Rebellious Times Podcast

Calister Maloney is the Co-Founder of MedCore Digital, a healthcare-focused digital marketing agency dedicated to helping medical practices build stronger online visibility, attract more patients, and establish long-term digital authority. His work combines healthcare industry expertise with modern marketing strategies designed specifically for providers operating in an increasingly competitive digital landscape.

Based in Dubai, Calister leads an internationally distributed team that leverages AI, automation, and human expertise to deliver scalable marketing solutions for healthcare organizations. His approach emphasizes trust, efficiency, and measurable business outcomes while challenging traditional perceptions of offshore agency models.

Travis Laws is the President of WIN Warehouse, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting excess corporate inventory with nonprofit organizations that can use those products to better serve their communities. By combining logistics expertise with a purpose-driven mission, WIN Warehouse helps reduce waste while making essential goods more affordable for charities across the United States.

Under Travis's leadership, WIN Warehouse continues to modernize its operations through AI-powered inventory management, product data capture, and innovative supply chain practices. His focus is on building scalable systems that create value for businesses, nonprofits, and the communities they support.

Usman Sheikh is the Founder and CEO of Agentive, an AI-powered sales intelligence platform built to help revenue teams identify buying signals, streamline sales workflows, and improve productivity. Agentive combines artificial intelligence with deep sales expertise to help organizations focus more time on meaningful customer engagement and less on administrative work.

Before founding Agentive, Usman built a diverse career spanning architecture, technology, enterprise software, and go-to-market strategy. Today, he is passionate about helping B2B organizations navigate the rapid evolution of AI while ensuring technology enhances—not replaces—the human relationships that drive successful sales.

Justin Davis is the Founder of Eleven Dunbar, a community built around meaningful human connection, curiosity, and personal growth. Before launching Eleven Dunbar, Justin spent more than two decades building technology startups, leading product and go-to-market teams, and contributing to multiple successful acquisitions across the enterprise software industry.

Today, Justin focuses on helping entrepreneurs and professionals reconnect with purpose, authenticity, and community. His work explores the intersection of technology, leadership, emotional well-being, and what it means to remain deeply human in an increasingly AI-driven world.

Where a business is located shouldn’t determine the opportunities available to it. Yet for many entrepreneurs around the world, perception can be just as challenging as competition. In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast, I sat down with Daniel Okafor, Founder and CEO of Brandoxel Media, to discuss building a digital marketing agency in Nigeria, winning clients internationally, and inspiring the next generation of African entrepreneurs.

Building a digital marketing agency in Los Angeles takes more than marketing expertise. It requires persistence, relationships, and the ability to adapt as clients and technology evolve. In this episode of the Rebellious Times Podcast, I sat down with Patty Ross, Founder and CEO of Golden State Marketing, to discuss her journey from journalism to entrepreneurship, building an agency from the California wine industry, and why social capital can be just as valuable as financial capital.

Patty never planned to become an agency owner. After beginning her career in journalism, she found herself helping wineries navigate the emerging world of e-commerce and digital marketing. As more businesses asked for support, what started as freelance consulting naturally evolved into a full-service agency. Today, Golden State Marketing helps small businesses grow through social media, email marketing, websites, and digital strategy.

One of the most interesting parts of Patty’s story is how entrepreneurship found her rather than the other way around. Working closely with wineries gave her first-hand experience helping businesses embrace digital channels long before they became standard practice. Those early relationships laid the foundation for what would eventually become Golden State Marketing.

Throughout our conversation, Patty returned to one recurring theme: relationships. Building a business in Los Angeles means competing alongside thousands of talented entrepreneurs. Her advice is simple—invest in people, build your reputation, and never underestimate the value of networking. In a city built on connections, social capital often becomes your greatest competitive advantage.

00:00 Introduction to Patty Ross and Her Journey

02:09 From Journalism to Digital Marketing

04:50 The Evolution of Golden State Marketing

09:30 Focus and Services of Golden State Marketing

13:05 Building a Business in Los Angeles

20:17 Advice for Aspiring Agency Owners

Golden State Marketing focuses on helping small businesses that don’t have the resources for an in-house marketing department. Rather than offering one-size-fits-all solutions, Patty’s team works closely with clients to understand their goals before recommending the right mix of digital marketing services.

Patty’s advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is refreshingly practical. Find your niche, build a clear plan, and don’t expect success to happen overnight. Growing an agency requires consistency, resilience, and a genuine passion for helping clients succeed. As she explains, entrepreneurship is rarely a straight line—but it’s a rewarding journey for those willing to keep learning.

Patty Ross Links:

Joey Waid is the Founder of Phone2Table, an Austin-based startup developing a grocery shopping and meal planning platform that helps consumers make healthier, more informed purchasing decisions. His entrepreneurial journey has been shaped by customer discovery, continuous product testing, and a passion for solving everyday problems through technology.

Based at Capital Factory in Austin, Joey is committed to building products that evolve through real-world feedback rather than assumptions. Alongside growing Phone2Table, he is a strong advocate for balancing entrepreneurship with family, health, and long-term personal fulfillment.

Jeen Filz is the Chief Operating Officer of Bottle Nexus, a leading alcohol e-commerce platform helping beverage brands build direct relationships with consumers while navigating the complexities of the US three-tier distribution system. His career spans premium spirits, brand marketing, Diageo, and digital commerce.

Originally from the Netherlands, Jeen has spent his career helping some of the world's leading beverage brands embrace digital marketing, e-commerce, and data-driven customer engagement. Through Bottle Nexus, he is helping redefine how alcohol brands grow in the digital era.

Daniel Okafor is the Founder and CEO of Brandoxel Media, a Nigerian digital marketing agency helping businesses grow through branding, websites, SEO, and digital marketing strategies. He is passionate about helping organizations solve business challenges while building long-term client relationships based on trust and measurable results.

Alongside growing Brandoxel Media, Daniel is committed to mentoring young entrepreneurs and promoting innovation throughout Nigeria. His mission is to demonstrate that African businesses can compete globally while inspiring others to embrace entrepreneurship, technology, and continuous learning.

Ude Rosales is the Founder of Digital Pulse Innovations, an Austin-based Hispanic marketing agency specializing in websites, SEO, paid advertising, and culturally authentic marketing strategies. Drawing on his experience growing up between Wisconsin and South Texas, he helps businesses build meaningful relationships with both English and Spanish-speaking audiences.

Beyond agency leadership, Ude is passionate about mentorship, community engagement, and creating opportunities for the next generation of marketers. Through Digital Pulse Innovations, he continues the entrepreneurial legacy started by his family's print business while helping organizations grow through authentic, relationship-driven marketing.

Kelsey Gilbert-Kreiling is the Founder and CEO of Week of the Website, a Chicago-based agency that helps businesses launch strategic Squarespace websites through a unique one-week sprint process. With a background in fashion design, hospitality, and digital strategy, she has spent more than a decade helping organizations create websites that support growth, visibility, and customer engagement.

In addition to leading Week of the Website, Kelsey is the creator of Eventually Ticketing, a Squarespace-native event ticketing platform. She is passionate about entrepreneurship, product development, AI-powered workflows, and building businesses that create space for both professional success and family life.