Costa Mesa Pod

Holly McDonald sits down with Kelli from Beyond Athletics OC, a nonprofit bringing sports and recreational programs to elementary schools across Orange County. Kelli shares how the organization grew from a small park program in 2020 to serving more than 30 schools, why accessible youth sports matter, and how teamwork helps children develop important life skills through Beyond Athletics’ six pillar...

Holly McDonald welcomes Elizabeth, founder of Looma Birth, to discuss pregnancy, birth, postpartum support, and the importance of community for new parents. Elizabeth shares how her own journey into motherhood inspired her work as a birth doula and prenatal yoga teacher, and how she built Looma Birth into a resource offering birth and postpartum doula care, birth education, prenatal yoga, lactatio...

The Costa Mesa Pod welcomes the person behind the Instagram account @926oc and talked about the latest additions coming to Costa Mesa, including: ☀️@lalaland ☀️@erewhon ☀️@themetcostamesa …and more! Give her a follow for the latest updates around Orange County, CA - she has the hottest updates on new businesses and developments. This is often critical and insightful information for residents when...

Hallie, owner of Southe on East 17th Street in Costa Mesa, joins Holly to talk about her entrepreneurial journey and the story behind her boutique. From bedazzling phone cases and graphic design to building a six-figure photography business and eventually opening Southe, Hallie shares how each chapter of her career shaped what she's created today. They also talk about small business, communit...

What if your home could be designed around the way you actually live, instead of simply following the latest design trends? On this episode of The Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald sits down with Daniela, interior designer and founder of DCondo Design, to talk about her incredible journey from Calabria, Italy, to London and now Orange County. Daniela shares how she built her design career from the gr...

On this episode of The Costa Mesa Pod , Holly sits down with Laura Maldonado, founder of ReCreate Spaces , to talk about the art — and sometimes emotion — of getting organized. Laura shares the story behind her organizing business and how something she's loved since childhood became a career. She also explains why decluttering can be especially important when preparing a home for sale, moving...

Atlas College Prep: A New Free Public Charter School in Orange County A new free public charter school is opening in the Tustin/Santa Ana area for Fall 2026 — and in this episode of the Costa Mesa Pod , we talk with Alex from Atlas College Prep to learn what families can expect. Part of the Ednovate network, Atlas will begin with a founding class of approximately 50–60 ninth-grade students and a 1...

Financial planning isn’t just about investments—it’s about understanding people. In this episode of the Costa Mesa Podcast , Holly McDonald welcomes financial planner Lety Aguilar for an honest conversation about money, mindset, and the life experiences that shape our financial decisions. Lety shares her remarkable journey from immigrating to the United States as a young child to building a career...

 Affordable housing has become one of the biggest challenges facing communities across the country—and Southern California is no exception. In this episode, Holly McDonald sits down with Tony from PadSplit to explore how the company is creating a new model for affordable housing through thoughtfully designed shared living spaces. Together they discuss: • What PadSplit is and how it works • Why sha...

What does it truly mean to be kind—and where does that journey begin? In this heartfelt episode of the Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald welcomes Rosie, founder of National Love Is Kind Day, for an inspiring conversation about resilience, healing, and the power of choosing kindness. Rosie shares her deeply personal story of surviving an abusive relationship, rebuilding her life, and creating a moveme...

What makes a local restaurant become a true community landmark? In this episode of the Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald talks with John Rispoli of Newport Rib Company about the restaurant’s origins, its family history, and how supporting the local community has remained at the heart of the business for more than four decades. From opening their doors in Costa Mesa to building lasting relationships w...

 In this episode of The Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald sits down with Michelle, founder of J’Adore Body Studio, to talk about her fitness journey, losing 60 pounds, building confidence through weightlifting, and creating a women-focused fitness community in Costa Mesa. From entrepreneurship and wellness to strength training and mindset, this conversation highlights the passion and purpose behind o...

From local small businesses and community organizations to neighbors coming together, Love Costa Mesa Day was all about celebrating what makes our city special. Thank you to everyone who showed up, supported local vendors, and helped make a positive impact in our community. #LoveCostaMesa #CostaMesa #SupportLocal #CommunityFirst #SmallBusiness

In this episode of the Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald chats with Sarah Cathers of Sunrise Movement Chiropractic about redefining chiropractic care through a mobile, patient-centered approach. Sarah shares how she built a flexible business that aligns with her values as both a healthcare provider and mom, while helping clients throughout Orange County improve mobility, nervous system health, and ov...

 In this episode, we’re talking about Love Costa Mesa Day and the incredible impact community involvement can have. From service projects and donation drives to supporting local schools and foster youth, this conversation highlights how even small acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference. We discuss the story behind Love Costa Mesa Day, ways to get involved, and why authentic community co...

Love Costa Mesa Day is a city-wide volunteer day coming up on Saturday, May 16. I had the pleasure of interviewing Jill & Jonathan Dease on The Costa Mesa Pod about their years of service and how they've brought their kids into the tradition. Unexpected bonuses for their kids included: -Volunteer hours -Confidence -Leadership skills What a great way for families to do something together &...

In this episode of The Costa Mesa Pod, Holly McDonald sits down with Costa Mesa resident and community leader Holly Horikawa to talk about life in the Halecrest neighborhood, the power of community involvement, and why Costa Mesa is such a special place to raise a family. After previously living in Huntington Beach, Holly and her family discovered the Halecrest neighborhood and quickly fell in lov...

In this episode of The Costa Mesa Pod, Holly sits down with international bestselling author and coach Patrick Snow to talk about entrepreneurship, writing books, and designing a life around freedom. Born and raised in Michigan, Patrick built his speaking and coaching career from the ground up — eventually relocating to Maui after realizing his business could be run from anywhere in the world. We...

What if a heart attack didn’t feel like a heart attack? In this powerful conversation, Sarah Wilson shares the moment she drove herself to the hospital thinking she was having a panic attack — only to discover she was experiencing a full-blown heart attack. No chest pain. No arm pain. No jaw pain. Just subtle symptoms that are often overlooked — especially in women. In this episode, we talk about:...

In this episode, I sit down with Sebastian Rusk — professional podcaster, keynote speaker, and comedian — to talk about the moment that forced him to take ownership of his life and stop drifting on autopilot. We unpack the turning points that come from discomfort, the role accountability plays in personal growth, and why learning to show up fully changes not just your own life, but the people arou...

Money problems aren’t always about math — they’re about mindset. In this episode, I sit down with Erika, a professional money coach, to talk about the habits, beliefs, and emotional triggers that quietly keep people stuck financially — even high earners. We cover: Why credit card debt feels overwhelming (and how to start tackling it) The snowball method and how small changes can save years of inte...

What if chiropractic care wasn’t just about back pain — but about supporting families at every stage of life? In this episode of the Costa Mesa Pod, I sit down with Dr. Corrin of House of Chiropractic to talk about what modern, family-focused chiropractic care really looks like. From newborns just days old to patients over 100 years old, Dr. Corinne shares how thoughtful diagnostics, proper imagin...

In this episode of Costa Mesa Pod, we sit down with Andrew from Goosehead Insurance to break down how insurance actually works and why so many homeowners and buyers feel frustrated by the process. We talk about: Why insurance is based on pooled risk (and what that really means) How carriers evaluate both the home and the homeowner Why some homes are denied coverage or quoted higher premiums How in...

In this episode of the Costa Mesa Pod, I sit down with Paul Gorman of ClearView Strategies, a CPA and financial coach with nearly four decades of experience in accounting and government finance. Paul shares what new business owners are often not prepared for, including self-employment taxes, estimated payments, and why so many people feel blindsided in their first year. We also talk about why your...

In this episode of Costa Mesa Pod, we sit down with the team at Vanity Compound to talk about modern wellness, medical-grade aesthetics, and why thoughtful, individualized care matters—especially for busy moms, professionals, and anyone juggling real life. We dive into: Why consultations and medical history matter in aesthetic and wellness treatments How Vanity Compound approaches IV therapy, skin...