Momentum

Victor M. Braca

The Momentum Podcast brings you into conversations with the standout achievers of the business world–from groundbreaking entrepreneurs to nonprofit founders.

Hosted by Victor M. Braca, Momentum uncovers the success secrets and personal journeys to inspire and empower the next generation.

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Avg 1 hr 21 min
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S2 · E30
Yesterday · 1 hr 11 min
Inside Kirkland & Ellis With One of Wall Street’s Top Lawyers | Joshua A. Sussberg, Partner at Kirkland & Ellis
Joshua A. Sussberg is a partner at Kirkland & Ellis and a member of the firm’s Executive Committee, where he has helped lead some of the biggest corporate restructurings of the past two decades, including Toys R Us, Claire’s, and JCPenney. In this episode, Josh breaks down his rise at Kirkland, what it takes to save a company on the brink, the lessons he learned from cases like Toys R Us and JCPenney, and how he came back from cancer to keep doing the work he loves. Enjoy! __________ Check out Josh Feltman on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. YazdiEntertainment@gmail.com or (646) 765-5643 Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Michelle Baum Photography: Your Go-To Photographer for Events, Family, Corporate, and more. MichelleBaumPhoto@icloud.com ConnecTen: Never Go Offline Again. Visit connecteninternet.com/discount/MOMENTUM35 for $35 off. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube Spotify Apple Podcasts Instagram __________ GEAR: • Cameras: https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o • Podcast Mics: https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv • Clip-on Mics: https://amzn.to/3H52iwo • Mic Stands: https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL • Lights: https://amzn.to/45lA5up • Tripods: https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI __________ (00:00) Coming up… (02:13) Piercing His Ear in Court After Saving Claire’s and 11,000 Jobs (04:47) What a Restructuring Lawyer Actually Does (06:50) Being Named the “Busiest Lawyer in America” (08:02) Growing Up, Wanting to Be on SportsCenter, and Pivoting to Law (10:02) Choosing Restructuring Almost by Accident (13:03) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (14:04) Cardozo Law School and How a Communications Background Shaped His Career (16:29) Starting at Weil and Working on Enron and Parmalat (19:16) Leaving Weil to Help Build Kirkland’s Restructuring Practice (21:51) Ad: Real Property Captive (22:37) Kirkland’s Culture and Why You’re Only as Good as the People Around You (24:00) Why Josh Doesn’t Believe in “Hero Ball” (26:22) Joining Kirkland Right Before the Financial Crisis (28:10) How to Stand Out Among 4,000 Lawyers at Kirkland (30:20) Working Hard Without Sacrificing Your Health (32:10) Making Partner and Doubling Down (34:03) Singing the Toys R Us Jingle (38:03) Ad: Michelle Baum Photography (38:56) How Josh Wins Billion-Dollar Restructuring Clients (40:34) Humanizing Bankrupt Companies in the Courtroom (42:30) Bringing “Calm to the Chaos” and Getting Everyone to a Deal (44:24) Learning Crypto on the Fly for BlockFi and Voyager (45:54) Restructuring JCPenney in the Middle of COVID (49:50) Luck, Judgment, and Putting Yourself in Position to Win (52:16) What Josh Looks for When Hiring Young Lawyers at Kirkland (53:47) Ad: ConnecTen (54:43) Finding Fulfillment and Debunking Work-Life Balance (58:13) Giving Back Through Cardozo, UJA, Wharton, and Blood Cancer United (1:00:28) Battling Cancer with a Massive Tumor in His Chest (1:03:36) How Cancer Changed His Perspective on Life (1:05:12) Josh’s Momentum Moment: Realizing He Could Lead Cases at Kirkland (1:08:00) Josh’s Advice for Aspiring Lawyers (1:09:11) Outro / My Top 3 Takeaways
S2 · E29
August 23 · 1 hr 44 min
He Spent 15 Years Leading Deutsche Bank. Now He’s a Coinbase Exec | Joseph Salama, Chief Compliance Officer at Coinbase
Joseph Salama is the Chief Compliance Officer at Coinbase, the largest publicly traded crypto exchange in the world. In this episode, Joe opens up about getting blackballed right before becoming a BigLaw partner, spending 15 years leading Deutsche Bank's litigation, and steering compliance through Coinbase's most volatile moments. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Josh Feltman on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠YazdiEntertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit ⁠RealPropertyCaptive.com Michelle Baum Photography: Your Go-To Photographer for Events, Family, Corporate, and more. MichelleBaumPhoto@icloud.com ConnecTen: Never Go Offline Again. Visit ConnecTenInternet.com/discount/MOMENTUM35 for $35 off. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up… (02:03) Growing Up in Brooklyn and Wanting to Be a Lawyer (04:08) Studying Chemical Engineering at Columbia (05:38) Choosing Law, and Why the Engineering Mindset Still Sticks With Him (08:29) The Bizarre Coincidence of the Other Joe Salama (09:56) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (10:56) Landing at Cravath and the Story of Its First Jewish Partner (14:07) Clerking for a Federal Judge Before Big Law (15:44) Starting at Cravath and Running Cases as a Second-Year Associate (20:05) Ad: Real Property Captive (21:32) Blackballed From Partner in His 7th Year (33:11) Leaving Big Law Completely (39:30) Joining Deutsche Bank's Litigation Group (43:48) Climbing to Global Head of Litigation and U.S. General Counsel (45:39) Fighting Financial Crime in the US and Germany (49:31) Managing 150 Lawyers at Deutsche Bank's Peak (49:43) Ad: Michelle Baum Photography (50:36) Learning to Lead by Example (54:43) Why Joe Stepped Up and Switched His Role at Deutsche Bank (57:55) The Napkin Story and "Ownership Mentality" (1:05:16) Finding His Next Role at Coinbase (1:11:57) Leadership Lessons From CEO Brian Armstrong (1:14:50) Ad: ConnecTen (1:15:53) Joe's Advice for Breaking Into Coinbase's Legal Team (1:18:08) The Lifestyle Shift From Deutsche Bank to Coinbase (1:20:39) Building Minyan, the Gym, and Balance Into the Calendar (1:22:00) Why Balance Is an Ingredient of Success, Not a Trade-Off (1:24:39) On Feeling Pressure to Have Life Figured Out Too Young (1:29:19) The Funny Way Life Never Follows a Straight Line (1:31:04) Giving Back and Joe's Father's Immigrant Story (1:35:05) Joe's Momentum Moment: The Weekend Deutsche Bank's Survival Was in Question (1:41:55) Outro / My Top 3 Takeaways
S2 · E28
August 16 · 1 hr 31 min
Ikey Franco on Buying Into the Yankees, Selling His Company, & Creating the DUNKMAN Logo | Founder & CEO at Infinity Global
Ike S. Franco is the Founder & CEO of Infinity Global, with businesses spanning real estate, beverage, and sports, including a stake in the Yankees and global sports branding. In this episode, Ike opens up about growing up without a father, the handshake-first business culture that shaped him, and how he built an empire across real estate, beverage, and sports while never losing sight of where he came from. Enjoy! __________ SPONSORS: Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit ⁠RealPropertyCaptive.com Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠YazdiEntertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 Michelle Baum Photography: Your Go-To Photographer for Events, Family, Corporate, and more. MichelleBaumPhoto@icloud.com ConnecTen: Never Go Offline Again. Visit ConnectenInternet.com/discount/MOMENTUM35 or $35 off. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (0:00) Coming up.. (1:13) A High-Level Overview of Ike’s Empire (3:50) Growing Up Without a Father (8:31) Ad: Real Property Captive (9:18) How Losing His Father Shaped Him as a Teenager (12:49) His Approach to Character in Business (12:57) Getting Into the Yankees & Staying Observant in Sports (15:25) Selling $20M Worth of Children’s Clothing at 21 (18:07) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (19:06) Learning How to Sell and Negotiate Young (21:56) Why He Believes Luck Comes From Hashem (24:34) The Big Break: A Warehouse Full of Baby Gap Product in Hong Kong (28:54) A Chance Encounter With a Chase Banker That Changed Everything (32:36) Scaling From a Family Business to Corporate America (34:29) The Target Check That Landed a $40M Program (41:13) His First Licenses: Snoopy and Japanese Layette (44:02) Ad: Michelle Baum Photography (44:55) Understanding Licensing and Who Holds the Leverage (48:12) Buying and Building Brands: Starter, the Dunkman, and Shaq (51:22) Selling Half His Business and the Moment It Hit Him (57:14) The Strange Story of Buying Into the Yankees (59:41) The NFL Bid That Fell Through and Expanding Into Hospitality (1:02:03) Meeting Prince Albert, Derek Jeter, & Alex Rodriguez (1:06:52) Bringing the Yankees and Red Sox to London (1:08:48) Ad: connection (1:09:44) Developing Relationships With Shaquille O’Neal and Kylian Mbappé (1:11:46) Becoming CEO of the Yankees’ Global Branding Business (1:14:41) Building the Pennsylvania Bottling Business (1:16:41) Getting Into Real Estate (1:21:03) Where He Sees the Biggest Opportunity Right Now (1:22:36) Building a Synagogue on Lawrence Avenue in Deal, NJ (1:28:06) Outro and 3 Key Takeaways
S2 · E27
August 9 · 1 hr 24 min
How Eli Gindi Built the Largest Retail Empire in Las Vegas | Founding Partner at Gindi Capital
Eli Gindi is one of the most prominent real estate investors in New York City, Las Vegas, and Miami, controlling the largest single retail property in Las Vegas: over 2,000 consecutive feet of prime real estate spanning 8 city blocks. In this episode, Eli opens up about growing up undiagnosed and unable to read, losing his father at 22, losing a stock market fortune overnight, and the deals that built his empire: from the Versace Mansion to Grand Army Plaza. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Joey Jerome on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Yazdi Entertainment: New York’s Premiere Event Production Company. YazdiEntertainment@gmail.com or (646) 765-5643 __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up… (02:04) The Making of Eli Gindi (07:11) The Influence of Eli’s Father (09:59) How His Father’s Name Saved Him $14 Million (12:38) Ad: Real Property Captive (13:25) The Importance of a Good Name (14:20) Eli’s Thoughts on Cash Advance (18:03) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (19:03) Losing His Father at a Young Age and His Bond With His Siblings (22:40) What Sets You Apart in the Wholesale Industry? (27:15) Getting Into Real Estate (29:15) Buying the Versace Mansion (32:41) Learning the Real Estate Business (33:50) Losing $30M in the Stock Market (36:06) How to Create Value in Real Estate (38:32) Gramercy Park: When the Bank Almost Backed Out (43:08) Securing the Las Vegas Deal: “I’m Not Leaving Until We Buy It” (48:18) Partners, Not Investors (50:13) Betting $4 Million on a Golf Match (53:34) “Landlord” Means Lord of the Land (54:36) The Target Signage Mistake (57:25) What Eli Looks for in a Partner (1:00:50) A Unique Deal Structure: Eli Only Makes Money When His Investors Do (1:06:27) Eli’s Thoughts on Luck vs. Hard Work (1:08:38) The COVID Construction Loan (1:11:11) Why Failure Makes You Better (1:15:34) Bringing His Sons Into the Business (1:16:52) “At the End of the Day, Everyone’s Human” (1:19:28) The #1 Mistake Young People Make (1:20:26) Momentum Moment (1:22:20) Outro and 3 Key Takeaways
S2 · E26
August 2 · 1 hr 40 min
A Big Law Partner’s Brutally Honest Career Advice | Chaim Theil, Partner at Sidley Austin
Chaim Theil is a partner at Sidley Austin, one of the largest law firms in America, where he's led billion-dollar M&A and restructuring deals for some of the world's biggest investors, including Carl Icahn. In this episode, Chaim opens up about why he doesn't believe in work-life balance, the "humble yourself" philosophy that's guided his career from Brooklyn to the top of big law, and why no amount of money (not even a billion dollars!) will ever be enough to make him happy. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Eddie Rishty on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming Up… (01:48) The Peter Thiel Mix-Up (02:45) What It Means to Practice Restructuring & Distressed M&A (05:59) Flatbush, YU, NYU Law & Columbia Business School (07:01) Wanting to Be Rich & Learning How You Get There Matters (09:33) Choosing Finance, Then Law School (11:33) Ad: Real Property Captive (12:14) His Mother Wanted Him to Be a Doctor (14:33) Making Decisions in Three-Year Increments (16:37) Building a Music Startup at YU (18:57) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (20:00) Realizing He Was Leading Like a Marine (22:06) Building an Army: What Makes a Leader (24:08) Spotting Leadership in Interviews & Imposter Syndrome (29:00) The Ego Behind Not Delegating (35:00) Learning How to Actually Delegate (39:01) Grinding Through the LSAT (43:16) "Nobody Wants Smart People, People Want Grinders" (44:00) Leaving Big Law for Business School (47:02) Lawyer, Banker, or Business Person? (50:27) Choosing Paul Weiss & His Negotiating Philosophy (52:53) Why He Made the Move to Sidley (53:47) Getting Tested as a Lateral Partner (56:08) The Blackstone Deal That Made His Mark (59:47) Representing Companies Opposite Carl Icahn (1:01:17) What He's Learned From Successful Clients (1:04:15) Billionaires, Watches & Staying Under the Radar (1:07:38) The Math on How Much Money Is Enough (1:13:17) Why You Won't Find Meaning in Your Job (1:15:18) Redefining Work-Life Balance as Life Balance (1:18:31) On Being an Ethical Lawyer (1:25:27) The Transformational Power of Shabbat (1:31:26) Chaim's Momentum Moment (1:33:32) Giving Back: Chazan, Choir & Quiet Philanthropy (1:36:36) Outro & My Top 3 Takeaways
S2 · E25
July 26 · 1 hr 5 min
The 9-Figure Broker | Bob Knakal, Chairman & CEO at BKREA
Bob Knakal is one of New York City's most legendary real estate brokers, having closed over 2,400 building sales worth $24 billion, and sold his own company, Massey Knakal, for $100 million. In this episode, Bob opens up about nearly going bankrupt three times during the savings and loan crisis, the bizarre way he found out he'd been fired from Cushman & Wakefield (via a press article), and how a COVID lockdown led him to walk every block of Manhattan to build his now-famous "map room." Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Avi Akiva on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit ⁠RealPropertyCaptive.com Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming Up… (01:40) Bob Knakal's Record-Breaking Career (04:23) From Wharton Baseball to Real Estate by Accident (06:49) Partnering with Paul Massey After Just Two Days (09:41) Starting Massey Knakal & Almost Going Bankrupt (12:01) Ad: Real Property Captive (13:06) The Daytimer, the $4,400 Security Deposit & Leaving CBRE (18:41) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (19:41) Building a Brokerage Around Extreme Specialization (24:32) Surviving the Savings & Loan Crisis (28:33) How Massey Knakal Became New York's Most Dominant Brokerage (29:29) Bob's Hiring Philosophy & Building Company Culture (36:36) The $179 Million Deal That Started With 2 Years of Cold Calls (41:31) Turning Down a $50 Million Acquisition Offer (43:08) Selling the Company for $100 Million (45:29) Cushman, JLL & Getting Fired Through the Press (52:53) Starting Over & Building BKREA (54:55) Mentorship, Leadership & Creating 34 Industry Leaders (58:12) Family, Legacy & Philanthropy (1:00:34) Bob's Momentum Moment (1:03:22) Outro & My Top 3 Takeaways
S2 · E24
July 19 · 1 hr 39 min
Every Wall Street CEO Wanted Him On Their Team | Sol Gindi, Head of Wells Fargo Advisors
Sol Gindi is the Head of Wells Fargo Advisors, leading more than 20,000 employees and 12,000 financial advisors across the country. In this episode, Sol shares the lessons that shaped his career, from working alongside Edmond Safra and navigating the 2008 financial crisis to leading at JPMorgan and Wells Fargo, with insights on leadership, relationships, and building a meaningful career. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Eddie Rishty on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Kosher Media: The #1 advertising network across Jewish communities worldwide. Visit KosherMedia.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠
S2 · E23
July 12 · 1 hr 21 min
He Lost Both Parents at 18. Here's How He Rebuilt His Life | Chaby Orfali, Co-Founder & CEO at Merkury Innovations
Chaby Orfali is the founder of Merkury Innovations, a consumer electronics company that has spent more than 20 years supplying products to some of the largest retailers in America. In this episode, Chaby shares how losing both of his parents by the age of 18 forced him into the workforce, the lessons he learned building a business from scratch, winning Walmart as a customer, and why gratitude, integrity, and faith have guided every step of his journey. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Avi Houllou on Momentum __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming Up… (02:08) Welcoming Chaby to Momentum (02:55) Building Merkury Innovations Over 20+ Years (03:39) Growing Up Without Money in Brooklyn (04:28) Born in Venezuela, a Childhood Brain Tumor, and Dreams of Going Pro (06:42) Losing Both His Parents at 18 Years Old (11:51) Running His Father's Store Through the Crown Heights Riots (13:18) Thrown Into the Deep End at a Major Electronics Retailer (18:32) Walking Away From a High-Paying Job for His Growing Family (21:23) From a Gap Year to Founding the Company With His Cousin in 2003 (23:44) Faxing Orders to Japan in the Early Days (25:53) Trading Retail Hours for Overseas Travel (27:54) Starting From Zero Every January 1st (30:49) How He Landed His First Retail Account (32:12) Why Your Word Is Everything in Business (33:01) "Shoot First, Ask Questions Later" (34:20) The Day Walmart Walked Into His Booth at CES (38:17) The Twist That Turned Rejection Into a Walmart Deal (40:54) Adapting to Amazon, E-Commerce, and Chinese Sellers (43:53) The Sacrifice of Missing Weddings, Birthdays, and Holidays (46:00) The Toughest Period: New Countries, New Tariffs (49:03) What He Loves Most About the Business (50:20) Hiring: Red Flags, Loyalty, and His Best "Mismatched" Hire (55:38) Where Ethics Draws the Line in Business (59:31) The Fulfillment of Seeing His Products on the Shelf (1:01:19) Should You Follow Your Passion? (1:03:41) The Importance of Finding a Mentor (1:04:47) Chaby's Principles of Success (1:06:35) How Faith Has Guided His Life (1:07:44) Giving Back: Orphans, Widows, and a Life Saved by a Video (1:09:55) Building a Yeshiva Community and Founding His Own Shul (1:11:58) Why Giving Back Is His "Secret Sauce" (1:15:28) Momentum Moment (1:18:12) Finding His Parents' Voices on an Old VHS Tape (1:19:34) Be Grateful for What You Have (1:20:07) Outro and 3 Key Takeaways
S2 · E22
July 5 · 1 hr 30 min
Joe Cayre on Growing Up Broke, Buying the World Trade Center, and Building Billion-Dollar Businesses
Joe Cayre went from selling handkerchiefs door-to-door to help feed his family to building multi-billion-dollar businesses across music, film, home video, and real estate. In this episode, Joe shares the stories behind his biggest deals, including signing the World Trade Center lease weeks before 9/11, building an empire with exclusive Walmart distribution rights, negotiating million-dollar licensing deals, and the lessons that shaped him along the way. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Haim Dabah on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 The Hedaya Capital Group: Your Trusted Financial Services Partner. Visit HedayaCapital.com or info@hedayacapital.com Jeff Sitt Consulting: Book Your Free Pivot and Prosper Strategy Call Today! Visit JeffSitt.com Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Special thank you to Salt Steakhouse for the amazing meal! Visit SaltGourmetMarket.com to order. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming Up… (3:15) Welcoming Joe Back to Momentum (5:27) Joining the Milkman on His Route at 7 Years Old (7:55) Joe’s Baby Elephant and Selling Handkerchiefs Door-to-Door (11:17) Ad - Yazdi Entertainment (12:17) Working as a Bellhop at the National Hotel (13:52) Faking a $35,000 Check to Save His Dad’s Life (16:05) Discovering His Father's Business Was Bankrupt (19:06) Opening a Freeport Shop on a Cruise Ship (20:32) Digging in to Our Meal (21:17) Buying Aruba’s Hyatt Hotel (22:05) Joe’s Timeless Parenting Advice (24:36) Ad - Hedaya Capital Group (26:15) Distributing CBS’s Spanish Records (27:21) The Time The FBI Raided Joe’s Studio (32:37) Nina Simone & Charging Chanel $1M Every Day (35:46) Growing Salsoul Records To #1 Nationwide (39:32) Ad - Jeff Sitt Consulting (40:28) Lessons Learned from a Close Relationship with Edmond Safra (42:18) Making Millions Trading Foreign Currencies with Edmond Safra (44:18) What Made Edmond Safra Successful (45:31) Entering the Video Industry (52:23) Meeting Sam Walton, Founder of Walmart and Getting a Huge Order (1:01:59) Buying Exclusive Rights to Blockbuster Films (1:03:58) Making Exercise Videos Starring Cindy Crawford (1:05:29) Becoming Walmart’s Exclusive Video and Software Distributor (1:08:53) Ad - Real Property Captive (1:09:59) Joe’s Secret of Business (1:11:43) How to Break Into Real Estate Without Money (1:13:42) Signing a 99-Year Lease For the World Trade Center (1:16:58) Buying the World Trade Center 6 Weeks Before 9/11 (1:20:57) Lessons Learned from Close Friendship with Donald Trump (1:23:07) Joe’s Advice for Young People Starting Out in 2026 (1:24:12) The Legacy of Joe Cayre (1:24:42) Momentum Moment (1:25:33) Joe’s Career Advice for Me (1:27:25) Outro and 3 Key Takeaways
S2 · E21
June 7 · 1 hr 38 min
From Selling Towels at 14 to Building a National Business | Jack A. Kassin, Chairman at Best Brands Consumer Products
Jack Kassin is the Chairman of Best Brands Consumer Products, a company that grew from a small family towel business into a national enterprise with products in more than 20,000 stores across the country. In this episode, Jack shares the lessons he learned from over six decades in business, the values that guided his success, and how he built wealth without sacrificing family, integrity, or purpose. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Haim Dabah on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 The Hedaya Capital Group: Your Trusted Financial Services Partner. Visit HedayaCapital.com or info@hedayacapital.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠
S2 · E20
April 19 · 1 hr 5 min
He Built the #1 Kosher Steakhouse - Then Cancer Put Everything at Risk | David Mizrahi, Founder of Salt Steakhouse
David Mizrahi is the founder of Salt Restaurant Group, a booming hospitality brand behind some of the most in-demand kosher dining experiences in the country, including Salt Steakhouse. In this episode, I sit back down with David for a follow-up conversation over dinner (from his restaurant!). David opens up about what it really takes to build and scale high-end restaurants, the chaos behind the scenes, and how faith, resilience, and an opportunistic mindset shaped his journey - from dropping out of high school to running multiple businesses while battling cancer. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Chef Ray Tawil on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 The Hedaya Capital Group: Your Trusted Financial Services Partner. Visit HedayaCapital.com or info@hedayacapital.com Jeff Sitt Consulting: Book Your Free Pivot and Prosper Strategy Call Today! Visit JeffSitt.com Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Special thank you to David and Salt Steakhouse for the amazing meal! Visit SaltGourmetMarket.com to order. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (0:00) Coming up... (4:39) Moving from Brooklyn to Lakewood at 11 years old (6:15) David's humility (7:48) Digging in to the food (8:14) Salt at Home (10:26) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (11:26) Jumping at opportunities (14:11) Up next: lamb chops (14:51) The logistics of a high end steakhouse (19:42) How do you motivate your employees? (22:14) Pepper-crusted filet (22:38) Ad: Hedaya Capital Group (24:16) Cutting his guest list by 75% (27:29) The cost of disappointing your customers (28:45) Duck risotto (29:25) Consistency is king (30:53) Maintaining consistency with high staff turnover (31:39) How a single tech failure can ruin a night at Salt Steakhouse (37:41) Ad: Jeff Sitt Consulting (38:37) What David notices about people in the restaurant (42:41) Scaling operations up and down depending on the season (44:31) How do waiters hold plates like that? (46:00) The finances of a high end steakhouse (48:23) Ad: Real Property Captive (49:31) Toughest dish to cook (51:28) Misconceptions about running a high end steakhouse (52:07) Silently suffering through cancer treatments (56:45) What would you do differently? (57:28) Making guests wait before they are seated (59:08) Dubai Chocolate dessert (1:00:36) David's talented executive chef (1:02:15) Outro and 3 key takeaways
S2 · E19
April 5 · 1 hr 2 min
He Built Millions of Square Feet in NYC… Then Almost Lost It All | Joey Jerome, Co-Founder of JEMB Realty
Joseph (Joey) Jerome is the co-founder of JEMB Realty, a behemoth real estate development, investment and management firm based in New York City. In this episode, I sit down with Joey for a follow-up conversation over dinner. Joey opens up about his journey from working in his father’s deli to DJing his way into owning two homes by 25, surviving a seven-year real estate collapse, why giving back is fundamental to who he is, and what he would do if he were starting from zero today. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Avi Akiva on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 The Hedaya Capital Group: Your Trusted Financial Services Partner. Visit HedayaCapital.com or info@hedayacapital.com Jeff Sitt Consulting: Book Your Free Pivot and Prosper Strategy Call Today! Visit JeffSitt.com Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Special thank you to Salt Steakhouse for the amazing meal! Visit SaltGourmetMarket.com to order. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (0:00) Coming up... (3:22) Growing up in a working-class family (4:17) Working at his father's deli (5:14) "We struggled, but we got by" (6:41) Why did you become a DJ? (9:17) Getting arrested (10:20) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (11:20) Hiring people to help with DJ gigs (12:09) "My big break" (15:24) DJing to make money (16:11) Expanding to large parties (18:27) Winning a Cadillac for $3 (20:36) "I owned 2 homes by age 25" (23:13) Ad: Hedaya Capital Group (24:50) Scaling his father in law's Burger King opereaton (26:50) Maintaining respect while working for your father-in-law (28:32) Shifting from Burger Kings to real estate (29:43) Extreme stress/panic during real estate crash of late 1980s (33:07) Diversifying his real estate portfolio (34:26) Rock bottom: when the bank called Joey's wife to a deposition (37:24) Thoughts on when to get married (39:42) "Never bring work into the home" (41:04) Ad: Jeff Sitt Consulting (42:01) If you had to start over, what would be your first step? (43:45) The importance of exuding confidence (45:08) How do you motivate your employees? (46:33) The hardest part of leadership: letting go (47:41) Proudest deals (48:32) Ad: Real Property Captive (49:39) When to cut your losses (51:08) Does money still motivate you? (51:29) How has your view of money changed over time? (52:50) Legacy (53:34) Getting involved in community-building at age 16 (58:19) Why do you donate tens of millions of dollars? (59:35) Outro and 3 key takeaways
S2 · E18
March 21 · 1 hr 18 min
His Business Collapsed. He Lost His Wife. He Still Built a Billion-Dollar Company | Avi Houllou, Founder & CEO at iBuy
Avi Houllou is the founder of iBuy, a multi-billion dollar global electronics distribution powerhouse with offices in NJ and Miami. In this episode, I sit back down with Avi for a follow-up conversation over dinner. Avi gets real about losing tens of millions of dollars, refusing to file for bankruptcy, rebuilding from zero, and the mindset that’s carried him through loss, leadership, and life’s hardest moments. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Joey Shamie, Co-President of Delta Children, on Momentum⁠ __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 The Hedaya Capital Group: Your Trusted Financial Services Partner. Visit HedayaCapital.com or info@hedayacapital.com Jeff Sitt Consulting: Book Your Free Pivot and Prosper Strategy Call Today! Visit JeffSitt.com Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Special thank you to Salt Steakhouse for the amazing meal! Visit SaltGourmetMarket.com to order. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR (please use my affiliate links to make me rich!) • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up... (03:14) Humble beginnings (05:37) Losing tens of millions on a business deal (08:55) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (09:55) Building back after a huge loss (13:07) Losing tens of millions was a blessing (17:50) Getting hacked by a Russian cybercrime group in Q4 2025 (19:59) You never see the bigger picture (21:13) How do you motivate your employees? (22:19) Hardest part of leadership (23:33) Does money still motivate you? (24:30) Ad: Hedaya Capital Group (26:08) Do you need to "love what you do"? (27:46) Profit over sales (29:32) Consistency and hard work (31:49) Working 20 hours a day, even as a multi-millionaire (34:38) Selling candy in elementary school (36:13) How can parents instill a desire in children? (38:54) How to stay focused while diversifying your income (40:10) Almost becoming a Rabbi (41:52) Ad: Jeff Sitt Consulting (42:48) Advice to young people struggling with their identity (44:57) When should people get married? (46:19) great clip (50:16) If it all went to 0, how would you start over? (51:11) Go for singles, not home runs (53:49) I'm the hardest worker I know (54:34) Ad: Real Property Captive (55:41) The tragic loss of Avi's wife, Naomi (1:02:48) Coping with the passing of his wife (1:06:57) Why do you donate tens of millions? (1:08:45) Avi asks me: what inspires me? (1:10:26) Taking risks and chasing dreams when you're young (1:13:32) Thinking about my career (1:16:05) Outro and 3 key takeaways
S2 · E17
March 7 · 1 hr 1 min
June Aboksis on Getting Rich, Staying Honest, and Cutting Your Losses | Founder of Junee's
June Aboksis was kicked out of school and told she’d be “nothing in life.” Then she went on to build Junee, the largest modest-wear clothing brand in the world, with stores across NY, NJ, and Israel. In this episode, I sit back down with June for a follow-up conversation over dinner. June opens up about building her business from coupon-clipping days to global success, running a company with dyslexia, walking away from customers on principle, and why integrity and confidence are a prerequisite for success. Enjoy! __________ ⁠Check out Adina Mizrahi on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Yazdi Entertainment: New York's Premiere Event Production Company. ⁠yazdientertainment@gmail.com⁠ or (646) 765-5643 The Hedaya Capital Group: Your Trusted Financial Services Partner. Visit HedayaCapital.com or info@hedayacapital.com Jeff Sitt Consulting: Book Your Free Pivot and Prosper Strategy Call Today! Visit JeffSitt.com Real Property Captive: Own Your Insurance. Recapture Your Premiums. Visit RealPropertyCaptive.com Special thank you to Salt Steakhouse for the amazing meal! Visit SaltGourmetMarket.com to order. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR: • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up.. (03:04) Intro / Welcoming June back to Momentum! (06:44) Financially struggling in her early years of marriage (09:11) "Gen Z doesnt work as hard" (10:31) Ad: Yazdi Entertainment (11:31) Tuition/Affordability crisis in the Orthodox Jewish community (14:10) What's it actually like to be dyslexic? (18:08) What do schools need to change to cater to kids with learning disabilities? (24:35) Ad: Hedaya Capital Group (26:13) Should you follow your passion? (27:52) "They played me" (33:36) How to deal with immoral people in business (35:26) Fact or Fiction: if you're not growing, you're falling behind (39:43) Ad: Jeff Sitt Consulting (40:39) Fact or Fiction: more money automatically makes life easier (42:06) Fact or Fiction: If building something feels this hard, I'm probably doing it wrong (43:40) How to decide which cultural norms to uphold and which to shatter (45:59) Fact or Fiction: Working harder beats working smarter (47:21) Fact or Fiction: Passion is more important than discipline (48:15) Ad: Real Property Captive (49:22) How do you define enough? (51:20) What's the difference between giving up and cutting your losses? (53:38) June interviews me over dessert about my goals with Momentum (58:56) Outro and 3 key takeaways
S2 · E16
Dec 28, 2025 · 1 hr 4 min
He Quit Big Law to Lead the World's Largest Nonprofit | Eric Goldstein, CEO of UJA
Eric Goldstein spent 31 years as a partner at Paul Weiss before walking away to lead UJA-Federation of New York, the largest local nonprofit in the world, raising $2.8 billion under his leadership. In this episode, Eric shares why he left elite Big Law, what leadership really looks like in moments of crisis, and the lessons he learned when he realized he wasn’t as indispensable as he once thought. Support UJA's mission: https://www.ujafedny.org/donate __________ ⁠Check out Impact by Momentum⁠ __________ SPONSORS: Kosher Media: The premiere advertising network across Jewish communities worldwide. ⁠koshermedia.com⁠ Life Vault Films: Capture the story of your loved one, forever. To inquire, email victor@topnotchvisuals.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR: • Cameras: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠⁠ • Lights: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠⁠ • Tripods: ⁠⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up... (02:38) Who Is Eric Goldstein? (05:54) Eric’s Early Years (07:05) Graduating Law School (10:51) Representing JP Morgan Chase (13:39) Representing Billion-Dollar Institutions (15:07) Lessons Learned From Behemoth Clients (16:40) Eric's Plan Before Leaving Law (18:27) Serving on UJA’s Committee to Find a New CEO (20:27) The Most Important Lesson When Leaving the Legal Field (22:04) First Day on the Job as CEO (25:44) CSI: The Need for Security Forces Amid Rising Antisemitism (27:38) Ad: Kosher Media (28:27) Learning to Be an Effective Leader (31:57) The Struggles of COVID and Giving Up His Salary (35:13) “UJA Saved My Life” (36:20) A Brief History of UJA (38:18) UJA’s Impact on the Sephardic Community (40:19) The Moment He’s Most Proud of at UJA (45:46) Ad: Life Vault Films (47:03) Work-Life Balance (or Lack Thereof) (49:43) The Most Difficult Period: Laying Off Staff During COVID (52:23) Key Success Principles Learned Over His Career (53:37) Leading UJA Alongside Elite Business Leaders (55:07) What Comes Next? (56:12) Momentum Moment (60:09) UJA: Uniting Jewish Communities (61:06) Outro and 3 Key Takeaways
S2 · E15
Nov 30, 2025 · 1 hr 45 min
The Wall Street Lawyer Behind America’s Biggest Bankruptcies | Joshua Feltman, Head of Restructuring & Finance at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Josh Feltman is a partner at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz who has helped lead some of the most consequential restructurings of the last two decades - including Toys “R” Us, AMC, Expedia, and Express. In this episode, Josh walks through his unlikely path from Harvard to Wachtell, the weekend he helped the U.S. Treasury nationalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the lessons he’s learned steering multibillion-dollar deals at one of the most elite law firms in the world. He also shares insights on mentorship, the traits that distinguish standout associates, and the balance between family life and high-stakes work. Enjoy! __________ Check out Erwin Dweck on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Kosher Media: The premiere advertising network across Jewish communities worldwide. koshermedia.com Life Vault Films: Capture the story of your loved one, forever. To inquire, email victor@topnotchvisuals.com Hedaya Capital Group: Discover how The Hedaya Capital Group’s factoring services can help power your business’s financials: hedayacapital.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram __________ GEAR: • Cameras: ⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠ • Lights: ⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠ • Tripods: ⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up… (02:44) Intro to Josh (03:49) What is distress? How does a company reach distress? (06:26) Growing up and childhood values (10:35) Did you always know you wanted to be a lawyer? (14:08) College environment then vs now (19:15) Jobs between college and law school (22:38) Ad: Kosher Media (23:27) Working for Price Waterhouse and NERA (27:24) Recruiting for big law in law school (33:12) Why Wachtell Lipton? (37:47) “All the deals have been made already” (39:37) The environment at Wachtell when Josh joined (42:54) Ad: Life Vault Films (44:12) Bailing on a wedding to help the U.S. Treasury in 2008 (50:59) Making partner at Wachtell: scale back or double down? (53:51) What Wachtell is known for (57:41) Ad: Hedaya Capital Group (58:40) Mentorship: how Josh pays it forward (01:04:51) Legendary Leonard Rosen story and representing creditors (01:08:20) What makes a standout associate? (01:12:49) Notable restructurings: Toys R Us, AMC, Express (01:14:46) Being in the room when Toys R Us was liquidated (01:18:40) Proudest deals (01:24:36) The relationship between family life and career pursuits (01:29:51) Mentorship, speaking at conferences, and paying it forward (01:33:30) Momentum Moment and closing thoughts (01:41:30) Outro and 3 key takeaways
S1 · E14
Nov 9, 2025 · 1 hr 8 min
Eli Beer on Saving 7.5 Million Lives and Raising Hundreds of Millions of Dollars | Founder of United Hatzalah of Israel
Eli Beer is the founder of United Hatzalah, Israel’s volunteer-based emergency medical service that reaches any scene in under 90 seconds and has treated over 7.5 million people worldwide. In this episode, Eli opens up about being kicked out of school at 12, how a childhood trauma sparked his lifelong mission to save lives, and the story behind building one of the most impactful humanitarian organizations on earth. This is a collaboration episode between ⁠Momentum⁠ (business-focused podcast) and ⁠Impact⁠ (charity-focused podcast). Be sure to subscribe to both shows! __________ SPONSORS: Advanced Solar Solutions: Go solar before December 31 to qualify for federal solar incentives! 347-455-8430 or ⁠advancedsolarny.com⁠ Gindi Equities: Preserving and Growing Generational Wealth. Email al@gindieq.com or visit gindiequities.com to learn more. __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: ⁠YouTube⁠ ⁠Apple Podcasts⁠ ⁠Spotify⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠ __________ GEAR: • Cameras: ⁠https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o⁠ • Podcast Mics: ⁠https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv⁠ • Clip-on Mics: ⁠https://amzn.to/3H52iwo⁠ • Mic Stands: ⁠https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL⁠ • Lights: ⁠https://amzn.to/45lA5up⁠ • Tripods: ⁠https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI⁠ __________ (00:00) Coming up... (2:58) Intro to Eli and United Hatzalah (9:47) Being entrepreneurial in grade school (11:38) Noticing a void in the EMT system (13:23) Ad Advanced Solar Solutions (14:33) Uniting all of the individual Hatzalah groups (19:24) Why are your ambitions so high? (23:08) The Ambucycle (25:56) Being a doer (27:43) The peer-to-peer EMT model (30:49) Fundraising hundreds of millions worldwide (33:06) Asking his father-in-law for a donation (38:12) When fundraising: have you ever asked for too much? (40:36) “I don’t want to be a CEO” (43:30) Putting together a board of directors (49:26) The Syrian Jewish community’s involvement with United Hatzalah (54:19) Ad Gindi Equities (55:04) Lessons learned from the uber-successful (58:47) Contempt and innovation (1:04:42) Outro and 3 key takeaways
S1 · E13
Nov 2, 2025 · 1 hr 40 min
Eddie Rishty on Rising to the Top of Big Law & Representing Billionaire Clients | Partner at Debevoise & Plimpton
Eddie Rishty is a partner at Debevoise & Plimpton, where he represents some of the world’s most prominent real estate investors, including JP Morgan Asset Management, Carlyle, and one of the highest-net-worth individuals on the planet. In this episode, Eddie opens up about his journey from getting waitlisted at Princeton to becoming a partner at one of the world’s top law firms. He breaks down what he looks for when hiring lawyers, how to stand out in competitive recruiting, and the habits that separate good attorneys from elite ones. Eddie also discusses faith, work-life balance, and how community service and character shape his definition of success. Enjoy! __________ Check out Erwin Dweck on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Advanced Solar Solutions: Go solar before December 31 to qualify for federal solar incentives! 347-455-8430 or advancedsolarny.com Jeff Sitt: Book your free 30-minute strategy call today at jeffsitt.com Midwood Wine: Our community’s premier wine shop @ 1433 Coney Island Avenue (Ave K next to Bagel Hole). WhatsApp (718) 338-7054 __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram __________ GEAR: • Cameras: https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o • Podcast Mics: https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv • Clip-on Mics: https://amzn.to/3H52iwo • Mic Stands: https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL • Lights: https://amzn.to/45lA5up • Tripods: https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI __________ (00:00) Coming up… (03:14) Who is Eddie Rishty? (04:10) Pre-college days (05:56) Lessons from Eddie’s father (07:38) Considering law as a young man (08:51) What is a “strong work ethic”? (10:30) “You have to be all in” (11:28) Getting waitlisted from Princeton (his dream school) (12:15) Going to NYU Stern (15:18) What was the path you wanted to take? (16:39) Eddie’s father passing away when he was a college sophomore (18:28) The revelation that Eddie didn’t want to pursue finance (20:00) Going into the billboard business (22:40) Being a professional vs an entrepreneur (23:36) Waitlisted at targeted law schools (25:34) Transferring to NYU Law (28:35) Recruiting for big law (31:15) How to stand out while recruiting for big law / finance / accounting (34:15) Choosing Debevoise & Plimpton (41:42) Becoming a partner at Debevoise (47:36) Traits that separate the elite (48:54) Observing Shabbat in a 24/7 industry (58:19) Have you gotten too comfortable? (01:01:58) Representing JP Morgan Asset Management (01:06:06) Representing one of the richest people in the world (01:07:41) The making of a successful big-law interview (01:09:50) Must-have skills to succeed in big law (01:12:18) 2 candidates: which would you hire? (01:18:31) Becoming the president of a nonprofit (01:20:40) What is my legacy going to be? (01:30:46) Momentum Moment (01:35:32) Outro: 3 key takeaways
S2 · E12
Sep 21, 2025 · 1 hr 29 min
Samuel Krost on the TRUTH About the Fyre Festival & Starting a Multimillion Dollar Fashion Brand
Samuel Krost is the founder of KROST, a mission-driven fashion brand now sold in Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s, Saks, and around the world. In this episode, Samuel opens up about scaling his label into a multimillion-dollar business, the lessons he learned from getting caught inside the infamous Fyre Festival, and how his network and philanthropy have shaped the future of KROST. Enjoy! __________ Check out Sol Betesh on Momentum __________ SPONSORS: Advanced Solar Solutions: Go Solar before December 31 to qualify for federal solar incentives! 347-455-8430 or advancedsolarny.com Midwood Wine: our community’s #1 wine shop @ 1433 Coney Island Avenue (Avenue J & K). WhatsApp (718) 338-7054 Kosher Media: the premiere advertising network across Jewish communities worldwide. koshermedia.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram __________ GEAR: • Cameras: https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o • Podcast Mics: https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv • Clip-on Mics: https://amzn.to/3H52iwo • Mic Stands: https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL • Lights: https://amzn.to/45lA5up • Tripods: https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI __________ (00:00) Coming up… (03:05) Growing up in a family of doctors (04:57) Living on a different path (05:34) The pre-college days (06:14) Bio, chem, burnout (07:17) Dropping out of pre-med (09:33) Switching to NYU Sports Management (10:53) Discovering a passion for fashion (11:55) Advanced Solar Solutions (13:06) Internship at Onia (15:59) Samuel's journey at Onia (17:21) Getting a call from Andrew Rosen: CEO of Helmut Lang (18:54) It's all about who you know (20:38) The student/work life grind (22:30) Working as much as possible while in college (25:24) Ja Rule calls with an opportunity (28:50) Building relationships with Bella/Gigi Hadid, Selena Gomez, and other celebrities (31:17) Fyre Media before Fyre Festival (34:06) Absorbing knowledge at Fyre (37:44) The Fyre Festival (42:24) Fyre Festival up in flames (46:55) The aftermath of the festival (49:33) Getting a call from the FBI (51:19) Bouncing back from an all-time-low point (53:07) An offer to replicate Fyre (54:30) 3rd guest joins the pod (55:10) Founding a fashion brand (57:01) Setting yourself apart / unfair advantages (58:41) COVID and social impact while launching KROST (59:51) Driven by DNA to give back (01:00:57) How Samuel runs his business (01:02:40) Collaborating with FILA (01:03:45) Kosher Media (01:04:33) Choosing the direction for Krost to go in (01:06:01) Momentum Moment - doubling down / leading his team (01:08:19) The brand evolving with Samuel (01:09:15) Principles for effectively leading a team (01:12:05) Where to find KROST apparel (01:12:49) Expanding into Paris (01:14:02) The key to Samuel's success (01:14:45) Advice for starting a fashion company (01:16:30) Follow your passion? Or chase the money? (01:19:27) The #1 characteristic of standout employees: work ethic (01:21:29) Life is about what you can do for others (01:23:42) Want to stand out? Master AI (01:25:37) Closing Remarks
S2 · E11
Sep 14, 2025 · 1 hr 27 min
Inside an Elite Fund: How VCs Really Pick Winners | Abie J. Cohen, Founder @ Centre Street Partners
Abie J. Cohen is the founder and managing partner of Centre Street Partners, an NYC–based venture capital firm that’s backed dozens of startups with their latest $60M fund. In this episode, Abie breaks down how venture capital really works, why he bets on people over ideas, and what thousands of startup pitches have taught him about success. Enjoy! __________ Check out Ezra Dweck on Momentum Abie’s meditation recommendations: Waking Up by Sam Harris Transcendental Meditation __________ SPONSORS: Kosher Media: the #1 advertising network across Jewish communities worldwide. https://koshermedia.com Life Vault Films: Capture the story of your loved one, forever. Order your film today by emailing victor@topnotchvisuals.com __________ ABOUT MOMENTUM: 🎙️ Momentum brings you the stories, advice, and wisdom of business visionaries, designed to inspire and guide you on your path to success. Be sure to subscribe on all platforms: YouTube Apple Podcasts Spotify Instagram __________ GEAR: • Cameras: https://amzn.to/3UuwW5o • Podcast Mics: https://amzn.to/3J5QWsv • Clip-on Mics: https://amzn.to/3H52iwo • Mic Stands: https://amzn.to/4kZj4uL • Lights: https://amzn.to/45lA5up • Tripods: https://amzn.to/4lHHQAI __________ (00:00) Coming up… (01:39) Introduction to Abie: investing in people (02:26) Investing In People Vs Companies (03:38) How do you feel out an individual? (04:37) Not classifying himself as an entrepreneur (05:25) Working at UBS for 13 years (06:28) Pursuing finance at NYU Stern (08:02) What Sales & Trading used to look like (10:11) Rotating through UBS’s training program (12:33) Interesting learning experiences (14:17) Dating / getting married while working at UBS (16:42) Switching to wealth management (19:26) Building out his client list (20:35) What does a wealth manager actually do? (22:53) Deciding whether to stay or leave UBS (25:04) Starting his own practice at UBS (26:12) The partnership structure Abie had with UBS (27:40) Running a solo operation at UBS (28:18) How COVID affected Abie’s wealth management business (30:02) Working from his bedroom during COVID (31:16) Gravitating towards entrepreneurs/founders over high-net-worth individuals (34:20) Conducting due diligence as an angel investor (36:53) Going all in on Centre Street Partners (38:04) Leaving UBS after 13 years (38:59) Working on his VC company from home (40:50) The depths Of VC funding (42:40) Removing emotions from deals (43:47) How many funds have you raised so far? (45:59) How did you raise tens of millions of dollars? (47:33) Timeline of fundraising, making investments, closing the fund, etc. (49:13) Can someone be retroactively part of an already existing fund? (52:23) Idea vs individual vs execution (54:09) Shifting from startups to cash cow businesses (54:56) A hybrid venture capital/private equity asset class (56:28) Starting an official company and finding a business partner (01:03:31) Making only 100 investments after hearing 5,000 pitches (01:04:48) The power dynamic between VCs and startups (01:07:48) Hard skills that every founder needs (01:09:33) Does college matter? (01:10:11) The Thiel Fellowship (01:12:25) The type of founders Abie invests in (01:13:28) Advice to reach Abie’s position (01:15:32) Should people Follow Their Passion? (01:16:52) Finding fulfillment in being a mentor (01:20:35) Abie’s secret weapon: meditation (01:24:05) Momentum Moment (01:25:27) Outro and 3 key takeaways

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