Right After Breakfast

Bianca D'Amico is the founder of Chaparral Studio, a creative and design studio where she makes all kinds of accessories and gifts. She also collaborates with her mother on landscape and garden design. Everything has a very California centric spirit, inspired by nature and LA's culture.

Chaparral Studio is very much a reflection of who Bianca is. Part of it planned, and part of it a result of her genuine self coming through in her work. Graze through her Instagram and you will find three very common themes: Nature, Feminism, and Humor. Oh, and of course her dog Joni Mitchell. From the surface these themes don't seem to have all that much in common. Mixing those together would probably make for something very outside the box. And they do.

Bianca spends most of her time creating stuff that some may call odd and different. A caldron of ideas, passions, interests and imagination. But this is why she has something so special. Bianca has found a blend that doesn't always make sense, and has turned it into child-like curiosity. Her studio is a workshop full of magic and wonder. Things meant to expand your mind, or at least just make you think.

Life can become so monotonous at times. A place where everything and everybody can seem predictable. But Bianca and Chaparral Studio is a breath of fresh air.

Find Bianca Online:

Website - http://chaparral-studio.com/

Facebook - @ChaparralStudio

Instagram - @chaparral_studio

Some Questions I Ask:

• Would you say LA is your main source of inspiration? (6:17)
• How would you describe your sense of humor? (15:00)
• Are you worried about how you're received? (16:40)
• Do you try to make your plants look funny or dorky? (22:44)
• Is there pressure to present yourself on social media in the exact way you want? (27:11)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• Balancing creativity and business
• How sense of humor can play into your brand
• Making your brand personal
• Bringing magic, curiosity, and wonder into your life
• Presenting yourself as genuine as possible

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Puno is a digital entrepreneur who works with her husband Daniel. She is the founder of ILOVECREATIVES, a Craigslist for creative people. PEOPLEMAP, an Instagram marketing tool. And MADEWITHMAP, an Instagram account that celebrates people an their journeys.

Puno just changed her last name to Puno. She's now legally Puno Puno. I feel like I don't have to say much more to explain how cool she is. It's pretty obvious that Puno marches to the beat of her own drum, and that beat is super contagious. She was SO herself the second I met her that I couldn't help but be my honest self too. Something I'd hope I could do no matter what, but it's a tribute to Puno's genuine nature and expressive personality.

This has helped her throughout her career and in all the different projects she has created. Her ability to make people want to connect with her, and connect with her easily, has given her creations a jolt of growth that many people struggle to find. Sometimes the difference between success and the struggle to find success lies in small x-factors. Little ways that our personalities shine through our work, and can cause people to run towards or away from whatever we're doing.

Puno is magnet for people. A natural networker, who makes it seem like more of a lifestyle than a conscious decision. Puno is a doer. Someone who's not afraid to quit her job, work from home, turn down an acquisition offer from Pinterest, and change her last name to her first name. There's only one Puno Puno.

Find Puno Online:

Website - http://www.punodostres.com/

Facebook - @punodostres

Instagram - @punodostres

Twitter - @punodostres

Some Questions I Ask:

• Why is it hard to travel and execute an idea? (17:10)
• How did you balance three different creative endeavors at the same time? (25:36)
• What have the different projects you do brought to your life? (28:17)
• How would you advise someone to become a great networker and meet great people? (29:54)
• How do network but not come across as if you're using the person? (31:04)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• Balancing multiple creative projects successfully
• Keeping the work in your life fresh and in line with your lifestyle
• How to create a great network of people in your life naturally
• When ignore your ego and do the right thing for yourself
• Tips to working with your partner

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Toshi Yanagi is an in-house band member of ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live", playing guitar as well as one of the characters in the show. He also plays a monthly performance with his band Shogun Warrior at The Baked Potato in Los Angeles. There is no better place to feel Toshi's standout guitar to its fullest than at this live venue!

Toshi grew up in a family of music. Something he would describe as a blessing, but also an environment of high pressure that was centered around Classical music. The problem was that Toshi never really cared for Classical music. As a young man growing up in Japan, he fell in love with rock music and moved to the U.S. to pursue that passion. He landed in San Fransisco and quickly learned the difficulties of having to deal with a language barrier. But while this was a struggle at times, the ability to be a musician was comforting for him and gave him a language that everybody could understand.

Toshi used the language of his guitar, and it lead him to LA where he went to school and eventually worked his way into a successful music career. The truth is that the music industry is tough, a professor even once told him that it would take 10 years to find stable work. Something that Toshi didn't pay much attention to back then, but looking back realizes how true those words may have been. It did take a long time, and it wasn't easy. But it was something he loved to do, and the journey was successful because of that fact.

Find Toshi Online:

Website - http://www.toshiyanagimusic.net/

Facebook - @ToshiYanagiMusic

Instagram - @toshiyanagimusic

Twitter - @Toshi_Yanagi

Some Questions I Ask:

• Do you think it's important to teach kids music in a certain type of way? (04:00)
• Was there one gig that really got the ball rolling for your music career? (15:07)
• What is it like being on the Jimmy Kimmel show. How do you play? (18:47)
• What would you say to someone younger trying to pursue the music industry? (22:31)
• How have you brought music into your household with your daughters? (24:52)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• Being raised in a musical family with high expectations
• How the language barrier can be so hard to overcome
• The importance of being ready and taking advantage of an opportunity
• Why people say it usually takes 10 years to find a stable job in the music industry
• How much music can bring to your life, even when it's not your career

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Lolo Santosa is the founder of Toko-Toko, an online and pop-up shop. Their shop offers Indonesian brands that are created and based on Sustainable and Fair Trade principles. Products range from fashion, home goods and accessories. They currently work with artisans in Jogjakarta and Flores to create their in-house brand Martini and Milk.

Lolo spoke to her father when she went back home to Indonesia. Her family is from an island called Java, and although she had been living in the US a long time she felt like she needed to go back to her roots for clarity. It was clear that the law degree Lolo had achieved in school wasn't feeding her soul. It wasn't giving her the purpose that she desperately was trying to understand. All she knew was that there were little things in her life that were calling her. The environment, sustainable fashion, and the Javanese people that she cared about so deeply.

Lolo asked her father a simple question, "what does it mean for you to be a Javanese?". He responded simply, "being a Javanese means you understand what your mission is in life". From those words sparked an understanding for Lolo about what she was looking for. She was looking for a mission. Something she could be proud of, no matter how difficult it may be. The risk of creating a selfless mission can seem daunting, but it's the pride Lolo feels that keeps her going. I'm sure it's a feeling she would never give up to make her life just a little easier again.

Find Lolo Online:

Website - https://www.tokotoko.us/

Facebook - @tokotokoUS

Instagram - @tokotoko.us

Some Questions I Ask:

• When did you start thinking about sustainability and helping your people from Java? (05:03)
• At what point did things really transition from being enlightened to taking action? (12:20)
• What is the process of how workers get compensated so little for the things we buy? (14:28)
• What are some of the values we can take from your people and bring them to the US? (23:30)
• Do you think other companies, especially big ones, will step up to the plate and help many of these people get treated fairly? (28:00)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• The people of Java, which is an island in Indonesia
• How respecting the environment can directly effect your happiness
• The power of meditation
• How to purchase sustainable products that are supporting the workers
• The anxieties of running your own business, and how to deal with them

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Blythe Hill is the founder and CEO of the Dressember Foundation. Dressember is a month long challenge where you are encouraged to wear a dress or tie during the month of December in order to raise awareness and money toward the issue of sex trafficking.

Blythe did something different. She decided to wear a dress everyday during December. Something that seemed personal and innocent at first, but quickly grew into a trend that spread year by year. At first it was her friends that joined in, and then it was friends of friends. Slowly, a movement started taking off. And then Blythe decided to do something bold.

She decided to tie this movement with a cause she cared about. For her it was human sex trafficking. A topic that she thought she was unqualified for as somebody working in fashion analysis. The truth is that she never really thought that she'd ever be able to help, other than some small $20 donations every month. But she did something that felt right to her and made it into something bigger than her. A movement that has made an impact bigger than Blythe could have ever imagined.

Find Blythe Online:

Website - http://www.dressember.org/

Facebook - officialdressember

Instagram - @dressember

Twitter - @dressember

Some Questions I Ask:

• What was the point where you decided to turn this into a business? (06:08)
• How stressful was it to initially have a full-time job as you were running Dressember? (12:12)
• What have you learned about your strengths and weakness though all this? (16:38)
• How do you decide what input to take in and think hard about? (18:32)
• How have you faced the issue of incorporating men into Drecember? (22:15)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• How to combine a passion with a cause
• Why Dressember has become something so deeply personal for so many
• How to create a movement into a mission
• What it's like to run a business that takes place one month a year
• How to handle criticism

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Travis Marziani works on one of three different businesses. A dance clothing business called BDancewear, his newest business called Performance Nut Butter, and a teacher of e-commerce(internet marketing, creating businesses, and entrepreneurship).

Travis is a great example of the new age internet entrepreneur. Although he does a lot of work from his home, he still manages to found, grow, and run multiple businesses across different industries and platforms. Not to mention he is also a podcast host! Wow, suddenly I feel like I'm underachieving here.

Twenty years ago Travis' career path wouldn't have even made sense. He's only one person, so how is he even able to run so many businesses at once? One business is hard enough to start and succeed at. Well that's where the internet has come into play in so many peoples career lives. Travis is able to go through the steps of starting a business, and maintain that business without dedicating all of his time to it. This has made it possible to gain income from an initial business he created, and then simultaneously start up another business that he is way more passionate about. This gives him room to grow as an entrepreneur and an individual.

In no way is this an easy road though. It's obvious that Travis is not only constantly busy tending to his businesses, but he has had to put his own money on the line to make things happen. It's certainly a life of risk and reward, but it's the life he wants to take a risk on.

Find Travis Online:

Website - https://www.effectiveecommerce.com/

Instagram - @travismarziani

Twitter - @TravisMarz

Some Questions I Ask:

• What was the first success moment you had in entrepreneurship? (11:35)
• Why is Kickstarter important and how have you used it to your advantage? (23:20)
• What are the ways to really get people excited about a product launch? (25:12)
• What are the things that you're not passionate about in your job? (31:08)
• How quickly can you make money off of a new business? (33:55)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• The importance of Ad Words for your business
• Finding your niche
• Connecting with influencers
• The importance of Kickstarter
• Capturing emails and creating Facebook groups

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Agnes Muljadi is a dancer, a social media influencer who works with different brands on their social media presence, and obsessed with having an eco-lifestyle.

I interviewed Agnes in her dance studio where she regularly practices ballet. You could tell that this place was a special one for her. This was her element and her escape. After the interview I was able to watch Agnes go through a full practice, her instructor was there still giving her pointers, but mostly looking proud as she went through the routine. As I continued to watch I noticed Agnes had a focus on her face that brought me back to something we had talked about during the podcast.

Agnes started ballet at a young age. It taught her tremendous dedication and focus, things that have continued to help her throughout her life. When she thinks of competition, she thinks of herself. Being a ballerina, you spend a lot of time looking at a mirror, constantly critiquing and fixing things. It's important that we keep these things positive and healthy, but the focus is on building yourself up. It's when we can take responsibility for our own actions that we can truly help ourselves become successful in whatever we want to accomplish.

Find Agnes Online:

Website - http://www.artsyagnes.com/

Facebook - @artsyagnes

Instagram - @artsyagnes

Twitter - @artsyagnes

Some Questions I Ask:

• Do you feel like ballet hurt your friendships or social life? (05:22)
• How many principals from ballet are you able to translate to business? (07:34)
• How did your Instagram page grow to where it is now? (11:17)
• What is your process for managing your brand and everything on your schedule? (20:03)
• What tips would you give people on how to build your brand when first starting out? (23:42)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• Making yourself your biggest competition
• The upsides of homeschool and flexibility
• The importance of warming up
• How to create a successful social media platform
• Consistency and the part it plays in success

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Grigore Madikians is the founder of a company called Gaffer & Child, which creates a line of timeless personal care products made in small batches from organic, plant-based ingredients.

I met Grigore with a smile on his face. Everything about him was welcoming. The funny thing was that we didn't even meet up for our podcast interview at his space. It was much more convenient for us to meet in the middle at his brothers apartment, who was gracious enough to let us use his living room as a makeshift studio. Nevertheless, Grigore never once seemed out of his element or distracted from his excitement about having a talk with me.

He loves talking about what he does. Simply put, it brings him happiness in the purest of forms. Through his company he has been able to accomplish two things. Helping people and helping the environment. Grigore wanted to make personal care products because of the importance and impact they had on his life from the time he was little. But that wasn't enough. Grigore wanted Gaffer & Child to reduce its impact on the environment as well. I can only hope that others with ambition and power in the future will jump at the opportunity to do what's right. It's one thing to be willing to do the right thing, but it's another to pursue it.

Find Grigore Online:

Website - https://www.gafferandchild.com/

Facebook - @gafferandchild

Instagram - @gafferandchild

Twitter - @gafferandchild

Some Questions I Ask:

• What does Gaffer & Child mean and how did you get to that name? (04:27)
• Have you always had a passion for self grooming? (11:42)
• Are all of your products vegan? (16:50)
• So even through all this you still have a separate full time job? (26:42)
• Whats the time frame from when you launched till you noticed momentum building? (28:38)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• What a Gaffer is
• The importance of self grooming for success
• How running the empty streets in the morning can change your business
• How a small decision from one person can change everything
• Why you should get involved if you complain

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Jared Mandell is the founder of a company call JB Mandell Woodworking. Creating anything out of wood that you can imagine by hand.

Picking a favorite interview is an impossible task for me. But speaking with Jared was particularly special because I related to it so closely. Like Jared, I came from a family with parents who had different religious and political backgrounds. Although positives and negatives can come out of that situation, each child handles it differently. Jared ended up choosing a Christian lifestyle and was drawn to the religion because it stood for something bigger than himself, and offered him a sense of community.

As Jared's story unfolds he talks about the process of going from a religious man to a spiritual man, while keeping community and purpose in his life. From his tiny wood shop located in his parents garage he balances a life of isolation and meaningful community. During my time with him there were countless people who would drive by and honk, wave, or shout "hi" to Jared as they passed by. The garage may not be permanent once he saves up enough money, but his humble beginnings and core values always will be.

Find Jared Online:

Website - https://www.jbmandellwoodworking.com/

Facebook - @jbmandellwoodworking

Instagram - @jbmandell

Some Questions I Ask:

• Was there always a passion for you to become a pastor? (06:02)
• Did you feel like there was a lack of religion in your life once it was not involved with your career? (11:13)
• How did you learn to work with other people with other view points? (14:50)
• How have you dealt with the isolation of wood working? (18:50)
• What are your views on buying things that are hand made vs. buying from big box stores? (22:32)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• The importance of community
• The process of changing from religious to spiritual
• What it means to stand for something other than yourself
• What you can learn from different types of people
• Something that will force you to grow

Music Composed by John Zarcone

Sarah Comer is the founder of Inspire-Aspire Be The Career Change. A website that features interviews with women who are using their careers to change the world.

Most people who are willing to sacrifice almost everything for their dreams have at least one defining moment where their backs are against the wall. A situation that looks bleak and hopeless. It's in these moments that some think the end is near for the dream they've been working so hard for. But from this dirt has bloomed the most amazing stories of changing circumstance and success. Some of these stories have come from the interviews that Sarah herself has conducted. She calls it the point of resistance.

Sarah has seen her fair share of these moments as well. Not one, not two, but multiple times when the door to her vision and dream seemed to be slammed shut. But somehow there was always something that came to the rescue. This may be an episode where you question luck and serendipity, and contemplate the power of putting all your energy into your goals.

Find Sarah Online:

Website - http://www.bethecareerchange.com/

Facebook - @bethecareerchange

Instagram - @inspireaspire

Twitter - inspireaspire_

Some Questions I Ask:

• Do you think a lot of people go through a quarter life crisis? (05:07)
• How often were you conducting interviews? (10:45)
• Are there any overarching themes or tips that you could share from your interviews? (18:14)
• How important is it to purposefully step outside of your comfort zone? (20:32)
• How would you advise somebody to go out and attack what they want to do? (30:38)

In This Episode, You Will Learn About:

• Why you need to know how people do things and not just what they do
• The quarter life crisis
• The point of resistance
• A lesson about false fears
• The importance of being your natural and authentic self

Music Composed by John Zarcone