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

    2D AGO

    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
  2. 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
  3. 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
  4. 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
  5. 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
  6. 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
  7. Blending Strategy, Legacy & Whole-Person Wellness with Liz Grad Murphy of LMG Cosmetics

    12/17/2025

    Blending Strategy, Legacy & Whole-Person Wellness with Liz Grad Murphy of LMG Cosmetics

    This week’s guest is Liz Grad Murphy, Chief Strategy & Operations Officer for Lackawanna Medical Group, LMG Wellness, and LMG Cosmetics.    After 15 years leading HR, strategy, talent, and operations at Fortune 500 companies like Cigna, JPMorgan Chase, and Prudential, Liz left corporate life during the Great Resignation to join her family’s 40-year medical practice in Scranton.    In this episode, Liz shares what it looks like to blend business strategy with family legacy, modernize a longstanding medical group, introduce concierge wellness to NEPA, and lead a people-first culture in an industry undergoing massive change.    This conversation is rich with perspective — on leadership, reinvention, healthcare, and the power of purpose.    00:00 — Introduction to Business Philosophy  00:23 — Meet Liz Grad Murphy  01:22 — Liz’s Journey to Family Business  02:07 — The Vision of LMG Wellness  05:55 — Challenges and Rewards of Family Business  06:31 — Liz’s Corporate Background  11:38 — Integrating Wellness and Business  17:26 — Concierge Medicine and Patient Experience  29:54 — Meeting People Where They Are  30:48 — Financial Wellness and Community Events  31:36 — Challenges and Transformations in Business  34:15 — Managing Personal Wealth and Business Risks  35:33 — The Importance of Specialists and Team Dynamics  39:17 — Inspiration from Business Leaders  48:06 — The Power of Laughter and Healthy Work Cultures  54:18 — Future Goals and Continuing the Legacy  55:48 — Conclusion and Final Thoughts    🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube.  🔗 Guest Info:  LMG Health + Wellness:  https://lmghealthandwellness.com  https://www.instagram.com/lmg_wellness/  https://www.facebook.com/lmghealthandwellness    LMG Cosmetics:  https://lmgcosmetics.com  https://www.instagram.com/lmgcosmetics_scranton/  https://www.facebook.com/lmgcosmetics/    Lackawanna Medical Group:  https://lmgphysicians.com    Liz on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/liz-grad-murphy-71bb144/  . . . . . . 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/

    56 min
  8. Building Lavish: How Micah & Lauren Woodard Grew a Hybrid Beauty + Wellness Brand

    12/10/2025

    Building Lavish: How Micah & Lauren Woodard Grew a Hybrid Beauty + Wellness Brand

    In this episode of Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria sit down with Micah and Lauren Woodard, the husband-and-wife team behind Lavish Scranton and co-owners of The DripBar Scranton.  Their story is steeped in grit, heart, and genuine honesty — from navigating their son’s rare childhood cancer diagnosis, to stepping into business ownership long before they felt fully “ready,” to expanding Lavish into a 7,000+ sq ft hybrid beauty, wellness, and home boutique with 35+ team members.  They talk candidly about partnership, fear, leadership, growth, community, and what it really looks like to build something bigger than business.   -  🎙️ Episode 017: Building Lavish: How Micah & Lauren Woodard Grew a Hybrid Beauty + Wellness Brand Rooted in Heart, Resilience & Community    This week on Beyond the Bottom Line, Bob and Maria talk with Micah and Lauren Woodard, owners of Lavish Scranton and partners in The DripBar Scranton.    In this episode, we explore:  00:00 Introduction to the Woodards’ Journey  01:06 The Origins of Lavish — how the boutique began nearly 20 years ago  02:36 Taking Ownership — the dinner conversation that changed everything  05:58 Balancing Marriage & Business — discovering new roles and identities  12:39 Growth & COV*D-19 — expanding during shutdown and creating their dream space  19:05 Community Impact — Coaches vs. Cancer, Marley’s Mission & small business support  35:05 The Drip Bar Expansion — why wellness was the next right move  38:37 Hydration & Wellness Education  39:13 Building Lavish: The Journey  42:28 Navigating Business Challenges  46:25 Learning to Rebalance Life Again  50:39 Joys & Struggles of Entrepreneurship  52:38 The Power of Team & Community    🎧 Listen now or watch on YouTube.  🔗 Guest Info:  https://lavishscranton.com  https://www.facebook.com/LAVISHSCRANTON  https://www.instagram.com/lavishscranton/    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

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.