Chasing the American Dream with Leo Cervantes of Chilangos Restaurant

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. 🎙🔥

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. 🎙🔥

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.

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 🎙

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.