Maya Sanchez's guest appearances

Maya Sanchez

The Bottom-Up Revolution

Small Business, Big Mindset

Michael Smith

Sarah Davis

Melody Warnick

Krav Maga

Lisa Leslie

Alex Rodriguez

Rebecca Undem

Chuck Marohn

Tim Wright

Carlos Alfaro

Michael Kelley

Mary Jones

Gabriel Gonzalez

Stephen George

Danira Cancinos

OwlTail

David Cantu

Today’s guests are doing innovative agriculture work that is deeply rooted in history in their small town of San Elizario, Texas. David Cantu and Maya Sanchez are two local government leaders who have helped spearhead projects to encourage San Elizario residents to grow food for themselves and food to sell—all tailored to their unique desert environment. They’re tapping into historical knowledge of what plants grow best in these conditions and hoping other desert-dwellers can learn from this, too.   These efforts are particularly meaningful in a border town where almost half of the population lives below the poverty line. These are opportunities to grow food in backyards and gardens to feed one’s family, and this program has also helped residents grow produce to sell to local restaurants and stores, or turn into other food businesses, themselves.  David Cantu is an alderperson and Maya Sanchez in the City Administrator for San Elizario. Both are very active in their city, in this agricultural initiative, and in their own gardens, too.  We interviewed Cantu and Sanchez for an article back in 2020, and, as you’ll hear in this interview, since that time they’ve helped more of the community be involved in growing food, connected these efforts with flood mitigation goals, and even had the chance to sell locally grown produce to neighboring cities.Additional Show Notes “This Texas Town Is Growing Stronger By Thinking *Inside* the Box”,” by Rachel Quednau, Strong Towns (August 2020).   Learn more about our open Member Advocate position and apply today.   Send your story ideas to rachel@strongtowns.org.   Subscribe to The Bottom-Up Revolution on iTunes, Google Podcasts, Podbean, or via RSS.   Support this podcast by becoming a Strong Towns member today. 

Today’s guests are doing innovative agriculture work that is deeply rooted in history in their small town of San Elizario, Texas. David Cantu and Maya Sanchez are two local government leaders who have helped spearhead projects to encourage San Elizario residents <a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021/4/20/how-to-build-a-more-resilient-local-food-system" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">to grow food for themselves and food to sell</a>—all tailored to their unique desert environment. They’re tapping into historical knowledge of what plants grow best in these conditions and hoping other desert-dwellers can learn from this, too.   These efforts are particularly meaningful in a border town where almost half of the population lives <a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/tag/poverty" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">below the poverty line</a>. These are opportunities to grow food in backyards and gardens to feed one’s family, and this program has also helped residents grow produce to sell to local restaurants and stores, or turn into other food businesses, themselves.  David Cantu is an alderperson and Maya Sanchez in the City Administrator for San Elizario. Both are very active in their city, in this agricultural initiative, and in their own gardens, too.  We interviewed Cantu and Sanchez for <a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/thinking-inside-the-box" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">an article back in 2020</a>, and, as you’ll hear in this interview, since that time they’ve helped more of the community be involved in growing food, connected these efforts with flood mitigation goals, and even had the chance to sell locally grown produce to neighboring cities.Additional Show Notes <ul><li> “<a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/thinking-inside-the-box" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">This Texas Town Is Growing Stronger By Thinking *Inside* the Box”</a>,” by Rachel Quednau, Strong Towns (August 2020). </li> <li> <a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/employment" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Learn more about our open Member Advocate position and apply today</a>. </li> <li> Send your story ideas to rachel@strongtowns.org. </li> <li> Subscribe to The Bottom-Up Revolution on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bottom-up-revolution/id1435989066?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cDovL2xpdHRsZXRoaW5ncy5zdHJvbmd0b3ducy5vcmcvZmVlZC54bWw" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Google Podcasts</a>, <a href="http://littlethings.strongtowns.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Podbean</a>, or via <a href="http://littlethings.strongtowns.org/feed.xml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">RSS</a>. </li> <li> Support this podcast <a href="https://www.strongtowns.org/membership" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">by becoming a Strong Towns member today</a>. </li></ul>

David Cantu and Maya Sanchez: Helping Neighbors Grow (and Sell!) Their Own Food

This episode has an additional layer of specialness to it, as Muscle Creative's own Joey Ramirez is reunited (via Zoom) with his best friend since he was a little tike. This week we welcome serial entrepreneurs, Gabriel Gonzalez and Maya Sanchez.Gabe and Maya have a variety of business interests that they are in the process of expertly weaving together. Gabe's background is in music; having been a member of many bands, the most recent of which have been El Paso-based Sparta and Sleepercar. Music has been a steady constant in his life and career as he has owned a recording studio, opened a live music venue in El Paso with partner Jim Ward (also of Sparta and Sleepercar) called Tricky Falls as well as bar Bowie Feathers. Gabe continues to build his business in music via recording, sound engineering live and studio projects, as well as mixing, producing, and recording client material. In addition, he offers a mobile service where he can meet clients at their location.Maya's background and career is one for the record books (literally). After a career as a post production commercial producer in Los Angeles (where she also grew up), she moved to her hometown of San Elizario to start her own business. In addition to running an event venue, Presidio Hall, her vision is to grow a farm-based restaurant and destination experience, focused on sustainable agriculture. In parallel to all of this, Maya was instrumental in the incorporation of the city of San Elizario and was elected the city's first mayor. Yes. She is basically a queen and we should all bow to her. Aligning Multiple Business VenturesJuggling the trifecta: established business, new businesses, working full-timeWhat motivated Gabe to take a break from touring and start a businessHow Maya saw an opportunity to make a difference in the San Elizario and El Paso communitiesObstacles experienced as a trailblazer, growing a new and unique businessWays to ensure various businesses are aligned, carefully selecting opportunities that build their brandMoving Ahead Through ObstaclesObstacles experienced as a trailblazer, introducing the local community to a new and unique businessKnowing when to end a business and lessons learned in doing soImpact of COVID-19 on an events-based business and a music production businessHow to adjust a business model to survive in a changing economic landscapeThe top key strategy to help ensure your business is nimble and sustainableMuscle Creative Wrap-UpIf you could listen to only one music artist for the rest of your life who would it be?Maya - Cat Stevens (with a mention of Lionel Richie)Gabe - Ritchie ValensWhere can people find you online?Presidio Hallhttps://www.facebook.com/presidiohallhttps://www.instagram.com/presidiohallWavelength Audio Resolutionshttps://www.facebook.com/wavelengthaudiohttps://www.instagram.com/wavelengthaudio

This episode has an additional layer of specialness to it, as Muscle Creative's own Joey Ramirez is reunited (via Zoom) with his best friend since he was a little tike. This week we welcome serial entrepreneurs, Gabriel Gonzalez and Maya Sanchez. Gabe and Maya have a variety of business interests that they are in the process of expertly weaving together. Gabe's background is in music; having been a member of many bands, the most recent of which have been El Paso-based <a href="https://www.sparta.band/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sparta</a> and <a href="https://dinealonerecords.com/artists/sleepercar/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sleepercar</a>. Music has been a steady constant in his life and career as he has owned a recording studio, opened a live music venue in El Paso with partner Jim Ward (also of Sparta and Sleepercar) called <a href="https://www.facebook.com/trickyfalls/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tricky Falls</a> as well as bar Bowie Feathers. Gabe continues to build his business in music via recording, sound engineering live and studio projects, as well as mixing, producing, and recording client material. In addition, he offers a mobile service where he can meet clients at their location. Maya's background and career is one for the record books (literally). After a career as a post production commercial producer in Los Angeles (where she also grew up), she moved to her hometown of San Elizario to start her own business. In addition to running an event venue, Presidio Hall, her vision is to grow a farm-based restaurant and destination experience, focused on sustainable agriculture. In parallel to all of this, Maya was instrumental in the incorporation of the city of San Elizario and was elected the city's first mayor. Yes. She is basically a queen and we should all bow to her. Aligning Multiple Business Ventures<ul><li>Juggling the trifecta: established business, new businesses, working full-time</li><li>What motivated Gabe to take a break from touring and start a business</li><li>How Maya saw an opportunity to make a difference in the San Elizario and El Paso communities</li><li>Obstacles experienced as a trailblazer, growing a new and unique business</li><li>Ways to ensure various businesses are aligned, carefully selecting opportunities that build their brand</li></ul>Moving Ahead Through Obstacles<ul><li>Obstacles experienced as a trailblazer, introducing the local community to a new and unique business</li><li>Knowing when to end a business and lessons learned in doing so</li><li>Impact of COVID-19 on an events-based business and a music production business</li><li>How to adjust a business model to survive in a changing economic landscape</li><li>The top key strategy to help ensure your business is nimble and sustainable</li></ul>Muscle Creative Wrap-Up<ul><li>If you could listen to only one music artist for the rest of your life who would it be? Maya - Cat Stevens (with a mention of Lionel Richie) Gabe - Ritchie Valens</li><li>Where can people find you online? Presidio Hall <a href="https://www.facebook.com/presidiohall" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/presidiohall</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/presidiohall/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/presidiohall</a> Wavelength Audio Resolutions <a href="https://www.facebook.com/wavelengthaudio" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/wavelengthaudio</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wavelengthaudio/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/wavelengthaudio</a></li></ul>

Episode 7: The Merging of Rock Star Life and Slow Food - How This Power Couple Makes It Work