Between 2 Bridges - Audio

Hosted by Between 2 Bridges

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Episodes

146

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Aug 2026

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About the show

An interview podcast bridging the gap between industry leaders, entrepreneurs, and business operators, sharing insights and life experiences.

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60 recent

August 19, 2026Episode 14555 min

Ep.145 - You CAN Buy Time

This week on Between 2 Bridges, Jerry and Joe talk about what your time is actually worth and why sometimes spending money is the smartest way to get more of it back. From laundry and the “wedding gown theory” to finding new opportunities, protecting quality as a business grows, and making things right when your company screws up, the conversation gets into what it really means to run a small business every day. Then Jerry’s new role coaching youth football leads into lessons about teamwork, toughness, responsibility, and why some of the things you learn on a football field stick with you long after you stop playing.

August 12, 2026Episode 1441 hr 33 min

Ep.144 Matt Plocki - Pitt Specialty Supply, Friendly Wholesale, Penn Fixture - An Empire in Businesses Nobody Thinks About

Matt Plocki has spent more than two decades building an empire in the businesses most people never think about. From Pitt Specialty Supply and Penn Fixture to Friendly Wholesale, real estate, and a long history of acquisitions, Matt has built his career around finding opportunity in the essential products and services that quietly keep other businesses running. In this episode, Matt joins Jerry and Joe to talk about starting his first business as a kid, buying and growing established companies, competing against private equity and online giants, building a strong company culture, automation, family business, and why relationships still matter in an increasingly impersonal business world.

August 5, 2026Episode 1431 hr 25 min

Ep.143 - Steve Rowe - Retired Teacher / Author - Good Kids Don’t Happen by Accident

After 27 years in the classroom, retired Riverview teacher Steve Rowe has learned a thing or two about what it takes to raise good kids. Steve joins Jerry and Joe to talk about how parenting and education have changed, the impact of screens and social media, teaching accountability and leadership, and why being present still matters more than anything else. They also discuss Steve’s new project, Good Kids Don’t Happen by Accident, a forthcoming book built from nearly three decades of lessons learned working with kids and their families, along with a companion podcast where Steve shares those lessons, explores practical advice for parents, and continues the conversation about raising good human beings.

July 29, 2026Episode 14243 min

Ep.142 - Building a Business That Outlives You

Before you think about growing your business, ask yourself one question: what happens if you’re no longer there to run it? This week, the guys tackle one of the most overlooked responsibilities of business ownership: succession planning. From operating agreements and business partnerships to protecting your family, employees, and legacy, they share real-world stories of what happens when the proper plans are in place—and when they aren’t. Along the way, they dive into the hidden costs of subscriptions, the plague of spam calls, AI-powered financial tools for small businesses, and plenty of the off-the-rails conversations you’ve come to expect. If you own a business, this is one episode you can’t afford to skip.

July 22, 2026Episode 14143 min

Ep.141 - FORTIVO: The CFO in Your Pocket

In this episode of Between 2 Bridges, Jerry pulls back the curtain on FORTIVO, the AI-powered platform he’s been building to help small business owners finally understand what their numbers are actually telling them. FORTIVO securely connects to your QuickBooks Online account using Intuit-approved integration, giving it access to your real financial data so it can answer questions, analyze decisions, and provide meaningful insights tailored to your business. It’s like having a CFO in your pocket without the CFO price tag. The conversation expands far beyond software as the guys dive into using AI as a competitive advantage, why every business should embrace social media, setting clear expectations for your team, building systems that scale, and the leadership lessons that come from realizing your company’s biggest problems often start with you. Whether you’re launching a business, leading a team, or simply trying to make better decisions, this episode is packed with practical insights you can put to work immediately.

July 15, 2026Episode 14046 min

Ep.140 - The Courage to Close

Success in business isn’t always about knowing when to push harder. Sometimes it’s about having the courage to stop. This week, the guys discuss one of the toughest decisions an entrepreneur can make as Joe shares why he’s shutting down the manufacturing side of his business after nearly two years of fighting to make it work. They explore the emotional weight of closing a company, the responsibility of breaking the news to employees, and why protecting a healthy business sometimes means letting go of another. Along the way, they swap stories about surviving Pittsburgh’s brutal heat wave, dealing with broken air conditioners, scam calls, staffing challenges, and the realities of running a business when life refuses to slow down. It’s an honest conversation about resilience, perspective, and the often-overlooked truth that closing a business doesn’t always mean you’ve failed. Sometimes, it’s the smartest move you can make.

July 8, 2026Episode 13943 min

Ep.139 - When Local Giants Get Bought

Everyone woke up to the headline that Kroger is buying Giant Eagle, but the real story started long before the announcement. This week, the guys break down why major acquisitions don’t happen overnight, the warning signs businesses often give before they’re sold, and what entrepreneurs can learn from reading between the lines. From balance sheet cleanup and billion-dollar valuations to shrinking competition, loyalty programs, pricing strategies, and why relationships still beat discounts, this conversation goes far beyond the grocery business. Plus, Joe shares what the deal could mean for Pittsburgh’s dry cleaning industry, premium service businesses, and the future of local brands. Whether you own a business, dream of selling one, or you’re just wondering what happens when a hometown giant changes hands, this episode is packed with practical insights hiding behind one of Pittsburgh’s biggest business stories.

July 1, 2026Episode 1381 hr 0 min

Ep.138 - Real Skills Still Win

From flat tires and Father’s Day to Buc-ee’s, black bears wandering the neighborhood, and the realities of business ownership, this episode goes everywhere in the best way. The guys swap stories about raising kids, the changing value of college versus the skilled trades, and why mechanics, plumbers, and other hands-on professionals are becoming more valuable than ever. Along the way, they share lessons learned from running businesses, dealing with government paperwork, navigating AI, and discovering why some problems can only be solved with real-world experience. Equal parts funny, practical, and honest, it’s a conversation about why real skills still matter in a rapidly changing world.

June 24, 2026Episode 13742 min

Ep.137 - Trust Is Earned in the Mess

Nobody talks enough about what happens when things go wrong. In this episode, Joe and Jerry dive into one of the most valuable assets any business can build: trust. From lost garments and tax mistakes to difficult customer situations and hard conversations, they share real stories about accountability, reputation, and what it takes to keep customers coming back when perfection isn’t possible. Along the way, they discuss AI’s growing role in business, why old-school customer service still matters, the challenges of hiring before you’re ready, summer slowdowns, motorcycle trips, payphones, reading glasses, and the reality that most business owners are figuring it out one day at a time. Because the truth is simple: the businesses people trust aren’t the ones that never make mistakes. They’re the ones that own them.

June 17, 2026Episode 13659 min

Ep.136 - Don’t Regulate Innovation

What starts with a trip to the emergency vet and a rant about insurance quickly turns into a spirited debate about one of the biggest questions facing business owners today: should anyone be regulating AI? Joe and Jerry discuss government oversight, the fear of job displacement, and why they believe innovation should be embraced instead of slowed down. Along the way, they share real-world examples of how AI is already transforming their companies, creating new opportunities, and giving entrepreneurs tools that were unimaginable just a few years ago. If you've been wondering whether it's time to start using AI in your business, this episode makes a compelling case that the best time to start was yesterday.