P-Town Pulse Podcast

Smashed with Grit: How El Brewjo Turned a Front Yard Pop-Up Into a Burger Legend

What does it take to launch a business during a global pandemic, and turn a simple front yard pop-up into one of Southern California’s most celebrated smash burger legends? In this episode of the P-Town Pulse, we sit down with Cesar Cortez, the mastermind behind El Brewjo Burgers, to break down his incredible journey of culinary alchemy, hustle, and community. From his roots as the grandson of a local neighborhood "bruja" in Orange, California, to taking home top honors at the legendary Smorgasburg Tournament of Cheeseburgers, Cesar shares the true grit it takes to build a thriving food brand from scratch. If you are a foodie, an aspiring entrepreneur, or just obsessed with the perfect smash burger, this deep dive is for you! 🔍 In This Episode, We Discuss: The Leap of Faith: Why Cesar walked away from property management to chase his true passion. The Science of the Smash: Ditching the Blackstone and mastering the perfect, authentic lacy edge crust. American Fare with a Mexican Flair: The secrets behind El Brewjo's signature sweet and spicy mayo, freshly baked potato buns, and their viral smash-burger-on-a-tortilla special. Building a Community: Cesar’s mission to establish a safe, inclusive "gayborhood" space for the queer Latino community in Orange County. Street-Smart Business Advice: The reality of managing wait times, building customer loyalty, and why standing out is better than copying the competition. 📍 Connect with El Brewjo Burgers:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elbrewjo/ Where to find them: Catch them weekly at home bases across Orange County, including Everywhere Beer, Green Cheek Beer Co., and Chapman Crafted Beer! 🔔 Support the Channel!If you loved this inspiring story of local business hustle, make sure to LIKE this video, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and hit the NOTIFICATION BELL so you never miss an episode of local legends doing big things! Drop a comment below: Are you a classic lacy smash burger fan, or are you dying to try the smash tortilla burger? 👇

From Battle Scars to Hope: How Mindy Turned Her Breast Cancer Fight into a Community Movement

In this moving episode, Jordan sits down with Placentia local Mindy Mitchell to share the deeply personal and unexpected origin story behind the Stripes of a Warrior Foundation [https://stripesofawarrior.com/]. What started as a viral Facebook photo celebrating the end of Mindy’s own grueling 336-day battle with triple-negative breast cancer quickly transformed into a lifeline for families blindsided by the crushing financial and emotional toll of the disease. Mindy opens up about the raw reality of navigating a diagnosis, from a miraculous Christmas Eve bake sale that raised the exact dollar amount a local father needed to stay home with his sick child, to a decade of community support that has poured nearly $2 million back into local families. This heartfelt conversation uncovers the true power of neighborhood love, the quiet mental battles of recovery, and the inspiring reason why Mindy is passionately fighting to replace the word "survivor" with something much fiercer: warrior. Please visit them at this link: https://stripesofawarrior.com

From Cleaning Pools to Owning a Legend: The Wild Story Behind Kelly’s Korner Tavern

We’re hanging out at Placentia’s own Kelly’s Korner Tavern to chat with owner Jim Rafferty about how he went from cleaning pools to running a local legend. Jim gets real about the chaos of buying a bar with zero experience and the literal "growing pains" of turning a former real estate office into a top tier neighborhood spot. We get into how the tavern survived the craziness of the pandemic, their dedication to supporting local high school sports, and the secret behind that scratch kitchen menu that puts typical frozen bar food to shame. Whether it’s a deep dive into the perfect (funny named)  chicken sandwich or a look at how new health trends are changing the way we drink beer, this episode is a lighthearted tribute to the community spirit that keeps the taps flowing Kelly's Korner Tavern is located at 907 E Yorba Linda Blvd, Placentia, CA 92870. See their menu: https://www.kellys92870.com/ #KellysKornerTavern #PlacentiaCA #PTownPulse #OrangeCountyFood #OCBars #SmallBusinessStories #BarOwner #NeighborhoodSpot #PlacentiaCalifornia #OrangeCountyNightlife #SportsBar #ScratchKitchen #BestBurgers #PrimeRibDip #LocalLegend #DiveBarVibes #TavernLife #BarBusiness #RestaurantReality #CommunityStrong #SupportLocal #OCFoodies #PlacentiaDining #HospitalityIndustry #BarHistory #GrownUpBar #HiddenGems #OrangeCountyCA #SocialDrinking #BarVlog #PlacentiaPulse #TavernFood #BurgerLovers #OrangeCountyEvents #CaliforniaBars #SmallBizOwner #LocalHangout #OrangeCountyDining #PlacentiaFood #BarLife #PubCulture #HospitalityLife #CommunityImpact #LocalBusinessOwner #OCRestaurants #BarSpecial #EatLocal #DrinkLocal #PTown #OrangeCounty

Why Athletes are Choosing Local: Meet the Faces Behind Revision Barbells

In this episode of the P-Town Pulse, local entrepreneurs Anwar and Jenny Engelhart share the grassroots story behind Revision Barbells, a Brea-based fitness equipment company born from the frustrations of pandemic era supply chain shortages. The duo discusses their transition from personal training to manufacturing, revealing how a "naive" initial order of sixty barbells in a residential neighborhood transformed into a sophisticated operation focused on engineering high-quality, affordable gear for the everyday athlete. From the technical nuances of barbell knurling and needle bearings to the invention of a specialized barbell lock for gym-goers, they break down why they choose to design their own products rather than relying on standard white-labeling. Visit Revision your self at: 357 Cliffwood Park St Unit F, Brea, CA 92821 [https://www.google.com/maps/place/357+Cliffwood+Park+St+Unit+F,+Brea,+CA+92821/@33.9220846,-117.8932224,1475m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x80dcd5108f26a4db:0x98491a78520dcf8d!8m2!3d33.9220846!4d-117.8906421!16s%2Fg%2F11n54z02vz?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI2MDMyOS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D] Website: https://www.revisionfit.com/ [https://www.revisionfit.com/]

The Secret Sauce Behind OC's Most Popular Trivia Nights

In this episode of the P-Town Pulse, Jordan sits down with Dougie Craig, the mastermind behind some of the what the LA Times called "the best pub trivia in SoCal". From his roots in the Philadelphia college bar scene to building a trivia empire in here in Orange County, Dougie shares the "secret sauce" of what makes a great trivia night and why it’s really about building community—not just knowing obscure facts. We cover the history of trivia, the transition from East Coast pub culture to the West Coast, and Dougie’s journey from a 2007 transplant to becoming a local fixture at spots like Kelly’s Korner in Placentia. DOUGIE’S WEEKLY TRIVIA LINEUP: If you're looking for the best trivia in OC, here is where you can find Dougie and his team: ● MONDAYS: Brewery X (Anaheim) ● WEDNESDAYS: Kraft Burger (Placentia) ● THURSDAYS: Kelly’s Corner (Placentia) w/ Dougie Craig (Since 2013!) LOCAL GEMS MENTIONED: ● Food: Navarro’s (Fullerton) for incredible tacos, ● Craft Burger (Placentia) ● Tony’s (Placentia, also Episode 2). "It’s not about me, it’s about bringing people together... If I can ask a question that the person on their phone is the only one at the table who knows, she’s coming back to play again." — Dougie Craig Don't forget to Like, Subscribe, and hit the notification bell for more stories from the P-Town Pulse! #OrangeCounty #TriviaNight #Placentia #Fullerton #BreweryX #PubQuiz #LocalBusiness #PTownPulse #KellysCorner #TriviaHistory