Archives: Episodes

Jason Marshak

If you’ve spent any time in the San Gabriel Valley, you’ve probably crossed paths with Jason Marshak—or at least with someone who’s used his pomade. A proud Alhambra native for over 40 years, Jason is the founder and face behind Dr. Rubin’s Pomade, a locally loved grooming brand rooted in tradition and style. What started with a 1944 formula has grown into a movement of smell-good, look-good, feel-good energy—bottled and handmade right here in Southern California.

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Maryvale

Maryvale began in 1856 when five nuns from the Daughters of Charity opened Los Angeles’ first orphanage and hospital—initially a small wood-frame home near what is now Union Station. By 1891, it had moved to a larger facility in Boyle Heights, becoming a safe haven for thousands of children. When freeway expansion and earthquake damage threatened that site, generous benefactors—including Carrie Estelle Doheny—helped relocate the orphanage to Rosemead in 1953, where it was renamed Maryvale.

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Alex Tran

Alex Tran is a 21-year-old Vietnamese-Chinese American entrepreneur, behavioral specialist, and founder of Fish Kings—a growing aquatic business based in Southern California. Balancing work in mental health with running a hands-on business, Alex has carved out a unique path grounded in purpose, discipline, and a desire to uplift others.

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Rubina Chadha

Rubina Chadha is a trauma-informed mindfulness educator, breathwork facilitator, and award-winning designer whose work bridges creativity, wellness, and conscious leadership. A graduate of ArtCenter College of Design and UCLA’s Education Certificate Program, she began her career in the entertainment industry before founding Inner Design — a platform that helps high-achieving professionals reconnect with their inner creative voice through breathwork, meditation, and human design.

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Cathy Lam

Cathy SK Lam-Patrie is a Hong Kong-born, Los Angeles-based pastor, producer, and award-winning theatre artist whose work bridges faith, justice, and the arts. She is the founder of ThreeWoods Playwright and the artistic director of Kairos Arts Development Company, the Hong Kong Ideation Arts Festival, and the Let’s Be Together Arts Festival. In 2024, she received the Hong Kong Arts Development Award’s Young Artist Award (Drama), and in 2023, she earned the Scotsman Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for co-creating and producing A Funeral for My Friend Who Is Still Alive.

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Options For Learning

Johanna Atienza and Paul Pulver are the Chief Growth and Innovation Officer and the CEO of Options for Learning respectively.

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Brayan Altamirano

Brayan Altamirano’s journey to becoming a touring photographer is a testament to the power of perseverance and transformation. Initially driven by a passion for music, Brayan’s dream of stardom seemed within reach, but without the right support and motivation, those aspirations were shattered. However, fate had a different path in store for him, one that would see him rise to prominence behind the lens rather than on stage.

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Jesse Jaime

Jesse R. Jaime Sr. is a dedicated Lead Campus Supervisor 2 (Safety) at San Dimas High School within the Bonita Unified School District, where he plays a pivotal role in ensuring the safety and well-being of students and staff. A proud member of the El Monte/Rosemead community, Jesse is deeply committed to giving back to the people and youth of his hometown. His personal and professional mission revolves around helping others break through adversity and see that there is more to life than what might seem immediately in front of them.

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Lizette Valles

Lizette Valles is a passionate educator, Latina leader, and innovator in the world of alternative education. As a co-founder of the California Microschool Collective, established in 2024, Lizette has been at the forefront of the microschooling movement, advocating for personalized and trauma-informed learning environments that empower all children to thrive. She is also the founder of Compass Educators and Ellemercito Academy, a nonprofit microschool based in Los Angeles that reimagines education through experiential and place-based learning.

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Jayme Kiyomura Chan

Jayme Kiyomura Chan is a passionate and accomplished leader in both the culinary and sports worlds. Born and raised in Pasadena, California, she is a proud product of the San Gabriel Valley and a long-time resident. Jayme attended La Salle High School, where she was a standout four-year varsity basketball player, laying the foundation for a career dedicated to empowering others both in the kitchen and on the court.

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