Shows
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp # 123 Behind the Balloons: How Kristen Donofrio Transforms Ordinary Events Into Extraordinary ExperiencesWhat happens when creative passion meets entrepreneurial spirit? Kristen Donofrio's journey from corporate marketing professional to celebrated balloon artist reveals the unexpected paths our careers can take when we follow our curiosity.The founder of Mamafrio Celebrations transformed a frustrating experience assembling an Amazon balloon arch for her daughter's birthday during COVID into a thriving business creating spectacular balloon installations for events throughout Bergen County and beyond. Her work transcends traditional balloon arrangements – crafting everything from wedding dresses made entirely of balloons to massive 30-by-30-foot ceiling installations requiring forklifts and days of meticulous work."I...2025-05-0822 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp # 122 Finding Order in Chaos: Home Organization with Cheryl BockWhat happens when psychology, project management expertise, and a knack for organization come together? The answer lies in the transformative work of Cheryl Bock, founder of CBOrganizing, who joins us to reveal how professional organizing extends far beyond tidying up spaces—it's about creating peace of mind and emotional wellbeing.Cheryl unpacks the fascinating intersection between our physical spaces and mental health, explaining why she views organizing as a therapeutic tool rather than just an aesthetic pursuit. "You can attain a sense of peace or order in your life when sometimes everything else is going crazy," sh...2025-05-0526 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp # 121 Transforming Spaces: The Art of Professional PaintingThe walls around us tell stories, but sometimes they need a fresh chapter. That's where professional painting comes in, transforming spaces with expertise that goes far beyond simply applying color to a surface.Christopher Hagen, owner of Paint It All Professional Painting Services in Fair Lawn, NJ, joins us to share insights from his 11-year career in the painting industry. Having recently relocated from Florida to New Jersey (partly to pursue his midlife passion for snowboarding!), Chris brings a wealth of knowledge about both the technical aspects of painting and the dramatic transformations it can create in...2025-05-0521 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 120 Supporting Local Dance Studios: How The Dance Bag Serves the Bergen County CommunityFrom center stage to center stage of her own business, Jessica Loscalzo brings her professional dance background to The Dance Bag, Bergen County's premier dance retail destination now located in Paramus Park Mall. Jessica's journey began as a 14-year-old professional dancer who eventually competed on Season 2 of "So You Think You Can Dance" before touring with various artists. After 15 years teaching dance, a serendipitous opportunity led her to take over The Dance Bag, transforming her passion for dance into a thriving business serving studios and dancers nationwide.What makes The Dance Bag special in today's r...2025-04-2923 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp # 118 Beauty, Health, and Self-Care: A Conversation with Purpose AesthetixWhat does it mean to be a "unicorn" in the aesthetics industry? For Heinny Severini, owner of Purpose Aesthetix at Glam Studios in Norwood, NJ, it means bringing 18 years of nursing expertise into a field often criticized for prioritizing quick cosmetic fixes over genuine health and wellbeing.During our enlightening conversation, Heinny shares her remarkable journey from hospital bedside nursing through infection prevention and urology before finding her passion in aesthetics after experiencing adult acne. This personal struggle sparked her interest in treatments that address both external appearance and internal health—a philosophy that now defines her pract...2025-04-2422 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp # 119 From Mommy Blog to Nonprofit: The Atomic Mommy Foundation StoryBootstrapping a business takes more than just passion—it demands planning, resources, and support. That's what Kimberly Pangaro discovered through her remarkable journey from struggling single mother to successful entrepreneur and nonprofit leader.On this enlightening episode, Kim reveals how her personal brand "Atomic Mommy" evolved from a simple parenting blog to a digital publishing company, and ultimately inspired the Atomic Mommy Foundation. This nonprofit organization now provides crucial support to aspiring entrepreneurs through scholarships, grants, and practical business resources.Kim doesn't shy away from sharing her lived experiences—homelessness, poverty, single parenthood—and how these...2025-04-2426 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 117 Sculpting Your Best Self: Modern Approaches to Body EnhancementImagine achieving the equivalent of 20,000 crunches in just 30 minutes or finally eliminating that stubborn cellulite that no amount of exercise seems to touch. These aren't fantasy scenarios but real possibilities with today's cutting-edge body contouring technologies.Dr. David Abramson, a leading plastic surgeon serving northern New Jersey and New York City, returns to break down two revolutionary treatments changing the landscape of non-surgical body enhancement. First, he corrects a common misconception about cellulite: it's not about fat deposits but actually caused by fibrous bands tethering skin to underlying muscle. The Aveli treatment addresses this structural issue by...2025-04-2215 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 116 Your Birth, Your Way: How Doulas Support Families Through Pregnancy and BeyondDiscover the profound impact a doula can have on your birth experience with Lizzy Moati, a multilingual fitness doula serving Bergen County and surrounding areas. Lizzy shares her journey from personal experiences with childbirth to becoming a certified doula who bridges the gap between medical care and emotional support during pregnancy and delivery."Your relationship with your child starts when you're pregnant, and the day you're giving birth determines how you'll mother that baby," Lizzy explains, highlighting why positive birth experiences matter so deeply. Unlike midwives who focus on medical aspects, doulas provide continuous emotional support throughout...2025-04-2124 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 115 Mind, Body, and Sound: Healing Through Massage TherapyCarolyn Ingledue brings twenty years of massage therapy expertise and a fascinating personal journey to this enlightening conversation about healing through touch and sound. As the founder of Serenity Fix Wellness, she offers a unique blend of traditional massage techniques and innovative sound therapy that addresses stress at its physiological source.The discussion takes a deep dive into Kita sound therapy, a one-on-one treatment distinctly different from Tibetan sound bowls. Clients wear headphones while receiving vibrational treatment along their spine, effectively shifting their nervous system from fight-or-flight to a restorative state. This technique gained prominence when Carolyn...2025-04-2130 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 114 Data-Driven Wellness: How Nava Health Is Changing Our Healthcare MindsetEver wondered why we wait until we're sick to see a doctor? Zach Dancel from Nava Health challenges this reactive approach to healthcare, sharing a powerful personal story that transformed his family's understanding of medicine and launched their mission to revolutionize wellness.Zach's journey from Division I football player with NFL dreams to healthcare innovator began when his mother fell seriously ill. After conventional doctors prescribed 16-20 different medications with little improvement, an integrative medicine practitioner finally identified the root cause of her condition. This life-changing experience inspired Zach's father to transition from his successful debt management...2025-04-2029 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 113 Trust, Honesty, and Hot Water: Inside Finley Plumbing and HeatingMeet Steve Finley, the man behind Finley Plumbing and Heating, whose unexpected career journey proves that genuine expertise and old-fashioned values still power the most trusted local businesses in Bergen County.Steve's story begins behind bars – not the legal kind, but the Manhattan watering holes where he spent his early career as a bartender. Through a serendipitous connection with an irrigation specialist working on Manhattan's iconic rooftop gardens, Steve discovered a natural aptitude for piping, water systems, and problem-solving that would eventually change his professional trajectory completely.The conversation weaves through his transition from seasonal ir...2025-04-1021 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 112 Gluten-Free Baking: Eleanor Bradley's Journey from Classroom to KitchenWhat happens when a 31-year teaching career meets a husband's dietary diagnosis and a passion for baking? Eleanor Bradley's unexpected journey from classroom to kitchen reveals how life's challenges can inspire remarkable entrepreneurial ventures.Eleanor, owner of Bradley Bake Shop in Bogota, NJ, joins us to share how her stress-relieving baking hobby transformed into a flourishing business specializing in gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and keto desserts. The catalyst? Her husband's discovery that gluten was making him sick, prompting Eleanor to experiment with alternative recipes that didn't sacrifice flavor or texture.The most surprising revelation? Bradley Bake...2025-04-1021 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 111 Nature-Connected Healing: The Outdoor Wellness Revolution Taking Over New JerseyWhat happens when an ex-Israeli Navy SEAL becomes frustrated with typical recovery methods? Innovation that transforms backyard wellness. Leeron Mosayov joins us to reveal how Cielo Wellness emerged from personal necessity during COVID's darkest days. When her husband—an ultra-marathon runner and Ironman competitor—felt dissatisfied with disjointed sauna and ice bath experiences, he designed something revolutionary: a glass-roofed cedar sauna paired with a custom ice bath that makes contrast therapy not just effective, but genuinely enjoyable.The science behind this wellness approach is compelling. Regular ice bath immersion delivers a six-to-eight hour serotonin boost, impro...2025-04-0924 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 110 Dr. DeFeo explains why eating seasonal produce transforms your gut health.Spring brings renewal, and what better way to revitalize than by spring cleaning your diet? Dr. Dan DeFeo of the Osteopathic Family Medicine Practice of Northern New Jersey returns to share wisdom about seasonal eating that transforms not just your meals, but your health.Many Americans struggle with vegetables, but Dr. DeFeo suggests this aversion might stem from eating out-of-season produce lacking peak flavor and nutrition. Spring vegetables like asparagus, artichokes, radishes, strawberries, and peas offer exceptional benefits - they're rich in prebiotic nutrients, high in fiber, and low in calories. These seasonal gems support gut health...2025-04-0114 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 108 The Real Estate Renaissance: Navigating Today's Shifting MarketThe real estate landscape has transformed dramatically in recent years, and few professionals understand these shifts better than Chris Sapienza of Keller Williams' SEG Group. With experience dating back to 1991 and over 250 transactions closed in just five years, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge about Bergen County's distinctive market conditions.What makes today's real estate market so different? While national headlines suggest cooling prices and growing inventory, Bergen County defies these trends with listings down 6.7% compared to last year. Chris reveals two fascinating factors behind this shortage: the disruption of traditional retirement migration patterns and the lack...2025-03-3126 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 109 Navigating Dementia: A Family-Centered Approach with Sarah GorensteinSarah Gorenstein takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of dementia care, sharing insights from her transition from the United Kingdom to becoming a pivotal figure in reimagining how we support families facing cognitive decline in America.The conversation reveals how our understanding of dementia has transformed over generations. What was once dismissively labeled as "going senile" is now recognized as a complex condition requiring specialized, thoughtful approaches. Sarah explains how Lizzy Care was born from her own experience working with a family struggling to navigate care options during the pandemic, despite having significant resources...2025-03-3127 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 107 Estate Planning Essentials: Protecting Your Assets Before Crisis StrikesWhat happens when you need long-term care but haven't planned for it? Barbara Martin, elder law attorney at Beattie Padovano,, pulls back the curtain on the often overwhelming world of estate planning, revealing solutions most families discover too late.The financial reality is sobering - assisted living in Bergen County costs up to $12,000 monthly, with memory care reaching $18,000. These expenses can rapidly deplete even substantial savings, especially since Medicare only covers short-term rehabilitation. Without proper planning, families face the painful process of spending down assets until qualifying for Medicaid. Barbara explains how the crucial "five-year lookback" period m...2025-03-3126 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 106 From Superintendent to CEO: How One Man Built a Window Empire in NYCEver wonder what happens when your apartment window gets stuck or shatters unexpectedly in the middle of Manhattan? Meet Juart Reyes from Manhattan Windoors INC, a family-owned business that's been solving the glass emergencies of New York City since 2016.Juart shares the compelling story of how his father Angel transformed his career from building superintendent to business owner out of necessity to better provide for his growing family. What began as practical knowledge of repairs blossomed into a specialized service company handling everything from emergency glass replacement to child safety guard installation across all five boroughs.2025-03-2913 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 105 From Student to Owner: Marie Wood's Gymnastics Journey Comes Full CircleMarie Wood's remarkable journey with Tumble-Bee Gymnastics pans nearly four decades—from being among the first students when its doors opened in 1986 to becoming its passionate owner. This beautiful full-circle story embodies the very essence of what makes Tumblebee special: genuine community connection that transcends generations.What distinguishes Tumble-Bee Gymnastics from both national franchises and competitive gymnastics programs is their commitment to teaching proper skills while ensuring every child feels celebrated. "Our goal is to have every kid walk out the door feeling better than when they walked in," Marie explains, highlighting a philosophy that has sustained th...2025-03-2723 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 103 Silver Stage Motivators: Bringing Joy Back to Seniors' LivesWhat happens when we stop doing the activities that once brought us joy? For many aging adults, this gradual disconnection from favorite pastimes often leads to isolation, cognitive decline, and diminished quality of life. Enter Brian Blotner of Silver Stage Motivators, who's created a revolutionary approach to eldercare focused on rekindling joy through meaningful engagement.After 25 years in disaster cleanup, Brian's life took an unexpected turn when three people close to him died during COVID. While caring for his dying father, he discovered his true calling: motivational companionship. "I try and get my clients back to doing...2025-03-2530 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 104 Marketing Mastery: How Presentation Multimedia Transforms Local BusinessesWhat happens when potential customers reach out to your business after hours? For most small businesses, the answer is nothing—and it's costing them thousands in lost revenue. Dean Steinman, founder of Presentation Multimedia, reveals the shocking truth about response time on this eye-opening episode. "If somebody fills out a form and you don't get back to them within eight minutes, they're going to somebody else," Dean explains, sharing how his agency has developed automation systems that have increased client sales by 30-40%.Drawing from 25+ years of digital marketing expertise since building his first website in...2025-03-2527 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 102 Organizing Your Life: Professional Decluttering with Hope KernerProfessional organizer Hope Kerner transforms cluttered households into peaceful sanctuaries through her Bergen County business, All Things Neat by Hope. As she explains, organizing isn't merely about aesthetics—it's about reclaiming your time, reducing stress, and creating functional systems that work with your lifestyle rather than against it.After 25 years as a personal trainer, Hope noticed a pattern in her clients' homes: physical wellness often stopped at the doorway, while living spaces remained chaotic and stress-inducing. This observation sparked her transition into professional organizing, where she now helps families tackle everything from overstuffed closets to garage nightmares. He...2025-03-2122 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 101 How Jewish Home Family's 110-Year Legacy Is Revolutionizing Senior ServicesCarol Silver Elliott's journey from communications graduate to President and CEO of Jewish Home Family reveals how passion for service can transform an entire field. After holding leadership positions in hospital systems and career development, she found her true calling in long-term care – a field some find depressing but that she describes as a daily gift of wisdom and connection from the elders she serves.Under Elliott's leadership, Jewish Home Family has evolved dramatically while honoring its 110-year legacy. What began as an orphanage in Jersey City now offers a full continuum of care across two Bergen Co...2025-03-2027 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 100 Sweat, Fail, Succeed: One Trainer's Rocky Road to Fitness GloryMichael Donofrio's fitness journey wasn't always picture-perfect. After failing his NASM certification twice in his early twenties, many would have given up. Instead, he pivoted, obtained an alternative certification, and began building what would become Donofrio Fitness—now a thriving studio in Mahwah, New Jersey celebrating its sixth year in business.What makes this fitness community special is Michael's approach to training. Breaking free from rigid methodologies, he creates dynamic workouts that borrow from various disciplines. One day might feature a CrossFit-inspired AMRAP (As Many Rounds As Possible), while another focuses on boxing technique or strength supersets. Th...2025-03-1828 min
Good Neighbor Podcast: BergenEp. # 99 Navigating Your Financial Life: How Crowne Point Tax and Wealth Council Integrates Legal, Tax, and Investment StrategiesNik Agharkar doesn't just prepare your taxes – he transforms how you think about your entire financial life. After nearly 20 years as an attorney, including building and selling his own law firm, Nik discovered his true passion lay at the intersection of legal expertise and financial strategy. His journey from litigation to financial advisory reflects a powerful insight: most people struggle with disjointed financial advice that leaves them confused and frustrated."Our clients have come to us saying they asked their CPA a question, who sent them to their financial advisor, who sent them to their attorney, who se...2025-03-1825 min