ChamberTalk with North Orange County Chamber

North Orange County Chamber

ChamberTalk is a platform for genuine conversations between North Orange County Chamber members, business owners, entrepreneurs, local influencers, and political leaders. We are thrilled to offer a chance for our guests to tell their stories and showcase their accomplishments. ChamberTalk offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from various people from different backgrounds. The conversations are engaging and intimate, allowing the hosts to ask questions that truly get to the core of the topics discussed. It’s a great way to stay in the know about what’s happening in the business world and be inspired by the individuals making a difference. If you’re looking for an exciting and honest podcast about business, this is the one for you!

  1. 3d ago

    EP 89: Republic Services Orange County: Recycling, Waste Management & Sustainability

    In this episode of ChamberTalk, we go behind the scenes with Republic Services to explore recycling, waste management, and sustainability in Orange County. Pierre and Ari from Republic Services share how a 35-acre operation helps manage the enormous volume of material collected from homes and businesses across the region. Pierre discusses his journey from UPS into operations leadership, while Ari, a former mayor turned contract manager, explains how Republic Services works with cities, communities, and local governments. We take a closer look at the technology and people behind modern recycling and waste collection, including optical sorters, robotics, contamination reduction, worker safety, and the challenges created by batteries and improperly discarded materials. The conversation also explores: • How recycling materials are sorted and recovered • Why contamination remains a major challenge • Lithium-ion batteries and the risk of landfill and facility fires • Technology, robotics, and optical sorting systems • Fleet electrification and the future of waste collection • Community education and proper recycling • California recycling and waste management requirements • The people and infrastructure keeping Orange County communities moving This episode offers an inside look at how Republic Services approaches recycling, sustainability, waste management, and environmental responsibility while serving communities throughout Orange County. If you have ever wondered what happens after your trash or recycling truck leaves the curb, this ChamberTalk conversation takes you inside the system. #RepublicServices #OrangeCounty #Recycling #WasteManagement #Sustainability #ChamberTalk

  2. Aug 17

    EP 88: Building Tiny Homes, Building Hope: What’s Next for Fullerton Schools

    Returning to ChamberTalk with chamber CEO Andrew Gregson, Fullerton School District Board Trustee Ruthi Hanchett reflects on what the district has accomplished, the work underway today, and where she believes it needs to go next. From eighth graders using their woodshop skills to build tiny homes for families in need to a nationally recognized debate program and continued efforts to strengthen student safety, Ruthi shares some of the programs, people, and initiatives helping shape the Fullerton School District. The conversation also looks at the challenges facing schools today, including student mental health, cell phones in the classroom, digital citizenship, online safety, and supporting students and families during times of uncertainty. As Ruthi moves forward in her campaign to represent Area 4 and seeks a second term on the Board of Trustees, she also discusses what she would like to build upon, where she sees opportunities for continued improvement, and her priorities for the district in the years ahead. It is a candid conversation about public education, community, student achievement, safety, and what it takes to keep moving a school district forward.

  3. Jul 9

    EP 87: Mayor on the Front Lines: Fred Jung’s Fight, Faith and Fullerton

    Mayor Fred Jung returns to ChamberTalk with a story that blends personal courage and public service. Battling cancer while steering a city through budget strains, infrastructure challenges, and polarized politics, he reveals how purpose and prayer kept him going and reshaped the way he leads. Through candid reflections on family, fear, and the hard work of governing, this episode traces a powerful arc from hospital infusion centers to the council dais and toward a broader vision for Orange County. Listeners will be drawn into a human, urgent narrative about time, stewardship, and what it takes to keep a community moving forward.

  4. Apr 23

    EP 86: A Conversation with Chuong Vo CA - 45th Congressional District 2026 Candidate

    He arrived in America as a one-year-old on a crowded boat, saved from the sea by a mother’s refusal to leave her child, a moment that becomes the heartbeat of this episode. Chuong Vo traces that perilous beginning through nights on patrol, years in city halls, and quiet acts like bringing Santa to every street, explaining how hardship and service shaped his sense of duty. Listen as Chuong moves from frontline encounters and planning meetings to hard-earned victories on the council and is running for Congress. This is a candid, human story about public safety, family values, and why one refugee turned lawman believes America must remain the place where people can rebuild, work, and be heard.

  5. Apr 22

    EP 85: First Year in Washington: Congressman Derek Tran on Family, Fires, and Fighting for Small Business

    From LAX to Washington, Congressman Derek Tran reflects on his first year in Congress, juggling votes, family dinners with three young children, and the fierce partisanship of the Capitol. He takes listeners inside urgent moments: touring the charred neighborhoods of Altadena after devastating wildfires, fighting to exempt baby essentials from erratic tariffs, and using his roles on Armed Services and Small Business to protect a local base and help Main Street entrepreneurs. Through small wins and stubborn fights, a storm pump to protect homes, funding for a HOPE Center, and a veterans’ job restored, Tran’s story unfolds as a portrait of persistence, service, and the everyday work of making Washington deliver for California’s 45th District.

  6. Mar 9

    EP 84: Procurement Power: How SoCal’s Alliance Is Changing the Game

    In this episode of ChamberTalk, Andrew sits down with Nicole Swain, the Senior Procurement Contracts Manager for the County of Orange, to trace a practical, human story behind government purchasing. From pandemic-era urgencies to a bold rebrand as the SoCal Procurement Alliance, Nicole reveals how collaboration, empathy, and grit turned fragmented buying into a shared solution that saves taxpayers money and opens doors for small businesses. Listeners follow the evolution of the annual Supplier Outreach event, born under a tent, now filling convention halls—and learn the secrets of contract sharing, matchmaking sessions, and simple steps businesses can take to win municipal work. The conversation culminates in an invitation: come to the Anaheim Convention Center, meet the decision-makers, and discover how doing business with public agencies can be simpler, fairer, and more rewarding than you think.

  7. Jan 31

    EP 83: Don’t Suffer in Silence — Menopause & Hormonal Health with Dr. Jenn Roelands

    On this episode of ChamberTalk, Dr. Jenn Roelands MD, a double board-certified OBGYN turned integrative women’s health physician, shares how a nontraditional path and stubborn curiosity led her to challenge medicine’s blind spots. Raised in a family where women weren’t expected to pursue careers, she found her calling first in delivering babies and later in solving the overlooked mysteries of perimenopause and hormonal health. Through vivid patient stories, Dr. Jenn highlights the reality faced by countless women: being told they’re “normal” by lab results while quietly losing sleep, focus, relationships, and momentum at work. She reveals how reactive, checkbox-style care leaves too many behind. In this conversation, she debunks common myths about hormone therapy, explains why prevention matters, and explores the critical roles of nutrition, genetics, sleep, and lifestyle. Most importantly, she shows how small, targeted interventions can protect brain health, bone density, and long-term career performance. This episode is both a wake-up call and a roadmap. Learn how to recognize the perimenopause roller coaster, separate fear from fact, and take practical steps toward a longer, healthier health span. Don’t accept feeling “off” as your normal, find the right partner in care and reclaim your life.

  8. 12/26/2025

    EP 82: The Ripple Effect of Showing Up: How Cypress College Changes Lives

    Join Andrew Gregson as he sits down with Howard Kummerman, the compassionate force behind the Cypress College Foundation, to explore how a tight-knit campus community keeps students in the classroom and changes lives. Through candid stories, Howard shares the journey of a former Cypress College student in his 30s who was living in his car while attending classes, a student who, with the right support, went on to transfer to Stanford, alongside the story of a beloved professor whose lasting legacy brought hundreds together to celebrate her life. Together, these moments illustrate how small acts of care can create life-changing outcomes. Howard also walks listeners through the traditions and fundraising efforts that sustain the college, including the Americana Awards, alumni engagement, and scholarship programs that thoughtfully connect students with donors. Along the way, he reveals the deeply human side of philanthropy: donors who once needed help themselves, committed board members, and dedicated staff quietly working behind the scenes to hold the campus together. It’s a hopeful, human story about education, community, and the powerful ripple effects of giving back.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

ChamberTalk is a platform for genuine conversations between North Orange County Chamber members, business owners, entrepreneurs, local influencers, and political leaders. We are thrilled to offer a chance for our guests to tell their stories and showcase their accomplishments. ChamberTalk offers a unique opportunity to gain insights from various people from different backgrounds. The conversations are engaging and intimate, allowing the hosts to ask questions that truly get to the core of the topics discussed. It’s a great way to stay in the know about what’s happening in the business world and be inspired by the individuals making a difference. If you’re looking for an exciting and honest podcast about business, this is the one for you!

Information

  • Creator
    North Orange County Chamber
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2026
  • Episodes
    90
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    Copyright © 2022 North Orange County Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    ChamberTalk with North Orange County Chamber