Neil A. Carousso produces “Elizabeth Vargas Reports” on NewsNation – America’s fastest growing cable news network. Tune in to Vargas weekdays at 5 PM ET for unbiased news for all America.


Neil A. Carousso produces NewsNation original “Kurt’s Country” – a celebration of country music and a slice of Americana with host Kurt Bardella.

    Entertainment

  • ‘Shark Tank’ Star Daymond John Reveals Creative Business Solutions To Survive Coronavirus Pandemic

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    By Neil A. Carousso

    NEW YORK (WCBS 880)  Entrepreneur Daymond John, an investor on ABC’s “Shark Tank,” is encouraging his businesses to think outside the box to survive the economic crisis caused by the COVID-19 outbreak.

    “Once you know what you have with your staff and what you have with your inventory, find out who else out there you can collaborate with,” John told Joe Connolly and Neil A. Carousso on the WCBS Small Business Spotlight focusing on small business survival, sponsored by BNB Bank.

    The FUBU founder and bestselling author of “Power Shift: Transform Any Situation, Close Any Deal and Achieve any Outcome” pointed to Cowboy Fitness, based in Utah and Colorado, which he invested in on season 4 of “Shark Tank,” as an example of how business owners should pivot.

    “They basically loaned (their members) the equipment, and then, now, he does video conferences, kind of like a Peloton,” John said, adding that Cowboy Fitness retained most of its members by creating a new service.

    They have also secured partnerships with local stores that are shuttered and suffering from the lack of foot traffic. The retailers sell athletic apparel to its gym members at a 30 percent discount. In turn, Cowboy Fitness earns 5 percent on each sale. John calls this a “win-win” solution.

    The 51-year-old businessman says technological advancements have been implemented much faster because of the coronavirus pandemic, forcing companies to develop new efficiencies and work-from-home policies. The fashion brand expert says traditional retail will not be able to bounce back without making vast changes to its business model.

    “If I had Macy’s, one of the most famous and iconic retailers in the world, I would have cameras in there that are showing people’s style or various other things that people can feel like they can go in there because they’re an influencer,” John said, emphasizing, “They have to really make sure they become more of an events space than anything else.”

    At The Shark Group, which he founded in 2009, John advises businesses on product awareness and developing genuine, innovative approaches to grow brands. One of the companies he works with is Bombas, a sock company founded by Dave Heath, whose core mission is to donate one pair of socks to the homeless community for every pair bought.

    “The millennials today, and people today, they want to say I didn’t give one time at the end of the year, I gave 400 times,” John explained. “How do you find ways to add more value to the person and barter in your deals?”

    That’s what he is looking for on “Shark Tank:” Companies that are not only making money, but also demonstrate authenticity and passion for the communities they serve.

    “I’m trying to find out if I like the entrepreneur personally, if I feel that I could communicate with them, I could add value to them, they’re a problem solver not a problem creator and whether this business works out or not, we’ll do another business together,” he said.

    John took Connolly and Carousso behind the scenes of the reality TV show, telling WCBS 880 that the Sharks are competitive and the negotiating among the millionaires and billionaires is “real.”

    “You don’t want to get embarrassed on national television by Mark Cuban or Barbara (Corcoran) beating you out in front of everybody,” John said.

    He revealed “Shark Tank” pitches can last up to two hours, but viewers only see 8 minutes. Finalizing deals can last months after the taping as the Sharks vet businesses carefully before writing a check out of their own bank accounts.

    When asked if he believes entrepreneurs are born or made, the Queens native said it’s “instinct,” elaborating that people are often discouraged from starting their own businesses because of difficulty or the dismissive attitude that it’s “never been done before.” But, John had already started a few businesses before he was 18 when he launched FUBU, now worth about $400 million, out of his home in Hollis.

    While driving around Queens, his mother, Margot, encouraged him to follow his dreams. She said, as John recalled, “Every single thing around here started with one person that had one idea that took one action. Why can that not be you?”

    “I started by selling hats on the corner in 1989 and I had sold $800 worth of hats in one hour,” he said of his first designed ski caps that he made by hand. “I just had to sow a straight line to really figure out how to make these hats.”

    He closed that business three times between 1989 and 1992 because he ran out of money. But, his shirts became popular, in part, because he loaned them to local artists on the rise who wore FUBU T-shirts in music videos.

    John’s mother took him to trade shows around the country where he earned hundreds of thousands of dollars in sales. But, he needed inventory. As an inexperienced young businessman, he was unable to secure a loan from a bank, so Margot took out a $100,000 loan on her house that John said was only worth $75,000.

    “I sell all the furniture in my house, move in industrial sowing machines, sleep in sleeping bags next to the sowing machines,” he said of his hustle.

    He also worked at Red Lobster at night to make money to invest into his dream clothing business that he operated during the day.

    John said he bought an advertisement in The New York Times or New York Daily News seeking investors to provide the funding he needed to fill orders and move FUBU out of his home in Hollis.

    “Thirty-three people called. 30 of them were loan sharks or Kevin O’Leary-type of people,” his fellow “Shark Tank” star quipped. “One of them was Samsung’s textile division.”

    They signed a deal for Samsung to take over manufacturing, reducing costs, and John learned a lesson in business he would later impart on others while living the American Dream.

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  • Yankees GM Brian Cashman Opens Up On Being Held at Gunpoint: ‘What Am I, Pablo Escobar?’

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    By Jacquie Cadorette

    Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman sat down with Anthony Scaramucci and his wife, Deidre Scaramucci, to open up about his experience with being nearly arrested for driving a “stolen” car. Turns out, the situation was more embarrassing than anything else.

    The Scaramuccis recorded their RADIO.COM Original podcast, “Mooch and the Mrs.,” live from New York City’s Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday. When Cashman took the stage, Deidre couldn’t resist asking him about the details of his near-arrest.

    Cashman begins by explaining what happened. Back in August, he went outside in the morning to take a cruise in his convertible Jeep, only to find that the car had been stolen. The car was soon recovered without damages.

    Upon retrieving the car and driving back to his home, Cashman quickly learned that the vehicle had not yet been taken off of the “stolen” list. He was pulled over, held at gunpoint, and asked to raise his hands above his head.

    As terrifying as the situation sounds, Cashman remembers one overwhelming emotion: embarrassment. “I wasn’t scared, I was embarrassed,” he explains. Patrons of a nearby Starbucks saw the whole thing.

    The Yankees GM could only imagine what they must have been thinking. He continues, “They’re thinking, ‘What am I, Pablo Escobar?’”

    Still, Cashman lauds the NYPD for their fast acting, despite having mistaken Cashman for a thief. “I give a huge applause to them,” he says of the incident.

    Cashman’s got one confession regarding the whole ordeal. “I just didn’t want the body cam footage coming out,” he explains.

    You can hear more about Scaramucci and his guests by downloading the RADIO.COM app here.

    Neil A. Carousso executive produced the “Mooch and the Mrs.” live event at Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, including leading event planning, guest booking, activation, sales, and technical, digital and engineering support. 

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  • ‘RHONJ’ Alum Jacqueline Laurita Says New Podcast ‘Lets Her Let Loose’

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    By Tarrah Gibbons, RADIO.COM

    Several guests appeared on the live taping of RADIO.COM original podcast, “Mooch and the Mrs.” on Tuesday night including “Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum Jacqueline Laurita.

    During their conversation, Laurita talked about her RADIO.COM original podcast “The LookOver Ladies.”

    The podcast features just about any topics that are on a woman’s mind.

    Jacqueline Laurita, the host and former housewife of seven seasons, joins her girlfriends Jill Ashley and Melissa Polo as they talk about their hectic and exciting lives. “It’s our platform to let loose and talk about things that women love to talk about,” she said.

    “We all have backgrounds in beauty, health, wellness, fashion,” Laurita said. “We touch on all that but then we always go off on tangents and just start talking [about] random, inappropriate things,” she continued.

    But the “Real Housewives” star has never been shy when it comes to her personal life. She recently shared that her son, Nicholas, has autism.

    “My life is very autism focused. I have a son with autism. I help families that are affected by autism all the time.,” Laurita said.

    She uses her real-life experiences to help other families who have children with autism. Laurita said she coaches them to live healthy lives every day.

    In terms of her podcast, she sees it as an opportunity to escape the craziness of day-to-day life. “This is my kind of release to let go of all that and just be a girl,” she said.

    “The LookOver Ladies” can be found on the RADIO.COM app and everywhere podcasts are available.

    Neil A. Carousso executive produced the “Mooch and the Mrs.” live event at Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, including leading event planning, guest booking, activation, sales, and technical, digital and engineering support. 

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  • ‘RHONJ’ Alum Kathy Wakile Talks New Foodie and Travel Podcast

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    By Tarrah Gibbons, RADIO.COM

    Real Housewives of New Jersey” alum Kathy Wakile opened up about her new RADIO.COM original podcast, “Eat Live Love Indulge with Kathy Wakile.”

    During Tuesday night’s live recording of RADIO.COM original podcast “Mooch and the Mrs.” with Anthony Scaramucci and his wife Deidre, guest Wakile opened up about her own future endeavors.

    As Wakile sat down with the Scaramuccis she described her podcast as being a “conversation we have around the table.”

    “Food is the common denominator in all of our lives. It brings us all together,” Wakile said.

    The first intro to her podcast kicked off on August 28 and September 17 was the second episode where she and her husband traveled to Portugal and Spain.

    “It’s really about the conversations while we are traveling,” she said. “It could be your family discussions, you know, around the table, and what comes up,” Wakile continued.

    “I learned a long time ago when you learn how to cook, and you’re good at it, you always have friends,” Wakile said.

    Wakile also opened up on her daughter’s health. Her daughter had to undergo two brain surgeries to remove a benign tumor.

    “We were shocked,” Wakile said. “Totally shocked, and 10 years later, fast forward -she’s in nursing school. She decided to go in that career path because she wanted to give back,” she continued.

    Wakile said her daughter is feeling great and has two semesters left in nursing school.

    Wakile joined ‘The Real Housewives of New Jersey’ during the show’s third season in 2011, and later wrote a national bestselling cookbook called, “Indulge: Delicious Little Desserts That Keep Life Real Sweet.” She also launched a line of desserts, called, Indulge with Kathy Wakile, created the Indulge cannoli kit, and opened Pizza Love, an Italian restaurant in New Jersey.

    “Eat Live Love Indulge with Kathy Wakile” can be found on the RADIO.COM app and everywhere podcasts are available.

    Neil A. Carousso executive produced the “Mooch and the Mrs.” live event at Hunt & Fish Club in Times Square on Tuesday, September 17, 2019, including leading event planning, guest booking, activation, sales, and technical, digital and engineering support. 

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  • Exclusive: Anthony Scaramucci: My Wife ‘Would Have A Lot of Fun’ Starring on ‘Real Housewives’

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    By Suzanne Rozdeba, Radio.com

    Anthony Scaramucci is all about his wife possibly starring on “The Real Housewives of New York City.”

    “I’m totally fine with it. Whatever you want to do. I think you’d have a lot of fun,” the former White House Director of Communications told his wife Deidre during the latest episode of their RADIO.COM podcast, “Mooch and the Mrs.” 

    “I just hope that my Trump affiliation, to be totally candid — because I know a lot of people in Hollywood dislike the Orange Man — I hope the Cheetos stains on my hands are not on your hands,” he quipped.

    Addressing news that broke earlier on Page Six that she was reportedly in talks to join the cast, Deidre, who co-hosts the show with Anthony, said, “I can’t really get into too much detail, but I would love to do the show, if they really wanted me to do the show. We’ll let you guys know. Stay tuned...I love reality TV…I think it would be fun!”

    Deidre said, “Somebody told me I’m not interesting. The only reason they want me is that I’m married to you. There’s probably 80 percent truth to that. The person told me, there’s so many attractive, smart, funny women in New York.”

    Anthony said, “But you have something different. You have a translucency to your personality. You’re totally comfortable and you don’t try to hide sh*t. I think that’s really impressive. It’s a perverse sign of wacko major security,” he said.

    Deidre also told RADIO.COM separately about some of the racier comments about her possibly joining the show, saying that one online commenter wrote, “No one watches Bravo TV to be reminded of Trump rubbish outcast looking like Kim Zolciak circa 2009. No Andy [Cohen], don’t do it.”

    Speaking of Zolciak, who was formerly on “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” she said, “Everyone always says, especially when I go to the airport, and I go through TSA, they always tell me that I look like Kim Zolciak.”

    Anthony said, “That’s a compliment to Kim Zolciak. Shout-out to Kim. If you look like my wife, you’re definitely hot stuff.”

     

    Neil A. Carousso produces “Mooch and the Mrs. with Anthony and Deidre Scaramucci” on RADIO.COM. 

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