Twin City Tales Podcast

In this episode of Twin City Tales Podcast, we sit down with Josh Heriot, Minnesota artist, graphic designer, and founder of Heriot Creative, to talk about creativity, grit, and growing up with humble beginnings in northern Minnesota.

Josh shares his journey from a small cabin upbringing near the Iron Range to building a successful creative career. We talk about his roots, his artistic family, his father’s influence, life without modern comforts growing up, and how those early experiences shaped his work ethic and creative perspective. We also dive into his work as a graphic designer, artist, and entrepreneur, plus the unique path that included dog sled racing and a deep connection to Minnesota’s outdoors.

If you love hearing real stories about talented Minnesota creatives, artists, entrepreneurs, and people with unforgettable backgrounds, this episode is for you.

Josh’s official background includes nearly 30 years in design, a graphic design degree from Bemidji State University, and the launch of Heriot Creative in 2008. Heriot Creative also describes itself as a father-son creative team rooted in northern Minnesota.

🔗 Josh's Business: https://heriotcreative.com/

Get connected with Josh: https://www.facebook.com/jheriot/

This podcast is powered by Twin City Heating Air and Electric. https://twincityheatingandair.com/

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In this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong sits down with Yvette Zona, a Minnesota-based wellness professional, holistic health coach, and leadership mentor, for a conversation about health and wellness, nutrition in our food, leadership, and the life experiences that shaped her perspective.

Yvette is known in the Twin Cities area for her work in health and wellness products, holistic health, and coaching, and this episode explores the ideas, values, and personal journey behind that work. From her upbringing to her thoughts on wellness and leadership, this conversation covers topics that connect personal growth, everyday health, and intentional living.

If you’re interested in health and wellness in Minnesota, nutrition awareness, leadership development, and the story behind a local voice in the wellness space, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation with Yvette Zona.

Connect with Yvette Zona:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yvette.zona/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yvettezona/

This podcast is powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric https://twincityheatingandair.com/

In this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong sits down with Tom Sommers, a Minnesota real estate professional, music photographer, and creative personality for a conversation about real estate, leadership, music, photography, and the experiences that shaped his journey.

Tom is publicly known as a Coldwell Banker Realty agent serving the Twin Cities and South Metro, with a long track record in residential real estate across Minnesota. Alongside his work in real estate, he is also active in the music scene through concert photography, vinyl culture, and short-form music content. His public profiles and credited photos connect him with live music and artists around the Twin Cities and beyond.

Tom also shares his love of vinyl through his recurring “What’s on your turntable?” videos, where he talks about albums he’s spinning and the music that has influenced him over the years. His photography has also been publicly credited by Hairball, one of Minnesota’s best-known rock tribute bands, helping show his connection to the local and regional music community.

This episode explores the perspectives, lessons, and passions that have shaped Tom’s path — from business and leadership to music, photography, and the relationships he has built along the way.

If you’re interested in Minnesota real estate, Twin Cities music, concert photography, leadership, vinyl records, and the story behind a local professional with a passion for music and community, this episode offers a thoughtful conversation with Tom Sommers.

Connect with Tom Sommers:

Website: https://tomsommersrealestate.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TomSommersColdwellBankerBurnet/

Facebook (personal/music posts): https://www.facebook.com/tommy.sommers.16/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommysommers/

This podcast is powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric:

https://twincityheatingandair.com/

On this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong (owner of Twin City Heating, Air & Electric) sits down with Pam Linton—a longtime traditional country performer and entrepreneur who turned life on the road into two thriving brands: her music career and Cotton Patch Boutique.

Pam shares her upbringing and the real-life moments that shaped her voice, her grit, and her path into country music—then walks through how she built a career performing and connecting with audiences over the long haul. From there, she breaks down the “why” behind launching her boutique, how it grew from online sales into a bigger business, and what she’s learned about serving customers, curating style, and staying creative through every season.

You’ll also hear the story behind her record project honoring The Carter Family—including how a record deal came together for her 15-song collection and what it meant to preserve that tradition while still making it her own.

Quick Q&A

Who is Pam Linton?

Pam Linton is a traditional country singer and performer who also runs Cotton Patch Boutique.

What is Cotton Patch Boutique?

Cotton Patch Boutique is Pam’s fashion boutique where she shares curated brands, tour finds, and styling ideas.

What is “Songs of the Carter Family”?

It’s a 15-song tribute collection recorded from the Carter Family catalog and released via New Folk Records announcements and retail listings.

Pam Linton (music): https://pamlinton.com/

Cotton Patch Boutique: https://cottonpatchboutique.com/

Pam Linton Music & Cotton Patch (Linktree): https://linktr.ee/lintonent

This show is powered by Twin City Heating Air and Electric. https://twincityheatingandair.com/contact-us/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Twin%20City%20Tales%20Podcast

In this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong sits down with Troy Thompson—Agency Principal at Pinnacle Insurance Agency of Minnesota in Coon Rapids and founder of Savvital, a virtual professional (VA) agency helping businesses scale with remote talent and modern systems.

Troy shares his real backstory—what shaped him, what he learned coming up, and how those lessons turned into an entrepreneurial “two-track” life: protecting families and businesses through insurance while also helping owners buy back time through delegation, process, and smart operations.

You’ll hear Troy break down:

- Who he is and the experiences that formed his mindset

- Taking over his father’s insurance agency and what it takes to lead a legacy business into the next era

- How Pinnacle Insurance Agency of Minnesota serves clients across Minnesota (and why being independent matters)

- How Savvital was born—the problem it solves, the “why” behind it, and the operational approach that helps businesses scale

- Practical lessons for business owners: building teams, creating repeatable processes, and staying consistent when growth gets uncomfortable

Who is Troy Thompson?

Troy Thompson is the Agency Principal at Pinnacle Insurance Agency of Minnesota and the founder of Savvital, a virtual professional services company.

What is Pinnacle Insurance Agency of Minnesota?

Pinnacle is an independent insurance agency located in Coon Rapids, MN.

What is Savvital?

Savvital provides virtual professional services designed to help businesses scale by pairing human expertise with modern tools (including AI).

Pinnacle Insurance Agency of Minnesota: https://www.pinnacleinsuranceofmn.com/

Savvital: https://www.savvital.us/

This show is powered by Twin City Heating Air and Electric. https://twincityheatingandair.com/contact-us/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=Twin%20City%20Tales%20Podcast

In this episode of Twin City Tales, Wymond sits down with Alex Smythe—service technician at Twin City Heating, Air & Electric and a guy who’s already building wealth through owning multiple properties. Alex opens up about his upbringing, the weight of losing people he loved, and the hard seasons that shaped how he moves through life today.They talk about how he found his way into HVAC, what it’s taught him about responsibility and resilience, and why “showing up” isn’t just a motto—it’s a decision he makes daily, even when life hits hard. From service calls to long-term goals, Alex shares what it looks like to keep working the plan, stay grounded, and build a future with purpose.

This show is powered by ⁠Twin City Heating Air and Electric www.twincityheatingandair.com ⁠

In this episode of Twin City Tales, Wymond sits down with Kris Johnson, co-owner and Director of Operations at Enrichment Skin Solutions—a regenerative aesthetics clinic based in Brooklyn Park.

Kris shares the real story behind building a clinic from the ground up: the discipline it takes to serve clients well, the unseen pressure that comes with entrepreneurship, and how her background in occupational therapy shaped her approach to care and operations.

Twin City Heating, Air & Electric: https://twincityheatingandair.com/

Enrichment Skin Solutions: https://enrichmentskinsolutions.com/

In this episode of Twin City Tales, host Wymond Wong sits down with Marcyves Michel for a powerful and deeply personal conversation about identity, resilience, and choosing your own path.

Marcyves shares his story of being adopted from Haiti as a child, following the widespread devastation that impacted the country in the late 2000s, around the time of the 2010 earthquake. He reflects on what it means to grow up knowing his life was shaped by global events and humanitarian efforts that helped bring him to Grantsburg, Wisconsin.

As he grew older, Marcyves became a standout high school athlete, but he talks candidly about being told by teachers that college would only be possible through an athletic scholarship. Rather than accepting that label, he made the decision not to let sports define his future. He committed himself to his academics, stayed disciplined, and ultimately earned college acceptance through his studies, proving those expectations wrong.

Now 19 years old, Marcyves discusses starting his own business, navigating adulthood early, and learning how to bet on himself even when the odds feel stacked. He also shares how his upbringing, adoption story, and life experiences have shaped the mindset he carries today.

Marcyves is currently attending the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, continuing to build a future rooted in purpose, discipline, and growth.

This episode is powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric.

⁠https://twincityheatingandair.com/⁠

In this episode of Twin City Tales, Wymond sits down with Robin Johnson, owner of High Road Heating, to talk about her personal backstory and how she found her way into the HVAC industry.

Robin shares her journey, the experiences that led her into the trades, and what it was like building a career in an industry she didn’t originally set out to enter. This conversation focuses on her path, perspective, and the moments that shaped her professional life.

High Road Heating (company link):

⁠https://highroadheating.com⁠

Twin City Tales is a podcast focused on real conversations with Twin Cities business owners, leaders, and community members — sharing their stories, backgrounds, and journeys.

This podcast is powered by Twin City Heating, Air & Electric.

⁠https://twincityheatingandair.com⁠

What happens when a high school counselor tells you to lower your expectations? For Jeff Salzbrun, founder of Commercial Equities Group (CEG), it became the rocket fuel that launched a lifelong journey of grit, growth, and multi-million dollar deals.

In this episode of Twin City Tales, Wymond sits down with Jeff Salzbrun to trace his path from running paper routes in Anoka and serving in the military to surviving the "School of Hard Knocks" under mentorship legend John Allen.

Jeff shares raw, unfiltered stories about the reality of building a business from the ground up—including the struggles of his 20s, the mental shift from survival to abundance, and how he uses his success today to mentor the next generation of entrepreneurs.

In this episode, we discuss:

The Power of "No": How Jeff turned being labeled a "slow reader" into a drive to out-work everyone.

The School of Hard Knocks: Lessons learned from working with billionaire developer John Allen.

Abundance vs. Defense: Why successful business owners must stop playing "defense" and start thinking bigger.

Real Estate 101: Jeff explains how he turned one small condo investment into a massive portfolio across several states.

Mentorship: Why Jeff is dedicated to helping young people like Marcus find their path.

About Jeff Salzbrun:

Jeff is the owner of Commercial Equities Group, specializing in representing the "blue-collar" businesses that keep our communities running—plumbers, HVAC companies, and local shops. He is a veteran, a mentor, and a firm believer that where you start doesn't determine where you finish.

Connect with Jeff:

🌐 Website: [http://www.cegspaces.com](http://www.cegspaces.com)

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This episode is powered by Twin City Heating Air and Electric www.twincityheatingandair.com

#RealEstate #Entrepreneurship #Mentorship #SuccessStories #TwinCityTales #BlueCollarSuccess #CommercialRealEstate #Grit #Inspiration