Review of "The Long Island Breakfast Club Show- 2024 Holiday Episodes" by Valentina Janek

Score: 93+/100 (9.3+ out of 10)

When it comes to underappreciated and underrated online talk shows and YouTube channels, The Long Island Breakfast Club Show is somewhere near the top of that list!

The talk show is the brain child of a visionary, Valentina Janek (AKA "Tina Valentina"), a woman of wisdom and experiences. If you read her OCA award-winning book, From Fired to Freedom, you know how liberating it was for Valentina to transition from an ordinary work life to an extraordinary one—authoring her book, hosting this talk show, acting in movies, and meeting all sorts of extraordinary people.

The people/guests whom Valentina meets and works with are typically the highlights of every episode. They are usually visionaries and entrepreneurs themselves. Some of them are a little out there and different (we'll get to some examples with the Halloween episode), but these guests are always fascinating and insightful in one way or another.

With that said, you may have guessed that we're a bit familiar with Valentina and Long Island Breakfast Club show. They're actually previous Outstanding Creator Awards winners! They amazed us in the past with their creativity, presentation, insights, and inspirational content. Oh, and their quotes! They always have such great quotes and words of wisdom to share. We'll get to a few later.

But getting back on track... this is actually a new contest entry focused on the new (2024) season of the show, specifically three of the holiday episodes: Valentine's Day, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. We may talk a little bit more about other holiday episodes because this series can honestly be a bit addicting (in a good way)!

The 2024 Valentine's Day episode kicks off with the familiar jingle/song that opens most episodes. First off, we really appreciate this song. It's catchy and the lyrics introduce you to the host ("Tina Valentina is the host you see"; "cohost Gregg has a lot to say") and also get you ready for the show ("grab a cup of coffee or expresso" and "grab a cup or hot cocoa"). We also love the little twist in the chorus: "Grab a cup of coffee or... I don't know" as if to leave the door open to viewers in the audience who may have different or varied taste.

We didn't notice that little twist the last time we reviewed the show (for 2023).

It's so positive, uplifting, and energizing with lines like "Rise and shine, get up and go; It's the Long Island Breakfast Club Show."

Doesn't that just make you feel ready to jump right in?

It's also surprisingly well produced, as is the rest of the show—the set design and the sound/audio are all things we could praise later on. There are a few times when sporadic, spontaneous interruptions will occur such as a cellphone dinging or ringing, a dog yipping or barking, and even a car alarm going off at one point. This is organic, natural, and we understand that these things happen and the show must go on. If anything, they make the show seem spontaneous, genuine, and authentic. Yes, they're trying to put on a good, entertaining, insightful show, but they're also being raw and real.

They're not trying to hide the fact that a beloved pet might be on set, for example. It's like the wind at the ball park or at the football field, you don't control it, you just go with it. So, when an alarm goes off in the parking lot/garage, you don't drop everything you're doing until it stops, you just keep trudging on. That's professionalism. It's similar to like when you're a stage performer and there's a heckler in the audience. You can't let it sabotage you.

Anyway, the 2024 Valentine's Day episode is sadly missing the regular cohost, Gregg Cajuste, however, we get great compensation as a incredible man named Jim "Jimmy" Altamore joins the table. Apparently, Valentina has known Jim for 16 years (wow!). Jim had once lost his day job and shared that he had a passion and a gift for singing.

Jim is blessed with Frank Sinatra-like voice. In fact, his voice was even used to replicate Sinatra in media. Specifically, he was featured in the first act of "A Bronx Tale" in which the song "Fly Me to the Moon" is sung. No, this is not a recording of Sinatra, this is the voice of Jim!

This episode mostly focuses on the featured super couple, TJ Kiss & Natasha Landrow, a business owner and an actress. Apparently, they were chosen from a collection of 25 applicants (as explained in another episode). This couple is a really interesting aspect of the episode, but maybe not for the reasons the show intended. What stands out about this featured couple isn't that they're successful (which they are), it isn't the beautiful way they met, the romantic things they've done—no, what stood out to us about this couple is how there's a real, raw, and somewhat playful tension between them. They're like Tom & Jerry or Wile-E-Coyote & Roadrunner.

It's a reminder that couples in real life aren't like in the fairy tales. They don't just ride off into the sunset happily ever after. No, real couples argue, fight, and have disagreements because they have enough trust to know that they will still be together afterward and can tell each other anything.

This is evident when the two have a back-and-forth disagreement about the way they met and their romantic journey. They disagree on the order of how things happen, but—poetically—the important thing is that these things happened (regardless of order).

This spoke to us.

They also argue about which of them is the more irritable and/or has the shorter temper. Interesting prompt! And, of course, they disagree.

It's a very raw and human thing.

Oh, hey, this episode also features one of the funniest quotes in the show's history in which Valentina states: "No bitches. We don't allow bitches on the show. We closed the door on bitches."

That's hilarious.

One improvement to the show that we really appreciated were the graphics that briefly show who the guest or speaker is. For example, we learned Jim's last name from one of these graphics (though it was in a cursive font that made it a bit challenging to read). This actually carries on into other episodes.

The identifying info is usually like a screenshot or a poster graphic of the guest.

Near the end of the episode, we finally get a beautiful rendition of "L.O.V.E." by Frank Sinatra sung by Jim Altamore. It's terrific! He's terrific! It's no wonder he's hired to sing for events and in media! We hope that he continues to perform at more and more places.

We wanted to also briefly share that we watched the 2025 Valentine's Day episode as well, and it's actually better in a lot of ways than the 2024 one! We get a bit more singing, particularly from Bob Damato, who gives us Andy-Williams-quality vocals! We also get a really cute story from one of the guests about how he knew his wife, Debbie, since he was only 10 (and she was a little older). He would sneak off just to visit Debbie at home. Eventually, they reunited later in life and fell in love! Awww...

​To give this a real New York/Long Island tinge, they named their dogs Phoebe and Newman (after the characters from Friends and Seinfeld). There are also some outstanding quotes from this particular episode including Valentina sharing that her father would say that "Everything is up here" (the brain--the mind) and that everything is possible when you use it. Valentina also gives us the humorous yet great advice that if you're single, go to the diner to meet someone, "Sit at the counter. Every guy at the counter is single, and they don't cook."

Sounds like legit advice to us!

Oh, and if we recall, this is the first episode in which the set-designer, Susan/Suzanne, appears! And she's a breath of fresh air.

Moving on... the next episode sent to us was the 2024 Halloween episode!
Admittedly, the subject matter of this episode wasn't exactly our thing, but that just might be us being prudish conservative religious people.

The episode plays into the spookiness and mystery of Halloween by featuring a "gypsy goddess," witch, psychic medium, and reishi certified crystal healer. So, yes, brace yourselves if this is foreign to you.

There's Michele Comodo of The Witches Parlour, which she has done so successfully that she doesn't even need to start or run a website—the business just comes.

There's Asia Lee, who has a background in quantum physics and neuroscience as well as being an advocate and believer in what's called the "Emotional Freedom Technique" (EFT).
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Then there's Kathleen Klatman, a psuchic medium and spiritual adviser.

On a related note, this isn't the first time we've heard of the "tapping" technique. It was actually a huge feature in The Woo Woo Way by Sandy Evenson.

This is also not the first time we've read about reishi, crystals, or even being a psychic medium. Empathic Evolution by Jennifer Elizabeth Moore & Heated Earth: Aedgar Moves In by Miki Mitayn featured communication with spiritual entities via what some of us would call ESP.

Magda Revealed by Ursula Werner presented Mary Magdalene as a sort of healer, using reishi or reishi-like techniques/abilities.

Awaken to Your Truth by Joanna Alexopoulos also featured elements like chakras and the use of stones and mindfulness for spiritual purposes.

Anyway, the guests talk about using crystals like amethyst or even something as simple as salt for healing. They emphasize using the "white light of God" to balance chakras, spiritual energy. If this is something you're interested in and are into, this might fit your fancy. It's honestly a bit fascinating. At the same time, if you're either conservative or very grounded in physical reality, this might make your eyes roll or even upset you.

The guests do a surprisingly good job at trying to defend and explain their otherworldly crafts, pointing to a lot of Catholicism (and Christianity) having origins in pagan practices and belief systems like this. They also point out that the cartoonish or over-the-top perception of the word "witch" is wrong. The better interpretation for the word witch, according to these women, is "wise woman"--an ancient interpretation of the term, sorta like "shaman."

The strangeness aside, this episode features some of the coolest set, costume, and background designs in the show's history!

The green screen and background with the spooky Gothic houses, the large orange/red moon, the whithered trees without leaves, and the bats in flight are great!

In the foreground, on the table, you've got pumpkins, scarescrows, and Autumn leaves. Beautiful! Susan/Suzanne (not sure her full name or spelling) once again demonstrates her keen skills and decorative abilities. She always does a great job.

Another person who always does a great job, and is spotlighted in the beginning, is the studio's owner, Bobby LaSera. See, we finally know how to spell his name because they actually provided graphics with the spellings in the newer episodes.

The third holiday episode we were asked to look at was the Thanksgiving episode, and it was one of our favorites!

The episode is beaming with positivity and a reminder to be thankful and not take anything (or anyone) for granted.

It opens with a spirited singing performance by Chris Milo. He gives us a lovely bilingual vocal and guitar performance! Apparently, he started singing and ballroom dancing when he was just eight. He has a bright future!

The guest list is jaw-dropping: from TV legend Dan Lauria to filmmaker and band leader Gerry Ferretti, the creative energy in the room is palpable. Then comes Johnny “Soho” Pasquale, promoting the chilling thriller The Beast Inside—an avant-garde horror film with a twist of female empowerment and demonic legacy. His philanthropic and entertainment ventures make him a standout personality.

The episode also shines a spotlight on Anthony and Ellen Pellegrino, blending culinary mastery and spiritual healing—Anthony with his restaurant empire and IMDb acting creds, and Ellen with her role as a life coach and producer. Their presence beautifully reflects the show’s theme of diverse talent and family legacy.

Rounding out the lineup are Brad and Qeta Cohn, event and social media pros; a surprise appearance by Jason Scheff of Fresh Sync Music; and Frank Peruzza of Frank’s Fantastic Fenders, proving small business and local pride are always center stage.

National Cake Day and Small Business Day are the icing on this feel-good feast. With heartfelt shout-outs, lively performances, and a focus on supporting others, this episode captures the soul of community.

And, hey, food and community are kinda the heart of both the Long Island Breakfast Club Show and Thanksgiving.

The show and Valentina (in particular) are known for this great quotes. We loved these:

"Wake up and say: I live my life to the best that I can, and I want to be happy. I make my own happiness."

"Get up. Get dressed. Show up." – Valentina Janek’s personal mantra

"There’s always a reason. We all have to go through things to get to the next level." – Angela Credenza

"Don’t say it was a mistake. It was an experience. Whether a marriage or an illness, you grow stronger because of it." – Valentina Janek

This is a really lovely talk show with a really classic, Boomer feel. A lot of these hosts and guests have twice as much lifetime experience as most people alive today. There's an audience for that, and we hope that Valentina and company are able to reach them.

Check them out, like, and subscribe!