#50 Jessica Galeas: The Book She Waited 20 Years to Write | Tia is My Mami

#50 Jessica Galeas: The Book She Waited 20 Years to Write | Tia is My Mami

In this episode of The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick, Steven Padernacht sits down with Jessica Galeas — a Bronx-raised early childhood and special education teacher who spent 20 years carrying a story she was finally ready to tell. Her debut picture book, Tia is My Mami, is 95% autobiographical — the story of a little girl raised by her aunt after losing her mother. It's on kindergarten shelves now. And it almost never got written. Jessica talks about teaching K–2nd grade for 15+ years, what social emotional learning really means for young kids, why blended and non-traditional families rarely see themselves in children's books, and what it took to finally stop being in her own way. Topics covered: [0:08] Introducing Jessica Galeas: teacher, mother, debut author [2:48] What teaching early childhood and special ed actually looks like [4:25] Social emotional learning (SEL) — what it is and why it matters [7:03] Why SEL surged after COVID [11:02] The books kids gravitate toward and why [14:03] Parent-teacher relationships and why they matter [17:03] How much extra work goes into being a teacher [18:52] "You don't leave at 3:00. We earned those summers." [21:22] Tia is My Mami — where the title comes from [23:37] Writing about grief and loss for young children [25:01] Steven reads the book — and the page that hits different [26:18] Why she decided to put her story out into the world [27:16] Writing as therapy and healing [28:18] How she made time to write with three boys, a husband, and a 15-year career [31:21] How her boys and husband reacted to reading the finished book [35:49] What she would tell her younger, fearful self [40:25] Growing up Puerto Rican and Dominican: strength, silence, and culture [44:50] Her Tia and Abuela: the women who raised her [48:22] Giving the book to her Tia over Thanksgiving [52:08] Triple Hearts Books: why the name matters [53:22] Are more books coming? [55:34] What success looks like [51:13] Who deserves credit nobody will think of: Jose [54:17] The book description read aloud Find the book on Amazon: search "Tia is My Mami" by Jessica Galeas [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GN6354T6?ref=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_1NJD2JYS4MVASS43WYJ5&ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_1NJD2JYS4MVASS43WYJ5&social_share=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cso_cp_apin_dp_1NJD2JYS4MVASS43WYJ5&bestFormat=true&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGneHxj2iLSV_n0i4iGZFWPN2KNzvh3XePtGRmUL6df5C1o4Cn3-AtWknJsQ6s_aem_vWdn3lgC25VQfpgem8mg_A&utm_content=link_in_bio&utm_medium=social&utm_source=ig] Instagram: @tripleheartsbooks [https://www.instagram.com/tripleheartsbooks/] | Email: triplehearts@gmail.com [triplehearts@gmail.com]  Book a free consultation with Steven [https://smprealty.com/calendar/] 📞 (607) 669-3361 [tel:(607) 669-3361] Instagram: @steve_pad [https://www.instagram.com/steve_pad/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1824028/support]

#49 9 Years, $300K Lost, No Ruling: Brooklyn Landlord on NYC Housing Court

In this episode of The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick, Steven Padernacht sits down with Thomas — a Brooklyn landlord and engineer who has been fighting a squatter tenant in New York City housing court for nearly a decade, losing close to $300,000 in unpaid rent along the way. Disclaimer: This show is built for open conversation. The views expressed by our guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Padernacht Podcast. Thomas shares exactly how the system works, why judges can't seem to make a ruling, how legal aid funded by taxpayer money is being used to stall the case, and what two simple reforms would end the majority of these housing battles overnight. A raw, honest conversation about what small landlords in New York City are actually dealing with. Topics covered: [0:08] The "8-Year Squatter" t-shirt — what it means [0:58] The tenant: no rent paid since 2019 [2:07] The math: nearly $300,000 in lost rent [2:40] How Tom is covering the bills — savings, 401k, his kids' jobs [3:08] The reality of expenses vs. profits for a small NYC landlord [4:31] Free market vs. rent-stabilized units explained [9:03] The 516-page legal document filed one week before court [13:00] Legal aid costs and who's actually paying for them [18:05] "Your tax dollars are paying to fight against you" [19:01] Five or six judges — and no ruling [24:28] How Tom bought the building in 1988 and gutted it from scratch [29:36] The political agenda behind NYC housing policy [30:36] Politicians who refused to help — and one who stepped up [34:21] How the case has affected his family, his kids' college funds, his retirement [37:44] Professional tenants — people who never intend to pay rent [44:03] Linda: the tenant Tom supported for years without charging rent [54:00] How Linda's death turned everything sideways [56:14] What Tom wants the public to understand [57:42] The two-year eviction process — how the courts stack against owners [1:00:41] Two reforms that would end 80% of housing cases Book a free real estate consultation with Steven [https://smprealty.com/calendar/] 📞 (607) 669-3361 [tel:(607)%20669-3361] 🌐 Visit Website [https://smprealty.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1824028/support]

#48 From Fanfiction to Published Author: Robert Roche’s WWII Fiction Journey

In this episode of The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick, Steven Padernacht sits down with Robert Roche — author of a published trilogy and actor from Westchester — who built his writing career from emails to friends all the way to three novels available on Amazon.   Recorded on the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, this conversation weaves together Robert's love of history (both grandparents were WWII veterans), the creative journey behind his debut novel A War on Two Fronts, and his philosophy that comfort is the most toxic relationship you can have with yourself.   Topics covered: [0:07] How three books started with a challenge from a friend [1:28] What fanfiction actually is — and why it's a legitimate creative training ground [10:20] Writing A War on Two Fronts — blending WWII history with original fiction [15:09] The book's symbolic double meaning: the war outside and the war within [17:05] How COVID became the turning point that finally got the book published [19:18] The trilogy universe — three standalone books with hidden Easter eggs [25:37] Fear, rejection, and why Robert keeps taking the shot anyway [34:24] Practical step-by-step advice for aspiring authors [40:37] Building a story brick by brick — and building a property the same way [41:01] Legacy: what Robert wants to be remembered for   Find Robert's books on Amazon. Follow him on Instagram: @BreakingPointBook [https://www.instagram.com/breakingpointbook/]   Book a free real estate consultation with Steven [https://smprealty.com/calendar/] 📞 (607) 669-3361 [tel:(607) 669-3361] 🌐 Visit Website [https://smprealty.com/] Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1824028/support]

#47 From Caddie to CRO: Sales Lessons with John Zanzarella

Welcome back to The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick. In this episode, Steven Padernacht sits down with John Zanzarella, Chief Revenue Officer at Performline. John built his career from answering phones at his dad's Westchester media business as a kid, to caddying at private golf clubs, to co-founding a digital marketing agency, navigating a company acquisition by private equity, and earning his way to the C-suite — one intentional move at a time. This episode covers: • The Pinehurst golf event that launched John's entrepreneurial career • Why "your network is your net worth" — and how to put yourself in the right rooms • The intrapreneurship mindset — treating yourself like a business owner inside a company • Why AI won't take your job if you can sell • Building a financial team from scratch: planners, tax strategists, and life insurance • Parenting three kids while chasing professional goals — perfectly imperfect • The handwritten letters John's father left him — before his first job, before his sales career, and in the final months of his life "Your network is your net worth." "AI is not coming for your job — if you can sell." "My kids are my best legacy right now." Connect with John: LinkedIn —  John Zanzarella [https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnzanzarella/] ═══════════════════════════════════ Connect with Steven Padernacht: 📱 Instagram: @steve_pad [https://www.instagram.com/steve_pad] 🌐 Website: smprealty.com [https://smprealty.com/] 📞 Phone: (607) 669-3361 [tel:(607) 669-3361] 📧 Email: smprealty@gmail.com [smprealty@gmail.com] Book a free real estate consultation [https://smprealty.com/calendar/] The Padernacht Real Estate Team | Keller Williams Realty NYC Group Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1824028/support]

#46 Creativity, Faith & Finding Your Voice with Jeffrey Seitz | The Padernacht Podcast

Welcome back to The Padernacht Podcast: Brick by Brick. In this episode, Steven Padernacht sits down with Jeffrey Seitz — a writer, creative, and storyteller whose journey sits at the intersection of faith, discipline, brotherhood, and personal transformation. Jeffrey is currently editing his debut novel, A Dragon from Heaven — a 300+ page portal fantasy set in a world called Yondera that he began building at age 18. He holds a Master's in English from SUNY New Paltz and a Brand Storytelling certification from Cornell University, and is also working on a creative video dramatization of T.S. Eliot's The Wasteland with filmmaker Mike Press. This episode covers: • Overcoming insecurity, perfectionism, and the fear of putting your story into the world • A Dragon from Heaven — the novel, the world of Yondera, and why this project has been 15 years in the making • The Wasteland Project — how a 100-year-old poem became a deeply personal creative mission • Growing up homeschooled K–12 and what it really shaped • The ACE Summit wood-chopping moment — one of the most emotional stories ever told on this podcast • Faith as an acronym: Forsaking All, I Trust Him "There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story within yourself." Follow Jeffrey on Instagram: @jseitz ═══════════════════════════════════ Connect with Steven Padernacht: 📱 Instagram: @steve_pad 🌐 Website: smprealty.com 📞 Phone: (607) 669-3361 📧 Email: smprealty@gmail.com Book a free real estate consultation: smprealty.com The Padernacht Real Estate Team | Keller Williams Realty NYC Group Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1824028/support]