EP#34-How Coach Mantanona Builds Champions in the Coachella Valley

EP#34-How Coach Mantanona Builds Champions in the Coachella Valley

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318950/fan_mail/new] Getting choked out sounds like a bad day until you understand what it really teaches: calm under pressure, honest feedback, and the confidence that comes from doing hard things on purpose. We sit down with Anthony Mantanona, third-degree black belt and the driving force behind Coachella Valley Jiu Jitsu, to unpack how grappling sports shape people in ways a normal workout never can. We talk about Anthony’s path from a big family and an accidental landing in the Coachella Valley to discovering judo as the closest thing to the jiu-jitsu he saw in the early UFC days. He explains the real differences between judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, from throws and pins to points and submissions, and why “earning your belt” is about time, skill, and trust, not shortcuts. Along the way, we dig into competing as a mirror for your habits, why humility is a feature, and how great coaching means adapting to the person in front of you. Anthony also shares how his academy grew through mentorship, community, and the post-COVID reset, plus what it takes to develop kids into high-level athletes, including Palm Desert’s wrestling pipeline and the growth of girls wrestling and women’s jiu-jitsu. We wrap with mindset lessons on injuries, nutrition, and training as “physical chess,” then point you to where you can drop in and try a class. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a new challenge, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of starting jiu-jitsu would be hardest for you?

EP#33-Death Care Done Right-The ER Funeral Story

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318950/fan_mail/new] Death is guaranteed. Confusion, family conflict, and surprise bills do not have to be. We talk with Ernesto Rosales of ER Funeral Services, a Coachella Valley funeral professional who explains what really happens after someone dies and why the “death care industry” is far more human than most people expect. We get into the behind-the-scenes realities: what “first call” removals look like after hours, why professionalism and dignity matter in those first minutes with a grieving family, and how the coroner’s role changes depending on the situation. Ernesto also breaks down the work inside a funeral home, including licensing in California, embalming and preservation, restorative care, and the tough decision of when a viewing helps healing and when it can do the opposite. Then we shift to the part families feel most: funeral costs, timing, and the stress of making major choices fast. Ernesto makes a clear case for funeral preplanning and pre-need insurance, plus legal tools like durable power of attorney and health care directives so final wishes are honored. You will also hear about modern options like green burial and creative cremation memorials, all framed around one simple idea: “leave good memories, don’t leave problems.” If you want a practical guide to funeral planning, cremation versus burial decisions, and how to protect your family emotionally and financially, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone you love, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you want more people to hear.

EP#32-Marketing That Makes You Unmissable-How David Rios Turned Attention Into Opportunity

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318950/fan_mail/new] A pink billboard with nothing but a face and a name sounds reckless until it turns into TV, brand partnerships, and a thriving Palm Springs business. We’re joined by David Rios, a real estate entrepreneur and interior designer known for bold vacation rental design, high impact marketing, and building experiences that feel like boutique hotels. He walks us through the exact mindset behind spending on visibility, keeping your branding consistent for years, and using social media to stay top of mind without feeling fake. We also dig into the work that happens when the cameras aren’t rolling: learning the fundamentals of design, getting comfortable selling, and stacking multiple income streams so you’re not exposed when the market shifts. David shares how the 2008 crash forced a reset, why creative financing can keep deals alive, and what it really takes to flip properties that stand out in a crowded market like the Coachella Valley. Then the story gets personal and intense. David opens up about building and running his own Palm Springs hotel, The Velvet Rope, and the operational reality of hospitality, staffing, and protecting a luxury guest experience. He also recounts the aftermath of a nearby bombing that caused major damage, created insurance and lender chaos, and tested every ounce of resilience he had. If you care about entrepreneurship, personal branding, Palm Springs real estate, interior design, or hospitality business strategy, this conversation is packed with practical lessons you can use right now. Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

EP#31-Varraco Coffee & Roasters-How Filipino Single Origin Coffee Became A Coachella Valley Hit

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318950/fan_mail/new] A bag of “too strong” coffee turns into a business idea that refuses to quit. We’re sitting down with Rochelle De Villa, Joel Lozano, and TJ Jacinto, the founders behind Varraco Coffee & Roasters , one of the most talked-about coffee shops in Palm Desert and the wider Coachella Valley. Their story starts as college friends in the Philippines, then stretches across migration, new careers, and a big question: why is Filipino coffee so hard to find in the United States when it tastes this good? We dig into the real work behind specialty coffee, not the highlight reel. They share how importing Philippine coffee actually happens, from documentation and FDA licensing to finding the right partners and learning through trial and error. We also get into what makes Varraco’s approach different: single origin focus, dialing espresso every day for consistent extraction, and building drinks and food that feel original. TJ breaks down the thinking behind rotating chef specials, better ingredients, and recipes that keep evolving week after week. Then we zoom out to the bigger why: community. Varraco becomes a destination by hosting car meets, motorcycle Sundays, and niche gatherings that turn strangers into regulars. It’s a modern coffee brand rooted in Filipino hospitality, direct trade sourcing, and the simple discipline of showing up, even when growth gets messy. If you care about entrepreneurship, coffee roasting, branding, or building a local business that people rally around, this conversation delivers. Subscribe for more founder stories, share this with a friend who loves great coffee, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

EP#30-How Oasis Magazine Champions Palm Springs Small Businesses

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2318950/fan_mail/new] A glossy print magazine in 1,500+ Palm Springs hotel rooms. A half-hour TV pilot with a full crew. A bright pink Rolls-Royce named Mr. Pink turning heads on the street. That’s not a gimmick, it’s a strategy. We sit down with Matthew Mitchell and Wiley Snedeker, the founders behind Oasis Magazine and Victory Creative Agency, to unpack how they’re building modern local media in the Coachella Valley. Matthew shares the creative journey that runs through makeup, photography, production, and constant reinvention after industry-wide shocks. Wiley breaks down the unglamorous side that makes the glamour possible: accounting, CPA work, fractional CFO support, and the systems that keep a fast-moving brand from spinning out. We get specific about what makes Oasis Magazine different: a BFF-style voice, a focus on celebrating small businesses (including LGBTQ+ owned, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses), and a refusal to treat everything like a “best of” contest. Then we dig into the big question for entrepreneurs and marketers: why go all-in on print in a TikTok world? Their answer centers on attention, tangibility, and meeting travelers at the exact moment they want to discover what to do next. Finally, we talk Oasis Live, their magazine-format travel and lifestyle show, and the decision to raise production value to a Hollywood standard so the story can reach beyond a local audience. If you care about entrepreneurship, small business marketing, local advertising, and building real community through media, this conversation delivers a playbook. Subscribe, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review with your favorite hidden gem in the valley.