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Going Beyond the Deal

Going Beyond the Deal

By: J. Michael Fischer Jr | DBD Investment Bank
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Welcome to Going Beyond The Deal. The show for founders, business owners, and professionals who want to grow smarter, achieve bigger exits, and build a legacy that lasts. Your host is no other than, J. Michael Fischer Jr – connector, life-long student of personal growth, and Managing Director at DBD – a bespoke investment bank that helps businesses handle big financial moves. Each week, we look beyond the numbers and the deals to talk about what really drives success. You'll hear from entrepreneurs, strategists, and top performers about the mindset, habits, and decisions that help businesses — and people — keep moving forward. If you're getting ready to sell, raise capital, or just level up — you're in the right place.Copyright © 2025 DBD Partners LLC Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership Personal Finance
Episodes
  • 46 | Eric LeGrand – Can Your Worst Setback Become Your Greatest Business Edge?
    Jun 9 2026
    What if your greatest setback became your launchpad for impact and growth? In this episode, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Eric LeGrand, entrepreneur, motivational speaker, and founder of LeGrand Coffee House and Eric LeGrand Bourbon. They dive deep into the raw realities of starting over after unimaginable adversity, challenging common myths about resilience, business, and success.Through candid stories and actionable lessons, Eric unpacks what it truly means to hustle, lead, and build wealth without shortcuts or gloss. This is not a highlight reel, but a playbook for those who refuse to quit. If you miss this episode, you miss the real stories and strategies that separate passionate survivors from passive dreamers. Listen now to claim practical insight you will not find anywhere else.Timestamped Highlights00:05 – The brutal truth behind business “overnight” success05:29 – Eric reveals the daily grind (and the real face of the hustle)11:58 – The single hospital moment that shifted Eric’s entire mindset13:55 – How elite athlete discipline became his recovery superpower16:05 – Resilience decoded: instincts, training, and relentless belief18:23 – What a “bad day” really looks like after starting over24:00 – The wild leap from motivational speaking to coffee entrepreneur28:51 – Why most business owners misunderstand profit (and what it actually takes)32:04 – The expensive, high-stakes world of launching a spirits brandMentioned ResourcesLeGrand Coffee HouseEric LeGrand WhiskeyChristopher & Dana Reeve FoundationBrian Axelrod (business partner)Rutgers UniversityCoach Greg SchianoGreen River spiritsMiletto Business AdvisorsACG Corporate Growth AwardsShopRiteNicholas CreameryRosie’s PizzaBroadway ChickenWalk to BelieveKessler InstituteAbout the GuestEric LeGrand is the founder of LeGrand Coffee House and co-founder of Eric LeGrand Bourbon. A nationally recognized motivational speaker and philanthropist, Eric is known for transforming life-changing adversity into a platform for business and community impact. He has been honored with ACG New Jersey’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his leadership and resilience.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteImportant LinksFeel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment BankGoing Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
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    43 mins
  • 45 | How to Break the Cycle of Forced Succession
    Jun 2 2026

    What if your family business legacy is actually a hidden burden?

    J. Michael Fischer Jr. dives deep into the emotional and strategic fault lines of succession where legacy, guilt, and honest conversations collide. This episode is for founders, operators, and advisors who care about more than just the numbers.

    If you've ever wondered what really happens when your children don’t want the business, or how to know if your succession plan is built on obligation or true desire, this conversation offers surprising clarity. Get ready to challenge what you think you know about legacy and continuity.

    Miss this episode, and you risk repeating the quiet mistakes that break families and companies alike. Listen now for honest, actionable strategies and discover why going beyond the deal is the only way to future-proof your legacy.

    Timestamped Highlights
    • 00:26 – The silent burden founders feel about legacy and identity
    • 01:35 – The brutal reality when the next generation rejects the business
    • 02:55 – Why irrelevance—not failure—is the real fear in succession
    • 04:22 – What children see versus what founders believe about the family business
    • 05:16 – How guilt and secrecy create fragile succession plans
    • 06:10 – Why legacy and obligation are dangerously different
    • 09:35 – The hidden signs your successor wants approval, not ownership
    • 11:31 – The pivotal moment: When honesty finally breaks the cycle

    Important Links
    • Feel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.
    • Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.
    • Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment Bank

    Going Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.

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    13 mins
  • 44 | Dr. Maria Kunstadter – How Teledentistry Is Breaking Barriers to Better Health
    May 26 2026
    Do you really understand the hidden link between your mouth and your overall health?In this high-impact episode, J. Michael Fischer Jr. sits down with Dr. Maria Kunstadter, CEO and co-founder of The Teledentist, to reveal why virtual dental care is so much more than a convenience. It’s a lifeline for millions missing out on essential oral health. They unpack the surprising ways virtual consults are crushing access barriers, breaking down old-school resistance, and quietly transforming how trust and results are built in healthcare.If you think a toothache is “just dental,” you’re missing the bigger, costlier risk to your health and wallet. Listen now to discover bold, exclusive strategies and untold stories from inside the revolution before your competitors or colleagues catch on. Your future advantage is waiting. Don’t let old thinking hold you back.Timestamped Highlights00:32 – The shocking cost of emergency dental visits no one talks about04:42 – The moment teledentistry exploded overnight (and why)07:26 – The three pillars that turn virtual consults into real results08:44 – What a 95 net promoter score really says about patient trust10:44 – How The Teledentist gets desperate patients fast access12:07 – Competition enters the scene and shifts the entire landscape13:45 – The crucial pilot that could save hospitals millions this year17:42 – Rural health secrets that cut 180-mile drives to one simple call19:24 – The invisible link between oral disease and your most costly health problemsMentioned ResourcesCignaAnthemAmerican Dental AssociationHenry Ford MuseumWebMDWorld Health OrganizationUniversity of Missouri Kansas City Dental SchoolBecker’s ConferenceVSee (telehealth platform host)About the GuestDr. Maria Kunstadter is CEO and co-founder of The Teledentist, a pioneer in 24/7 nationwide virtual dental care. With a rich background in clinical dentistry and healthcare leadership, she has driven innovation for patient access, championed medical-dental integration, and led key initiatives to serve vulnerable populations.🔗 LinkedIn | WebsiteImportant LinksFeel Fully Alive: The 5 Dimensions of Vitality gives you the framework to thrive. Get your copy here.Stay Ahead in Business: Michael shares strategies to boost your financial decisions. Read his latest blog.Grow Your Wealth: Book a call with DBD Investment BankGoing Beyond the Deal is an original podcast brought to you by J. Michael Fischer Jr. Production and editing by Podcast Your Brand.
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    35 mins
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