My SGV Podcast

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Manuel “Mano” Agulian, known to many as Pastor Mano, a Pasadena based pastor who leads the Armenian Christian Outreach at PazNaz and serves in Armenian Ministries.  We talk about his story of leaving Beirut, Lebanon and coming to the United States during the civil war, and how that journey shaped his faith, his family, and the way he thinks about p...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Edward Maldonado, better known as Coach Buck, the owner of Marathon Batting Cages in South El Monte. We talk about his coaching journey and what it means to build athletes the right way, with patience, consistency, and real belief in the kid standing in front of you. Coach Buck shares what he looks for when a player walks into the cage for the firs...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Lupita Ramirez and Dennis Ramirez, the husband and wife team behind Think, Create & Connect, Inc., a family owned creative marketing agency that helps businesses strengthen their online presence through brand strategy, social media management, and creative campaigns. We talk about what it takes to elevate a brand when you are busy running the d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, I sit down with Shaunt Der Ohannesian, the son of Shahan Der Ohannesian and part of the family behind Lee’s Hoagie House in Pasadena. Lee’s has become a true neighborhood staple, and Shaunt now helps run day to day operations while carrying forward what makes the place feel like home.  Shaunt opens up about his journey through addiction, and how the loss of his be...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story of a producer, creative, father, and entrepreneur who blends music, storytelling, and authentic Hawaiian food. Born and raised in Pepe‘ekeo, Hawai‘i and rooted in values of aloha and community, he moved to the San Gabriel Valley in 2008 to pursue audio engineering. An internship with Doggystyle Records opened doors to collaborations with Snoop Dogg, Kendrick Lamar...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story of a first-generation Chinese American filmmaker whose roots in Alhambra and the San Gabriel Valley shape every frame she makes. With a psychology degree from UCLA and a name honoring her parents’ immigration lawyer, she crafts grounded family dramas with a hint of fantasy—stories of resilience, friendship, and hope drawn from the immigrant communities she grew up...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s a conversation with a restaurant growth operator who’s spent 20+ years at the intersection of dining, loyalty, and partnerships. From helping launch LivingSocial’s first outside sales footprint to expanding Square’s Caviar gourmet delivery in Downtown LA, he’s now at Rewards Network, where he runs dining programs for major brands across airlines, hotels, and wireless. The f...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story of a San Gabriel Valley nonprofit turning loss into action. Based in Covina, the Man-e Moreno Foundation was created after the death of Manuel Joseph Moreno, transforming a family tragedy into a mission to serve youth and support families affected by violence. The focus is whole-person impact—meeting physical, mental, and academic needs while strengthening communi...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s a conversation with a broadcast veteran who’s spent nearly 30 years in large-market media—hosting radio, interviewing icons like Eminem, Mike Tyson, Jim Brown, and Kendrick Lamar, and now operating on the executive side with a global music brand. He helped pioneer the shift from traditional radio to YouTube, building on-air personalities into on-screen creators and translat...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story of a San Gabriel Valley daughter who turned community roots into a career of service. Raised in Monterey Park and Montebello, she grew up at Robert Hill Lane, Macy Intermediate, and Schurr High—so the SGV isn’t just a place, it’s her identity. After a brief move to Chino Hills, she came home so her three kids could grow up in the same tight-knit neighborhoods, spl...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story of an SGV native building community through coffee. Raised in Covina and West Covina and now rooted in Pasadena, Melissa Spolar blends events, marketing, nonprofit work, and café culture to connect neighbors and small businesses. She created the Pasadena Coffee Passport to spotlight the city’s specialty shops and invite locals and visitors to explore together. Her...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story behind a multi-Emmy-winning journalist whose roots run deep in the San Gabriel Valley. Raised by a family that fled Vietnam, she grew up in local neighborhoods, went to San Gabriel High, and learned early how community shapes character. Those SGV years—family hustle, public schools, and a love for Dodgers and Lakers seasons—set the tone for a life built on curiosi...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s a conversation with a lifelong civic servant whose roots run from Monterey Park to Pomona and the San Gabriel Valley. With decades in urban planning and community development, he brings a ground-level view of how cities actually work—housing, zoning, economic development, schools, and the partnerships that make neighborhoods thrive. He currently serves on the Pomona City Co...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story of a radical preacher and Christian hip-hop artist from Rosemead in the SGV whose life was changed by a powerful encounter with Jesus. He shares how he was healed from an “incurable” mental illness, received a new purpose, and set out to reach the streets, homes, and the hearts of the broken with the gospel. From local roots to West Coast impact, his mission is si...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s a conversation with a seasoned UI/UX designer and design strategist with 20+ years of experience building products used by millions. Her portfolio spans Google, PayPal, CBS Interactive, Fox Broadcasting Company, and Warner Music Group. She leads with empathy and business clarity—using research-driven decisions to ship smart, simple solutions that serve users and goals. We u...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story behind B Nutritious, a Southern California meal-prep brand built on a real transformation. After years in a desk-bound insurance role, Brian Nguyen gained weight, discovered Muay Thai, and went deep on nutrition to rebuild his health—dropping 80 pounds in the process. Friends and family started asking for his Asian-inspired, macro-friendly meal plans, and a person...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s a deep dive with the CEO behind Drone Strategic Partners, a firm helping organizations adopt drones, robotics, and automation to modernize security and operations. We get into how a lean aerial program can extend ground teams, drive faster decisions, and document incidents in real time without ballooning costs—think smarter patrols, clearer data, and fewer blind spots at sc...

Send us Fan Mail Meet Dr. Ken Thai, PharmD—CEO of 986 Degrees Corporation (a pharmacy franchise), multi-site independent pharmacy owner across Southern California and Nevada, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Pharmacy Practice at USC and Western University. A past president of CPhA (California Pharmacists Association) and current national VP at NCPA, he was honored with the 2022 NCPA Willard B. S...

Send us Fan Mail I’m excited to introduce Irene—@irenieeweeniee—who turned a corporate layoff and months of misdiagnoses into a mission. After learning she had ovarian cancer, she started editing food videos on her phone and sharing her story on TikTok. What began as a way to cope became a platform for honest storytelling and women’s healthcare advocacy. Irene’s roots run through the SGV. Her immi...

Send us Fan Mail Here’s the story behind GD Burgers in La Puente. I sat down with Daniel “Danny” Hyun, who went from leading at LA Fitness to helping his father at the family counter—and then taking over. His path blends discipline, service, and a deep commitment to the San Gabriel Valley. If you’ve ever wondered how a family business grows into a neighborhood staple, this is it. GD Burgers is cla...

Send us Fan Mail Wendy Yu and Huong Thai are the co-founders of Happy Humble Hub, a unique community space in Alhambra, California designed to bring people together in meaningful ways. Their stories of resilience, risk-taking, and vision are deeply rooted in the San Gabriel Valley, and their work is inspiring a new wave of creativity and connection across Southern California. About Wendy Yu Wendy...

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Richard S. Cheung is a second-generation chiropractor and athletic trainer who has been serving the Pasadena community since 1998. He holds a Doctor of Chiropractic degree from the Los Angeles College of Chiropractic and a bachelor’s degree from San Diego State University. With more than 26 years of clinical experience, Dr. Cheung specializes in sports medicine, injury recover...

Send us Fan Mail Kaila Yu is a Los Angeles–based luxury travel and culture journalist whose bylines include The Los Angeles Times , The New York Times , Rolling Stone , and more. Before her journalism career, she was an actress, an import model, the lead singer of the rock band Nylon Pink, and a student at UCLA. Each chapter of her life, as she shares in her upcoming memoir Fetishized: A Reckoning...

Send us Fan Mail Chris Martinez is a second-generation Cuban American from Miami whose life took flight in 2010 when he enlisted in the military and served in Hawaii. At just 23, he began investing in real estate—building a portfolio across Florida, Hawaii, and California. His early success speaks to his entrepreneurial mindset and strategic vision. By 2017, Chris fully transitioned out of the mil...

Send us Fan Mail Jackson Ridd is a Los Angeles–based mentalist and magician whose performances blend psychological insights with theatrical flair. A resident star at Black Rabbit Rose, Rideau Speakeasy, and the Wonzimer Gallery, Jackson delivers immersive stage shows and intimate close‑up routines. His work has been praised as “both perplexing and haunting,” reflecting his talent for forging deep,...