My SGV Podcast

Hosted by Kind Monster Productions

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Episodes

287

Latest episode

Nov 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Welcome to the My SGV Podcast. A show where you will hear personal stories of triumph over failures, and how others successfully navigated the unique landscape that is the San Gabriel Valley. What makes us different? Well, just like you, we have chosen the San Gabriel Valley for our home or businesses, or both. We believe it is the people and small businesses that make this community great and we love to share their stories with you. We always encourage your questions and feedback and you can find all of our contact information at sgvmasterkey.com.

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60 recent

November 3, 20261 hr 5 min

Armando Novelo - Down Payment Assistance, Home Renovations, and Real Estate

Send us Fan Mail Armando Novelo grew up in and around the San Gabriel Valley, where he was raised by a single mother who frequently moved the family between Montebello, East LA, and Monterey Park before finally settling down in West Covina. He went on to attend UCLA, where he earned a degree in Psychology and stumbled into the mortgage industry while still a student 25 years ago. Today, he focuses on guiding first-time homebuyers through free workshops that break down available down payment assistance programs, while also helping existing homeowners navigate government resources to repair and upgrade their homes. Residing in Covina with his wife and two children, he remains deeply active in local real estate education and community outreach. In this episode, Armando Novelo returns to discuss hidden government and city assistance programs across the San Gabriel Valley that can provide tens of thousands of dollars for down payments or home renovations. He explains why many real estate professionals overlook these programs and walks listeners through how to find and qualify for city grants, silent second loans, and home improvement assistance. The conversation also covers his personal growth, and his social media content strategy utilizing AI-driven marketing frameworks. This episode is essential for SGV viewers, prospective homebuyers, and current homeowners looking to maximize financial resources and grants available in their local cities. Anyone searching for actionable real estate advice, home renovation funding, or community-focused mortgage guidance will find practical, expert insights to help them navigate the modern housing market. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this episode to help spread valuable local housing resources throughout our San Gabriel Valley community. _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 27, 20261 hr 15 min

Christopher Luke Trevilla - Social Impact, Disability Advocacy, and Community Leadership

Send us Fan Mail Christopher Luke Trevilla is a first-generation son of Mexican-American immigrants residing in Whittier, California. For over two decades, he has dedicated his career to social services, education, and safety net provider operations, focusing heavily on developmental disabilities and community inclusion. His extensive professional journey spans roles from classroom teacher and Regional Center service coordinator to corporate compliance leadership and his current work supporting employment resources in Southern California. Beyond human services, he has spent many years serving arts and culture in Los Angeles, leading organizations like the Nuvein Foundation for Literature and the Arts to promote culture in the San Gabriel Valley, earning recognition from the California State Legislature. In this episode, Christopher Luke Trevilla discusses his personal and professional journey, sharing experiences from growing up in the Los Angeles area and navigating his own visual impairment and lifelong learning path. He reflects on his extensive career in developmental services, offering invaluable advice for families navigating special needs systems, including the importance of cultivating supportive personal partnerships and finding effective advocates within human service agencies. The conversation also highlights his commitment to poetry, arts leadership, and community building across the San Gabriel Valley, alongside his educational background at Thomas Aquinas College and the Quantic School of Business and Technology. This episode offers San Gabriel Valley viewers, human services professionals, and individuals navigating developmental services an inspiring look at local advocacy, community resilience, and compassionate leadership. Listeners seeking guidance on family support systems, disability inclusion, and regional arts philanthropy will find deeply practical reflections on empowering others and leaving a positive impact. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this episode to help bring important local stories and community insights to our San Gabriel Valley audience. _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 21, 20261 hr 36 min

626 Night Market - Friday

Send us Fan Mail Live from the 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, this special compilation features interviews with local residents, students, food entrepreneurs, and community members. Featured conversations include local entrepreneur Andrew Lee, founder of Zindrew Chili and Zindrew Wonton Shop, alongside local students, festival attendees, and an educator from the Garvey School District. The episode explores San Gabriel Valley food culture, highlighting regional dining spots, late-night boba culture, and local food businesses. Guests discuss regional lifestyles, including local pickleball communities, college experiences across California campuses, music festivals, and local traditions. The conversations also cover community experiences, family histories, education, and personal perspectives on living and growing up in the San Gabriel Valley. This compilation offers San Gabriel Valley viewers and festivalgoers an authentic look at the diverse voices, food businesses, and youth culture defining the region. People interested in Southern California food markets, local small business stories, and regional Asian American culture will gain grounded perspectives on community life in the 626. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video to celebrate the food, culture, and stories of the San Gabriel Valley! __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 21, 20261 hr 59 min

626 Night Market - Sunday

Send us Fan Mail Live from the 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, we wrap up the weekend with our Sunday compilation of interviews featuring local attendees, food creators, and San Gabriel Valley community members. This compilation gives viewers and festivalgoers an inside look at the people, small businesses, and shared experiences that bring the SGV to life. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video to celebrate the food, culture, and stories of the San Gabriel Valley! __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 21, 20262 hr 5 min

626 Night Market - Saturday

Send us Fan Mail Live from the 626 Night Market at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California, this special Saturday edition brings you more conversations with local residents. Captured right from the heart of the festival, these interviews highlight the vibrant energy, diverse voices, and unique stories that define the San Gabriel Valley. Whether you are a local resident, a regular 626 Night Market attendee, or someone interested in Southern California food markets and Asian American culture, this episode offers an authentic glimpse into our local community. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video to celebrate the food, culture, and stories of the San Gabriel Valley! __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 20, 20261 hr 3 min

OGK Joshua - Faith, West Coast Hip-Hop, and Community Impact in the SGV

Send us Fan Mail OGK Joshua is a San Gabriel Valley native and independent recording artist raised in Covina, California. He played football at Charter Oak High School and the University of La Verne before serving in the United States Army as an 11 Bravo infantryman stationed at Fort Hood and deployed to Europe. Releasing music as an independent artist under the 626 Syndicate label, his discography includes tracks such as "Big God," "Heavenite," "AGB2G," "P31," and "Go Mode," alongside live performances at venues including the House of Blues in San Diego. In this episode, OGK Joshua details his personal journey through athletics, military service, and finding his Christian faith. He reflects on navigating period shifts with depression and identity after stepping away from sports and transitioning out of the military. The conversation explores his development as a musical artist, his commitment to producing West Coast-inspired hip-hop centered on spiritual conviction and positive values, and his outreach work through middle school, high school, and street evangelism. This episode offers San Gabriel Valley viewers an authentic story of local resilience, faith, and artistic purpose. Listeners interested in independent music production, faith-based hip-hop, military transition stories, and youth mentorship will find practical perspectives on overcoming personal adversity and staying true to core values. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video to help bring inspiring local stories from our community to more viewers. _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 13, 202655 min

Justin Tran - Overcoming Grief, Mental Health, and Navigating Early Career Growth

Send us Fan Mail Justin Tran is a San Gabriel native and first-generation Chinese Vietnamese American born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. Raised by his grandmother, mother, and older sister, he attended Gabrielino High School, where he participated in speech and debate, FBLA, and student clubs. He began working in corporate executive assistant roles at age 18 and earned his bachelor's degree in May 2025. In addition to his corporate background, he serves as a moderator for SGV Eats, supporting local mom-and-pop restaurants across the San Gabriel Valley. In this episode, Justin shares his personal story of navigating family dynamics, grief, and early career development. He discusses the personal impact of losing four loved ones within two months in early 2025 following the passing of his grandmother in 2022. He details his active approaches to mental health and stress management, including hot yoga and Lagree pilates, alongside his work with SGV Eats to help uplift local businesses. This conversation provides San Gabriel Valley residents with a meaningful look at local community advocacy and small business support. Viewers interested in mental health awareness, grief recovery, and first-generation career growth will find practical reflections on resilience, personal growth, and self-awareness. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video to help bring vital local stories to our San Gabriel Valley community. _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

October 6, 20261 hr 8 min

Manny Padilla - From San Gabriel Valley to Hollywood Location Manager

Send us Fan Mail Eric "Manny" Padilla is a film and television location manager born in Monterey Park, California, and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. Growing up in an apartment above a laundromat on New Avenue, he attended local schools including Emerson Elementary, Garvey Intermediate, and Mark Keppel High School. After moving to Burbank to pursue work in the entertainment industry, he built a career on major film and television productions, including the first four Transformers movies and live broadcast logistics for the Super Bowl pregame show at Alcatraz. In this episode, Manny discusses his upbringing in the San Gabriel Valley, navigating personal choices during his youth, and the importance of community and family. He shares how meeting a location manager while working at a North Hollywood Home Depot led to industry mentorship, and explains the logistics behind finding locations, securing permits, and managing major movie sets. He also reflects on executing live television broadcasts and reveals his top local San Gabriel Valley dining spots. This episode offers San Gabriel Valley viewers an authentic story rooted in local community experiences, while giving aspiring filmmakers and movie fans practical insights into location management, industry mentorship, and building a career in Hollywood. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video with friends and family! _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

September 29, 20261 hr 13 min

Dr. Keith Marshall - Overcoming Addiction, Trauma, and Leading Whole-Person Recovery

Send us Fan Mail Dr. Keith L. Marshall, PsyD, M.H.D., is the Founder, CEO, and Clinical Supervisor of Dedicato Treatment Center, a California Department of Health Care Services–certified substance use disorder treatment program specializing in co-occurring mental health conditions. Under his leadership, Dedicato earned The Joint Commission’s highest level of accreditation, placing it among approximately twenty-three percent of treatment centers nationwide recognized for excellence. Dr. Marshall earned a Specialist Certificate in Alcohol and Drug Studies from Glendale College, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in human development from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, and a Certificate in Corporate Board Governance from the Wharton School’s Aresty Institute of Executive Education. After overcoming more than twenty-three years of crack cocaine addiction, homelessness, incarceration, and trauma, he became a two-time International Impact Book Award-winning author and recipient of the 2023 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for Volunteer Service. In this episode, Dr. Marshall details his integrated recovery philosophy that lasting transformation requires aligning psychological healing, disciplined physical wellness, and spiritual accountability to address the mind, body, and spirit. He shares insights from his academic research on adolescent substance use disorders and human developmental risk factors, alongside his clinical credentials in addiction counseling, anger management, and clinical supervision. The conversation covers how clinical practice, education, and personal accountability combine to treat substance use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions. This episode offers San Gabriel Valley viewers direct clinical insight into behavioral health and treatment services headquartered in Pasadena, California. Readers of Dr. Marshall’s books, including From Dumpster to Doctor and Factors of Transformation , as well as individuals searching for whole-person recovery strategies will find practical perspectives on trauma-informed care, resilience, and sustainable change. Subscribe to the MySGV Podcast and share this video to help bring vital conversations around mental health, recovery, and personal transformation to our community. _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com

September 22, 20261 hr 6 min

Albert Wan - From Apple Software Engineer to Modernizing a Family ERP Business

Send us Fan Mail Albert Wan is a San Gabriel Valley native, raised in Arcadia, and a second-generation business owner leading his family’s enterprise software company. After studying at UC Berkeley and working as a software engineer at Apple Inc., where he contributed to software projects including Chinese keyboards and CarPlay, he returned home in 2018. Today, he focuses on modernizing his family's business, which has provided business and warehousing software technologies to customers across the San Gabriel Valley and beyond for over three decades. In this episode, Albert shares his journey from attending local schools in Arcadia and participating in marching band and Scouting to earning an engineering role at Apple. He discusses his experience inside a major technology organization, earning an MBA at UCLA Anderson, and deciding to leave Silicon Valley to preserve his family’s business legacy. Albert also details the practical steps involved in updating legacy Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and warehousing software, transitioning to cloud-based systems, and maintaining trust with long-time clients. This conversation offers real-world insights for San Gabriel Valley viewers interested in local business growth, tech professionals exploring career transitions, and second-generation entrepreneurs managing corporate succession. Viewers searching for topics around software modernization, family business leadership, and digital transformation will find clear perspectives rooted in steady progress and long-term strategy. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share this video with others to support local stories on the MySGV Podcast. _______________ Music Credits Intro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG Stinger Scarlet Fire (Sting), Otis McDonald, YouTube Audio Library Outro Euphoria in the San Gabriel Valley, Yone OG __________________ My SGV Podcast: Website: www.mysgv.net Newsletter: Beyond the Mic Patreon: MySGV Podcast info@sgvmasterkey.com