You Gotta Have Balls: The Secrets Behind Building a Sports Collectibles Empire
Release Date: 12/09/2024
Santa’s Naughty & Nice List: LLP's Best Episodes of 2025
The Liquid Lunch Project
Luigi couldn’t make it to the mic this time… but don’t worry, we had a special guest fresh off his sleigh: Santa Claus. That’s right. After delivering toys across the globe, Santa himself dropped by to join Matt and help break down the Top 10 most-listened-to episodes of 2025. What’s stuffed in the stocking: How to protect your brand from copycats Why profit isn’t just about more revenue The emotional side of being a founder (and why that’s normal) The secret weapon difference between a CPA and a CFO And the tax strategy that legally makes five-figure bills disappear ...
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Scroll Fatigue and Business Strategy: The Year in Review
The Liquid Lunch Project
🔥 Was 2025 really overwhelming… or did we just scroll WAY too much? Matt and Lou slam through the weirdest year in business and culture, taking stock of inflation noise, AI mania, internet frenzy, hiring headaches, and what the hell actually moved the needle for entrepreneurs. Part reflection, part roast, 100% Liquid Lunch energy. 🍸 Key Highlights: Inflation still there, but news made it freakier than it was AI buzz was everywhere — real impact vs hype battle Hiring sucks. Gig minds + remote everything = chaos K‑shaped economy: winners vs the squeezed middle Biggest...
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How One Founder Built Tech to Outlive Us All
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if your future kid could hear from a grandparent who’s no longer here? Not in a cheesy, preloaded card, but a real message, made just for them? This week, Matt grabs a digital drink with Jared Emerick, Founder & CEO of Emotiga, the company behind Kapsol, a platform that lets people record heartfelt messages today and deliver them years from now. Think wedding day notes from your late father, or advice from Grandpa showing up exactly when your kid needs it. But don’t get it twisted—this isn’t sci-fi fluff. Jared's building tech that blends emotional intelligence, AI, and...
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Community Banking Rebooted: Stablecoins, Tech & the New Money Movement
The Liquid Lunch Project
When was the last time the person approving your business loan picked up their own phone? In this episode, Matt and Lou sit down with Keith Costello, who built Locality Bank from the ground up, a tech‑forward community bank for real business owners. They dive into his “why,” the nuts‑and‑bolts of launching a bank, the future of stable coins, and why the big banks aren’t always the best choice for entrepreneurs. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: How Keith transitioned from military to Merrill Lynch to banking and finally to founding Locality Bank. Why he says community...
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Business or Prison? Michael Walsh Explains Why Founders Get Stuck Scaling
The Liquid Lunch Project
What’s the real reason your business growth feels like you’re carrying bricks uphill? On today’s episode, Michael Walsh takes us behind the curtain of business growth, from “we’re doing fine” to “we’re doing great, but I’m drowning anyway.” He walks through the hidden growth blockers (structures, people, manager vs. individual contributor), his “Freedom by Design” framework, and how to shift your business from a grind to something that actually frees you. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: Why the common growth trap isn’t revenue; it’s the structures...
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Burnout in Lycra – Nathalia Melo’s Journey from Bro-Culture to Balanced Coaching
The Liquid Lunch Project
What happens when a world‑class athlete trades the stage for the boardroom—and discovers the hardest competitor is the one in the mirror? In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Nathalia Melo, former Ms. Olympia, to talk about her journey from gym floors in Brazil to global stages, and how that athletic mindset maps straight onto entrepreneurship, body image, hustle, and building a life that works when the perfect time never comes. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: Nathalia’s humble start: moving from Brazil to the U.S. with $300, living in a cockroach‑infested apartment,...
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Find Hidden Money in Your Business: Julio Gonzalez on Tax Strategies
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if we told you the government owes you money…and you didn’t even know it? In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Julio Gonzalez, founder and CEO of Engineered Tax Services, to peel back the curtain on how the tax code can actually become a tool — not a penalty — for entrepreneurs and real‑estate investors. We talk about the game‑changer “big beautiful bill,” why R&D tax credits matter even to non‑tech firms, how cost segregation among real‑estate players is far more than “just depreciation,” and why your accountant might be asleep at the...
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How Chang Robotics Is Making Automation Work for Small Businesses
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if your next coworker isn’t human? What if it’s a robot… and it’s already cost‑effective? In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Dr. Don Capener, a serial entrepreneur whose career jumps from streetwear to startups to scaling robotics companies. From founding a basketball apparel brand bought by Reebok, to leading a tech IPO during the dot-com boom, to now helping small and mid-size manufacturers automate with Chang Robotics, Don proves that business is a contact sport... and he's still dunking. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: Don’s not-so-linear journey from...
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Inside the Family Office: How the Ultra‑Wealthy Really Invest
The Liquid Lunch Project
What if your next move isn’t about hustling harder, but about rethinking how the ultra‑wealthy build, manage, and protect their wealth? In this episode, Matthew R. Meehan and Luigi Rosabianca sit down with Richard C. Wilson: veteran deal‑maker, capital‑raiser, and founder of the Family Office Club. Richard pulls back the curtain on family offices: what they actually do, how they differ from “regular” investment firms, and the mistakes even very wealthy people make when they ignore the fundamentals. We dive into investment strategies, trust building, deal flow, AI in...
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Real Estate’s Interest Rate Hangover: What Happens When Cheap Debt Dies
The Liquid Lunch Project
Is real estate dead? Or are we just in the hangover phase after cheap money? In this episode of The Liquid Lunch Project, Matt and Lou sit down with August Biniaz (founder & CIO of CPI Capital) to rip the lid off today’s real estate climate. We go deep on how interest rates broke the model, how Canadian mortgages force you to “rematch” every five years, and why “build-to-rent” is catching heat. The real bombs drop when we talk operator risk, investor communication, and where the real opportunities still lie in the U.S. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: How...
info_outlineHow do you turn a childhood paper route into a multi-million-dollar empire? And what do bagels and sports memorabilia have in common?
In this episode,we sit down with Brandon Steiner, the pioneer who redefined the sports memorabilia industry. From creating the Everything Bagel to striking groundbreaking deals with the Yankees, Brandon shares his journey of growth, grit, and game-changing moments. Whether you're a business owner, sports fan, or someone in need of inspiration, this episode has something for everyone.
About the Guest:
Brandon Steiner is the founder of Steiner Sports and Collectible Exchange, a visionary entrepreneur, and author of You Gotta Have Balls. With decades of experience marketing athletes and memorabilia, he’s revolutionized the sports collectibles market while emphasizing growth, empathy, and innovation.
Episode Highlights:
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Brandon’s unconventional journey from delivering newspapers to creating the Everything Bagel.
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Redefining sports memorabilia with deals like the Yankees’ old stadium and Mark Messier’s collectibles.
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Why empathy and putting your customers first are non-negotiables in business.
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The importance of perpetual growth: "What else? What’s next?"
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A candid take on selling your business and the hard truths behind private equity partnerships.
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Brandon’s advice to entrepreneurs: Own your mistakes, solve problems, and always think ahead.
Don’t miss this deep dive into the mindset of a true game-changer.
Favorite Quote:
“I always say, don't run away from your problems, run to them…And when you screw up, own up, man up, fix it, and get it right.”
Connect with Brandon:
https://thesteineragency.com
https://collectiblexchange.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/Collectible-Xchange
https://twitter.com/cxstuff
https://www.facebook.com/CollectibleXchange
https://instagram.com/CollectibleXchange
Stay Connected:
Connect with Matt and Luigi on Instagram:
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