PODCAST

Kanawha Valley Hustlers

Joe Justice

Exploring the Stories and Strategies of Creatives and Hustlers in the Kanawha Valley

business entrepreneurship

All Episodes

00:00:00

Santa Claus at Lee’s Studio Productions A Christmas...

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/12/18

I talk with Santa Claus at Lee Studio Productions. He runs a once a year workshop visit where kids come in, play with toys, make cookies, drink chocolate milk, draw and color, and hand him their Christmas list, then leave with an 8x10 photo. I ask how he pulls it off in a short window, and he points to his helpers and the elves who spend two days setting the whole space. We talk about the building, which also houses Lee Studio of Dance, with trophies on the walls and a lot of vintage toys and items

00:00:00

Heather Atha and 12 Years of Krampus at Mike Winland...

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/12/16

I’m in Kanawha City with Heather Atha at Picture Day Mike Winland Studio while Krampus lurks around the studio. Heather helps run the Krampus sessions at Mike’s place and explains what Krampus is in German Christmas folklore, the opposite of Santa who takes bad kids instead of giving gifts. Mike has kept this tradition going for 12 years, and Heather has been part of it for most of that time because her son took his first Krampus photos as a newborn. We talk about how this gives families a fun

00:06:31

Jay Silverman and the Magic of Light the Night

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/12/11

I visit GoMart Ballpark to meet with Jay Silverman and walk through Light the Night, the Charleston Dirty Birds’ winter event. Jay explains how a local crew starts hanging lights in September and spends about ten weeks building a walk-through show with roughly 2.5 million lights organized into four main sections, plus a skating village, fire pits, mini golf, and a kids carnival. I learn that guests can keep it simple with a $12 general admission ticket or build up to packages with rides and extras,

00:07:16

Wild and Wired Linux Festival with Brett White

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/12/09

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast I am at the Wild and Wired West Virginia Linux festival with Brett White and several attendees, exploring how Linux can change the way people in our state think about technology. Brett introduces the event as a way to promote true tech ownership, privacy, and fun by using Linux, a free open source operating system that comes in many flavors and can bring old hardware back to life instead of sending it to e-waste. I talk with Daniel, who recently

00:06:13

From Firestone to IT Hub with Thomas Baker

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/12/04

In this episode I’m at the grand opening of AMG Network Hosting’s new office in a former Firestone Tire building in Montgomery, talking with Thomas Baker about his work. He runs a full service IT company that acts as the help desk for businesses from two people to several hundred, either taking over all of their IT or backing up internal teams with specialized skills. We walk through how he bought the old building from a client, saw potential under the wood paneling, and spent about seven months

00:03:57

Building Trail Towns and Outdoor Tourism with Madison...

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/12/02

I talk with Madison Stone, executive director of the Elk River Trail Foundation, about the work happening along the Elk River from Sutton Dam to the Kanawha River in Charleston. I learn the foundation is a 501(c)(3) focused on preserving, protecting, and enhancing both the river and the Elk River Trail. Madison walks me through how they’re adding regular kayak launches and ADA-accessible access points in trail towns like Sutton, Gassaway, Clay, and Clendenin so more people can get on the 102 miles

00:06:12

Gratitude and the Reality of Being an Entrepreneur

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/27

I talk about how Thanksgiving makes me step back and look at what it really means to run a business. I’m two years into my own company, and even with all my past experience, the ups and downs still hit hard. Clients pay late, leads slow down, people quit, and the workload grows faster than expected. None of it means something is wrong with me or anyone else doing this work. It’s simply part of owning a business. To keep myself steady, I write down three things I’m grateful for every day. Putting it

00:04:01

Caroline Starr on Cybersecurity and Creative Tech Growth

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/25

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustler I talk with Caroline Starr from KDE Technology, and she walks me through what they do and how she found her place there. She tells me they handle website development, marketing, graphic design and cybersecurity, and she explains why cybersecurity is growing as more people see digital threats in the news and want to protect their information. She describes their Hale Street space that serves as a business incubator and event venue, hosting everything from

00:03:57

Mayor Kay Summers Talks Recovery, Growth, and the...

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/20

I talk with Mayor Kay Summers at the ribbon cutting for the Riverview Complex and hear her talk about how important this moment is for Clendenin. She tells me about the long recovery since the 2016 flood and how it took years to bring back schools, a grocery store, and basic services. I listen as she explains how the old school building became apartments, a clinic, a business incubator, and space for the library. She describes the work of 25045 and the broader effort to support economic development

00:03:54

Lance Wheeler Talks Community Growth

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/18

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Lance Wheeler about his hustle, and he talks about the progress in Clendenin with new housing, business incubators and library opening after the flood. He says the County Commission supports the town and that cooperation among local, county, state and federal leaders is pushing growth across Kanawha County. He tells me people now see new opportunities in outdoor recreation, tourism and small business, from the outlaw trails to the

00:00:00

Evan and Rebekah Harding on Building Community...

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/13

I talk with Evan and Rebekah Harding and hear how they left Cincinnati, returned to West Virginia, and build a new life in Clendenin after stumbling onto the town during a fall festival. They tell me how they took over Clendenin Brewing Company, work almost every hour themselves, and build real relationships with the people who walk through the door. They talk about supporting the ribbon cutting at the new Riverview project and how the momentum in the community lifts every business. They explain how

00:00:00

Rebuilding a Town’s Future with Dave Knight

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/11

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Dave Knight about how he and a small group of residents in Clendenin saved their old 1912 school building from being lost. They partnered with several organizations to transform it into apartments, offices, and a clinic. The first renovation in 2011 cost $5 million, and the latest one totaled $7.5 million. Now the building has ten apartments, eight business suites, and medical offices, all within walking distance of downtown. Dave

00:05:53

Discipline Over Excuses Is What It Takes to Build a...

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/06

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk directly to entrepreneurs who say they want to grow but still think like employees. I remind them that success doesn’t come from a 9-to-5 mindset — it takes nights, weekends, and sacrifice. Building a business is hard work, not balance, and if they want stability, they should get a job. I tell them to get their finances straight, stop wasting money on convenience, and invest in tools and marketing that move their business forward. Flashy

00:05:47

Inside West Virginia’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/11/04

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Rozanna Bracken, director of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for West Virginia. She explains that 988 replaced the old 1-800-273-TALK number to make it easier for people to remember and now allows calling, texting, or chatting for help. Anyone can reach out — whether they’re struggling themselves or worried about someone else — and trained counselors will listen and guide them to resources. Rozanna says crisis is defined by the

00:03:42

Reed Byers on how a single hug can make a difference

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/10/30

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Reed Byers, founder of the One Billion Hugs movement. Reed shares how his mission to connect a billion people through hugs came from his own battles with mental health and loss. He tells me about a day when wearing a free hugs shirt at Tudor’s Biscuit World turned a bad moment into one of hope and connection, inspiring him to turn that feeling into a movement. He says that even in a world where we’re constantly online, people are

00:04:34

Stepping Forward for Suicide Prevention in West Virginia

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/10/29

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Tara Miller at the 10th annual Out of the Darkness Walk in Charleston, hosted by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. She explains that the walk raises awareness about mental health and suicide prevention while honoring those lost, with funds staying in West Virginia to support free education and advocacy programs. Tara shares that she became involved after losing her brother, Todd, to suicide in 2023, and that walking

00:06:12

From Creative Work to Growing a Brand

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/10/23

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I share how I learned that great work alone doesn’t bring clients. I start my career in 3D animation for education, then move into creating courtroom visuals for attorneys, always producing strong work but still struggling to grow. I realize that success comes from visibility, not just skill. When I become marketing director for an IT company, I dove into digital marketing—websites, email, and social media—and helped the company make the Inc

00:05:32

Building Community Through Local Events and Live Music

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/10/21

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Cristen Michael, who runs Charleston Events and manages cwvevents.com a website that lists everything happening around the city. She says October is packed with festivals and activities because people love being outside in the fall. Cristen started the calendar while working at a local hospital to help medical residents new to the area find things to do, and it quickly grew into a community resource. She’s now planning a 2026 Winter

00:05:23

Building Capital City Paralegals with Caitlin Fisher

Kanawha Valley Hustlers ·

2025/10/16

In this episode of the Kanawha Valley Hustlers podcast, I talk with Caitlin Fisher, a freelance paralegal and founder of Capital City Paralegals in Saint Albans. She explains that she helps attorneys who have heavy caseloads but not enough work to justify hiring full-time staff. Caitlin handles legal research, drafts documents, manages client communications, and assists with filings so attorneys can focus on their cases. She recently held her ribbon cutting, marking the launch of West Virginia’s

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Kanawha Valley Hustlers

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