Kanawha Valley Hustlers

I’m with Chima Imoh, who shows me a working prototype of smart footwear he’s building through MíMíroír Technologies. The shoe has a screen, tracks steps, connects to a phone by Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and runs through an app, with ideas like gamification and left-right haptic feedback to guide movement. Chima shares that he started developing the concept while incarcerated at 18, using that time to l...

I’m at Tickers & Timbers on Capitol Street in Charleston with Tonya Perry and Robby Cline for Bud Light Buckets: The Prelude, the kickoff to Bud Light Mini Hoops Mania. They’re using the night to bring creators and local businesses together, swap audiences, and build connections while showcasing what the venue and the distributor can offer. Tonya talks about a lesson from ownership: she opened thi...

I talk with Cody Garcelon from Ellis Insurance Agency about his hustle in personal and commercial insurance. He gets into the work after meeting Danielle and stays in it for almost five years. Cody explains that commercial insurance protects what a business owner builds, and that the wrong coverage can put your whole livelihood at risk. He walks through an early lesson where poor organization cost...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I talk about why New Year’s resolutions work when you use them the right way. I treat a resolution as a “fake because,” a simple reason that helps you start making better choices, even if it is not your deepest motive. Then I focus on actions, not outcomes. “Lose weight” is vague, and even “lose 20 pounds” stays weak unless it turns into steps...

I talk with Santa Claus at Lee Studio Productions. He runs a once a year workshop visit where kids come in, play with toys, make cookies, drink chocolate milk, draw and color, and hand him their Christmas list, then leave with an 8x10 photo. I ask how he pulls it off in a short window, and he points to his helpers and the elves who spend two days setting the whole space. We talk about the building...

I’m in Kanawha City with Heather Atha at Picture Day Mike Winland Studio while Krampus lurks around the studio. Heather helps run the Krampus sessions at Mike’s place and explains what Krampus is in German Christmas folklore, the opposite of Santa who takes bad kids instead of giving gifts. Mike has kept this tradition going for 12 years, and Heather has been part of it for most of that time becau...

I visit GoMart Ballpark to meet with Jay Silverman and walk through Light the Night, the Charleston Dirty Birds’ winter event. Jay explains how a local crew starts hanging lights in September and spends about ten weeks building a walk-through show with roughly 2.5 million lights organized into four main sections, plus a skating village, fire pits, mini golf, and a kids carnival. I learn that guest...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I am at the Wild and Wired West Virginia Linux festival with Brett White and several attendees, exploring how Linux can change the way people in our state think about technology. Brett introduces the event as a way to promote true tech ownership, privacy, and fun by using Linux, a free open source operating system that comes in many flavors an...

In this episode I’m at the grand opening of AMG Network Hosting’s new office in a former Firestone Tire building in Montgomery, talking with Thomas Baker about his work. He runs a full service IT company that acts as the help desk for businesses from two people to several hundred, either taking over all of their IT or backing up internal teams with specialized skills. We walk through how he bought...

I talk with Madison Stone, executive director of the Elk River Trail Foundation, about the work happening along the Elk River from Sutton Dam to the Kanawha River in Charleston. I learn the foundation is a 501(c)(3) focused on preserving, protecting, and enhancing both the river and the Elk River Trail. Madison walks me through how they’re adding regular kayak launches and ADA-accessible access po...

I talk about how Thanksgiving makes me step back and look at what it really means to run a business. I’m two years into my own company, and even with all my past experience, the ups and downs still hit hard. Clients pay late, leads slow down, people quit, and the workload grows faster than expected. None of it means something is wrong with me or anyone else doing this work. It’s simply part of own...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustler I talk with Caroline Starr from KDE Technology, and she walks me through what they do and how she found her place there. She tells me they handle website development, marketing, graphic design and cybersecurity, and she explains why cybersecurity is growing as more people see digital threats in the news and want to protect their information. She descri...

I talk with Mayor Kay Summers at the ribbon cutting for the Riverview Complex and hear her talk about how important this moment is for Clendenin. She tells me about the long recovery since the 2016 flood and how it took years to bring back schools, a grocery store, and basic services. I listen as she explains how the old school building became apartments, a clinic, a business incubator, and space...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Lance Wheeler about his hustle, and he talks about the progress in Clendenin with new housing, business incubators and library opening after the flood. He says the County Commission supports the town and that cooperation among local, county, state and federal leaders is pushing growth across Kanawha County. He tells me people now...

I talk with Evan and Rebekah Harding and hear how they left Cincinnati, returned to West Virginia, and build a new life in Clendenin after stumbling onto the town during a fall festival. They tell me how they took over Clendenin Brewing Company, work almost every hour themselves, and build real relationships with the people who walk through the door. They talk about supporting the ribbon cutting a...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Dave Knight about how he and a small group of residents in Clendenin saved their old 1912 school building from being lost. They partnered with several organizations to transform it into apartments, offices, and a clinic. The first renovation in 2011 cost $5 million, and the latest one totaled $7.5 million. Now the building has ten...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk directly to entrepreneurs who say they want to grow but still think like employees. I remind them that success doesn’t come from a 9-to-5 mindset — it takes nights, weekends, and sacrifice. Building a business is hard work, not balance, and if they want stability, they should get a job. I tell them to get their finances straight, stop...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Rozanna Bracken, director of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for West Virginia. She explains that 988 replaced the old 1-800-273-TALK number to make it easier for people to remember and now allows calling, texting, or chatting for help. Anyone can reach out — whether they’re struggling themselves or worried about someone else...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Reed Byers, founder of the One Billion Hugs movement. Reed shares how his mission to connect a billion people through hugs came from his own battles with mental health and loss. He tells me about a day when wearing a free hugs shirt at Tudor’s Biscuit World turned a bad moment into one of hope and connection, inspiring him to turn...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Tara Miller at the 10th annual Out of the Darkness Walk in Charleston, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She explains that the walk raises awareness about mental health and suicide prevention while honoring those lost, with funds staying in West Virginia to support free education and advocacy programs. Tara...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I share how I learned that great work alone doesn’t bring clients. I start my career in 3D animation for education, then move into creating courtroom visuals for attorneys, always producing strong work but still struggling to grow. I realize that success comes from visibility, not just skill. When I become marketing director for an IT company...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Cristen Michael, who runs Charleston Events and manages cwvevents.com a website that lists everything happening around the city. She says October is packed with festivals and activities because people love being outside in the fall. Cristen started the calendar while working at a local hospital to help medical residents new to the...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Caitlin Fisher, a freelance paralegal and founder of Capital City Paralegals in Saint Albans. She explains that she helps attorneys who have heavy caseloads but not enough work to justify hiring full-time staff. Caitlin handles legal research, drafts documents, manages client communications, and assists with filings so attorneys c...

Lee Jordan turned a small family haunted house into one of West Virginia’s biggest Halloween attractions. In this episode, we talk about how passion, creativity, and a love for entertainment drive him to keep building Fear on the Farm year after year — and how that same energy fuels his dance studio and wrestling events all across the Kanawha Valley. #KanawhaValleyHustlers #WestVirginiaBusiness #F...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I’m at J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works for the Taste of Appalachia showcase, an Advantage Valley initiative promoting local food businesses. I meet Paula Kingry from Dark Hollow Foods, who’s been making sauces and mixes since 1999 and contributed her original dark sauce to the gift boxes. Then I talk with Coleman Irwin of Harvest Trails in Martinsb...