The Entrepreneurial Web

This episode will highlight the achievements of BATS-TOI CEO & founder, Mario Mercado. Mario's lifelong passion is the integration of sports & technology, and those industries came together for him when he developed an award-winning wrestling helmet that reduces head & facial trauma.

Mario serves as Deputy Commissioner of the NYS Athletic Commission, has been league production executive for the WSOF and is the wrestling coach to many notable MMA champions.

He is currently enrolled in the Columbia University Sports Management Graduate Program.

Tune in for this energetic conversation at TalkRadio.nyc or watch the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.



“Death is always knocking on the door of a start-up…”

Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Mario Mercado. Mario shares some words of wisdom when it comes to entrepreneurship. The two go back and forth on jiu jitsu and how the mentality required to persevere in martial arts is connected to the mindset of an entrepreneur. Mario gives some insight on the fear of success while Jeremiah gives his experiences during his martial arts training, both of them connecting them to resilience and “getting comfortable being uncomfortable”.

‍‍Mario tells the story on how he started up his business, BATS-TOI, first starting with how the name came about. He then goes into the story on how he first introduced his helmet technology to investors and gives a bit of insight on why he decided to patent the helmet in the first place. Mario also informs listeners about his dismal living situation and working conditions at the time.

Mario continues with his entrepreneurial journey, stopping to share an experience training a WWE wrestler. Jeremiah and Mario discuss the importance of mental fortitude when times get rough and why a strong morale is needed above everything else in completing your goals. 

Mario shares a few more stories that he’s heard in the fitness industry and the NY MMA/contact-sports world throughout the pandemic. Mario closes the show by plugging his website, social media and contact information for listeners.

Reconnecting with some earlier guests that represent the epitome of entrepreneurship and are also authorities in the housing market.

Sam Himmelstein was one of the very first guests on the show. He a founding partner of Himmelstein, McConnell, Gribben, Donoghue & Joseph LLP and has made a career of supporting tenants rights. The current situation in NYC is right up his alley.

Damon Johnson, President of DJ Realty Solutions, was one of my first guests once quarantine set in and we had to go fully remote. He's a veteran of the Detroit real estate market & Senior Home Ownership Executive at M-1 Realty, and he's going to discuss the "wild" (his words!) housing market.

Tune in for this energetic conversation or watch the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.

“Over 67,000 available houses and apartments for rent in New York…”

Jeremiah introduces the first guest of the show, Damon Johnson. Damon informs Jeremiah about the state of the economy in Detroit, Jeremiah doing the same for Brooklyn. The two go back and forth on realty and the slow reopening in their respective cities.

The two continue to talk about the state of realty, especially focusing on New York with lowered prices in the face of the pandemic. Damon talks about external factors that affect the real estate industry and how the pandemic shifts those dynamics. Damon drops his social media and contact information for listeners to end the segment.

Jeremiah introduces the second guest of the show, Sam Himmelstein. Himmelstein informs listeners about how the pandemic shifted the real estate industry in New York City, sharing his worries of a possible eviction crisis. 

They continue to talk about the realty situation and the effects of the pandemic. Sam talks about his position as a lawyer defending down-on-their-luck tenants and the illogical systems that New York realty is currently built under. He talks about a few situations he knows where tenants are treated more fairly through systems that are flexible during the pandemic. He drops his contact information for listeners to end the show.

Join employment lawyer Eric Sarver & I for a discussion on how business owners can resolve their employment law challenges and other issues arising during COVID-19, along with observations about which approach can improve an employer's chance of successfully resolving employer/employee legal disputes.

It's a fast-paced environment these days with regular changes. The more you know, the better off you'll be!

Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Eric Sarver! Eric divulged a bit of his background, going through his journey living across the country and when he formed his first interests in law. Eric also outlines his career from graduating law school to starting his own law firm, talking about what it’s like to be the head of a business.

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Eric describes all of the local (for New York City) and federal government branches and policies involved in the operations of small businesses. He also talks about employee safety during the pandemic and the responsibilities of business owners.

Eric explains the legal liberties that business owners have when dealing with sick customers and employees. He also goes into the functions of his firm and what they have available for employers during the pandemic.

Eric shares details about his upcoming show on TalkRadioNYC, which will be focusing on informing employers, special service providers, entrepreneurs, etc., on their power legally, as well as laws, policies, and financial advising. The show will also provide resources for listeners through his guests. The show will air on Tuesdays from 5PM - 6PM EST starting in September.

If you've been stuck in a rut lately, it's time to Breakthru....

Lance Knaub, founder of Denali Consulting & Breakthru PT & Fitness is ready to help you make it happen.

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Watch the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.

“As entrepreneurs, we’re leaders…”

Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Lance Knaub. He gives a bit of his educational and entrepreneurial background as well as his work in physical therapy. He also goes a bit into his own health issues and his passion for nutrition and health, the two discussing recognizing warning signs and the importance of sleep.

Lance gets into Breakthru PT & Fitness and the expansion of his business, talking about the current state of his newer locations, his plans with the amount of space he’s recently acquired, and how he projects his business will expand by the end of the year. 

Lance talks a bit about his book, giving out his motivations and methods for doing so. They talk about the longevity of small, independent businesses, honing in especially on those in New York City. They go back and forth about hiring help, preparing yourself financially for expanding your staff, and knowing your strengths as an entrepreneur.

Lance talks about founding Denali Consulting. Jeremiah talks about how he found himself coaching entrepreneurs, entertaining the idea of writing a book in the future. Lance closes the show by dropping his contact information for listeners.

Brazilian Jiu Jitsu World Champion, Matheus Lutes, just earned his black belt from Marcelo Garcia in December of 2019. With a number of titles under his belt, and a new family, Matheus made the move to open his own academy in Long Island.

Then one of the toughest opponents of his career surfaced.....COVID-19. In what may be the longest match of his life, Matheus managed to get wrangle open the doors of Royal Jiu Jitsu Academy in Mineola, NY - just as the state began to once again allow the operation of such institutions - albeit modified.

Myself, an avid jiu jitsu practitioner, it's an honor to have such an accomplished guest as Professor Lutes on the show. OSS!

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Watch the Facebook Livestream by clicking here.

Jeremiah introduces the first guest of the show, Matheus Lutes. Matheus talks about her early life, living in Portugal and Brazil before coming to the United States. He also talks about his black belt training, running his own jiu jitsu classes, what draws people to learning martial arts, and what it takes in order to run a business.

Matheus opens up about opening a brand new martial arts academy in the midst of the pandemic. He gives his projections on what will happen to the fitness industry at the end of quarantine, Jeremiah drawing parallels towards the restaurant industry. Matheus urges for attention to be brought to the fitness industry in these times. He gives advice for blossoming entrepreneurs.

Jeremiah introduces the second guest of the show, Alicia Lutes. She talks growing up in NY and meeting Matheus. She talks about reaching out to the community and her focus in the dojo, emphasizing the importance of self-defense for children and women especially. Alicia talks about plans for reopening and what will have to be done to accommodate for children, her and Jeremiah trading thoughts on how re-openings will be done in schools.

Alicia and Jeremiah discuss the impact that the pandemic has had on people’s mental health, Alicia recommending counseling and therapy. Alicia also suggests being physically active to improve your mental health, connecting that with the stay-at-home orders and gym closures and the concurrent rise in stress and depression. She gives Jeremiah her ideas on reopening and what she has to say to Governor Cuomo.

Born into an entrepreneurial family, Ryan Clearwater experienced first hand what that life requires - helping his parents run their business as a kid. Later, he would go on to cultivate leadership skills during his time as an Army officer & public servant.

Currently, he is the president & founder of Fidelity Strategies, a company geared to foster deeper connections between people in a rapidly changing environment.

“Lions don't bother themselves with the opinions of sheep.”

Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Ryan Clearwater. He relates his experience growing up in an entrepreneurial family and how those values he’s gained translate into his business philosophies. Ryan talks about adapting during the pandemic.

The two go back and forth about running multiple businesses at once, why the community connection is necessary, and the drives beyond entrepreneurship. Ryan delves a bit into his military background, connecting it to his entrepreneurial lifestyle today.

Ryan continued his stories from his military days and further connects it to his business philosophies. They talk about the attitudes of entrepreneurs and how certain influences are important, the two also talking about the benefits of physical training.

Ryan and Jeremiah connect with each other over their jiu jitsu training, both of them sharing stories from when they both just got started. To close the show, Ryan gives his advice and encouragement for entrepreneurs.

Matthew Parrella is a broker for real estate cloud brokerage, eXp Realty. About two years ago they made the bold decision to let go of their conveniently-located Midtown office space, choosing to take it to the streets and reinvest in company growth.

Were they ahead of their time with such a move?

Matthew and I have had many conversations about this and other residential & commercial real estate topics over the years on the quiet streets of our picturesque Brooklyn neighborhood, Windsor Terrace. It's a pleasure to welcome him to the show!

“If you got your head in the game things don’t always go the way you thought they would but often show up the way you expected.”

Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Matthew Parrella. Matthew explains the unique situation of eXp Realty and what differs them from other real estate firms. He explains how the company prioritizes its agents and how they operate in NYC without any offices. The two talk go back and forth about the nature of NY realty in certain neighborhoods

Matthew explains how their cloud office works and different deals and partnerships they have with other companies and local governments. He also talks about the local and international spread of the company and how they give their agents and clients flexibility, establishing offices for themselves all over New York. The two also talk about how the pandemic affected the real estate industry.

The two talk about the state of the realtor industry and project how these will turn out on the other side of quarantine, how the situation has exposed a lot of inefficiently and faults in the current system. Matthew talks about what he’s been hearing about the industry in New York state and how it’s been progressing with the reopening as well as divulging canceled parties and conventions.

Matthew projects on how his business model will fare in the future. Jeremiah talks about how absurd NY realty has gotten, even for brick and mortar businesses. Matthew drops his contact information and company website for listeners.

Yes - it's great when you can combine your work with your passion - and the whole experience is a huge source of inspiration for you and your life, but what if that's not necessarily the case for you?

Where can that inspiration come from?

This week we'll hear from a couple successful entrepreneurs that derive enormous mental strength from physical activity: Nick Lozano and the positive effects of Brazilian jiu jitsu, and Thane Taylor with his side project, Everyday Workout Man.

“The training is seventy percent mental, twenty-five percent physical.”

Jeremiah introduces the first guest of the show, Nick Lozano. Nick gives his business background from working as a professional chef for eight years to his current podcasting venture. He also talks about how he got into the podcast industry. The conversation then steers towards Gary Vaynderchuck, Jeremiah sharing his story on how Gary inspired him to first start the Entrepreneurial Web. Nick gives his experience with LinkedIn.

Nick delves into his history with martial arts, his passion getting kickstarted by Bruce Lee films. He tells his reasons for falling in love with jiu jitsu, Jeremiah and him going back and forth about why they love it the way they do. Nick connects martial arts philosophies and attitudes to being an entrepreneur during the pandemic. Nick drops contact information and plugs his podcast Lead.exe for listeners.

Jeremiah introduces the second guest of the show, Thane Taylor. Thane gives his business and education background and discusses his current entrepreneurial venture as well as how they’ve adapted to the pandemic.

Thane Taylor talks about his side project Everyday Workout Man which he started back in late 2016. He talks about what gravitated him towards it. Taylor talks about how to keep with the program and how its ideologies will seep into other aspects of your life. As the show closes, Taylor drops his websites and social media for listeners.

Dr. Saqib Habib - whose experience focuses on Sports Specifics clinics working with professional athletes, military personnel & geriatrics - was driven to become a Doctor of Physical Therapy after working with a few patients with missing or prosthetic limbs.

And he's no stranger to operating under tremendous pressure. As a Muslim, he annually trains through Ramadan, with all the constraints that come with a month of physical exertion while fasting during daylight and disjunctive sleeping patterns.

Dr. Saqib believes that everyone can benefit from athletic approaches when coached properly; the road to recovery is not just a quick fix, it is a lifestyle commitment and you must embrace the journey through the good and bad to find your true potential

“The road to recovery is not just a quick fix…”

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Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Dr. Saqib Habib. Habib talks about his education and his interest in fitness and physical therapy. He outlines his fitness journey that began with a soccer injury in high school and how he began working as a trainer. Habib explains how his passion for fitness led him to eventually study corrective therapy and his current career.

Habib thinks back on the recovery process after tearing his ACL and choosing not to have surgery. The conversation then shifts to the sometimes necessity of surgery and Habib’s work with high school athletes. Habib talks about the many facets that contribute to health and wellness and how he applies his knowledge to fitness. He also talks about the importance of mental training.

Habib talks about his experience fasting during Ramadan and maintaining his exercise routines while not endangering his health. He then talks about the impact of the pandemic on this process. He goes in-depth with the elements of his training and things he’s learned in the journey.

Jeremiah talks about advice given by a jiu jitsu instructor on Joe Rogan’s podcast and connects it to Habib’s training ideologies. Habib talks about how thinking smart is the most important element of training and how adaptation is important, especially during times such as these. Habib talks about his philosophy when it comes to his physical therapy work. To close the show, Habib drops his contact information and social media for listeners. 

Quarantine has put many things on hold, and folks in the fitness industry, in particular, have had to scramble to keep their clients engaged.

But some are still in the fight, including Rahul Bhowmick. He's a personal trainer and striking instructor at Bronx Martial Arts Academy, and his adaptable & creative use of social media during the lockdown has earned him center ring attention.

Specifically, his innovative use of TikTok, the most downloaded app of 2019 - which has aged up significantly during COVID - has expanded his following into the tens of thousands.

Listen in Friday at noon to hear how Rahul kicked things into gear!

Segment 1

“It is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.”

Jeremiah introduces the guest of the show, Rahul Bhowmick. Rahul gives his backstory from receiving a doctorate in Pharmaceuticals to how he became a martial arts instructor. He talks about growing up in New York in the 90’s and how that led to him learning martial arts. Rahul outlines his journey training and teaching martial arts and nutrition and how he approaches instruction. He also explains the impact of his scientific background on his work.

Segment 2

Jeremiah inquiries about Rahul’s activity on the app TikTok. Rahul talks about his ideology when it comes to mixed martial arts and how he wished to create a name for himself through social media.  Through influence from Gary Vaynderchuck,  Rahul decided to make the jump from Instagram to TikTok despite some initial reluctance. He then talks about how he was able to create his first successful video and amass the following he has today.

Segment 3

Rahul talks about the Venom app and becoming a brand ambassador. Jeremiah chimes in with his experiences with TikTok and how he found Rahul. Rahul talks about how the pandemic had impacted his business and how he’s been handling everything in a digital setting.

Segment 4

Rahul and Jeremiah talk about resilience both in a business sense and a physical sense. They relate how training relates to everything we do and why Rahul connects those philosophies in his regular life.