Pandemic Stories Podcast

12: Veteran to Master of Business - James Bogle, Los Angeles

This week we are introducing you to James Bogle, who will be featured in the Los Angeles episode of Pandemic Stories! After serving 23 years in the U.S. Army, which included commanding two artillery units in Iraq and serving at the U.S. Embassy in Paris, James went on to become the Director of the USC Marshall School of Business for Veterans. The MBV degree is a fully accredited graduate degree that was created specifically for military veterans, active duty, and reserve personnel.  James talks about his own struggles transitioning from a military career to civilian life. He discusses how rewarding it is to be directing a program that is designed to leverage the transferability of military experience into the business world. His goal is to continue to help veterans pivot into business professions, but also hopes to see this program adopted by other schools!

11: Food, Fear, and Finding Growth - Talia Edralin

We are so excited to introduce you to the amazing Talia Edralin, who will be featured in the Las Vegas episode of Pandemic Stories.  Talia is a content creator, social media manager, and is also an influencer herself! She discusses how she always dreamed of becoming a pastry chef, and eventually found herself posting social media during college. She now gets to combine her two passions and posts reviews about the best food in Las Vegas on her TikTok!  Before she became a social media guru, Talia struggled with severe social anxiety. Although she was terrified to move states and attend a new college, she embraced these big changes with enthusiasm, and was rewarded with friends and experiences that will last a lifetime. Although she is only in her 20’s, Talia’s story reminds us that immense growth can happen outside of our comfort zone!

10: Sailing to the Olympics - Maru Urban, Miami

Get ready to meet Olympic and Paralympic sailing coach, Maru Urban, on this week’s episode of the Pandemic Stories Podcast!  Maru has been sailing since he was just nine years old. After proving his talents as an American coach in the Rio games, Maru received the chance to move from Brazil to the U.S. and is now the head coach of youth sailing at the Key Biscayne Yacht Club. He is working diligently to build one of the best youth sailing programs in the country!  He always had dreams of sailing in the olympics as an athlete. Since then, he has redirected his sails and now hopes to coach a winning olympic athlete in the 2028 summer games! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Maru and his athletes!

9: 45 Years of Sweet Service - Bita Tishbi, Los Angeles

This week we are introducing you to Bita Tishbi of Vienna Pastry! Bita, her aunt, and her mother, will be representing their family-owned bakery in the Los Angeles episode of Pandemic Stories.  After immigrating from Iran to California, Bita’s family took over Vienna Pastry in 1985. Not only are the treats they’re serving sweet, but the people making them are even sweeter! With 37 years of ownership, Vienna Pastry and its tasty treats have certainly made their mark on the local community.  Bita talks about how Vienna Pastry has become a generational tradition, not only for her family, but for the customers that consistently rely on them to bake tasty treats for all their special occasions. If you’re ever in the area, we urge you to check out Vienna Pastry and indulge in all your sweet tooth cravings!

8: Determination, Dreams, and Dance - Ryley Clement, Las Vegas

Get ready to bust a move! This week I am joined by the one and only Ryley Clement , who will be featured in the Las Vegas episode of Pandemic Stories. Ryley is currently a dancer for the Vegas Golden Knights and MJ The Evolution Show in Vegas. She seems to have endless amounts of energy while maintaining her busy schedule! Ryley started dancing when she was three years old, and won’t be stopping anytime soon! After realizing she wanted to pursue dance professionally, she graduated high school early, and was already off to chase her dreams in Vegas at the young age of 17. Ryley’s successful career is a result of determination and hustle, but also because she had the courage to take the leap of faith and follow her dreams! She encourages anyone who is interested in the arts to believe in themselves and seek out opportunities to make things happen!  You’ll be able to catch up with Ryley again in Season One of Pandemic Stories!