If Episode 27 was the reflection, this is the execution.

In this follow-up episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, we turn founder lessons into real systems for small business growth in 2026.

This conversation is for women in business and Latina entrepreneurs who are ready to:

• Implement operational systems • Use AI strategically (without losing their voice) • Build contracts that protect growth • Structure decision-making frameworks • Align embodiment with leadership

We break down practical business strategy for 2026 — from backend systems to founder discipline — so you can scale without chaos.

This isn't hustle culture. This is structure, clarity, and sustainable growth.

If you're serious about evolving from founder energy into CEO leadership, this episode gives you the blueprint.

Start with Episode 27 for context, then implement here.

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

If you're a Latina entrepreneur or woman founder navigating growth, 2025 likely changed you.

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, we break down the real founder lessons from 2025 — the data we ignored, the intuition we overrode, the systems we delayed building, and the boundaries we finally learned to hold.

This is a behind-the-scenes conversation about what it actually takes to grow a small business as a woman in business balancing vision, spirituality, leadership, and strategy.

We talk about: • Founder decision fatigue • When intuition beats analytics — and when it doesn't • Revenue plateaus and system gaps • The difference between being busy and being strategic • Why many Latina business owners delay operational structure

If you're preparing for 2026 and want to build smarter instead of just working harder, this episode will ground you.

And in Part 2, we move from reflection into implementation — systems, AI, contracts, and business strategy for 2026.

Listen to Episode 28 next to learn how to apply these lessons.

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

From ESL Teacher to Empowered Brand Photographer: Carina Flechner on Confidence, Visibility & Building a Purpose-Driven Business

In this inspiring episode, we sit down with San Diego-based personal branding photographer and empowerment coach, Carina Fleckner, to explore her powerful journey from a 23-year career in education to capturing the true essence of women through branding photography.

Carina shares how live music, a secondhand camera, and a desire for purpose-led work ignited her pivot into personal brand photography, and how she now helps women step into their power, reclaim their confidence, and show up unapologetically in their business and visibility.

What we talk about in this episode:

• How Carina transitioned from teaching to full-time photography

• Why confidence is the foundation of your personal brand

• How photography can help you embody your next-level identity

• The importance of showing your values in business — even when it feels scary

• Behind the scenes of her new initiative, The EmpowerHer Project

• Real talk on activism, alignment, and attracting clients with shared values

Whether you're building your brand, prepping for a photoshoot, or learning to be more visible in your purpose-led business, this episode is a must-listen.

✨ Connect with Carina on Instagram: @carinafleckner_photography 📸 Click here to download Carina's Signature Brand Shoot Method - a brand shoot prep guide

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

Love, Money & Legacy: Chris on Balancing Business, Creative Purpose & the Future of Finance

In this refreshing episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, we sit down with Chris, co-founder of Surje Coffee and Valerie's partner, for a soulful and smart conversation on navigating love, business, and the evolving economy.

Chris is the first masculine energy to grace the podcast, bringing grounded wisdom, intuitive financial literacy, and a unique blend of creativity and discipline. From how to survive building a business with your fiancé to why everyone needs a "tripod life" (doing what you love, who you are, and how you earn) — this episode is full of gems.

☕ Highlights from this episode:

• The unexpected intersection of love and entrepreneurship

• How Chris balances being a founder, full-time employee, and actor

• Why financial literacy is an act of self-responsibility and legacy

• The power of plant medicine in conflict resolution (yes, really)

• What the history of money teaches us about adapting to economic change

• A surprising question that left even Chris speechless: What has entrepreneurship taught you about love?

This conversation blends money mindset, relational maturity, and creative ambition in a way that's rarely heard especially from the male perspective. A must-listen for founders building with heart, purpose, and partnership.

Grab your favorite drink, hit play, and get ready to reflect on your own relationship with business, purpose, and the people you love.

👥 Connect with Chris & Surge Coffee on Instagram

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, Valerie sits down with her fiancé and business partner, Christopher Yian, to unpack one big question: what does it mean to make money human again?

Chris opens up about his 10-year college journey, his learning with Bitcoin and financial freedom, and how he turned a traditional Environmental Health & Safety career into a path of entrepreneurship, curiosity, and purpose.

Together, they explore the deeper layers of money, mindset, and meaning—how our relationship with wealth can shift from stress and survival into sovereignty and empowerment. From the history of currency to the rise of Bitcoin and their lessons as founders of Surje Coffee, this conversation blends finance, freedom, and flow—with a side of cafecito, of course.

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

01:21 Chris's Background and Career Journey

05:24 Early Entrepreneurial Ventures

10:04 Discovering Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

13:05 Understanding Money and Currency

19:18 The Creation and Impact of Bitcoin

22:53 Understanding Bitcoin: Digital Gold

24:11 Bitcoin as a Form of Freedom

24:51 Global Impact of Bitcoin

28:22 Personal Empowerment Through Bitcoin

32:03 Getting Started with Bitcoin

35:53 The Future of Blockchain Technology

37:51 Entrepreneurship and Money Lessons

40:24 The Journey of Surje Coffee

41:32 Building a Community-Focused Business

45:49 Conclusion and Next Steps

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

In this powerful episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, Arlene and Valerie share their most recent ayahuasca experiences—Arlene's third journey and Valerie's fourth. Together, they open up about the sacred healing, grief release, ancestral wisdom, and spiritual downloads they received while working with a male shaman for the first time.

From navigating ancestral lineage grief, radical acceptance, and Reiki self-healing to visions of Egyptian goddess energy, light codes, and even conversations with beloved pets who've passed on—this episode dives deep into the transformational power of plant medicine.

We also discuss: ✨ How to prepare for ayahuasca safely & respectfully ✨ The importance of shamans, energy, and safe group settings ✨ Debunking myths around "the purge" ✨ Quantum lessons, coding, and what it means to truly listen to your body ✨ Balancing masculine & feminine energies during ceremony

Whether you're curious about ayahuasca, exploring plant medicine as a spiritual tool, or seeking stories of radical healing, this episode offers heartfelt reflections, practical insights, and a reminder of the sacredness of this medicine.

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

00:00 Introduction to Esper Coffee Chats

00:51 Ayahuasca: A Sacred Journey

01:54 Preparing for the Ayahuasca Experience

03:28 Valerie's Fourth Ayahuasca Experience

05:08 Emotional Release and Healing

12:20 Ancestral Healing and Radical Acceptance

16:21 Masculine and Feminine Energies in Ayahuasca

19:36 Valerie's Reflections and Insights

21:20 Val's Third Ayahuasca Journey

28:42 Reflecting on Past Experiences with Ayahuasca

29:01 Grieving and Healing Through Ayahuasca

29:34 Ayahuasca Surgery: A Unique Experience

30:33 The Emotional Purge and Supportive Environment

32:10 Lessons from Ayahuasca: Self-Care and Boundaries

34:04 Post-Ceremony Reflections and Insights

48:37 The Importance of Safe Ayahuasca Practices

51:47 Final Thoughts and Future Plans

In this special Espiritu Coffee Chats episode, hosts Arlene Salcedo and Valerie Urrutia celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month by highlighting the voices of three inspiring Latina entrepreneurs who are transforming business, community, and culture in San Diego and beyond.

Meet our powerhouse guests:

• Jazmine Conejo, founder of Biz Bitches Community, who shares her journey of building authentic communities for women entrepreneurs while creating systems that empower female-led businesses. Connect with Jazmin Instagram @jazminmcornejo @bizzbitchcommunity and on her website (here)

• Pam Covarrubias, creator of the Café con Pam Podcast and founder of the Unmute & Reclaim Method, who talks about her decade-long work uplifting Latinas, first-gens, and women of color through storytelling, coaching, and healing practices. Connect with Pam on social @cafeconpampodcast and on her website Cafe Con Pam

• Laura Gonzalez, founder of With Realty Purpose, who is paving the way for mission-driven Latina leadership in real estate by centering purpose, representation, and impact. connect with Laura Here or follow Instagram (here)

This 90-minute conversation is packed with wisdom on entrepreneurship, empowerment, Latina leadership, spirituality, identity, and breaking generational barriers. Each guest offers real, vulnerable insights into how they've navigated challenges as Latinas in business, while creating inclusive spaces where women of color can thrive.

Whether you're an entrepreneur, community leader, or simply looking for inspiration, this Hispanic Heritage Month podcast will leave you feeling empowered, proud, and connected to a growing movement of Latina thought leaders shaping the future.

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

Podcast Episode Chapters:

00:00 Introduction to Speedy Through Coffee Chats

00:15 the Powerhouse Latinas 01:08 Conversation with Jasmine: Building Biz Bitches Community

02:59 Jasmine's Journey: From Event Planning to Sexy Systems

08:59 Navigating Identity and Community as a Mixed Latina

34:42 Pam Var Joins the Conversation

37:11 Pam's Podcast Journey and Inspiration

41:31 The Unmute and Reclaim Method

42:16 Cultural Impact and Personal Journey

43:09 Empowering Latinas Through Voice and Truth

43:36 The Five Phases of the Unmute and Reclaim Method

44:48 Personal Reflections and Cultural Conditioning

46:39 Creating Community Through Podcasts

49:38 Rapid Fire Questions with Pam

59:52 Introducing Laura and Her Real Estate Journey

01:02:33 Purpose and Cultural Values in Real Estate

01:05:54 Challenges and Overcoming Obstacles in Real Estate

01:09:54 Building Community and Relationships

01:15:05 Fun Rapid Fire Questions with Laura

01:19:48 Closing Remarks and Where to Find Laura

In this candid catch-up, Arlene and Valerie open up about closing Surge Coffee's brick-and-mortar shop, the lessons learned from running a San Diego coffee business, and how that journey sparked a deeper commitment to community events, wellness practices, and holistic entrepreneurship.

They share stories of resilience, including hosting the first drag show in East County San Diego, navigating health challenges, and finding new opportunities through real estate investing and spiritual community building.

Tune in for real talk on:

• What it takes to run (and close) a coffee shop business in San Diego

• Why community events, sound baths, and yoga are the future of wellness gatherings

• The challenges and joys of nonprofit work and fundraising for BIPOC and LGBTQ-owned businesses

• How Arlene and Valerie are preparing for fall/winter 2025 with new partnerships, retreats, and projects

• For Arlene's 10 Week Human Design Certification Fall Cohort, doors are open to sign up! Click here for information

This episode is equal parts inspiring, emotional, and packed with lessons for anyone navigating business pivots, healing work, and building sustainable communities.

Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

• Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

• Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

• Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, hosts Arlene Salcedo (founder of Luna Soul Wellness, spiritual mentor, healer, and Ayurvedic practitioner) and Valerie Urrutia (owner of Surge Coffee) dive into the wisdom of Ayurveda to explore Vata season—the transitional time from late summer into fall and winter.

Arlene shares how Vata season, governed by air and space, influences our body, mind, and emotions. From allergies and restlessness to scattered thinking and anxious energy, this season can leave us feeling ungrounded. But Ayurveda provides us with timeless tools to restore balance.

Together, Arlene and Valerie walk you through practical daily rituals such as: ✨ Ayurvedic cleanses to clear the body after summer's intensity ✨ Abhyanga oil massage to soothe the nervous system and nourish the skin ✨ Grounding foods like root vegetables, soups, and stews to bring warmth and stability ✨ Breathwork practices (box breathing, alternate nostril breathing, Ujjayi) to calm and focus the mind ✨ Spiritual rituals—journaling, moon gazing, candlelight meditation, and ancestral connection—to honor the deeper meaning of the season

This episode will leave you inspired to slow down, ground yourself, and embrace the spiritual invitation of Vata season: to release what no longer serves and prepare for renewal.

• How does the changing season affect your energy, mood, and routines?

• What would shift if you slowed down and created more grounding rituals in your daily life?

• Which Ayurvedic practices—food, breathwork, or body rituals—could help you feel more rooted this fall?

• What do you need to release in this season of letting go to create space for new beginnings?

• How can you honor both your body and your spirit during seasonal transitions?

This conversation is especially resonant for:

• Busy professionals & parents – navigating the chaos of back-to-school and seasonal change.

• Spiritual seekers – craving simple, holistic practices that connect them back to nature's rhythms.

• Wellness enthusiasts – curious about Ayurveda and its daily rituals for balance and health.

• Highly creative or anxious types – who tend to feel scattered or restless when seasons shift.

• Community-minded listeners – who value spiritual practices, cultural wisdom, and collective healing.

At its core, this episode offers grounding tools for a restless mind, nourishment for the body, and soulful rituals that reconnect us to the cycles of nature.

Click Here Ayurveda 3 Doshas Episode

📢 Join the conversation! Share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]

In this episode of Espiritu Coffee Chats, hosts Arlene Salcedo, spiritual mentor, healer, and founder of Luna Soul Wellness, and Valerie Urrutia, owner of Surge Coffee, dive deep into the transformative world of Human Design.

Arlene opens up about her journey with Human Design—from discovering her true energy type as a Projector to weaving this system into her spiritual business and family life. She also shares the vision behind her Human Design Certification Program, designed for coaches, healers, therapists, and entrepreneurs who want to embody alignment, expand their spiritual toolbox, and diversify their income.

Listeners will learn about the five Human Design energy types, how to use authority for decision-making, and why Human Design is often called the "user manual for life." Arlene explains how her certification goes beyond theory—offering live teachings, a supportive community, and an immersive mastermind retreat where students practice live readings, gain media assets, and step fully into their role as practitioners.

✨ If you've ever wanted to add Human Design to your practice—or simply understand yourself on a deeper level—this episode will inspire you to explore what alignment can truly do for your life and business.

• What would change in your business if you honored your Human Design instead of following one-size-fits-all strategies?

• Which of the five energy types do you feel most connected to, and why?

• How could learning Human Design bring more clarity to your relationships, parenting, or personal growth?

• What might be possible if you had a certification that allowed you to serve others in a whole new way?

• Are you ready to embody the version of yourself that feels most authentic—and help others do the same?

This episode speaks directly to those who are ready for deeper clarity and alignment:

• Seekers of Self-Discovery – craving tools that help them truly understand who they are.

• Heart-Led Entrepreneurs – tired of hustle culture and looking for ways to grow their business authentically.

• Coaches & Healers – ready to add Human Design to their work and support clients on a whole new level.

• Curious Learners – drawn to astrology, Ayurveda, or plant medicine and ready to explore how it all connects.

• Community Builders – desiring connection, inclusivity, and support as they step into their purpose.

This episode offers a pathway toward freedom from confusion, a reminder of your unique gifts, and inspiration to live—and lead—from a place of alignment.

Human Design Certification Program Fall Cohort 2025 & Immersive Mastermind Retreat Information:

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/human-design-certification

Human Design Certification Program Scholarship Application: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdCscOznX4ZXYTaqQsKy8Od0ScuCWDmPAZ8pmASS6H-dR7BZQ/viewform?usp=send_form

Book a 15-minute clarity call with Arlene https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/service-page/human-design-school-15-min-info-call?referral=service_list_widget

📢 Join the conversation! Please share your thoughts on Instagram @espiritucoffeechats and let us know how you feel about the future of trade policies.

🎧 Listen now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform!

Subscribe, rate, review, and share this episode with someone you love!

How to connect with us:

Social media

Arlene Salcedo: https://www.instagram.com/lunasoulwellness/

Valerie Urrutia: https://www.instagram.com/surjecoffee/

Websites:

https://surjecoffee.com/

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/

https://surjecoffee.com/pages/coffee-subscriptions

https://www.lunasoulwellness.com/apothecary

Email:

Arlene: [email protected]

Valerie: [email protected]

Podcast: [email protected]