In today's episode, I'm thrilled to welcome Michael McCrary, the founder and CEO of PureSpectrum, the premier market research technology company headquartered in Westlake Village. 

Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, Michael has built PureSpectrum from a single desk at Hub 101 into a leader in the data collection industry with more than 200 employees globally.

Join us as we dive into his journey from corporate leadership to entrepreneurship, the importance of a company culture and growing a thriving business, and the simple advice for anyone interested in starting a business on their own.

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story reach more people.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with PureSpectrum ⁠here⁠

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to [email protected] - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

In today’s conversation, we’re joined by Emily Capretta, co-owner of Proactive Sports, a premier training facility in Westlake Village. 

Emily takes us through her inspiring journey from aspiring sports journalist to successful entrepreneur, balancing family life with running a thriving business. 

She’ll also share her work with California Strong, a nonprofit providing disaster relief and mobilizing the community in times of need. 

Tune in as Emily discusses the power of collaboration, the challenges of entrepreneurship, and the importance of giving back to the community.

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that helps each story reach more people.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Proactive Sports Performance here

Connect with California Strong here

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to [email protected] - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Today we're joined by Blake and Adelina Brisbois, owners of Engage Therapy in Westlake Village. With their intensive outpatient program serving youth ages 10 to 25 dealing with depression and anxiety, Engage provides evidence-based accessible high-quality mental health care for families.

In this episode, we'll dive into their journeys from clinicians to business owners, their approach to supporting the community, and their impact on mental health in the Conejo Valley. 

We also discuss the impact of social media on teens and depression, free resources for parents, and advice for first-time entrepreneurs. 

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that helps each story reach more people.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Engage Therapyhere

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to [email protected] - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

In today’s episode, you’ll hear from Jonathan Woodward, the organizer behind the first-ever Conejo Valley Comedy Fest, which takes place February 21st and 22nd. 

Jonathan shares how his love of comedy, his marketing background, and support from his wife led him to create the unique event. We'll discuss the business side of organizing a large-scale festival, including community engagement, family-friendly programming, and strategic partnerships. 

Plus, Jonathan offers insights into his vision for the future of comedy in the Conejo Valley and its broader impact and tips for first-time entrepreneurs. 

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that helps each story reach more people.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with the Conejo Valley Comedy Fest here

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to [email protected] - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

In today’s episode, we’re joined by Gaby Dalkin – New York Times bestselling author, chef, entrepreneur, and the mastermind behind What’s Gaby Cooking?

After over a decade of sharing California-inspired recipes and effortless entertaining tips, Gaby is bringing her culinary expertise to Westlake Village with the grand opening of her first restaurant, Gaby’s, in the Neighborly Food Hall.

Join us as we explore Gaby’s journey from food blogger to cookbook author, and now, restaurant owner. Hear about the challenges, triumphs, and lessons she's learned along the way in this exciting new chapter of her career.

If you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to leave a 5-star review and rating! Your support helps more people in the Conejo Valley discover these amazing stories.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Gaby Dalkin ⁠here

Connect with Neighborly here

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Gaby Dalkin and Her Journey

03:03 From Pre-Med to Culinary School: A Career Shift

06:03 The Importance of Community and Connection Through Food

09:05 Starting a Blog: Documenting the Culinary Journey

12:00 The Cookbook Journey: Learning and Growth

14:54 Opening Gobbies: The Restaurant Concept

18:01 The Evolution of Ideas: From Baby Food to Restaurant

18:17 The Birth of Gobbies: A Collaborative Journey

24:08 Creating Unique Culinary Experiences

30:27 Building a Supportive Community

34:12 Vision for the Future: Expanding What's Gaby Cooking

36:28 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to [email protected] - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

In this solo episode, I reflect on Conejo Valley Visionaries' growth in 2024 -- including landing in the top 20% of Spotify’s video podcasts! -- my gratitude for every guest, and listener, and my vision for the podcast in 2025.

I offer 3 podcast resources for goal setting, including:

And I share five key pieces of entrepreneurial advice from Season 2 guests:

Thank you support this year! If you enjoyed the podcast, please rate and review it. You can also connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Today's episode is a replay from earlier this season featuring Brittany Brouhard, the heart and soul behind Naughty Pine Brewing Co., a female-owned and family-operated brewery in Westlake Village, CA that's been redefining the craft beer scene in the Conejo Valley since opening in 2021.

Britt started her brewing adventure with a simple Christmas gift, a brew-in-a-bag kit for her husband, Justin. Fast forward to 2013 when Britt and Justin seized the opportunity to open a brewery in Maui, balancing red-eye flights and brewing operations across the ocean.

After years of experience at Enegren Brewing and a whirlwind of personal challenges, including a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and the global pandemic, took a leap of faith, leaving her job at Enegren to create Naughty Pine.

Inspired by the cozy vibe of a 1920s Peaky Blinders pub, she has turned her dream into a vibrant community space filled with live music, trivia nights, and a unique shop small store featuring local vendors. 

Join us as we explore Britt's incredible story, her passion for brewing, and how she's built a beloved hub for craft beer enthusiasts in the Conejo Valley.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Naughty Pine Brewing Co. ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Ep. 20: In today's episode you'll hear from Beau Daniels, co-founder of Body Dynamix and Sports Academy in Newbury Park, CA .

Beau shares his journey from a childhood passion for sports and engineering to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the field of sports medicine and youth athletics. He discusses his early influences, the transition from volleyball to chiropractic, and the founding of Body Dynamics and Sports Academy.

Beau emphasizes the importance of creating a holistic environment for young athletes and the lessons learned from team sports that apply to entrepreneurship. He also reflects on the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and offers advice for aspiring entrepreneurs and parents of young athletes.

If you love supporting local businesses, please share this episode with a friend. Spreading the word is a powerful way to help our community thrive.

Connect with Body Dynamix ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

Connect with Sports Academy here

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠here⁠⁠

This episode was brought to you by Conejo Valley Gift Guide. Shop small, shop local, Shop Conejo Valley this holiday season. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list from local businesses you love at ⁠⁠ConejoValleyGiftGuide.com⁠⁠.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, email your bio and a summary of your biz to [email protected] - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Ep. 19: In this episode, we hear from Sean and Amber about their journey opening Five07 in Thousand Oaks, CA.

They discuss their early career aspirations, the inspiration and "why" behind Five07, opening a second location at the beginning of 2024, and the challenges they faced and overcame throughout.

We also talk about the importance of community engagement, collaboration with local vendors, and the realities of entrepreneurship. The couple shares insights on maintaining a strong partnership while running the business, the significance of the Turkey Day Dash event, and her vision for the future of Five07.

Listen to the end to hear valuable advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, highlighting the need for discernment and self-care.

If you love supporting local businesses, please share this episode with a friend. Spreading the word is a powerful way to help our community thrive.

Connect with Five07 ⁠here⁠

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠here⁠

This episode was brought to you by Conejo Valley Gift Guide. Shop small, shop local, Shop Conejo Valley this holiday season. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list from local businesses you love at ⁠ConejoValleyGiftGuide.com⁠.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Ep. 18: In today's episode, you’ll meet Giana and Antonio, the charming couple and owners behind Made in Italy Bistro in Thousand Oaks.

Get ready for a heartfelt discussion about authenticity, customer connection, and the joys and challenges of entrepreneurship in the culinary world!

Giana and Antonio share insights from their educational backgrounds, the vital role of community, and how the pandemic reshaped their business.

They reflect on their relationship and the restaurant's evolution, highlighting their commitment to providing a genuine Italian dining experience.

If you love supporting local businesses, please share this episode with a friend. Spreading the word is a powerful way to help our community thrive.

Connect with Made In Italy Bistro here

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries here

This episode was brought to you by Conejo Valley Gift Guide. Shop small, shop local, Shop Conejo Valley this holiday season. Find the perfect gift for everyone on your list from local businesses you love at ConejoValleyGiftGuide.com.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send us a DM - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.