People On Point Podcast

This time we talked to Erik Carrasco, an alcoholic who is working through sobriety in hopes of helping others in the community facing similar adversity. Erik is a father of 3, who worked in the customer service/business field for over 20 years. Raised in Canutillo TX, Erik wants to share his story about hope and the way a positive mindset can help you overcome many things in life.  Erik was a recipient of an organ donation in 2021 and has been sober for over a year.  Even after a successful transplant, Erik still struggles with the residual impacts of drinking for over 18 years.  He plans to use this podcast, his story, and his education to work with programs like Alcoholic Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Al-Anon, and other local programs to spread the message around the dangers of addiction. During this podcast we discussed his relationship with alcohol, his liver transplant due to cirrhosis. In addition, we discuss his upbringing and the impacts this may have had on his mental health. We also discussed the importance of mindset. Erik tells a story about the way foolish pride helped in his recovery and overcoming relationships.  You don't want to miss the episode!

Episode 28/52 is out now!    This time we had the great pleasure to chat with local icon, Johnny Kage.  Johnny is a DJ, entrepreneur, radio personality for 104.3 Hit FM, and resident DJ for SiriusXM. Born and raised in El Paso TX, Johnny is a prime example of how hard work coupled with the right mindset pays off! From a young age, Johnny's passion for music and lessons from his grandparents allowed him to face life's obstacles head on. Even after a successful career, Johnny remains passionate about his craft while staying humble and spreading positivity as much as possible. He proudly represents the El Paso, Juarez, and Las Cruces region everywhere he goes and is an active advocate for our community. During this episode we talked about his upbringing, how his passion for music started and the challenges he faced working in the Juarez night scene at a young age. We also talked about how to stand out from the crowd, the existing stereotypes in our city, why people judge others, the positive side of failing, “outgrowing” toxic people, and many more great topics.  This was a great conversation. Enjoy! 

Cynthia R. Lopez is a native El Pasoan who grew up in the area and graduated from Hanks High School in 2001. Her education took her to Chicago, where she gained valuable experience in various areas of the law. Throughout her education and extensive hands-on work, she discovered that her passion was in issues of immigration.   

This is a very special episode!  This time we talked to El Paso Children's Hospital Director of Infection Prevention, Jose Luis Salas and Pediatric ICU Manager, Kristine Tejeda. The ongoing pandemic is far from over and there's still plenty of questions and misconceptions out there. One of the goals for this episode is to help alleviate some of the stress and confusion circulating in our community.   Another main objective for this episode is to highlight and share the stories of the great people in our city battling this pandemic first hand. It's hard to imagine what most healthcare workers have gone through, hopefully this episode gives some insight to what it's like to walk in their shoes. During the episode we talked about the most current situation regarding the spread of the virus and some of the current misconceptions being spread on social media.  We discussed vaccines, if they are safe for our children, if the boosters are necessary and how the community has overall handled this world health crisis.  We spent time discussing the mental toll this pandemic has taken on healthcare workers as well as their family's. Other topics covered: Spikes Masks Variants Community crisis approach Getting the hospital ready for crisis Enjoy! 

We had the great pleasure to chat with Josh Stokes. 

We had the great pleasure to chat with Chelsie Evaldi. Born in El Paso, TX, Chelsie grew up in Cd. Juarez and received her degree in Business Marketing from McMurry University (Abilene, TX).  After living in Austin, Spain, Ireland and many other places, she came home determined to highlight and promote her beloved city.  In 2014, with the help of her husband, Chelsie purchased a novelty store which later became Chuco Relic. What started as a small storefront in El Paso's downtown, is now a three location company loved by many in this city.   Chelsie constantly partners with local artists and organizations to showcase their work and for El Pasoans and outside visitors to discover the “Chuco” flavor. Chelsie is passionate, determined and someone who's willing to learn and grow.  Her positivity, can-do attitude as well as her love for El Paso, makes her unstoppable!!   In this episode, we talk about starting from scratch when relocating to El Paso, taking the leap and purchasing a small novelty store, the importance of having a supportive spouse as well as the mindset required to stay in business. Another important topic we discussed was the process of creating a personal brand and dealing with imposter syndrome among other great topics. You don't want to miss this episode! Enjoy. 

Justin Castillo is a mental health advocate who has battled with depression for a long time.   Justin is now on a mission to positively impact others by sharing his story to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention in our community. After his fourth suicide attempt, Justin decided to change his life around and share his experience in dealing with major depressive disorder as a way to help others know they are not alone.  During this conversation Justin talks about the events that led him to attempt to take his life,  the early signs of depression, as well as how he used alcohol abuse as a coping mechanism. We also discuss some of the steps people can take to take control of their depression, the best way someone can support someone in need, and how sharing his story helps him through his own journey.  Enjoy. 

Episode 22/52 is out now.  This time we had the great pleasure to chat with El Paso County Judge, Ricardo Samaniego. Born and raised in El Paso, Judge Samaniego is a proud graduate from Jefferson High School. Before taking public office, Judge Samaniego worked in various fields in both the private and public sector. His professional background is all-encompassing as he worked as an El Paso County Juvenile Probation Officer, an Interim Director for the El Paso County Housing Authority, Human Resources Director for Rio Grande Workforce Solutions, and as an Operations Director for SERCO of Texas. Judge Samaniego is passionate about positively impacting our community and definitely someone not afraid to stand up for what he believes is right.  During this episode we chat about his past work experience and the reason why he became County Judge.  We talked about his experience handling this pandemic, the contributing factors that led him to issue a shutdown order which went against Gov. Greg Abbott's executive orders as well as the phone conversations he had with the governor during that time.   Judge Samaniego also talks about the importance of being an advocate for health care workers and the overall  impact this pandemic has had on our community. Judge Samaniego also shares what goes through his mind when people question his intent and motives as well as the process of questioning his own decisions at times.   This is a great conversation you don't want to miss!    Other topics covered: Masks in school Mental health Opening international bridges  El Paso Healing Garden 

Episode 21/52 is out now! This time I had the great pleasure to chat with City Manager, Tommy Gonzalez. In 2014 he was appointed the City Manager of El Paso, Texas. With a budget of approximately $1 billion in operations and $1 billion in capital expenditures; Tommy oversees more than 6,000 employees including 500 leaders. Tommy is an impressively high performing leader with a vast and varied experience.  Under his leadership, El Paso has won the All-America City (AAC) Award in 2018 and 2020, and 2021; and was named an AAC finalist four years in a row while achieving $221 million in cost savings.  Tommy's work ethic and high performing leadership skills are impressive.  His winning mindset has allowed him to overcome challenges and face adversity since a young age. During this episode we talk about his humble beginnings in Lubbock, TX , how football helped him develop his character and work ethic, as well as the challenges he faces as City Manager.  Tommy also talks about the accomplishments his team has been able to achieve throughout the city and he addresses his most recent salary increase. We also talk about El Paso going from one of the top Covid-19 infected cities in the nation last year, to being recognized as having one of the highest vaccination rates among US cities including the role he played when Judge Ricardo Samaniego and past City Mayor Dee Margo disagreed over stay-at-home orders.  Tommy talks about the short and long term future of El Paso and he provides advice on becoming better, more effective leaders as well as establishing a winning mindset among many other great things.  This is a great conversation you don't want to miss!  Other topics covered: “Don't say it, do it” mentality Delta variant Prioritizing city needs Developing strategic planning Property Taxes  

Episode 20/52 is out now. This week we had the great pleasure to chat with international recording artist, professional SAG actor and entrepreneur  Matt U Johnson Matt U Johnson is of Jamaican descent.  Born and raised in Staten Island, New York, at age thirteen he decided to pursue a career in music.   His lyrical singing style is unique, blending solid elements of Pop, R&B, Hip Hop, and Reggae along with EDM.  Matt U's passion, ambition and positivity has led him to work and collaborate with Reggae Super Stars Buju Banton, I-Wayne, Hip Hop artist's Mann, Cash Out, Jazz Cartier, EDM legend Kshmr & Latin Grammy nominee Christina Eustace at Minerpalooza in front of 35k of people.  During this episode we talk about his journey in the entertainment biz, why he moved to El Paso, the challenges he faces as an independent artist as well the importance of a solid work ethic.  Matt also talks about dealing with rejection, “hate” and he explains the importance of having a positive mentality in the industry. Enjoy!

This week we had the great pleasure to chat with On Air Personality, Monika.  Monika was raised in Hollywood, Calif., and then moved several times and eventually settled in El Paso. Monika's fun, positive, and caring personality has enabled her to work in the radio industry for over 20 years.   She's someone genuinely involved with the progress of the community,  Monika is always looking to find innovative and creative ways to make a positive impact through the Arts, Community Outreach Programs, LGBTQ+ events, among others.  Enjoy.   

Born and raised in El Paso, Richie is a spoken word poet, musician and the current Project Director of the Barbed Wire Open Mic Series.  Richie is a huge supporter of the local artistic community.  He is also a college educator and a writer for the film/production studio, Power at the Pass, among many other endeavors.  Richie's mission is to give the community performance space and encouragement to express themselves and share stories through art. 

This week we had the great pleasure to chat with Iris Lopez. Iris Lopez is a news journalist currently working as a weather reporter for KVIA News in El Paso TX.  Most recently, Iris founded "Mija, Yes You Can", a non profit organization aiming to encourage and remind women and young girls that an equal world is possible.   Iris' determination and "yes, you can" attitude has helped her surpass many difficulties in her career as well as in her personal life.  She is always willing to go the extra mile in order to pursue the things that bring her happiness. Enjoy!

This week we had the great pleasure to chat with Romy Hernandez. Romy is an entrepreneur, mom, local influencer and overall, a bad@$$ woman! Romy’s positive mindset and “never-give” up attitude has helped her through difficult moments in her life and definitely played a big role in finding success in pursuing her life goals.  During this episode we talk about her journey being a single mom at 16, her experience working at a job she absolutely hated, why she decided to use social media as a way to promote her brand and the importance of finding strong female role models.  This is a great conversation you don’t want to miss! Other topics covered- Mom’s unconditional love and support Dealing with social media haters (don’t miss this story) Importance of multiple streams of income And much more.. 

This week we had the pleasure to sit down with Diego Martinez aka Diego Robot.  Diego is one of El Paso’s most prominent artists and is the creative force behind Casa Ortiz, a gallery in Socorro, Texas. Born and raised in El Paso, Diego is best known for his “robot” paintings which he uses to connect and establish his identity.  Diego is heavily involved in our community, he often collaborates with other local artists and organizations.  He donates his time, skills as well as paintings to local charities such as the Child Crisis Center of El Paso. During this conversation, Diego shares his difficult path to work as a full time artist while suffering from bipolar disorder.  Diego talks about the importance of having the right people around to support him, both professionally and personally.  Diego also talks about his creative process as well as the current art scene in El Paso. Enjoy.   Other topics covered: Business mindset Pricing Art Casa Ortiz/Socorro Podcasting And much more…     

This week we had the pleasure to sit down with Alexandria Serra.  Alex is a criminal defense attorney, an entrepreneur, and  someone truly invested in the progress and well being of our community. Alexandria is not your typical lawyer.   Alex uses her vast knowledge and expertise to provide value to the community by educating and bringing awareness to important law related subjects all while sharing her exciting, friendly and easy going personality.  During this conversation, Alex shares how her life motto, “living a life to your full potential” has led her to start many ventures.  Alexandria gives her opinion on what “true happiness” is and talks about the process and the insecurities she had to overcome in order to use social media to promote her business as well as her personal brand.   Alex also shares a few personal struggles she is currently navigating through with the intention of helping others.  Enjoy.   Other topics covered- Misconception about lawyers Differences between men and women attorneys Lack of female role models in the 915 Being Vegan And much more…

On this episode, we had the pleasure to sit down with Caleb Lara from the TV show, Elevate El Paso.  Caleb has lived a very interesting and amusing life to put it mildly.  At age 13, Caleb gave a sermon in front of 500 people, he worked as a local model, he then became an award winning photographer and then transitioned to work on television.  He is now a marketer, producer and TV host whose main goal is to enrich the quality of life of its audience.  Caleb is known for being someone who is not afraid of taking risks in order to pursue his goals.   During our conversation we talked about the importance of living a purpose driven life. He gives advice on finding something greater than yourself in order to achieve happiness.  Caleb also shares his opinion on where El Paso stands in regards to growth and how we can move our city forward. Enjoy.  

This week we had the great pleasure to sit down with Gesuina Legaspy.   Gesuina’s story is inspiring and definitely worth sharing.  Even though she is young, Gesuina has been an entrepreneur most of her life.  She is the proud owner of GAL Fashion and most recently, Maximus, a high-end fashion store for men. Gesuina is fearless and someone who believes in taking risks over regret any day of the week! Her success is no causality, Gesuina’s impeccable work ethic, passion and willingness to try new things sets her apart from the rest. During this conversation, Gesuina talks about her start in fashion, how her go-getter attitude has shaped her persona and how she processes failure, among many other things. We also discuss a bit about her personal life, getting married during high school, her life after a 10-year marriage and how she has been able to recover from an addiction to alcohol. Enjoy.    *Due to technical difficulties, we had to use the back up sound. Thank you  

Known as the “Bearded Ref”, Joel Ojeda is a MMA referee, nurse, motivational speaker, author and creator of the YouTube channel “The Gold Corner” as well as The Gold Corner Nonprofit Organization. In September 2017 Joel’s daughter, Mia, was diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma at the age of 2.  After a 10 month battle, Mia passed away on July 5th, 2018.  During this conversation, Joel shares with us Mia’s courageous journey starting from being misdiagnosed here in El Paso, having to travel to Fort Worth, TX for treatment as well as some events that occurred throughout their journey. Joel also talks to us about his own battle with depression, how sharing the stories of other brave little warriors through his YouTube channel help him through his grieving process and gives us powerful advice on how to best interact with a grieving friend or relative. Joel’s story and journey to spread Childhood Cancer awareness are admirable to say the least.  He is someone making a difference who puts his pain aside in order to honor Mia as well as other brave warriors. Enjoy. 

Born in El Paso, Texas, Rick Ramirez came from humble beginnings where having an education after high school was not the norm or even encouraged.  Following high school, Rick joined the Marine Corps where he realized he wanted to positively influence others by becoming a teacher.  Rick graduated from The University of Texas at El Paso, with a BA in history and education and a Master's in Educational Leadership.  Thanks to Rick’s positive outlook on life and passion around influencing students, in 2018 he became Teacher of the year for his school district.  Rick is now on a mission to inspire as many students and educators to unleash their full potential by sharing his message as well as his “Reach Them Before You Teach Them” teaching approach. Rick’s inspiring story and great outlook on life have landed him on THE Ellen Show, Texas Monthly Magazine and coverage by several media outlets. During this conversation we talk about the importance of students having a positive role model,  why some teachers lose their passion, the difference between good and passive teachers, his experience as a  guest on The Ellen Show, how parents can help their kids reach their potential, as well as some of the flaws of the current educational system. Enjoy.    Other things to look for: Emotional Intelligence. Kids not having a solid support system at home. Teaching during Covid. 

This week we had the pleasure to sit down with Cristobal Chavez! Cristobal is a 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu Black Belt and owner of 10th Planet Jiu Jitsu El Paso. Cristobal is also a professional MMA fighter, head coach and successful business owner with a fun personality and positive mindset.  During this conversation we talk about his journey becoming a professional MMA fighter, the benefits of practicing Jiu Jitsu, and why El Paso has such strong Jiu Jitsu/MMA community.  We also talk about the struggles of being a business owner, the rewarding part of being a coach to kids as well as the importance of having a positive mindset regardless of the situation. Enjoy.  Other topics discussed: Almost getting into a fight outside La Gorda restaurant. Fighting in Bolivia. Asking Gary V a question. People that complain for everything

This week we had the pleasure of sitting down with El Paso’s favorite news reporter, Keenan Willard!! After growing up in North Carolina, Keenan attended college in Virginia, where he studied Broadcast Journalism.  After a 6- month internship at CNN, he chose El Paso to begin his career in journalism.  In this episode, Keenan tells us about the culture shock he experienced when moving to this city.  He also explains why and how he took an active role reporting Covid-19 updates and stories.  We discuss how city officials are managing the crisis at hand, the current process for Covid vaccines and how this pandemic has impacted him personally. We also go into detail about the impact that the tragic event of August 3, 2019 had on him and what he learned from that experience. Enjoy. Other things to look for: Going Viral thanks to Cardi B Fake News Learning Spanish Enchiladas Montadas

Cinta de Oro is a Mexican American professional wrestler born in El Paso, Texas who grew up in Juarez, Chihuahua and El Segundo Barrio.  With over 21 years of experience as a professional wrestler, Cinta de Oro shares his amazing and inspiring story. This conversation will showcase his passion for wrestling, his solid work ethic and definitely his unwavering character. In this episode we talk about his start in wrestling, his battle with depression at a young age which led him to attempt suicide, what helped him overcome the challenges he faced throughout his career and the mindset required to follow your passion.  Ex Sin Cara also talks about the feeling of redemption when he took over the Sin Cara character, he goes in depth about why he left WWE, what he feels needs improvement in the WWE organization and why choosing courage over comfort is always the best option. Enjoy. Other Things to look out for: -Growing up in “El Segundo Barrio” -Getting his first wrestling name (Mistico) taken from him. -Dealing with racism. -Why the Lucha Libre culture is so deep in the El Paso/ Juarez area. -Future projects and fights.  Firstpart in English Segunda parte en Español.

If you love traveling, you will definitely enjoy this episode! Joey Ortiz is a Mexican American living in Bali, Indonesia (prior to Covid).  Joey is about to start a journey of a lifetime.  Joey plans to travel around the world on a motorcycle!! After feeling he was living a monotonous life, 5 years ago, Joey left everything he had to go live in China for one year.  During that year, Joey traveled all around Asia where he found meaning, purpose and happiness.  Soon after coming back, Joey created NJOEY Life travel agency as a way to spread his passion for traveling.  Joey is an adventurous man whose vibrant energy and positive mindset make him one of a kind. During this Spanish episode (after intro), we talk about his upcoming trip around the world on a motorcycle, how his passion for traveling started, the benefits of traveling alone, tips on traveling and of course, many travel stories. Enjoy. 

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Rick Moreno is the owner of the Moreno Real Estate Group.  Since a very young age Rick grasped the importance of hard work and having determination.  Rick had the opportunity to live in Los Angeles and New York where he graduated from NYU and earned two master’s degrees.  Rick decided to come back to El Paso and give back to his community by serving and assisting clients in their real estate needs.  With over 20 years of experience investing/real estate industry, Rick’s success is a direct result of his work ethic, resilience and positivity.  Rick takes joy in serving and mentoring others.  Rick’s remarkable outlook on life makes him stand out from the rest. In this episode, Rick talks about his humble beginnings growing up with 6 siblings, his start in the real estate world while being a high school teacher, the current real estate market and the importance of having a solid mindset in order to achieve success. Enjoy. Other things to look out for: -Difference between good and bad real estate agents. -Not having a victim mentality (2020 mindset) -Agents buying Instagram followers. -Tips on real estate investing. -Finding the right mentor. 

Sam is a professional stand-up comedian born and raised in El Paso Tx.  With over 12 years of experience, Sam has toured nationally and internationally working with the biggest names in the industry making a name for himself in both English and Spanish!!   Sam's work ethic, passion and outlook on life are simply amazing.  He is not only a successful comedian but a great person overall who proudly represents El Paso in everything he does.  In this episode Sam talks about his start in comedy after a difficult divorce,  why he started doing stand-up in Spanish, the mindset required to be successful in comedy (& in life) as well as tips on podcasting. Enjoy. 

Elia Esparza is a singer, performer, entrepreneur, content creator and a fitness trainer among other things!   Elia proudly represents El Paso in everything she does.  She is definitely someone who is not afraid of hard work and making sacrifices in order to achieve her dreams.      In this episode, Elia talks about her start in music, her experience living in New York, as well as her experience on "The Voice".   The conversation focuses around dealing with self doubt, rejection and the importance of not comparing yourself to others.   Elia's work ethic, positive mindset and passion are more than evident during the conversation. Enjoy.  

Lizzie is the co-owner of Sun City Athletic Club.  She is an athletic trainer, a Pro Bikini competitor, sponsored athlete, etc... Her radiant personality leaves an impression on everyone she meets.  Lizzie's passion, dedication and positive mentality are things to admire and strive for.     In this episode, Lizzie talks about her experience defying shutdown orders by keeping her business open.  Lizzie explains why gyms are essential, how communication is crucial in a healthy relationship and the importance of finding the right partner in life. Enjoy.  

Shane is co-owner of Sun City Athletic Club. He is an athletic trainer, a NPC bodybuilder, sponsored athlete and overall a great person who takes pride on serving others. In this very first episode, Shane talks about his start in fitness, what he learned from having to close down his first gym as well as the importance of loving what you do in life.  Shane also shares the way he has been able to create and maintain a relationship full of love, respect, support and admiration with his wife Lizzie.