Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

Rachel Fyffe

 Connecting Orange County Businesses and Neighbors! The Good Neighbor Podcast, hosted by Rachel Fyffe, bridges the gap between  Orange County residents and the incredible local business owners in the Orange County area. Discover the stories behind your favorite local businesses—because they're not just owners; they're your neighbors! Proud to be the #1 Orange County Podcast. Are you a business serving the  Orange County area? Let’s showcase your story! Visit gnpOrangeCounty.com to schedule your free interview today. 

  1. 23H AGO

    Customized Treatments And Real Results With Bare Beauty OC

    Looking for real skin results without the burn or the hype? We sit down with Angela Bustamante of Bare Beauty OC, an Orange County esthetician who proves that personalized care and progressive treatments can outshine aggressive quick fixes. From customized facials and dermaplaning to lash lifts, brow lamination, and carefully calibrated chemical peels, Angela shares how she builds plans that fit your skin’s needs, your goals, and your lifestyle. Angela’s 18-year journey started as a young mom drawn to hands-on work and the joy of helping people feel good in their skin. She pulls back the curtain on the biggest myth in her world—that chemical peels must be scary and harsh—and explains how modern, progressive peels support the skin barrier while steadily improving tone, texture, and clarity. With practical insights on home care routines, SPF essentials, and ingredient choices, she shows how consistency creates glow and confidence that lasts. We also unpack how Bare Beauty OC grows through referrals and Instagram, spotlighting the power of education-focused content and authentic results. Angela’s warmth comes through as she talks about family life near the beach, the balance that keeps her grounded, and the core promise behind every visit: treatments tailored to you so you can feel confident without heavy makeup. If you’re curious about chemical peels, custom facials, or how to choose the right esthetician, this conversation offers clear guidance and local heart. Subscribe for more neighbor-made stories, share with a friend who loves skincare, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.

    5 min

  2. 23H AGO

    Why Every Child Is Musical And How Parents Can Spark It

    Ever been told you’re not a “music person”? We challenge that idea head-on with Marek Johnson, a Juilliard-trained performer turned beloved early childhood music educator in South Orange County. She invites us into Music by Marek, where babies through kindergarteners—and the grown-ups who love them—learn music the way humans learn to walk and talk: through playful imitation, movement, and community. We dig into what “basic music competence” really means and why it matters beyond the stage. Singing in pitch and keeping a steady beat aren’t just musical tricks; they’re gateways to language development, motor coordination, attention, and emotional bonding. Marek explains how music activates the entire brain, especially during the high-plasticity years from birth to five. With global songs, varied tonalities, and mixed meters, her classes help children feel rhythm in their bodies while caregivers model participation without pressure or perfection. Marek’s story adds a powerful layer. After success on Broadway and in film, and studies in marriage and family therapy with clinical art therapy, she chose the path that lets her shape family life from the ground up. She busts the “tone-deaf” myth with compassion and science, reminding parents that the most beautiful voice to a child is the one they hear at home—even starting in utero. We also touch on how rhythm shows up in sports, school readiness, and teamwork, making music a practical foundation for everyday success. If you’re in or near San Clemente, you can find Music by Marek through the city’s recreation programs, Music Together Class Locator, and her website. Free demo classes make it easy to test the waters, no solos required. Ready to try a lullaby tonight or tap a beat on the way to the park? Hit play, then share your family’s favorite song with us. Subscribe, leave a review, and pass this along to a friend who needs a nudge to sing out loud.

    14 min

  3. 1D AGO

    From Chronic Pain To Clinical Nutrition: Carrie Wojciechowski's Path To Health

    What if your body isn’t broken—it’s just underfed and overburdened? We sit down with clinical nutritionist and lifelong dancer Carrie Wojciechowski of Path to Health to unpack how a cascade of pain, fatigue, and confusion at 21 became the catalyst for a career built on compassion, testing, and practical change. Carrie shares the moment she realized that “thin and athletic” didn’t equal nourished, and how targeted nutrition helped her reclaim movement, joy, and energy. Across our conversation, we dig into why personalization beats one-size-fits-all diets, how to use labs and noninvasive mineral testing to find real deficiencies, and when supplements help versus when they’re just expensive guesswork. Carrie breaks down common myths—like the belief that health requires $500 of pills or a lifetime sentence to keto—and replaces them with clear steps anyone can try: protein-forward starts to the day, small post-meal walks, and one-degree improvements that compound over time. Her judgment-free philosophy meets people where they live, honoring food as culture, comfort, and habit while still moving the needle on pain, sleep, and energy. We also explore the roots of Carrie’s practice: three years of clinical training, early mentorship, and a community-first growth path through workshops, city programs, gyms, and even her line dancing classes. That visibility with value helped her build a network based on trust and real results. If you’re tired of rigid rules, supplement stacks, and guilt-driven advice, this story offers a grounded alternative—clear testing when useful, simple daily wins, and a steady return to feeling like yourself. If this conversation helps you rethink your health, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a review to tell us the one small change you’ll try this week.

    9 min

  4. 3D AGO

    Why A Dog Spa Beats A Quick Groom

    Calm isn’t a perk. It’s the plan. We sit down with Tanya Mingolla, former educator and founder of Fur Seasons Dog Spa, to explore how a cage-free, stress-aware approach transforms grooming into genuine canine wellness. From early arrival playtime to guided breaks during trims, Tanya shows how reading body language and moving at the dog’s pace can prevent injuries, reduce anxiety, and create a routine pups actually enjoy returning to. We go deep on industry misconceptions—especially the myth that a quality groom should take just a few minutes. Dogs move. Coats vary. Skin has delicate creases. Real safety requires time, precision, and trained handling. Tanya explains why people often pay more for a dog’s haircut than their own and breaks down what you get in return: skilled scissoring, clipper control, coat-specific care, clean products, and a calmer companion after pickup. She also shares how massages and facials help sensitive dogs accept face and paw handling, and how ozone therapy supports pups with arthritis, skin allergies, hot spots, or alopecia. Community is part of the model. Tanya and her team connect at local events and on Instagram, building trust one conversation at a time. Their partnership with foster and rescue groups offers free grooms to adoptable dogs, helping them look and feel their best for meet-and-greets. Whether you have a wiggly puppy, a senior with limited vision, or an anxious rescue, you’ll learn what to ask a groomer, how to spot stress-reduction steps, and why “spa” can mean better long-term health, not just pampering. If you care about your dog’s comfort as much as their cut, this is your guide to finding the right fit and setting your pup up for calm, safe care. Listen, share with a fellow dog parent, and subscribe for more local stories and practical pet wellness insights.

    9 min

  5. 3D AGO

    Why Choosing a Residential Care Facility Can Be the Most Loving Decision

    Looking for senior care that respects dignity, feels like home, and still delivers consistent clinical attention? We sat down with Lance Bryant of Tranquility Senior Living to unpack a nurse-led model that blends warm residential spaces with quiet, reliable medical oversight. Across Mission Viejo and Costa Mesa, Lance and his family—each with nursing backgrounds—run small homes designed for daily life: shared meals, calm routines, and personal touches that reduce anxiety. Behind the scenes, they track vitals, encourage mobility and showers, coordinate with primary and specialty care, and tailor activities for conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. We get real about the biggest myth in elder care: that placing a parent equals neglect. Lance walks us through why caregiving is a full-time job, how guilt distorts decision-making, and what families discover during tours—engaged residents, clean spaces, and staff who notice the small changes that matter. We also explain how most families find them: word-of-mouth referrals and placement agents who assess needs, match acuity levels, and help navigate waitlists. If you’ve felt overwhelmed by night wandering, medication schedules, or complex tasks like G-tube care, you’ll hear concrete ways a well-run residential home restores safety, predictability, and peace of mind. What sets Tranquility apart is simple and profound: the homes look like a home, not a hospital, but the care runs with clinical discipline. That combination delivers continuity, reduces crises, and supports quality of life for both residents and their families. Lance also shares how becoming a new father sharpened his purpose—choosing structure and meaning over noise—and how that same ethic guides their residents’ daily rhythm. If you’re balancing love with limits, this conversation offers clarity, language to handle family hesitation, and a path to compassionate support. If it resonates, share it with someone who needs permission to seek help. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us the biggest myth about senior care you’d like to debunk.

    9 min

  6. FEB 19

    You Don’t Need To Be Fit To Start; You Start To Get Fit

    Looking for a gym that actually meets you where you are? We sit down with Shay Shulman of HIIT It Fitness, a boutique small group training studio in Mission Viejo, to explore how smart strength, thoughtful conditioning, and a welcoming community help everyday people move better and feel confident. From the first hello,  Coach Shay makes it clear: intensity is personal, not punitive, and the goal is lasting health, not quick fixes. We unpack the most stubborn myths in fitness, including the fear that lifting makes women bulky. Coach Shay explains how building muscle boosts metabolism, supports bone density, improves posture, and protects long-term independence. She shares how HIIT can be scaled for beginners and seasoned athletes alike by adjusting load, tempo, range, and work-to-rest ratios—so you leave energized, not wrecked. You’ll hear why form-first coaching in small groups delivers both motivation and individual attention, and how structured programming turns good intentions into steady progress. Community sits at the center of this story. Most new members arrive through referrals because people feel seen, supported, and challenged at the right level. Coach Shay talks about the studio’s culture—celebrating small wins, trying new workouts, and joining local races and events—and how her own self-care practices keep coaching fresh and empathetic. We close with practical ways to start: try a free class, check the studio’s Google reviews for real testimonials, and remember that you don’t need to be fit to begin; you begin to get fit. If you’re in or near Mission Viejo and want strength training that respects your body and time, this conversation is your nudge. Subscribe for more neighbor-led stories, share this with a friend who needs a confidence boost, and leave a review to help others find the show.

    7 min

  7. FEB 18

    Choose A Victorious Saga, Not A Storyline

    What if the advice you keep hearing is true—but only halfway true for you? We sit down with Raquel Veisaga, founder of V-Saga, to explore how personalized coaching cuts through the noise of generic tips and reveals the story you actually want to live. Born from a yoga studio where candid coffee chats turned into real breakthroughs, V-Saga now blends workshops, a supportive app-based community, and direct one-on-one coaching to meet people where they are and move them forward with precision. Raquel shares why two truths can be valid at the same time and how that nuance gets lost in blanket advice and viral self-help posts. She explains why V-Saga pairs scalable learning with custom onboarding and live access to coaches, ensuring that firefighters, founders, and families get guidance that fits their real constraints. We also dig into her choice to grow through referrals and partnerships instead of funnels and urgency tactics, and why deep change should not be sold with hype. Authentic relationships, strong results, and steady word of mouth have brought V-Saga into large networks, from behavioral health groups to public service departments. Along the way, we get a glimpse of the person behind the practice—dance, beach reads at Dana Point, and a love of travel and fine dining—and the deeper meaning behind the name V-Saga: V for victorious, the dash for our brief time on earth, and saga for the story we craft on purpose. If you feel trapped in an old storyline of fear and doubt, this conversation offers a path to clarity, confidence, and action that lasts. Ready to test the fit? Good Neighbor Podcast listeners get a free discovery call to experience V-Saga’s approach firsthand. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to tell us which insight challenged you most.

    10 min

  8. FEB 12

    Aldersgate United Methodist Church: Building A Community Where Nobody Walks Alone

    Looking for a community where you’re seen, needed, and invited to grow? We sit down with Lead Pastor Tim Ellington of Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Tustin to explore how a simple promise—nobody walks alone—turns faith into everyday action. Tim shares how Aldersgate’s focus on grace and service shapes a strong, intergenerational church culture where kids, teens, adults, and seniors find a real sense of belonging. We dig into the church’s local partnerships and practical outreach: an MLK Day of Service with volunteers across Tustin, ongoing support for Benson Elementary, Sunday Suppers with St. Paul’s, and Family Promise for families facing housing challenges. Tim explains why Aldersgate leads with presence over promotion, using relationships and consistent service to build trust. He also tackles common myths about church—intimidation, judgment, exclusivity—and makes a clear, open invitation to explore at your own pace through the website, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Tim’s story from political science major to pastor reveals a grounded path into ministry shaped by campus mentoring and the United Methodist emphasis on grace. Along the way, we talk about hobbies that keep him human—cycling, Seahawks fandom, and dedicated “marriage time” every Friday. The heart of the conversation is a team framework for healthy church life: everyone belongs, everyone contributes, everyone grows. If you’ve wondered whether a church can feel both welcoming and purpose-driven, this conversation offers a hopeful, local blueprint. Subscribe for more neighborly stories, share this with a friend who’s looking for community, and leave a review with one word that describes where you’ve felt true belonging.

    11 min
See All (132)

About

 Connecting Orange County Businesses and Neighbors! The Good Neighbor Podcast, hosted by Rachel Fyffe, bridges the gap between  Orange County residents and the incredible local business owners in the Orange County area. Discover the stories behind your favorite local businesses—because they're not just owners; they're your neighbors! Proud to be the #1 Orange County Podcast. Are you a business serving the  Orange County area? Let’s showcase your story! Visit gnpOrangeCounty.com to schedule your free interview today. 

Information