Between 2 Bridges - Audio

Episode 119 features Matt Mancini, founder of Field of Dreams Collectibles, who turned a childhood love of trading cards into a real-world storefront and thriving community hub. Matt breaks down the modern collectibles economy, from $1 bins to four-figure pulls, live-stream auctions, grading wars, and kids negotiating like seasoned entrepreneurs. The conversation goes deep on how card culture has shifted from pure collecting to calculated investing, how platforms like Whatnot and eBay reshaped buying habits, and why running a card shop today feels a lot like owning a casino for sports fans. Plus, the guys crack open packs live on air, chasing hits in real time and reliving that childhood rush together. Along the way, they swap bowling league stories, talk community-building, and explore how Matt’s shop has become a safe hangout for kids learning business fundamentals one pack at a time. It’s nostalgia, entrepreneurship, and modern hustle all wrapped into one episode.

In Episode 118, the boys sit down with Jarrad and Cassie Pencek, owners of Burn Boot Camp Fox Chapel and Butler, to talk about what it really takes to build a fitness business from the ground up. From starting their own personal fitness journeys, to opening their first location in Butler and expanding into Fox Chapel, the Penceks share how community, consistency, and smart systems power their growth. They break down what makes Burn different from traditional gyms, why group training with personal coaching works, and how franchising helped them scale faster. The conversation gets heavy discussing partnership in both business and life, navigating staffing challenges, handling personal loss while leading a team, and the realities of retention in the fitness industry. It’s another classic Between 2 Bridges look at entrepreneurship, wellness, and building something meaningful.

Snow days feel harmless until you’re the one running payroll. In this episode of Between 2 Bridges, amidst a historic winter storm, we’re measuring how much snow really costs small businesses. Lost revenue. Employees clocked in with no customers. Rising utility bills. And no clear path to relief. We talk about how prolonged snow and subzero temperatures ripple through restaurants, retail, service businesses, and startups. Why being open can actually be worse than being closed. How disaster relief programs exist but rarely reach businesses in time. And what happens when city infrastructure, budgeting decisions, and weather collide. This isn’t complaining about the cold. It’s an honest conversation about survival, risk, and the reality small business owners face when everything stops but the bills don’t. If you’ve ever owned a business, supported one, or wondered why snow days hit harder than people think, this episode doesn’t leave you out in the cold.

January has a way of telling the truth. In this episode, Joe and Jerry dig into why so many people feel broke even when the economy looks “fine” on paper. From maxed-out credit cards and tightening consumer spending to a housing market that feels stuck and businesses navigating slow seasons, this is a real conversation about what’s actually happening beneath the surface. They talk loyalty versus discounts, why slow months are when business owners have to lean in harder, and how discipline, relationships, and adaptability matter more than ever when margins get tight.

Change is uncomfortable, especially when stability has worked for a long time. In this episode, the guys unpack the end of the Mike Tomlin era in Pittsburgh and what nearly two decades of consistency really delivered. Always competitive, rarely collapsing, but increasingly stuck in the middle. That same question carries over to Jerry’s world, as he opens up about a major shift in his business after 19 tax seasons and the toll that doing everything himself quietly took on his company, his family, and his sanity. From the Steelers’ definition of “the standard” to the difference between loyalty and growth, this conversation explores when playing it safe stops serving you. It’s about recognizing burnout, redefining success, and understanding that sometimes progress requires letting go of what once worked. Whether you run a business, manage people, or feel stuck in something that looks stable from the outside, this episode is a reminder that standing still can be the riskiest move of all.

Bad advice spreads faster than ever, and the consequences are real. In this episode, the guys talk through why viral takes on money, taxes, and world events can be wildly misleading, and why trusting anonymous internet experts usually ends badly. From the collapse of legacy media and the rise of paywalls, to TikTok tax “hacks,” broken customer service systems, and the frustration of running real businesses in a digital world, this conversation is a reminder that clicks don’t equal credibility. A wide ranging, honest look at what happens when narratives travel faster than facts.

Inflation isn’t a headline. It’s a daily reality. From rising software fees and utilities to fuel costs and junk charges that quietly stack up, small business owners are feeling the squeeze from every direction. In Episode 113, the guys unpack what it actually looks like when costs never go down, why raising prices is so uncomfortable, and how business owners are forced to adapt just to stay afloat. Along the way, they connect the dots between fake money in digital worlds and very real decisions in the real one, all while reflecting on social media, personal branding, and heading into 2026 with eyes wide open.

This episode is a look back at the guests who joined us over the past year and the moments that stuck with us most. Different industries, different paths, but a lot of the same lessons kept showing up. Ownership, risk, discipline, perspective, and what it really takes to stay in the game. Instead of one long conversation, this is a collection of voices from people who are actually doing the work, sharing what they’ve learned the hard way. If you are new to the show, this is a good place to start. If you’ve been here all year, it is a reminder of why these conversations matter.

Convenience is no longer a nice-to-have. It’s the system customers expect, and the moment it breaks, confidence breaks with it. In this episode, Joe and Jerry talk through how companies like Amazon and DoorDash have quietly reset effort, patience, and expectations, and what that means for small businesses trying to compete without racing to the bottom on price. From dry cleaning routes to tax prep, buying books of business to saying no to the wrong work, this conversation is about building systems that make life easier and confidence that makes customers stay. Because trust isn’t claimed. It’s earned through consistency, clarity, and how well you show up when it matters. #ConvenienceEconomy #ConfidenceInBusiness #ConvenienceVsPrice #SetTheStandard

Everyone wants growth. Nobody talks about survival. In Episode 110, Joe and Jerry strip away the hustle buzzwords and get real about boundaries, the kind that keep your business, your team, and your sanity intact. From customers who expect the moon for the price of a paperclip, to the hard truth about firing clients, rewriting engagement letters, and protecting your people, this episode is a reminder that saying yes to everything is the fastest way to burn out. They break down why your “best” customers can quietly become your biggest liability, how systems exist to stop constant firefighting, and why consistency matters more than heroics. But they also talk about the other side of the coin: how standing your ground, even in a tense moment, can earn respect and turn a bad interaction into one of your most loyal, long-term customers. Along the way are stories every business owner will recognize: entitlement, unrealistic deadlines, corporate nonsense, and yes, even an unexpected mouse making a cameo to prove that chaos always shows up when your guard is down. If you don’t set boundaries, someone else will. And they won’t do it in your favor.

In this episode, the guys discuss the only marketing move that won’t drain your bank account before the holidays, consistent social content. From why your best videos flop and your worst ones pop, to understanding platforms, algorithms, and the psychology of impulse, and into what actually grows a business in 2025. Scaling smart, supporting your friends’ content, and why most small businesses are leaving opportunity on the table. If you’re still debating whether social media matters, this one settles it.

Household debt is surging, car loans keep stretching longer, and even simple repairs now require fighting with insurance companies. In this episode, Joe and Jerry dig into the financial pressures building on everyday families and why so many people are silently slipping into deeper debt. Through real stories and real numbers, they lay out how policies, corporations, and consumer habits all collide to create today’s financial chokehold.

Opening a new location exposes everything you thought you had figured out. In this episode, Joe and Jerry break down the not-so-glamorous side of scaling and why real growth starts with tightening your systems, sharpening your habits, and paying attention to the details you’ve been letting slide. From quality control and customer experience to training, accountability, and the daily discipline that keeps a business running smoothly, the guys talk through the wake-up calls that come with expansion and the mindset shifts every owner has to make before taking the next big step.

The spotlight is on the 50 year mortgage and the business incentives driving it. The guys walk through how lenders offload loans, why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac matter, and how extended terms could open the door for new buyers while shifting the housing market. A focused and informative breakdown.

The ballots are counted and the headlines have moved on, but the real work is just beginning. Joe and Jerry take a grounded look at what actually matters, from local elections to personal accountability. They talk about small business lessons, social media momentum, and the trap of worrying about the world before fixing your own street. It’s a no-nonsense conversation about responsibility, consistency, and staying focused on what you can control.

After five incredible guest episodes, the Bridge takes a pause to reflect. From recovering lost balance to refining business systems, Joe and Jerry revisit the last five episodes and talk about what stuck: the mindset shifts, wake-up calls, and quiet reminders that keep entrepreneurs grounded when the pace picks up.

Pittsburgh’s wellness scene just leveled up. Dan Scherling of Degree Wellness sits down with Joe and Jerry to talk about bringing science-backed recovery to Fox Chapel. They dive into cold plunges, cryotherapy, and how wellness culture is changing the way we live, work, and feel, one degree at a time.

Nick Paradise has spent his career mastering communication, from live local news to leading public relations for one of Pittsburgh’s largest utilities. Now he’s using those skills to strengthen his hometown. In this episode, Nick talks about crisis management, community trust, and how clear messaging can shape leadership, schools, and the next generation of engaged citizens.

This one starts with gutters and ends with a getaway. When broker Rita Sumney tried fixing her childhood home, she wound up chasing a scammer who ran off with her money. From reviews to police reports and TV news crews, Rita’s story proves that sometimes you’ve got to fight back to set things right.

A hundred episodes later, the conversation comes full circle. Original guests Greg Saxon, Brian Marra, and Hugh Rumbaugh return to talk about family, leadership, and the lessons only time can teach. A celebration of 100 episodes, this one’s less about looking back and more about looking forward.