Entrepreneurial OOMPH

Troy Olson shares how he built a thriving real estate business, expanded into investing and coaching, and continues creating new income opportunities through entrepreneurship.

Key takeaways:
• Build before making the leap
• Scale through delegation
• Invest with long-term vision
• Communicate consistently
• Create multiple income streams

Listen on YouTube and Spotify:
https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

Kalyn Rozanski shares how AI, innovation strategy, and trend forecasting are transforming the future of business. Learn how brands like Starbucks and Hershey’s identify consumer trends, predict future behavior, and create products that stay ahead of the market.

Key takeaways:
• AI-driven innovation strategy
• Predicting future consumer trends
• Understanding trends vs fads
• Finding white space opportunities
• Building intentional business growth

Listen now:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

Aaron Hendon joins Entrepreneurial OOMPH! to discuss mindfulness, meditation, gratitude, stress, and how entrepreneurs and leaders can train their brains for greater peace, clarity, and performance.
In this insightful conversation, Aaron shares how mindfulness transformed both his personal life and business results, helping him shift from chronic stress and anxiety into intentional presence and focused action.
Key takeaways:
• Train your attention with mindfulness
• Reduce stress and improve clarity
• Build resilience through awareness
• Create presence instead of reactivity
• Develop a gratitude-based mindset
Aaron also shares insights from his upcoming book:
“How to Live a Grate...

Jay Sapovitz of Inked Stores joins Entrepreneurial OOMPH! to share why branding, promotional products, and customer experience are critical business growth tools.

Takeaways:
• Branding supports stronger sales conversations
• Quality products build long-term visibility
• Curiosity creates entrepreneurial growth
• Great service beats commodity pricing
• Strong relationships create repeat business

Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, Debra Pearlman speaks with Randy Hux of Hux Capital Management about retirement planning, fiduciary leadership, entrepreneurship, and building businesses with integrity.

Key takeaways:
• Lead clients with trust and transparency
• Build culture through strong standards
• Protect your business with clear systems
• Create exceptional client experiences
• Never quit during difficult seasons

Watch on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts

Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

Want to grow a successful wellness business without burnout? Gina McDonald shares how she built a thriving massage and wellness brand by combining passion, smart strategy, and strong boundaries.

Takeaways:
• Grow a wellness or service-based business
• Set boundaries to avoid burnout
• Customize services for better client results
• Learn business fundamentals early
• Turn failure into future success

Listen now: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Book a session: https://calendly.com/debrapearlman/touch-of-oomph

What if the key to growing your business—and your life—comes down to a few simple numbers?

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why knowing your numbers changes everything
• How to simplify financial tracking fast
• The danger of avoiding your financial truth
• Why separating accounts is a game-changer
• How mindset drives wealth and fulfillment

Kyle Harrison shares real, practical strategies for business owners who want clarity, control, and confidence. From financial basics to powerful life shifts, this conversation goes far beyond spreadsheets—it’s about ownership, alignment, and living with intention.

What if success wasn’t just about profit—but about people, purpose, and lasting impact?

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why profit-only thinking is broken
• How to build aligned, purpose-driven companies
• The real meaning of executive abundance
• How culture drives sustainable success

Mitchell Levy shares his journey from boardrooms and NASDAQ leadership to creating a new framework for business—one that balances profit with people, purpose, and legacy. This conversation challenges outdated thinking and offers a bold, practical path forward for leaders who want more than just financial wins.

Ready to lead di...

Building a successful business takes more than strategy—it takes grit, consistency, and the right relationships.

In this episode, Frank DeRaffele shares how he leveraged referral marketing, personal development, and persistence to grow from local entrepreneur to international business leader.

Key takeaways:
• Persistence drives long-term success
• Referral networks create exponential growth
• Focus beats distraction every time
• Personal growth fuels business results

🎧 Listen now on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04
📺 Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
🚀 Book a se...

Stress is inevitable—but staying stuck in it isn’t.

Shalin Desai shares how breathwork and SKY breathing help leaders and professionals reduce stress, improve focus, and perform at a higher level.

Key takeaways:
• Breath directly impacts emotions and mindset
• Calm leaders make better decisions
• Meditation improves engagement and ownership
• Inner stability drives external success
• Happiness can be your starting point—not the goal

Explore more and take the next step:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad...

Feeling overwhelmed by money? Jessi Close shares how to simplify your finances with practical systems and habits that work.

Key takeaways:
• Build consistent financial habits
• Create systems that reduce overwhelm
• Set and adjust realistic financial goals
• Review finances regularly for control
• Align money with your values

🎧 Listen now:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

💥 Book your Touch of OOMPH:
https://calendly.com/debrapearlman/touch-of-oomph

AI is changing how businesses get found, grow, and compete. In this episode, Debra Pearlman talks with Brent Hultman about how small business owners can use AI wisely without giving up the human insight that drives real results.

Takeaways:
- Use AI as a support system
- Protect and manage your reputation
- Improve visibility in modern search
- Build practical systems for growth
- Keep leadership human and intentional

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47...

In this episode, Debra Pearlman interviews Adria Gross about denied medical claims, billing overcharges, pre-authorization issues, rehab advocacy, and long-term care challenges. Adria shares how her insurance industry background now helps people fight smarter and protect their outcomes.

Takeaways:
• Spot denial patterns sooner
• Question confusing medical charges
• Escalate advocacy when needed
• Protect rehab coverage quickly
• Use experience to serve others

Watch on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04
Book a 15-minute To...

Reinvention is possible at any age.

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, Debra Pearlman speaks with relationship coach and author Sheila Pearl about launching a new career at 62, staying present, and building deeper human connections.

Key takeaways:
• Reinventing yourself later in life
• Staying present instead of overthinking
• Receiving feedback without defensiveness
• Building stronger loving connections
• Growth and learning never truly stop

Listen now on Spotify or YouTube.

Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

YouTube:
https...

When markets tighten, rates rise, or AI reshapes the landscape, one truth remains: relationships win.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why intention and impact often misalign
• The micro-skills that build instant trust
• How breathwork strengthens sales conversations
• The “double click” method for objections
• Why curiosity beats control every time

Molly Sargent, founder of ProImpress, shares four levels of listening, the power of playing back what clients really mean, and the simple word that signals true connection: “exactly.” You’ll discover how grounded presence, curiosity, and feedback transform not only sales results—but leadership...

Entrepreneurial OOMPH! is evolving.

This podcast is now intentionally focused on one powerful mission:

Autonomy. Leadership. Profitable Growth.

In this next chapter, you’ll hear real conversations about:
• Career pivots into entrepreneurship
• Building profitable service businesses
• Scaling small businesses sustainably
• Leadership mindset and ownership
• Consistency that compounds into success

This is not hype. Not hustle culture. Not fluff.

It’s real business stories, real strategy, and real momentum.

If you are a business owner, executive, sales leader, or aspiring entrepreneur ready to take ownership of y...

What does it really take to walk away from a high-level corporate role and build a business on your own terms?

In this episode, Debra Pearlman sits down with Matt Nizzi, former Target senior director turned founder of Lowcountry Remediation, to unpack his intentional pivot from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How early leadership training accelerates long-term success
• Why values alignment matters more than speed or scale
• How to grow a business without sacrificing family or sanity
• What “slow, steady growth” looks like in real life
• How to think abo...

What if healing didn’t live in silos?

In this powerful episode, Amy Land—fitness trainer, nonprofit founder, and recovery advocate—shares how Purple Place is changing women’s lives by integrating fitness, nutrition, and mental health into one accessible, affordable model.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why trauma and addiction are deeply connected
• How movement and nutrition support emotional healing
• What Internal Family Systems (IFS) teaches about our “parts.
• Why caretakers and teachers need care too
• How community accelerates recovery and resilience

Amy opens up about her own sobriety journey...

Strong businesses don’t win by accident—they win because leadership drives culture, and culture drives results.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why leadership happens through everyday conversations
• How culture actually creates sustainable profitability
• What “walk-around leadership” really looks like
• Why behavior matters more than words
• How to spot leaders who are—or aren’t—teachable

Debra Pearlman sits down with leadership veteran Steve Woods, former Chief Human Resources Officer and international business leader, to unpack what most companies get wrong about culture, accountability, and performance.

Drawing from decades at organizations l...

What if leadership wasn’t about revenue, scale, or titles—but about responsibility, presence, and purpose?

In this episode, Debra Perlman sits down with Peggy, Messianic Rabbi and spiritual leader, for a deep, human conversation about leadership that transcends traditional business models.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• Why leadership always starts with inner work
• How presence builds trust and influence
• The real cost of avoidance, pride, and distraction
• What faith, forgiveness, and accountability have to do with results
• Why purpose-driven leadership changes everything

This conversation weaves together entrepreneurship, spirituality, an...

Kyle Hudson reveals how trades and home service owners can scale their business without burning out.

Key takeaways:
• Systems create freedom
• Delegation increases value
• Coaching sharpens decisions
• Time management drives growth

Listen now and build a business that works for you.
🎧 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
🎧 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04

Sales leader Denise Horan joins Debra Pearlman for an honest conversation about selling with integrity, building platforms, and why relationships still matter.

Key takeaways:
• Trust drives results
• Platforms create freedom
• Women thrive through collaboration
• Networking fuels opportunity

Listen now and book a Touch of OOMPH!
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@EntrepreneurialOOMPH/podcasts
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2U62KV2JaciJm47ECPga5W?si=6d0ad51a89a04
Calendly: https://calendly.com/debrapearlman/touch-of-oomph

What if your biggest leadership breakthroughs came from your hardest life lessons?

In this episode, Debra Pearlman sits down with retired professional speaker and former baseball executive Skip Weisman to unpack a powerful journey of reinvention, communication mastery, and intentional decision-making. From running minor league baseball teams to speaking on national stages, Skip shares the moments that shaped his two distinct careers.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why communication failures destroy trust at work
- How life decisions shape leadership credibility
- What Toastmasters really teaches professional speakers
- How to...

Debra Perlman interviews L’Oreal Keaton of Keaton Cottages Vacations about going from intense nonprofit leadership to entrepreneurship—and building more freedom and family time along the way.

Key takeaways:
- Solve problems people actually have
- Keep goals simple: “make it pay for itself.” 
- Build margin for the unexpected
- Stay grounded, open to advice, and have faith

What happens when a first-grade teacher swaps the classroom for entrepreneurship—and builds a business that runs on creativity, systems, and heart? In this episode, Debra sits down with her niece, Lisa Koppelman, CEO of Party Time Events in Morganville, NJ, to talk about calculated risk, constant evolution, and real-life work/life balance. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:
- How to take a calculated leap (not a reckless one)
- How to evolve your offer as life seasons change
- How “we’re a team” reduces mom overload at home
- How Lisa designs par...

Publicist KJ Blattenbauer joins Debra Pearlman to break down what PR really is (earned credibility), how it differs from paid marketing, and the simple steps entrepreneurs can take to get noticed—starting with consistent messaging across every platform.

Takeaways:
- Earn trust with third-party validation
- Align your website + social bios
- Pitch editors and local media for free
- Start a “proof of awesomeness” folder
- Speak up without dimming your light

Adam Roach joins Entrepreneurial OOMPH to share how his journey from tennis pro to real estate owner to founder of the I Love Coaching Community was fueled by surrender, sales, and a deep commitment to serve. He unpacks the REAL Coach Method and what it truly takes to turn your calling into a thriving coaching business. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}

You’ll learn:
• The REAL framework for powerful coaching
• Why passion must match your market and problem
• How to leave a survivor job and go all in
• The mindset shift from control to surrender
• Practical ne...

How do you bring in future-ready industries without losing the small-town feel people love? In this episode, Debra Pearlman interviews Bill Fioravanti, CEO of the Orange County IDA in New York, on balancing bold economic growth with culture, community, and quality of life.


• Use incentives to drive long-term community benefit  
• Treat culture and values as real site criteria  
• Address traffic and infrastructure fears with facts  
• Help small, local businesses grow with big projects  
• Lead with authenticity, transparency, and conversation  

What does it really take to build a business from scratch—and keep it growing with purpose? In this episode, Frank De Raffele, Executive Director & Franchise Owner of BNI Mid-Hudson Valley, gets real about the discipline, clarity, and perseverance behind lasting entrepreneurial success.

Frank shares how he went from running multiple side jobs while building a video production company with $5 in his pocket to becoming an international consultant, speaker, and leader in the BNI world.

In this episode, you’ll learn:
• How to build grit through consistency and personal ownership  
• Why clarity of vision guides ev...

When life delivers challenge after challenge, how do you keep your business — and your spirit — alive?

In this deeply moving episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman speaks with Johanna Gervais, a Texas real estate professional whose story embodies courage, perseverance, and faith. From supporting her paralyzed father and losing her brother, to her own cancer diagnosis and rebuilding her business while healing, Johanna shows what true resilience and entrepreneurial heart look like. This conversation is about more than real estate. It’s about family, faith, mindset, and the systems that help you rise again when life brings you to...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman sits down with Peter Gregory, Business Broker at First Choice Business Brokers Westchester, to explore the real mechanics behind selling or buying a company — from valuation and buyer vetting to confidentiality, SBA financing, and the power of business incubators in driving community growth.

You’ll learn:
• How brokers prepare sellers and value businesses effectively
• NDA and proof-of-funds best practices for serious buyers
• How SBA loans empower business buyers and sellers
• Why simple, scalable models attract executive investors
• How incubators transform startups into job creators

Director of The Coaching Nexus, *Fritz Pollard* unpacks decades of lessons on leadership, mentorship, and the routines that power high-impact coaching.
*Takeaways:*
• Coach–Recruit–Train: a durable leadership trio
• Mentorship & shadowing compress the learning curve
• Stamina comes from daily habits of mind and body
• Choose joy and relationships over status symbols

What happens when a CPA turns publisher, face-plants in print at the wrong time, and then builds one of the fastest-growing talent companies serving small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs)? Rob Levin, co-founder and CEO of Work Better Now, joins Debra Pearlman to unpack his 30-year entrepreneurial journey — and share why every business owner needs a full-time assistant, how to build a culture by design (not default), and the precision process behind matching A-players from Latin America to U.S.-based small and mid-sized businesses. We dig into: the rise, fall, and lessons from New York Enterprise Report; the moment a si...

From dancer to defender of growing companies—employment lawyer Devora Lindeman shares how proactive counsel helps leaders sleep at night. We unpack real HR curveballs (the soap-opera kind), what to do before you’re sued, and how to turn culture from words on a wall into performance metrics. Devora explains when to document advice, why “write it down” protects you, and right-sized legal options—hourly, flat-fee, and subscription—for teams without in-house counsel (sweet spot: ~30–500 employees). If you hire, manage, or plan to scale, this conversation shows how to keep your business compliant, your people aligned, and your focus on growth—not fir

What does it take to grow from a single shredding truck to a multi-market operation that competes head-to-head with industry giants? In this candid conversation, Judith Papo shares the journey from Hudson Valley Shred to Legal Shred, which has expanded into data destruction, hard-drive shredding, box storage, and a fast-growing medical waste business—fueled by a relentless focus on relationships, responsiveness, and compliance education. We explore how a family-run partnership divides strengths (ops, sales, leadership), why rebranding unlocked metro-area growth, and how franchising their medical-waste model is opening doors nationwide.
Judith also gets real about being a woman leader in...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial OOMPH!, host Debra Pearlman sits down with John Klassen, a business leader whose military discipline and banking precision shaped his management and sales philosophy. John shares powerful insights on leadership, delegation, and accountability, including his signature 10-3-1 sales rule that transforms team performance. He opens up about guiding his company through a challenging succession plan, the critical role of SOPs and workflows, and why the best leaders focus on being effective, not popular. Whether you’re leading a team, planning for succession, or looking to scale sales, John’s lessons deliver clarity, structure, and results.

Steve Simon shares how compassion sparked the Living Benefits movement, forever changing life insurance. At nearly 80, he’s still innovating—building companies, creating music, and proving that passion and perseverance drive a true legacy.

From painting garbage trucks purple to signal “professional service for women,” to leading a $65M multi-state operation, to surviving Chapter 11 and rising again—Shirley Ann Felder embodies ordinary greatness.
In this powerful conversation, Shirley (Chief Inspirational Officer, Ordinary Greatness Consulting) shares how she built and led a team in a male-dominated industry, employed over 150 people, helped women transition from welfare to work, and why she now helps women release, recycle, and rise.

In this episode:Building a woman-led brand in a “trash” industry (and why the trucks were purple)$65M revenue over 23 years, 150+ employees, and family as cultureThe 2...

Seventeen years “in the shadows” supporting marquee brands—and now stepping into the spotlight. In this episode, Mark Heinsman, owner of Imagative (IMAGATIV.com), shares how he shifted from custom web builds to Revenue Operations: assembling fast, testable systems that capture leads, convert customers, and scale with CRM-driven automations (GoHighLevel), A/B testing, and tight feedback loops.

Gina McDonald grew Massage Experience from a single spa into a thriving collective. She shares how she empowers other entrepreneurs, mentors providers in financial savvy, and builds a business rooted in growth, resilience & purpose.