Charles Ortega

Jesse Wagner - Lead singer of The Aggrolites

In this episode, I have a conversation with Jesse Wagner- the powerhouse lead singer and guitarist of The Aggrolites. We dive deep into Jesse's story, from his childhood days and early influences to the moment he fell in love with music. He shares his journey through the highs and lows of being a musician, the birth of "dirty reggae," and what keeps his passion for music burning all these years. Whether you're a longtime fan of The Aggrolites or just discovering their sound, this convo is full of heart, grit, and rhythm. IG:jpwags1980

Frankie Guzman

I had the privilege and honor of collecting a conversation with Frank "The Tank" Guzman. The epitome of a leader. A man that has ducked and dodged the pitfalls of the streets to pursue and accomplish all of his goals. From community college to graduating from the California State University, Long Beach with his Masters Degree. A leader that has stood on the shoulders of giants to see further. The rose that grew from concrete!

SGT Beanie PART II

The man, the myth, the legend. Uncle KEV returns to talk about his transition from the military, overcoming many obstacles, overcoming multiple arrests, he fought more gun charges than lil Wayne ,all while staying sane and graduating from USC.  A tale of resilience, a true leader who never sold dope, but sells plenty of HOPE!

Charles Ortega

19 year old Charles Ortega discusses what life was like losing his father at an early age, navigating his teen years flippin' the bird, while flipping burgers. While also educating us on the importance of stepping out of your comfort zone, preparing, planning, and learning. Discipline, consistency, and staying hungry is how he lives his life, all while remaining empathic, ambitious, and humble.

SGT Beanie OIF Combat Veteran

PART I  Kevin has over 18 years of experience working with Veterans in a variety of capacities. After graduating with his Master’s Degree in Social Work with a Specialization in Military Veterans and Families, Kevin began his career as the Program Manager for the Battle Buddy Bridge Program at Volunteers of America Los Angeles, which was a veteran peer to peer program in Orange County. Kevin provided oversight for the daily operation of the program as well as clinical supervision for all of the Peer Support Specialists and MSW interns. Kevin always had an affinity for student veterans and decided to move on to a position as a Care Coordinator at the University of Southern California where he provided case management for veterans and their families. After his time at USC Kevin decided to pursue a career in education where he became Adjunct Faculty at Long Beach City College where he worked as a Veterans Counselor for the Veterans Resource Center. During his time at Long Beach City College, Kevin taught classes in Career Exploration, and Orientation to College Success as well as providing academic counseling for student veterans and their families. Kevin also provided resource navigation where he guided student veterans and their families through the resource “maze” in Los Angeles and Orange County. Currently, Kevin is Full Time Tenure Track Faculty at Santa Monica College where he is the Program Leader for the Veterans Resource Center. Kevin provides oversight to the program as well as managing grants, coordinating services, providing military culture training for faculty and staff, managing daily operations, providing clinical supervision to Social Work interns, and provides Counseling for student veterans and their families. His skills include strategic planning, navigating the resource “maze”, training, and providing peer support to his sisters and brothers in arms. Kevin is a Combat Veteran who served in the United States Army from 2000 – 2005. He was deployed to the Pentagon, Kosovo, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Kuwait, and Iraq and truly understands the difficulties faced by veterans first hand. Kevin is passionate about helping veterans and is excited at the opportunity to continue serving Veterans at Loyola Marymount University. Kevin spends his free time playing Soccer, Fantasy Football, and hanging out with his wife Elizabeth and his Service Dog Smoky.