Episodes

This episode of Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact highlights the Carlsbad Chamber’s 2026 Chamber Travel adventure to Normandy and the Champagne region of France. Host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Ian Scott of Quest Voyager and Kathy Steffen, the Chamber’s Director of Fun, to preview the unforgettable journey scheduled for October 4–12, with an optional Paris extension. Trip highlights include: • Mont Saint-Michel • Omaha Beach & Pointe du Hoc • Normandy American Cemetery • Rouen (Joan ...

In this episode of Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Bennett Mann, valuation specialist and business broker with The Chase Group, to talk about what it really takes to build – and successfully sell – a small business. Bennett, a San Diego native and SDSU economics grad with additional business analysis training from UCSD, shares his career path through valuation roles at Bank of America, CoreLogic, and consulting for Fortune 500 companies. He explains h...

Podcast: Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact Host: Bret Schanzenbach, President & CEO, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Guest: Dr. Gene Ma, President & CEO, Tri-City Medical Center In this episode, Bret welcomes Dr. Gene Ma, a long-time emergency physician and now President & CEO of Tri-City Medical Center, for a candid and hopeful conversation about the future of healthcare in North County San Diego. Dr. Ma traces his journey from a globally mobile childhood (Hawaii, Burma, Japan, Hong Kong) to ...

In this episode, host Bret Schanzenbach, President & CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, sits down with Scott Morris, local Encinitas native, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder/general partner of The Bermuda Club. Scott traces his journey from La Costa Canyon High School to UCLA and the University of Chicago Law School, then into big-firm life at Latham & Watkins during the 2008 financial crisis. When litigation work dried up, he leaned into his entrepreneurial side, leaving the firm to b...

In this episode of “Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact,” host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Paola Richard, CEO and founder of Gelato Love in Carlsbad Village. Paola shares her global upbringing in Rome with roots across Europe, her early career as a seven-time Italian national synchronized swimming champion training in California, and her transition into marine biology and science journalism, where she wrote and produced content on conservation for outlets like National Geographic Italy an...

In this episode of Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Sean Walker and Andy Slip, co-founders of Pickleball Republic. Sean shares his Carlsbad roots and decades in recreational entertainment (from paintball events to operating Camp Pendleton’s park), while Andy describes discovering pickleball on vacation and joining the thriving community at Sean’s Pickleball Club in The Shoppes at Carlsbad. Together they announce Pickleball Republic, a hybrid indoor/out...

On Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact, Bret Schanzenbach talks with Audrey Maria Adams, founder of YNSOTM Co (pronounced “yen-SOD-um”), a consultancy grounded in the thesis line “You are Not So Other Than Me.” Audrey shares how studies in political theory, philosophy, and psychology shaped her obsession with human flourishing—and how coaching, education leadership, grief, kindness projects, and unexpected sales roles led her to redesign customer experiences with unreasonable hospitality. What...

In this episode, Bret Schanzenbach talks with Alan Shimamoto, founder of Accelerate Growth Coaching. Alan shares his extraordinary story—from being adopted from a Japanese orphanage to building multimillion-dollar sales organizations and a career helping business owners thrive through leadership and personal growth. He and his wife Louisa relocated from the Pacific Northwest to Carlsbad to be near their daughter and immediately immersed themselves in the community through the Carlsbad Chamber o...

On this episode of Carlsbad: People, Purpose and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Erin Hardin, director of community relations at the Agua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation. Erin shares her journey from Las Vegas to Encinitas, her passion for nonprofit work, and why Agua Hedionda is her dream role—combining education, animals, kids, and environmental stewardship. They highlight the Foundation’s three marquee fundraisers—Laguna Kahuna Cleanup Challenge (May), the Haunted Corn Maze (October)...

In this episode of Carlsbad People, Purpose, and Impact, Bret Schanzenbach interviews Michael Stinnett, founder and director of Shield Legal Services. Michael shares his journey from serving as a Navy aviation ordnance technician, to studying political science and law, to working with the Department of Justice and National Security Agency, and ultimately finding his calling in veterans’ legal advocacy. After helping veterans in Washington, D.C. navigate housing, disability benefits, and access ...

In this episode, Bret sits down with Kevin Clemons, CEO of Au Technology Solutions and Chamber board member, to explore his journey from Vista native to Navy veteran to tech entrepreneur. Kevin opens up about building his first computers, leveraging the GI Bill to launch his career, and how he turned setbacks into opportunities. Listeners will learn how Microsoft’s ecosystem—including Teams and Copilot—helps businesses save money, improve communication, and stay secure. Kevin also shares why hi...

What happens when a youth pastor discovers the power of a boosted Instagram post? For Tim Holt, it launched a journey from ministry to marketing that led him to create Rivia, a Carlsbad-based firm redefining what “marketing done right” looks like. In this episode, Tim shares how his company helps businesses cut through the noise with revenue-first marketing and a fractional CMO model that delivers measurable results without long-term contracts. From growing Google Reviews to building websites t...

In this episode, Bret interviews Chamber team member and Spira Accounting founder Janine Burke. They explore her journey from Northern California roots to launching her own bookkeeping business at age 28. Janine shares how technology — from QuickBooks Online to modern tools like Melio and Ramp — has revolutionized accounting, making it more efficient and transparent. She also discusses how AI is reshaping the industry, freeing small business owners to focus on strategy. Finally, Janine previews ...

In this episode of Carlsbad People, Purpose, and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Ash L., founder of Green Madness and owner of MOOYAH Burgers, Fries, and Shakes in Carlsbad. Ash shares his remarkable journey from growing up in Egypt and England, to traveling to nearly 90 countries, to launching a successful corporate career before pivoting into the restaurant industry. Starting as a baker at Einstein Bros. Bagels, Ash quickly rose to General Manager, later joined Luna Grill, and e...

In this episode of Carlsbad People, Purpose, and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Carlsbad Police Chief Christie Calderwood. From her unexpected career shift from aspiring English teacher to law enforcement leader, Christie shares her inspiring journey through the ranks—from officer to chief. They discuss community partnerships, proactive event security, crisis negotiation, mental health response teams, homelessness, retail theft, Prop 36, and the challenges of recruiting the next ...

In this episode of Carlsbad People, Purpose, and Impact, Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Dr. Yvonne Scarlett, founder of Red Lotus Wellness Center. Dr. Scarlett shares her extraordinary path—from corporate travel and engineering to real estate and finally holistic medicine—driven by her own battle with chronic migraines and autoimmune issues. She reveals how acupuncture and Chinese medicine transformed her health, inspired her career shift, and now form the foundation of her thriving practice i...

In this episode of Carlsbad People, Purpose, and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Dale Stein, CEO and partner at i-NETT, to unpack a lifetime of entrepreneurship, innovation, and service. From childhood, Dale demonstrated an entrepreneurial spark—turning odd jobs into stepping stones toward a business mindset. By age 15, he was already running his town’s milk delivery route, and that drive eventually propelled him to build one of the nation’s largest privately owned home alarm comp...

In this episode of Carlsbad People, Purpose and Impact, host Bret Schanzenbach, President and CEO of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, sits down with Galina Marcus, founder and CEO of the San Diego Art Directory, to explore her journey from Moscow to San Diego and her mission to elevate the region’s art scene. Galena shares her backstory, growing up in cosmopolitan Moscow and moving to the U.S. in 2015 to marry her husband, a San Diego native she met—unexpectedly—on LinkedIn. With a creative ba...

In this episode, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce CEO Bret Schanzenbach sits down with Lisa Carroll, president of Number Crunching, Inc., to explore her unique career path and specialized expertise in uncovering financial deception. Lisa shares her journey from humble beginnings in accounts payable and receivable to becoming a sought-after Certified Fraud Examiner. Initially recognized for her knack for unraveling messy financial records, she found her calling when an attorney asked her to testify ...

Ever wondered how the digital marketing landscape is transforming with the rise of AI? Or how video content is reshaping client engagement? In episode 154 of Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact, I sit down with Gwen Beren, the brilliant mind behind Illuminus Marketing. This episode is a treasure trove of insights as Gwen shares her fascinating journey from corporate burnout to entrepreneurial success. Gwen, a Rancho Penasquitos native, takes us through her educational journey at the Savannah ...

Ever wondered how a career in industrial engineering can lead to a thriving podcast empire? Or how breaking into Apple's supply chain can take over two years of relentless dedication? Join me, Bret Schanzenbach, as I chat with Jim Miller, the mastermind behind Bold Leadership Stories Media. From his roots at Cal Poly to navigating the world of technical sales with giants like 3M and Hewlett Packard, Jim’s journey is a rollercoaster of perseverance and innovation. Discover how the pandemic catal...

Ever wondered how a life-threatening wildfire could inspire a thriving business? In episode 152 of the Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact podcast, I sit down with Rachel Arbuckle, the remarkable owner of 2000 Paces Photo Organizing. From her childhood as a Navy brat, through her service as a neuropsychiatric technician, to her entrepreneurial journey, Rachel shares her fascinating story and the pivotal moment that led to the creation of her company. Join us as we explore how Rachel transform...

What role did women's clubs play in shaping modern society? How did the Women's Club of Carlsbad leave an indelible mark on their community over the last century? Dive into episode 151 of the Carlsbad: People, Purpose, and Impact podcast, where I, Bret Schanzenbach, have the pleasure of chatting with Kae Gernandt and Edith Broyles from the Women's Club of Carlsbad. We're celebrating the club's rich history as they gear up for their 100th anniversary in 2025. From advocating for road safety and ...