Jim talks with Kyle Jekelek about the part of building a career that doesn’t make for good storytelling: the slow accumulation of judgment.

They cover early misreads, the temptation to confuse motion with progress, and the quiet skill of knowing when to push and when to stop. Along the way, Kyle draws an analogy to selling on the New York City subway—learning quickly who’s actually listening, when to speak, and when to move on without wasting energy.

It’s a measured conversation about ambition without mythology—and why the long game rewards clarity, timing, and restraint more than noise.

Jim Lombardo sits down with **Tony Borden** of **Greenwich Village Social Club** for a fast-moving, smart conversation about building places—and brands—that people actually return to. Tony brings sharp insight on why experience beats hype, how consistency quietly outperforms trends, and what most businesses still misunderstand about hospitality in the age of content and video.

They move easily from music and culture to strategy and execution, unpacking how taste, restraint, and judgment matter more than flashy tools. Tony’s wit and clarity turn this into less of an interview and more of a masterclass disguised as conversation.

If you care about creating something memorable—and not just loud and pretty—this episode lands.

Jim Lombardo pulls up a chair with Erin Reddan, founder of ECR Vintners, for a conversation that tastes less like a lecture and more like a well-balanced pour. They talk about building a wine business without the cork-sniffing, starting ECR in a New York apartment, and why trusting your instincts matters just as much as trusting your palate. Erin shares what it really takes to turn passion into product, how entrepreneurship resembles a long fermentation process, and why success—like good wine—should be enjoyed, not overanalyzed.

Finish: Bright, confident, and best enjoyed with curiosity. Pairs well with risk-takers, founders, and anyone who orders wine they actually like.

Rick Biolsi**, managing partner of Bartley & Dick, joins *The Sounds of Success* for an episode that swings from Van Halen to Led Zeppelin and somehow makes room for potatoes, quarries, and Don Draper along the way. Rick walks Jim through his journey from rural Pennsylvania to running a New York agency, unpacking how a creative kid became a strategist, storyteller, and unwilling beard model.

They dive into the realities of marketing today — why customers don’t care as much as companies hope, what makes a campaign actually land, and how to stay resilient when the industry gets loud. Rick opens up about self-doubt, pivots, leadership, and the surprising lessons baked into a lifetime of creativity.

Funny, sharp, and refreshingly honest, this episode goes behind the curtain of modern branding and the mindset it takes to keep reinventing yourself.

CEO, author, and ultra-runner **Rick Simmons** joins *The Sounds of Success* for a deep, funny, and surprisingly emotional conversation about leadership, resilience, and the life-changing power of disruption. Rick shares his journey from a childhood shaped by scarcity to co-founding **The Telos Institute**, where he works with executives around the world on transformational change. He explains the idea of *liminal space*—pattern-breaking moments that open the door to real growth—along with stories from ultramarathons, global leadership treks, and building a business from scratch with his wife and partner, Amy Simmons. It’s a wide-ranging episode about ambition, reinvention, curiosity, and why laughter might be the truest measure of success.

Antonio Reonegro, legendary artist and designer for the Grateful Dead, joins host Jim Lombardo on The Sounds of Success for a conversation about creativity, hustle, and staying true to your craft. From painting T-shirts on Staten Island to creating iconic tour art seen by millions, Antonio shares how a love of drawing turned into a lifelong career. He talks mentors, deadlines, climbing 200-foot cranes for industrial shoots, and the constant balance between art and business. With humor, honesty, and heart, this is a story about reinvention, risk, and the beautiful chaos of making a living from your imagination.

Founder and CEO of Zelnick & Company, Cory Zelnik joins The Sounds of Success to talk about the grind, grit, and good humor that come with decades in New York City real estate. From summer camp lessons in leadership to running a brokerage built on discipline and drive, Corey shares how resilience, adaptability, and a 3:20 a.m. wake-up routine shaped his path. It’s a conversation about honesty, hustle, and why happiness—not money—is his measure of success.

Marine Corps veteran and CEO of Clear Path for Veterans, Ryan Woodruff joins The Sounds of Success to share his journey from combat to community—serving two tours in Iraq before finding purpose in helping other veterans heal. In this powerful and candid conversation, Ryan talks about resilience, faith, and transformation, revealing how discipline, gratitude, and service have shaped his life and leadership.