Civilian #7 : Carolina Groppa — The Beautiful Chaos of Building Your Path

Civilian #10 Adam Weisblatt - Building Restaurants That Matter

Building Restaurants That Matter What does it take to build restaurants that endure in one of the toughest industries in the world? In this episode of Civilians: Breaking Boundaries, we sit down with Adam Weisblatt, founder of Last Word Hospitality and author of For the Love of Restaurants, for a candid conversation about the realities of modern hospitality. Together we explore what it means to build with intention, why great restaurants are about more than great food, and the mindset required to create places people genuinely care about. Whether you're a restaurant owner, entrepreneur, hospitality professional, or simply someone who loves the craft of creating meaningful experiences, this conversation offers thoughtful insights from one of the industry's most respected voices. For the Love of Restaurants https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Adam-Weisblatt/255272630 [https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Adam-Weisblatt/255272630]

Civilian #9 Victoria Mahoney - The Power of Authority Through Identity

Victoria Mahoney joins Civilians: Breaking Boundaries for a conversation that goes beyond filmmaking into the tension between identity and authority. What does it mean to lead at the highest level while carrying the weight of representation? How do you hold your voice inside systems that weren’t built with you in mind? This episode explores pressure, authorship, and the quiet decisions that shape how power is expressed — not just claimed. A deeper look at what it takes to step into authority without losing the core of who you are.

Civilian #8 Brenda Equihua — Seeing Differently, Creating with Intention

Brenda Equihua shares how observation, culture, and identity shape her approach to design, transforming the familiar into something deeply personal yet widely resonant. From reimagining the iconic San Marcos cobija to exploring what defines something as “classic,” this conversation dives into creativity, trust, and building with intention in a world full of opinions.

Civilian #7 : Carolina Groppa — The Beautiful Chaos of Building Your Path

Carolina Groppa is an Emmy-nominated producer who rose from an immigrant childhood in São Paulo to producing acclaimed films and documentaries in Hollywood. In this conversation, she reflects on the winding path that shaped her career, being told she was never “Latina enough” for gigs, to carving out space in an industry that didn’t invite her in, and learning that success comes from putting in the reps, embracing the zigzags, and staying true to your values. Carolina speaks candidly about representation and the importance of support systems in the industry, while sharing why integrity, daily choices, and commitment to the work ultimately define a lasting career. https://linktr.ee/angleonproducers?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio [https://linktr.ee/angleonproducers?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio]

Civilian #6 Jairo Alvarado - Redefining the Entertainment Industry

In this episode, Jairo Alvarado of Redefine Entertainment shares the moment he realized there was a bigger world out there—one that didn’t always reflect who he was. He talks about getting the right guidance, making room for mistakes, and navigating the tension between following your instinct and remembering that it’s still a business. From “horoscope networking” to the commodification of representation, Jairo challenges creators to ask: What do you actually believe in? He also opens up about success, failure, and staying in the game to what happens after the big win, and how to respond when things fall apart. Sometimes it’s not you, it’s the setup. This conversation is about recalibrating, reframing ideas to fit Hollywood’s risk profile, and building with conviction to move culture forward. https://www.redefineent.com/ [https://www.redefineent.com/]