The Prideful Ones

Send us Fan Mail 🎙️ We’re back! After a rollercoaster year in business, we’re kicking off 2025 by reflecting on the challenges, wins, and lessons from 2024 . From working harder for the same returns to pivoting strategies and streamlining workflows, we break down what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change. 🔥 In this episode, we cover: ✅ Why 2024 felt like more effort for the same (or les...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, we sat down with Luis and Andrew from Sheepdog Firearms Training. Listen in on how Luis decided to teach what he had learned from mentors and how Andrew helped him grow the business by using gorilla marketing tactics. We also touch on the current state of our country and why you are your first responder. If you are looking for firearms training click here -----&gt...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Sergio "El Cheko" Melgar, a barber turned comedian but still doing  the fresh cuts. We learned about Sergio's humble beginnings growing up as a kid in Sinaloa Mexico, to becoming a you teen and later adult in Southern California. After a few unsatisfactory jobs and working for a barber who essentially became his mentor, Sergio went a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Christian Ramos, a musician turned TV personality on channel 62 Estrella TV.  We spoke about his life in Mexico, how his father taught him to play the guitar, being in a band and getting signed for a moment in his young life and his road to television as a reporter, and host.   We also talked about the difficulties it is to navigate the world of te...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 27 of The Prideful Ones, Joe and I sat down with Tetris, director of the SELA Art Center in Bell, California. Tetris told us of his passion for art and his time as a tagger and graffiti artist. As time went on, he felt it was time to give back to his community and opened the SELA Art Center where he promotes art of all mediums to young ones and adults. His efforts have...

Send us Fan Mail In episode 26 of The Prideful Ones, we sat down with Nick Velez of Bastards Canteen in Downey and Temecula California. Nick shared with us the origin of Bastards Canteen named after the 2nd Battalion 4th Marines "The Magnificent Bastards" and how the city of Downey gave him some grief on the name. He also shared how having the bar birthed their annual Marine Corp Birthda...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Prideful Ones, we sat down with serial entrepreneur, Alfredo from Los Barbones Cerveceria, a contract brewer out of Paramount California. He shares with us how it all started after reading an article in which the author compared the simplicity of brewing your own beer to boiling water. Alfredo shares how although he quickly fell in love with brewing craft be...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode of the Prideful Ones, we sat down with Sebastian from Ray's Texas BBQ out of Huntington Park California.  We learn about their back story and how through a stroke of luck his Dad, Rene "Ray" started their BBQ business shortly after finding a “thrown out” outdoor grill. Now famous for their authentic Texas style BBQ and their out of this world brisket...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of The Prideful Ones, we sat down with Karol and German, owners of Michi Tacos in Lake Elsinore and Menifee California.  We learn about how they ultimately benefited from their years in the banking industry, during which time they developed invaluable skills and gained real world experience which they would later apply to their own small business.  Together they ha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode Jose and I sat down with Miguel, owner of Unguardable Kicks in Lakewood. Unguardable Kicks specializes in the buying, selling, and trading of sneakers. We spoke about his beginnings working for a big box store from the bottom moving up to where he learned some trade secrets where he later applied in his business of flipping sneakers and growing his brand. We also t...

Send us Fan Mail On this episode we sat down with entrepreneur Joe, owner of Classic  Concepts in Paramount, California. Joe tells us about growing up in the projects, hustling like you're broke, and being passionate of the work you do. During our conversation, Joe talks about the business' he was involved in including a cannabis church. Listen in on this interesting journey that Joe has...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Eric, owner of Fraustos Mexican Food, a taco style catering business.  He shared with us how he dabbled in the culinary arts with his godfather and then jumping into the barber game for a number of years before deciding that his passion was actually making food. He then decided to launch Fraustos Mexican Food right before the shutdown due to the pa...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Luis Mata, owner and operator of MataBoyz Garage, a mechanic shop of sorts in Los Angeles. He told his story on his his dad was the first to immigrate to the United States followed by him and his brother. He mentions having to overcome obstacles and dealing with, at times, having to start over. He also discusses having to take risks to move to grow...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Krank and Christian, partners in their video production company Centro Productions. Krank starts the conversation with how he started in real estate right out of high school and the experience he gained through it. After a misfortunate event involving and old business partner and mentor, Krank found himself behind the lens of a video recorder and b...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Yadira Pineda, current owner and operator of Pineda’s Security Services. We learn how her dad started the business and threw her into the lions den by asking for her assistance right out of high school. She went ahead and learned the business and helped her father grow it by securing contracts with new clients. In doing so,Yadira grew up herself as...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Alex Perez, a former aerosspace worker turned entrepreneur. We discuss the details of how he ended up owning Triple P Plumbing, a second generation plumbing business. We talked about overcoming addiction and his need to prove to his father that his ideas would benefit the business.  He shared his wanting to create a network of entrepreneurs and sma...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Tino De La Cruz, owner of Dents B Gone, a paint-less dent removal company. Tino shared his story of growing up since an early age knowing that he wanted to own his own business someday. He also opened up about growing up not knowing he was poor and how playing high school football had a huge impact on his life. We discussed how he started a multi-m...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sit down with Adrian Vazquez, owner of Adrian's Tree Service. Adrian is a 3rd generation landscaper who later decided to pursue a career tree trimming. We sat down and talked about how he almost became a law enforcement officer, his passion for landscaping and tree trimming, growing up working with his dad and becoming part of the crew, his total support fr...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jose and his wife Vero, sit down with Job Avelar Contreras, owner of JAAC Arnold, makers of fine leather goods and hats based out of Teocaltiche, Jalisco, Mexico. They discuss not wanting to follow the family business, trying his hand on his own in the US, the family business making hats for major US western wear companies, his families roots in hat making, growin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Hector Lozano, owner and operator of Let's Move Fitness in Cudahy Ca. We talk about going all in on a big undertaking, bad partnerships, faking it 'til you make it, the difficulties of opening a gym during a pandemic and “breaking the cycle”. Visit in person: 7910 Atlantic Ave. Cudahy Ca 90201 Follow: @letsmovefitness_ Thank you for liste...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with Art Gallardo and James White, tattoo artist at Dreamland Tattoo in Whittier California. We discuss their influences on art, the love of music, what inspires us and how tattooing has been changing for the last few years. Listen in on this fun conversation as we get insight in the tattooing industry and laugh at topics in between. Follow: @dreamlandt...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sat down with George Casillas, founder and executive director of Veterans Stand Together, a non-profit organization that assists veterans coming out of the service by providing guidance and support during the transition from military life to the civilian world. We discuss how they came to provide vocational training, housing and even mental health services for o...

Send us Fan Mail This week we sit down with Lalo Barrera, proprietor of El Catrin Tattoo Parlor out of Long Beach California. We discuss having worked as a union laborer, becoming a plumber, overcoming a personal demon, and finding his path for the love of his art to becoming a tattoo artist and finally owning his own tattoo shop, all the while being a loving father and having support from his wif...

Send us Fan Mail In this heartfelt episode we sit down with Sonia Perez, owner of El Potrerito, one of California's biggest western wear stores. We talk about her 20 year journey into building a successful niche retail store that can sell almost six figures worth of a single item within a 24 hour period using only her existing customer base and social media reach.  We discuss the emotional ro...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode we sit down with Antojitos Mexicanos restaurant owner Ricardo Marquez and talk about staying true to your menu, introducing home style Mexican dishes to his clients, the effects that online reviews can have, balancing home life with the busy life of a restaurant owner and touching on when is the right time to leave your everyday 9-5 and jump into the entrepreneur h...