Episodios

  • Kiersten Holman on Connection and Community

    Kiersten Holman on Connection and Community
    Jun 19 2025
    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 Charleston. Kiersten moved here from Wheeling a year and a half ago and found her first connections through Up Next Charlie West. She’s now on the leadership board and was recently named the Cintas Champion for the area, which means she’ll be the community outreach face for Charleston. She shares how important it is to show the positive side of West Virginia and how young professionals are making an impact. As we wrap up, she encourages others to get involved, come to events, and explore everything Charleston has to offer.
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    4 m
  • Corey Austin Talks About Lola's Growth and South Hills Vibes

    Corey Austin Talks About Lola's Growth and South Hills Vibes
    Jun 17 2025
    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 working in the food industry, Corey enjoys the positive vibe of the community. She talks about the team’s strong work ethic, especially with new employees who move up from host to server to bartender. While Lola's doesn’t cater large events due to its small kitchen, they’ve done smaller events like the Bridge Road Festival. Corey mentions the need for more kitchen staff and appreciates the influx of applications as the restaurant’s popularity continues to grow.
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    4 m
  • Why Digital Marketing Feels So Confusing

    Why Digital Marketing Feels So Confusing
    Jun 12 2025
    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 them to promote their real-world services. I use my own podcast as an example—I'm not paid to make it, but it helps me connect with people, stay visible, and learn what’s going on in the community. I stress that before you market to strangers, you should make sure people you already know understand what you do. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but you need to pick a platform, learn it, and stick with it long enough to build an audience. Whether it’s SEO, email, or social media, the key is focus and consistency, not trying everything at once and hoping something sticks.
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    9 m
  • Domenica Cruz Talks Community and Career Growth

    Domenica Cruz Talks Community and Career Growth
    Jun 10 2025
    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 networking scene. Domenica tells me she first came to Charleston on a track scholarship and ended up staying because she liked the people. Now she’s focused on building a career in public relations, improving her English, and getting more involved in the community. When I ask what West Virginians might not know about themselves, she says they’re more welcoming than they realize, especially to internationals, and that kind of kindness isn’t something you find in bigger cities.
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    4 m
  • Chris Walters on Supporting Staff and Serving Clients

    Chris Walters on Supporting Staff and Serving Clients
    Jun 6 2025
    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 shares how specializing in areas like trucking and workers’ comp helps him offer more value and build stronger relationships. We talk about how focusing your message makes marketing more effective and how clients start coming to you for advice beyond just insurance. Chris also talks about building a positive culture in his office and supporting his employees as people, not just workers. As we wrap up, he shares his concerns about the Kanawha Valley, including issues with the Charleston mall and the need to better support downtown businesses and bring more visitors off the interstate.
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    7 m
  • The Journey Behind JoJo’s Taco with Joellen and Mike Greenlee

    The Journey Behind JoJo’s Taco with Joellen and Mike Greenlee
    Jun 3 2025
    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-table approach, with fresh vegetables grown in their greenhouse, including tomatoes for Joellen's homemade pico. We discuss how farmers markets impact local communities by supporting farmers, craftspeople, and small businesses. Joellen explains the dedication it takes to run a small business, especially when you're making everything from scratch, and Mike adds that it's all worth it when you're passionate about what you do. They also mention how they were featured on the Food Network and voted silver medalists in West Virginia Living Magazine. For more information on their menu and to book their food truck, visit www.jojostaco.com or call 304-377-1074.
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    5 m
  • Standing Out in a World Full of AI

    Standing Out in a World Full of AI
    May 30 2025
    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 distrust. That’s why authenticity matters more than ever. Being real, telling your own story, and showing up as yourself is what builds trust. AI-generated avatars and synthetic voices might say the right things, but they don’t feel real—and people won’t buy from something that doesn’t feel real. Authenticity doesn’t mean low quality or unpolished; it just means being honest and personal. We’ll see more from AI, and it’ll be fun, but the people who win in this next era are the ones who stay grounded and true to themselves.
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    10 m
  • A Vision for Community with Shawn Zuniga and Amanda Ream

    A Vision for Community with Shawn Zuniga and Amanda Ream
    May 27 2025
    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 Public Works department built nearly all of it. Amanda, with the South Charleston Chamber of Commerce, says this has been years in the making and ties into the city’s focus on improving quality of life. She explains the market is part of a larger movement happening across South Charleston, with growth near the riverfront and road development around Park Place. Local vendors were eager to join, and interest from the community was strong even before promotion began. She points people to the market’s Facebook page for updates. Both guests highlight the importance of supporting West Virginia farmers and how this market brings something meaningful to the community.
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    6 m
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