Kanawha Valley Hustlers

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Sean Hornbuckle, who’s dedicated to making life better for families, small business owners, and investors through retirement planning and wealth management. He explains that his approach is all about the big picture, helping clients plan for the long-term and create strategies that minimize taxes and ensure financial security. Sin...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Joey Crookshanks at Meet Up 64 about his business, Tailgator Outdoors. He’s created a product that turns a Yeti-style cooler into a beverage dispenser, allowing people to keep mixed drinks separate from the rest of the cooler’s contents. He tells me the idea came from wanting a way for him and his wife to enjoy different drinks fr...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Jamie Lima, state director for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of West Virginia. She tells me how the program mails free books every month to kids from birth to age five to help build home libraries and improve school readiness. It’s been in West Virginia since 2006 and went statewide in 2020. Jamie explains that while people t...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about the discomfort many entrepreneurs feel when it comes to asking for things, like Google reviews or referrals. I’ve noticed that some business owners hesitate to ask, thinking that if they did a good job, their clients should automatically offer a review. The truth is, people are busy, and they won’t always follow through on their...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I meet Andy Morrison at Lola’s during First Tuesdays with Up Next Charlie West. Andy runs Business Up AI, a company that helps small and medium businesses use artificial intelligence to grow. He explains that AI is still new enough to give businesses an edge, but soon it will be as common as websites or spreadsheets. We talk about the many wa...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Kiersten Holman at First Tuesdays with Up Next Charlie West. She’s the member of the month and a new sales rep at Cintas, handling facility services like mats, hand sanitizers, and paper products. She’s been with the company for about a month and says the transition from a smaller company has been smooth, thanks to her network in...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Corey Austin, the manager at Lola's, a local favorite in South Hills. Corey’s been with the restaurant for seven years, starting in various roles before becoming the manager. She shares how Lola's, known for its artisan pizzas, has grown over the years, including the addition of an outdoor bar last year. Despite the challenges of...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about how confusing digital marketing can be and why that’s normal. I explain how platforms like blogs, YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts have all had their moments, and success often comes from being early. I point out that most local businesses aren’t trying to make money from the platforms directly, like influencers do, but are using th...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I meet Domenica Cruz at Lola’s during the First Tuesday event hosted by Up Next Charlie West. She recently graduated from the University of Charleston with a degree in digital media design and minors in marketing and communications. She’s just started an internship with the Charleston Area Alliance and is already diving into the local network...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Chris Walters from Integrity Insurance Group in Charleston. He explains how the insurance market is changing, with new carriers like Geico and Foremost Choice 360 entering West Virginia, which means more options for clients. Chris opened his agency in 2019 and stresses the importance of finding a niche and becoming an expert. He s...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I’m talking with Joellen and Mike Greenlee, the founders of JoJo’s Taco, at the South Charleston Farmers Market. They share their journey from a Super Bowl party where they tested six taco recipes to creating a winning dish with 13 spices, including the secret ingredient: ginger, which helps with indigestion. Mike talks about their farm-to-ta...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about how to stand out in a world full of AI and low trust. Tools like Google’s Veo 3 can create entire cinematic videos with no human input, and that has people worried about their jobs and relevance. But I don’t think AI will replace real human connection. Since 2008, we’ve lived in an era of information overload, and with that comes...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I’m at the grand opening of the South Charleston Farmers Market talking with Shawn Zuniga and Amanda Ream. Shawn tells me the market has 13 vendors, including eight local farmers selling flowers, fruit, and vegetables. It’s located at 4006 MacCorkle Ave. SW and open seven days a week. He says the mayor had the vision for the market, and the P...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Frank Mullens, the mayor of South Charleston, to talk about the city’s exciting developments. Frank shares how the new South Charleston Farmers Market came to be, a project he’s had in the works for years that finally fell into place with the timing of other growth in the area. He emphasizes the importance of supporting local smal...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I sit down with Bob Theuring, a business coach from Huntington who runs Tandem Innovations. We talk about how marketing is often misunderstood by business owners who expect quick results from a single ad or campaign. Bob and I agree that real marketing is about consistency and understanding your audience. I explain that every marketing method...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Bryan Shaw right after our Advantage Valley board meeting. Bryan leads the FASTER WV program, which supports early-stage entrepreneurs with coaching, funding, and training. He explains how many people they help are just starting out with side hustles and want to grow without quitting their day jobs. For those ready to expand, they...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I catch up with Marjorie Cooke right after the Advantage Valley board meeting at Area 34 in Putnam County. She tells me about her work promoting economic growth across a nine-county region along the I-64 corridor. Advantage Valley focuses on business attraction, retention, and entrepreneurship, targeting industries like metals, auto parts, ch...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Barbie Wood, a business coach with the FASTER WV program at Advantage Valley. She helps entrepreneurs in their first three years by offering free business coaching and support, then connects them to expansion programs. We meet right after the Advantage Valley board meeting, where there’s a lot of energy around projects like the Ap...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I visit Tonya Perry at Tickers and Timbers on Capitol Street to talk about her newest addition—a piano bar opening on Thursday, May 8th at 7 p.m., right after the Charleston Area Alliance Business After Hours. Tonya shares that she studied music and wants to bring more live, interactive entertainment to downtown. Guests can request songs, sin...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with my friend Bob Theuring to talk about burnout. We set a ten-minute timer and dive into what burnout looks like, how to spot it, and what to do about it. Bob describes it as a feeling of exhaustion and dissatisfaction, even when you're doing something meaningful. I share how I’ve noticed burnout in myself when tasks I normally enjoy...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Gracie Queen, marketing coordinator at the Clay Center for Arts and Sciences of West Virginia. Gracie shares how she grew up visiting the Clay Center and now helps promote its museums, theater, and planetarium. She tells me about seeing the behind-the-scenes work that goes into events and exhibits and how much collaboration happen...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Madeline McPhee, a former high school teacher from Texas who’s now in her first year of real estate with Riggs Commercial Realty. She tells me the market is heating up, with ten listings in the past week alone. Madeline says her background in education has helped her make a smooth transition into real estate, and she’s excited to...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Lindsey McIntosh about the Friends of Clay, a volunteer group that supports the Clay Center in Charleston. She explains that the Clay Center is a museum and interactive space with exhibits, concerts, Broadway shows, and educational programs for all ages. Friends of Clay helps fund events like Carnival and supports STEAM education...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I chat with Bob Theuring, a local business coach with over 10 years of experience in leadership and personal development. We dive into the hidden costs of skimping in business, discussing the difference between being thrifty and being cheap. Bob shares how his father’s upbringing during the Depression lead to him being taught the value of bei...

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Cindy Skiles about her journey from physical therapist to entrepreneur and now into a new chapter focused on nutrition. She tells me how she started her clinic in a small space with treatment tables she built herself and grew it into a 28,000 square foot facility with two locations, including a gym that still operates today. Cindy...