Wheels, Deals and Meals

Hook: What does it take to manage a full-scale creative manufacturing empire behind the curtain? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we sit down on the stage of the Alley Theatre with its powerhouse new managing director, Jennifer Bielstein. With eight months under her belt leading one of America’s most historic regional theaters, Jennifer’s homecoming is a full-circle moment for a Texas girl w...

What does a global logistics strategy manager do when he buys the world’s number-one rated cigar lounge? This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals , we set up shop in one of our absolute favorite places on the planet: Blend Bar in The Woodlands. But this isn't just another look inside the humidors—today’s show is special because we are sitting down with Blend's new owner, Sol Scott . Sol’s sto...

This week we sit down with the ultimate powerhouse of the Houston business community, Dr. Laura Murillo, President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the Chamber has smashed membership records and become one of the most influential institutions in the country. But today, we are diving behind the scenes of her critical role on the board of the Houston-Harris...

How do you go from managing a single storefront to operating a massive multi-unit empire? This week, we sit down with legendary entrepreneur Ken Kades , founder of The Kades Corporation and Owner Operator at Multiple McDonalds . Ken has spent decades mastering the art of business operations, scaling his footprint to 80 highly successful locations at one point in his career. In this episode, Ken pu...

What does it take to lead the retail coverage at Automotive News ? 📰🚗 This week, Arnold catches up with Dan Shine , a man whose blood runs with Detroit motor oil and newspaper ink. Dan takes us through his incredible career, from the fast-paced night shift at the Dallas Morning News to his current role overseeing the most critical stories in the auto industry today. Learn about the "hustle&...

Welcome back to Wheels, Deals and Meals ! This week, we sit down at Amalfi Restaurant with Manuel Leyshon, the driving force behind Loco Tequila . From his early days in Mexico City to navigating the global spirits market, Manuel shares the story of how he helped build a brand that defies the status quo. In this episode, we dive into the "Loco" philosophy—a commitment to quality, pure ag...

This week, host Arnold Gacita is joined by a true "Media Dream Team": Andrea Gomez , Willie Lora , and Dawna Campbell of the Los Angeles Tribune. We are back at Amalfi Restaurant in Houston for a deep dive into journalism, global PR, and the grit required to build a world-class career from the ground up. From the high-stakes newsrooms of CNN and ABC News to the intersection of finance an...

In this episode, we take the show to the state-of-the-art studios of Hope Media Group to sit down with their CEO, Joe Paulo. From his "formative years" in Ohio to leading the nation’s largest Christian radio station, Joe shares a powerful narrative of leadership, career pivots, and the importance of listening for God’s timing. Inside the Episode:Work is a Learned Behavior: Joe discusses...

In this episode, we sit down with Amy Wine, a licensed therapist and elite performance coach who helps "elite achievers"—from CEOs to pro athletes—reclaim their marriages, businesses, and personal joy. Amy shares her powerful journey from a traumatic childhood to becoming a transformation trailblazer, offering a raw look at what it takes to find your rhythm in a high-pressure world.3:26...

In this episode of Wheels, Deals & Meals, Arnold sits down with Willie Daughters, the Executive Vice President and COO of Reynolds and Reynolds. With an incredible 34-year career at the same company, Willie’s story is a masterclass in work ethic, perseverance, and the power of a positive mindset.0:00 - Introduction1:00 - Growing up in Amarillo and early work experiences4:00 - The "Clay Pi...

Tech layoffs, Stanford degrees, and 190mph virtual Ferraris. 🏁This week, we visit Velocity Sim Racing to meet founder Viet Tran. Viet’s background is anything but ordinary—a Vietnamese refugee who conquered Silicon Valley before returning to Houston to follow his passion for speed. After a professional racing accident on the track, Viet discovered that simulation was the key to regaining his edge...

This week on Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we’re hanging out with the founders of Zubi Rum, Carlos and Tony! These two cousins are bringing the flavor of old-school Havana to the heart of Texas. From the emotional history of their families fleeing Cuba to the grit required to build a business in 2024, this episode is packed with inspiration, laughs, and plenty of "Salud!" moments. You won&#3...

Welcome to Part 2 of our Best Of series! In this episode we will revisit some of the most impactful conversations from the past two years, featuring leaders who have shaped the automotive and business landscapes. We look back at Jack Hollis’ incredible 33-year journey at Toyota, where he shares vital leadership lessons on the power of listening and putting others first. Scott Joseph joins the show...

Four Men. Four Turning Points. One Path to Real Success. In this special Best-Of documentary, four powerful guests from Wheels, Deals & Meals share the real turning points that shaped their careers, their leadership, and their faith — from leaving safe jobs… to building legacy businesses… to finding peace beyond money. This'll be a recap video you will be sure to enjoy as you catch a glimp...

Faith, Family, and 45 Years: A Christmas Special with Jeff and Gayle WellsIn this heartwarming Christmas special, we welcome back Pastor Jeff Wells, along with a very special first-time guest: Jeff’s wife, Gayle. While Gayle usually prefers to stay behind the scenes, she joins the show to share insights into their 45-year marriage, their growing family of ten grandchildren, and the faith that anch...

Join us as we talk with Philip John, a revered retired trial lawyer who spent 41 years with Houston's oldest and most prestigious law firm, Baker Botts. Phil shares his unique upbringing as an Air Force dependent, including a memorable time in Tripoli, Libya, before graduating from the University of Texas for both his undergraduate and law degrees. He explains that he became a lawyer after a f...

In the second half of the interview, Chef Giancarlo’s wife, Lisa (a Cuban-American who grew up in Texas), joins the conversation to reveal their incredible origin story of how they met, and how Giancarlo’s journey led him to start a successful Italian Restaurant in Houston, Texas. You also will want to give your undivided attention to the incredible food showcased towards the end. Don't miss t...

You don’t want to miss this episode as we sit down with Giancarlo Ferrara , the owner and Executive Chef of Amalfi Ristorante Italiano in Houston, to hear his inspiring story. From growing up in Salerno on the Amalfi Coast , to traininghands-on from age 15, Giancarlo  loved finding inspiration for his cooking taking him to a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Ireland, and eventually to Houston. He op...

Join us to meet Orlando Sanchez, a fellow Cuban immigrant, U.S. Air Force veteran, and seasoned Houston public servant running for Harris County Judge. Sanchez shares his unique journey, from fleeing Communist Cuba to dedicating years on the Houston City Council and 12 years as Harris County Treasurer. He draws on his financial expertise—including serving as Chairman of the University of Houston F...

We are thrilled to welcome Jack Hollis, an automotive industry titan, Partner at Accrual Equity Partners, and the former Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Toyota. Join us as we explore the incredible career trajectory of one of the industry's most successful leaders. Jack's journey began with a baseball scholarship to Stanford University, which led to playing professi...

Join us for a truly special episode as we welcome Robert Sakowitz , the man who led the legendary Sakowitz high-fashion specialty store and now heads the Hazak Corp. as a global business consultant. Robert shares the incredible four-generation history of his family's business, which began in 1902 when his great-grandfather, an immigrant peddler, settled in Galveston . After the 1915 hurricane,...

This episode continues our successful part 1 of some of our favorite moments from the show. Join us for inspiring stories on food, football, business, and medicine! Al Deshon | A Culinary Journey to ChurrascosWe sit down with the owner of the Houston restaurant Churrascos and hear his personal story of moving from Miami to Houston with no job and no business experience, and how he turned his famil...

This September, we're bringing you a special series of highlight reels, featuring some of our most amazing and inspiring guests. This episode is a compilation of our best moments with Dean Gladden , the managing director of Houston's iconic Alley Theatre; Anthony Robles , a National Champion and unstoppable force in wrestling; and the honorable Judge Eric Andell . Dean Gladden | The Heart of The A...

Join us for a truly special episode of Wheels, Deals, and Meals as we welcome the legendary Giuseppe Risi , founder of Risi Competizione , the most successful Ferrari GT racing team in American history. With over five decades of experience in international competition, from F1 cars to sports prototypes, Giuseppe Risi is a name synonymous with excellence. In this exclusive interview, he shares the...

You will love this special episode of Wheels, Deals, and Meals, as we sit down in Maryland, with two titans of the automotive industry: Ken Shreve, a retired dealer principal, and Chip Doetsch, the current owner of Apple Ford Lincoln and Apple Mitsubishi. They share a combined wisdom of decades in the business, offering insights that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking. From their first cars,...