The Culture Matters Podcast

“You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” - Henry Ford Have you ever wondered why your gym looks the way it does?  Chances are someone designed it that way and if you're lucky, today's guest was the man behind it.  Architectural designer and legend in the field Cuoco Black stops by to discuss how a life long love of interior design and a knack for bodybuilding came toge...

“Management is doing things right. Leadership is doing the right things.” - Peter Drucker Fitness industry consultant, keynote speaker, and former COO of World Gym Jarrod Saracco is Jay's guest on the podcast today and boy do they get after it!  From the importance of meeting clients face to face and how a team huddle at the beginning of the day can set the right tone to the difference betwee...

“Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.” - Henry Ford Best-selling author, internationally recognized speaker, and human behavior expert Dan Lier is Jay's guest today and what a life he has led!  A two-time college basketball National Champion, a rare blood disease survivor, and now standing on the forefront of red light technology, Dan has a lot to offer and a lot of...

“What lies behind you and what lies in front of you pales in comparison to what lies inside of you.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson Who wouldn't want to talk with the co-founder of a company called The Good Vibes Squad?  Entrepreneur, business strategist, and marketing expert McBilly Sy drops by to chat with Jay today!  They chop it up on book recommendations, the 4 types of leverage, the power of org...

“I hate incompetence. I think it’s probably the only thing I do hate. But it didn’t make me want to rule people, nor teach them anything. It made me want to do my own work, in my own way, and let myself be torn to pieces if necessary.” - Howard Roark ( The Fountainhead ) Preston Schmidli is an author, business strategist, marketing expert, and co-founder of The Good Vibes Squad.    Jay and Preston...

“Life can only be understood backwards but must be lived forwards.” - Søren Kierkegaard On a very special episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay sits down for a chat with his mother, Barbara Luongo .  To know where we're going, we need to know where we've been and Jay and Barbara get real about Jay's turn from a sweet little boy to a pain-in-the-butt teen and into the man he is...

“No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it.” - Albert Einstein On today's episode of The Culture Matters Podcast, Jay sits down with his good friend Raphael Mavi , the president and founder of Unplugged Influence, Inc.  Jay and Raphael chat about Raphael's emigration to the United States from Russia in the early 90's as well as the importance of t...

“Investing is more art than science and that means it can get a little messy.” - Howard S. Marks Rick Dorn is the founder of Dorn Real Estate Development and with over four decades in the business, very few people know it better than he does.  Rick and Jay discuss the art of real estate and how it truly can be a creative business when an willing buyer and a willing seller can come together.  The t...

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” - Albert Einstein Best-selling author, influencer, and nutritionist Ben Azadi makes his second appearance on The Culture Matters Podcast to rap about all things Keto and beyond.  If you've ever wanted to know what ketosis and ketones are, why intermittent fasting is all the rage, and how...

"When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves." - Viktor Frankl Long-time friend and previous guest of the show and New Jersey real estate staple John Swartz makes his return to the podcast on today's episode.  John gives some insight on how the changing economic climate and the pandemic has affected families and creating memories at the Je...

“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing, the last of the human freedoms. To choose ones attitude in any given set of circumstances. To choose one’s own way.”  Marvin Joles is owner of Wis-Coat Asphalt Maintenance and the creator of the "Blacktop Banter" podcast.  Marvin opens up about his early life and how his experiences brought him to be a major figure in the construction an...

" Life is never made unbearable by circumstances, but only by lack of meaning and purpose." - Viktor Frankl Founder and CEO of EPM Mortgages and long-time friend of the show Eddy Perez stops by today to discuss Viktor Frankl's Man's Search for Meaning in which the author chronicles his experiences in Nazi concentration camps and how he applied those experiences to his work in p...

" Let the future tell the truth. And evaluate each one according to his work and accomplishments. The present is theirs, the future, for which I have really worked, is mine." - Nikola Tesla President and CEO of The Pavement Group, host of The Brian Hess Show and Jay's good friend Brian Hess is today's guest and today's episode is all about leadership.  Brian talks about th...

“Every choice has a consequence. We choose things everyday and how those play out? We have a say in what happens there.” - Brian Covey Brian Covey is an entrepreneur, the host of the "Finding Your Competitive Edge" podcast, and the author of Conversations with Covey .  On his second appearance on the show, Brian and Jay talk about the power of social media, the larger purpose of helping...

“We finance everything. We buy by printing interest or giving up the interest we could have earned.” - R. Nelson Nash Today, Jay sits down with his good friend Chad Hewitt , the president, CEO, and co-owner of Magnum Construction Services.  We're going deep on finances, insurance, and making sure you're taking advantage of all of the benefits you can.  Chad is dropping knowledge and tips...

“When someone says something to me, I hear everything unsaid because I’m listening very carefully so that I can ask better questions and further our relationship." - Jay Doran Founder and president of Concourse Land Transfer and now two-time guest of the show Scott Rutkay stops by today for a chat.  Scott and Jay open the conversation by talking about conversations and move on to  why engagin...

“The small are always dependent on the great. They are small precisely because they think they are independent. The great thinker is one who can hear what is greatest in the work of other greats and who can transform it in an original manner.” - Martin Heidegger Tony Capullo is the founder of South Fork Business Ventures and has decided to flip the show on it's head by interviewing Jay!  Role...

“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.” - Henry Ford Chris Vester is the COO of the Hubert Vester Auto Group and creator of the "Faith. Family. Fulfillment." podcast.  Before Instagram was using Reels, there was InstagramTV and Chris goes deep on why using that platform was so important for him.  Social media connections turn into real connections and Jay and Chris...

“The federal reserve is committed to fulfilling our statutory mandate of stable prices and maximum employment.” - Jerome Powell Bill Mervin is the leader of the Bill Mervin Mortgage Team and today he stops by the show to impart some of his wisdom.  The kid gloves are coming off as Bill and Jay get real about the current state of the housing market and why people are leaving big cities in big numbe...

“Over my entire life I have had this keen sense of self analyzation tied to my psyche and even when i have been in paralysis flight, running from some emotion, threatening to cripple me, or drive me to dark places, my brain had a mind of its own.” - Christine Beckwith Author and founder of 20/20 Vision for Success Coaching Christine Beckwith is back today to continue her discussion with Jay about...

“Markets can stay rational longer than you can stay solvent.” - John Maynard Keynes Back like he never left, "El Presidente" of EPM Wholesale Phil Mancuso is here for his third appearance on The Culture Matters Podcast.  Phil is here to talk about inflation, the market, and the economy.  This man has forgotten more about economics than most people could ever hope to learn in a lifetime,...

“There is little success where there is little laughter.” - Brian Hess Good friend of the show and frequent guest Brian Hess is back for another round with Jay.  The founder of The Pavement Group and the Top Contractor School, Brian is here to talk about what it's like to take the entrepreneurial leap and overcoming the fear and anxiety.  You're working for stability and self-sufficiency...

“Guardian: A home improvement specialist who listens intentionally, communicates clearly, and educates the customer by telling the truth.”  Robert Frehafer is the owner and founder of Guardian Roofing & Siding.  The name of the game today is values and sifting through some preconceived negative connotations about values from previous experience.  Our values are what get us up in the morning an...

“Many are stubborn in pursuit of the path they have chosen, few in pursuit of the goal.” - Friedrich Nietzsche   Joseph Iredell and Ken Jordan are the creators and hosts of the Selling The Dream podcast.  Joe, Ken, and Jay spend a little time talking podcast host to podcast host about some of the nuances of the job and a few things they've learned since the beginning of their show.  Have no f...

“The purpose of business is to keep and create a customer.” - Peter Drucker Dr. John Huff and Dr. David Yerkes are business partners within Lion Oakes Consulting which advises healthcare institutes and workers on improving patient experience, optimizing hospital programs, and coaching leaders to help them reach their full potential.  The good Doctors chat with Jay about the culture within their ow...