From the Founder

We often talk about businesses embodying the American Dream, but not enough about the impact they have in their own communities. David Lewis Jr., Jarrette Atkins, and Fritz George are the Co-Founders of MacroBites, a meal prep service that has been hard at work to provide healthy food to their hometown in Neptune NJ. As people who have been released from the prison system, they have endured many challenges that most traditional entrepreneurs would not experience. Driven by an unstoppable will to give back in a big way, they are now providing healthy eating options to food deserts in over 35 different states.

Meet Joey Shamah, the co-founder of e.l.f Cosmetics. At 23, he was just a kid with a vision. But with the power of e-commerce and a bulldozer mentality, he built a budget cosmetic brand that would eventually evolve into a billion-dollar publicly-traded company. How'd he do it? Find out tonight on this episode of From the Founder.

Dan is a founding partner of FX Collaborative, the architectural firm that has designed buildings all over the world, most notably in New York City. If you've ever been to Times Square, Penn Station, Hudson Yards, or even The Bronx Zoo, you've been witness to Dan's work. Today, I sit down with Dan on the top floor of his latest masterpiece, 1 Willoughby Square. It's the tallest office building Brooklyn. Join me for a special conversation with the extraordinary architect, Dan Kaplan.

The Burger

In its simplest form, it is beef patty on a bun.

And that has not changed much over the last 150 years.

But the impact of that burger is more significant than one might think.

It is the meal that built America and historically championed by the proletariat.

Tonight, we sit down with Nissim Levy, founder of The Boutique Butcher, tucked away in a corner of South Brooklyn. A butcher by trade and a meat lover at heart, he has shaped his life around elevating the burger to unmatched quality.

The entrepreneurial spirit is the cornerstone of the American dream

A beacon to all willing to weave their story into the fabric of our history.

Fencing

Commonly referred to as physical chess, originated from the aristocratic art of sword fighting.

Now one of the oldest Olympic sports, it has come along way from its dueling roots.

I sit down with former Olympian Dan Kellner who found success in strategy over strength.

He continues this tradition today by passing on the torch to the next generation of Olympic fencers.

Times Square, the Mecca of billboards and selfie sticks. But before Broadway, you used to catch a very different kind of show here. What was once home to the grittier side of New York's nightlife, is now one of the most visited tourist destinations in the world. And while the neighborhood has changed a lot over the years, it has been the home to this family-run trattoria for over 5 decades. Mamma Mia, tucked off the corner of 44th, is a neighborhood staple providing home-cooked meals for Hell's Kitchen's community and New York celebrities alike.

The entrepreneurial spirit is the cornerstone of the American Dream. A beacon to all, willing to weave their story into the fabric of our history

Tonight we sit down with Connie and her family to celebrate the risks they took to serve their community, one bowl of pasta at a time.

The Donut, originally shared by the Dutch settlers who came to New York, has now become an American staple. Frosted, glazed, jelly, cider. This week we celebrate the entrepreneurial journey of Desdemona Dalia, a New Jersey native, who is committed to bringing back the time-honored traditions of this tasty treat. Broad Street Dough Co, first founded in 2014, has since become an acclaimed donut haven. Now with three locations and a team of over 40, we sit down with her to find out how she built and plans to expand this donut dynasty.

You’ve probably seen the recent viral video of a man eating outside during a blizzard. You might’ve even heard that his restaurant, Trattoria L’Incontro, was one of the first Barstool Fund recipients. But what’s the story behind Rocco Sacramone? How did a poor kid from a small town in Italy manage to build a high-quality Italian restaurant in Astoria, Queens open for 21 years and is frequented by celebrities and politicians from around the world?

How did a guy who got fired from his first camp counselor job end up creating his own summer camp, comprising of 850 campers and over 130 staff members for 17 years?