Advertise on podcast: Beyond the Smoke with Thomas Ward

This week we sat down with Vic Martinez, Creative Director at BrandCrumbs, as he shares the journey of building a media company from the ground up. Starting with a $400 camera and no formal training, Vic taught himself video production through trial and error, learning by doing and embracing every mistake along the way. What began as a side hustle creating content for local businesses eventually grew into a full-scale video marketing company serving clients across Central Florida. But the road to success wasn't without challenges. From nearly losing his business after a battle with pneumonia to navigating floods, lost clients, staffing changes, and the uncertainty that comes with entrepreneurship, Vic opens up about the realities of growing a company in an ever-changing digital landscape. Vic and Thomas discuss the evolution of content creation, the importance of adaptability, and the lessons learned from building businesses through both prosperous seasons and difficult setbacks. As Vic explains, "It's easy to start a business. Keeping it and growing it is the hard part." Don't miss this week's episode of Beyond the Smoke, where we explore the highs, lows, and hard-earned lessons behind building a successful business in today's rapidly changing world.

This week we sat down with José Alberto Suárez, a media mogul, who has shaped the landscape of media. From humble beginnings, José started off with street level marketing, from posters to billboards he did it all. But the times changed, the media was slowly becoming less and less physical and more digital, and he had to adapt quickly before he was left in the dust. This week we learn firsthand how he turned challenges into stepping stones, and continues to shape the future of media. Don't miss this week's episode where we share the secrets of mastering media, and how to adapt to an ever changing field.    4:20 The Early Years 9:35 Street-Level Beginnings 15:50 Media Evolution Insights 22:30 Leadership Philosophy 29:45 Climbing the Ladder 34:10 Mentoring the Next Gen 40:25 The Future of Media

This week we sat down with Eric and Eddie Stankiewicz, better known as the "stanky brothers." These two sauce connoisseurs are here to share their expertise on the art of making the perfect sauce. From a young age, Eric and Eddie both had a passion for flavor, growing up in a Latin household, they were constantly learning about spices and flavors from their Mom and Abuela. This love of flavor turned into a passion for creating sauces, they  “believe that there's a great marriage in between art and food. And, we really wanted to showcase, as we do that with our brand as well.” Not only do they have an appreciation for the art form of cooking, but they are also experts in marketing and branding. They use this brand to reflect their personality and stand out against their competitors. Don’t miss this week's episode of Beyond the Smoke, where we find out the secret ingredient to Stanky Sauces success. 2:45 From Disney Dream to Sauce Reality 6:10 The Hot Sauce Journey Begins 11:15 Pineapple on Pizza: The Verdict 17:30 Spicing Up Life with Sauces 23:50 Mango Inspiration Behind the Heat 29:40 Building the Stanky Sauce Brand 34:05 Hot Tips from the Sauce Moguls

This week we sat down with Ajay Bharadva, a sales partner with Porsche, as he tells his life story of using his passions and persistence to modify his career.  From humble beginnings, Ajay worked his way up in the family business at his father’s auto collision shop in Orlando. From there he shifted gears, and turned his passion for cars into the driving force that has made him a remarkable sales associate with Porsche. Following his dreams, he believes that “You have to find inspiration in anything in your life. If you don't have that connection with the universe, then you're not here to be your true self.” He utilizes this mentality to be true to himself and find success in his career.  Don’t miss this week's episode of Beyond the Smoke, where we get to see exactly how Ajay takes his passion to the sales floor. 05:22 Meet Ajay Bharadva 09:45 Early Days in Bodywork 14:30 The Dynamics of Family Business 20:17 Discovering Porsche Passion 26:50 Sales Career Transition 33:40 Lessons from the Showroom Floor 39:15 Advice for Shifting Careers 44:28 Future Goals and Aspirations

This week we sat down with Andres Maldonado, the Founder and Executive Chef of Nona Street Pizza; And he tells the story of his business that he built from the crust up.  Andres wanted to make his food truck different from your run of the mill roach coach, saying “I wanted to bring the country club style to a food truck. While I’m one of the guilty people that has seen food trucks as inferior to a restaurant, I wanted to turn that around.” And he’s done just that, by making huge changes to the typical food truck recipe that enhanced food taste and quality, while also keeping costs as low as possible for his guests.  His path to success was filled with hardships, hurdles, and setbacks that he had to overcome and he is still learning today.  2:15 Andres’ Humble Beginnings 5:45 School Detour: From Class to Kitchen 10:30 Crafting the Perfect Dough Recipe 15:20 The Marketing to Marinara Pivot 21:50 Community Impact 27:35 Pizza Trends & Future Flavors 33:00 Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned 40:25 What's Next for Nona Street Pizza

We sit down with Yamuel Bigio as he describes how his father’s supermarket business sparked a culinary passion that led to him creating and running Crocante restaurant.  He believes in "Just putting out great food all the time. There's no in between. As a cook, you're as good as your last dish." So despite struggling with culinary school, business closures, and the impact of the pandemic; the lessons of persistence and consistency that he learned from his father, has led him to the success he sees today.  Yamuel’s passion for cooking is truly contagious, so tune in to feel his energy and maybe you can learn a thing or two from his culinary voyage.  2:15 - Yamuel’s Grocery Roots 4:50 - From Grocery to Gourmet 7:30 - Mastering the Grill 10:45 - Tips for Culinary Expertise 13:20 - Family Traditions Explored 17:05 - Food Industry Challenges 20:40 - Sustaining Legacy Discussion 24:15 - Keeping Culinary Passion Alive

Allen Lo and Kaleb Harrell are co founders of Hawkers Asian Street Food & Craft Cocktails. What once started off as only a simple passion for Asian street food, has exploded into a multi- location empire. Through hand-rolled dumplings, unyielding dedication, and street smart strategies, these entrepreneurs have worked their way to the top to become the buzz of the Orlando food scene. You won’t believe what they have planned for the future of their still young restaurant, so tune in to find out!

We sit down with Jeff and Danielle Perera, the founders of Jeff's Bagels, and their new partner, Justin Wetherill, the former CEO of uBreakiFix. Get a look into the impressive expansion of Jeff's Bagel Run, a beloved Orlando staple. They reveal their strategies for growth, team-building, and maintaining quality across multiple locations. [03:00] The Birth of Jeff's Bagels [04:30] New Partnerships and Future Plans [07:50] First Impressions with Justin Wetherill [22:00] Building a Strong Team for Expansion [30:00] What’s Next for Jeff's Bagels? [33:00] Expansion Strategies Beyond Orlando [37:40] The Importance of People in Business [44:00] Maintaining Quality During Growth 🔔 Subscribe and Review: Don't forget to subscribe to Beyond The Smoke for more insightful business discussions. Leave a review and share your thoughts on this episode! 👉 Listen now for a peek into the future of Jeff's Bagels and the strategies driving their success!

Gabriel Boy turned a layoff into a springboard for success. Unpack Gabriel's journey through high-stakes decision making, scaling a business from the ground up, and his lifelong attempt to master the art of resilience. Don't miss this episode of Beyond The Smoke. Tap into inspiration, draw from Gabriel's lessons, and maybe, just maybe, you'll find the courage to make your own pivot. Jump to it - 02:15 - Layoff: A Blessing in Disguise 08:30 - The Corporate Shuffle Challenge 14:50 - Gabriel's Entrepreneurial Turn 22:35 - Mastering Resilience 29:10 - Art of the Pivot 33:45 - Insights from Gabriel's Journey 41:20 - Charting Uncharted Business Territories 47:30 - Gabriel's Defining Moment 55:50 - Building a Business Ground-Up

The Cholo Dogs themselves - Chris Delahoz and Jordan Eichenblatt - join our host Thomas Ward to they discuss the meteoric rise of a pandemic-born hotdog empire. From navigating unforeseen challenges to toasting unexpected victories, get a taste of how resilience and innovation can cook up success even in the toughest times. 1:30 - Launching in Lockdown 5:45 - Crafting a Hotdog Dream 10:15 - Marketing Meets Gastronomy 14:25 - Hurdles and Triumphs 19:00 - $500K Milestone Journey 23:40 - Resilience in Entrepreneuring

Thomas sits down with Ty Pope, an IFBB pro bodybuilder turned entrepreneur. Ty's journey from the fitness industry to entrepreneurship offers valuable lessons in resilience, vision, and the importance of maintaining your core values during expansion. 02:00 - Ty's Journey from Bodybuilding to Business10:00 - The Role of Vision in Business Success20:00 - Lessons in Resilience from Bodybuilding30:00 - Tips for Strategic Restaurant Expansion40:00 - Aligning Business Growth with Personal ValuesDon't miss out on these valuable lessons.

"It's our job as developers in Orlando or as entrepreneurs here in Orlando to keep giving people reasons to come here and stay here." – Giovanni Fernandez Thomas Ward sits down with the founder and owner of Otto's High Dive - Giovanni Fernandez. Giovanni is on a mission to create vibrant community spaces by blending real estate development with the restaurant industry. Discover how his Cuban heritage and family legacy fuel his passion for transforming neighborhoods and building a lasting impact. Jump right to it - 03:00 - Transitioning from Real Estate to the Restaurant Business 05:00 - Blending Community and Business 07:00 - The Impact of Otto's High Dive on Orlando's Neighborhoods 09:00 - How Family Values Shape Giovanni's Business Approach 11:00 - Giovanni's Vision for Orlando's Future Development 13:00 - The Significance of Community in Giovanni's Ventures 15:00 - Closing Thoughts and Giovanni's Message to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

"Embrace failures as fortunes" says Ruben Perez, the mastermind turning his Cuban heritage into a celebrated national treasure, one dish at a time. Hear how Ruben rose from humble beginnings, starting as a dishwasher, to crafting a restaurant dynasty. Discover the pivotal moments where Ruben turned daunting failures into stepping stones for success. Unlock the secrets behind his mantra, "Keep it simple," and why it's sometimes the hardest advice to follow for an ever-growing brand. 2:15 - Ruben's Humble Beginnings 6:30 - Dishwashing to Restaurant Ownership 12:50 - Overcoming Monumental Business Mistakes 19:25 - The Power of Resilience 25:40 - 'Keep It Simple' Philosophy 33:15 - Brand Growth Challenges 🎧 What’s that one mistake that almost cost Ruben his entire empire? Tune in to hear the story wrapped in flavors of resilience and passion for greatness.

John Rife - Founder of Orlando's East End Market and partner in Lineage Coffee Roasting, The Neighbors and Kaya Orlando sits down with me to discuss co-mingling, collaborating vs competing, and his journey establishing multiple successful restaurants.

Listen to this podcast ➔ https://youtu.be/sFYp_VCrcGo Matthew Wayne is a rising country music artist who has been making music since the age of 5. He has had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in the music industry, including Joey Fatone from NSYNC and Boyz II Men.    Find him on Spotify, Apple Music, anywhere you listen to music or his website https://www.matthewwaynemusic.com/