Episodes

  • Building a Family Legacy | La Peña Mexican Grill

    Building a Family Legacy | La Peña Mexican Grill
    Oct 2 2026
    When Jesse traded 28 years of bartending for the keys to his own restaurant, he thought he knew what he was signing up for. He didn't. "It's like being in jail with the door open," he says. "You could leave anytime you want, but you can't." After nearly three decades behind the bar, Jesse and his wife Maria took the leap and opened La Peña in Temecula. No investors. No backup plan. Just two people who'd done everything in the restaurant business except own one. This is their story of what happens when you stop working for someone else's dream and start building your own. From East LA to Texas to California, Jesse's been grinding in the service industry since day one. He met Maria 25 years ago when she was a server and he was slinging drinks. He promised he'd come back for her. And he did. Now they're married with four kids, running a restaurant together, and learning that ownership is a completely different beast. In this episode, we talk about: • Why Jesse finally left bartending after 28 years to open La Peña • The 10 month nightmare of permits, licensing, and duct detectors just to get open • How Maria's cult following from her old restaurant became their secret weapon • Meeting Maria in Texas, the promise he kept, and building a life together • Why he's not scared of competition and wants more restaurants around him • The difference between being a great bartender and being an owner • Hiring employees who actually want to work (and dealing with the ones who don't) • How his daughter Blanca went from server to manager overnight • The Luchador drink, wrestling masks, and future midget wrestling events • Building community with other restaurant owners instead of competing • Why the customer experience is everything and robots don't belong in restaurants • Sports, Sundays, and why La Peña is about to become the spot in Temecula This is a conversation about sacrifice, family, resilience, and what it really takes to go from employee to owner. Jesse reminds us that you don't know unless you do it. Sometimes you just have to bet on yourself. 🎙️ Raising The Bar Network Full episodes also available on Spotify 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @rtb.podcast 📍 La Peña Temecula: @lapenatemecula #LaPeña #RestaurantOwner #Bartender #Temecula #SmallBusiness #FamilyBusiness #Entrepreneurship #ServiceIndustry #MexicanRestaurant #RaisingTheBar #Hustle #OwnerLife #FromEmployeeToOwner
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Vulnerability is POWER | Chef Rosie

    Vulnerability is POWER | Chef Rosie
    Sep 1 2026
    When her position at U.S. Foods was dissolved, Chef Rosie called Mr. Tapley and asked one question: "Can we talk?" What happened next was the deal of a lifetime — negotiated entirely on a cocktail napkin. He wrote an offer. She countered. They went back and forth until he said the words that changed everything: "I'll take your offer. But this restaurant is yours as of tomorrow." No contract. No lawyers. Just a handshake, a promissory note, and a loan he carried himself. She paid him back in three years — and 10 years later, he'd still do it all over again. But the real story isn't just the napkin deal. It's what came after. The kitchen staff walking out on opening night. The stroke that revealed cancer. The husband who stayed when she thought no one would. The prayer in El Salvador that whispered back: "You know what to do. You lack discipline." Chef Rosie doesn't just cook food. She transforms lives. From a single mother in the Tenderloin to a community leader flying planes and mentoring the next generation, her story is proof that vulnerability is power. That making your bed matters. That in suffering, you find grace. In this episode, we talk about: • The napkin negotiation that made her a restaurant owner overnight • Surviving COVID, closing Provecho, and opening Lady R • How a stroke saved her life by revealing cancer • Meeting Chris — the answer to a prayer she didn't know would come true • Why discipline is the secret ingredient to dreaming bigger • The Letter to My Nieces and breaking generational trauma • Why you should make your bed every single day • Chapulines, mezcal, and 17 grams of protein in one ounce • Learning to fly planes, trust God, and live with purpose This is a conversation about faith, resilience, mentorship, and the power of showing up even when you're exhausted. Chef Rosie reminds us that you don't live once — you die once. You have to live every day. 🎙️ Raising The Bar Network Full episodes also available on Spotify 📲 Follow us on Instagram: @rtb.podcast #ChefRosie #LadyR #VulnerabilityIsPower #Resilience #Discipline #FaithAndPurpose #WomenInBusiness #RestaurantOwner #MakeYourBed #Mentorship #BreakingTrauma #Provecho #RaisingTheBar
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    1 hr and 31 mins
  • A Brother's Legacy, Chayse Life | Cory Sato

    A Brother's Legacy, Chayse Life | Cory Sato
    Jul 31 2026
    Cory, the owner of Chayse Life, shares the personal story behind his wellness and recovery center—and how losing his younger brother in a car crash changed the direction of his life.In this conversation, Cory explains how cold plunge therapy, sauna sessions, physical training, and community helped him work through grief, rebuild his health, and become more present for his family. He also discusses his life as a firefighter, resilience, fatherhood, and why Chayse Life is designed to be more than a day spa or recovery facility.We discuss:• The story behind the name Chayse Life • Cold plunge and sauna recovery routines • Building discipline through discomfort • Grief, purpose, fatherhood, and leading by example • How shared struggle creates community • Supporting first responders, veterans, athletes, and families • The future of Chayse Life and The Chase Effect podcast. This episode is a conversation about wellness, recovery, resilience, and continuing to chase life after loss. Note: This discussion is for general information and personal perspective—not medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before using sauna or cold-plunge therapy, especially if you have a medical condition. https://www.chayselife.com/ #coldplunge #InfraredSauna #Wellness #Recovery #Resilience
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • This Pharmacist Bet Everything on a Coffee Dream | The Fin

    This Pharmacist Bet Everything on a Coffee Dream | The Fin
    Jun 30 2026
    What happens when a young girl from Vietnam moves to America and becomes a pharmacist but trades that life in for an espresso machine? You get The Fin — Murrieta's most Inventive coffee shop, where everyone knows your name and every cup tells a story. In this episode, Ra and Travay sit down with Ann, the owner of The Fin Coffee Shop in Murrieta, CA. Ann grew up in Vietnam, went to school to become a pharmacist, and then took a leap that most people would call crazy — she moved to the Inland Empire and opened a coffee shop. Not just any coffee shop. One that blends classic Vietnamese coffee traditions with inventive drinks you won't find anywhere else.We talk about the immigrant hustle, the courage to pivot from a stable career to a passion, and what it actually takes to build a community space where people don't just grab coffee — they stay. The Fin isn't just a business. It's a family-friendly, happy-vibe place that feels like home the second you walk in.I f you've ever wondered what it takes to start over, bet on yourself, and build something that matters — this conversation is for you. 🔔 Subscribe for weekly episodes on growth, motivation, and the conversations that change you. 🎧 Full episodes also available on Spotify. 📍 Visit The Fin Coffee Shop in Murrieta, CA https://www.instagram.com/thefin.coffee/ #coffeeshopmusic #SmallBusiness #CoffeeShopOwner #VietnameseCoffee #Murrieta #InlandEmpire #CoffeeBusiness #EntrepreneurStory #PharmacistToOwner #VietnamToAmerica #CoffeeCulture #RaisingTheBar #Motivation #LifeLessons #Podcast
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    1 hr and 12 mins
  • The Jiu Jitsu Legend You've SHOULD'VE Heard Of | "Bill "The Grill" Cooper

    The Jiu Jitsu Legend You've SHOULD'VE Heard Of | "Bill "The Grill" Cooper
    Jun 2 2026
    Get ready for an exclusive look inside the Underground Training Facility (UTF) with the legendary Bill "The Grill" Cooper! He's opening the doors to reveal their incredible growth, give you a sneak peek at his killer training secrets, and share his inspiring journey of overcoming injury and the fight back to the mat. This Santa Barbara Jiu-Jitsu icon is about to drop some serious knowledge! #billthegrillcooper #jiujitsu #bjj #coaching #santabarbara #raisingthebarpodcast Underground Training Facility (UTF) www.instagram.com/underground_training_facility_/ Bill "The Grill" Cooper https://www.instagram.com/billthegrillcooper/
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • SUPERBOWL LX & BAD BUNNY HALFTIME CONTROVERSY

    SUPERBOWL LX & BAD BUNNY HALFTIME CONTROVERSY
    Feb 17 2026
    Ra & Travay dive into Super Bowl LX, dissect Bad Bunny's polarizing halftime show and all the drama, AND celebrate ONE EPIC year of podcasting! #badbunny #puertorico #haltimeshow #superbowlLX #Turningpointusa #podcast #raisingthrbarpodcast #belize #latinmusic #livenation
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • Sean Combs The Reckoning : Breaking Down The Facts

    Sean Combs The Reckoning : Breaking Down The Facts
    Jan 29 2026
    We dove into the captivating Netflix docuseries Sean Combs: The Reckoning! Join us as we break it down from two thrilling perspectives: a man in his 40s who experienced Diddy’s journey firsthand, and a guy in his late 20s who felt only a faint ripple from his impact. We share our insights, dissect what we believe to be true, and reveal our thoughts on this eye-opening docuseries! #diddyallegations #diddynetflixdocuseries #netflixdocuseries #podcasts #raisingthebarpodcast
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    1 hr and 9 mins
  • Ep. 38 | Expect The Unexpected

    Ep. 38 | Expect The Unexpected
    Jan 7 2026
    Do you expect too much out of your marriage and other relationships? exploring the impact of expectations, acceptance of differences, and intentional communication. We look at the significance of understanding perspectives, non-negotiables, and the value of shared experiences in building a strong and fulfilling relationship.
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    1 hr and 12 mins