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Mike Rudder is a highly respected, longtime basketball coach and former player deeply rooted in the San Jose, California area. Known for his expertise as a shooting instructor, his strong player-development focus, and his ability to revitalize programs, he has built a career spanning over 40 years at the high school and college levels — primarily coaching women’s basketball in recent decades while also contributing to men’s programs. He is widely regarded as a knowledgeable, dedicated mentor who returns to his roots and invests in the next generation. A 1974 graduate of Willow Glen High School in San Jose, Rudder was named a High School All-American after his senior season and earned a spot on the 1974 Mercury-News All-CCS team alongside future NBA player Kurt Rambis and other local standouts. He continued his playing career at De Anza College (Cupertino, CA), Wenatchee Valley College (Washington), and Sacramento State University, where he appeared on the 1976-77 men’s basketball roster.

Mark Shem is a real estate attorney and former president of the Santa Clara County Bar Association. He received his undergraduate degree in political science and history from the University of California, Davis in 1987, and earned his Juris Doctorate from Temple University School of Law in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1990. Mark was elected to a three-year term on the California State Bar’s Board of Trustees where he focused on access to justice and legal education issues. He is an attorney coach for the Lynbrook High School mock trial team, and a member on the Advisory Committee of the Silver Creek High School Legal Academy Program.

Dr. Marco Sanchez is an Olympian, Educator, Administrator, Coach, and a CCS & CIF Executive Board Member. Marco holds a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership from North Central University. Received his undergraduate degree from Arizona State University while wrestling for the PAC-12, and is an alumnus of Independence High School in San Jose, CA. Marco was recently inducted into the ESUHSD Hall of Fame, as well as, the CIF Wrestling Hall of Fame. To name a few accomplishments Marco was a : 3x CCS wrestling champion, a CIF State Champion, a PAC-12 Champion, and an Olympian in the Atlanta '96 games. Marco is widely known as the genius behind Gilroy High School decades long reign as a wrestling powerhouse in the state of CA. Where he formerly served as Gilroy High's Principal bringing in former UFC Legend Daniel Cormier as Head Coach before his departure to serve the CIF State Executive Committee.

Mike & Rose are the beautiful minds behind Balance Yoga Center in San Jose, CA. Balance Yoga Center offers hot yoga and hot Pilates classes in a heated studio environment, designed to be beginner-friendly and inclusive.  The center emphasizes community, wellness, and fitness, with a strong focus on creating a supportive space for personal growth. Located in Evergreen, San Jose, CA -BYC is known for its welcoming atmosphere and experienced instructors.  In this episode Mike Rose and I breakdown the dozens of benefits—and the science behind the positive impacts one—90 minute heated session can have on one's body and why.

Fred Begun is a licensed attorney specializing in the establishment of wills & trusts. Fred has been in practice for over 35 years. In addition to family law matters, Fred worked in litigation practice, dealing with personal injury, insurance defense, business, real estate, corporate, trust and estate litigation, and transactional work. Fred also worked as general counsel and general manager to a wholesale/retail company. Fred received his JD from the Santa Clara University School of Law.

Ruth Van Derostyne, founder of Fix My Score, is a credit restoration specialist and an expert credit analyst.  Her experience spans over 25 years in areas of 1031 Exchanges, Real Estate sales, loans, foreclosures, bankruptcies, evictions, escrow title and credit restoration.

Sylvia Arenas currently serves on the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors representing District 1. She formally served as a councilwoman with the City of San Jose representing the district of Evergreen. Supervisor Arenas currently serves as Chair of the Children, Seniors and Families Committee (CSFC) and Vice Chair of the Housing, Land Use and Transportation Committee (HLUET) to name a few of several of her current assignments.  Sylvia holds an MPA from the University of San Francisco. Is an alumni of Independence High School in San Jose. Not to mention, like myself, a Lyndale Lion having attended Lyndale Elementary in East Side San Jose.

Lauren Kelly is a former Principal at Evergreen Valley High School in San Jose, CA (EVHS Tour Episode). Lauren holds (2) Masters degrees from UCLA in Secondary Education & Educational Leadership and Administration. Lauren is also a fellow Gator and completed her undergraduate studies at San Francisco State University. Come take a private tour with me as we get an inside look at EVHS followed by a sit down with Lauren. A distinguished high school where I had the honor of being apart of the first graduating class in 2005. EVHS is consistently ranked among the top 5% of public schools in California based on academic performance, college readiness, and student outcomes.

Ken Yeager is a professor of Political Science at San Jose State University and formerly served as a Board Chair to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors for over a decade. Ken also served as : trustee of the San Jose Evergreen Community College District, San Jose City Council, Caltrain Joint Powers Authority Board, Valley Transportation Authority, and Health and Hospital Committee to name a few. Ken has a BA in political science, MA in sociology (SJSU), as well as, a Phd in Education from Stanford University

Ryan Hansen is a former principal at Quimby Oak Middle School in San Jose, CA. She is currently the principal at Nesbit Elementary School in Belmont, CA. Ms. Hansen is a New York native. She earned a Bachelor's degree from Molloy College and a Master’s degree from California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) in Educational Leadership and Social Justice. Currently, she is a Doctoral Candidate at Loyola Marymount University.  In this episode Ryan and I give you a full tour of Quimby Oak Middle School and show you what it means to be a Lobo.

Stephen A. Chang is an American actor, screenwriter, and producer. He is best known for his role as Maurice "Mo" Bassi in the Amazon Prime series Bosch: Legacy (2022–2025), where he appears in 30 episodes.  He also portrays Jesse, the noble character in the video game The Last of Us: Part II (2020), and Sebastian Wu, the antagonistic lead in the Emmy and Peabody-winning Twitch original series Artificial (2019–2021).  Chang has a diverse acting career, with appearances in television series such as This Is Us, Shameless, Hawaii Five-0, and NCIS: Los Angeles. He is also involved in creative projects beyond acting, including writing whimsical children's books and producing short films. He is a dedicated father of five children, whose imaginations inspire his storytelling.  He is active on social media, notably on Instagram (@changxberger), where he shares insights into his work and personal life. As of 2025, he is also set to appear in the upcoming video game Intergalactic: The Heretic Prophet, scheduled for release in 2027.

Mike Welch is a former educator and the mastermind behind the planning, development, and execution of Evergreen Valley High School in San Jose, CA. Officially open to the public in in January of 2003 and it's first senior graduating in 2005, EVHS was the first public high school built in San Jose since Foothill HS in 1989. EVHS was poised to be "one of the most technologically advance high schools of the future" providing personal laptops for all students in its first year.

Bob Dhillon is a pioneer of the Sikh Gurdwara in the Evergreen Hills of San Jose, CA. Bob played a key role in the planning, construction and development of what is recognized today as the largest Sikh Gurdwara in North America. With it's execution spanning 40 acres throughout it's master plan.

Cung Le is an American actor, former professional mixed martial artist, Sanshou fighter and kickboxer. Le is perhaps best known in mixed martial arts for competing in Strikeforce, holding a record of 7–1 with the organization before its demise. He defeated Frank Shamrock to become the second Strikeforce Middleweight Champion before vacating the title to further pursue his acting career. He competed as a middleweight in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), holding a record of 2–2 with the organization. In kickboxing and sanshou, he is a former International Kickboxing Federation Light Heavyweight World Champion, having a professional kickboxing record of 17–0 before moving to mixed martial arts.

Johnny Khamis is an American politician from San Jose, California and was a member of the San Jose City Council, representing District 10. Khamis is a Christian of Palestinian descent. He grew up in San Jose and attended local public schools, graduating from Oak Grove High School. He is a graduate of San Jose State University in Business Management and Communication. He is the former CEO and founder of Western Benefit Solutions, a San Jose-based firm that deals in insurance benefit plan consulting.