Calling all small business warriors who feel chained to their business! Do you run your business or does your business run you? You’ve poured your blood, sweat and tears into it and it is time to set yourself free. I’m Bobby Mascia – owner of a wealth management firm, family office, manufacturing business, 18 store Dunkin Franchise, and de facto business coach. My goal? To liberate your business— whether it be operationally, prep for a sale, a legacy handover, or self-management. The roadmap to this freedom is something we will uncover together in Business Unchained.” Join me as I learn about fellow entrepreneurs, dissecting their past, present, and future.
About Dr. Jenny Woo
Dr. Jenny Woo is an educator, entrepreneur, and founder/CEO of Mind Brain Emotion, a company incubated at Harvard Innovation Labs that helps children and adults build emotional intelligence, critical thinking, and communication skills. With a Ph.D. in cognitive science and a master’s from Harvard, she has worked in human capital consulting at Deloitte, talent strategy at Cisco, and career coaching at UC Berkeley.
She is the creator of award-winning card games, including 52 Essential Conversations and 52 Essential Coping Skills, used in 50+ countries. Her work has been featured in CNBC, Forbes, FORTUNE, Fast Company, and more.
As a mother of three, Dr. Woo is passionate about helping families and professionals navigate modern challenges, build resilience, and create meaningful connections.
Reference Links:
Mind Brain Emotion Social Media
Dr. Jenny Woo Social Media
Episode Highlights:
What if the key to raising successful, resilient children isn’t about perfect grades or packed schedules—but something far more profound? In a world dominated by social media, academic pressure, and emotional recessions, how do we ensure our kids grow up with the emotional intelligence to thrive?
In this episode of Business Unchained, host Bobby Mascia sits down with Dr. Jenny Woo to discuss her journey from corporate consulting to creating tools that help families and workplaces develop essential human skills.
[07:54] ”When I say village, it doesn’t have to be a lot of people, but you really need that relationship. It could be a partner, a friend, a mentor to just help you stay on track and keep going.” — Dr. Jenny Woo
[09:46] ”We are experiencing an emotional recession. We don’t quite know how to talk to each other anymore.” — Dr. Jenny Woo
Dr. Woo explains how her company creates tools like conversation cards to help families and workplaces build emotional intelligence.
At its core, Dr. Woo’s story is about the power of emotional intelligence, resilience, and the belief that success isn’t just about academic or professional achievements—it’s about building meaningful connections and leading a balanced, fulfilling life.
In this episode:
Michael W. Gray
Michael W. Gray is an accomplished film producer, writer, and director under his Relentless Filmz banner. He burst onto the scene with the acclaimed mixed martial arts documentary FIGHTVILLE, which premiered at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival and gained worldwide distribution, including a celebrated SHOWTIME deal. Following this, Michael produced A Birder’s Guide to Everything (2013), starring Sir Ben Kingsley, and numerous other critically acclaimed films like Jamie Marks Is Dead (Liv Tyler / Sundance 2014) and What Breaks the Ice (Madelyn Cline / Global Release 2021).
Known for his passion for telling meaningful but marketable stories, Michael has an eye for talent, and a track record of major festival favorites turned global successes. Beyond filmmaking, he enjoys movies & music, wrestling & Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and time with his family. Michael’s journey reflects a relentless pursuit of creativity and connection.
Reference Links:
Michael Gray Social Media
Episode Highlights:
Imagine walking away from the stability of a corporate job, the comfort of a predictable paycheck, and the well-worn path society expects you to follow. You take the leap into the unknown to chase a vision that’s uniquely yours. Now picture this: even if it doesn’t work out, you’re unshaken, knowing your skills and confidence will land you back on your feet. That’s not just risk-taking; it’s the essence of what defines real entrepreneurs.
In the latest episode of Business Unchained, host Bobby Mascia chats with Michael Gray about his unique journey from reality TV contestant to entrepreneurship. Michael opens up about his early days on MTV’s Remote Control and how that experience led to opportunities in entertainment. He also shares his transition to the business world, including how a creative poem helped him land important meetings. The conversation delves into Michael’s movie career, from the early success of Fightville to his latest project, American Summer.
(12:06) “I do not want to be this middle manager guy ten years from now. Forget it. I’m going to open my own company. If it fails, I know tons of people. I’m very capable. Someone will hire me back to do something. And if it works, it works.”-Michael Gray
Michael’s path began in college when he appeared on MTV’s Remote Control, which sparked a series of career opportunities, including an audition for CNBC. He reflects on the camaraderie of college life, the challenges of stand-up comedy, and his early career in public relations, where he learned the power of networking and relationship-building.
(23:26) “I am never fearful of who I need to talk to. I will go and make that happen. I mean, I’ve talked to film studio heads. They’re like, ‘How did you get this meeting?.”- Michael Gray
At a key turning point, Michael realized he didn’t want to stay in a corporate job. With emotional support from his then-girlfriend, he started his own marketing and sales promotion agency, driven by the freedom of entrepreneurship and the confidence that he could always find work if it didn’t succeed.
One of Michael’s standout traits is his creative problem-solving. For example, in 1993 he mailed a poem to Barbara Breivik at McCarter & English, which led to a pitch meeting and subsequent successful business relationship. He attributes his relentless drive to his mother, a career educator who had the innate gift of persuasion.
(16:47) “I wrote a poem, and I mailed it in a letter to Barbara Breivik. And Barbara called, she goes, ‘All right, I got your poem in the mail. You deserve to have a meeting here.”- Michael Gray
As years went by, Michael was inspired by Michael Ovitz, the founder of CAA, one of Hollywood’s powerhouse talent agencies. Michael explored investments in startups and media, including ventures in water scarcity and anti-terrorism efforts post-9/11. Ultimately his filmmaking career took off with Fightville, a documentary about young fighters from Louisiana who were trying to become UFC fighters, which premiered at South by Southwest. After that, he shifted to scripted films, producing A Birders Guide to Everything, which premiered at Tribeca and earned international acclaim and a slew of other hits.
(01:01:20)”We retained full ownership of the intellectual property because I wanted to retain it all for control, creative control, and financial control.”- Michael Gray
Michael’s current focus is American Summer, a family film with a nostalgic, humorous twist. Despite challenges like the pandemic and industry strikes, the film has secured major actors and corporate sponsorship from Dunkin’ Donuts. The project is moving forward with a solid financial structure and strategic casting.
This episode offers valuable insights for filmmakers and entrepreneurs. It emphasizes the importance of authenticity, balance, and creative drive in business and life. Michael’s story reminds us that success comes from persistence, passion, and staying true to one’s vision.
