Episodios

  • Cody Garcelon on Time Management and Growth in Insurance

    Cody Garcelon on Time Management and Growth in Insurance
    Jan 8 2026
    I talk with Cody Garcelon from Ellis Insurance Agency about his hustle in personal and commercial insurance. He gets into the work after meeting Danielle and stays in it for almost five years. Cody explains that commercial insurance protects what a business owner builds, and that the wrong coverage can put your whole livelihood at risk. He walks through an early lesson where poor organization costs him time, and he tightens up his time management fast because the pace keeps speeding up as clients stack up. He clears up a big misconception: not all insurance is the same, and state minimum limits may be legal but can run out fast and expose your personal assets. Cody’s main challenge right now is time, plus building more public presence, so we work on video content and he pushes through the camera nerves by doing it anyway. He says the best way to grow is talking to people and building connections, and he keeps moving by remembering his why.
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  • Three New Year’s Resolution Rules That Work

    Three New Year’s Resolution Rules That Work
    Jan 6 2026
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I talk about why New Year’s resolutions work when you use them the right way. I treat a resolution as a “fake because,” a simple reason that helps you start making better choices, even if it is not your deepest motive. Then I focus on actions, not outcomes. “Lose weight” is vague, and even “lose 20 pounds” stays weak unless it turns into steps you can do each week and measure, like weighing in on Monday and cutting desserts, then adjusting if the scale does not move. I push a system you can repeat and refine instead of a wish you hope comes true. Last, I recommend keeping your goals private. When you announce them, you can get the reward feeling without doing the work, and you also invite pressure that can turn into resentment. Progress fuels motivation, so I track small wins and keep moving.
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  • Santa Claus at Lee’s Studio Productions A Christmas Visit

    Santa Claus at Lee’s Studio Productions A Christmas Visit
    Dec 18 2025
    I talk with Santa Claus at Lee Studio Productions. He runs a once a year workshop visit where kids come in, play with toys, make cookies, drink chocolate milk, draw and color, and hand him their Christmas list, then leave with an 8x10 photo. I ask how he pulls it off in a short window, and he points to his helpers and the elves who spend two days setting the whole space. We talk about the building, which also houses Lee Studio of Dance, with trophies on the walls and a lot of vintage toys and items from a personal collection. I ask the key questions for families, and he shares that he likes sugar cookies with vanilla and green icing, wants ice cold milk, and carrots make a good treat for reindeer. He jokes about staying on an empty beach when he vacations. We also plug farm events like Fear on the Farm, a Bloody Mary workshop, and a Krampus night. He closes by reminding kids that Christmas magic still exists and encourages parents to read ’Twas the Night Before Christmas on December 24.
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  • Heather Atha and 12 Years of Krampus at Mike Winland Studio

    Heather Atha and 12 Years of Krampus at Mike Winland Studio
    Dec 16 2025
    I’m in Kanawha City with Heather Atha at Picture Day Mike Winland Studio while Krampus lurks around the studio. Heather helps run the Krampus sessions at Mike’s place and explains what Krampus is in German Christmas folklore, the opposite of Santa who takes bad kids instead of giving gifts. Mike has kept this tradition going for 12 years, and Heather has been part of it for most of that time because her son took his first Krampus photos as a newborn. We talk about how this gives families a fun alternative to the usual holiday pictures, and how Krampus can be unpredictable on set, which is part of why sessions need appointments. Heather also highlights the House of Selfies, with over 40 themed sets and lighting ready so people can take their own photos, bring friends, or host a party. I point listeners to visit https://www.mikewinlandstudios.com/reserve-session/pictures-with-krampus online to see dates and book a time.
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  • Jay Silverman and the Magic of Light the Night

    Jay Silverman and the Magic of Light the Night
    Dec 11 2025
    I visit GoMart Ballpark to meet with Jay Silverman and walk through Light the Night, the Charleston Dirty Birds’ winter event. Jay explains how a local crew starts hanging lights in September and spends about ten weeks building a walk-through show with roughly 2.5 million lights organized into four main sections, plus a skating village, fire pits, mini golf, and a kids carnival. I learn that guests can keep it simple with a $12 general admission ticket or build up to packages with rides and extras, and there are food options from hot chocolate and s’mores to full turkey and ham meals for groups. Jay talks about suites, tents, and the Victory Club for businesses that want holiday outings for their teams. What stands out to me is his focus on flow and elegance, especially the giant lighted bulb tunnel he adds as a new centerpiece. Light the Night runs through January 1, closed on Christmas Day.
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    7 m
  • Wild and Wired Linux Festival with Brett White

    Wild and Wired Linux Festival with Brett White
    Dec 9 2025
    In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I am at the Wild and Wired West Virginia Linux festival with Brett White and several attendees, exploring how Linux can change the way people in our state think about technology. Brett introduces the event as a way to promote true tech ownership, privacy, and fun by using Linux, a free open source operating system that comes in many flavors and can bring old hardware back to life instead of sending it to e-waste. I talk with Daniel, who recently left Windows because of bloat and account requirements, and now runs multiple Linux distros on a ThinkPad; he treats Linux as an operating system of freedom and urges new users to just jump in with something like Linux Mint and online tutorials. I also meet Gus, who is learning fast and using Linux to revive older machines, customize interfaces, and build systems that feel familiar to both Windows and macOS users. We wrap with Brett inviting people to follow Wild and Wired West Virginia on Facebook to keep up with future events and student projects, and I leave feeling excited about the tech community growing here.
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    7 m
  • From Firestone to IT Hub with Thomas Baker

    From Firestone to IT Hub with Thomas Baker
    Dec 4 2025
    In this episode I’m at the grand opening of AMG Network Hosting’s new office in a former Firestone Tire building in Montgomery, talking with Thomas Baker about his work. He runs a full service IT company that acts as the help desk for businesses from two people to several hundred, either taking over all of their IT or backing up internal teams with specialized skills. We walk through how he bought the old building from a client, saw potential under the wood paneling, and spent about seven months turning it into a functional office. We dig into how security now dominates IT conversations, with cyber threats, misconfigured networks, and hundreds of connected devices in even small offices. Thomas explains why cyber security is both technical and human, why remote work still needs strong protection, and why having a local team that can show up on site really matters.
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    6 m
  • Building Trail Towns and Outdoor Tourism with Madison Stone

    Building Trail Towns and Outdoor Tourism with Madison Stone
    Dec 2 2025
    I talk with Madison Stone, executive director of the Elk River Trail Foundation, about the work happening along the Elk River from Sutton Dam to the Kanawha River in Charleston. I learn the foundation is a 501(c)(3) focused on preserving, protecting, and enhancing both the river and the Elk River Trail. Madison walks me through how they’re adding regular kayak launches and ADA-accessible access points in trail towns like Sutton, Gassaway, Clay, and Clendenin so more people can get on the 102 miles of free-flowing water. We cover the 72-mile rail trail that supports walking, running, biking, and horseback riding, and how it gives locals and visitors a way to step outside daily life and experience the region. She explains their vision to attract people from across the country and even other nations, something already happening with their annual marathon, half marathon, and 5K that brought in more than 700 participants this year. I point listeners to elkrivertrail.org to learn more, support the work, or plan a visit.
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    4 m
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