Conejo Valley Visionaries

Conejo Valley Visionaries
  • 4.8 (22)
  • ENTREPRENEURSHIP
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Conejo Valley Visionaries is a weekly audio and video podcast that highlights the founders, CEOs, and leaders behind the businesses you love in the Conejo Valley. From restaurateurs and coaches to sommeliers and retailers, each episode offers candid conversations about their journeys—how they started, the challenges they’ve faced, and their vision for the future. You’ll also get practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark. Plus, enjoy exciting weekly giveaways! Want to share your own story? DM us on Instagram @ConejoValleyVisionaries.

  1. FEB 19

    You Have the Business Idea… Now What? How to Validate & Launch with Kristin Bell and Desserin Pereyra of Hub101 in Westlake Village, CA

    If you've ever had a business idea and wondered, okay, now what? This episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries is for you. Host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Kristin Bell and Desserin Pereyra, program manager and community manager respectively at Hub 101 in Westlake Village, CA where they support local startup founders. We discuss the importance of validating an idea early, the hurdles almost every entrepreneur faces, from funding to customer acquisition, the power of community and entrepreneurship, and why mindset can be just as important as strategy. Kristin and Desserin share practical tools for those of us aspiring to start a business on our own. It's a real conversation about resilience, mindset, and building something sustainable together. GET YOUR TICKETS: DM @conejovalleyvisionaries on Instagram to get first access to tickets for our 2nd annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders event that will be held at Hub101 in March. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Hub101 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    55 min

  2. FEB 12

    Gacia Tachejian of Laidrey Coffee Roasters in Agoura Hills, CA

    If you care about great coffee—and the kind of places that make you want to stay awhile—this episode is for you. Today on Conejo Valley Visionaries, I’m sitting down with Gacia Tachejian, founder of Laidrey Coffee Roasters, with locations in the San Fernando Valley and Agoura Hills. We talk about what makes specialty coffee worth seeking out, how she’s built cafés that feel genuinely welcoming, and why her goal of five locations in five years is really about deepening local community—not just growing a brand. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Laidrey Coffee Roasters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    55 min

  3. FEB 5

    From Fashion to Healing: How Alyson Flack Built Moon Phase Acupuncture in Thousand Oaks, CA

    What happens when a fashion career no longer fits—and healing becomes the calling? In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Alyson Flack, founder of Moon Phase Acupuncture in Thousand Oaks, to talk about the leap from fashion design to holistic health, and what it really takes to build a business rooted in purpose. If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please share it with a friend. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast, and that allows each story to reach more people. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Moon Phase Acupuncture ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    37 min

  4. JAN 29

    From Artists to Entrepreneurs: How to Turn Creativity Into a Career with Maria Galloway and Bronwyn Birk of Viridian Art in Agoura Hills

    Maria Galloway and Bronwyn Birk, co-founders of Viridian Art, a beloved art studio with locations in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills, California, explore what it really takes to make a career out of art — and how artists can step into entrepreneurship without losing their creative soul. This conversation dives deep into art education, entrepreneurship, resilience, and believing in your vision, making it a must-listen for artists, founders, parents, and anyone curious about turning creativity into a sustainable career. Topics covered: ​Artists and entrepreneurship​Making a career out of art​Building an art studio business• Art classes for kids and adults​Teaching philosophy and creativity​Community-focused small businesses​Viridian Art in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills​If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please share it with a friend. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast, and that allows each story to reach more people. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Viridian Art ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    40 min

  5. 12/04/2025

    Season of Giving: Inspiring Conejo Valley Charity Stories

    Three Conejo Valley nonprofits are changing lives this holiday season — and their stories will inspire you. Todd Ross shares the story of A Very Merry Waffle Wednesday, a beloved holiday charity event supporting local causes. Stacy DeWitt highlights the mission of James Storehouse, which provides essential resources for foster youth and foster families. Linda & Len Krukowski discuss Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the volunteer-driven organization building and delivering beds for children in need throughout the Conejo Valley. If you’re looking for Conejo Valley charities, local nonprofits, volunteer opportunities, foster youth support, or holiday giving inspiration, this episode delivers. Discover how grassroots leaders are strengthening the community and spreading joy during the holiday season. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with A Very Merry Waffle Wednesday here Connect with James Storehouse here Connect with Sleep in Heavenly Peace here If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people. If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    39 min

  6. 11/20/2025

    Lana Bluth. publisher of Dos Vientos Living and Westlake Village Living magazines

    In this conversation, Lana shares her journey from aspiring soccer player to a dedicated stay-at-home mom, and eventually to a successful publisher of Dos Vientos Living and Westlake Village Living magazines in the Conejo Valley. She reflects on the challenges of navigating life changes, including her divorce, and how those experiences led her to find purpose in publishing local stories. Lana emphasizes the importance of community connections and the role of local publications in fostering relationships among residents and businesses. She offers insights into marketing and entrepreneurship, encouraging others to take small steps towards their goals while sharing her love for the Conejo Valley. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Lana Bluth ⁠here⁠ If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people. If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    42 min

  7. 11/06/2025

    Marc Hernandez, co-owner of Sunrose California Eatery (Agoura Hills, CA)

    Recorded live at Sunrose California Eatery in front of a packed house, I sit down with co-owner Marc Hernandez. It is a candid, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation about the winding path that led him here — from his first job as a 16-year-old delivery driver at Brent’s Deli, to meeting his now-wife and business partner Carie while working there again after college, to navigating the highs, lows, risks, and reinventions that come with building a hospitality vision from scratch. Marc shares the vulnerable moments that shaped him, the lessons learned along the way, and the heart behind Sunrose’s commitment to warm, unpretentious California dining. Whether you love food, entrepreneurship, or a good origin story, this episode is a reminder that the most meaningful journeys are rarely linear — and always worth it. Tune in for laughter, honesty, and a behind-the-scenes look at the passion powering one of the Conejo Valley’s favorite restaurants. Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Connect with Sunrose California Eatery here If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people. If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

    46 min

  8. 10/16/2025

    Timmy Heague of Arsenal Comics and Games in Thousand Oaks and Ventura

    Can you imagine opening a brick-and-mortar retail store at the age of 22? Me neither. But that's what today's guest Timmy Heague did. Timmy is the owner of Arsenal Comics & Games, a beloved comic book and gaming store serving Newbury Park and Ventura. Timmy shares the story of opening his first location at 22, utilizing the early days of social media to build it into a thriving local business, and how he's supported the Conejo Valley community - and vice versa - during challenging local events and personal hardships. Timmy shares his take on: Growing a small business in Ventura County Engaging with the local comic and gaming community Leadership and business lessons from a successful entrepreneur Tips for other small business owners in Southern California Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a comic and gaming enthusiast, or interested in local Conejo Valley businesses, this conversation is packed with inspiration and actionable advice.

    37 min
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4.8
out of 5
22 Ratings

About

Conejo Valley Visionaries is a weekly audio and video podcast that highlights the founders, CEOs, and leaders behind the businesses you love in the Conejo Valley. From restaurateurs and coaches to sommeliers and retailers, each episode offers candid conversations about their journeys—how they started, the challenges they’ve faced, and their vision for the future. You’ll also get practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs looking to make their mark. Plus, enjoy exciting weekly giveaways! Want to share your own story? DM us on Instagram @ConejoValleyVisionaries.

Information

  • Creator
    Conejo Valley Visionaries
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Conejo Valley Visionaries
  • Show Website
    Conejo Valley Visionaries