The Jersey Link

One comment from a cable guy was all it took to change Andy Gioia's direction. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo visit Birdsmouth Brewery in Oceanport to hear how that moment eventually led to a brewery built around lager, friendship, and doing things differently. Andy brings the brewing science. Jim Freas brings the people skills. Together, they f...

Most people never start because they are scared of failing… so they wait, and the idea just sits there. In this clip, Eric LeGrand flips that fear on its head. When the newness wears off and the excitement fades, he stays disciplined and keeps showing up. He traces it back to his days at Rutgers, where every day was structured, focused, and built on a simple rule: you have your good days and your...

Michael Gutman joined The Jersey Link Podcast with real estate stories, a boat adventure, and a few magic tricks up his sleeve. Hosts Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo sit down with him for a conversation that feels funny, local, and full of twists you won’t see coming. Michael takes the phrase “it’s not about the destination, it’s all about the journey” to the max as he shares his adventure buying a tr...

Real estate can look clean on paper. Then the inspection comes in, the funding gets weird, or the township slows everything down. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo sit down with Michael Gutman and Todd Baltch at Riley and Gutman in Freehold to talk about what really happens before the closing table. Michael has been practicing real estate law in Freeho...

Opening a second location is never just about finding empty square footage. It is about finding the right room for what you have already built. In this clip, Eric LeGrand breaks down why Middletown caught his eye. A new development that had already worked through its growing pains, a community that was picking up momentum, and partners who were not just investors but regulars from his original sho...

Spring in Central Jersey means the market moves fast, and the window for a smart decision is shorter than most people realize. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo run through the red flags and green flags that buyers and sellers are navigating right now. From house flips to long-held family homes finally coming to market, they get into the signals that a...

No DoorDash. No GrubHub. Not even delivery. Most restaurants want your order. David Herrera wants your experience. And that distinction is exactly what makes Los Bandoleros the kind of place people cannot stop talking about. Every detail is intentional. From the way the food is made to the moment you walk through the door, there is a standard here that most places quietly gave up on. He stops at e...

There are towns in New Jersey that people drive through every day without ever really seeing. Woodbridge is one of them. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo dig into one of Central Jersey's most underrated addresses. Ten communities. Twenty-four square miles. Every major highway in the state runs straight through it. The average home price is under t...

For a lot of people coming from Staten Island or New York, moving to New Jersey comes with one big worry. They assume life is going to feel quieter, slower, and a lot less convenient. In this clip, Brianna talks about why Freehold breaks that idea completely. There is a real difference between a town that feels empty and a town that actually gives you places to go, things to do, and a lifestyle th...

Welcome to this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast! Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo join Eric LeGrand at LeGrand Coffee House for a conversation that feels equal parts Jersey, hustle, and heart. They get into where that energy comes from early. Eric talks about growing up in Avenel and Woodbridge, staying close to home, and how Rutgers helped shape him. “It shaped me to who I am. Taught me tou...

Think about the best beer you’ve ever had. Chances are, you don’t just remember the taste. You remember where you were. A basement bar in Belgium. Oktoberfest in Munich. A moment that stuck because the beer and the place were inseparable. In this clip, we talk about why drinking beer at the source changes everything. From the glassware and foam to the temperature and the way it’s poured, every det...

Welcome back to The Jersey Link Podcast for Part 2, where Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo pick up right where the first conversation left off and go deeper into what makes Los Bandoleros feel different. David Herrera talks about building the space by hand, cooking nearly everything in-house, and why quality matters more to him than chasing every shortcut. “I don’t want your first experience with us in...

On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, the microphones are set up inside a restaurant that already feels like part of the neighborhood. Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo talk with David Herrera, owner of Los Bandoleros, about how a simple idea turned into a place people keep coming back to. David walks through a career shaped by trial and error. Construction jobs in the cold. Long restaurant shifts...

The Jersey Link Podcast is back with a conversation that feels like sitting around the table after a long year and finally exhaling. Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo are joined by lender Brianna Lundquist to look back on what 2025 actually felt like in Central New Jersey and what that means for the year ahead.  What comes through quickly is how different the year felt compared to the ones before it. Ra...

In a lot of towns right now, the market is slowing down. More homes are popping up, prices are settling, and buyers are starting to breathe again. East Brunswick hasn’t really followed that pattern. This part of the episode looks at why this town continues to move differently. People don’t come here for a quick stop. They come with plans to stay, raise families, and build their lives here, and tha...

If you heard the last episode, you already know we had to keep the conversation going. This week Jose and Kate return with attorney Edward Bruton and Mortgage Banker Brianna Lundquist to dive into the unpredictable world of Jersey real estate and all the surprises that come with it. And yes, the stories get even wilder. Edward sets the tone early with a simple truth. “Trust your gut. It is usually...

Every town has its wild stories, but real estate in New Jersey hits a different level. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo sit down with Mortgage Lender Brianna Lundquist and Attorney Edward Bruton to talk about the moments no one warns you about. The kind of moments that make even seasoned pros say, You are not going to believe this. Jose sets the tone...

When prices rise, it is easy to look at a house and think… that much? But in East Brunswick, you are not just buying a property. You are buying the neighborhood that stays well cared for and the access to parks, highways, and local spots that make everyday life easier. In this clip, we step back from the walls of a home and shine a light on the community wrapped around it. With Mayor Brad Cohen in...

What do you get when you mix soft serve, a snack bar, and 70 years of Freehold history? You get Jersey Freeze! In this clip, we rewind to the 1950s to uncover the humble beginnings of Jersey Freeze, starting as a simple soft-serve stand and growing into a beloved Freehold staple. From window-side service to full dining rooms, and from father to son, this is more than just a food spot…it’s a slice...

The population is 50,000…, and somehow it still feels like everyone knows each other. What keeps East Brunswick feeling so connected while it keeps growing? On this Jersey Link Podcast recap, Jose Sanchez and Kate Vargo look back at East Brunswick, a town blending tradition, progress, and a whole lot of community pride. They revisit their chats with Sensei Andrew Katz from Tiger Schulmann’s and Ma...

East Brunswick is changing, and so is the way people see it. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo sit down with Mayor Brad Cohen to talk about what makes this town tick and where it’s headed next. Brad never planned on being mayor. In fact, his career started in medicine, not politics. But a few moments pushed him to step up, first for the schools, then f...

Dreaming of your first home in Monmouth County?  We want to highlight this clip from our recent episode where we explored Freehold’s hidden gems, housing market wins, and the journey from your first home to your first mansion…one move at a time!  There are programs that could cover your entire down payment and even part of your closing costs, up to $22,000 in grant money. Freehold has every type o...

Martial arts is more than self-defense. It’s a tool, like a carpenter using a hammer. At Tiger Schulmann’s in East Brunswick, martial arts rests on three pillars: confidence, discipline, and community. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Kate Vargo sit down with Sensei Andrew Katz to hear how a passion that started with a movie at age twelve became a lifelong missi...

Jersey Freeze has been a Freehold favorite since 1952, but its story is about more than just ice cream. On this episode of The Jersey Link Podcast, Jose Sanchez and co-host Brianna Lundquist sit down with owners Katie DiNonno and Matt Cangialosi to talk about how a local landmark kept its roots while growing into something bigger. Katie started working at Jersey Freeze when she was fifteen, never...

You don’t have to leave your hometown to discover it all over again. In this episode, Jose and Kate are joined by Brooke and Brianna Lundquist, sisters, lifelong Freehold locals, and the type of guests who make you laugh one minute and want to Google housing stats the next. They take us through Freehold as they lived it, from sidewalk hangs to school gym classes by the football field. They open up...