On this Brews & Banter “podcast with friends” episode, Roman and Frank welcome a crew that feels like family: Catherine and Blake, visiting all the way from Florida, plus Catherine’s sister Jessica, a young entrepreneur from Syracuse who’s already making moves in real estate investing. (Jessica’s boyfriend hung out off-camera — shy but present for the chaos 😄) Over a round of drinks, we catch up on how we met, how life has evolved, and where our careers have taken us. Catherine and Blake share what it’s like working as real estate agents in Florida, while Catherine still keeps her NYS license active and closes deals up north. Jessica jumps in with her own journey — starting young, buying investment properties, and reaching out to Roman for advice, guidance, and the occasional hands-on help.

We also revisit our Florida trip, including the legendary moment we met Catherine and Blake’s pet alligator, George, who definitely deserves his own guest credit someday.

A fun, easygoing episode full of laughs, stories, career talk, and friendships that stretch across states. Grab a drink and hang out with us!

This week on Brews & Banter, Roman and Frank throw back a few cold ones with Gabby Downing — former high-fashion model turned full-throttle car builder, drifter, and content creator. Gabby shares the raw, honest version of her journey: from the glam of the runway to the grease-under-the-nails reality of wrenching on a 1987 Honda CRX with her late dad’s old toolbox. We dive deep into what made her trade heels for hydraulic jacks — how fixing that first rust-bucket car sparked a passion for racing, building, and self-reliance. Gabby walks us through her car history (CRX, Subaru WRX, BMW, and now a 1999 C5 Corvette drift build), the struggles of being one of the few women in the garage/racing world, and how she taught herself everything from mechanical work to social-media branding. Between laughs, real talk, and a few beers, we get the story behind her motto: “Clarity, goals, and donuts” — a little formula she says helped her stay true to herself, chase her passion, and build a life she loves. If you love cars, second chances, or just badass authenticity — this episode hits different. Buckle up, hit play, and enjoy the ride. 🍻

On this episode of Brews & Banter, hosts Roman and Frank pour two beers and welcome real-estate pro Shelley Hoffman — broker/owner of HHC Realty in Baldwinsville, NY and passionate community builder. Shelley takes us behind the scenes of her brokerage (in business since 2016), shares how she partners with non-profits and uses her love of local community to build business and relationships. We dig into how Shelley teaches real estate (she’s a NYS-approved real-estate educator) and how her entrepreneurial drive led her into media roles (including her work with American Dream TV). Amid the laughs and casual banter, we talk about what it takes to stay grounded in a business built on “heart, home, and community,” how a brokerage can serve a town (not just sell houses), and what’s next for both of us in collaborating together. Grab your favorite craft beer — this one’s as local, real, and entertaining as it gets. 🍻