CV Hustle

CV Hustle Studios

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ENTREPRENEURSHIP
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A Podcast created to educate, inform & inspire entrepreneurship here in our Coachella Valley.We will be talking to some of the best & brightest entrepreneurs in the Coachella Valley about how they started their journey in entrepreneurship.

19H AGO

EP#30-How Oasis Magazine Champions Palm Springs Small Businesses

Send us Fan Mail A glossy print magazine in 1,500+ Palm Springs hotel rooms. A half-hour TV pilot with a full crew. A bright pink Rolls-Royce named Mr. Pink turning heads on the street. That’s not a gimmick, it’s a strategy. We sit down with Matthew Mitchell and Wiley Snedeker, the founders behind Oasis Magazine and Victory Creative Agency, to unpack how they’re building modern local media in the Coachella Valley. Matthew shares the creative journey that runs through makeup, photography, production, and constant reinvention after industry-wide shocks. Wiley breaks down the unglamorous side that makes the glamour possible: accounting, CPA work, fractional CFO support, and the systems that keep a fast-moving brand from spinning out. We get specific about what makes Oasis Magazine different: a BFF-style voice, a focus on celebrating small businesses (including LGBTQ+ owned, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses), and a refusal to treat everything like a “best of” contest. Then we dig into the big question for entrepreneurs and marketers: why go all-in on print in a TikTok world? Their answer centers on attention, tangibility, and meeting travelers at the exact moment they want to discover what to do next. Finally, we talk Oasis Live, their magazine-format travel and lifestyle show, and the decision to raise production value to a Hollywood standard so the story can reach beyond a local audience. If you care about entrepreneurship, small business marketing, local advertising, and building real community through media, this conversation delivers a playbook. Subscribe, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review with your favorite hidden gem in the valley.

1 hr
APR 27

EP#29-From Podcast to NBC-How Jose Esparza Built A Coachella Valley Media Brand

Send us Fan Mail A heartbreak, a desert move, and a willingness to try again can turn into something much bigger than a side project. We sit down with Jose Esparza, founder and host of The New Mindset of the Coachella Valley, to unpack how he rebuilt his life in the valley and kept iterating until his podcast finally clicked, then grew into an NBC Palm Springs TV show. We get specific about the craft: how to start a podcast on a budget, why beginning with simple audio beats waiting for perfect gear, and how consistency and curiosity outwork expensive equipment. Jose shares how he designs a brand that pops without gatekeeping, why he’d rather make content that feels like a real conversation, and how learning new tools (even the ones you once thought looked “stupid”) can level up your production fast. If you care about video podcasting, podcast SEO, and building a local audience, this is a practical blueprint with a Coachella Valley edge. Jose also opens up about filming on location so entrepreneurs and small businesses get real visibility, plus the bigger vision: community-centered projects that range from a local reality dating concept to policy-first debates that focus on answers instead of cheap shots. We close with where to watch and stream his show, and the advice he’d give anyone trying to go from “just starting” to something that actually lasts. Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review with the most useful takeaway you heard.

1h 2m
APR 16

EP#28-A New York Times Bestselling Author Explains How Trauma Became A Career

Send us Fan Mail Something wild happens when you stop treating your instincts like a soft suggestion and start treating them like real information. We sit down with Allie Kingsley Baker, a New York Times bestselling author, co-writer, and Coachella Valley entrepreneur, and her story moves fast: Los Angeles gets unsafe during the pandemic, a “we’re just going for a drive” day ends in La Quinta, and suddenly a new life starts taking shape in the desert. We dig into the writing side first, including what people get wrong about ghostwriting vs co-writing, how one project can snowball into a career, and what it’s like collaborating with high-profile names while still protecting your own creative voice. Allie also shares the part most people leave out: chasing a dream job in the art world, getting burned by a toxic boss, and using writing to process the experience until it becomes a publishable book and a turning point. Then we get real about small business in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley: why she built Art Major Studio to give families a place to create without the mess at home, how an hourly “drop in and make anything” model works, and what opening an Italian restaurant teaches you about staffing, margins, stress, and risk. If you’re into entrepreneurship, local business, creative careers, or practical leadership lessons, you’ll leave with a sharper filter for choosing the right opportunities. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s building something, leave a review, and tell us: when was the last time your gut was right?

48 min
07/31/2025

Ep #27-Behind the Barricade: Life as an Elite Security Professional

Send us Fan Mail From the streets of Indio to the Grammy Awards and beyond, David Villarreal has crafted an extraordinary career in elite security services. As founder of Libertas Protection Group, David has protected some of music's biggest stars while building a business that stands apart in the competitive security industry. Growing up in the Coachella Valley and serving in the military gave David a foundation of discipline and resourcefulness, but it was his tenacity and bold decision-making that propelled him forward. After working security at the Coachella Music Festival in 2008, David steadily built connections in the entertainment world, eventually becoming a trusted protector for major touring artists and high-profile events. What makes David's approach unique is his emphasis on preparation and prevention. Behind every successful event is months of planning - developing Emergency Action Plans, coordinating security teams, and anticipating potential threats. "If somebody physically touches my client, I look at it as a failure on my behalf," David explains, highlighting the proactive mindset that has earned him his reputation. Libertas Protection Group doesn't compete on price but on quality, employing primarily veterans and former law enforcement officers with real-world experience. This approach creates not just a security team but a community where younger professionals can learn from seasoned experts. David's entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the freedom that comes from building something meaningful on your own terms. Whether you're interested in the security industry, entrepreneurship, or simply interested in hearing an inspirational local success story, David's journey shows what's possible with determination and vision. As he puts it: "Be humble, bust your ass, and never let anyone tell you that you can't."

1h 2m
07/22/2025

EP #26-Voice for the Valley: How Coach B is Changing Sports Media in the Coachella Valley

Send us Fan Mail Ever wondered what it takes to bet everything on a business dream? Meet Brian "Coach B" Arrington, who pulled equity from his family home to launch Fox Sports Palm Springs 1270 – a radio station bringing dedicated sports coverage back to the Coachella Valley. Sports broadcasting wasn't always Brian's passion. Originally aspiring to be an entertainment journalist for the LA Times, his path shifted when a high school newspaper advisor assigned him to be sports editor against his wishes. Years later, while hosting a hip-hop radio show and feeling disconnected from the evolving genre, Brian had a revelation during a 40-minute conversation about Kobe Bryant with a stranger: "Sports is the great unifier." This insight ignited his transition to sports media. The Coachella Valley opportunity revealed itself unexpectedly. After reluctantly recording a player-of-the-week segment about a local athlete, Brian was shocked when it generated 6,000 views in just two days – something that would never happen in the saturated Riverside media market where he spent eight years with iHeartRadio. This immediate response showed the hunger for local sports coverage in an area that lacked dedicated attention. Brian's vision goes beyond broadcasting. He's developing the "Coachella Valley Sports Report" to spotlight local teams and athletes, creating internship programs for high school students, and building a family business where his wife oversees operations and his children contribute their skills. Most impressively, the station generated 673,000 social media impressions in less than 90 days – a milestone that took eight years to achieve in his previous market. His advice for aspiring media entrepreneurs? "You have something right here that's more powerful than anything I ever had in my life," he says, pointing to a smartphone. "Don't overthink it, just do it. No one owes you anything... you have to go prove yourself." Follow Fox Sports Palm Springs on Instagram @FoxSportsPS or visit foxsportspalmsprings.com to discover how Coach B is changing the game for sports coverage in the Coachella Valley.

34 min
06/03/2025

Ep#25-2025 Coachella Valley Real Estate Round Table

Send us Fan Mail #realestate #realtor #housing #coachellavalley #2025 The 2025 Coachella Valley Real Estate Round Table with James Suer, Billy Meraz & Donovan McDaniel. The real estate landscape has fundamentally shifted since the pandemic boom, but what does that mean for buyers and sellers in the Coachella Valley? Three of the region's most successful realtors pull back the curtain on what's really happening in today's market. Donovan McDaniel, Billy Meraz, and James Suer bring decades of combined experience to tackle the questions everyone's asking: Will interest rates drop? Is another housing crash coming? Where can first-time buyers still find affordable homes? Their candid conversation reveals that while the "free-for-all" days of 2021 are over, opportunities still exist for savvy market participants. The discussion takes fascinating turns into the psychology of pricing, with sellers often stuck in 2021 mindsets while buyers wish it were 2012. Meanwhile, interest rates hovering around 6.5% have changed the game – but not necessarily in the ways you might expect. The experts caution that waiting for rates to drop could backfire, as any significant decrease would trigger a competitive feeding frenzy that would drive prices up. Perhaps most valuable are their insights for younger buyers facing seemingly impossible affordability challenges. From Desert Hot Springs' relative bargains to creative strategies like house hacking through multi-family properties, the realtors offer practical advice for getting a foot in the door. "Your first home doesn't need to be your dream home," becomes a recurring theme worth embracing. Whether you're considering buying, selling, or even joining the real estate profession, this episode delivers the unfiltered truth about today's market realities. Follow these experts on social media for ongoing insights: Donovan McDaniel (@donovanmcdanielrealtor), Billy Meraz (Windermere Real Estate), and James Seward (@james_suer_realtor) for "All Things Coachella Valley."

1h 4m
05/22/2025

Ep#24-From Thrift Shops to Stand-Up: The Elijah James Story (How to Make it in Stand Up Comedy)

Send us Fan Mail We sit down with local comedian Elijah James to explore how he's building the comedy scene in Coachella Valley through his Upcycle Comedy shows at a vintage thrift store in downtown Indio. • Palm Desert native who discovered comedy as a way to connect with others while moving around as a kid • Started comedy shortly before COVID after attending Arizona State University and working various jobs including valet parking • Created Upcycle Comedy at Return of the Goods thrift store, bringing comedy and vintage shopping together • Discusses the challenges and rewards of producing comedy shows, including the behind-the-scenes work of promotion and content creation • Explains how the Coachella Valley comedy scene is more collaborative and welcoming compared to larger markets • Shares insights on his creative process, including when to write jokes and developing his own unique style • Performs his spot-on impression of RFK Jr. that had us in stitches • Recommends following @upcycledcomedy and @elijah.james on Instagram for information about upcoming shows Follow Upcycle Comedy on Instagram for upcoming shows happening every other Friday at 8pm at Return of the Goods in downtown Indio.

1h 5m
05/15/2025

Ep#23-Weights & Bake: The Resilient Journey of an Accidental Entrepreneur (How to Open A Health Food Business)

Send us Fan Mail Jeremy Collier, founder of Weights and Bake, shares his incredible journey from sleeping on his mother's couch in Alabama to becoming a successful health food entrepreneur in California's Coachella Valley. • Growing up in Alabama and moving to Nashville at 28 to attend Tennessee State University • Meeting his wife on Instagram and supporting his family by working multiple jobs while in college • Moving to California during the pandemic in 2020 with $20,000 in savings • Getting laid off from his nurse recruiter position and starting Weights and Bake with just $1,200 • Creating innovative protein-rich "munchie bites" that appeal to both fitness enthusiasts and cannabis users • Building his business by selling outside gyms before gradually moving into nutrition shops and cannabis dispensaries • Maintaining meticulous handwritten records of all business transactions and personal schedules • Balancing entrepreneurship with family responsibilities and personal fitness • Finding success through persistence and faith despite numerous setbacks • Expanding his product line with custom options and smoothies made with the same ingredients Check out Weights and Bake on Instagram at weightsandbake_ and DM Jeremy to order his protein-packed treats that offer a healthy alternative to typical snacks. (How To Open A Health Food Business)

1h 4m

TRAILER

Intro-From Accidental Landlords to Business Triumphs: The CV Hustle Entrepreneurial Journey

Send us Fan Mail Have you ever found yourself daydreaming about trading in your day job for the thrill of running your own business? That's precisely the journey Fina and Robert Meraz, embarked upon, and we're here to take you through each twist and turn from accidental landlords to the proud owners of not one, but three thriving businesses right here in Coachella Valley. We peel back the curtain on the challenges and triumphs that come with entrepreneurship, sharing our insight and experiences with grit and unwavering determination. Our story isn't just about us; it's a beacon for anyone in our community who's felt the flicker of that same entrepreneurial flame. This episode is chock-full of honest reflection and actionable advice for those ready to make their move into the business world. We talk about the significance of belief, the power of mentorship, and the delicate dance between planning and instinct. Meanwhile, Fina recounts the mesmerizing tale of how Tile Designs by Fina took a simple spark of creativity and turned it into a stunning, successful enterprise. There's a harmony in our partnership that resonates throughout our ventures, showing that with the right synergy and a touch of creativity, the possibilities are limitless. So, listen in and let our stories embolden your spirit to hustle hard for your dreams.

03/07/2024

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22 min

5

out of 5

7 Ratings

Great local podcast for anyone doing biz in the Coachella Valley

06/27/2024

Cocktails-and-code

Love this podcast. If your doing business in the Coachella Valley or even just have been in the area for a while you should listen to it. Looking forward to season 2.

A Podcast created to educate, inform & inspire entrepreneurship here in our Coachella Valley.We will be talking to some of the best & brightest entrepreneurs in the Coachella Valley about how they started their journey in entrepreneurship.

Creator

CV Hustle Studios
Years Active

2024 - 2026
Episodes

33
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 CV Hustle
Show Website

CV Hustle