The Personal Side of Business Podcast

What if one employee benefit could help companies reduce turnover while helping employees achieve homeownership?

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet Bunditwong sits down with Larry and Cheri Salazar, founders of NestSTEPS Benefits, a company helping employers offer homeownership benefits to their teams.

After experiencing their own challenges with buying a home, Larry and Cheri built a program that helps employees...

What does it actually take to scale a business—and step away from it successfully?

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet sits down with business coach and former entrepreneur Jonathan Ghiloni, who built and sold a successful construction company after 20 years—and now helps other business owners do the same.

Jonathan breaks down the real difference between working in your business vs. working on it, why most entrepr...

Why aren’t we teaching kids about money early enough?

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet sits down with Kelly Lee, author of the Little Economist book series, to talk about how she’s helping young children understand financial literacy in a way that’s simple, fun, and actually engaging.

Kelly’s journey started during the pandemic after realizing how many adults were financially unprepared for uncertainty. As a ne...

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet interviews Amber Gaige, marketing strategist and founder, to break down what actually drives small business growth, lead generation, and sales conversion in today’s competitive market.

If you’re a business owner struggling with stagnant sales, low website traffic, poor lead flow, or inconsistent marketing results, this episode dives into the real reasons why—and how to fix them.

Former intelligence operative Dr. Don Weber joins The Personal Side of Business to share how decades working in global intelligence shaped his understanding of leadership, influence, communication, and human behavior.

After operating in high-risk international environments where reading people correctly could mean survival, Don now works with executives and organizations to help leaders better understand motivation, trust, and deci...

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet Bunditwong sits down with John A. King for a deeply honest conversation about trauma, masculinity, and rebuilding life after everything falls apart.

John shares his personal journey of surviving childhood abuse and trafficking, the moment his life imploded at the height of professional success, and how years of recovery reshaped his identity, purpose, and work with men today.

To...

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, host Jet Bunditwong sits down with Sara Nicholson, Human Resource Advisor with the San Diego SBDC, for an in-depth conversation on what every entrepreneur needs to understand about HR—before hiring their first employee.

Sara shares her unconventional path from accounting and hospitality into human resources, and explains why HR is not the “evil department,” but rather the oil that k...

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, I sit down with San Diego injury attorney Matt Paré, whose story goes far beyond legal success. From growing up in small-town Maine to building his own thriving law practice, Matt shares how he’s crafted a career that allows him to travel the world with his family—visiting over 47 countries and skiing on three continents.

We dive deep into the entrepreneurial side of law, exploring ...

What does it take to go from being a teenage father with no roadmap to leading one of San Diego’s trusted plumbing companies?

In this episode, Jet Bunditwong talks with Paul Ramirez, owner of Speedi Rooter Plumbing & Drain, about his extraordinary journey of resilience, faith, and entrepreneurship.

Paul shares how he:

• Overcame early hardships and built a strong work ethic

• Learned the plumbing trade from mentors and turn...

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet sits down with mortgage veteran Cristen Carver, a powerhouse with nearly four decades of experience in lending, real estate cycles, and consumer finance.

Cristen shares how the mortgage world has evolved—from the wild, unregulated days of the ’80s and ’90s to today’s highly structured, compliance-driven industry. She breaks down the truth behind interest rates, the real causes o...

What happens when you leave a comfortable life in San Francisco to chase an international dream?

In this episode, host Jet Bunditwong talks with Brian Samson, an entrepreneur who turned an expat adventure in Argentina into a thriving nearshore tech company. Brian shares how he raised $2 million, built a software team from the ground up, and learned to navigate Argentina’s complex business environment — all while redefining what it ...

When a Groupon discovery flight turned into a life-changing moment, Tim Pierce knew he had found his calling. In this episode, host Jet Bunditwong talks with the founder of Hive Aviation, a Northern San Diego flight school offering affordable, personalized training for future pilots.

Tim opens up about his journey from serving in the Marine Corps to becoming a private flight instructor and entrepreneur. He shares the highs and lows...

What does it take to turn a $10,000 dream into a thriving snack brand?

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet Bunditwong sits down with Kyle and Amy Nehring, founders of Teton Valley Brands Potato Chips in Boise, Idaho. From late-night packaging sessions in their basement to raising capital and building a full production facility, their journey is one of grit, sacrifice, and resilience.

You’ll hear:

• How a colle...

How does a personal blog about family recipes evolve into a 17-year career as a food blogger, cookbook author, and now the founder of Wild Rise Pizza Co.? In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet Bunditwong sits down with Natalie Perry in Boise, Idaho, to explore her inspiring path from casual food blogging to creating artisan sourdough pizza kits.

Natalie shares:

• How food blogging “accidentally” became her caree...

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, host Jet Bunditwong talks with Lindsay Hinger, a U.S. Air Force veteran and business advisor with the Chapel Hill, SBTDC. Lindsay shares her path from figuring out logistics to launching two businesses, the unique challenges military spouses face, and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, mental health, and having an exit strategy. A must-listen for entrepreneurs navigating th...

Divorce doesn’t have to be a war.

In this episode of The Personal Side of Business, I sit down with Barney Connaughton — founder of A Healthy Divorce, experienced mediator, and author of Untangling Together: A Healthy Divorce Guide and Workbook. With more than 30 years in family law, Barney has helped countless couples turn one of life’s most difficult transitions into an opportunity for healing, cooperation, and hope.

We discuss:

In this powerful episode of The Personal Side of Business, host Jet Bunditwong sits down with Pam Covarrubias — coach, speaker, and host of the acclaimed podcast Café con Pam. Pam shares her journey from buying a retired rapper’s microphone to becoming a voice for first-generation women, dismantling the Calladita culture, and stepping fully into bold, unapologetic authenticity.

Through raw storytelling, she unpacks the “five wounds...

What if your lowest moment became the start of your life’s true calling? Meet Sarah Dolgen, a single mom who turned heartbreak, isolation, and uncertainty into Cooking with Love—a deeply personal chef service that brings comfort, healing, and connection to every plate.

In this intimate episode of The Personal Side of Business, Sarah shares how feeding friends during the pandemic grew into a purpose-driven business serving busy fami...

In this powerful episode of The Personal Side of Business, Jet Bunditwong sits down with Crystal Hilsley—founder of CCNG Developments—to explore her inspiring journey from psychology student to global consultant and sustainable agriculture leader.

Crystal shares how her childhood in Paso Robles shaped her passion for clean eating and farming, why she walked away from corporate success, and how she's transforming communities with mi...