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.