Chingon SA

Cynthia Perez, owner of Tacos Al Carbon, discussed her journey from starting a food truck in 2013 to operating three trucks, including a permanent location at 16900 Blanco Road. She and her husband, Benjamin, who handles the cooking, transitioned from Mr. Maximum to Tacos Al Carbon in 2023, focusing on high-quality, authentic tacos. Despite challenges like fluctuating business and employee turnove...

Jennifer Smith, executive director of South Texas Alliance for Orphans, discusses her journey from physical therapy to leading a nonprofit focused on foster care. She highlights the organization's three-pronged approach: prevention, support for children in the system, and mentorship for youth aging out of foster care. The Alliance has grown from a local initiative to involving 136 churches and...

Luis Leal interviews Bryan Snyder, a photographer and videographer from San Antonio. Bryan, originally from Piedras Negras, Mexico, and raised in Eagle Pass, started his business in 2020 and formalized it in 2022. He discusses his journey, including his decision to change his name from Galvan to Snyder to honor his grandparents. Bryan emphasizes the importance of providing unique value to clients...

Luis Leal hosts a conversation with Dr. Tim Peterson and Dr. McKenzie Slattery from Peterson Chiropractic in San Antonio. Dr. Tim, a second-generation chiropractor, took over the practice from his father, who transitioned from pharmacy to chiropractic after witnessing the benefits. Dr. McKenzie, a recent graduate from Sherman College of Chiropractic, specializes in the torque release technique, wh...

Denise Cabello, a San Antonio native and UTSA graduate, discusses her career transition from local broadcasting to hosting "Hollywood Hits" on Quarter Moon Productions. The show, which airs on KCWX and is available on YouTube and as a podcast, reviews movies, series, and provides Hollywood headlines. Denise highlights the importance of relationships and adaptability in her career, noting the suppo...

Albert Gonzales is on the show today a self-taught San Antonio artist known as Treble Art on Instagram. Albert discusses his journey from quitting a banking job in 2014 to becoming a full-time artist, selling his work on the streets, and eventually exhibiting in major galleries. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity, community, and engagement in his work. Albert shares his vision for making...

Sean Timmerman, founder and CEO of Gruene Botanicals, discussed the expansion of his six CBD/Hemp locations in Texas, including franchises in Universal City and Austin, and his commitment to medical-grade cannabis. He highlighted the potential impact of SB3, which could outlaw THC products, leading to job losses and store closures. Timmerman emphasized the importance of proper dosing and certifica...

Luis Leal hosts a conversation with three entrepreneurs: Steve Perez from Texas Bearded Cartel, Dan Montez from Flores Garage, and Louie Vega from TX Bros Jerky. Steve discusses the sixth annual Chingon Fest, set for September 20 at The AquaDuck Beer Garden . Dan shares his journey of taking over Flores Garage in 2023 and emphasizes quality over quantity in automotive services. Louie talks about s...

Niki Deeley, President of Dealey Media International, discusses her journey as a digital marketer and AI specialist. She highlights the process as a Certified Conversion Strategist and AI Specialist, which requires creating 200 sales funnels annually. Niki emphasizes the urgency for businesses to adopt AI, citing predictions from Elon Musk and Mark Cuban that businesses have three years to integra...

Raul Peralez, an Associate Judge in Bexar County Children's Court, discusses his journey from Fox Tech High School to law school at Thurgood Marshall School of Law. He emphasizes the importance of child welfare law, having represented both parents and children in cases. Perales highlights the challenges of reunifying families while ensuring the best interests of children. He advocates for ment...

Tejano music icon, Shelly Lares joins the show to talk about her retirement from touring and what she's up to these days. She highlighted her recent re-release of her 1994 album, which garnered over 2 million streams in weeks. Lares emphasized the importance of authenticity and hard work in the music industry, sharing her experiences with mentoring both young and veteran artists. She also discusse...

On this episode of Chingon SA, Luis hosts Kendall Cox, co-owner of Enduring Home Solutions, a home modification company. Kendall, an occupational therapist and certified accessibility specialist, discusses her journey from shadowing health professionals to becoming an entrepreneur. She explains the differences between occupational and physical therapy, emphasizing the holistic approach of OTs. Ken...

Luis, the host of the Chingon SA Podcast, interviews Dominic Gutierrez, an entrepreneur and digital marketer. Dominic shares his journey from being an electrician to a videographer and digital marketer. He discusses his early influences, including mentors and companies like Dr. Squatch, and his experiences working with various clients. Dominic emphasizes the importance of building systems and proc...

In this episode of Chingon SA, Luis interviews his uncle and business mentor, Javier Leal, a State Farm insurance agent with a unique background. Javier shares his journey from being a first-generation college graduate with a master's in social work to becoming an insurance agency owner. They discuss the challenges of business ownership, the importance of delegation, and the value of caring for cl...

In this episode of Chingon SA, host Luis sits down with Samantha Najera, the powerhouse behind Bean & Chisme and Heart Fire Media. Samantha shares her entrepreneurial journey from video production to social media content creation, discussing the challenges of being a single mom, breaking cultural barriers, and building a platform that empowers the Hispanic community. With humor and heart, she...

In this episode of Chingon SA, host Luis interviews Luis Vega, founder of Texas Bros Jerky. Vega shares his entrepreneurial journey from working full-time at CPS Energy and H-E-B to launching a successful jerky business. He discusses developing unique flavors like Chingon Dilly and Celly Dilly, growing from 5 to 170 pounds of jerky production weekly, and selling at local pop-up events. The convers...

On this episode of Chingon SA, Luis interviews Martin Pacheco, a tattoo artist based in downtown San Antonio, about his business journey. Martin, a father of four, started his own tattoo studio to have more flexibility with family time. He specializes in realism and black and gray tattoo styles, working primarily by appointment in a unique professional office building. Martin has built a strong so...

Welcome to the very first episode of CHINGON SA - a bold, unapologetic podcast spotlighting the stories of San Antonio's hardest-working business owners and entrepreneurs. Rooted in culture and community, we share real conversations of Grit, Growth, and Legacy. In this podcast episode of Chingon SA, Tommy Gonzalez shares his unique journey from working in the music and television industries to bec...