My SGV Podcast
Welcome to the My SGV Podcast. A show where you will hear personal stories of triumph over failures, and how others successfully navigated the unique landscape that is the San Gabriel Valley. What makes us different? Well, just like you, we have chosen the San Gabriel Valley for our home or businesses, or both. We believe it is the people and small businesses that make this community great and we love to share their stories with you. We always encourage your questions and feedback and you can find all of our contact information at sgvmasterkey.com.
Episodes
238 episodes
Dorothy Xiao - Writing, Casting, Producing: Turning Lived Experience into Cinema
Here’s the story of a first-generation Chinese American filmmaker whose roots in Alhambra and the San Gabriel Valley shape every frame she makes. With a psychology degree from UCLA and a name honoring her parents’ immigration lawyer, she crafts...
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Episode 235
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1:16:43
Brian Cooper - Restaurant Funding Playbook: Pre-Purchased Meals for Cash Flow
Here’s a conversation with a restaurant growth operator who’s spent 20+ years at the intersection of dining, loyalty, and partnerships. From helping launch LivingSocial’s first outside sales footprint to expanding Square’s Caviar gourmet delive...
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Episode 234
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56:27
Robert Moreno - From Tragedy to Triumph: Building Youth Programs in the SGV
Here’s the story of a San Gabriel Valley nonprofit turning loss into action. Based in Covina, the Man-e Moreno Foundation was created after the death of Manuel Joseph Moreno, transforming a family tragedy into a mission to serve youth and suppo...
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Episode 233
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1:04:54
Chris Loos - Community Media That Works: Civic Shows, Local Impact
Here’s a conversation with a broadcast veteran who’s spent nearly 30 years in large-market media—hosting radio, interviewing icons like Eminem, Mike Tyson, Jim Brown, and Kendrick Lamar, and now operating on the executive side with a global mus...
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Episode 232
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1:07:09
Michelle Shimohara - How Community Leadership Shapes a Real Estate Career
Here’s the story of a San Gabriel Valley daughter who turned community roots into a career of service. Raised in Monterey Park and Montebello, she grew up at Robert Hill Lane, Macy Intermediate, and Schurr High—so the SGV isn’t just a place, it...
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Episode 231
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1:08:10
Melissa Spolar - Inside the Pasadena Coffee Passport: Inspiring Community Connection
Here’s the story of an SGV native building community through coffee. Raised in Covina and West Covina and now rooted in Pasadena, Melissa Spolar blends events, marketing, nonprofit work, and café culture to connect neighbors and small businesse...
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Episode 230
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1:04:04
Jamie Nguyen - From SGV Roots to National Newsroom: A Journalist’s Journey
Here’s the story behind a multi-Emmy-winning journalist whose roots run deep in the San Gabriel Valley. Raised by a family that fled Vietnam, she grew up in local neighborhoods, went to San Gabriel High, and learned early how community shapes c...
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Episode 229
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1:00:52
Steve Lustro - From Urban Planner to City Council: How Local Government Really Works
Here’s a conversation with a lifelong civic servant whose roots run from Monterey Park to Pomona and the San Gabriel Valley. With decades in urban planning and community development, he brings a ground-level view of how cities actually work—hou...
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Episode 228
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53:07
626 Authentic - Healed and Called: The Journey Behind LIVING IN TRUTH
Here’s the story of a radical preacher and Christian hip-hop artist from Rosemead in the SGV whose life was changed by a powerful encounter with Jesus. He shares how he was healed from an “incurable” mental illness, received a new purpose, and ...
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Episode 227
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1:46:06
Stefanie Wong - Designing at Scale: From UI/UX to Organizational Change
Here’s a conversation with a seasoned UI/UX designer and design strategist with 20+ years of experience building products used by millions. Her portfolio spans Google, PayPal, CBS Interactive, Fox Broadcasting Company, and Warner Music Group. S...
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Episode 226
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1:02:58
Brian Nguyen - From Kitchen Trays to Thousands of Meals: Scaling Healthy Fast-Casual
Here’s the story behind B Nutritious, a Southern California meal-prep brand built on a real transformation. After years in a desk-bound insurance role, Brian Nguyen gained weight, discovered Muay Thai, and went deep on nutrition to rebuild his ...
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Episode 225
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1:02:12
Jason Sewer - How Drones, Robotics, and Automation Are Redefining Security
Here’s a deep dive with the CEO behind Drone Strategic Partners, a firm helping organizations adopt drones, robotics, and automation to modernize security and operations. We get into how a lean aerial program can extend ground teams, drive fast...
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Episode 224
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52:28
Dr. Ken Thai - From PharmD to Owner: The Independent Pharmacy Roadmap
Meet Dr. Ken Thai, PharmD—CEO of 986 Degrees Corporation (a pharmacy franchise), multi-site independent pharmacy owner across Southern California and Nevada, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at USC and Western University. A ...
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1:00:56
Irene Sinso - Ovarian Cancer, Resilience & SGV Food Finds
I’m excited to introduce Irene—@irenieeweeniee—who turned a corporate layoff and months of misdiagnoses into a mission. After learning she had ovarian cancer, she started editing food videos on her phone and sharing her story on TikTok. What be...
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51:27
Danny Hyun - From LA Fitness to GD Burgers in La Puente
Here’s the story behind GD Burgers in La Puente. I sat down with Daniel “Danny” Hyun, who went from leading at LA Fitness to helping his father at the family counter—and then taking over. His path blends discipline, service, and a deep commitme...
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54:34
From Immigrant Roots to Entrepreneurs: The Founders of Happy Humble Hub
Wendy Yu and Huong Thai are the co-founders of Happy Humble Hub, a unique community space in Alhambra, California designed to bring people together in meaningful ways. Their stories of resilience, risk-taking, and vision are deeply rooted in th...
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1:06:41
Richard Cheung - Educator, Clinician & Nonprofit Advocate
Dr. Richard S. Cheung is a second-generation chiropractor and athletic trainer who has been serving the Pasadena community since 1998. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and a bachelor’s...
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Episode 219
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1:12:39
Kaila Yu - A Reckoning With Yellow Fever & Identity
Kaila Yu is a Los Angeles–based luxury travel and culture journalist whose bylines include The Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Rolling Stone, and more. Before her journalism career, she was an actress, a...
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Episode 218
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1:06:44
Chris Martinez - From Navy Vet to SGV Real Estate Builder
Chris Martinez is a second-generation Cuban American from Miami whose life took flight in 2010 when he enlisted in the military and served in Hawaii. At just 23, he began investing in real estate—building a portfolio across Florida, Hawa...
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Episode 217
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51:15
Jackson Ridd - Mind-Bending Mentalist of LA’s Magic Scene
Jackson Ridd is a Los Angeles–based mentalist and magician whose performances blend psychological insights with theatrical flair. A resident star at Black Rabbit Rose, Rideau Speakeasy, and the Wonzimer Gallery, Jackson delivers immersive stage...
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Episode 216
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53:46
Jonathan Wong - Shaping Super Street and JDM Culture
Jonathan “JDM” Wong’s journey reads like the ultimate dream for anyone immersed in Japanese car culture. Born in Hollywood and raised in Pasadena, he fell in love with modified JDM cars as a teen. Alongside high school friends, he co-founded Te...
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Episode 215
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1:08:54
Milton and Erika - Brisket Flautas & Big Dreams: Inside Domestic BBQ
Erika Herrera and Milton Arredondo are the heart and soul behind Domestic BBQ, the family-owned California-style barbecue spot that’s become a local favorite in La Puente and Covina. They made the bold leap from corporate life to smoky kitchens...
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Episode 214
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1:18:29
Amber & Waldo - The Sweet Story Behind 626 Ice Cream
Amber Tan and Waldo Yan didn’t set out to build a viral dessert destination—but that’s exactly what they’ve done with 626 Hospitality Group, home of the wildly beloved 626 Ice Cream in Arcadia, CA. What began as a passion project ...
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1:33:25
Jason Marshak - How Dr. Rubin’s Pomade Became a California Classic
If you’ve spent any time in the San Gabriel Valley, you’ve probably crossed paths with Jason Marshak—or at least with someone who’s used his pomade. A proud Alhambra native for over 40 years, Jason is the founder and face behind Dr. Rubin’s Pom...
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Episode 212
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59:34
Maryvale: The Nonprofit Changing Lives Across the SGV w/ Rhe Torres
Maryvale began in 1856 when five nuns from the Daughters of Charity opened Los Angeles’ first orphanage and hospital—initially a small wood-frame home near what is now Union Station. By 1891, it had moved to a larger facility in Boyle Heights, ...
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Episode 211
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47:29