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 storytelling to bring meaning back into our hyper-automated world. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: How "Kapsol" lets you send messages into the future Why emotionally intelligent tech is the next big market The moment that sparked Jared's mission (and why it still gets him choked up) What entrepreneurs get wrong about "scaling" emotional connection Why the 50+ crowd might be your startup's secret weapon How to build software people feel, not just use 💡 Notable Takeaway: We're losing intergenerational wisdom…and relying on AI to fill that gap. That's dangerous. 👤 About our Guest: Jared Emerick is the Founder & CEO of Emotiga, a platform designing emotionally intelligent tech that bridges the gap between people and their future moments. With roots in innovation, marketing, and storytelling, Jared's focused on building software that makes digital interaction more human—and helping people hold on to what matters most, even when they can't be there in person. 🎧 Why Listen: If you want to leave more behind than just a LinkedIn bio, hit play. This one stays with you. 🔗 Links + Stuff Emotiga: https://emotiga.com Connect with Jared: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaredemerick Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jaredemerick 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

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 banking isn't dead—it just needed a reboot. The behind‑the‑scenes of getting a bank charter, FDIC insurance & raising ~$40 million from local business owners. Why many banks are failing local businesses and what entrepreneurs should demand instead. A primer on stablecoins: what they are, why they matter for small/medium businesses. How Locality Bank makes money and why the "spread" matters for business owners. The tech‑first, human‑touch model: balancing digital banking + sit‑down cigars with business owners. What's next for banking, payments, and local business ecosystems. 💡 Notable Takeaway: Traditional finance is not going to go away… but stablecoins and crypto are coming very rapidly. 👤 About our Guest: Keith Costello is the Founder & CEO of Locality Bank, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With prior exits in the banking world, Keith set out to build a new style of community bank designed for small and medium‑sized business owners. He's passionate about preserving local relationships, embracing technology, and enabling entrepreneurs to access the capital they need to grow. 🎧 Why Listen: If you're building a business, seeking banking that gets you, or curious where finance is headed (yes—stable coins, crypto, and what it means for your next deal), press play now. This one's for builders who want banking that works with them, not against them. 🔗 Links + Stuff Linkedin profile keith@localitybank.com Locality Bank 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

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 you've outgrown and the people you can't manage. Why your top salesperson might be the worst person to promote into management. The difference between "authority + wisdom" and "connection → wisdom" in leadership. Michael's four human‑behavior levers (survive/thrive/connect/adapt) that drive business culture and freedom. The idea of "talking‑back‑money (TBM)"—why you should pass on the client who doesn't fit your values. How a strong core‑value system doesn't change when you grow. It anchors you even when everything else is different. 💡 Notable Takeaway: Freedom in your business, freedom from your business, and freedom because of your business. 👤 About our Guest: Michael Walsh is the founder and CEO of the Walsh Business Growth Institute. He's authored multiple books—Business by Design, Thinking Big Is Not Enough, and Freedom by Design. He works with professional services and engineering‑type firms to scale from the 1‑to‑5‑to‑10‑million range and beyond by aligning people, process, and profit. 🎧 Why Listen: Don't just grow bigger; grow better. Hit play, listen with a notebook, and give your business the structure and human backbone it's been missing. You'll thank yourself later. 🔗 Links + Stuff Freedom by Design by Michael Walsh Walsh Business Growth Institute 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

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, cleaning restaurants, and bartending before the bodybuilding world. How competition training (3‑4 hrs of cardio + 1–1.5 hrs lifting daily) pushed her body and mind…and why she now warns that competition is far from "healthy." The "fat closet / skinny closet" metaphor: the mental toll of fluctuating between extremes and losing sight of identity outside the stage. Why the devices, data, and perfection‑culture around fitness are creating more noise than help, and how busy high‑achievers sabotage themselves by waiting for perfect alignment. Practical strategies for busy professionals to stay consistent: build routines that work even when travel, kids, long hours, and chaos hit. Commit to something, not perfection. Transitioning from competitor to coach: how Nathalia flipped the script, began working with women in high‑stress professions, and focused on behavior, emotion, and sustainable habits instead of extreme "bro‑culture" fitness. 💡 Notable Takeaway: "The deadline is literally the coffin." 👤 About our Guest: Nathalia Melo is a Brazilian‑born former Ms. Olympia (one of the most prestigious titles in bodybuilding) who turned her high‑performance athlete mindset into a coaching business. After years in the extreme world of fitness and competition—where she traveled, coached, and lived the spotlight—she shifted gears into helping busy professional women (law, finance, executives) design realistic, high‑impact lifestyles that include health, movement, and mental clarity. 🔊 Why Listen: Hit play, take notes, and let Nathalia's story remind you: you don't need perfect conditions—just a consistent decision to show up. Tune in now. Connect with Nathalia: Website Podcast Instagram Facebook 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

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 wheel. Julio brings the engineering + tax combo that's usually reserved for the Fortune 500 … but we're showing you how to use it too. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: Julio explains how the R&D tax credit has been revived…and how business owners can go back three years to claim it. What qualifies as "R&D"? Even a honey company changing formulas counts: it's about improving processes and products. Cost segregation in real estate: how classifying non‑structural elements (HVAC, lighting, flooring) can allow huge write‑offs up front. Comparing an estimate vs. an engineered study for tax purposes, and why the IRS will toss the first and respect the second. How cost segregation ties into a 1031 exchange and impacts your basis, and what happens when you pass the property on via inheritance (step‑up basis). The future of accounting: AI, talent shortages, and how firms that can't keep up will lose. Julio's story: from Miami family‑house chaos to tax reform pioneer, bringing elite tax strategies to "regular" business owners. 💡 Notable Takeaway: The government doesn't have to be a 50% owner of your profit. 👤 About our Guest: Julio Gonzalez is the founder & CEO of Engineered Tax Services (ETS), a national firm that blends engineering, tax, and accounting to bring specialty tax credits and cost‑segregation studies (historically for Fortune 500s) to entrepreneurs and real‑estate investors. His mission: tax equality for small business owners, converting tax liabilities into wealth‑building play. 🎧 Why Listen: If you own a business, invest in real estate, or are about to sell/transition your company, don't leave money on the table. Hit play, take notes, then connect with your CPA (and maybe Julio's team) to see if you're owed. This isn't a "maybe one day" strategy. Time is ticking. 🔗 Links + Stuff Free R+D Tax Credit Estimate Free Cost Segregation Analysis Free copy of Julio's book, Why Billionaires Love the Tax Code. Text "Y" to 26786 Engineered Tax Services Website

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 the court to the code The real reason most automation doesn't get adopted (spoiler: it's not cost) Why small businesses can use robotics — and how it's already happening The difference between being a "vendor" and a "strategic partner" How Chang Robotics is helping businesses compete with overseas manufacturers Why graphene oxide could be the next big thing in sustainable packaging How to raise a fund, build IP, and keep it founder-funded 💡 Notable Takeaway: Automation isn't about robots replacing people. It's about making your existing team more productive. 👤 About our Guest: Dr. Don Capener is part professor, part founder, part startup whisperer. He's built brands, scaled tech companies, and now serves as Chief Strategy & Culture Officer at Chang Robotics, helping manufacturers and logistics firms embrace automation through strategy, not just engineering. 🔊 Why Listen: If you think robotics is "someday tech," this episode will slap that timeline right into the present. Press play and find out what the future of work really looks like. Connect with Dr. Don Capener: Email: dcapener@changrobotics.ai Chang Robotics Chang Robotics Fund 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

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 finance, and why you need a "strike zone" rather than just shooting everywhere. This episode is for entrepreneurs who want to level up: not just chase money, but play in the big leagues with clarity, edge, and connection. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: The definition of a family office and the three main types: virtual, single‑family, and multi‑family. Why mistakes cost more as your net worth grows — and how high‑net‑worth folks avoid common traps. The idea of an "investment strike zone" — focusing your resources where you have real edge instead of being everywhere. Trust is more important than returns when you're raising capital or building relationships with ultra‑wealthy investors. How deal structure often matters more than valuation — the wrong structure can wreck an opportunity even if the business is good. The growing role of AI tools in diligence, deal structuring, and investor screening. Where the money is flowing now (and where it's cooling off): trends in Bitcoin, real estate syndications, etc. Practical advice for founders/entrepreneurs: how to package your deal, how to get a one‑liner that hits, how to get investors to lean forward. How to present yourself so you're first in line for deals rather than being one of many looking in. 💡 Notable Takeaway: "If your financial IQ does not grow faster than your balance sheet, then the world will correct that pretty quickly." 👤 About our Guest: Richard C. Wilson is the founder and CEO of the Family Office Club, which helps ultra‑wealthy families and their advisors build, manage, and grow their "family offices" — the private investment and wealth‑management operations that go beyond traditional asset management. He's spoken at hundreds of conferences in over 14 countries, authored bestselling books in the family‑office space, and built one of the largest networks of private capital and deal flow for founders and investors alike. 🔊 Why Listen: Don't just listen: lean in. If you're serious about raising capital, scaling your business or stepping into higher‑stakes investing, this episode gives you a map. Tune in, take notes, pick one idea you'll apply this week — then come back next time and let us know how it moved the needle. Connect with Richard C. Wilson and The Family Office Club: The Family Office Club Richard C. Wilson LinkedIn 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

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 skyrocketing interest rates have throttled leverage across residential & commercial deals Why commercial real estate loans are shorter term (3–5 yrs) vs residential's long tail The big differences between U.S. and Canadian mortgages — and why Canada forces refinancing every five years Build-to-rent: the next wave in multifamily, with case study in San Antonio (duplexes, pre‑sales, cash flow) How CPI structures deals: equity investors only, GP guarantees, and how they protect LPs Why operator/jockey matters more than the deal itself The communication secret sauce: monthly property reports, weekly investor emails, webinars, open access Where August would place a bet if he had to pick just one U.S. state (Florida + Texas make his shortlist) 💡 Notable Takeaway: "Our reporting is very robust … we provide monthly reporting … quarterly financials … we have an investor portal." 👤 About our Guest: August Biniaz is the founder and Chief Investment Officer of CPI Capital, a real estate fund focused on syndication and development across North America. He also hosts the Real Estate Investing Demystified podcast and is a recognized voice in the real estate investment community. August is deeply immersed in structuring deals, scaling projects, and building trust with investors. 🔊 Why Listen: Don't gamble with your capital. Listen in to get a real‑world dose of how the smartest operators are playing real estate in 2025. 🔗 Connect with August: CPI Capital Website Podcast: Real Estate Investing Demystified 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

If your lawyer makes you nervous to ask a question, you've already lost. Jeff Holman isn't your typical lawyer. He doesn't bill in six-minute increments, he doesn't hide behind legalese, and he sure as hell isn't trying to research something on your dime. Instead, he built Fractional Legal Team, a scalable model that gives founders legal backup before things blow up. Think of it like having a badass legal department… without the overhead or the attitude. We cover the legal blind spots that wreck early-stage companies, when to actually call a lawyer (spoiler: it's way earlier than you think), and why the billable hour model is the dumbest thing still haunting entrepreneurs. 🍸 What you'll hear in this episode: Why fractional legal teams are the future (and law firms should be nervous) How to tell if your legal setup is a time bomb in disguise The shady ADA lawsuits and text message laws putting businesses on blast Startup legal milestones you shouldn't ignore, like hiring, fundraising, and that one sketchy cofounder Jeff's take on AI and why "just testing" legal tech could land you in deep trouble Bonus Read: Jeff's blog post on Startup Milestones — a roadmap for what legal moments matter and when. 💡 Favorite Quote: The risk isn't what you know. It's what you think you know — and don't manage. 👤 About our Guest: Engineer. Attorney. MBA. Legal rebel. Jeff Holman is the founder of Intellectual Strategies and creator of the Fractional Legal Team model that gives businesses legal support that grows with them, without hourly sticker shock. He's helped startups from idea stage to 8-figure exits, and somehow still enjoys law. (We checked. It's real.) 🔊 Why Listen: If you've ever had legal "oh sh*t" moments (or worse, ignored them) this one's for you. Jeff breaks down what most attorneys won't: how to protect your business without becoming a walking billable hour. 🔗 Connect with Jeff: Startup Milestones The Rise of Fractional Legal Teams for Modern Businesses 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/

Money doesn't get complicated. People do. In this episode, Matt and Luigi sit down with Scott Yamamura, a financial coach who's ditching Wall Street jargon for straight-up clarity. If you've ever felt behind, confused, or just plain bored when it comes to your money, Scott's got a wake-up call: you have more power than you think…but it's fading by the decade. He lays out his 3 financial epiphanies that simplify how money grows, why time matters more than talent, and what most people get dead wrong about saving and debt. This isn't a lecture. It's your financial pep talk with a playbook. 🍸 What You'll Learn: The "Power of 16" and why your money is strongest when you're young Why most people wait too long to start saving… and what it costs them Debt snowball vs saving-first strategies (plus a spicy pushback from Matt) How to talk money with your kids without sounding like a boring parent Simple investing that works (S&P, index funds, target-date funds — yep, that easy) What Scott taught his son that every parent should steal 💡 Favorite Quote: "We're not impostors on our own money. It's our responsibility to know this stuff and to be engaged." 👤 About our Guest: Scott Yamamura is the financial coach and author behind Financial Epiphany, where he helps regular people build confidence around money using simple tools and powerful mindset shifts. He believes financial literacy is less about numbers — and more about ownership. 🔊 Why Listen: Because compound interest doesn't wait, and neither should you. If you've been meaning to "get your finances together," this episode will finally make it feel doable. No finance degree required. 🔗 Connect with Scott: Website: financialepiphany.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-yamamura 📞 Want help prepping your business for growth or sale? Hit us up at https://api.leadconnectorhq.com/widget/bookings/call-with-credit-banc-pod 🎧 Subscribe. Rate. Share. Repeat. Our website Apple Podcasts Spotify Audible YouTube 📧 Want even more? Subscribe to The Weekly, our Friday morning newsletter, for all the latest in the world of finance, tech, small business, and more. Available on Substack: https://theweeklyfromshieldadvisory.substack.com/ Connect with us on Instagram: ➡️ @matthew.r.meehan➡️ @luigi_rosabianca, ➡️ https://www.instagram.com/theliquidlunchproject/