The Point is Progress
We're often so consumed by life and figuring out how to do it right or perfectly that we forget the most important part - that the very point of life is progress, and we can only accomplish that together. Through storytelling style interviews of local small business owners, I will bring you into the hearts and minds of the people you encounter everyday. We will discuss the many aspects of life - there’s no telling where our conversation will go. Let’s join together on this journey, to learn from and with each other, and to grow our capacity for greatness through kindness, empathy, and connection.
Episodes
25 episodes
Shannon Boryszewski - ON What Happens When Other People Believe in You, Learning to Listen to Your Body, & Going All in on a Passion
On this episode, I chat with Shannon, owner of Shop Fine Flowers. Like many entrepreneurs, Shannon didn't plan to go down this road. It wasn't a dream or goal, but others saw it in her before she did. Having been raised by entrepreneurs, Shanno...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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1:11:08
Jaime Festa - ON What Makes a Relationship Successful, Getting Outside Your Comfort Zone in Life & Business, & Starting a Nut-Free Fudge Biz from Scratch
On this episode, I chat with Jaime Festa, of Trio Fudge. Jaime stepped outside her comfort zone to do this podcast and it was so fun! We covered so many topics and I loved her honesty about her experiences. From growing up and moving schools ev...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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1:27:35
Dillon Cafiero - ON Being Bullied, How Men Experience Challenges, & How He Started a Business with Coffee
On this episode, I chat with Dillon Cafiero, owner of Edgar Allan Joe, a whole bean and ground coffee delivery service. Dillon talks openly about his personal struggles growing up - being bullied, personal insecurities, and the common wall men ...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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1:28:24
Danielle Angel - ON Experiencing Mental Health Struggles, Working Through Multiple "Failures" & Finding Her Freedom with Rocks
On this episode, I chat with Danielle Angel, owner of Freedom Rocks. Danielle is so candid with ALL of her experiences. From feeling isolated in school to working through an eating disorder to dropping out of med school TWICE to building a busi...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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1:34:07
Jennifer Chavez - ON Finding Her Way, Navigating Entrepreneurship, and Empowering Women Through Her Tribe
On this episode, I chat with Jennifer Chavez, owner of Babes in Business, a community of women supporting women. So many of the topics we covered are so relatable to women - struggling to make friends, the pressures we put on ourselves, the cha...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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1:21:23
Laura Compton - ON Becoming Confident, Managing Postpartum, Learning to Pivot & Starting Her Own Brand
On this episode, I chat with Laura Compton of Permanently Poppin', an online women's clothing boutique completely operated by women. Laura shares about growing up in a supportive home and how that shaped her confidence. her unique experience wi...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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1:37:42
Carla Bushey - ON Immigrating to the US, Small Moments that Change Everything, and Finding Passion & Balance in Business with Her Husband
On this episode, I chat with Carla Bushey. Carla and her husband, Rich started and run Oak Hill Farms. I can't tell you how amazing this episode is in a short paragraph, you are just going to have to listen to it! We went through Carla's life j...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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1:31:17
Max Gomez - ON Coping with a Traumatic Injury & Depression, Lifelong Friendships Gone Bad, and Starting a Gym During a Pandemic
On this episode, I chat with Max of AMP'D Fitness. I first met Max during the pandemic when he started teaching fitness classes outside after the gym he worked at had to shut down. I knew his passion and determination would turn into something ...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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1:13:46
Kacey Roy - ON Marriage, Experiencing a Miscarriage, and Taking Over the Family Business
On this episode, I chat with Kacey Roy of Kate & Company. Kacey has worked with her mom since college and was hooked from the very first day. Her mom started this business on her own with no education on how to run a business, she started i...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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1:36:39
Brian Grable - ON Constantly Learning From Mistakes, Breaking Free of Family Trauma & Addiction, and Finding Joy with Reptiles
On this episode, I chat with Brian Grable, owner of BKG Reptiles. Brian is realer than real. I am always impressed by my guests and he is no exception. Our society needs more men who are willing to be vulnerable and honest about their experienc...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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1:16:35
Ashley Crosby - ON Coping with Anxiety, Losing a Parent, and Starting a Side Hustle You Love
On this episode, I chat with Ashley Crosby of Illustrations by Ash. She started this business as her "pandemic baby." Ashley is a breath of fresh air, down to earth, humble, and way talented. We discussed her experience with anxiety - what help...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:05:00
Liz Hamill - ON Moving Constantly Growing Up, Anxiety & Depression & Buying a Business at 27 Years Old with No Experience
On this episode, I chat with Liz Hamill of L Studio in Red Bank. Unexpectedly, about 7 years ago, she was offered an opportunity to buy the studio where she was working. Despite not feeling ready and handling a TON of other things at the time, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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1:33:52
Ming Chen - ON Working with Kevin Smith & Ben Affleck, Explaining His Career to His Immigrant Parents, & Running a Podcast Studio
On this episode, I chat with Ming, co-founder of A Shared Universe, a podcast recording studio. He, along with co-founder Mike Zapcic, are the men behind how I get this podcast out to you. It was a so fun getting to know Ming! If you don't know...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:35:13
Aleks & Maks Zhdanov - ON Growing Up in a Russian Home, Childhood Experiences, & How an Accident Started a Distillery
On this episode, I chat with Aleks and Maks, the twins behind 3BR Distillery in Keyport, NJ. If you grew up in a Russian home, you'll appreciate their candor in talking about their experiences with high expectations growing up. Being raised by ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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1:23:39
Christina E. Osborne - ON Becoming Fearless, Branding, and How a Cup of Coffee Changed Her Life
On this episode of The Point is Progress, I talk to Christina, of The Perfect Perk about how she connected with owner, John Grillo. She immediately went to work with him to build a brand that took this already well known shop to the next level....
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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1:10:45
Brad & Lula Rodriguez - ON Being Raised by Four Dads, Coping with Addictions & Eating Disorders, and How Fitness & Health Brought Them Together
On this episode, Brad and Lula talk openly about their life journeys and what brought them together. Lula's experience moving to the states from Peru and Brad's early struggles with changing family dynamics have impacted them and changed the wa...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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1:14:37
Brent Hutchinson - ON What It’s Like in Catholic School, One Sentence That Changed His Life, and How He’s Saving Plastic with Beach Chairs
On this episode, we talk about Brent's years in the Catholic school system, the one sentence that changed his college experience, and how his company started from a funny idea about a coffee table book. What I love about his story is that his 1...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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1:23:35
Necole Ganley - ON Growing Up with a Parent with an Addiction, Being a Single Parent, and How She Found Joy with Shells
On this episode, we talk about Necole's experience growing up with a parent with an addiction, figuring out how to raise young adults as a single parent, and how her shop sprouted during some emotional times in the middle of a pandemic. Necole'...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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1:20:01
Angela Mancini - ON Dealing with Post-Partum Depression, Working with Domestic Violence Victims, and How Her Counseling Practice is Changing Lives
On this episode, we talk about Angela's experience with bullying, post partum depression, and working with women in domestic violence situations. Her practice aims to empower women and support people experiencing fertility struggles, among many...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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1:16:33
Kayla Zsilavetz - ON Dropping Out of High School, Being Raised by a Single Parent, and How She Discovered a Passion for Wax
On this episode, we chat about Kayla's life growing up with 3 brothers and a single mom, dropping out of high school, and the path that led her to her passion - waxing! Her energy and her grit make it possible for her to face all the highs and ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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1:00:52
Susan Davidoski - ON Dealing with Parental Expectations, Fertility, and Starting a Business to Bring New Moms Holistic Products
On this episode, I chat with Susan Davidoski of Natural Mama Boxes. We chat about Susan's love of all things natural, working through family expectations as a young adult, and how helping friends with fertility issues paved the way to starting ...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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1:06:18
Tim Sexsmith - ON Embracing the Journey of Life, Working on a Submarine in the Navy, and Starting a Distillery with No Experience
On this episode, I chat with Tim Sexsmith of Dachshund Distilling. We talk about working on a submarine in the navy, starting a distilling company during a pandemic, and Tim's love for embracing the journey of life with his best friend and spou...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:07:03
Lou Smith - ON Why We Need to Embrace ‘Happy Mistakes’, Raising Three Daughters, and How He Pivoted in the Restaurant Business
On this episode, we talk about the importance family, happy mistakes, Chef Lou's army, and Lou's experience with Gordon Ramsey. So many good life lessons to take away from this kind heart!
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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1:06:52
Joe Leone - ON Surrounding Yourself with the Best, Overcoming Challenges, and How His Life Motto Has Built His Brand
On this episode, I chat with Joe Leone, of Jersey shore staple, Joe Leone's Italian Specialties. Joe is truly one of a kind. If you talk to anyone who lives in this community, everyone knows Joe. And to know him is to love him. He's honest abou...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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1:00:13