Critical Mass Radio Show

Michelle Barto is the founder and creative director of Launch Creative, LLC a digital marketing firm focused on helping mission-driven companies grow their brand. She is passionate about innovation, good writing and design, and using data to guide marketing decisions. Founded in 2011, Launch Creative has helped hundreds of clients tell their brand story via their website and share their message with digital marketing and PR. Michelle has a B.S. in Business Administration and a B.S. in Computer Information Science from Franciscan University of Steubenville. Michelle sits on the board of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Coastline Regional Occupation Program, Pretend City Children’s Museum, Orange County School Board’s Association, Harbor Council PTA, National Charity League Newport Chapter, and Balboa Bay Club Board of Governors. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the

Kayla Bartel is the co-founder and CEO of Humanity HR Consulting. As a California Certified HR Professional (PHR-CA) with 20 years of corporate experience and consulting for PEO clients; striking out on her own was a dream realized for Kayla. With experience in varying industries including hospitality, food & beverage, environmental, tech, aerospace, non-profits and beyond, she's learned the most important thing in business are the relationships that develop and thrive. Building long-lasting relationships with her clients is what she loves the most about her role at Humanity HR. In her spare time, Kayla enjoys exploring sunny Southern California with her family. She loves to build and lead teams and her purpose in life is to guide organizations in building positive work environments. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partn

Jim Madrid is an author, a world-renowned presenter, educator. He embarked on his professional journey at Nordstrom, starting as a shoe stocker at a tender age of 15. Over time, he has evolved into a widely respected thought leader, driven by the empowering belief that "Anything Is Possible." His profound curiosity about the nexus between the mind and performance led him to pen the acclaimed Amazon bestseller, "Get Over It and Get On With It,” which has earned a stellar five-star rating. His newest book, “It’s All About Mindset” is due out this winter. Jim's indomitable mindset proved instrumental in triumphing over formidable adversaries, including stage 4 pancreatic and lung cancer, conquered within a mere year and a half. Beyond his literary accomplishments, Madrid serves as a corporate coach for Fortune 500 companies, imparting invaluable insights to executives and teams alike. He played a pivotal role in crafting the online curriculum "Win Forever" for Pete Carroll, the esteemed former coach of the Seatt

Hoda Mehr is CEO of Products That Count, a Silicon Valley-based nonprofit with the mission to help everyone build great products and a growing community of 500k+ product managers and leaders. She joined the company to grow and shape its next chapter by enabling Fortune 1000 companies to turn their product teams into a long-lasting competitive advantage through a full suite of upskilling and training programs. Hoda is also the founder of Stock Card, an award-winning fintech platform that removes noise from fundamental investment research for individual investors with over 80K members. Before her founder experience, Hoda worked on bringing several multi-million software products to market across multiple big tech companies. Hoda has lived and worked in several countries and cultures, including the Middle East, Canada, and the U.S. She is an Economist, has an MBA from the John Molson School of Business, and lives in Southern California. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running

Henry Park is the Founder & CEO of 3GC Group, an IT-managed service provider, Co-Founder & Executive Partner of Pandoblox, an advanced technology development company, and Chief Effectuator of Guerrilla Community Movement, a non-profit organization. Henry infuses a business approach to technology management and agile business consulting that helps transform companies into the data age. Focusing on the unique needs and wants of the business as a holistic living entity, his vision is to change the way technology is both sold and delivered to clients. Having experience in deal-making, executive management, architecting, and finance modeling, his approach has been utilized by both enterprises and SMBs around technologies in blockchain, AI, cloud, and cybersecurity. Henry has a BS in Economics and a minor in Psychology from UC Irvine and an Executive MBA from Tuck University. Rooted in the Kundalini yogic framework of existence, he looks at personal, family, business, spiritual, and philanthropic efforts as

CEO of USWC Media, LLC. aka U.S. WEED CHANNEL Shane Doull is an OC OG, (born and raised here). Like many boys Shane was always into waves, motorcycles, and the beach. But, unlike most, Shane was a federal criminal at age 14 when he started dealing weed to classmates. He expanded to muling cannabis across the border at age 19. Then quit the trade with the birth of his first daughter at age 21. Returning to Legal Cannabis in 2009 he started a journey that is as hair-raising as it is inspiring. With over a dozen firsts and wins for Cannabis legalization and media freedom Shane leads the path to legal global Cannabis lifestyle media. In 2009, he launched the world's first legal mobile cannabis store, Grand Daddy Phoenix. His arrest and subsequent realizations about the lack of media support for the Cannabis community, and the legal system's injustices and destructive properties on families like his led him to achieve groundbreaking milestones that will forever impact and protect the lives of Cannabis consumers w

Meghann Butcher is the CEO and founder of RepSpark Systems, the leading B2B eCommerce platform. RepSpark offers cloud-based software applications for sales and eCommerce, specifically designed for the apparel, footwear, and accessories industries. The platform focuses on wholesale businesses, enabling brands to sell intelligently and efficiently. Butcher cofounded RepSpark Systems 15 years ago with a vision to revolutionize the wholesale process. Her entrepreneurial journey began in Southern California, influenced by her father's work in the apparel industry. Early in her career, Butcher gained valuable experience in sales analytics within multi-brand apparel and footwear and as a litigation consultant. In 2007, Butcher took the foundational idea from her father's business and developed RepSpark, addressing critical inefficiencies in the wholesale brand-retailer relationship. Under her leadership, RepSpark has experienced strategic and sustainable growth, becoming renowned for its exceptional customer satisfa

Lucy Santana has dedicated nearly 25 years as CEO of Girls Inc. of Orange County (GIOC), where she has inspired thousands of girls to be “strong, smart, and bold.” Under her leadership, GIOC has grown to become one of the largest of the 78 Girls Inc. affiliates nationwide, positively impacting the lives of over 7,900 girls annually through transformative programs. These programs address vital topics such as body image, literacy, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and workforce development, helping girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds prepare for college and careers. In 2021, Lucy played a pivotal role in securing $10 million from Melinda French Gates’ Pivotal Ventures’ Equality Can’t Wait Challenge, which led to the creation of Project Accelerate. This initiative aims to increase the power and influence of women in the workplace by 2030, focusing particularly on women of color. Additionally, Lucy has successfully launched other impactful programs like Girls Meet the Workforce and College Bound

Byron Rodgers is a service-centered Executive Protection Agent, Video Blogger, Published Author, and Veteran on a steadfast mission to improve the quality of the world by making good people more dangerous. Over the span of a decade, he has gained extensive private security experience, conducting private security operations for each available VIP demographic industry-wide in over 60 countries. During his time in the military, he served in the United States Marine Corps infantry with two deployments to Iraq as a Squad Leader for four years. Right afterward, he became an Executive Protection Agent (bodyguard). He was fortunate enough to experience a seamless transition from the military back into the civilian life he was once well-acquainted with. Ultimately, this transition inspired him to author the book, “Finding Meaning After the Military”, and he’s currently working on a few more titles within the personal growth and executive protection categories. Today, he proudly serves as the Chief Executive Officer at

Duran Morley is a distinguished leader among motorcycle enthusiasts and a seasoned entrepreneur, holding the esteemed positions of Founder and CEO at The Van Mart, a prestigious e-commerce store specializing in Van Accessories, as well as Vanspeed, a leading manufacturer of Secondary vehicle body alterations tailored for cargo van conversions in recreational and mobile business applications. His entrepreneurial journey began at a tender age, where he astoundingly initiated three businesses before turning 18, showcasing his remarkable acumen. Fueled by an indomitable entrepreneurial spirit and a deep passion for the great outdoors, Duran Morley embarked on his fourth business venture, envisioning the potential and transformative lifestyle vans can offer to adventure-seeking customers. This led to the creation of Van Mart, an online store offering a wide range of van accessories, and Vanspeed, a specialized custom-built van shop. Through Van Mart and Vanspeed, Duran Morley not only inspires others to embrace th

Raghu Bala is Founder of UnifyGPT.ai, an AI startup, based in Orange County, California. UnifyGPT produces AI and Autonomous Agents for Enterprises. He is an experienced technology entrepreneur and is an alumnus of Yahoo, Infospace, Automotive.com, PwC, and has had 4 successful startup exits. He is a Board Advisor to OpenFabric.ai – a Layer 1 Protocol for Artificial Intelligence. Mr. Bala possesses an MBA in Finance from the Wharton School (University of Pennsylvania), an MS in Computer Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a BA/BS in Math and Computer Science from the State University of New York at Buffalo. He is the Head Managing Instructor for MIT courses in AI, Decentralized Finance, and Blockchain on the 2U platform. He is also an Adjunct Professor at VIT (India), and an ex-Adjunct Lecturer at Columbia University, and a Deeptech Mentor at IIT Madras(India). He is a published author of books on technical topics and is a frequent contributor online for the last two decades. His latest books in

Debora Wondercheck is a dedicated corporate leader, with a profound commitment to social impact and equality with close to 30 years of experience in education program implementation, and arts advocacy. Debora Wondercheck serves as the founder and CEO of the Arts & Learning Conservatory, she is also a professor of string pedagogy, a cellist, and an orchestral conductor. Debora remains unwavering in her mission to provide culturally inclusive artistic training and education to thousands of children throughout Southern CA and believes that by nurturing and empowering the next generation, we can contribute to the ongoing healing and advancement of youth and marginalized communities. Wondercheck is also the creator and producer of the county-wide, Juneteenth staged production called "Gospel Voices of OC", and "Music of the March" professional projects that pay tribute to the indomitable spirit and faith of African American ancestors through the lens of the arts. For the past two decades Wondercheck has stayed

Jairo “JC” Carrion immigrated to the United States in 1986, fleeing political persecution from his native country, Nicaragua. He has over 25 years of experience in the recruitment industry and has partnered with leading organizations across a wide range of industries, including Life Sciences, Financial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Autonomous Driving. myTOD is the fulfillment of a commitment made 33 years ago after Carrion's first experience with a recruiting agency where he struggled to get traditional recruiters to see his true talent. He felt the frustration of being placed in unsuitable roles and swore the same experience wouldn’t happen to others in the future. The model at myTOD is built on values that come straight from the heart, forged through real-life experiences, and fueled by a passion for disrupting the world of talent acquisition. It is also built on the promise to pay back for the mentorship and support he received throughout his career as a young professional. myTOD is committed to nurturin

Join us as we celebrate 15 incredible years of Orange County's longest-running business talk show. In our 1500th episode, host Ric Franzi interviews three distinguished guests who have made significant impacts on the Orange County business community. Meet Our Esteemed Guests: Paul Roberts, Creator of OC Talk Radio: As the creator of OC TALK RADIO, Paul Roberts pioneered Orange County's only online business radio station and live podcasting platform. His innovative approach to live podcasting earned an Industry Innovator Award from Radio World magazine in 2018. Paul also serves as a Digital Media Consultant for the SBA's Small Business Development Center, helping businesses amplify their stories through digital media. Rebecca Hall, Founder of Idea Hall: Rebecca Hall is the founder of Idea Hall, and has led the agency in delivering purpose-led creative communications for 21 years. Her nearly 30 years of experience includes leading international, national, and local branding, PR, and marketing programs. Rebecc

As Chief Executive Officer of Waymakers, Ronnetta Johnson has taken a visionary approach to the future of an agency that has served the Orange County community for 50 years. From a rebranding effort, which changed the agency name and messaging to a change in the leadership structure, from program expansion to facilitation of staff and board development, Johnson has focused on strategies that will ensure the agency’s vital services will be available for future generations. Johnson originally joined Waymakers in 1995. Within the agency, she has held the positions of Program Director for Victim Assistance Programs, Director of Human Resources, Director of Victim Assistance Programs, and since 2015 Chief Executive Officer. During her tenure with Waymakers, Johnson has been instrumental in founding Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force, establishing a crisis response team for mass victimization, opening two new crisis residential shelters, and expanding the youth development programs. Additionally Johnson has

Meghan Medlin’s career reflects a profound commitment to community service and transformative leadership. With over 15 years of nonprofit leadership experience, she founded Medlin Workforce & Reentry Solutions (MWRS) in 2019 and the Hub for Integration, Reentry & Employment (H.I.R.E.) in 2020. Under her leadership, H.I.R.E. has made a significant impact, assisting over 123 individuals in its inaugural year in 2021 and now serving over 700 people annually. MWRS has also thrived, earning recognition as the emerging Woman-Owned Business of the Year in 2021. In 2024, Medlin is leading an initiative to integrate H.I.R.E. and MWRS under one roof, creating a comprehensive “one-stop shop” for reentry and workforce development services in Orange County. Her participation in initiatives like the Stepping Up Initiative, OC Cares, Continuum of Care Board, SB 823, Ban the Box and numerous others highlights Medlin’s comprehensive approach to community betterment. -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County

Douglas Freeman is the CEO and Executive Chair of Orange County Music and Dance, a nonprofit community performing arts school in Irvine, California. Doug comes to this role after a long career as a lawyer, businessman, civic leader and philanthropist. He served in a variety of capacities within the nonprofit field, including Board Chair of the Pacific Symphony, where he is now a Lifetime Trustee, and Board Member, now Trustee Emeritus, at the California Institute of the Arts. He was also Board Chair of the UCI Foundation and Founding Board Chair of The Literacy Project. He is currently the Chair and President of the Larry and Helen Hoag Foundation and of the Ernest and Irma Rose Foundation. Doug has received a number of awards and recognitions, including being listed by the Orange County Business Journal on its inaugural 500 Most Influential People in Orange County (2016) and again in 2020. In 2019, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor Award. In 2015, he received the Orange County Boy Scouts of America

His name is Jonathan Brambles, but you can call him The Email Guy. After 16 years of hands-on automation architecture in Silicon Valley, he started his LLC in 2023 to fill an industry void that marketing agencies have been fumbling for decades — quality programs not built by interns. As an x-mechanical engineer and vintage automotive racer, Jonathan takes the same ‘zero-failure’ principles of success at the race track, and uses them to implement sophisticated eco-systems for his clients. He takes pride in not outsourcing to third world countries or handing clients off to interns. “If something’s worth doing, do it right.” -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com. Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interviews... YouTube: htt

Feryal Talebdoost is the founder of GreenPeach, driven by a clear mission: to build a trusted brand and educate parents about the crucial role of nutrition in children's development. Feryal strongly believes that prioritizing food over medication can address and minimize many medical conditions and why supplementation is essential to bridge the gap in our food supply chain. GreenPeach is dedicated to highlighting the importance of "we are what we eat," empowering families with the knowledge to make informed dietary choices. GreenPeach's aim is to empower and help children thrive and navigate the challenges of the 21st century successfully.   -- Critical Mass Business Talk Show is Orange County, CA's longest-running business talk show, focused on offering value and insight to middle-market business leaders in the OC and beyond. Hosted by Ric Franzi, business partner at Renaissance Executive Forums Orange County. Learn more about Ric at www.ricfranzi.com. Catch up on past Critical Mass Business Talk Show interv

Eric Gildenguys, the Founder & CEO of Rezultant Inc., is a dynamic leader, coach and mentor helping startups and small companies who are challenged in attaining the next stage in their growth. An expert in sales and revenue development, Eric focuses on scaling revenues, operational improvements, and project management. Having started his career in high tech at the age of 13, Eric co-founded his own software company in his 20s. Pacific Genesys was sold to Optio Software, now Bottomline Inc. As an intrapreneur, he created new revenue streams in the healthcare, retail, and new international markets. He was tapped to lead the integration of their French partner, becoming the EMEA headquarters for Optio Software. During his 3-year tenure in France, the company grew revenues by 600%. Eric has worked in AI software, healthcare, commercial kitchen construction, project management, and clinical trials, applying his extensive expertise in growth and operations management to any industry he encounters. -- Critical M