Episodes

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley are joined by career firefighter, paramedic, and founder of Atlantic Technical Rescue, Michael Berna. Drawing from more than four decades of front-line emergency service, Michael takes listeners behind the scenes of high-risk technical operations—from swiftwater floods and helicopter extractions to global disaster response. He shares how muscle memory, emotional restraint, and realistic training serve as the ultimate compet...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson sit down with long-time friends Carrie and Kevin Ford, owners of Blue Star Farm. Between full-time roles in orthopedic medical sales and public safety (firefighting), raising four kids, running a local farm, and navigating a state senate campaign, Carrie and Kevin embody what it means to build a life of purpose through unyielding work ethic and spousal partnership. The Blue Star Origin: Carrie and Kevin recount how their hig...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson go behind closed doors with Ed Frankovic, Director and Owner at Tiber Technologies. Holding advanced mathematics degrees from the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins, Ed brings over three decades of systems engineering, national security, and executive leadership experience to the table. In this candid conversation, Ed shares how prioritizing employee satisfaction and building an organic, family-oriented culture has driv...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley are joined by Mark, owner of multiple Budget Blinds territories across Harford County and Northern Baltimore. After a quarter-century in telecommunications corporate management, Mark made the leap into entrepreneurship in 2011, scaling a single-operator business into a thriving multi-territory franchise. The Corporate Pivot: Mark reflects on leaving a 25-year corporate career following corporate downsizing and the sudden p...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley sit down with two-time All-American, Team USA World Champion, and JMU Hall of Famer Kelly Berger. Kelly shares her journey from the high-stakes world of international athletics to the "messy middle" of fitness entrepreneurship, revealing what it takes to build a thriving community around a simple ethos: keep showing up. The Athlete’s Mindset: Kelly discusses her roots as an unrecruited walk-on who used a "prove them wrong"...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley sit down with Wendy, an accountant-turned-interior-designer who flipped the script on her career to build a thriving design boutique. Wendy opens up about escaping the corporate cubicle, surviving the "messy middle" of a mid-life pivot, and the unique dynamics of running a design-and-build business alongside her husband.  From Bank Audits to Color Palettes: Wendy shares her journey from a high-stress corporate career aud...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson sit down with serial entrepreneur and veteran business advisor Winston Lord. Winston shares a masterclass in the realities of building, scaling, and successfully exiting a technology-driven startup. From the early hustle of a $1,000 Craigslist short bus to processing data analytics for thousands of restaurants, this episode outlines why an unfiltered willingness to listen always outlasts empty business hype. The Anatomy of t...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson are joined by Ted Carter, president of Pinehurst Landscapes. As a second-generation business owner, Ted shares the strategic, architectural, and structural changes required to scale a family business from a 1960s local lawn route into one of Maryland’s premier landscape design and construction firms. The Evolution of a Family Business: Ted details how his father originally launched Pinehurst in 1964 with a single pickup truc...

In this episode, hosts Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley switch gears to explore the high-risk, immediate-feedback world of the entertainment business with viral stand-up comedian Dominic Solesky. Dominic shares an honest, behind-the-scenes look at building a digital brand with hundreds of millions of views while navigating the intense psychological resilience required to perform live stand-up comedy. From Snapchat Skits to Viral Success: Dominic traces his unconventional career path from filming r...

In this episode, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson welcome Laura Reynolds, the founder and CEO of Executive Endurance Coaching. As a competitive ultrarunner and triathlete, Laura unpacks the true definition of an "endurance mindset" and explains how the mental grit required to survive a grueling multi-mile race directly applies to the challenges of corporate leadership and sustainable business growth. The Reality of Executive Endurance: Laura debunks the misconception that she is an athletic co...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy sit down with Dr. Pete Diacoloukas, owner of Love Your New Smile. Moving far beyond traditional "drill and fill" dentistry, Dr. Diacoloukas shares how he built a boutique brand centered on life-changing transformations and the business strategy behind high-end cosmetic care. A Lifetime in the Lab: Dr. Diacoloukas reveals that dentistry is the only career he has ever known, having spent his youth working in his father’s basement dental lab in ...

In this episode, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson are joined by Dimitrios Komninos, founder of Dmitri Olive Oil. This episode explores how Dimitrios transformed a 200-year-old family legacy into a premium international brand through grit, education, and an uncompromising commitment to quality. Pure Quality from Grove to Gallery The Anatomy of Real Olive Oil: Dmitri explains that true extra virgin olive oil must be single-sourced and maintain an acidity level below 0.8%—though his typically te...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley are joined by Dr. Sarah Cannon, board-certified dermatologist and owner of Cannon Dermatology in Bel Air, Maryland. Dr. Cannon shares her journey from the burnout of traditional, high-volume insurance practices to pioneering a direct care model that prioritizes quality time and evidence-based medicine. The Direct Care Revolution in Medicine Breaking Away from Burnout: Dr. Cannon candidly discusses the "state of medicine" ...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Morgan Watson and Annette Quigley are joined by entrepreneurs Kurt Selmer and Michael Clark. Together, they discuss their unique partnership and the creation of Park and Social, a members-only car storage and social club that merges high-end automotive care with community building. From Passion to State-of-the-Art Operations: Kurt Selmer discusses transitioning from 14 years in corporate IT management at McCormick to scaling Detailed Solutions from a h...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Morgan Watson and Annette Quigley are joined by Robert "Rob" Commodari, a multifaceted entrepreneur, author, and host of the Chiseled podcast. This episode dives deep into the psychology of high achievement, the spiritual catalyst for personal growth, and the internal battles that define successful leaders. The Masterpiece in Progress: The Origins of "Chiseled": Rob shares the spiritual and serendipitous moments that led him to launch his podcast, Chi...

In this episode, Jay and Morgan are joined by Danny Whitehurst, Co-Founder of Ten Oaks Builders. This episode goes deep into the world of land development and high-end custom home building, emphasizing that the "messy middle" of construction is best managed through transparency and radical accountability. From Lacrosse to Land Development: Danny reflects on his transition from being a college goalkeeper to managing the financial risks of large-scale land development for national builders like R...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson sit down with Alessandro Vitale, CEO of Highland Sporting Outfitters. Alexandra shares a masterclass in turning a lifelong passion into a premier gallery experience, navigating the complex world of high-end shotguns and land development. Building a Gallery Experience: Alexandra discusses how he moved away from the "seedy gun shop" stereotype to create a high-end gallery similar to a luxury jeweler, representing bespoke brand...

In the 13th episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson are joined by Mike Naylor, Co-Founder and CEO of Direct Mortgage Loans (DML). Mike shares the high-stakes journey of building a full-scale mortgage lender from the ground up, starting from a snowy car accident to achieving a massive $1 billion milestone in annual mortgage originations. The "Accidental" Career: Mike reveals how a car accident on the way to a job interview eventually led him to the mortgage business. Start...

In this episode of the Behind the Frame podcast, hosts Morgan Watson and Annette Quigley sit down with Kelly Casalena, owner of Kelly’s Hair Design in Joppa, Maryland. Kelly is not only a seasoned cosmetologist but also a trichologist—a specialist in the science of hair loss and scalp disorders. The Science of Trichology: Kelly explains that her work exists at the intersection of aesthetic care and biological science. She helps clients navigate complex hair loss journeys caused by medical treat...

Hosts Morgan Watson and Annette Quigley are joined by Brent D. Francis, a third-generation funeral director and the owner of Parkview Funeral Home. This episode provides an insightful look into the "business of compassion," debunking common industry myths while offering practical business advice for surviving a shifting landscape. Generational Roots & Modern Realities: Brent shares his journey as a third-generation owner, originally following in his grandfather's 1936 footsteps in Canada before...

In this episode, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson interview the legendary voice of the Baltimore Ravens, Emmy-winning sportscaster, leadership and communication coach, and founder of the Sandusky Group, Gerry Sandusky. Gerry, who humorously describes the feeling of playing a "pickup game with an NBA player" when doing a podcast, shares the often non-linear and accidental path that led him from a college finance major to a four-decade career in broadcasting and consulting. He offers powerful in...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson welcome Dr. Paul Fox, the owner and lead veterinarian at Mount Carmel Animal Hospital. Dr. Fox purchased the practice in 1994 , and it has since become a comprehensive care center in Northern Baltimore County, offering everything from diagnostics and dentistry to surgery and general treatment for small animals. Dr. Fox shares his journey from an 11-year-old wanting to be a surgeon and cure cancer to becoming a passionate vet...

In this episode of Behind the Frame, hosts Jay Duffy and Morgan Watson sit down with a good friend of Jay's, Joe Perez, the owner and operator of Outsiders CrossFit. Joe's gym is described as one of the most disciplined, tight-knit, and fast-growing fitness communities in the region, built on accountability, culture, and pushing people past their perceived limits. The conversation dives deep into the world of fitness, discipline, community, and entrepreneurship. Key Discussion Points: The Jo...

Ready to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to build a thriving business as a husband-and-wife team? This episode of Behind the Frame goes beyond the highlight reels to sit down with Cory and Stefanie Skidmore, co-owners of a Celebree School franchise, as they discuss the messy, yet rewarding, middle of scaling a business centered on family and community. Jay Duffy and Annette Quigley talk with the Skidmores, who transitioned from careers in assisted living and ambulance transportati...