The Espresso-Self Podcast

For over 10 years, Ryan Kendrick has been hustling his way around Hollywood to land the NEXT big opportunity. Originally being a yes man, Ryan took every opportunity he got, didn't matter the pay or role, he was just looking for the experience, opportunity and make life long connections. Having a reoccuring character on Peacock and a few big commercial breaks, Ryan has momentum in his favor and isn't stopping anytime soon. 

Nameless James was once known by everyone as Jack. But after being laid off during the height of the pandemic, he created his online identity to have fun with and keep hidden from his family. Always a creative, he took his passion for writing, wrap, and comedy to front his own short form skits on Tik Tok.  Plataued growth, worrying about the next paycheck, finding a groove, creating receptive content... These are only some on the struggles content creators face. Learn of Nameless James come up, his present and future ambitions in the creative content space. 

When Haley Kowalewski (@femmefinancialcoaching) heard about how her 401k through her employer was being completely underutilized and how much she could retire with by just being consistent, she was irritated. Why had nobody taught her the fundamentals of investing? She had no formal education in finance, but as she began to self teach financial literacy through books, podcasts, speakers - she began feeling empowered. Soon she was teaching others the power of investing.  As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, Haley looks to reach audiences who historically have the biggest hurdles when it comes to financial literacy. With 144k followers on Instagram and 122k followers on TikTok, Haley went from a corporate recruiter to utilizing her entrepreneurial spirit through financial coaching and content creation.

Alex Day has spent his entire professional career growing within that he sports media space. With a unique journey - listen to where it all began. The highs of incredible guests/opportunity, the lows of the pandemic/losing his dream job, and his plans moving forward. 

Joe Masinter shares his journey from addict, to Founder of Good Morning Recovery, a treatment program and community for those looking to overcome the depths of addiction. Joe outlines his work, before getting vulnerable to share his own battle with addiction, before becoming 3 years sober. 

Will Nork has done it all. Sales (ADP, Paylocity), acting (Netflix), model (Buttercloth), nightclub promoter, loan officer, and life coach. Learn not only the journey, but the mindset approach to continuous improvement for Will, as he uses self-reflection and annual audits to assess what next move is best. 

Student Painters is one hell of an internship program. Not only was it a true survival of the fittest, but it was an incredible networking hub with an awesome alumni network.  Dan Smith (University of South Carolina) and I (College of Charleston) met during a sales conference in January 2014. A year later in the program as mentors, we would meet Leo Adams (Clemson) - creating lasting connections from there.  This episode dives into the mindset of 2 two entrepreneurs, and their journeys to running multi-million dollar companies: a national Drone business and a Play Ground empire. 

To kick off Season 2, I packed up my studio up for the first time to record in the workplace of my guest. Jake Spooner (Co-founder of Estate Coffee) takes me on a tour of a co-roasting facility in Chinatown, as he works on his roast for Tower 15 Coffee Co.  Jake walks me through the coffee process: sourcing, shipping, roasting, packaging, preparing and tasting. As we take a deeper dive into the art of coffee, Jake share's his journey and how he got to where is is now.

Kenny Hansell gives a brief overview of his journey and the mission of the Espresso-Self Podcast series. 

If you know anything about Hollywood, you are aware this pocket of LA attracts unique characters across the world. Alex Phillips doubles down on this notion to define extraordinary.  Born in the South and raised in the Midwest, Alex knew college wasn’t for him and dropped out to send it one way to the Gold Coast. MMA trainer, comedian, actor, gamer, writer and outspoken bad ass - this episode is about tapping into the back story behind the man on stage.

With LA locked down during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rohan Tangri stayed focused with Matcha. Unable to find a low calorie and flavorful option, he and his girlfriend decided to make their own canned creation - Chatty Matcha. Now on shelves in grocery stores across Los Angeles, Rohan discusses the creation and launch process, along with how their Matcha will be the first to offer NFTs and tap into web3.

Strong inside and out, Mari Llewellyn has transformed herself completely within the past 5 years. Now running multiple businesses in the health and wellness industry as a co-owner with her husband, Mari discusses her breaking point and how she began her journey. Prioritizing her physical and mental health, Mari went from hitting rock bottom as a college dropout facing layers of internal challenges, to locking in and re-building herself in a do or die situation. Her story is inspiring, and I think her 1.6 million followers are a testament to that! 

Don’t call her mean, she just knows what she wants! Emma Klipstein is one of the fieriest personalities I’ve ever met. With the vision and focus clearer than ever, this woman is dangerous. Emma has had a wild journey through her career and relationships but has learned what she doesn’t want or will tolerate from the lows and raises her new expectations with the highs. And her bar is at an all-time high. Learn how Emma (quickly) went from unsure about her direction to ALL-IN on her business. And remember, don’t forget to #HideYourLikes.

If you didn’t know already, Fiona Attix is a cancer. While I cannot confirm or deny the accuracy of these astrological traits, Fi is truly a lover, protector and helping hand. And her personality has finally found the position that completely aligns with her. Born and raised outside of Washington DC and educated at the University of South Carolina, Fi fell in love with LA on her very first visit. Bouncing around a number of jobs and industries (baby-sitting, entertainment, private equity, etc) Fi took the challenges that come with this city as learning experiences. And when she saw an opportunity to work for an influencer who had unknowingly motivated her virtually during the lows of COVID, she seized the moment!

Free-spirited is the only way to define Justin Hellier. I first met Justin as a clean-shaven college grad in a suit. My protégé. It took me a while, but eventually I realized this was not him at all. Having spent his entire life in OC, San Diego and Los Angeles, Justin embodies the SoCal lifestyle. His love has always been in Real Estate, but he is not a corporate cut-out. Justin highlights the importance of learning through mentors, YouTube and experience. Having multiple rental properties already at 25, Justin is on a mission to live life on his terms and his time.

Erin Radke is the definition of resilience. Maybe that’s how she became Michael Page Los Angeles’s first ever female Associate Director, a company that holds resilience to its core. From a small town in South Dakota, she took a sales call from Los Angeles that changed her life. Facing massive obstacles along the way during her time in Los Angeles, including the loss of her mother, Erin has not backed down. With 6 promotions in 5 years, this recruitment rockstar shares her story while highlighting an encouraging message: stay positive, lead with love and stay resilient!

Front man. Tennis coach. Producer at the Price is Right? Is this the most interesting man in the world? Not quite, but he is my dearest of friends. Brett Levengood is from farm town Pennsylvania, but boy was he excited to get to LA. In fact, he left my college graduation party in his packed Honda Accord and drove straight there. Brett highlights his journey through live music (how he got started to where his band is now) and how he balances his passions with his other streams of income. Also… what’s next for Moon Cougar?

Modern society continues to develop exponentially, and the futures for us as individuals has never been so open. All this freedom, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, no? And whether it’s lifestyle, career-path, perspective, journey, or vision – we are all unique. As a conversational platform, the goal of this show is to inspire. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do with your life or where to start. Or have you found yourself lost in the madness of society? Who knows, you might just need to hear some of the wild stories of others living the same 24 hours a day we all have. I’m Ken Hansell, host of The Espresso-Self Podcast. My whole life I’ve been passionate about storytelling. I’m a bit of a character myself, who has never been scared of walking into a room full of new people. Perspective gives me air. Personality makes me laugh. Conversation gets me interested. Over the course of my life I have found myself having conversations with people that possess so much knowledge from their own experiences. So I thought, why not just grab a cup and hit record. These guests who express themselves have inspired me. Hopefully they inspire you too.