Beyond the Smoke with Thomas Ward

This week we sat down with Vic Martinez, Creative Director at BrandCrumbs, as he shares the journey of building a media company from the ground up.

Starting with a $400 camera and no formal training, Vic taught himself video production through trial and error, learning by doing and embracing every mistake along the way. What began as a side hustle creating content for local businesses eventually grew into a full-scale video marketing company serving clients across Central Florida.

But the road to success wasn't without challenges. From nearly losing his business after a battle with pneumonia to navigating floods, lost clients, staffing changes, and the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship, Vic opens up about the realities of growing a company in an ever-changing digital landscape.

Vic and Thomas discuss the evolution of content creation, the importance of adaptability, and the lessons learned from building businesses through both prosperous seasons and difficult setbacks. As Vic explains, "It's easy to start a business. Keeping it and growing it is the hard part."

Don't miss this week's episode of Beyond the Smoke, where we explore the highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons behind building a successful business in today's rapidly changing world.

This week we sat down with José Alberto Suárez, a media mogul, who has shaped the landscape of media.

From humble beginnings, José started off with street level marketing, from posters to billboards he did it all. But the times changed, the media was slowly becoming less and less physical and more digital, and he had to adapt quickly before he was left in the dust. This week we learn firsthand how he turned challenges into stepping stones, and continues to shape the future of media.

Don't miss this week's episode where we share the secrets of mastering media, and how to adapt to an ever changing field. 

4:20 The Early Years

9:35 Street-Level Beginnings

15:50 Media Evolution Insights

22:30 Leadership Philosophy

29:45 Climbing the Ladder

34:10 Mentoring the Next Gen

40:25 The Future of Media

This week we sat down with Eric and Eddie Stankiewicz, better known as the "stanky brothers." These two sauce connoisseurs are here to share their expertise on the art of making the perfect sauce.

From a young age, Eric and Eddie both had a passion for flavor, growing up in a Latin household, they were constantly learning about spices and flavors from their Mom and Abuela. This love of flavor turned into a passion for creating sauces, they  “believe that there's a great marriage in between art and food. And, we really wanted to showcase, as we do that with our brand as well.” Not only do they have an appreciation for the art form of cooking, but they are also experts in marketing and branding. They use this brand to reflect their personality and stand out against their competitors.

Don’t miss this week's episode of Beyond the Smoke, where we find out the secret ingredient to Stanky Sauces success.

2:45 From Disney Dream to Sauce Reality

6:10 The Hot Sauce Journey Begins

11:15 Pineapple on Pizza: The Verdict

17:30 Spicing Up Life with Sauces

23:50 Mango Inspiration Behind the Heat

29:40 Building the Stanky Sauce Brand

34:05 Hot Tips from the Sauce Moguls

This week we sat down with Ajay Bharadva, a sales partner with Porsche, as he tells his life story of using his passions and persistence to modify his career. 

From humble beginnings, Ajay worked his way up in the family business at his father’s auto collision shop in Orlando. From there he shifted gears, and turned his passion for cars into the driving force that has made him a remarkable sales associate with Porsche.

Following his dreams, he believes that “You have to find inspiration in anything in your life. If you don't have that connection with the universe, then you're not here to be your true self.” He utilizes this mentality to be true to himself and find success in his career. 

Don’t miss this week's episode of Beyond the Smoke, where we get to see exactly how Ajay takes his passion to the sales floor.

05:22 Meet Ajay Bharadva

09:45 Early Days in Bodywork

14:30 The Dynamics of Family Business

20:17 Discovering Porsche Passion

26:50 Sales Career Transition

33:40 Lessons from the Showroom Floor

39:15 Advice for Shifting Careers

44:28 Future Goals and Aspirations

This week we sat down with Andres Maldonado, the Founder and Executive Chef of Nona Street Pizza; And he tells the story of his business that he built from the crust up. 

Andres wanted to make his food truck different from your run of the mill roach coach, saying “I wanted to bring the country club style to a food truck. While I’m one of the guilty people that has seen food trucks as inferior to a restaurant, I wanted to turn that around.” And he’s done just that, by making huge changes to the typical food truck recipe that enhanced food taste and quality, while also keeping costs as low as possible for his guests. 

His path to success was filled with hardships, hurdles, and setbacks that he had to overcome and he is still learning today. 

2:15 Andres’ Humble Beginnings

5:45 School Detour: From Class to Kitchen

10:30 Crafting the Perfect Dough Recipe

15:20 The Marketing to Marinara Pivot

21:50 Community Impact

27:35 Pizza Trends & Future Flavors

33:00 Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned

40:25 What's Next for Nona Street Pizza

We sit down with Yamuel Bigio as he describes how his father’s supermarket business sparked a culinary passion that led to him creating and running Crocante restaurant. 

He believes in "Just putting out great food all the time. There's no in between. As a cook, you're as good as your last dish." So despite struggling with culinary school, business closures, and the impact of the pandemic; the lessons of persistence and consistency that he learned from his father, has led him to the success he sees today. 

Yamuel’s passion for cooking is truly contagious, so tune in to feel his energy and maybe you can learn a thing or two from his culinary voyage. 

2:15 - Yamuel’s Grocery Roots

4:50 - From Grocery to Gourmet

7:30 - Mastering the Grill

10:45 - Tips for Culinary Expertise

13:20 - Family Traditions Explored

17:05 - Food Industry Challenges

20:40 - Sustaining Legacy Discussion

24:15 - Keeping Culinary Passion Alive

Allen Lo and Kaleb Harrell are co founders of Hawkers Asian Street Food & Craft Cocktails. What once started off as only a simple passion for Asian street food, has exploded into a multi- location empire. Through hand-rolled dumplings, unyielding dedication, and street smart strategies, these entrepreneurs have worked their way to the top to become the buzz of the Orlando food scene. You won’t believe what they have planned for the future of their still young restaurant, so tune in to find out!

We sit down with Jeff and Danielle Perera, the founders of Jeff's Bagels, and their new partner, Justin Wetherill, the former CEO of uBreakiFix. Get a look into the impressive expansion of Jeff's Bagel Run, a beloved Orlando staple. They reveal their strategies for growth, team-building, and maintaining quality across multiple locations.

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👉 Listen now for a peek into the future of Jeff's Bagels and the strategies driving their success!

Gabriel Boy turned a layoff into a springboard for success.

Unpack Gabriel's journey through high-stakes decision making, scaling a business from the ground up, and his lifelong attempt to master the art of resilience.

Don't miss this episode of Beyond The Smoke. Tap into inspiration, draw from Gabriel's lessons, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find the courage to make your own pivot.

Jump to it -

02:15 - Layoff: A Blessing in Disguise

08:30 - The Corporate Shuffle Challenge

14:50 - Gabriel's Entrepreneurial Turn

22:35 - Mastering Resilience

29:10 - Art of the Pivot

33:45 - Insights from Gabriel's Journey

41:20 - Charting Uncharted Business Territories

47:30 - Gabriel's Defining Moment

55:50 - Building a Business Ground-Up

The Cholo Dogs themselves - Chris Delahoz and Jordan Eichenblatt - join our host Thomas Ward to they discuss the meteoric rise of a pandemic-born hotdog empire.

From navigating unforeseen challenges to toasting unexpected victories, get a taste of how resilience and innovation can cook up success even in the toughest times.

1:30 - Launching in Lockdown

5:45 - Crafting a Hotdog Dream

10:15 - Marketing Meets Gastronomy

14:25 - Hurdles and Triumphs

19:00 - $500K Milestone Journey

23:40 - Resilience in Entrepreneuring