Archives: Episodes

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I meet Andy Morrison at Lola’s during First Tuesdays with Up Next Charlie West. Andy runs Business Up AI, a company that helps small and medium businesses use artificial intelligence to grow. He explains that AI is still new enough to give businesses an edge, but soon it will be as common as websites or spreadsheets. We talk about the many ways AI can be used, from writing to customer service, and also the risks, like deepfakes and fraud. Andy says fraud isn’t new, but AI makes it faster and harder to detect. His goal is to help people stay ahead and make smart choices. One big challenge he sees is how fast businesses respond to customer questions. If you don’t reply quickly, the customer moves on. His team builds AI tools that help businesses reply right away. I ask if people should fear AI or use it, and Andy says you can either get swept away by the wave or learn to surf it. He wants to help people surf.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Kiersten Holman at First Tuesdays with Up Next Charlie West. She’s the member of the month and a new sales rep at Cintas, handling facility services like mats, hand sanitizers, and paper products. She’s been with the company for about a month and says the transition from a smaller company has been smooth, thanks to her network in Charleston. Kiersten moved here from Wheeling a year and a half ago and found her first connections through Up Next Charlie West. She’s now on the leadership board and was recently named the Cintas Champion for the area, which means she’ll be the community outreach face for Charleston. She shares how important it is to show the positive side of West Virginia and how young professionals are making an impact. As we wrap up, she encourages others to get involved, come to events, and explore everything Charleston has to offer.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Corey Austin, the manager at Lola’s, a local favorite in South Hills. Corey’s been with the restaurant for seven years, starting in various roles before becoming the manager. She shares how Lola’s, known for its artisan pizzas, has grown over the years, including the addition of an outdoor bar last year. Despite the challenges of working in the food industry, Corey enjoys the positive vibe of the community. She talks about the team’s strong work ethic, especially with new employees who move up from host to server to bartender. While Lola’s doesn’t cater large events due to its small kitchen, they’ve done smaller events like the Bridge Road Festival. Corey mentions the need for more kitchen staff and appreciates the influx of applications as the restaurant’s popularity continues to grow.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk about how confusing digital marketing can be and why that’s normal. I explain how platforms like blogs, YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts have all had their moments, and success often comes from being early. I point out that most local businesses aren’t trying to make money from the platforms directly, like influencers do, but are using them to promote their real-world services. I use my own podcast as an example—I’m not paid to make it, but it helps me connect with people, stay visible, and learn what’s going on in the community. I stress that before you market to strangers, you should make sure people you already know understand what you do. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but you need to pick a platform, learn it, and stick with it long enough to build an audience. Whether it’s SEO, email, or social media, the key is focus and consistency, not trying everything at once and hoping something sticks.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I meet Domenica Cruz at Lola’s during the First Tuesday event hosted by Up Next Charlie West. She recently graduated from the University of Charleston with a degree in digital media design and minors in marketing and communications. She’s just started an internship with the Charleston Area Alliance and is already diving into the local networking scene. Domenica tells me she first came to Charleston on a track scholarship and ended up staying because she liked the people. Now she’s focused on building a career in public relations, improving her English, and getting more involved in the community. When I ask what West Virginians might not know about themselves, she says they’re more welcoming than they realize, especially to internationals, and that kind of kindness isn’t something you find in bigger cities.

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Chris Walters from Integrity Insurance Group in Charleston. He explains how the insurance market is changing, with new carriers like Geico and Foremost Choice 360 entering West Virginia, which means more options for clients. Chris opened his agency in 2019 and stresses the importance of finding a niche and becoming an expert. He shares how specializing in areas like trucking and workers’ comp helps him offer more value and build stronger relationships. We talk about how focusing your message makes marketing more effective and how clients start coming to you for advice beyond just insurance. Chris also talks about building a positive culture in his office and supporting his employees as people, not just workers. As we wrap up, he shares his concerns about the Kanawha Valley, including issues with the Charleston mall and the need to better support downtown businesses and bring more visitors off the interstate.