleep support, working with families from newborn through age five. Rather than relying on rigid schedules or “cry it out” methods, she focuses on education, tem...

Meet Kristina Ford, licensed esthetician, educator, and owner of The Skyn Lounge. Kristina’s journey started in makeup artistry and evolved into a decade-long skincare business built on something deeper than treatments alone — experience, education, and connection. During our conversation, she shares how transitioning during COVID, embracing “YouTube University,” and leaning into her natural abili...

Meet Wendy Quintero, the founder and creative force behind Wendylandia Boutique — a women’s accessory brand built on identity, emotion, and self-expression Wendylandia isn’t just about headbands, jewelry, or hats. It’s about how small, intentional pieces can help women — especially mothers — reconnect with who they are outside of the roles they carry every day. After becoming a mom, Wendy openly s...

In this episode, Sheana Arevalo, Owner and Publisher of Westchester Real Producers, explains why her publication isn’t about popularity, paid placements, or inflated titles — it’s about verification. To be featured, real estate professionals must meet strict production benchmarks, including $10M+ in annual sales, ensuring that those highlighted truly operate at the top of the market But the missio...

When Omar Awan took over his family’s auto business, he knew staying the same wasn’t an option. What began as a repair shop servicing taxi and TLC drivers needed to evolve if it was going to survive — and thrive — in a new era of car ownership. Younger customers weren’t just looking for repairs; they wanted customization, aesthetics, and an experience they could share. Omar leaned into branding, s...

Beata Requena Torres, owner of Luxe Hair Lounge, built her business around a problem most clients didn’t even know they had: scalp inflammation and follicle blockage. Through in-depth scalp analysis, Beata shows clients exactly what’s happening beneath the surface — buildup, redness, irritation, and inflammation that can quietly impact hair growth over time. Instead of masking symptoms, her approa...

Meet Sarah LaValle, founder of Simple Sweet Sites, Inc. — a custom website design studio helping small businesses and startups create intentional, conversion-focused online homes that actually reflect who they are. Sarah’s journey into entrepreneurship didn’t start in tech — it started in music performance, evolved through corporate business, and ultimately led her to building websites that priori...

In this episode, Deborah Winters, founder of Deborah Winters Coaching LLC, shares the deeply personal journey that led her from a career in media research to becoming a licensed clinical therapist, parent coach, and author — all while raising two young children. Deborah didn’t follow a straight line. She left a successful career while pregnant with her first daughter, went back to school with a ni...