The Crown City

Breakthru Fit Studios’ Michelle and Phil Dozois join the show to talk about their personal fitness journeys, owning Pasadena’s premier fitness club, and repositioning their business in the age of covid.

Following the mandatory lockdowns, Michelle and Phil quickly pivoted to streaming classes so that people could maintain their physical and mental health during such a challenging time. In December 2020, they were forced to formally close the gym they worked so hard to build, but their story did not end there. They regrouped and opened Breakthru Fit Studio at 2700 East Foothill Boulevard in 2021 all the while continuing their popular streaming options to reach fitness enthusiasts around the world.

Michelle and Phil’s story is one of overcoming countless obstacles so they could focus on their core mission of improving the lives of their clients.

For more information on Breakthru Fit Studios, please visit them at www.breakthrufitness.com and follow Michelle and Phil on social media platforms.

Special Guests: Michelle and Phil Dozois

To support the podcast, please subscribe, leave a review on your favorite podcasting app or sponsor us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thecrowncitypodcast

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Greetings Tour’s Victor Ving joins the podcast to talk about how his fascination with graffiti growing up in Queens eventually led him to pack up an RV in 2015 to tour and install their now-famous postcard style public art throughout the country.

When Covid hit, his family decided to park the RV and make Pasadena their new home and they have already made their mark on our community. They have murals in Pasadena (Highlight Coffee at 2071 Lincoln Avenue) and Altadena (Altadena Hardware at 849 East Mariposa Street), just closed a successful campaign for a new installation in Altadena, and are on the hunt for the perfect wall in our beloved city.

For more information and to support Greetings Tour, please visit them at www.greetingstour.com and follow them on all social media platforms.

Special Guest: Victor Ving

To support the podcast, please leave a review on your favorite podcasting app or sponsor us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thecrowncitypodcast

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Brandon Lamar joins the podcast for a great conversation about youth engagement, serving the community, and his decision to run for Pasadena City Council.

We also talk about the most important issues impacting his neighborhood, his service as Chair of Pasadena’s Human Relations Commission, and his vision for one Pasadena.

For more information and to support Brandon, please visit him at www.BrandonforPasadena.com or www.bdlamar.org and follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

Special Guest: Brandon Lamar

To support the podcast, please leave a review on your favorite podcasting app or sponsor us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thecrowncitypodcast

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Hood Liberation’s Nadia Elhawary joins the podcast to talk about her experience growing up in Pasadena, why she became an educator and counselor, and how the social justice movement of 2020 inspired her to further get involved in her community.

In a far-reaching conversation, we talk about race and inequality and how we need to have these important conversations with open minds and love.

Believing that we need support and lift up businesses of color, Nadia has been especially focused on economic opportunity and equality through events like 626 Dena Day in June and Black Friday Market, which will be held on November 26th.

For more information and support her and Hood Liberation’s work, please visit www.hoodliberation.com and follow them on Instagram.

Special Guest: Nadia Elhawary

To support the podcast, please leave a review on your favorite podcasting app or sponsor us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thecrowncitypodcast

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Pasadena Picnic Co. Co-Owner Lena Kelly joins the show to talk about creating unique locally inspired outdoor experiences for her clients, entrepreneurialism, and Mama Made, the non-profit she founded to support fellow mother-lead businesses or organizations.

Lena is a native of Texas but has embraced living in the Pasadena and Altadena areas. She has put her experience in communications and event planning to incredible use launching two impactful projects.

During the conversation, Lena shares some of the best advice she has received as well as what is in the future for Pasadena’s most unique event planners.

For more information and to book your next event with Pasadena Picnic Co., please visit www.pasadenapicnicco.com, and to support Mama Made, please visit them at www.mama-made.org. Follow them both on Instagram.

Special Guest: Lena Kelly

To support the podcast, please leave a review on your favorite podcasting app or sponsor us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com or www.patreon.com/thecrowncitypodcast.

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Journalist Justin Chapman joins the show to talk about how his journey of covering the news started when he made some himself when he was elected to the Altadena Town Council at just 19 years old.

A native of Altadena, Justin was a child actor and was featured in commercials, television shows, and movies.

These varied experiences prepared him for a career covering local news.  He was a contributing writer and reporter for the Pasadena Weekly before joining Pasadena Now in 2019.

In 2020, he launched the television program Well Read with Justin Chapman, and in April 2021, NewsRap Local with Justin Chapman.  The monthly show, which is available on Pasadena Media’s TV channel and streaming apps (and YouTube), is a hyper-local news talk show that features noteworthy stories and a featured guest.

For the latest on Justin’s work, please visit him at justindouglaschapman.com and follow him on Instagram and Twitter.

Special Guest: Journalist Justin Chapman

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Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin joins the show to discuss how a trip to his local fire station as a young child would inspire him to pursue a career in helping others.  He would go on to become a firefighter paramedic, a helicopter flight paramedic, and an accomplished department administrator.

Before coming to Pasadena, Chief Augustin was the Deputy Fire Chief for the Sacramento Fire Department, a position that put him in charge of 720 sworn and civilian employees, the daily operations of 24 fire stations, and an annual budget of more than $135 million.

Not knowing a single person in our city, Chief Augustin embraced the challenge and opportunity to lead the Pasadena Fire Department with an enthusiastic leadership style built around a passion for serving his community.

Special Guest: Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin

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Episode 16: Rick Cole, the Executive Director of the Congress for the New Urbanism joins the show to discuss his work in addressing housing challenges, the importance of knowing and understanding our past, and how we need to create a foundation for a stronger Pasadena.

Rick served as a member of the Pasadena City Council for twelve years and was Vice Mayor from 1990-1992 and Mayor from 1992-1994.  He is a recognized city administrator and executive that was the City Manager of Azusa, Ventura, and Santa Monica.  In addition, he served as Los Angeles Deputy Mayor for Budget and Innovation.

Link to Rick Cole’s article “How a Black Pasadena Family’s Challenge to White-only Real Estate Covenants Culminated in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Landmark Ruling Outlawing them Across America.” in Pasadena Now, dated May 29, 2021 Link: https://bit.ly/3yewN8u

Special Guest: Rick Cole, Executive Director of the Congress for the New Urbanism and Former Pasadena Councilmember, Vice Mayor, and Mayor

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Trevon Sailor, Founder and CEO of Sailor’s Brew Coffee, joins the show to discuss his voyage and the origins of his family-owned single-origin coffee business.

Like Sailor’s Brew Coffee, Trevon has navigated an unconventional course.  He is a Pasadena native that grew up in the Altadena area.  Following years of service as an Airborne Ranger and Police Officer, Trevon is now dedicated to creating a business around quality coffee and an experience that can motivate and inspire his customers.

To purchase their coffee, please visit them at https://www.sailorsbrewcoffee.com/. Follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/sailorsbrewcoffee/ and download their free app for a daily cup of motivation.

Special Guest: Sailor’s Brew Coffee Founder and CEO Trevon Sailor

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Max Levine, Co-Founder and CEO of Nico joins the show to talk about his journey into real estate investment, the problem with our current approach to housing, and how Nico helps build equity for its residents and community.

Nico Echo Park is a public benefit real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in rent-stabilized multifamily and mixed-use property.  Considered to be the world’s first neighborhood real estate investment trust, Nico Echo Park offers local and non-local investors the ability to become shareholders in the properties it owns.

For more information and to get a copy of their offering circular and their 2020 Neighborhood Impact Report, please visit them at https://mynico.com and follow them on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/nicoechopark.

Special Guest: Nico Co-Founder and CEO Max Levine

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