Phoenix Business Brief

Oscar Cruz, founder of a specialized Phoenix martial arts studio, joins the show to share his journey from a hot-headed youth to a master instructor. He breaks down the distinct philosophies behind styles like American Kenpo, Tai Chi, and Jeet Kune Do, explaining how intentionality and repetition build both physical skill and mental discipline. Oscar also discusses the "entrepreneurial belt" of op...

On the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, host Bryan Hyde speaks with Ashley Vellón, founder of Check Moon Valley First. Vellón, a dedicated mother and former teacher, explains how she built a platform to connect residents with local businesses and foster a strong community in Moon Valley, Phoenix. Inspired by a powerful neighborhood Facebook group, she created Check Moon Valley First to address the...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief, Brian Hyde interviews ShaRon Rea, communication strategist and founder of the C.O.R.E. Communication Lab. Rea emphasizes that effective communication starts with self-awareness and offers a unique approach through her "laboratory" model, where individuals explore their communication styles and learn to "Create connection, Own your voice, Respect diffe...

On this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, host Bryan Hyde speaks with Matt Kenney, founding partner of Echo Canyon Consulting, about the evolving world of public affairs, political campaigns, and grassroots advocacy. Kenney discusses his journey from military service and law school to political consulting, the differences between candidate campaigns and issue advocacy, and how technol...

On this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, host Bryan Hyde speaks with Natalia Carnevale, founder of The Nature Kinship, an Arizona-based educational program that uses nature, bushcraft, and community-based learning to help children develop resilience, critical thinking, leadership, and self-regulation skills. Carnevale explains how activities such as fire-building, knot-tying, plant i...

In the Phoenix Business Brief podcast episode, Rick Benton, a Professional EOS Implementer at EOS Worldwide, discusses the Entrepreneur Operating System (EOS) and its benefits for entrepreneurs. Benton shares insights from his own entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing the importance of accountability, structure, and effective leadership in overcoming business challenges. He also highlights the core...

Jenny Clark, chairwoman of the AZ Loves ESAs campaign and founder of Love Your School, discussed Arizona's Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, universal school choice, teachers union opposition, education funding, homeschooling, private school access, and the 2026 ballot effort targeting Arizona ESAs during an interview on the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast.

Sergio Arellano, Chairman of the Arizona GOP and an Army veteran, discusses his transition from military service to political leadership. He shares his strategy for unifying the party, engaging the Latino community, and addressing economic concerns like affordability and tax burdens for Arizona business owners.

Arizona Corporation Commission Vice Chair Rachel Walden joins the show to explain how utility rates are set and why Arizona's "vertically integrated" model helps keep energy costs lower than in deregulated markets. She also shares her journey from a finance career at Vanguard to public service, highlighting the commission's work in preventing securities fraud and managing essential infrastructure.

Arizona State University political economist Henry Thomson joined the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast to discuss off-cycle elections in Arizona, arguing that low-turnout local elections can significantly affect taxpayer spending, city policy, school district funding, and business issues. Thomson said his research found turnout in off-cycle elections averaged about 27%, compared to more than 70% dur...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, Greg Cook, a commercial insurance advisor with Neate Dupey Insurance Group, explains why insurance is more than a transactional product—it's a critical safeguard for business owners' livelihoods. Cook breaks down the essential coverages every business should consider, from general liability and workers' compensation to emerging risks like cybe...

Justine Ducloux and Brandon Sells, owners of Phoenix Property Care Pros, discuss how they built a full-service property care company serving residential and commercial clients across the Valley. Drawing from DuCloux's background in cleaning services and Sells' experience as a physical therapist, the two identified a gap in consistent, reliable property maintenance and expanded into services includ...

Matt Roeske, founder of Cultivate Elevate , argues that modern health challenges stem largely from everyday exposure to toxins in food, water, and technology rather than complex diseases. Drawing from his background in fitness and natural health, Roeske emphasizes a return to simplicity—clean, single-ingredient foods, purified water, reduced exposure to wireless technology, and regular time in nat...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, Phoenix-based integrative neuro-somatic practitioner Anjana Nambissan shares her journey from a 20-year career in IT to becoming a life coach focused on emotional healing and transformation. After experiencing depression and physical symptoms tied to emotional stress, she turned to coaching and now helps others achieve faster breakthroughs usi...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, Cameron Lane, founder and president of Cameron Health Insurance Group, discusses his transition from professional poker player to independent health insurance broker and explains why many self-employed professionals struggle to find affordable coverage. Lane describes the challenges facing entrepreneurs, contractors, and small business owners...

On this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief, Scottsdale native Aidyn Albright shares how he turned his background in car sales into a growing business, My Car Negotiator.  After witnessing firsthand how confusing and pressure-filled the car buying process can be, Albright now represents buyers directly—researching vehicles, negotiating pricing, reviewing trade-in values, and locking in deals bef...

On this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, host Brian Hyde sits down with Coach Arnie Fonseca Jr., a nearly 67-year-old exercise physiologist, neuro-rehab specialist and self-described pain and movement expert/ With decades of experience working alongside the medical community, Fonseca explains why he believes many cases of chronic knee, hip, shoulder and back pain are treated at the s...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, host Brian Hyde speaks with Julie Mercadante, owner of Juniper Speech Therapy in Phoenix, about why many children struggle with speech despite years of traditional therapy. Mercadante explains how myofunctional therapy looks beyond pronunciation to examine how a child breathes, sleeps, eats, and uses their tongue at rest. She discusses common...

Jacob Allumbaugh, owner of Salt Media, joins the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast to discuss how real estate media has evolved from basic listing photos to a critical driver of buyer attention and market differentiation. Drawing on his experience working in both Oregon and Arizona, Allumbaugh explains key differences between the two housing markets and why Phoenix's scale and competition demand a mo...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, Zach Holly, a certified financial planner and independent advisor with Osaic Wealth Incorporated, discusses how individuals and families can build long-term financial security at every stage of life. Holly explains why starting early, staying invested, and avoiding emotional decision-making are essential to successful investing, particularly d...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, host Brian Hyde sits down with Bill Beard, municipal affairs liaison at the Goldwater Institute, to discuss how local and state policy decisions are shaping Phoenix's role in the rapidly expanding digital economy. Beard explains why public policy debates often miss the mark by focusing too heavily on national politics while overlooking the out...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, David Wallace, president of Strive Point Advisors, discusses how today's housing market requires borrowers to focus less on headlines and more on individual goals and financial strategy. Wallace explains why the mortgage broker model often provides greater pricing flexibility and lower risk than traditional mortgage banking, and why waiting fo...

Phoenix-based entrepreneur Robert Prochnow, founder of Zen Aegis, joins the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast to share how a four-year battle with cancer reshaped his approach to leadership, purpose, and business growth. Prochnow explains why many small and mid-sized companies feel stuck despite working harder than ever, and how Zen Aegis partners directly with founders to own critical growth initiat...

In this episode of the Phoenix Business Brief Podcast, real estate professional Will Carter, owner of The Will Carter Team, discusses why personal circumstances and long-term goals matter more than headlines or short-term market conditions when deciding whether to buy a home. Carter explains how homeownership remains a key driver of wealth creation and why younger generations should still view buy...

Have you ever wondered what you would learn if you could sit quietly in the room with the people actually building Phoenix? In Episode Zero of Phoenix Business Brief, we explain why this show exists and what you can expect from every conversation that follows. This is not a motivational program and it is not about hype. It is a grounded look at what is really happening inside the Valley's economy,...