Fireside America with Ryan Robbins

What does it take to build something from nothing? And what happens when life throws you a curveball that changes everything?On this episode of Fireside, we sit down with Max Gomez, owner of AMP'D Fitness, to talk about entrepreneurship, adversity, family, and the journey of building a business around something you genuinely believe in.Max takes us back to his childhood growing up racing motocross, the sacrifices his family made to keep him on the track, and the life-changing accident at 18 that resulted in losing his leg. But his story doesn't stop there. Within months, Max was back on a dirt bike, eventually finding a new sense of confidence and purpose through fitness.Today, he's built AMP'D Fitness into a growing community with locations in Brielle and Belmar. We get into what it really takes to start a business, why culture matters more than equipment, the importance of hiring the right people, and why showing up consistently is often the biggest differentiator.We also get into social media, building your personal brand, telling your story, and why business owners need to stop waiting for the perfect time to get started.A great conversation about resilience, perspective, and building something that means more than just making money.

What happens when the career you've spent 22 years building no longer aligns with the person you want to become?In this episode of Fireside America, Ryan sits down with Nicole, founder of Nu Pilates, to talk about leaving a successful career in corporate America and finding a new purpose in her 40s.After years of putting her career and family first, Nicole reached a point where she no longer recognized the person looking back at her in the mirror. Through Pilates, personal growth, and a willingness to step outside her comfort zone, she rediscovered her confidence and found a passion that would ultimately inspire her to build something of her own.Nicole opens up about the fear of starting over, navigating major life changes, facing doubt from the people around you, and learning that success isn't always about making more money. Sometimes, it's about becoming the person you're meant to be.Now, she's bringing that mission to life through Nu Pilates, a new wellness destination built around movement, strength, recovery, and community.In this conversation, we explore:Leaving a 22-year career to pursue a new passionRediscovering your identity and purpose in your 40sOvercoming fear and the opinions of othersRedefining success beyond money and career achievementsThe importance of having someone who believes in your visionBuilding a business around something that genuinely matters to youWhether you're thinking about making a career change, starting a business, or simply trying to find your way back to yourself, Nicole's story is a reminder that it's never too late to start a new chapter.Fireside America shares the stories behind the people who take the leap, challenge expectations, and build something meaningful on their own terms.

In this episode of Fireside, we sit down with Monica and Maria of the Ashley Lauren Foundation to share the powerful story behind their mission to support New Jersey families facing childhood cancer. From personal battles with cancer to building a community rooted in compassion, we explore the impact of showing up for families when they need it most. It's a conversation about resilience, the power of community, and the good that happens when people come together to make a difference.

This week on Fireside America, we sat down with Nick from Disco Fries, whose first platinum record came with “Sugar” by Flo Rida in 2009.Nick and his partner, Danny Boselovic, built Disco Fries into a production and DJ duo collaborating with names like Tiësto, Fatman Scoop, and many others.But what stood out to me was his passion for helping the next guy or girl in line. He’s creating opportunities for others coming up in the music industry while continuing to build and invest in other businesses.He’s also a husband to his beautiful wife, Sheana, and a dad of two. Behind the records and accomplishments is a guy balancing big ambitions with family and a desire to help others win.There was a lot of passion on both sides of this conversation. We got into the journey, the business, and what it takes to build something while bringing others along with you.@thediscofries

Some partnerships start with a business plan. This one started with trust.Dillon founded Patriot Payments in 2018 and was out in Arizona building the business from the ground up when he and Ryan first connected through online coaching groups.After Dillon moved to North Carolina, he made the trip north to one of Ryan’s events. That relationship continued to grow, and eventually they saw an opportunity to bring two worlds together: Dillon’s experience in the payment processing industry and the ecosystem Ryan had spent years building.This conversation pulls back the curtain on an industry that most business owners know very little about.They get into the technical side of processing, how the industry really works, where businesses can get taken advantage of, and why transparency matters.No smoke and mirrors. No hiding behind complicated statements or industry jargon.Just a different way of doing business, built around transparency, integrity, and actually doing right by the people you work with.

Michael Natale has been involved in business since he was 17 years old.Today, he and his son Pete are part of a serious blue-collar operation on Long Island. Between A Lot Maintenance, Lake Landscape & Mason Supplies, and A Lot Equipment, their businesses cover everything from commercial property maintenance and snow removal to masonry materials, heavy equipment sales, and rentals.What stood out during this conversation was their mindset.These guys don’t just talk about growth. They buy equipment, build divisions, reinvest into the operation, and make decisions knowing the move that hurts profitability today might make the entire business stronger tomorrow.Because a great idea means nothing if you can’t execute.Michael and Pete gave us an honest look inside the risks, responsibilities, and relentless decision-making required to keep multiple businesses moving forward.

Scott is 26 years old, helping run a pretty damn big landscaping company with three separate divisions: commercial, construction, and residential.But what I really respect about this story is the father-son dynamic behind it.His father built this business through hard work, sacrifice, and years of figuring shit out the hard way. And I can only imagine how difficult it is to build something from the ground up and eventually have to loosen your grip and trust that your son truly understands what it took to get there.One thing Scott’s father has done an incredible job of is over-communicating the difficult parts of running a business like this.More importantly, he’s put Scott in uncomfortable positions and forced him to figure things out. Whether he realized it at the time or not, he was forcing growth.Now Scott is 26 years old, boots on the ground helping run all three divisions.The kid answers his phone. He shows up. He works his ass off. And he’s open-minded enough to take constructive criticism and actually learn from it.I don’t see many 26-year-olds moving at this pace, especially in a blue-collar business where nothing is handed to you.The business continues to thrive and grow under his father’s leadership, with Scott becoming a bigger part of carrying it forward.This is what succession looks like while it’s actually happening.

We sat down with Dan Catena, owner of ADL.Dan dropped out of high school and eventually went to work for the Township of Middletown, NJ, where he worked his way up to Assistant Director and Supervisor.But in 2011, he realized that if he wanted to build a bigger life for himself and his family, he had to make a move.So while still working full time for the township, Dan started a dumpster and demolition company on the side.A year later, Hurricane Sandy hit. Business took off, but Dan still didn’t have enough years in to secure his pension. So he kept going.He worked both jobs while being a husband and father, doing whatever it took to make his dream a reality.Today, ADL is doing well over seven figures in annual revenue and continues to grow.We share stories like Dan’s not only to promote hardworking, good people, but to inspire the next guy or girl who might be working a state or municipal job right now knowing deep down they want something more.Dan bet on himself, put in the years, and built something real.He’s an inspiration, a great American, and I’m proud to call him a friend.

Some guys are just wired to build.Tommy Mullen spent nearly two decades helping build The Renaissance before deciding it was time to build something of his own.With the backing of his mentor and boss, Bob, the owner of The Renaissance, Tommy started Excavating Services in 2007 while continuing his work with Renaissance and IPlay America.Then came North American Pipeline in 2012, D&D Trenchless in 2013, Allstate in 2017, and by 2020, a merger with Vortex and a company with 53 employees.There were plenty of risks, bumps and bruises, but Tommy kept building.And behind all of it for 30 years has been his wife, Eileen. She became the foundation that allowed Tommy to put in what was necessary to build these companies while raising their three daughters, Madeline, Gracie and Brooke. Her support is a huge part of Tommy’s success.Today, Tommy is back in the utility construction world, helping shape the next chapter of a company with decades of history.We talked about mentorship, partnerships, acquisitions, relationships, hiring, succession planning, family, and what it really takes to build something that lasts.

Jake Gergues has a real American story.Both of his parents were immigrants from Egypt, and Jake grew up in Jersey City with 12 other people under one roof. His father and grandfather owned a laundromat, and after his parents separated, Jake spent his summers down in Stafford Township.His dad was old-school. He taught Jake toughness, grit, discipline, and the value of hard work lessons that clearly stuck with him.Today, Jake and his team own 10 locations, along with an equipment distribution business that handles leasing and service.But beyond the business success, Jake is just as genuine as the day is long. He’s the kind of guy you can sit down with and immediately feel like you’ve known him for years.This was a really good podcast, and I think you’re going to enjoy his story.