Big thanks to Justin Grimaldo for producing and editing the episode, please find links to his work below:🔗 Portfolio: https://www.sightseerproductions.com/📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/justingrimaldo_editor/🎥 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@UCNUUgZDIeToq3UKeHPAeD_A Is the race to the bottom already over? Most creators and business owners are celebrating the speed of AI, but they’re ignoring the "Brutal Truth": if your product can be made in half the time, it’s worth half the price.In this 2.5-hour masterclass, Andrew and Luke Kennedy sit down with Justin Grimaldo. A filmmaker who transitioned from a JVC camcorder at church to high-end narrative and wedding filmmaking to discuss why the "Human Experience" is the only premium product left in 2026.While 90% of the world is chasing "Fast & Cheap," we’re talking to the 10% who are building a legacy. We dive into the "P-Pill" of marketing, the reality of the Humboldt film scene, and why Justin believes our dependence on AI will be the creative world's eventual demise.

Is Humboldt County’s refusal to grow killing its economy? We’re sitting on a multi-million dollar goldmine of sports tourism and local talent, but we treat our growth like a "local hobby." In this episode of BTRC 2.0, we sit down with Alicia, a student worker at the Cal Poly Humboldt School of Business and a local entrepreneur who is tired of seeing 90% of businesses struggle while the solution is staring us in the face.We dive into the "Brutal Truth" about why big firms aren't hiring out of Humboldt, how AI is actually a tool for human connection, and the "Butter Metaphor", a blueprint for any entrepreneur trying to find their place in a crowded market.Chapters:00:00 Cal Poly Protest 2026 Explained (What Actually Happened)06:34 Is GTA 6 About to Hurt the Economy?13:55 Is Humboldt County a Good Place to Build a Future?21:38 Why Networking in High School Gives You an Unfair Advantage30:03 Building “Butter Together” From the Ground Up38:45 Stop Watching, Start Doing (The Career Shift That Changes Everything)43:40 Is Entrepreneurship Taking Over Traditional Careers?46:48 Why Alesia Chose Humboldt County51:28 The Truth About “Doing What You Love”54:46 Should a Cal Poly Merge With a Community College?57:22 How to Start College With a Clear Plan01:01:58 What It’s Like Being in 500+ Person College Classes01:05:17 Would Big Companies Fix Humboldt’s Retention Problem?01:09:24 Is AI Destroying Human Connection?01:12:51 Rapid Fire Questions + Final Thoughts

In Episode 19 of Behind the Redwood Curtain, Hannah Winans breaks down what it really takes to succeed in real estate, especially in a competitive and evolving market like Humboldt County.From getting her start in the industry to launching her own brokerage, Hannah shares the biggest challenges new agents face, how to stand out in an oversaturated market, and what most people misunderstand about being a realtor. She also explains the difference between brokers and agents, how marketing actually drives sales, and how new transparency laws are changing the game.This episode goes beyond the basics, covering the emotional side of selling homes, why property values can drop after listing, and what both buyers and agents should be paying attention to moving into 2026. Whether you are trying to break into real estate, grow your business, or understand the market better, this conversation offers a real look behind the scenes.We also dive into opportunities in real estate videography, the role of AI and technology in the industry, and how to balance career growth with everything else on your plate.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:32 How Hannah Got Started in Real Estate05:07 The Hardest Challenge as a New Realtor10:21 Realtor vs Broker Explained (What’s the Difference?)12:00 Boutique Brokerage vs Big Real Estate Firms13:51 How to Compete in a Competitive Real Estate Market16:41 How New Real Estate Agents Can Break Into the Industry18:41 Starting Her Own Real Estate Brokerage20:35 Are Real Estate Agents Actually Business Owners?22:54 Is the Real Estate Market Oversaturated?25:02 The Reality of Working in Humboldt County Real Estate26:25 What Real Estate Was Like Before AI and Tech34:19 How Marketing Actually Drives Real Estate Sales36:01 New Real Estate Laws and Transparency Changes Explained40:02 How to Get Into Real Estate Videography43:35 Selling Homes With Emotional Attachment46:04 Why Home Values Can Drop After Listing48:05 Balancing Career Growth With Extracurriculars50:52 Rapid Fire Questions52:33 What Realtors Should Watch for in 2026CONNECT WITH US:Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@behindtheredwoodcurtain?si=0J-iVlSrQ2oxOkhJInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindtheredwoodcurtainpodcast/Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6n0mYaKdYW4kgbixUJ9hrt?si=7fiyltvnQzC5O6juCpyYawStartup Humboldt: https://startuphumboldt.org/

Humboldt County is at a crossroads, but the conversation around our economy is missing the point. In this episode of Behind the Redwood Curtain (BTRC), Carly Tambling of Bright & Green joins us to pull back the curtain on the "Sustainability" industry and why most local economic initiatives are failing to move the needle.We aren’t just talking about recycling; we’re talking about survival. From the brutal truth about the StartUp Humboldt Competition to the transition from a "W-2 mindset" to high-value leadership, Carly breaks down what it actually takes to build a "Capitalist with a Soul" business in the 707.THE ROAD TO 100 SUBSWe are currently at 85 subscribers. If you value raw, unfiltered conversations about the future of Northern California, hit that Subscribe button and help us reach our first major milestone before the next episode drops!TIMESTAMPS:00:00 Intro03:18 How Bright & Green Got Started09:21 The Hardest Part of Managing a Team13:44 Hiring Based on Values (What Actually Matters)16:44 Red Flags vs Green Flags When Hiring18:43 Is Bright & Green Actually Profitable?20:31 Why Community Involvement Drives Business Growth27:01 The Biggest Misconception About Humboldt’s Economy30:09 Can StartUp Humboldt Really Change the Local Economy?39:24 Why Zero Waste Events Often Fail41:07 What Makes a Great Volunteer Stand Out42:46 The Mission Behind the Center for Sustainable Development46:55 The Reality of Working a W-2 Job While Building Something Bigger55:47 The Importance of Mentorship in Business58:09 Focusing on $1,000/Hour Tasks as a Founder01:01:39 Why Environmental Sustainability Actually Matters01:03:57 What Is Wishcycling? (And Why It’s a Problem)01:05:10 How Bright & Green Would Use Startup Funding01:06:40 Final Advice for EntrepreneursGUEST INFO:Carly Tambling is the founder of Bright & Green, a leader in zero-waste event management and sustainable consulting.Follow Bright & Green: https://www.instagram.com/brightandgreen/CONNECT WITH US:Subscribe: https://youtube.com/@behindtheredwoodcurtain?si=0J-iVlSrQ2oxOkhJ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindtheredwoodcurtainpodcast/

Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6n0mYaKdYW4kgbixUJ9hrt?si=7fiyltvnQzC5O6juCpyYawStartup Humboldt: https://startuphumboldt.org/

In this episode of Behind the Redwood Curtain, SK Lee draws a line in the sand. In the high-stakes world of Venture Capital, "good ideas" are a dime a dozen, but the ability to scale a business into an 8-figure exit is rare.

SK Lee didn't just study business; she survived it. From the cutthroat "9-9-6" work culture of Beijing and Shanghai to navigating a massive exit in the tech world, she earned her stripes in the trenches. Now, she’s bringing that "Shanghai Shark" energy behind the Redwood Curtain to explain exactly why she says "No" to 99% of the pitches she sees.

If you are a founder, an entrepreneur, or a local business owner in Humboldt County, this is a masterclass in the raw reality of what it takes to build a million-dollar legacy from scratch.

Chapters:00:00 Intro01:25 How to Balance Two Jobs While Growing Your Career04:44 Is the Government Holding People Back From Success11:37 The Worst Angel Investment Mistake Ever Made15:00 Transitioning From Founder to Investor16:24 Getting Bought Out and How Much She Walked Away With19:11 Business Culture in China vs the United States21:35 How the U.S. Can Compete With China24:35 How She Started Her Investing Journey26:55 How Angel Investing Really Works33:30 Would AAA Productions Ever Take on an Investor44:58 Why She Moved to Humboldt County46:30 How StartUp Humboldt Supports Founders49:41 What Would Actually Make Founders Stay in Humboldt53:03 Why Capitalism Has a Bad Reputation57:49 The Biggest Mistakes Founders Make Long Term01:03:07 Angel Investor vs Venture Capital Explained01:06:49 Smallest vs Largest Investments She Has Made01:10:42 Did She Ever Expect This Career Path01:13:38 AI, Remote Work, and the Future of Business01:19:25 Rapid Fire Questions01:20:45 Final Advice for Founders

Matthew Cendejas joins Behind the Redwood Curtain to share how he built a successful lawn care business without originally planning to become an entrepreneur. What started as hands on labor and small jobs slowly turned into a full scale business through experience, mentorship, and learning from costly mistakes.

In this episode Matt talks about overcoming early financial missteps, the importance of focusing on revenue generating activities, and what it takes to grow a business in a competitive service industry. He also shares stories about real operational challenges including equipment loss, scaling a team, and discovering the hidden opportunities inside industries many people overlook.

The conversation explores the realities of blue collar entrepreneurship, building stability through service based work, and how practical experience can shape stronger business instincts than traditional education alone.

0:00 Intro3:51 How Matt Cendejas and Andrew Met6:04 Matt’s Early Career and Entrepreneurial Roots10:09 Building Inspire 1 and Launching an International Nonprofit18:32 Why Inspire 1 Shut Down20:46 How Inspire 1 Impacted Uganda’s Economy22:00 Lessons Matt Took From Nonprofit Work Into Business23:07 Transitioning Into Lawn Care Entrepreneurship26:07 Launching Lost Coast Plastics29:36 Going All In On Matthews Lawn Care35:13 Teaching Entrepreneurship at College of the Redwoods37:25 Finding Mentorship and Business Guidance42:42 When Matt’s Work Truck Was Stolen45:35 Bayshore Mall Business Conflict and Lessons Learned55:09 Supporting StartUp Humboldt and Local Entrepreneurship1:04:03 Is College Still Worth It For Entrepreneurs?1:09:04 Does Humboldt’s Economy Limit Business Growth?1:12:59 Humboldt’s Biggest Future Challenge1:18:05 The Arcata Fire and Community Impact1:20:46 Starting the Humboldt Young Professionals Mixer1:23:38 Final Advice and Closing Thoughts