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Grit Won't Quit

Grit Won't Quit

Hosted by Tom Mirabella

BusinessEntrepreneurshipInterviews guests

Episodes

243

Latest episode

Jun 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Meet Tom Mirabella, the visionary owner of Wingman Planning, as he takes center stage on Grit Won't Quit. Embark on a journey through his experiences as an entrepreneur and digital marketing specialist. Tom extends his valuable insights to aspiring business owners, providing guidance gleaned from his journey. Tune in for engaging interviews with entrepreneurs and exclusive insights from Tom's diverse business ventures. Discover the knowledge and inspiration essential for your success in the dynamic business world.

Listen to episodes

60 recent
June 15, 202632 min

Serving the Community Through Mortgages and More with Sammy Hernandez

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Sammy Hernandez, also known as Sam the Mortgage Man, for a conversation about service, community, and helping people build a better future. A current detective in Freehold and mortgage advisor with Advisors Mortgage Group, Sammy shares how a friend encouraged him to enter the mortgage industry, recognizing his ability to connect with people and serve the Spanish-speaking community. He talks about finding a family atmosphere at Advisors and how many of the same values that make him successful in law enforcement also carry over into helping families achieve homeownership. Tom and Sammy discuss the importance of having a strong team, the challenges of buying a home in today's Monmouth County market, and why real estate remains one of the best opportunities for building long-term wealth. They also talk about Sammy's experience as a rental property owner, helping tenants become homeowners themselves, and his growing interest in house flipping. The conversation also highlights Sammy's commitment to giving back. Through his involvement in local toy drives and community initiatives, he has helped distribute more than 10,000 toys to children in the Freehold area, continuing his mission of serving others both on and off the job. This episode is all about community, leadership, and creating opportunities that help people move forward in life.

June 11, 20269 min

Best of the Chef Series Food, Family, and the Realities of the Restaurant Business

In this special Best of the Chef Series episode of Grit Won't Quit, we're serving up some of our favorite moments from past Chef Series conversations. Featuring clips from conversations with Joe Leone, Chef James Avery, Chef Chris Brandl, James Costello, Doug Walsh, and Roy Rollins, this episode highlights the passion, perseverance, and grit that define the food industry. From restaurant ownership and entrepreneurship to food trends, hospitality, leadership, staffing challenges, competition, and the love of creating memorable dining experiences, these chefs share insights earned through years of experience. Whether discussing the impact of COVID on the industry, the importance of staying true to traditional flavors, building strong teams, or adapting to an ever-changing marketplace, each guest brings a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed in the culinary world. If you're a restaurant owner, aspiring chef, entrepreneur, or simply someone who appreciates great food and great stories, this episode is a collection of some of the best moments from the Chef Series.

June 8, 202625 min

Building Trust and Growing Your Business with Benson Fischer of ZivZo Marketing Group

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Benson Fischer of ZivZo Marketing Group to talk about entrepreneurship, marketing, and what it takes to stand out in today's business landscape. Drawing from decades of experience building and operating businesses across multiple industries, Ben shares lessons on branding, digital advertising, and the importance of building trust with your audience. The conversation explores how video has become a powerful tool for connecting with customers, but also why authentic storytelling, strong testimonials, and understanding your local market are just as important. Tom and Ben also discuss common marketing pitfalls, avoiding empty SEO promises, creating transparency with clients, and why business owners need to understand where their advertising dollars are going. This episode is all about adapting to a changing world, embracing new technology, and building a business that creates lasting relationships with its customers.

June 1, 202626 min

Finding Balance Through Holistic Healing with Nicole of Discover Your Root Wellness

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Nicole of Discover Your Root Wellness to talk about mental health, holistic healing, and helping people create lasting change through wellness. With a background in psychology and personal struggles with anxiety at a young age, Nicole shares how her own experiences led her toward yoga, holistic health, and eventually building a business focused on helping others feel better physically and mentally. She explains why she believes wellness is never "one size fits all" and how she tailors her yoga classes and wellness coaching to the energy and needs of each individual. Tom and Nicole also discuss her experience discovering she had Lyme disease, the eye-opening moments she had working alongside holistic doctors, and why she became passionate about focusing on root causes rather than simply masking symptoms. This episode is a real conversation about wellness, patience, and making small consistent changes that can lead to a healthier life over time. 🎙🔥

May 28, 2026Episode 2024 min

Turning a Personal Challenge into Innovation with Maya Bundesen-Magier of Map My Milk

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Maya Bundesen-Magier, founder of Map My Milk, to talk about how a personal experience led her to create an AI-powered platform helping parents better understand infant food allergies and sensitivities. A former occupational therapist with no coding background, Maya shares how she taught herself the tech side of building a startup after struggling to find tools that connected a mother's diet to a baby's reactions. What started as a personal challenge became a mission to create a more useful, user-focused solution for families navigating difficult health questions. Tom and Maya also dive into the realities of building a health tech company from scratch, the role of AI in healthcare, and the importance of staying mission driven while creating something that genuinely helps people. This episode is all about innovation, persistence, and turning personal challenges into meaningful solutions. 🎙🔥

May 20, 2026Episode 1845 min

Chasing the American Dream with Leo Cervantes of Chilangos Restaurant

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Leo Cervantes of Chilangos Mexican Restaurant for an inspiring conversation about hard work, opportunity, and perseverance. Originally from just outside Mexico City, Leo shares his journey of coming to America in search of a better future. From getting his first job as a dishwasher without even knowing what a dishwasher was, to learning English while working as a busboy, Leo opens up about the challenges, risks, and mindset that helped him grow. Tom and Leo also talk about opening his first restaurant with only $500 in his pocket, the people who believed in him along the way, and how Chilangos has now been part of the Atlantic Highlands community for over 25 years. They also touch on his time serving as a councilman in Highlands and the story behind his book Chilangos in House. This episode is a real conversation about chasing the American dream and never being afraid to knock on the next door.

May 18, 2026Episode 1722 min

Building Better Workplaces with Karina Gaudier of Autism Workforce Solutions

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Karina Gaudier, founder of Autism Workforce Solutions, to talk about the untapped potential of neurodiverse talent and why so many companies are missing the mark when it comes to hiring and retaining autistic employees. Drawing from her own experiences as an autistic professional, Karina shares how those challenges inspired her to build a company focused on helping organizations create better workplaces through understanding, support, and smarter hiring practices. She explains how small adjustments in communication, onboarding, and management can make a major impact on employee success and retention. Tom and Karina also dive into the larger conversation around workplace inclusion, the misconceptions surrounding autism in professional settings, and why embracing neurodiverse talent can create stronger teams and better business outcomes. This episode is a powerful conversation about leadership, opportunity, and building workplaces where more people can thrive. Learn more at AutismWorkforceSolutions.com 🎙

May 14, 2026Episode 1644 min

Tradition, Competition, and the Chaos of the Food Industry with Joe Leone | Chef Series

In this Chef Series episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom and Chef Mike are joined by Joe Leone of Joe Leone's Italian Specialties for a conversation about friendship, food, and the realities of the restaurant industry. With Mike and Joe having been friends for over 30 years, the episode dives into everything from starting out in wholesale and chasing payments to how the industry has changed over time. They discuss the chaos that comes with food service, how COVID completely shifted the business, and why employee loyalty looks very different today. The conversation also touches on overrated food trends, underrated traditional flavors, and the importance of cooking food that genuinely makes people happy. Tom, Mike, and Joe break down competition in the industry, why reputation matters, and how a few bad workers can impact everyone around them. This episode is a real behind-the-scenes look at the food world from people who've lived it for decades.

May 11, 2026Episode 1528 min

Building Better Mental Health Support with Angela Mancini of La Luna Counseling & The Drop In Nest

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Angela Mancini, founder of La Luna Counseling & Wellness and The Drop In Nest, for a conversation about mental health, entrepreneurship, and building support systems that people truly need. After experiencing postpartum anxiety and depression herself, Angela was inspired to create La Luna Counseling & Wellness, a practice built around helping people feel seen, supported, and comfortable asking for help. Since launching in 2022, La Luna has expanded to multiple locations while continuing to grow its client-centered approach to care. Tom and Angela also dive into her newest venture, The Drop In Nest, a virtual urgent care concept for mental health designed to help people connect with support immediately instead of waiting days or weeks for an appointment. They discuss how conversations around mental health have evolved, the importance of recognizing when everyday life is being impacted, and the challenges of starting a second business while continuing to grow the first. This episode is a real conversation about burnout, healing, entrepreneurship, and creating spaces where people can get help when they need it most.

May 7, 2026Episode 1828 min

Building Trust and Long Term Success with Scott Mahoney of Family Wealth Management

In this episode of Grit Won't Quit, Tom sits down with Scott Mahoney of Family Wealth Management to talk about what it really takes to survive and succeed in the financial services industry. Scott shares his journey from the early days of struggling to find clients to building a thriving business over the past 20 years. He opens up about the challenges most advisors face, including low conversion rates, long sales cycles, and the pressure that causes many to burn out early. Tom and Scott dive into the importance of patience, authenticity, and continuous learning. They discuss how building genuine relationships, planting seeds for future opportunities, and staying consistent through market ups and downs are what truly create long term success. Scott also shares insight into leading a team, navigating uncertain markets, and why trust is everything in this business. This episode is all about perseverance, mindset, and doing the right things over time to build something that lasts.

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