CV Hustle

Hosted by CV Hustle Studios

Business Entrepreneurship

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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EN-US

About the show

A Podcast created to educate, inform & inspire entrepreneurship here in our Coachella Valley. We will be talking to some of the best & brightest entrepreneurs in the Coachella Valley about how they started their journey in entrepreneurship.

Listen to episodes

37 recent

June 12, 2026Episode 341 hr 3 min

EP#34-How Coach Mantanona Builds Champions in the Coachella Valley

Send us Fan MailGetting choked out sounds like a bad day until you understand what it really teaches: calm under pressure, honest feedback, and the confidence that comes from doing hard things on purpose. We sit down with Anthony Mantanona, third-degree black belt and the driving force behind Coachella Valley Jiu Jitsu, to unpack how grappling sports shape people in ways a normal workout never can.We talk about Anthony’s path from a big family and an accidental landing in the Coachella Valley to discovering judo as the closest thing to the jiu-jitsu he saw in the early UFC days. He explains the real differences between judo, Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and wrestling, from throws and pins to points and submissions, and why “earning your belt” is about time, skill, and trust, not shortcuts. Along the way, we dig into competing as a mirror for your habits, why humility is a feature, and how great coaching means adapting to the person in front of you.Anthony also shares how his academy grew through mentorship, community, and the post-COVID reset, plus what it takes to develop kids into high-level athletes, including Palm Desert’s wrestling pipeline and the growth of girls wrestling and women’s jiu-jitsu. We wrap with mindset lessons on injuries, nutrition, and training as “physical chess,” then point you to where you can drop in and try a class.If you enjoy the conversation, subscribe, share it with a friend who needs a new challenge, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of starting jiu-jitsu would be hardest for you?

June 4, 2026Episode 3356 min

EP#33-Death Care Done Right-The ER Funeral Story

Send us Fan MailDeath is guaranteed. Confusion, family conflict, and surprise bills do not have to be. We talk with Ernesto Rosales of ER Funeral Services, a Coachella Valley funeral professional who explains what really happens after someone dies and why the “death care industry” is far more human than most people expect.We get into the behind-the-scenes realities: what “first call” removals look like after hours, why professionalism and dignity matter in those first minutes with a grieving family, and how the coroner’s role changes depending on the situation. Ernesto also breaks down the work inside a funeral home, including licensing in California, embalming and preservation, restorative care, and the tough decision of when a viewing helps healing and when it can do the opposite.Then we shift to the part families feel most: funeral costs, timing, and the stress of making major choices fast. Ernesto makes a clear case for funeral preplanning and pre-need insurance, plus legal tools like durable power of attorney and health care directives so final wishes are honored. You will also hear about modern options like green burial and creative cremation memorials, all framed around one simple idea: “leave good memories, don’t leave problems.”If you want a practical guide to funeral planning, cremation versus burial decisions, and how to protect your family emotionally and financially, hit play. Subscribe, share this with someone you love, and leave a review with the biggest takeaway you want more people to hear.

May 27, 2026Episode 321 hr 1 min

EP#32-Marketing That Makes You Unmissable-How David Rios Turned Attention Into Opportunity

Send us Fan MailA pink billboard with nothing but a face and a name sounds reckless until it turns into TV, brand partnerships, and a thriving Palm Springs business. We’re joined by David Rios, a real estate entrepreneur and interior designer known for bold vacation rental design, high impact marketing, and building experiences that feel like boutique hotels. He walks us through the exact mindset behind spending on visibility, keeping your branding consistent for years, and using social media to stay top of mind without feeling fake.We also dig into the work that happens when the cameras aren’t rolling: learning the fundamentals of design, getting comfortable selling, and stacking multiple income streams so you’re not exposed when the market shifts. David shares how the 2008 crash forced a reset, why creative financing can keep deals alive, and what it really takes to flip properties that stand out in a crowded market like the Coachella Valley.Then the story gets personal and intense. David opens up about building and running his own Palm Springs hotel, The Velvet Rope, and the operational reality of hospitality, staffing, and protecting a luxury guest experience. He also recounts the aftermath of a nearby bombing that caused major damage, created insurance and lender chaos, and tested every ounce of resilience he had.If you care about entrepreneurship, personal branding, Palm Springs real estate, interior design, or hospitality business strategy, this conversation is packed with practical lessons you can use right now. Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

May 19, 2026Episode 3154 min

EP#31-Varraco Coffee & Roasters-How Filipino Single Origin Coffee Became A Coachella Valley Hit

Send us Fan MailA bag of “too strong” coffee turns into a business idea that refuses to quit. We’re sitting down with Rochelle De Villa, Joel Lozano, and TJ Jacinto, the founders behind Varraco Coffee & Roasters , one of the most talked-about coffee shops in Palm Desert and the wider Coachella Valley. Their story starts as college friends in the Philippines, then stretches across migration, new careers, and a big question: why is Filipino coffee so hard to find in the United States when it tastes this good?We dig into the real work behind specialty coffee, not the highlight reel. They share how importing Philippine coffee actually happens, from documentation and FDA licensing to finding the right partners and learning through trial and error. We also get into what makes Varraco’s approach different: single origin focus, dialing espresso every day for consistent extraction, and building drinks and food that feel original. TJ breaks down the thinking behind rotating chef specials, better ingredients, and recipes that keep evolving week after week.Then we zoom out to the bigger why: community. Varraco becomes a destination by hosting car meets, motorcycle Sundays, and niche gatherings that turn strangers into regulars. It’s a modern coffee brand rooted in Filipino hospitality, direct trade sourcing, and the simple discipline of showing up, even when growth gets messy. If you care about entrepreneurship, coffee roasting, branding, or building a local business that people rally around, this conversation delivers.Subscribe for more founder stories, share this with a friend who loves great coffee, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

May 5, 2026Episode 3059 min

EP#30-How Oasis Magazine Champions Palm Springs Small Businesses

Send us Fan MailA glossy print magazine in 1,500+ Palm Springs hotel rooms. A half-hour TV pilot with a full crew. A bright pink Rolls-Royce named Mr. Pink turning heads on the street. That’s not a gimmick, it’s a strategy.We sit down with Matthew Mitchell and Wiley Snedeker, the founders behind Oasis Magazine and Victory Creative Agency, to unpack how they’re building modern local media in the Coachella Valley. Matthew shares the creative journey that runs through makeup, photography, production, and constant reinvention after industry-wide shocks. Wiley breaks down the unglamorous side that makes the glamour possible: accounting, CPA work, fractional CFO support, and the systems that keep a fast-moving brand from spinning out.We get specific about what makes Oasis Magazine different: a BFF-style voice, a focus on celebrating small businesses (including LGBTQ+ owned, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses), and a refusal to treat everything like a “best of” contest. Then we dig into the big question for entrepreneurs and marketers: why go all-in on print in a TikTok world? Their answer centers on attention, tangibility, and meeting travelers at the exact moment they want to discover what to do next.Finally, we talk Oasis Live, their magazine-format travel and lifestyle show, and the decision to raise production value to a Hollywood standard so the story can reach beyond a local audience. If you care about entrepreneurship, small business marketing, local advertising, and building real community through media, this conversation delivers a playbook.Subscribe, share this with a local business owner, and leave a review with your favorite hidden gem in the valley.

April 27, 20261 hr 1 min

EP#29-From Podcast to NBC-How Jose Esparza Built A Coachella Valley Media Brand

Send us Fan MailA heartbreak, a desert move, and a willingness to try again can turn into something much bigger than a side project. We sit down with Jose Esparza, founder and host of The New Mindset of the Coachella Valley, to unpack how he rebuilt his life in the valley and kept iterating until his podcast finally clicked, then grew into an NBC Palm Springs TV show.We get specific about the craft: how to start a podcast on a budget, why beginning with simple audio beats waiting for perfect gear, and how consistency and curiosity outwork expensive equipment. Jose shares how he designs a brand that pops without gatekeeping, why he’d rather make content that feels like a real conversation, and how learning new tools (even the ones you once thought looked “stupid”) can level up your production fast. If you care about video podcasting, podcast SEO, and building a local audience, this is a practical blueprint with a Coachella Valley edge.Jose also opens up about filming on location so entrepreneurs and small businesses get real visibility, plus the bigger vision: community-centered projects that range from a local reality dating concept to policy-first debates that focus on answers instead of cheap shots. We close with where to watch and stream his show, and the advice he’d give anyone trying to go from “just starting” to something that actually lasts.Subscribe, share this with a friend building something, and leave a review with the most useful takeaway you heard.

April 16, 2026Episode 2847 min

EP#28-A New York Times Bestselling Author Explains How Trauma Became A Career

Send us Fan MailSomething wild happens when you stop treating your instincts like a soft suggestion and start treating them like real information. We sit down with Allie Kingsley Baker, a New York Times bestselling author, co-writer, and Coachella Valley entrepreneur, and her story moves fast: Los Angeles gets unsafe during the pandemic, a “we’re just going for a drive” day ends in La Quinta, and suddenly a new life starts taking shape in the desert.We dig into the writing side first, including what people get wrong about ghostwriting vs co-writing, how one project can snowball into a career, and what it’s like collaborating with high-profile names while still protecting your own creative voice. Allie also shares the part most people leave out: chasing a dream job in the art world, getting burned by a toxic boss, and using writing to process the experience until it becomes a publishable book and a turning point.Then we get real about small business in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley: why she built Art Major Studio to give families a place to create without the mess at home, how an hourly “drop in and make anything” model works, and what opening an Italian restaurant teaches you about staffing, margins, stress, and risk. If you’re into entrepreneurship, local business, creative careers, or practical leadership lessons, you’ll leave with a sharper filter for choosing the right opportunities. Subscribe, share this with a friend who’s building something, leave a review, and tell us: when was the last time your gut was right?

July 31, 2025Episode 271 hr 2 min

Ep #27-Behind the Barricade: Life as an Elite Security Professional

Send us Fan MailFrom the streets of Indio to the Grammy Awards and beyond, David Villarreal has crafted an extraordinary career in elite security services. As founder of Libertas Protection Group, David has protected some of music's biggest stars while building a business that stands apart in the competitive security industry.Growing up in the Coachella Valley and serving in the military gave David a foundation of discipline and resourcefulness, but it was his tenacity and bold decision-making that propelled him forward. After working security at the Coachella Music Festival in 2008, David steadily built connections in the entertainment world, eventually becoming a trusted protector for major touring artists and high-profile events.What makes David's approach unique is his emphasis on preparation and prevention. Behind every successful event is months of planning - developing Emergency Action Plans, coordinating security teams, and anticipating potential threats. "If somebody physically touches my client, I look at it as a failure on my behalf," David explains, highlighting the proactive mindset that has earned him his reputation.Libertas Protection Group doesn't compete on price but on quality, employing primarily veterans and former law enforcement officers with real-world experience. This approach creates not just a security team but a community where younger professionals can learn from seasoned experts. David's entrepreneurial journey exemplifies the freedom that comes from building something meaningful on your own terms.Whether you're interested in the security industry, entrepreneurship, or simply interested in hearing an inspirational local success story, David's journey shows what's possible with determination and vision. As he puts it: "Be humble, bust your ass, and never let anyone tell you that you can't."

July 22, 2025Episode 2634 min

EP #26-Voice for the Valley: How Coach B is Changing Sports Media in the Coachella Valley

Send us Fan MailEver wondered what it takes to bet everything on a business dream? Meet Brian "Coach B" Arrington, who pulled equity from his family home to launch Fox Sports Palm Springs 1270 – a radio station bringing dedicated sports coverage back to the Coachella Valley.Sports broadcasting wasn't always Brian's passion. Originally aspiring to be an entertainment journalist for the LA Times, his path shifted when a high school newspaper advisor assigned him to be sports editor against his wishes. Years later, while hosting a hip-hop radio show and feeling disconnected from the evolving genre, Brian had a revelation during a 40-minute conversation about Kobe Bryant with a stranger: "Sports is the great unifier." This insight ignited his transition to sports media.The Coachella Valley opportunity revealed itself unexpectedly. After reluctantly recording a player-of-the-week segment about a local athlete, Brian was shocked when it generated 6,000 views in just two days – something that would never happen in the saturated Riverside media market where he spent eight years with iHeartRadio. This immediate response showed the hunger for local sports coverage in an area that lacked dedicated attention.Brian's vision goes beyond broadcasting. He's developing the "Coachella Valley Sports Report" to spotlight local teams and athletes, creating internship programs for high school students, and building a family business where his wife oversees operations and his children contribute their skills. Most impressively, the station generated 673,000 social media impressions in less than 90 days – a milestone that took eight years to achieve in his previous market.His advice for aspiring media entrepreneurs? "You have something right here that's more powerful than anything I ever had in my life," he says, pointing to a smartphone. "Don't overthink it, just do it. No one owes you anything... you have to go prove yourself."Follow Fox Sports Palm Springs on Instagram @FoxSportsPS or visit foxsportspalmsprings.com to discover how Coach B is changing the game for sports coverage in the Coachella Valley.

June 3, 2025Episode 251 hr 3 min

Ep#25-2025 Coachella Valley Real Estate Round Table

Send us Fan Mail#realestate #realtor #housing #coachellavalley #2025The 2025 Coachella Valley Real Estate Round Table with James Suer, Billy Meraz & Donovan McDaniel.The real estate landscape has fundamentally shifted since the pandemic boom, but what does that mean for buyers and sellers in the Coachella Valley? Three of the region's most successful realtors pull back the curtain on what's really happening in today's market.Donovan McDaniel, Billy Meraz, and James Suer bring decades of combined experience to tackle the questions everyone's asking: Will interest rates drop? Is another housing crash coming? Where can first-time buyers still find affordable homes? Their candid conversation reveals that while the "free-for-all" days of 2021 are over, opportunities still exist for savvy market participants.The discussion takes fascinating turns into the psychology of pricing, with sellers often stuck in 2021 mindsets while buyers wish it were 2012. Meanwhile, interest rates hovering around 6.5% have changed the game – but not necessarily in the ways you might expect. The experts caution that waiting for rates to drop could backfire, as any significant decrease would trigger a competitive feeding frenzy that would drive prices up.Perhaps most valuable are their insights for younger buyers facing seemingly impossible affordability challenges. From Desert Hot Springs' relative bargains to creative strategies like house hacking through multi-family properties, the realtors offer practical advice for getting a foot in the door. "Your first home doesn't need to be your dream home," becomes a recurring theme worth embracing.Whether you're considering buying, selling, or even joining the real estate profession, this episode delivers the unfiltered truth about today's market realities. Follow these experts on social media for ongoing insights: Donovan McDaniel (@donovanmcdanielrealtor), Billy Meraz (Windermere Real Estate), and James Seward (@james_suer_realtor) for "All Things Coachella Valley."