When 3M bought Aaron Krause’s buffing pad company, they looked at his smiley-faced sponge invention, called it "trash," and left it out of the deal. They made a huge mistake.

In this episode of Uncorked with Bill Green, we sit down with Aaron Krause, the chaotic genius behind Scrub Daddy - the most successful product in Shark Tank history. This isn't just a story about a sponge; it’s a masterclass in resilience, accidental invention, and proving the haters wrong.

Aaron reveals the untold stories you didn't see on TV: how he almost got banned from QVC before he even started, the "fake" controversy with Lori Greiner that was cut from his Shark Tank episode, and how a box labeled "SCRAP" turned into a billion-dollar global empire.

🍷 In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The "Black Sheep" Origin: Why Aaron’s doctor parents were devastated he became a car detailer (and how he proved them wrong).
• The 3M Mistake: How the manufacturing giant bought his company but rejected the Scrub Daddy patent as worthless.
• The QVC Disaster: The nightmare 4:00 AM broadcast where Aaron "blew it" and almost lost everything—before selling 80,000 sponges in 8 minutes.
• Shark Tank Secrets: What really happened with Lori Greiner and Kevin O’Leary that the producers cut from the final edit.
• Serial Invention: A look at Aaron’s newest game-changers, from the Barbecue Daddy to a revolutionary hockey stick used by the NHL.

If you are an entrepreneur, an inventor, or just love a good underdog story, you cannot miss this interview.

📢 SUBSCRIBE & SHARE If you enjoyed this story of American innovation, make sure to subscribe!

Are you living the life you were meant to live? What if you had a second chance?

In this interview, legendary author Mitch Albom joins us on the Uncorked podcast to discuss his incredible life journey and the powerful themes in his new book. From his early days as a musician and a top ESPN sports writer to the life-altering experience with his professor Morrie Schwartz that led to the global phenomenon "Tuesdays with Morrie," Mitch shares the pivotal moments that transformed his perspective on success, love, and legacy.

Dive deep into a conversation about empathy, regret, and the profound discovery that a second chance is not a magical gift, but a choice we can make every single day. Mitch also opens up about his inspiring philanthropic work in Detroit and Haiti, offering a powerful reminder that the greatest legacies are built on hope.

⬇️ Learn More & Support Mitch's Causes ⬇️

📘 Get Mitch's new book, "Twice" (and his other bestsellers)

❤️ Support the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage

🙏 Learn about SAY Detroit

✅ Subscribe to Uncorked for more conversations on wine, life, and business

👉 Link to More Podcast Episodes

⏰ TIMESTAMPS:

(00:00) Introducing legendary author Mitch Albom

(01:02) Inspiration for the book 'Twice': What if you had a second chance?

(02:52) Mitch Albom's "Twice Life": From musician to famed sportswriter

(04:07) The life-altering pivot: Morrie Schwartz's final class on life

(05:32) 'Tuesdays with Morrie': A labor of love that changed everything

(07:08) A new purpose: How readers' stories sparked a life of empathy

(09:02) Inside the heartbreaking reality of the Have Faith Haiti Orphanage

(11:46) What is a meaningful legacy? Mitch Albom on inspiring hope

(12:51) Final thoughts and reflections

In this episode of Uncorked: Wine, Business & Life, filmed in the Saddlehill Winery Tasting Room, hosts Bill Green and Jerrold Colton sit down with longtime friend and Philadelphia business leader Jeff Brown, the fourth-generation grocer behind Brown’s ShopRite and Di Bruno Bros.

Jeff opens up about his journey from growing up in Northeast Philly to transforming a small family grocery business into a community-driven powerhouse that serves both underserved neighborhoods and upscale markets. He discusses working directly with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama to shape national food-access policy and how that partnership helped launch Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign.

The conversation dives into Jeff’s Uplift workforce initiative—an inspiring program providing second chances to formerly incarcerated individuals and achieving a remarkable 98% success rate. Jeff also talks about serving on Governor Tom Wolf’s Workforce Development Board, tackling issues like inflation, tariffs, and SNAP cuts, and how policy impacts everyday families.

From running for Mayor of Philadelphia, to acquiring Di Bruno Bros., to raising four sons alongside his wife and business partner Sandy, Jeff’s story is one of heart, perseverance, and purpose.

🍷 Wines featured: Saddlehill Vintner’s Reserve, Château Lafite Rothschild, and Dominus (Napa Bordeaux-style).

🎙️ Hosts: Bill Green & Jerrold Colton

📍 Location: Saddlehill Winery Tasting Room – Voorhees, NJ

We take Uncorked: Wine-Business-Life on the road to Alpen Rose for a wide-open conversation with chef-restaurateur Michael Schulson. Michael traces his path from his Nana’s matzo ball soup on Long Island to Philly institutions like Le Bec-Fin and Susanna Foo, then to Stephen Starr openings (Buddakan, Pod) and his own breakout with Izakaya at Borgata and Sampan in Center City.

He gets real about nearly shuttering his first spot, the “Stay True” mantra that kept him going, and the operator’s rule he swears by: design first, then service, then food—because dinner is the movie now. We dive into scaling to 15+ restaurants, using analytics (down to dollars per minute per server), forecasting orders, and why his model is asses-in-seats (no ghost kitchens).

There’s plenty of Philly love, some Knicks-Sixers banter, family, YPO/forum lessons, and—of course—wine: Saddlehill Reserve, a 1999 Lafite, and a 2010 Screaming Eagle.

Highlights:

-Origin story: from Nana’s kitchen to Le Bec-Fin → Susanna Foo → Buddakan/Pod

-First ownership wins & near-misses: Sampan’s slow start and the Stay True philosophy

-The 3 pillars ranked: Design, then Service, then Food (and why)

-Scaling smarts: forecasting orders, minute-by-minute server productivity, AI-driven ops

-Why he refuses delivery/ghost kitchens: the experience can’t be boxed

-Culture and winners: how Villanova-style mindset applies beyond basketball

-Partnerships, YPO/forum value, and learning to be a better partner & leader

-Family & balance: being “the best dad” as his definition of success

-New openings: Double Knot in Wynwood (Miami), Delray Beach, and New York

We’re in the Saddlehill Winery tasting room (Voorhees, NJ) with one of Philadelphia’s real estate superstars, Kristen Foote (Compass). Bill Green and co-host Jerrold Colton dig into Kristen’s 20-year rise in luxury listings (Rittenhouse Square, Center City), how she markets multi-million-dollar homes, what’s really happening in today’s market, and the Compass tech that changed her game.

Kristen also opens up about being diagnosed with breast cancer (and later ovarian complications) in the middle of her peak production years—what got her through it, the Philly medical teams who stepped up, setting boundaries, and why she now champions screenings and community support. Plus: growing up abroad as a diplomat’s daughter, solo travel, Monkey the Maltipoo (Rittenhouse legend), and chairing the Rittenhouse Ball to support the park.

Wine flight: Saddlehill Starflower (sweet white), Rosé, Tapestry (Sauv Blanc + Chardonnay), and Renegade (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cab Franc, Blaufränkisch).

Watch for:

How top agents win (and keep) high-end listings

Social media vs relationships in 2025 real estate

Philly market realities: rates, inventory, and the ultra-affluent buyer

Resilience playbook: health crisis while closing deals

Why the Rittenhouse Ball matters (and how to help)

🎙️ Hosts: Bill Green & Jerrold Colton

🍷 Location: Saddlehill Winery, Tasting Room – Voorhees, NJ

If this episode helped you, please like & subscribe.

Learn more / visit Saddlehill: saddlehill.com

In this inspiring episode of Uncorked: Wine, Business & Life, Bill Green and Jerrold Colton sit down with Dr. Hava Rose, founder of The Pause Experience, a well-being agency focused on mindfulness, self-connection, and building intentional communities. From her disciplined beginnings as a competitive gymnast, to her journey through bodybuilding, Muay Thai, and chiropractic, Dr. Rose shares how she has continually reinvented herself—always leaning into challenges and going “all in.”

Today, she empowers individuals and organizations to pause, reflect, and reconnect with themselves in order to show up authentically in life and business.

We explore:

-Her transition from chiropractic into the world of mindfulness and corporate wellness

-The story behind founding The Pause Experience and why pauses are so powerful

-How athletics and discipline shaped her career path and philosophy on resilience

-The intersection of mental health, business culture, and authentic leadership

-Her vision for scaling Pause into a global movement of connection and well-being

All of this while enjoying Saddlehill Winery’s signature wines in the Saddlehill Tasting Room.

If you’re an entrepreneur, leader, or anyone seeking to bring more authenticity and balance into your life, this episode will leave you energized and inspired.

#DrHavaRose #PauseExperience #Mindfulness #CorporateWellness #EntrepreneurMindset #Journaling #AuthenticLeadership #UncorkedPodcast #WineBusinessLife #SaddlehillWinery #JerroldColton #BillGreen #FemaleEntrepreneurs #WellBeingAtWork

In this episode of Uncorked: Wine, Business & Life, Bill Green and Jerrold Colton welcome legendary investor Ira Lubert to the Saddlehill Winery Tasting Room. Known as one of Philadelphia’s most iconic investors, Ira shares the incredible journey from winning a New Jersey state wrestling championship to becoming a contrarian investor who has raised over $17 billion and built a reputation for protecting the downside. He reflects on his deep ties to Penn State as an athlete, board chairman, and philanthropist, including his role in elevating the wrestling program to national dominance. From his early entrepreneurial days buying mobile homes to spearheading landmark investments like the Valley Forge Casino, Ira offers invaluable lessons on timing, luck, discipline, and daring to fail. A rare, candid conversation with a true heavyweight in business and life.

In this episode of Uncorked: Wine, Business & Life, Bill Green and Jerrold Colton sit down in the Saddlehill Winery Barrel Room with Larry Korman, President of Korman Communities and Co-CEO of AKA. Larry shares the remarkable story of his family’s century-long legacy in real estate, the evolution of AKA’s luxury extended-stay brand, and how design, service, and attention to detail create unforgettable guest experiences. From balancing heritage with innovation to collaborating with world-class architects, Larry reveals what it takes to stand out in hospitality today.

#LarryKorman, #AKAHOTELS, #KormanCommunities, #HospitalityLeadership, #FamilyBusiness, #UncorkedPodcast, #WineBusinessLife, #LuxuryLiving, #RealEstate, #HotelIndustry