Beyond the Bottom Line

Beyond the Bottom Line

Beyond the Bottom Line Podcast is where business success meets personal fulfillment. Hosted by Maria Conigliaro and Bob Brown, this podcast is designed for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and high-achievers who want more than just financial success—they want purpose, balance, and lasting impact. Through thought-provoking conversations and expert insights on wealth, mindset, leadership, relationships and health, we help you bridge the gap between making money and making a difference. If you're ready to go beyond profits and build a legacy that truly matters, you're in the right place.

  1. Built on Discipline: How Jordan Galasso Turned Fitness Into a Scalable Business

    14H AGO

    Built on Discipline: How Jordan Galasso Turned Fitness Into a Scalable Business

    What happens when you apply the same discipline it takes to transform your body… to building a business?  In Episode 26 of Beyond the Bottom Line, we sit down with Jordan Galasso—founder of Fit AF Nutrition, a rapidly growing meal prep company delivering fresh, performance-focused meals across the Northeast.  Jordan shares how his background as a personal trainer evolved into a full-scale operation serving thousands of meals each week—and why consistency, simplicity, and discipline have been the real drivers behind his growth.  This conversation dives into the parallels between fitness and entrepreneurship, decision fatigue, building systems that support success, and what it really takes to stay “on track” in both life and business.  In this episode, we explore:  How Jordan transitioned from personal training to building a scalable meal prep business  The role of discipline, consistency, and simple systems in long-term success  Why decision fatigue is one of the biggest obstacles to health—and how to eliminate it  The parallels between building muscle and building a business  What it takes to stay personally balanced while growing something demanding  📺 Or watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HLVgNnJIyUA    🔗 Guest Info:  Fit AF Nutrition: https://fitafnutrition.com/]  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fita.f.nutrition    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/fitafnutrition      Special offer for BTBL listeners!   Coupon code: BTBL20    Saves 20% on your first order of 7 meals or more.    👍 Like and Subscribe for new episodes every week!  . . . . . Disclosures:  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information - https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/.

    1h 5m
  2. Creating Experiences That Connect: Sarah Effertz on Events, Relationships, and Reinvention

    MAR 25

    Creating Experiences That Connect: Sarah Effertz on Events, Relationships, and Reinvention

    What does it take to create an event people actually remember?  In Episode 25 of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Sarah Effertz, owner of Blu Elefante Events, to talk about building a business rooted in creativity, connection, and calm under pressure.  Sarah shares how she went from finance to marketing to launching her own event planning company, why she believes she’s not just planning events but creating experiences, and how she navigated the uncertainty of COVID by pivoting into virtual fundraising and new service offerings.  This conversation is about entrepreneurship, reinvention, relationships, and what it really looks like to build something meaningful while staying true to the way you’re wired.  In this episode, we explore:  How Sarah discovered her love for event planning through large-scale community events and fundraising experiences  Why she believes the real work is not planning events, but creating experiences that bring people together  What it took to launch her own business, trust her instincts, and grow through uncertainty  How she pivoted during COVID by helping nonprofits reimagine fundraising through virtual events  The balance between creativity, business ownership, boundaries, and building strong client relationships  Why relationships remain at the center of everything she does  🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube.  🔗 Guest Info:  Blu Elefante Events: bluelefante.com  Like and Subscribe for new episodes every week!  . . . . . Disclosures:  This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information - https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/.

    1h 10m
  3. From Two Suitcases to Multiple Businesses: Emilia McCormick’s Story of Grit + Vision

    MAR 11

    From Two Suitcases to Multiple Businesses: Emilia McCormick’s Story of Grit + Vision

    What do you do when you’re terrified… but you want it anyway? In Episode 24 of Beyond the Bottom Line, we sit down with Emilia McCormick—entrepreneur, community leader, founder of USA Tiny Tumblers, visionary behind USA Ninja, CFO of United Sports Academy, and author of Mikey Goes to the Park (with her next book, Jamie’s Big Leap, coming soon). Emilia shares her family’s journey from Bulgaria to Pennsylvania with two suitcases and no English, how that “nothing to lose” season shaped her willingness to take risks, and why she believes the secret isn’t fearlessness—it’s having a desire that’s bigger than your fear. This is a powerful conversation about resilience, faith, family, entrepreneurship, and building businesses that make an impact far beyond the walls of a gym. In this episode, we explore: - The immigrant mindset: coming to America with nothing—and why that can create a different relationship with risk. - “Solutions, not excuses”: how Emilia’s mom (a former Olympian) shaped her leadership and resilience. - Why Emilia built USA Tiny Tumblers: giving parents a place to support early childhood development through movement, play, and confidence-building. - Big ideas, fast execution: starting programs and businesses by following the “vision + feeling” combo—and blocking out the noise. - Fear isn’t the stop sign: Emilia’s bungee-jump story and her belief that desire has to be bigger than fear. - How to raise confident kids (even when life is more comfortable now): gratitude, independence, and letting them find their own solutions. 🔗 Guest Info / Links Book: Mikey Goes to the Park (https://a.co/d/0bSirtrF on Amazon) USA Tiny Tumblers: https://usatinytumblers.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emilia.e.mccormick/ 👍 Like and Subscribe for new episodes every week! .....Disclosures: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information - https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/.

    1h 15m
  4. Build It Afraid with Eloise Butovich

    FEB 25

    Build It Afraid with Eloise Butovich

    What if the thing you’re afraid to do is the exact thing you’re meant to build? This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, we sit down with Eloise Butovich—chef, entrepreneur, and co-owner of Number 27 Café and Central Park Flowers in Clarks Green. From a traditional Italian upbringing in Brooklyn to high-end Manhattan real estate, to rebuilding a business after 9/11 and the 2008 financial crash, Eloise shares how resilience, process, and self-trust shaped her journey. Her philosophy is simple but powerful: if you’re afraid to try it, that’s probably your cue to do it. This conversation dives deep into entrepreneurship, marriage in business, reinvention, work ethic, and the human connection behind every great experience. In this episode, we explore: - How Eloise transitioned from Manhattan real estate to small-town entrepreneurship - What it really takes to build and scale a business (hint: it’s not 9–5) - The power of process, resilience, and self-trust - Why fear is often the sign you should move forward - The importance of human connection in an increasingly automated world 🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube. 🔗 Guest Info: Number 27 Café in Clarks Green, PA — https://instagram.com/No.27Cafe Central Park Flowers in Clarks Green, PA — https://instagram.com/central_park_flowers Like and Subscribe for new episodes every week! ......Disclosures: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information - https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/.

    53 min
  5. Estate Planning for Parents + Legacy Builders with Attorney Scott Lynett

    FEB 11

    Estate Planning for Parents + Legacy Builders with Attorney Scott Lynett

    Legacy builders, listen up. In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Scott Lynett, an estate planning attorney and legacy planner rooted in NEPA, to talk about the real-life (not theoretical) reasons planning matters—especially for parents, business owners, and families who want to protect what they’ve built. Scott shares the personal story that shaped his commitment to planning (including a painful lesson about what happens when families wait too long), and we unpack the emotional side of estate planning: family dynamics, identity, stewardship, and the “hard conversations” most families avoid. In this episode, we explore: - Why having kids causes estate planning to take on a whole new meaning — guardianship, “who picks them up from school,” and the basics most families avoid - Trusts aren’t just for the ultra-wealthy — how trusts function like a “Swiss Army knife” for protecting assets, avoiding probate, and planning for real-life scenarios - Legacy, stewardship, and family dynamics — how “hat confusion” (parent vs. boss vs. sibling) can derail even strong families and businesses 🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube. 🔗 Guest Info: LynettLaw.com Like and Subscribe for new episodes every week! ......Disclosures: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information - https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/

    1h 2m
  6. Building a Trust-Based Practice: Ethics, Boundaries & Word-of-Mouth Growth — with Tara Grossi

    JAN 28

    Building a Trust-Based Practice: Ethics, Boundaries & Word-of-Mouth Growth — with Tara Grossi

    This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Tara Grossi, a psychic medium, healer, and spiritual counselor who has quietly built a decades-long practice rooted in ethics, discretion, and trust. With nearly 30 years of experience, Tara shares what it actually looks like to operate a deeply personal, emotionally intense service business — one that cannot be scaled, automated, or outsourced — and why boundaries, integrity, and word-of-mouth referrals are the foundation of her success. This conversation goes beyond spiritual work and into the realities of running a values-based practice: managing emotional labor, protecting clients, navigating skepticism, setting ethical limits, and sustaining yourself while serving others. Rather than focusing on prediction or spectacle, Tara discusses the operational discipline behind her work — including client boundaries, confidentiality, emotional sustainability, and why not every client is the right client. Topics covered include: - How Tara built her business almost entirely through word-of-mouth - Why ethical boundaries matter more than growth or scale - Managing emotional and energetic burnout in people-centered work - How skepticism shows up — and why she doesn’t market to convince - When and why she turns clients away (and refunds them) - The responsibility that comes with guiding people through grief - Why her work complements — not replaces — therapy and medical care - What it means to run a service business where you are the product 🎧 Listen wherever you get your podcasts 📺 Or watch the full conversation on YouTube ......DISCLOSURES This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information: https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/

    1h 5m
  7. Bill Ruark on Building Legacy in Business, Family, and Community

    JAN 14

    Bill Ruark on Building Legacy in Business, Family, and Community

    🎙️ Episode 20: Bill Ruark — Building Legacy in Business, Family, and Community  This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Bill Ruark, one of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s most respected business leaders and philanthropists—known for building and growing companies like M.S. “Chop” & Stone, expanding into energy services, and investing in community institutions like the Wyoming County Healthcare Center.  In this episode, we explore:  How Bill built and scaled multiple businesses—and why every operation must be a profit center  What “managing money right” really means, especially in seasonal or cyclical industries  How Bill approaches leadership and hiring, including when (and why) to let someone go  Why service and loyalty matter more than price—and how that mindset protects your reputation  What it takes to restore local healthcare access, and the reality of navigating regulation and “politics vs. commerce”  What legacy means to Bill today—and why he doesn’t care about recognition  🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app or watch on YouTube.  Guest Info  Business ventures discussed: Meshoppen Stone, energy services companies, Stone Hedge Golf Course, modular housing (Signature Building Systems)  Philanthropy/community: The Ruark Foundation, Marley’s Mission, Soup Kitchen, Wyoming County Healthcare Center    Questions Answered in This Episode  How did Bill Ruark build Meshoppen Stone from a small operation into a major business?What does it mean to “manage your money right” as a business owner? How do you stay calm when you’re running multiple businesses and leading big projects? How do you decide which opportunities or investments are worth the risk? What’s the biggest difference between running a business and dealing with politics or government? How do you decide what causes to donate to—and which ones to say no to? Why do some businesses fade while others explode after new ownership takes over? How do you know when it’s time to stop a project or walk away from a bad bet? What makes a business resilient when competitors undercut price online? What did Bill’s generation get right—and what worries him about the next generation? How do you build a team of optimistic, high-integrity people (and keep them)? When is it the right call to fire someone—and can it actually be a favor to them? How do you lead a complex community project like a rural hospital with many stakeholders? What does Bill want his legacy to be—and how is he passing that mindset down?. . . Disclosures: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information - https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/

    1h 4m
  8. LFG: Discipline, Mindset & Rebuilding Your Life — with Mike Normandia of Life Fitness Goals

    12/29/2025

    LFG: Discipline, Mindset & Rebuilding Your Life — with Mike Normandia of Life Fitness Goals

    This week’s guest is Mike Normandia, owner of LFG Life Fitness Goals in Clarks Summit and an award-winning trainer known for blending fitness, mindset, discipline, and real-life transformation. A lifelong athlete who once relied on talent alone, Mike experienced a wake-up call in college that set him on a completely different path. After rebuilding his health, identity, and belief systems during the COVID shutdown, he launched LFG—a gym rooted in authenticity, community, accountability, and the philosophy that true strength comes from both body and mind. In this episode, Mike shares how fitness saved him, what it really took to build LFG, and why resistance, discipline, and mindset shape every part of your life. In this episode, we explore: • The wake-up call that changed the trajectory of Mike’s life • How he rebuilt his mind, identity, and discipline during COVID • Why LFG’s community and accountability model keeps members showing up • The powerful link between fitness, mindset, resistance, and real-life growth • What discipline really is—and how anyone can build it like a muscle Timestamps:02:10 The Journey to Fitness: Mike's Personal Story 06:09 Building LFG: Philosophy and Community 08:59 Daily Routine and Member Experience at LFG 27:08 Personal Training and Additional Services 31:01 The Importance of Mindset in Achieving Goals 31:38 Mind-Body Connection in Physical Fitness 34:01 The Role of Resistance in Personal Growth 35:41 Balancing Work and Personal Life 40:57 The Power of Discipline and Routine 46:45 Overcoming Personal Challenges and Rebuilding 52:55 Creating a Positive Community 🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube. 🔗 Guest Info: LFG Website: https://lfglifefitnessgoals.com LFG on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LFGLifeFitnessGoals LFG on Instragram: https://www.instagram.com/lfg_life_fitness_goals/ Like and Subscribe for new episodes every week! ......DISCLOSURES This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and should not be considered personalized investment, tax, or legal advice. Any guest services mentioned are independent of Stone House Investment Management, LLC. Investment advisory services are offered through Stone House Investment Management, LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration with the SEC does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Testimonials are unpaid and may not be representative. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Please refer to our ADV and other disclosures for complete information: https://www.stonehouseinv.com/disclosures/.

    1h 4m

About

Beyond the Bottom Line Podcast is where business success meets personal fulfillment. Hosted by Maria Conigliaro and Bob Brown, this podcast is designed for business leaders, entrepreneurs, and high-achievers who want more than just financial success—they want purpose, balance, and lasting impact. Through thought-provoking conversations and expert insights on wealth, mindset, leadership, relationships and health, we help you bridge the gap between making money and making a difference. If you're ready to go beyond profits and build a legacy that truly matters, you're in the right place.

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