Wheels, Deals and Meals

In the second half of the interview, Chef Giancarlo’s wife, Lisa (a Cuban-American who grew up in Texas), joins the conversation to reveal their incredible origin story of how they met, and how Giancarlo’s journey led him to start a successful Italian Restaurant in Houston, Texas. You also will want to give your undivided attention to the incredible food showcased towards the end.Don't miss the full story of passion, food, and ...

You don’t want to miss this episode as we sit down with Giancarlo Ferrara, the owner and Executive Chef of Amalfi Ristorante Italiano in Houston, to hear his inspiring story.

From growing up in Salerno on the Amalfi Coast, to traininghands-on from age 15, Giancarlo  loved finding inspiration for his cooking taking him to a two-Michelin-star restaurant in Ireland, and eventually to Houston.

He opened Amalfi Ristorante Italiano 11 year...

Join us to meet Orlando Sanchez, a fellow Cuban immigrant, U.S. Air Force veteran, and seasoned Houston public servant running for Harris County Judge.Sanchez shares his unique journey, from fleeing Communist Cuba to dedicating years on the Houston City Council and 12 years as Harris County Treasurer. He draws on his financial expertise—including serving as Chairman of the University of Houston Foundation Board and as a Certified C...

We are thrilled to welcome Jack Hollis, an automotive industry titan, Partner at Accrual Equity Partners, and the former Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President at Toyota. Join us as we explore the incredible career trajectory of one of the industry's most successful leaders.Jack's journey began with a baseball scholarship to Stanford University, which led to playing professional baseball for the Cincinnati Red...

Join us for a truly special episode as we welcome Robert Sakowitz, the man who led the legendary Sakowitz high-fashion specialty store and now heads the Hazak Corp. as a global business consultant.

Robert shares the incredible four-generation history of his family's business, which began in 1902 when his great-grandfather, an immigrant peddler, settled in Galveston. After the 1915 hurricane, the family moved the business to Hous...

This episode continues our successful part 1 of some of our favorite moments from the show. Join us for inspiring stories on food, football, business, and medicine!Al Deshon | A Culinary Journey to ChurrascosWe sit down with the owner of the Houston restaurant Churrascos and hear his personal story of moving from Miami to Houston with no job and no business experience, and how he turned his family's leap of faith into a thrivin...

This September, we're bringing you a special series of highlight reels, featuring some of our most amazing and inspiring guests. This episode is a compilation of our best moments with Dean Gladden, the managing director of Houston's iconic Alley Theatre; Anthony Robles, a National Champion and unstoppable force in wrestling; and the honorable Judge Eric Andell.

Dean Gladden | The Heart of The Alley TheatreDean Gladden shares the inc...

Join us for a truly special episode of Wheels, Deals, and Meals as we welcome the legendary Giuseppe Risi, founder of Risi Competizione, the most successful Ferrari GT racing team in American history.

With over five decades of experience in international competition, from F1 cars to sports prototypes, Giuseppe Risi is a name synonymous with excellence. In this exclusive interview, he shares the core philosophy that has driven his su...

You will love this special episode of Wheels, Deals, and Meals, as we sit down in Maryland, with two titans of the automotive industry: Ken Shreve, a retired dealer principal, and Chip Doetsch, the current owner of Apple Ford Lincoln and Apple Mitsubishi. They share a combined wisdom of decades in the business, offering insights that are both nostalgic and forward-thinking.From their first cars, to their favorite travel destination...

Join us in beautiful Baltimore, Maryland, for a candid conversation with Paul Healy, the visionary behind Dealership For Life! In this episode, Paul shares his incredible journey through the automotive industry, from growing up in a car dealership family to creating a groundbreaking customer retention program.Despite his grandfather's advice to avoid the car business, Paul's path led him to Saturn, where he learned the rope...

This episode has a plethora of exciting topics; provided by our special guest, Hector Villarreal; an episode you won't want to miss.Step into the sophisticated world of Lucho Menswear in Houston as we sit down with co-owner Hector Villarreal! In this episode, Hector shares his captivating journey from being a familiar face on television to becoming a driving force behind one of Houston's most esteemed custom men's store...

Get ready for the most delicious part of our interview with Amberly Allen! In this segment of Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we're joined by Alejandro from Mesero in Dallas, as we dive into a culinary adventure at one of Amberly's favorite Tex-Mex spots.Discover why "Mesero" means "waiter" and how this restaurant truly embodies a spirit of service through its incredible food. Watch as we sample a mouth-wateri...

Revolutionizing Auto Finance & Defying Odds: Amberly Allen's Inspiring Story

In this episode of Wheels, Deals, and Meals, we're joined by Amberly Allen, the dynamic CEO and Founder of Dealer Merchant Services. Learn about her fascinating journey through the automotive world, from her early days in marketing to leading a company that has saved dealers over $60 million!

Amberly shares the challenges and triumphs of launchin...

Get ready for some genuine talk and great advice! We're thrilled to have Mark Cortez on the show as he shares personal stories, from his childhood working at his dad's service stations to his college football career at TCU. Discover how his upbringing instilled a fierce work ethic, and how that's propelled him through a successful career in the car business. Mark also opens up about his love for Tex-Mex, classic cars, a...

Born with one leg, told he couldn't, but absolutely unstoppable! Join us as we dive into the incredible life of Anthony Robles, the NCAA National Wrestling Champion whose story defies all odds. From his early days refusing a prosthetic, to becoming a high school state champion (96-0!), and ultimately achieving All-American status and an undefeated 36-0 season at Arizona State. Learn how Anthony's unyielding spirit, unique wrestling...

Meet Mike Terry, the Dealer Principal with a story you won't expect! Mike's journey includes working at a Sonic, and then working 15 years with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice before finding his passion in the automotive industry. Learn how he climbed the industry ladder, setting records along the way, and his secrets to successful dealership management and customer satisfaction. Tune in for valuable insights from an indus...

From selling ice to launching a successful media group – Steve Tomanchek's story is one of drive and passion. In this episode, we explore Steve's entrepreneurial journey, from his early days with General Mills and Big Sky Ice Company to founding The Media Hawk Group. Discover the lessons he's learned along the way, his dedication to helping clients, and the influences that have shaped his career. You'll love every s...

This week's guest went from From Navy SEAL to FBI Special Agent to leadership expert! Join us for an incredible conversation with Errol Doebler, a 1991 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and the Founder and CEO of Ice Cold Leader. Errol shares his experiences as a Platoon Commander at SEAL Team ONE and his time investigating International Terrorist Organizations in the FBI's New York office. We delve into his combat deploym...

From working in the family restaurant at age 8 to co-owning six locations today, Steve Misleh's story is a testament to hard work and dedication. Join us as we explore Steve's journey with Skyline Chili, a Cincinnati institution, and the unique dynamics of a family business. Discover the values and work ethic that have driven his success, and hear his perspective on the challenges and rewards of the restaurant industry.   #...