Joseph McGinty Nichol, famously known as McG, is a filmmaker, director, and producer who has worked projects including “Charlie’s Angels,” “I Feel Pretty,” “The OC,” “Terminator Salvation,” “Supernatural,” and so much more. In the beginning of his career, he created more than 50 music videos for artists such as Smash Mouth, Sugar Ray, Sublime, and The Offspring. Now, he’s taken on a new chapter: overseeing the beloved Lido Theater here in Orange County.
Brian McDonell is the co-founder and president of Melin, which is a premium headwear brand that focuses on creating high-quality, innovative hats designed for adventure and everyday wear, using the finest materials and attention to detail. The San Clemente-based company has stores in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach, and Irvine and has collaborated with brands including Red Bull, The Beverly Hills Hotel, the L.A. Kings, and more.
Audrey Huynh is an actor, singer, songwriter, and musician who stars as Stella in the “To All the Boys I Loved Before” spinoff series “XO, Kitty.” She’s also been in films including "Murder of a Cat" alongside J.K. Simmons and Nikki Reed and has does voice acting for shows including “We Bare Bears” and “Boss Baby: Back in Business.” This year, the Chapman student released her EP “lovesick” and was on the cover of Orange Coast’s Under 40 issue.
Miguel and Joshua González join Chelsea this week on The Zest. Miguel is the director of IT for Northgate Market and Joshua is the director of operations. Northgate Market was first opened in 1980 and is now one of the largest Hispanic supermarket chains in the country. In 2023, they launched Mercado Gonzalez Northgate Market, a vibrant food hall featuring 20 vendors serving up Mexican dishes including tamales, tacos, and more.
Tom Dumont is the guitarist and longtime member of the iconic band No Doubt, which was famously formed in Anaheim back in 1986. He’s also part of Dreamcar, the ’80s pop group that blends members of No Doubt and AFI. This month marks the 30-year anniversary of No Doubt’s album “Tragic Kingdom,” which features hits such as “Spiderwebs,” “Just a Girl,” “Don’t Speak,” and more.
Shaheen Sadeghi is the founder, president, and CEO of LAB Holding, which is the parent company of cultural landmarks in Orange County including The LAB, The CAMP, and the Anaheim Packing District. He’s also held positions including the president of Quiksilver and worked in New York’s fashion and art industry during the “art explosion” in the ’70s.
Flavia Lanini is an internationally renowned beautician with 20 years of experience who honed her craft in Brazil. She is the creator of the EFFECT Massage—a specialized lymphatic drainage technique that’s earned her a devoted celebrity clientele, including Selena Gomez, Kris and Kendall Jenner, Sabrina Carpenter, Hailey Bieber, and many more. She recently brought her signature treatments to Orange County with the opening of her namesake Newport Beach spa this past April.
Hannah Akamine is the founder of It’s a Play Date, an empowering community where women come together to build real friendships through sports and community events such as Pilates, hiking, basketball, and more. In this week's episode, she shares the sports she first fell in love with, moving to Orange County, and what inspired her to start It's a Play Date. She also discusses her favorite memories from events and the impact she hopes to make.
Nolan Kahal and Sean Morrissey are the co-founders of SaunaBox, the Huntington Beach-based viral wellness startup that’s bringing the luxury of a steam room into your home. The young entrepreneurs are USC graduates and former NCAA athletes who started their company at just 25 years old and have created a brand that’s endorsed by professional athletes. In today's episode, Kahal and Morrissey discuss how they came up with the brand, their biggest hurdles and highlights, and more.
Case Anderson is the co-founder and chief marketing officer of the San Juan Capistrano-based apparel and accessories brand Seager, which combines the Old West and surf culture. The company recently opened its first flagship store at San Juan Capistrano’s River Street Marketplace and is in more than 100 retailers worldwide. In this episode, he talks about how Seager was founded and what listeners can look forward to from the brand.
Dr. Karen Odell-Barber is back on The Zest! She is the CEO at Neurologics, a cutting-edge technology company that offers brain mapping services that help to optimize the brain. In today’s episode we focus specifically on mental health, anxiety, OCD, and depression.
Gina Maier Vincent is a visionary thought leader, master motivator, author, TV host, and empowerment entrepreneur. She is also the host of the podcast “Exquisitely Aligned,” which is ranked among the top 3% globally. In this week's episode, she talks about the life event that led to a change in direction in her career, becoming an author, and how to live an Exquisitely Aligned life.
Diane Challis Davy is in her 29th season as the director and producer of Laguna Beach’s Pageant of the Masters. In this episode, she talks about how she first got involved with the show, her favorite behind-the-scenes moments, what attendees can expect from this year, and more.
Dakota Blaze Rader is the co-founder and CEO of Golden Eagle Vodka, a small-batch premium sipping vodka that is distilled in Montana using a unique dark northern spring wheat and Yellowstone spring water. He is also a TEDx speaker, sommelier, brand consultant, and has an MBA in luxury brand management. This week, he shares the history behind the brand, how he came to create Golden Eagle Vodka, and what sets the company apart from other leading vodkas in the country.
Forrest Kline helped define the soundtrack of the early 2000s. He is the frontman of Hellogoodbye—the band best known for their hit “Here (In Your Arms),” which topped charts and became a staple on iPods everywhere. You might also recognize his music from shows like "The O.C." In this week's epsiode Kline shares what first got him into music, the inspiration behind many of Hellogoodbye's songs, touring with Paramore, and more.
Jacquelyn Umof is a celebrity trainer who has worked with Kris Jenner, Reese Witherspoon, and Alanis Morissette and is also the founder of Barre Definition, the number one barre and Pilates fitness app for women. She is also a former ballerina as well as a former NBA dancer for the Clippers and the Lakers. She shares stories about her time dancing, the community she's built online, working with celebrities, and more.
Kaira Rouda is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author whose extensive list of novels includes “The Favorite Daughter,” “Best Day Ever,” and most recently “Jill is Not Happy.” Her book “Beneath the Surface” was recently optioned for feature film. In this week's episode, she shares what inspired her to start writing, the career she had before she became an author, and more.
Dr. Mercedes Szpunar is the Physician Director of the Maternal Mental Health Program at Hoag where her expertise includes diagnosis and treatment of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopausal depression. She’s received numerous accolades including the American Society of Clinical Psychopharmacology New Investigator Award and the Anne Klibanski Visiting Scholars Award. She also has 10 first-author scientific publications. In this week’s episode, she discusses common mental health struggles during pregnancy, various solutions she offers her patients, and more.
Kate Kim and Michael Holcombe are the owners of Caitlyn Minimalist, an Asian female-founded jewelry brand that crafts delicate, personalized, and timeless pieces that capture each client’s unique style and story. The Orange County-based company started in 2013, and since then has been featured in Elle, Vogue, Glamour, and more. You can shop Caitlyn Minimalist’s products in store at Fashion Island and Irvine Spectrum. In this week's episode, Kate and Michael share what inspired their brand, the eco-conscious practices they've implemented, customer stories, and more.
Here's a look back to one of our first episodes!
Samah Dada is a cooking show host on the Today Show, the author of "Dada Eats Love to Cook It," and the creator of the blog and Instagram page Dada Eats. She talks with Chelsea about how she started her Instagram to share her favorite meals, starting her cooking show, and what putting herself in new situations has taught her.
Photo Credit: Brendan Wixted