Talk About It With Franjez

Neil Pallone delivers one of the most raw and compelling conversations on family legacy, boxing history, the rise of female fighters, domestic violence advocacy, and the psychological toll of working in corrections. As the nephew of legendary welterweight “Tough Tony” Pallone, Neil breaks down the untold story behind one of boxing’s most influential families and how that legacy shaped his life. Neil speaks candidly about growing up around fighters, his early years in Brooklyn and Yonkers, the reality of making money too young, failed marriages, rediscovering creativity as a playwright, and a 19 year career in corrections that nearly shut down his artistic side. He then reveals how a chance moment reignited his passion for storytelling and connected him to a new mission: promoting and mentoring female boxers while raising awareness about domestic violence through the Tough Tony Team. This episode dives deep into human struggle, second chances, inner battles, and the power of using your experiences to elevate others. If you are passionate about boxing, women’s sports, mental health, domestic violence awareness, personal growth, storytelling, or New York culture, this is a must-watch.
 
#TalkAboutItWithFranjez #NeilPallone #FemaleBoxing #BoxingStories #DomesticViolenceAwareness #CorrectionsLife #ToughTonyTeam # tonypellone

Adam Vohra joins me for one of the deepest and most candid conversations we’ve had on this show. Adam is a keynote speaker, podcast host, and founder of ARV Enterprises. In this episode, he opens up fully about his adoption story, childhood identity struggles, years of alcohol dependence, legal issues, hitting rock bottom, and the path that led him to rebuild his life spiritually, emotionally, and professionally. We cover ego, resentment, family dynamics, recovery, journaling, emotional regulation, and the personal responsibility required to change your life for good. If you're on a growth journey, struggling with addiction, or rebuilding your identity, this conversation will hit home. Subscribe for more conversations that challenge the mind and build the spirit.
Chapters
00:00 Intro 01:15 Adam’s early commute and background
02:30 Born in Bombay and adopted as an infant
05:10 Immigrant family story: Indian and Persian-Jewish roots
09:40 How Adam and his sister discovered they were adopted
15:10 The resentment, identity confusion, and impact on childhood
20:55 First drink at 13 and the beginning of addiction
24:40 High school trouble, suspensions, and thrill chasing
29:55 College years, Ritalin, and searching for validation
34:20 Working 15 years in restaurants while sinking deeper into alcohol
37:45 Legal trouble and repeated cycles
41:10 Death of his mother and unresolved family wounds
45:50 Hitting rock bottom: doctor’s warning and the turning point
49:20 Choosing sobriety and going to South Carolina to do the work
53:40 Rebuilding life through routine, discipline, journaling, and reading
56:55 Self-development, spirituality, and taming the ego
1:03:20 Meditation, breathwork, and living in the moment
1:06:25 Friendships before sobriety vs. friendships after
1:11:10 Emotional regulation as a life skill
1:14:05 Entering the fitness industry and leaving restaurants behind
1:18:00 The power of purpose and helping others
1:21:40 Closing thoughts from Adam Vohra
 
About the Guest: Adam Vohra Adam Vohra is a keynote speaker, podcast host, and founder of ARV Enterprises. He speaks on personal development, mindset, sobriety, and life transformation. His story spans immigration, adoption, recovery, and entrepreneurship.
 
Follow Adam:  @AdamVohra_ 
Follow the Show Instagram: @TalkaboutitwithFranjez
TikTok: @Franjez.com
Podcast Studio:  @TheYonkersStudio 
Westchester NY
New episodes weekly.
 
#TalkAboutItWithFranjez #LiveLifeWeekly #AdamVohra #SobrietyStory #AdoptionJourney #SelfDevelopment #EgoWork #SpiritualGrowth #EmotionalRegulation #PodcastConversation

In this powerful episode of Talk About It With Franjez, we sit down with Lewis Omar Figueroa, the founder of HGRN Holdings, a direct lender, and a published author. Omar shares his incredible journey from growing up in the 'hood hood' of the Bronx on Nelson Avenue , navigating parental challenges as a 'parentrenified' child , and hustling through multiple jobs while attending NYU on a scholarship. Discover the mindset shift that took Omar from aspiring NYPD cop to operating a liquor store and a nightclub before finally finding his true path in the lucrative world of loan origination and real estate. He reveals the hard lessons learned from a short lived business partnership and the defining moment he realized the exponential value of "doing paperwork" over physical labor. #RealEstateInvestor #BronxEntrepreneur #HGRNHoldings #PodcastInterview #FinancialMindset

Welcome back to the Talk About It with Franjez Podcast! Today, we're joined by a multi award winning writer, actor, and filmmaker, and the cofounder of Brimstone Pictures, Neil Chase! We're also thrilled to have our returning guest cohost, Michael Mitage. Neil, the creator of the acclaimed film Spin the Wheel, shares his incredible journey from being born in Croatia and moving to Canada at age seven, to his initial career as an electrical engineer, and finally making the leap to follow his passion for storytelling and filmmaking.
In this inspiring conversation, Neil discusses:
• 🇨🇦 His experience as an immigrant and the cultural shock (especially the Canadian weather!).
• ✍️ The early spark of his writing career winning a short story contest at age 13.
• ⚡️ Transitioning from a stable electrical engineering job (University of Calgary graduate) to the volatile, yet fulfilling, world of indie film.
• 💰 The financial realities of indie filmmaking and how Brimstone Pictures navigates budgets (like Spin the Wheel for the price of a used car!).
• Contamination: Going big with his new action-thriller, which is a throwback to 80s classics like Predator and Aliens, and how they shot it in Alberta, Canada for around $300k CAD by leveraging tax incentives and great local talent.
• 🎥 The best and worst parts of the filmmaking process (spoiler: it all comes down to people).
• 🤖 His nuanced views on AI in film, seeing it as a powerful tool for editing and brainstorming, but not a replacement for human creativity. 
• 💡 The joy of mentoring and helping other storytellers achieve their "aha moments." Watch Contamination: Theatrical run starts November 14th in select Canadian cities! Keep an eye out for streaming and US theatrical release updates.
Find Neil Chase & Brimstone Pictures:
• Neil Chase: Neilchasfilm.com
• Brimstone Pictures: Brimstonepictures.com
• Watch Spin the Wheel on Tubi! #IndieFilmmaking #NeilChase #ContaminationMovie #Screenwriting #FilmmakingJourney #BrimstonePictures #ActionThriller

Franjez sits down with the incredible Cherie Jimenez, the talented actress best known for her role as Gabby Hernandez on the long running, Emmy winning soap opera, Days of Our Lives. In this exclusive and candid interview, Cherie opens up about her unique journey from a young New York City girl to a staple on daytime television. She shares what it was like growing up in Manhattan, moving between boroughs (Bronx, Brooklyn, Lower East Side, Washington Heights) with her young, single mother and Abuela. Learn how her mother’s incredible strength and love shielded her from the struggles of their nomadic lifestyle. Cherie details how her modeling career began at age 9, including booking campaigns for Barbie's 50th Anniversary (as Teresa Barbie) and a memorable anti smoking commercial for Philip Morris. She recounts facing body shaming in the industry as a child and how her mother's support helped her persevere. She also reveals how being bullied for modeling led her to attend the prestigious Professional Performing Arts School (PPAS). The conversation turns to her pivotal decision to choose acting over a ballet scholarship, her early work with a supportive casting director on major film auditions (Long Kiss Goodnight, Riding in Cars with Boys) , and the moment at the Sundance Filmmakers Lab where she realized acting was her true calling. Finally, Cherie shares the intense process of landing the role of Gabby Hernandez, navigating the scrutiny of being a "recast" in the soap opera world, and how she's now helping to change the narrative and expand the first Latin family on daytime television. 
#CherieJimenez #DaysOfOurLives #GabbyHernandez #DOOL #SoapOpera #LatinaActress

In this inspiring episode of Talk About It with Franjez, we sit down with Shereena Delgado, a fashion producer, confidence expert, and published author, as she opens up about her powerful story from growing up in Honduras to building an empire in New York’s fashion scene. Shireena shares her experiences with childhood rebellion, self discovery, faith, modeling at New York & London Fashion Week, being featured by Cardi B, and how she turned her struggles into Straight Walk Runway, her thriving model academy. We also dive into her books Self-Assurance: The Ultimate Confidence Cheat Sheet and All Things Content Creating, her entrepreneurial lessons, and her mission to inspire the next generation of creators and dreamers.
 
Talk About It with Franjez. Real people. Real stories. Real lessons.
Guest: Shereena Delgado Instagram: @sheerunsthis Straight Walk Runway:  @straightwalkrunway 
Host: Franjez Instagram: @franjez
Podcast: Talk About It with Franjez
 
#ShireenaDelgado #FranJez #TalkAboutItPodcast #FashionProducer #ConfidenceExpert #ModelCoach #DJMikeyDread

Jason Bernstein, a below knee amputee firefighter, ISSA Certified Personal Trainer, and animal rescuer who turned unimaginable pain into unstoppable purpose. Jason opens up about the injury that changed his life, his 17-year battle to walk again, and the mindset that helped him return to firefighting against all odds. From battling addiction to starting a rescue farm and inspiring others through fitness, Jason’s story is one of resilience, discipline, and faith in the face of adversity. 🎧 In this episode: Jason’s powerful comeback after amputation Life as a firefighter and adaptive athlete Staying sober through pain and recovery How he built a rescue farm and found purpose The mindset that keeps him moving forward Watch this episode to be reminded that no matter how hard life hits, there’s always more to come.
👇 FOLLOW JASON: Instagram: @jays_feet_on_fire
👇 FOLLOW FRANJEZ:
Instagram: @franjez
Talk About It with Franjez Podcast
 
#TalkAboutItWithFranjez #JasonBernstein #AmputeeFirefighter #MotivationalPodcast #Resilience #ComebackStory #Inspiration

Bronx NY tattoo artists. You can’t Talk About It with Franjez without talking about hustle, loyalty, and art. In this episode, I sit down with Ed Monster, owner of Ink Junky Studio, and Katt, his loyal artist, to uncover their journey from the Bronx streets to building one of New York’s most respected tattoo studios. We talk childhood dreams, Puerto Rico beginnings, fashion and graffiti roots, struggles, mentorship, loyalty, and how tattooing became their lifestyle. Ed shares how he went from designing clothes to tattooing out of his bedroom to owning his own studio, and how consistency, confidence, and community built his name. Katt opens up about turning pain into passion, discovering her gift for art through her family, and the challenges of proving herself in a male dominated industry. Together, they show what it means to build something real, straight from the Bronx. 📍 Ink Junky Studio 1661 Boston Rd, Bronx NY 10460 Follow on Instagram: @ink.junky.studio 🎙️ Podcast: Talk About It with Franjez – Episode 124
Timestamps:
0:00 Intro 1:10 Ed Monster’s Puerto Rican roots & early art dreams
6:50 Katt’s Bronx upbringing & finding art through family
13:40 Ed’s fashion hustle and early struggles
22:00 The first tattoo and learning from mistakes
32:30 Starting Ink Junky Studio from home
44:00 Building a shop, getting licensed, and hiring artists
59:00 The importance of loyalty, patience, and family in art
1:10:00 The future: franchising Ink Junky Studio
1:17:00 Final words & where to find them Subscribe for more real stories from creators, entrepreneurs, and artists making their mark.
 
👉 @Franjez | Talk About It with Franjez Podcast
 
#TalkAboutItWithFranjez #InkJunkyStudio #BronxNY #TattooArtists #PodcastInterview #EdMonster #KattTattoo

In Episode 123 of Talk About It with Franjez, Bronx’s own Rah Jugga steps into the studio to talk about his journey as an artist, his creative process, and the mindset behind his music. From humble beginnings to building his name through passion and persistence, Rah Jugga opens up about his life, his sound, and the lessons learned along the way. This episode dives deep into what it means to stay authentic in today’s music industry, the sacrifices behind every song, and how Rah Jugga channels real experiences into his lyrics. Whether you’re an aspiring artist or just love hearing stories of growth and grit, this one’s for you. Talk About It with Fran Jez continues to spotlight raw, inspiring voices shaping the culture, one conversation at a time.
📍 Filmed in Yonkers, NY
🎧 Available now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts
#RahJugga #TalkAboutItWithFranJez #YonkersNY #HipHopCulture #ArtistInterview #MusicPodcast #NewYorkHipHop

Wes Oakley joins Talk About It with Franjez for an unforgettable ride through Yonkers/Hastings history, Hollywood hustles, and wild Prohibition lore. Growing up in Hastings on Hudson, Wes moved to LA in the ’90s, worked across film/TV/music videos, and now creates science storytelling at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles and La Brea Tar Pits. We dive into his grandmother’s jaw-dropping stories from “The Big Egg” speakeasy on Nepperhan Ave mobsters, secret doors, bathtub gin, and the larger-than-life figures of Dutch Schultz, Arnold Rothstein, and “Legs” Diamond plus early DVD/streaming days, Adobe/Premiere workflows, and even Wes’s stint in a cult-classic wrestling league. Highlights • Hastings roots → LA leap to film/TV • The true story of Yonkers’ famed “Big Egg” rock & tavern cover • Prohibition era Yonkers: candy shop fronts, safe houses, mob ties • Natural History Museum LA & La Brea Tar Pits: science films & fossils vs. asphalt preservation • Early DVD & pre broadband streaming experiments • Incredibly Strange Wrestling: “Stash Stevens, the Polish Wonder” • Why these stories deserve a book or series set in Yonkers Chapters (approx.) 00:00 Intro & Wes’s Hastings roots 04:10 Grandma’s birthday, The Big Egg legend 12:45 Prohibition stories: Dutch Schultz & secret tavern door 23:30 Moving to LA in ’93: gigs, animation, post-production 34:15 Early DVD & proto-streaming projects 41:50 Natural History Museum LA & La Brea Tar Pits 51:20 Wrestling stories & live show energy 57:00 Why this should be a film/book + final takeaways If you enjoyed this episode, like, comment, and subscribe. Drop your favorite moment or Big Egg memory below, and tell us if you’d watch a Yonkers Prohibition series! #TalkAboutItWithFranjez #WesOakley #Yonkers #HastingsOnHudson #BigEgg #Prohibition #DutchSchultz #LaBreaTarPits #NYhistory #podcast