CV Hustle

CV Hustle Studios

5.0 (7)
Entrepreneurship
Updated Weekly

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.

1d ago

EP #37-How A Bartender Became The Owner Of A Palm Desert Institution-The Legends & Icon Story

Send us Fan Mail A lot of people daydream about owning a bar or restaurant until they see the spreadsheets, the inspections, and the late-night stress that comes home with you. We’re joined by Bobby Campbell, owner-operator of Legends and Icons Pub and Grill in Palm Desert, for a candid look at what it takes to grow a neighborhood spot into a community institution in the Coachella Valley. Bobby’s story runs through accounting, restaurant finance, bartending, and finally buying the business after years of learning the ropes from a retiring owner who believed in him early. We get into the nuts and bolts that most hospitality conversations skip: how restaurant pricing connects to food cost and pour cost, why alcohol margins work differently than the kitchen, and how an SBA loan can reshape what a business is actually “worth” on paper. Bobby also shares what keeps Legends steady through the desert summer slowdown, including a loyal base of regulars, a consistent menu, and a team with unusually low turnover. Along the way we talk menu favorites, happy hour strategy, and what it’s like running a bar with limited seats when everyone wants their usual spot. We also go behind the bar on the human side of the job: tipping culture, reading guests, cutting people off, and handling safety the right way including offering Uber rides when someone should not drive. Bobby explains why he uses AI tools to help create social media promos and flyers, while still sticking to a simple principle: don’t overhaul what already works. If you like real small business stories with practical restaurant management lessons, hit play, subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave us a review.
Jul 24

EP#36-Ink To Impact-How A Local Artist Turns Screen Printing Into A Long Art Class

Send us Fan Mail A screen printing shop doesn’t last 20-plus years by accident, especially in a world where online ordering and fast turnaround have changed what customers expect. We’re joined by Jesus Oliveris of Inca Screen Printing and Embroidery, one of the Coachella Valley’s go-to names for custom t-shirts, embroidery, signage, and branded merchandise. He shares how he went from being a working artist to building a production-ready print business that still feels creative every day. We talk about the real mechanics behind staying competitive: investing in automation, learning every role when you have to do shipping, receiving, printing, customer service, and invoicing, and surrounding yourself with the right people when numbers aren’t your strength. Jesus also breaks down how the screen printing industry shifted from old-school film processes to modern equipment and now AI design tools that can generate concepts and color separations in minutes, changing how fast ideas become products. The conversation gets personal too. Jesus explains why some of the hardest “weird” jobs aren’t technical at all, like printing memorial shirts for grieving families and learning how to show up with empathy. If you care about small business entrepreneurship, local branding, and what it takes to build a durable company in the Coachella Valley, you’ll get plenty of practical takeaways here. Subscribe, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review with your biggest lesson from the episode.
Jul 15

EP#35-How to Buy a Company & Expand on Its Legacy :The STV Story

Send us Fan Mail A recession, a random gas station conversation, and a relentless willingness to learn turns into a full blown smart home business story. We’re joined by Eddie and Nikki Ortiz of STV Audio and Video, a Coachella Valley audio video and low voltage team known for answering the phone, showing up, and making complicated home technology feel simple. Eddie shares how his electrical background, leadership mindset, and hunger to hustle carried him from pulling wire to running crews, then into satellite work and finally into high touch AV integration. Nikki brings the behind the scenes reality: how escrow and contracts translate directly into buying a business, why calling every existing customer matters more than a fancy rebrand, and how systems like invoicing and process notes keep a service company from breaking as it grows. We talk W-2 employees versus 1099 contractors, training techs to respect long time clients, and why “the touch” is still the best competitive advantage in home theater installation, smart lighting, motorized shades, and home automation. You’ll also hear what homeowners actually ask for, how STV designs setups for people who hate too many remotes, and what’s coming next as tools like ChatGPT and Claude change office workflows even while installs still require real on site skill. For more on their work, visit stvav.com, and if you get value from the conversation, subscribe, share the episode, and leave a review.
Jun 12

EP#34-How Coach Mantanona Builds Champions in the Coachella Valley

Send us Fan Mail Getting choked out sounds like a bad day until you understand what it really teaches: calm under pressure, honest feedback, and the confidence that comes from doing hard things on purpose. We sit down with Anthony Mantanona, third-degree black belt and the driving force behind Coachella Valley Jiu Jitsu, to unpack how grappling sports shape people in ways a normal workout never can. We talk about Anthony’s path from a big family and an accidental landing in the Coachella Valley to discovering judo as the closest thing to the jiu-jitsu he saw in the early UFC days. He explains the real differences between judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, from throws and pins to points and submissions, and why “earning your belt” is about time, skill, and trust, not shortcuts. Along the way, we dig into competing as a mirror for your habits, why humility is a feature, and how great coaching means adapting to the person in front of you. Anthony also shares how his academy grew through mentorship, community, and the post-COVID reset, plus what it takes to develop kids into high-level athletes, including Palm Desert’s wrestling pipeline and the growth of girls wrestling and women’s jiu-jitsu. We wrap with mindset lessons on injuries, nutrition, and training as “physical chess,” then point you to where you can drop in and try a class. If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a new challenge, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of starting jiu-jitsu would be hardest for you?
Jun 4

EP#33-Death Care Done Right-The ER Funeral Story

Send us Fan Mail Death is guaranteed. Confusion, family conflict, and surprise bills do not have to be. We talk with Ernesto Rosales of ER Funeral Services, a Coachella Valley funeral professional who explains what really happens after someone dies and why the “death care industry” is far more human than most people expect. We get into the behind-the-scenes realities: what “first call” removals look like after hours, why professionalism and dignity matter in those first minutes with a grieving family, and how the coroner’s role changes depending on the situation. Ernesto also breaks down the work inside a funeral home, including licensing in California, embalming and preservation, restorative care, and the tough decision of when a viewing helps healing and when it can do the opposite. Then we shift to the part families feel most: funeral costs, timing, and the stress of making major choices fast. Ernesto makes a clear case for funeral preplanning and pre-need insurance, plus legal tools like durable power of attorney and health care directives so final wishes are honored. You will also hear about modern options like green burial and creative cremation memorials, all framed around one simple idea: “leave good memories, don’t leave problems.” If you want a practical guide to funeral planning, cremation versus burial decisions, and how to protect your family emotionally and financially, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone you love, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you want more people to hear.
May 27

EP#32-Marketing That Makes You Unmissable-How David Rios Turned Attention Into Opportunity

Send us Fan Mail A pink billboard with nothing but a face and a name sounds reckless until it turns into TV, brand partnerships, and a thriving Palm Springs business. We’re joined by David Rios, a real estate entrepreneur and interior designer known for bold vacation rental design, high impact marketing, and building experiences that feel like boutique hotels. He walks us through the exact mindset behind spending on visibility, keeping your branding consistent for years, and using social media to stay top of mind without feeling fake. We also dig into the work that happens when the cameras aren’t rolling: learning the fundamentals of design, getting comfortable selling, and stacking multiple income streams so you’re not exposed when the market shifts. David shares how the 2008 crash forced a reset, why creative financing can keep deals alive, and what it really takes to flip properties that stand out in a crowded market like the Coachella Valley. Then the story gets personal and intense. David opens up about building and running his own Palm Springs hotel, The Velvet Rope, and the operational reality of hospitality, staffing, and protecting a luxury guest experience. He also recounts the aftermath of a nearby bombing that caused major damage, created insurance and lender chaos, and tested every ounce of resilience he had. If you care about entrepreneurship, personal branding, Palm Springs real estate, interior design, or hospitality business strategy, this conversation is packed with practical lessons you can use right now. Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.
May 19

EP#31-Varraco Coffee & Roasters-How Filipino Single Origin Coffee Became A Coachella Valley Hit

Send us Fan Mail A bag of “too strong” coffee turns into a business idea that refuses to quit. We’re sitting down with Rochelle De Villa, Joel Lozano, and TJ Jacinto, the founders behind Varraco Coffee & Roasters , one of the most talked-about coffee shops in Palm Desert and the wider Coachella Valley. Their story starts as college friends in the Philippines, then stretches across migration, new careers, and a big question: why is Filipino coffee so hard to find in the United States when it tastes this good? We dig into the real work behind specialty coffee, not the highlight reel. They share how importing Philippine coffee actually happens, from documentation and FDA licensing to finding the right partners and learning through trial and error. We also get into what makes Varraco’s approach different: single origin focus, dialing espresso every day for consistent extraction, and building drinks and food that feel original. TJ breaks down the thinking behind rotating chef specials, better ingredients, and recipes that keep evolving week after week. Then we zoom out to the bigger why: community. Varraco becomes a destination by hosting car meets, motorcycle Sundays, and niche gatherings that turn strangers into regulars. It’s a modern coffee brand rooted in Filipino hospitality, direct trade sourcing, and the simple discipline of showing up, even when growth gets messy. If you care about entrepreneurship, coffee roasting, branding, or building a local business that people rally around, this conversation delivers. Subscribe for more founder stories, share this with a friend who loves great coffee, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
May 5

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.

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.

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

40
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2026 CV Hustle
Show Website

CV Hustle