Mitch signed up for a sprint triathlon with one minor problem…

He barely knew how to swim.

In this episode of **Dads, Deals & Dumbbells**, Joe sits down with Dr. Mitch Quill to break down his first-ever sprint triathlon—from the nerves on the beach, to surviving the swim, navigating transitions, hammering the bike, and finally crossing the finish line.

They get into what training really looked like while running a business and raising three kids, whether the expensive gear was worth it, what was going through Mitch’s head when the swim got ugly, and why doing hard things has a way of carrying over into fatherhood, business, leadership, and life.

Plus, Joe puts Mitch through a rapid-fire **Deal or Dumbbell** round covering bad decisions, triathlon gear, early-morning swims, quitting thoughts, and whether Mitch is crazy enough to do another one.

In this episode:
• Mitch’s biggest fear going into his first triathlon
• Training with almost no swimming background
• What race day nerves really felt like
• Surviving the swim and getting to the bike
• Lessons from training while raising kids and running a business
• Why confidence compounds when you do uncomfortable things
• What our kids learn by watching us struggle
• Whether Mitch is already planning triathlon #2 (hint, not only did he plan, he already did it!)

The big takeaway: you don’t have to be perfectly prepared to start. Progress beats perfection, consistency beats talent, and sometimes the most important thing your kids can see is you doing something hard anyway.

If you enjoyed the episode, **subscribe**, leave a comment, and send it to another dad who needs a push to do the thing he’s been putting off.

**Dads, Deals & Dumbbells** is where dad life meets business hustle and barbells.

Lift something heavy.
Love your family.
Close the deal.
And don’t be afraid to jump into the deep end.

#DadsDealsAndDumbbells #Triathlon #SprintTriathlon #DadLife #Entrepreneurship #Fitness #Fatherhood #Mindset #BusinessOwner #DoingHardThings

Thinking about buying a small business instead of starting one from scratch? In this episode of Dads, Deals & Dumbbells, Joe and Dr. Quill break down how to evaluate a business under $100,000 before you write the check.

We’re talking about the kinds of deals regular people actually see: lawn care routes, cleaning businesses, mobile detailing setups, vending routes, small e-commerce stores, local service businesses, fitness client lists, equipment-based side hustles, and more. Some are legit opportunities. Some are overpriced jobs with a logo. And some are full-blown dumpster fires.

In this episode, we cover:

What you’re really buying in a sub-$100K business deal
How to verify revenue before trusting the seller’s story
Why SDE matters more than fancy financial terms
How to calculate valuation and payback period
When a customer list is actually worth something
How to spot owner dependency
What equipment and assets should be included
Deal structure basics for small acquisitions
Real-world “Deal or Dumpster Fire” scenarios

The big question: are you buying cash flow, customers, equipment, a brand, or just a stressful second job?

Joe brings the legal and business perspective. Dr. Quill brings the health, dad-life, and real-world operator mindset. Together, they walk through the red flags, green flags, and sanity checks every future business buyer should know.

Small deals can be a great first step into ownership — or a very expensive way to buy yourself nights, weekends, and a used trailer full of regret.

Subscribe for more episodes on fatherhood, entrepreneurship, fitness, mindset, and building something that actually cash flows.

Now go lift something heavy, hug your kids, and close a smart deal.

Episode Title: Deal or Dumpster Fire: How to Evaluate a Business Before You Buy It
Podcast: Dads, Deals & Dumbbells
Hosts: Joe and Dr. Mitchell Quill
Topics: Small business acquisition, entrepreneurship, dad life, deal evaluation, cash flow, fitness mindset

#DadsDealsAndDumbbells #SmallBusiness #Entrepreneurship #BusinessAcquisition #DadLife #CashFlow #BuyABusiness #FitnessAndBusiness #BusinessTips #EntrepreneurDad

💪 Inside Crunch Fitness: Dad Life, Leadership, Fitness & Building Confidence | Dads, Deals and Dumbbells Podcast 🏋️‍♂️🔥

This week, we took the podcast ON THE ROAD to the brand-new Crunch Fitness in Bolingbrook — and this episode turned into way more than a gym tour.

Joe and Dr. Quill sit down with Crunch GM Jadae McGuire to talk about:

Building confidence through fitness
Raising strong, resilient kids
Coaching athletes and future leaders
Entrepreneurship and employee culture
Why dads need to stop trying to do everything alone
And how fitness changes way more than just your body

If you’ve ever struggled balancing business, fatherhood, health, and life chaos — this episode is packed with real talk, motivation, and practical advice.

🔥 In This Episode:

Why small daily habits matter more than perfection
The mindset difference between good athletes and great leaders
How confidence is built in the gym AND at home
Why dads need to let kids fail sometimes
The importance of emotional discipline for kids
Fitness advice for busy dads who haven’t worked out in years
How gyms like Crunch help beginners avoid injury and stay consistent
Entrepreneurship lessons on hiring, leadership, and company culture

🏋️ Crunch Fitness Bolingbrook Highlights:

Massive 24/7 facility
Dual turf areas
Olympic lifting platforms
Functional training zones
Group fitness classes
Sauna and recovery center
Childcare included
Affordable memberships
Personal training and fitness planning

Huge thanks to Jadae and the Crunch team for hosting us and giving us a behind-the-scenes look at one of the best fitness facilities in the area.

📍 Crunch Fitness Bolingbrook
352 Commons Drive
Bolingbrook, Illinois

💥 Favorite Quotes From This Episode:
"Confidence changes everything."
"You can teach speed. You can teach strength. But you need the willingness to grow."
"Your kids don’t need perfection — they need consistency."
"Fitness is education. Don’t walk into a gym without a plan."

👊 Whether you’re:

A dad trying to get back in shape
A business owner managing a team
A former athlete chasing consistency again
Or just trying to survive parenthood without losing your sanity…

…this episode is for you.

📲 Help Support the Show:
✅ Subscribe for weekly episodes
✅ Like and share this episode
✅ Drop a comment with your favorite gym, workout hack, or dad lesson
✅ Send this to a dad who needs motivation to get back in the gym

🎙️ Dads, Deals and Dumbbells is the podcast where fatherhood, entrepreneurship, fitness, and mindset all collide. Hosted by a lawyer and a chiropractor navigating business ownership, raising kids, and trying to stay strong physically and mentally.

#DadPodcast #FitnessMotivation #CrunchFitness #Bolingbrook #EntrepreneurDad #DadLife #GymMotivation #MensHealth #BusinessLeadership #Fatherhood #WorkoutMotivation #DadsDealsAndDumbbells #PersonalDevelopment #SmallBusinessOwner #FitnessJourney

One bad review can cost you real money.

In this episode of Dads, Deals & Dumbbells, Joe and Dr. Quill sit down with entrepreneur Julia Hensel, owner of Lexigate and RepSpert, to talk about how negative reviews, fake reviews, and social media attacks can damage a business faster than most owners realize.

They break down what business owners should actually do when a bad review shows up, the biggest mistakes people make when they panic online, and how to protect your reputation without making the situation worse.

Julia also shares her perspective on entrepreneurship through acquisition, founder stress, and the emotional toll that public criticism can take when you’re trying to build something meaningful.

In this episode, we cover:
-How bad Google reviews impact trust, leads, and revenue
-The difference between fair criticism and fake or removable reviews
-Why emotional responses usually backfire
-How social media pile-ons can escalate fast
-What every entrepreneur should document before a situation gets worse
-Why protecting your reputation is really protecting your business

Whether you’re a business owner, entrepreneur, dad building something from the ground up, or just someone trying to survive the internet without losing your mind, this episode is packed with practical advice and real talk.

About the show:
Dads, Deals & Dumbbells is where dad life meets business hustle and barbells. Hosted by Joe and Dr. Mitchell Quill, the show covers fatherhood, entrepreneurship, health, fitness, and mindset with a sharp, funny, no-BS approach.

Connect with us:
Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with another entrepreneur who needs to hear it.

email: dadsdealsanddumbbells@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575481144492
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsdealsanddumbbells/

Want to get some help from Julia? Here's how you can reach her:
Finally, here are the contact details for us:

• Lexigate
o https://lexigate.com/
o Insta: https://www.instagram.com/lexigate_com/
o LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lexigate
o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexigateagency/

• RepSpert
o https://www.repspert.com/
o Insta: https://www.instagram.com/repspert/
o LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/repspert/
o Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/repspert/

• Personal
o linkedin.com/in/juliawittrockhensel

#DadsDealsDumbbells #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #ReputationManagement #GoogleReviews #BusinessGrowth #FounderMindset #DadLife #Podcast #SocialMediaCrisis

Dads, Deals and Dumbbells: The Podcast

What happens when two entrepreneurial dads trade dumbbells for brooms and try one of the strangest-looking Olympic sports on earth?

In this episode, Joe and Dr. Quill head to Windy City Curling to learn the basics of curling with Tom Arra — software product builder, triathlete, curling coach, and proud dog dad. What starts as a fun new experience turns into a real lesson in discipline, mindset, fitness, and why curling is way harder than it looks on TV.

We get into:
🥌 Tom’s background in big companies vs. startups
💼 The difference between structure and chaos in business
🧠 His personal motto: “Just show up”
🏃 Triathlon training, brick workouts, and choosing suffering on purpose
🐶 Dog dad life, snacks, and the legendary Roomba incident
🧹 Why sweeping is basically aggressive mopping with consequences
😂 Our final verdict on whether curling is a “real sport”

Big thanks to Tom Arra and the team at Windy City Curling for showing us the ropes and letting us embarrass ourselves on the ice.

📍 Windy City Curling
146 Roosevelt Rd.
Villa Park, IL 60181

📞 Phone
Event Booking / Learn to Curl / Corporate Outings: (630) 426-9150
Club Membership & Leagues: (630) 791-0138

🌐 Website
windycitycurling.com

📱 Follow Windy City Curling
Instagram: @windycitycurling
Facebook: Windy City Curling / @WindyCityCurling
X: @WindyCity_CC

If you enjoyed the episode, laughed at us, or learned something new, make sure to like, subscribe, and share with another dad who’s juggling family, business, and staying in shape.

Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575481144492
Instagram:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/1n7E2M76p2dBbobjOvsTye
email: dadsdealsanddumbbells@gmail.com

#DadsDealsDumbbells #Curling #WindyCityCurling #DadLife #EntrepreneurDad #Fitness #Podcast

Dads, Deals & Dumbbells | Getting Stretched LIVE at StretchZone (w/ Michael Graczyk)

What happens when two dads who lift… realize they probably should’ve been stretching this whole time?

In this episode, we record LIVE at StretchZone Naperville while getting professionally stretched (yes, during the podcast 😅). We’re joined by Michael Graczyk—registered nurse, real estate investor, entrepreneur, and multi-location StretchZone owner—who walks us through why mobility might be the most overlooked piece of your health.

Spoiler: our hamstrings were not prepared.

💪 What We Cover:

Recording a podcast while being stretched in real time

The difference between working out vs. actually moving well

Michael’s journey from healthcare → real estate → fitness business owner

What it’s like stepping into the role of a dad (and stepdad)

Why mobility declines after 30 (and what to do about it)

The truth about tight hips, bad posture, and desk life

Whether stretching is recovery… or low-key torture

🧠 Key Takeaways:

Mobility is the missing link for most guys lifting weights

Strength without flexibility = future injury waiting to happen

If you sit all day, stretching isn’t optional—it’s maintenance

Assisted stretching can unlock ranges of motion you can’t reach alone

Building a business starts with exploring opportunities and taking calculated risks

Dad wisdom: listen more than you lecture

🔥 Recurring Bits:

Dad Hack of the Week – from Michael

Quill’s Corner – Why your hips and hamstrings are probably the problem

Live reactions from two guys realizing how tight they actually are

🏋️ About the Guest:

Michael Graczyk

Registered Nurse

Real Estate Investor

Owner of multiple StretchZone locations (Naperville, Western Springs, Willowbrook)

Dad, athlete, and mobility advocate

📍 Shoutout:

Huge thanks to StretchZone Naperville for hosting us and putting our bodies (and egos) to the test. Check them out here: https://www.stretchzone.com/locations/naperville-il
https://www.facebook.com/StretchZoneNaperville

👊 About the Show:

Dads, Deals & Dumbbells is where fatherhood meets entrepreneurship and fitness.
We’re two dads—a chiropractor and a lawyer—talking real life: raising kids, building businesses, and staying strong mentally and physically.

🔔 Don’t Forget:

If you enjoyed the episode:

👍 Like

🔔 Subscribe

📤 Share with a dad who needs to stretch more

📩 Get Involved:

Got a dad hack, wild story, or question? Drop it in the comments—we might feature it on the show.

Now go lift something heavy… tuck your kids in… and maybe get stretched.

What if you structured your life so you never had to start over from zero?

Last episode we talked about how we’d rebuild if everything disappeared.

This week we go deeper — how to build a life that’s almost impossible to collapse in the first place.

Because real wealth isn’t what you earn. It’s what survives disruption.

In this episode, Joe and Dr. Mitchell Quill break down the Five Pillars of Anti-Fragility — the systems that protect your business, your family, and your future when life throws punches.

We talk about:

• Why one income stream is the most dangerous financial position
• The truth about liquidity and why cash equals optionality
• How reputation capital can save you faster than money
• Why physical strength and stress management affect your income
• The overlooked role of marriage and family alignment in financial stability
• Asset protection basics every entrepreneur should understand

If you’re a dad building a business, raising a family, and trying to stay mentally and physically strong — this episode is for you.

Because resilience isn’t luck. It’s engineered.

Episode Highlights

Dad Hack of the Week
How to run a Family Financial Clarity Meeting so your household understands where money goes and what happens if something unexpected happens.

The Five Pillars of Never Going Back to Zero

Income Diversification

Liquidity & Runway

Reputation Capital

Physical & Mental Resilience

Marriage & Family Alignment

Joe’s Judgment
A practical look at asset protection, LLC structures, umbrella insurance, and estate planning basics.

Key Takeaways

• One income stream is a dependency
• Liquidity buys time
• Relationships are currency
• Strength is insurance
• Your nervous system determines your ceiling
• You’re building a life — not just revenue

Subscribe & Follow

If you’re a dad chasing family, fitness, and financial freedom, this show is for you.

👍 Like the episode
📩 Share it with another dad building something
🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every week

Connect With Us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsdealsanddumbbells/
Email: dadsdealsanddumbbells@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575481144492

Dads, Deals & Dumbbells
Where fatherhood, business, and strength meet.

Lift heavy.
Think long-term.
Build something that doesn’t collapse.

What if it all disappeared?

The business.
The income.
The title.
The status.

In this episode of Dads, Deals & Dumbbells, Joe and Dr. Quill break down exactly how they would rebuild from zero — financially, physically, and mentally — in the first 90 days.

No fantasy.
No motivational fluff.
No “I’d just grind harder.”

This is a real-world, step-by-step reset strategy for dads who refuse to stay down.

Because you’re not your business…
But you are responsible for what happens next.

What We Cover:
Week 1: Stabilize

Cut expenses immediately

Call lenders before they call you

Control the narrative at home

Stop emotional decisions and panic-posting

Lift heavy. Walk daily. Sleep like it’s your job.

When life feels out of control, your body cannot.

Days 7–30: Generate Cash Flow

Consulting

Contract work

Flipping assets

Selling skills

Swallowing pride

“Pride is expensive. Cash flow is oxygen.”

Days 30–90: Strategic Rebuild

What skills are actually monetizable?

Build, buy, or partner?

Protect your marriage

Protect your routines

Protect your kids’ stability

Rebuilding at the cost of your home life isn’t a rebuild — it’s a trade.

Joe’s Judgment
-Personal guarantees.
-SBA loans.
-Cross-collateralized debt.
- “If you don’t understand what you signed, you’re not starting over — you’re dragging chains.”

Rapid-Fire Takeaways

Your identity cannot be your business.

Train even when broke.

Network before you need it.

Marriage over money.

Health is leverage.

This episode is part strategy, part therapy, part locker room speech.

If you’re a dad building a business, chasing strength, and trying to lead your family well — this one’s for you.

👊 If this hit home:
- Subscribe
- Share it with another dad
- Drop a comment: What’s your first move if everything resets tomorrow?
- Check us out on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575481144492
- Check us out on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dadsdealsanddumbbells/

Until next time…
Lift heavy.
Think long-term.
And remember — you’re never one setback away from being done.
You’re one decision away from rebuilding.

#DadsDealsDumbbells #EntrepreneurDad #BusinessReset #Fatherhood #MentalStrength #FitnessMindset