Get Back 2 Work

Bob Campana
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Get Back 2 Work is a candid, no-nonsense podcast for seasoned entrepreneurs and operators who know that building something meaningful requires more than ideas — it requires resilience, reinvention, and real work. Hosted by serial entrepreneur and author Bob Campana, who has started and grown eight companies over more than five decades, the show explores what it actually takes to build, lead, and rebuild through both good years and hard ones. Bob brings the perspective of someone who has lived the pressure, responsibility, and identity that come with creating and running businesses at a high level. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced founders, executives, and problem-solvers who have moved beyond theory and into execution. Together, they dig into leadership under pressure, smart decision-making, reinvention, and the realities of growing companies in an unpredictable world. This isn’t startup hype or surface-level motivation. It’s real dialogue for people who have built something, learned from it, and are ready to get back to work — smarter, stronger, and more intentional than before.

Episodes

  1. Danny Tabera: From Combat Marine to Conductor – An American Redemption Story

    4 DAYS AGO

    Danny Tabera: From Combat Marine to Conductor – An American Redemption Story

    A teenage kid from South Modesto joins the Marines, survives brutal deployments in Afghanistan, comes home broken, and starts over as a busboy. In this episode, you’ll hear how he rebuilt his life through hard work, mentorship, and family—on a journey from combat infantry to train engineer. In this episode, Bob Campana and Danny Tabera discuss: Childhood in South Modesto, family, and losing his fatherMarine Corps journey, Afghanistan deployments, and combat lossLearning Pashto and navigating locals, interpreters, and the CIAComing home broken, financial struggle, and restarting at Redwood CafeDivorce, blended family, and rekindling marriage while building a new career  Key Takeaways: Deep childhood bonds and early loss can shape a lifelong drive to lead, protect, and provide, even when the path becomes chaotic.Combat doesn’t just end on the battlefield; it follows people home.Mentorship and meaningful work can be a bridge between a broken identity and a rebuilt one, especially for veterans transitioning to civilian life.Relationships can fracture under the weight of trauma and bad decisions, yet humility, growth, and genuine support can open the door to reconciliation.Careers don’t have to be linear; skills from the military, construction sites, and customer-facing jobs can all stack into unexpected opportunities—like driving a passenger train. “At my lowest, I was just looking for anything to keep me sustained. There were mental, emotional, and historical scars that were all colliding at one point.” - Danny Tabera About the guest, Danny Tabera: Danny Tabera is a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, blue‑collar craftsman, and emerging railroad professional whose journey runs from a tough childhood in South Modesto through three Afghanistan deployments and back into civilian life. After serving as an infantry assaultman and boot camp honor graduate with 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines—specializing in rockets, breaching, and even learning Pashto to work with local communities—he came home carrying the weight of lost brothers, financial strain, and a shattered sense of self, bussing tables while raising four kids. A lifeline came through work and mentorship at Redwood Cafe and on owner Bob Campana’s custom‑home projects, where he rebuilt his confidence learning construction, equipment operation, and problem-solving, then advanced into crime‑scene cleanup, cell‑tower construction, and finally a conductor role with Caltrain on the San Francisco Peninsula. Now a father of six and remarried to his high‑school sweetheart after divorce and reconciliation, Danny is stepping into engineer training on Caltrain’s new electric fleet, embodying resilience, responsibility, and the power of second chances. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    2hr 1min
  2. Henry Park: Humanizing the Restaurant Industry Through Partnership and Storytelling

    25 APR

    Henry Park: Humanizing the Restaurant Industry Through Partnership and Storytelling

    A 25‑year veteran of the restaurant world shares how strategic partnerships, authentic storytelling, and a renewed focus on community are helping independent operators rebuild after a decimated industry. Hear how a lifelong collaboration with Cisco, a new café buildout, and a content‑driven approach are redefining what it means to serve food and connect people. In this episode, Bob Campana and Henry Park discuss: Career path across Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle, and UC Berkeley’s International HouseCisco’s role as a long-term partner in food sourcing and operationsPost‑pandemic challenges and new opportunities for small restaurant groupsUsing podcasts, video, and stories to support and de‑intimidate independent restaurateursThe Redwood Cafe project, community “third place,” and rebuilding human connection  Key Takeaways: Building long-term relationships with trusted suppliers, like Cisco, can stabilize operations and unlock better insight into trends, costs, and sourcing.The pandemic severely damaged the restaurant industry, but it also created a less crowded landscape where smaller operators can step forward and establish themselves.Large foodservice companies can feel intimidating to independent restaurateurs, and thoughtful, authentic content can make these partnerships feel more accessible and human.Restaurants function as vital spaces for human connection, and intentionally designing them as community “third places” can strengthen the social fabric of a neighborhood.Bringing chefs, beverage experts, and industry veterans into ongoing media conversations can inspire others and preserve the stories and ethos of the restaurant world. “These leaders, these restaurateurs, are looking to grow; they're going to be intimidated by a bigger company, Cisco. And so I think the idea that we spoke about is that if we're able to go ahead and provide some content and collaborate with a Cisco. You know, we can give them content that is going to make them feel less intimidating.” - Henry Park About the guest, Henry Park: Henry Park is an experienced regional operations leader with more than 25 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, having built his career across iconic brands such as The Cheesecake Factory, Chipotle, and now the International House at UC Berkeley. He has led in high‑volume environments serving thousands of guests daily, managing complex menus, large-scale kitchen operations, and diverse culinary teams. Skilled in catering, cooking, profit maximization, food preparation, and hospitality, he blends hands-on operational expertise with a strategic mindset. Henry is also a strong sales professional, holding a Master Certificate in Executive Leadership from Cornell University, which underpins his ability to drive performance, lead teams, and navigate organizational change. Connect with Henry Park: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/henry-park-3a455122/  Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    11 min
  3. Steven and Vanessa Parks: From Teenage Car Lot to Boutique Hotel Visionaries

    18 APR

    Steven and Vanessa Parks: From Teenage Car Lot to Boutique Hotel Visionaries

    From flipping cows into cars at 14 to transforming a crime-ridden roadside motel into a stunning boutique hotel, Steven and Vanessa Parks share a raw, real look at what it actually takes to build wealth, take big risks, and keep your marriage and faith at the center of it all. If you’re an entrepreneur wrestling with risk, cash flow, and calling, this episode will feel like a masterclass in betting on yourself without losing your soul. In this episode, Bob Campana, Steven Parks, and Vanessa Parks discuss: Early entrepreneurship in the car businessMeeting, marriage, and a shared vision for life and businessReal estate journey: single-family, multifamily, and AirbnbsBuying and transforming a distressed motel into Hotel BayitFaith, risk, and community-focused hospitality (hotel + café + Bible study) Key Takeaways: Skills learned young, like sales, negotiation, and reading people, can become the foundation for much bigger ventures later in life.Building wealth is very different from just generating income; at some point, you have to shift from being purely transactional to owning assets and businesses that create long-term value.Massive projects rarely go as planned: the hotel renovation ran out of money multiple times and revealed far more damage than expected, but persistence, creativity, and faith kept it moving forward.Integrity in deal-making, such as refusing to “backdoor” a distressed seller even when it would be cheaper, creates peace of mind and often opens better doors later.Hospitality can be a calling as much as a business: by designing a hotel, café, and event space around community, beauty, and spiritual connection, you can turn a property into a place of genuine impact. “It's not just a hotel, it's not just the cafe… It's also just giving back to the community, where they could find hope. If there's someone off the street who needs food, they can come by, and I'll give them a plate of food. Like, that's what it's about. It's about helping each other.” - Steven Parks About the guest, Steven and Vanessa Parks: Steven and Vanessa Parks are a husband-and-wife entrepreneurial duo who turned a scrappy teenage car-lot hustle into a multi-layered real estate and hospitality portfolio. Starting with distressed single-family homes, duplexes, and fourplexes in California’s Central Valley, they grew into short-term rentals and ultimately took on their biggest project yet: buying and fully transforming a red‑tagged roadside motel in Salida into the boutique Hotel Bayit. Blending Steven’s deal-making and vision with Vanessa’s operational excellence and design eye, they now own and operate Hotel Bayit and The Matriarch Café, a community-focused gathering place on the property. Driven by faith and a deep love for people, they see hospitality as both their business and their calling—using their spaces to host travelers, weddings, Bible studies, and everyday moments that bring beauty, connection, and hope to the Central Valley. Connect with Steven and Vanessa: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-parks-0b086a53/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessa-parks-034295267/  Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/steven.parks.758  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevendparks/  Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevendparks/ , https://www.instagram.com/hotelbayit/ , https://www.instagram.com/matriarchcafe/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    1hr 44min
  4. Marco Keeps Yappen: Human Connection in a Swipe World

    11 APR

    Marco Keeps Yappen: Human Connection in a Swipe World

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Marco discuss: Turning small-town news into big-time buzzCracking the code on “locally viral” TikToksFrom random rants to purpose-driven storytellingBuilding real-world community from online clipsPatterson’s glow-up: growth, Amazon, and what’s coming next Key Takeaways: The power of “local viral” beats follower counts, and Marco shows that dialing in on hyper-local topics like Patterson development and water issues can drive huge engagement, even when total followers are relatively modest.By compressing 10–15 minutes of city council or planning information into 60–120 second clips, Marco respects his audience’s time while still delivering real substance.Human connection turns content into community, and this reinforces credibility both online and offline.Consistency plus curiosity drives evolution because instead of chasing trends, Marco posts daily, listens closely to comments and DMs, and lets audience questions steer him toward new topics like schools, water quality, and major employers.Even while avoiding partisan takes and “hot” opinions, Marco’s fact-focused updates on projects like the Amazon facility help residents feel informed and involved in Patterson’s future. “I'm not an influencer. I'm your neighbor.” - Marco Keeps Yappen About the guest, Marco: Marco is a Patterson-based content creator and community storyteller who uses TikTok and Instagram to break down local news, development projects, and civic issues into short, digestible videos. Growing up native to the social media era, he experimented early with YouTube, vlogs, and TikTok before finding his niche in “locally viral” content focused on the Central Valley—especially Patterson. By attending city meetings, talking with local leaders, and listening to residents’ questions, Marco translates complex or confusing information (like water issues, new developments, and job-creating projects such as the new Amazon facility) into clear, high-energy clips that residents can quickly understand and share. Outside of content creation, he works in luxury retail management and is deeply committed to human connection, community involvement, and helping Patterson grow in an informed, inclusive way. Connect with Marco: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@marco.xcvi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marcokeepsyappen/  About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect with Bob Campana Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    58 min
  5. Laureen Campana-Schermeister: Tai Chi & Qigong Energy Practices for Modern Health

    4 APR

    Laureen Campana-Schermeister: Tai Chi & Qigong Energy Practices for Modern Health

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Laureen Campana-Schermeister discuss: What Tai Chi and Qigong Are (and How They Differ/Relate)Origins and History of Qigong and Tai ChiHealth and Scientific Benefits of Tai Chi/QigongHow to Practice: Frequency, Class Structure, and AccessibilityEnergy, Grounding, and Emotional Effects Key Takeaways: Tai Chi and Qigong are presented as intertwined practices: Tai Chi Chuan emerging from martial arts with a “supreme ultimate boxing” lineage, and Qigong as a much older energy practice focused on cultivating and moving chi. When chi is blocked, it’s associated with disease, pain, and emotional distress; when it flows freely, vitality, mood, and overall health improve.Rather than being treated as mystical or fringe, these practices are positioned as evidence-backed complements to Western medicine.Practice frequency is portrayed as both accessible and powerful: even 15 minutes a day of simple Qigong or Tai Chi can create noticeable benefits, and you don’t need mastery to feel results after a first session. The class structure Laurie uses, warmups, varied Qigong sets like the “Frolic of the Five Animals,” then a short Yang-style Tai Chi form, shows how practice blends physical exercise, visualization, and focused intent.  “Chi is this word that essentially means the animation of all life... when your chi runs out, you die, you expire your last breath, and you become back into the earth.” - Laureen Campana-Schermeister About the guest, Laureen Campana-Schermeister: Laureen Campana-Schermeister, NP, MPH, is an Advanced Practice Holistic Nurse and National Board-Certified Nurse Practitioner with decades of clinical experience. A graduate of the University of Arizona Integrative Medicine Fellowship and a Registered Herbalist Candidate with the American Herbalist Guild, she focuses on bridging conventional medicine with integrative and traditional healing practices. Laureen works collaboratively with clients to develop personalized approaches to health that may include botanicals, nutrition, mindfulness, and lifestyle therapies. In addition to her clinical work, she is a longtime Tai Chi and Qigong practitioner and instructor with more than 30 years of experience, teaching practices that support balance, focus, and overall well-being. Her work centers on compassionate listening, evidence-informed care, and empowering people to navigate their own healing journeys. Book Laureen as your guest speaker today! Email: mountainherbalssonora@gmail.com  Connect with Laureen: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laureen-campana-a93b205/  Website: https://www.laureencampana.com/  About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    51 min
  6. Neil Buettner: From Campfires to Career: How He Built a Life in Music

    28 MAR

    Neil Buettner: From Campfires to Career: How He Built a Life in Music

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Neil Buettner discuss: Suzuki method and early violin trainingCamp Jack Hazard and campfire music influenceTransition from education/autism work to full-time musicBuilding a local music career as a businessReal estate investing and long-term financial planning Key Takeaways: Treat music (or any craft) as both art and service, and Neil shows that when you think in terms of what you can give an audience or a venue rather than what you can get, you create a sustainable career and stronger relationships.Outworking your competition often beats out-talent-ing them. Neil leveraged relationships from gigs into a home purchase and then into rentals, proving that creative people can build real wealth without abandoning their art.The Suzuki method, campfire performances, and working in special education all taught Neil to value practice, listening, and serving others—principles he now applies to business and life.Neil encourages younger musicians to figure out why they’re doing music, identify the specific markets they can serve, and then design their bookings, pricing, and song choices around that reality. “What makes art come alive is actually the imperfections and the spin through the lens of the artist themselves.” - Neil Buettner About the guest, Neil Buettner: Neil Buettner is a Central Valley–based professional musician, real estate investor, and martial arts practitioner who has built a 20+ year career by treating music as both art and service. Starting with Suzuki-method violin as a child and later falling in love with acoustic guitar at Camp Jack Hazard, he’s evolved into a sought-after solo performer for fine dining venues, country clubs, and private events, known for crafting “active background” experiences that elevate the room rather than dominate it. Connect with Neil Buettner: Facebook: https://web.facebook.com/neil.buettner.9/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neil_b_/?hl=en  Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/neil-buettner/316378674  Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2RgCgnT8IZVPpQ8a0oIXfe  About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    1hr 2min
  7. Bob Campana: Human Connection - The Real Competitive Advantage

    28 MAR

    Bob Campana: Human Connection - The Real Competitive Advantage

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Doug Sandler discuss: Power of human connection in businessEvolving, empathetic leadershipDesigning experiences, not just productsGrowth through immersive, hands-on experiencesLegacy built on relationships and memories Key Takeaways: Genuine human connection is a business advantage, not a soft extra; Bob built his pool company and restaurants by making people feel heard, respected, and understood at a deep level. Leadership style can and should evolve; Bob shifted from being reactive and abrasive to intentionally leaving every interaction in a “spirit of joy or happiness.” The restaurant isn’t just about food; it’s a carefully designed environment for escapism, warmth, and community connection. By placing people in safe but stretching situations, leaders can help them confront fear, build confidence, and form lasting emotional associations with the brand and with the relationship.Long-term fulfillment comes more from relationships and memories than from physical assets like cars, planes, or buildings.  “My goal on every exchange that I have with people now is to leave them in a spirit of joy or happiness, or feel that I heard them and respect them as a person.” - Bob Campana About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    37 min
  8. Get Back to Work: Real Talk for Entrepreneurs at Every Stage

    25 MAR

    Get Back to Work: Real Talk for Entrepreneurs at Every Stage

    In this episode, Bob Campana and Doug Sandler discuss: Human connection in businessEntrepreneurship after 60Brick-and-mortar business challengesGlobal sourcing and travel experiencesInspiration, resilience, and persistence in work Key Takeaways: Bob created this podcast to share five decades of small business experience and the lessons learned from the people he’s met along the way, as he believes those relationships and stories can offer real value to listeners who are still “in the game.”The show is aimed at multiple audiences: seniors or people over 60 who want to start something new, brick-and-mortar entrepreneurs in the trenches, and corporate folks considering a move into private enterprise. Episodes may dive into very specific, practical situations like sourcing products in China or working with agents who grease the wheels of global business.Bob emphasizes that businesses succeed through relationships and real people, not just technology or theory.Each episode is intended to spark inspiration and action, and Bob wants people to finish an episode feeling less alone in their challenges and more confident about pursuing their goals, no matter their age or stage. “I'm a lifelong entrepreneur. I'm 72 years old. I still have passion for life.” - Bob Campana About the host, Bob Campana: Bob Campana is a California-based serial entrepreneur, author, and advisor with over 50 years of experience building businesses across various industries, including manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, and aviation. He is known for sharing candid reflections on the pressures of leadership, the necessity of grit and adaptability, and the importance of fostering human connection in business. Connect With Bob Campana: Website: https://www.bobcampana.com/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@getback2workk  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-campana-entrepreneur/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobcampana_/  Show notes by Podcastologist: Hanz Jimuel Alvarez Audio production by Turnkey Podcast Productions. You're the expert. Your podcast will prove it.

    8 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Get Back 2 Work is a candid, no-nonsense podcast for seasoned entrepreneurs and operators who know that building something meaningful requires more than ideas — it requires resilience, reinvention, and real work. Hosted by serial entrepreneur and author Bob Campana, who has started and grown eight companies over more than five decades, the show explores what it actually takes to build, lead, and rebuild through both good years and hard ones. Bob brings the perspective of someone who has lived the pressure, responsibility, and identity that come with creating and running businesses at a high level. Each episode features honest conversations with experienced founders, executives, and problem-solvers who have moved beyond theory and into execution. Together, they dig into leadership under pressure, smart decision-making, reinvention, and the realities of growing companies in an unpredictable world. This isn’t startup hype or surface-level motivation. It’s real dialogue for people who have built something, learned from it, and are ready to get back to work — smarter, stronger, and more intentional than before.

Information

  • Creator
    Bob Campana
  • Years Active
    2k
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    Get Back 2 Work