Branding Rafi

B randing Rafi is taking the show on the road! Episode 31 comes to you live from the 2026 Arizona State Fair, where the Rafi Look-A-L ike Contest brings together hundreds of fans, creative costumes, and plenty of surprises. With special guests, hilarious conversations, and nonstop fairground energy, the crew catches up with attendees, checks out the competition, and samples everything from giant c...

In this episode of Branding Rafi , Hector Sanchez sits down with tattoo artist PG to talk about his 14-year journey in the tattoo industry, from tattooing friends to working with celebrities like Chris Brown. PG shares how he developed his signature style, built connections in the industry, and became involved in the world of high-end tattooing. The conversation also dives into tattooing under ane...

This week on the Rafi Podcast, Hector sits down with Kenna of Kicks by Kenna, the custom shoe artist who went from painting her brother's Converse in the garage during COVID lockdown to designing kicks for Simone Biles, NFL players, Diamondbacks All-Stars, and Ryan Serhant. Kenna breaks down how a Facebook post from her mom turned into a full-time business, what it was like painting her very first...

This week we sit down with Frankie, the events mastermind at Rafi Law Group and the guy who dreamed up the Rafi lookalike contest after seeing a mob of Santas take over New York City. He tells us how he planned for 80 lookalikes and got 200, and what he learned running around behind the scenes when the food, the drinks, and even the stickers ran out. Then he breaks down the next chapter: Rafi Day...

On this episode of Branding Rafi, Hector sits down with entrepreneur, athlete, and Five Star Fitness founder Jay Dang. Jay shares how his original goal of reaching the NFL changed after a devastating knee injury, ultimately leading him down an entirely different path in business and fitness. He breaks down the early days of Five Star Fitness, growing from renting space and training clients to buil...

On this episode of Branding Rafi, Hector sits down with Alvaro Hernandez-Pelayo and Jimmy Nguyen, the duo behind Phoenix's Slain Studios and Crete Tea Room. Alvaro and Jimmy share how a friendship dating back to high school turned into a partnership that helped build two recognizable local businesses. They break down Jimmy's journey as a self-taught nail artist, the early days of Slain Studios, an...

On Episode 25 of Branding Rafi, Hector sits down with content creator Adrian Torres, better known as College Dropout, to talk about building a personal brand, growing on social media, and the relationships that have helped shape his journey. Adrian shares how he first got into creating content, why networking and genuine friendships have played such a major role in his growth, and what he's learne...

Hector Sanchez sits down with Ian and Vanessa of Joyería Díaz, the family-run Phoenix jewelry store celebrating 31 years this September. What started as Vanessa's dad selling door-to-door and grinding it out at the Los Perros swap meet has grown into a staple on 31st Ave and Van Buren — and the family energy never left. Ian breaks down the stuff most people never get explained to them before they...

In Episode 23 of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector Sanchez sits down with Felipe Reyes, a Phoenix native, realtor, husband, father, and team leader, to talk about the path that led him into real estate and the relationships that helped shape his career. Felipe shares how growing up in the Valley, playing soccer, and building relationships through sports influenced the way he approaches both life a...

In Episode 22 of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector Sanchez sits down with social media creator and marketing agency owner Yedira Campos to talk about building a career through content, creativity, and a willingness to try new things. Yedira shares how she went from photography and creating free content for local businesses to building her own marketing agency and growing her presence as a content...

In this episode of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector Sanchez sits down with Benny and Abe from Denver Foos to talk about building a media platform around the culture, people, sports, and music of Denver. Benny and Abe share how Denver Foos evolved from its early days as a meme page into a platform dedicated to capturing what makes their city unique. From sports and music to entertainment, street-s...

In this episode of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector Sanchez sits down with Derek Slack, founder and CEO of Iron Willed, to talk about entrepreneurship, resilience, and building a brand with a purpose. Derek shares the story behind Iron Willed, from growing up in difficult circumstances and developing an early drive to create a better life for his family, to starting the company while he was still...

In this episode of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector Sanchez sits down with Mike Spangenberg, CEO and co-founder of State Forty Eight, to talk about the journey behind one of Arizona's most recognizable homegrown brands. Mike shares how growing up in Chandler and his passion for Arizona inspired the idea for State Forty Eight, as well as the entrepreneurial journey that turned that idea into a bra...

Former sports reporter, content creator, and mom of three Lisa Matthews joins Hector for a candid conversation about balancing family, career, and showing up authentically online. From raising energetic kids in a bilingual household to navigating the realities of motherhood, Lisa shares how embracing the chaos has shaped both her personal life and her approach to creating content. The conversation...

JD from The Morning Mess joins the Branding Rafi Podcast for a candid conversation about his journey from ASU intern to one of Arizona's most recognizable radio personalities. He shares what it takes to build authentic on-air chemistry, why personality beats perfection in media, and the behind-the-scenes work that makes live radio feel effortless. The episode also dives into golf, content creation...

Sienna Villa joins the Branding Rafi Podcast to talk about her journey from working behind the scenes to becoming a familiar voice on The Morning Mess and an in-game host for the Arizona Diamondbacks. The conversation covers breaking into radio, building an authentic personal brand, balancing multiple careers, creating content that connects, and what it's really like getting "Paid To Yap." Plus, p...

In this episode of Branding Rafi , Hector sits down with rising sports creator Bryanna Sports to talk about how a high school passion project turned into one of Arizona's fastest-growing sports media platforms. From interviewing professional athletes to covering major sporting events, Bryanna shares how consistency, preparation, and authenticity have helped her build meaningful relationships in th...

Workers' compensation can be confusing, especially when you're dealing with an injury, worried about your job, and unsure of your rights. In this episode of Branding Rafi , Hector sits down with attorney Matt Fendon, founder of one of the Southwest's largest workers' compensation law firms, to break down what injured employees need to know. Matt shares how he built his firm, why so many legitimate...

In this episode of Branding Rafi , Hector sits down with Arizona creator and food personality Nathan Kropp, also known as Mr. AZ Sports , to talk about the unexpected journey from Diamondbacks superfan to one of the Valley's fastest-growing content creators. What started with a viral Christian Walker standing ovation and a rotisserie chicken at Chase Field evolved into a platform that's helping th...

In this episode of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector sits down with Phoenix Suns in-arena host Alicia Blanco to talk about the unexpected journey that led her from a shy Arizona kid to one of the most recognizable faces inside Footprint Center. Alicia shares how a chance opportunity singing the national anthem turned into a seven-season career with the Suns, the pressure and preparation that comes...

In Episode 10 of the Branding Rafi Podcast, Hector Sanchez sits down with Montae Harris, host of the QMO Podcast, to discuss his journey from Memphis, Tennessee to becoming a voice for entrepreneurs, creators, and local talent in Arizona. Montae shares the story behind launching his podcast, the unexpected legal challenge that forced a rebrand, and his vision for building a platform that highlight...

Episode 9 of the Branding Rafi podcast features Yerad Aguilar, also known as @fadedchinos. Hector and Yerad dive into identity, personal branding, nicknames, social media evolution, and the stories behind the names people become known for. What starts as a funny conversation about Instagram handles quickly turns into a deeper discussion about perception, personality, and growing into yourself. The...

Episode 8 of the Branding Rafi podcast features a conversation with Bootleg Kev , diving into his journey from Arizona radio beginnings to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in hip-hop media. Kev talks about getting his start at Power 98.3 in Phoenix, working his way through radio markets across the country, and building a nationally syndicated platform through consistency, relationships...

From nightclub promotions to building one of Arizona's fastest-growing festival brands, Luciano Cota joins the Branding Rafi Podcast to talk about hustle, reinvention, and turning connections into opportunity. In this episode, Luciano shares how he built his name in Phoenix entertainment and why he believes the city is only getting started. The conversation dives into entrepreneurship, social medi...

This episode of Branding Rafi features Phoenix radio legend Joey Rodriguez for a conversation that goes way beyond radio. Joey opens up about building his career over 30 years in broadcasting, creating the original "Call Rafi" jingle, and how authentic relationships helped shape both his career and the culture surrounding Rafi Law Group . The conversation also dives into fatherhood, mental health,...