In this episode of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with Karina “KJ” Johnson — entrepreneur, cancer survivor, and co-owner of Fuego Resto & Bar — to unpack her fearless approach to business ownership, resilience, and reinvention. From acquiring two businesses on the same day to launching an online party shop while undergoing chemotherapy, Karina’s journey is packed with bold pivots, lessons in mindset, and the power of betting on yourself.

Topics Covered

00:00 - Grounding Yourself & Introducing Karina Johnson

01:10 - Rebranding Fuego & Owning a Restaurant

18:00 - Returning to College as a Single Mom

25:00 - Finding Your Strengths as a “Generalist”

46:00 - Selling Posh Party Play & Starting Over

50:00 - Acquiring a Second Business in One Day

59:00 - Cancer Diagnosis & Launching New Ventures

1:04:00 - Nursing School, Chemo & Entrepreneurship

1:13:00 - Event Planning for Permian High Prom

1:19:00 - Karina’s Final Message: Move the Orange Cones

Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or in the thick of growing your brand, this episode delivers real talk on building a legacy business — even in the face of the unimaginable. #BAMBizTalk #KarinaJohnson #EntrepreneurLife

#CancerSurvivor #BusinessPodcast #WestTexasBusiness #WomenInBusiness #BusinessResilience #StartupStories #OdessaTX #MidlandTX #FuegoResto #Happyish #BAMVentures

In episode #66 of BAM BizTalk, we sit down with Victoria Santiago, Dean of Continuing Education at Midland College, to explore how education, equity, and entrepreneurship intersect in West Texas.

Victoria shares her inspiring journey from ESL instructor to leading one of the region’s most impactful community education programs. From helping families build better futures to creating inclusive opportunities for immigrants, women, and underserved communities, her story is a testament to what’s possible when you lead with heart and purpose.

Whether you’re a business owner, educator, student, or advocate for change, this episode is filled with value.

💡 Topics Covered:

00:00 Why education transforms families

03:00 Victoria’s path from Venezuela to Odessa

08:00 Building ESL and workforce programs

14:00 CDL programs and empowering women

20:00 Serving underserved communities

25:00 Partnering with nonprofits like Casa de Amigos

32:00 Creating equity in education

38:00 The impact of AI on productivity

44:00 Community partnerships at Cogdell

52:00 Final thoughts on life, growth & leadership

👤 Guest:

Victoria Santiago — Dean of Continuing Education, Midland College

#podcast #midlandtx #odessatx #bambiztalk #podcasting #westtexas #businesspodcast #business #entrepreneurship #education #ai #artificialintelligence #youthempowerment

In episode #65 of BAM BizTalk, host Angel Garcia sits down with Ginny Van Doren-Truong, founder of Backstage Event Marketing, to dive into the dynamic world of live event marketing.

Ginny shares how her passion for the arts and entertainment industry turned into a thriving business helping venues, nonprofits, and communities bring audiences back to live experiences.

From teaching others how to market live events, to fostering community through initiatives like First Friday ODTX, this conversation is packed with insights for entrepreneurs, creatives, and anyone working in events.

Whether you're looking to sell more tickets, market smarter, or turn passion into impact — this is the episode for you.

Topics Covered:

00:00 Intro

01:00 Ginny’s journey to Midland and Wagner Noel experience

06:00 Founding Backstage Event Marketing

12:00 Odessa’s Texas Music Friendly designation

18:00 Marketing live events vs. other industries

25:00 Building a creative brand with intention

35:00 Why teaching & sharing resources matters

42:00 How to stay focused and avoid shiny object syndrome

48:00 Building community through First Friday ODTX

55:00 How to connect with Backstage Event Marketing and access resources

Guest:

Ginny Van Doren-Truong – Founder, Backstage Event Marketing #BAMBizTalk #BackstageEventMarketing #GinnyVanDoranTruong #LiveEventMarketing #OdessaTX #FirstFridayODTX #TexasMusicFriendly #EntrepreneurshipPodcast #EventMarketingTips #CreativeEntrepreneur #PurposeDrivenBusiness #SupportLocalTX #SmallBusinessMarketing