Beyond the Hustle

About Beyond the Hustle

The real stories behind Filipino business builders. Hosted by Shan Sebastian, a Personal Development & Clarity Coach, this podcast goes beyond highlight reels to share the authentic journeys of Filipino entrepreneurs and freelancers—the struggles, doubts, mindset shifts, failures, and breakthroughs that shaped their path. Get clarity, inspiration, and real strategies to grow and sustain your business. New episodes weekly or bi-monthly. Subscribe now and go beyond the hustle.

Publisher

Shan Sebastian

Category

business

Language

fi

Explicit

No

First episode

30 Aug 2025

Latest episode

22 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   22 Sept 2026

   Ep. 12: From Showtime Contestant to The Maverick Founder - Brian Gabriel Corella

   What if a problem you experienced on national television became the beginning of your business? In Episode 12 of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Brian Gabriel Corella, creative professional, entrepreneur, and founder of The Maverick, a Filipino men's grooming brand built around one simple idea: Confidence Through Hair. But The Maverick didn't start with a business plan. It started with a problem. Before becoming an entrepreneur, Brian was a creative professional and freelancer. He also became a contestant on It's Showtime, one of the Philippines' most popular noontime shows. Being in front of the cameras meant looking your best. But Brian couldn't find a hair styling product that gave him the look and hold he wanted. So instead of simply looking for another product... He decided to make one. That simple problem eventually led to experimentation, product development, branding, and the birth of The Maverick. What started with a personal need became a business, and Brian's creative background became an important part of building a brand that speaks to men's grooming, confidence, individuality, and self-expression. In this episode, we talk about: • Brian's journey from creative professional and freelancer to entrepreneur • How becoming an It's Showtime contestant led to the hair problem that started The Maverick • Why he decided to create his own hair styling product • How a personal problem can become a business opportunity • The early days of building The Maverick • How creativity, design, and branding can become a competitive advantage in e-commerce • The transition from working for clients to building something of your own • What freelancers need to understand before making the leap into entrepreneurship • Why a great product needs more than just good packaging • Building a brand around identity, emotion, and community • The meaning behind The Maverick's “Confidence Through Hair” philosophy • The realities of running an e-commerce and consumer brand • Lessons Brian learned from growing The Maverick • And what creatives can learn from turning their skills and experiences into a business Brian's story is a reminder that entrepreneurship doesn't always begin with a business idea. Sometimes, it begins with a problem. Sometimes it's simply: “Why can't I find something that actually works?” And sometimes, instead of waiting for someone else to solve it, you decide to solve it yourself. A creative professional became a product builder. A freelancer became an entrepreneur. And a simple hair problem became the beginning of The Maverick. If you're a freelancer, creative professional, designer, content creator, entrepreneur, e-commerce founder, or someone thinking about turning your skills into something of your own, this episode is for you. Because sometimes, the next opportunity isn't something you find. It's something you build. The Maverick Philippines: www.themaverick.ph (http://www.themaverick.ph) Show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing! We'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from this conversation in the comments. Follow me: @shansebastianty For inquiries and guesting requests: podcast@shansebastian.com (mailto:podcast@shansebastian.com) Visit: www.shansebastian.com/podcast (http://www.shansebastian.com/podcast) #BrianGabrielCorella #TheMaverick #BeyondTheHustle #ItsShowtime #Entrepreneurship #Freelancing #CreativeEntrepreneur #Ecommerce #MensGrooming #FilipinoEntrepreneur #BrandBuilding #CreativeBusiness Connect with Brian & The Maverick Connect With Us

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Ep. 11: From Crypto Debt & a Death Threat to Young Millionaire - Richard Pines

   In Episode 11 of Beyond the Hustle, I sit down with Richard Pines — a young entrepreneur, CEO and founder, creative, filmmaker, and multipotentialite who built his career across technology, digital, and creative industries. Today, Richard is the Managing Director of Web Powerhouse, an enterprise web development agency headquartered in Singapore and serving clients across Southeast Asia and internationally. He is also the Host & Founder of Filmmakers Connect, bringing together people from the filmmaking and creative community. But Richard's journey to where he is today wasn't exactly a straight line. At a young age, he became heavily involved in crypto, experienced significant losses, and took on investments for crypto projects that ultimately failed to deliver. The consequences were serious. He accumulated debt, faced immense pressure, and was even threatened with death by one of his investors. Instead of running away from the problem, Richard decided to rebuild. He discovered freelancing, worked relentlessly, learned how to land premium clients, and slowly used his skills and income to pay back what he owed. That chapter eventually became the foundation for the entrepreneur he is today. In this episode, we talk about: • What really happened behind Richard's crypto journey and the losses that followed • What it feels like to carry debt and face threats at such a young age • The moment Richard realized he had to take responsibility and rebuild • How freelancing became his way back from financial failure • How he learned to attract and work with premium international clients • The lessons he learned from failing people who trusted him • Why failure early in life doesn't have to define your future • How Richard built his way from freelancing into entrepreneurship • Building an international web development business from Southeast Asia • The realities of running an agency and serving global clients • His journey from creative work and filmmaking to technology and business • Why being a multipotentialite can be an advantage instead of a lack of focus • The different interests, skills, and businesses that shaped Richard's career • How young entrepreneurs can recover after making serious financial mistakes • The importance of taking responsibility, rebuilding trust, and doing the work • What it really takes to build wealth after you've experienced failure • And why sometimes, the lowest point in your entrepreneurial journey can become the foundation for something much bigger Richard's story is a reminder that your biggest failure doesn't have to become your final identity. Sometimes, you have to lose your way before you figure out what you're actually capable of building. And for people like Richard and me — multipotentialites who refuse to fit into just one box, the journey isn't always linear. Sometimes, the different things you're interested in eventually connect into something bigger. Today, Richard leads Web Powerhouse, an enterprise Webflow agency headquartered in Singapore and operating across Southeast Asia, while continuing to build communities and creative initiatives around filmmaking and digital work. If you're a young entrepreneur, freelancer, creative, founder, filmmaker, agency owner, or multipotentialite trying to figure out your path — especially if you've experienced failure, debt, or a major setback — this episode is for you. Connect with Richard Pines: Instagram: @richardvisuals LinkedIn: Richard Pines Web Powerhouse: www.webpowerhouse.net (http://www.webpowerhouse.net) Connect With Us: Show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing! We'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from this conversation in the comments. Follow me on social media: @shansebastianty For inquiries and guesting requests: podcast@shansebatian.com (mailto:podcast@shansebatian.com) Visit: www.shansebastian.com/podcast (http://www.shansebastian.com/podcast) #RichardPines #BeyondTheHustle #YoungEntrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #Crypto #Freelancing #AgencyOwner #WebDevelopment #Webflow #Multipotentialite #PersonalBranding

3. 

   3 Sept 2026

   Ep. 10: From “You’re Too Quiet” to Top LinkedIn Authority - Cap Hernandez

   In Episode 10 of the podcast, I sit down with Cap Hernandez, The Sales Introvert — a sales coach, strategist, entrepreneur, and one of the Philippines’ notable voices in LinkedIn, personal branding, and sales. But Cap’s story didn’t start with LinkedIn. As a former HORECA sales leader at Unilever Philippines, Cap was once told, “You’re too quiet! How can you sell?” Instead of seeing introversion as a weakness, he turned it into his competitive advantage — developing a different approach to sales built around listening, authentic conversations, trust, and quiet confidence. Today, Cap helps introverted founders, executives, and experts build their LinkedIn presence, create meaningful business relationships, and turn their personal brand into real revenue. In this episode, we talk about: • Why being an introvert doesn't mean you can't be great at sales • How Cap turned his quiet personality into a sales advantage • The connection between LinkedIn, personal branding, and revenue • Why founders need to build authority before they need more leads • How to sell without becoming someone you're not • The Silent Approach to LinkedIn and authentic selling • How Cap went from zero speaking engagements in 2023 to 30+ in 2024 • Building a personal brand as an introverted entrepreneur • Why meaningful conversations can be more powerful than aggressive selling • How AI, automation, LinkedIn, and digital strategy are changing modern sales Cap is also the author of Quiet Confidence, Silent Approach, and UnCapped Potential, and the creator of the Silent Approach: LinkedIn Mastery Workshop, which has been delivered across 22 batches and reached thousands of participants through workshops and community-led sessions. If you're an introverted entrepreneur, freelancer, founder, sales professional, coach, consultant, or business owner who wants to use LinkedIn to build authority, generate conversations, and grow revenue — this episode is for you. Connect with Cap Hernandez and learn more about his work through his social channels and platforms. websites:Uncapped.asia https://caphernandez.com/ socials: FB: http://facebook.com/TheSalesIntrovert LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caphernandez/ Connect With Us: Show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing! We'd love to hear your biggest takeaway from this conversation in the comments. Follow me on social media: @shansebastianty For inquiries and guesting requests: podcast@shansebatian.com (mailto:podcast@shansebatian.com) Visit: www.shansebastian.com/podcast (http://www.shansebastian.com/podcast) #CapHernandez #TheSalesIntrovert #LinkedInPhilippines #LinkedInCoach #LinkedInMarketing #PersonalBranding #Sales #SalesCoach #IntrovertEntrepreneur #Entrepreneurship #LinkedInForBusiness #SilentApproach #QuietConfidence

4. 

   24 Jul 2026

   Special Ep: AI That Understands Sign Language

   How Filipino Students Built an AI That Gives a Voice to the Deaf Community 🎙️ A Special Spin-Off Episode from the Beyond the Hustle Podcast Welcome to The Young Hustle: Rising Minds Podcast—a special spin-off series of the Beyond the Hustle Podcast, hosted by Shan Sebastian. While Beyond the Hustle features entrepreneurs, business leaders, and changemakers, Young Hustle shines the spotlight on exceptional students and young innovators who are already creating meaningful impact before they even graduate. In this special episode, Shan sits down with Maria Bello (3rd Year Software Engineering Student) and Jacob Tarun (4th Year Software Engineering Student), the talented team behind an AI-powered project that can detect and interpret sign language—helping bridge the communication gap for people who are deaf or non-speaking. Their innovation didn't just stay inside the classroom—it earned them the opportunity to represent the Philippines at the ASEAN AI Junior Hackathon, where they advanced to the Semi-Finals against some of Southeast Asia's brightest young innovators. In this conversation, you'll discover: - How they turned an idea into a working AI solution - The technology behind their sign language recognition system 🇵🇭 What it was like representing the Philippines on the ASEAN stage - The biggest challenges, failures, and lessons they encountered - How students can start building impactful projects before graduation - Why AI should be used to solve real human problems and create more inclusive communities Whether you're a student, aspiring software engineer, AI enthusiast, entrepreneur, educator, or simply curious about the future of technology, this episode will inspire you to build solutions that make a real difference. A special thanks to our brand partner, iACADEMY, for empowering the next generation of innovators by providing students with the opportunities, education, and industry exposure to create technology that solves real-world problems. Visit them www.iacademy.edu.ph for more information about their programs. If this episode inspired you: 👍 Like the video 💬 Comment your biggest takeaway 📤 Share it with someone passionate about AI, technology, or innovation 🔔 Subscribe for more conversations with young founders, builders, creators, and future leaders who are proving that impact doesn't have to wait until after graduation. About Young Hustle: Rising Minds Podcast Hosted by Shan Sebastian—Founder of SmartiFi, AI Context Engineer, Registered Digital Marketing Consultant, Public Speaker, and Content Creator—The Young Hustle: Rising Minds Podcast is a special spin-off of the Beyond the Hustle Podcast dedicated to featuring students and young professionals who are breaking barriers, building innovative solutions, launching startups, winning competitions, and creating real impact while still in school. Because the next generation of leaders isn't waiting for graduation—they're building the future today. Follow me on all my socials  ⁨@shansebastianty⁩  (https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCt0-qK-E6OXhvIlKxwoacYQ) #YoungHustle #BeyondTheHustle #RisingMinds #ArtificialIntelligence #AI #SignLanguage #SoftwareEngineering #StudentInnovation #ASEANHackathon #Philippines #TechForGood #Accessibility #iACADEMY #FutureEngineers #Innovation

5. 

   29 Jun 2026

   Ep9: The Meta Ads Secrets That Built a Multi-Million E-com Brand (with Jungie Gumiran)

   In Episode 9 of the podcast, I am honored to guest veteran freelancer, e-commerce entrepreneur, and digital marketing expert, Jungie Gumiran. Jungie is the brilliant mind behind the massive e-commerce brand, JuJu, and the founder of the Ads Level Up Program—a premium training academy dedicated to helping freelancers and business owners master Meta Advertising (Facebook Ads). If you want to learn how to transition from a freelancer to a successful business owner, scale your online brand, or master digital marketing strategies that actually convert, this episode is a goldmine. FREE TRAINING WITH JUNGIE GUMIRAN: Learn the exact strategies he used to earn millions. Claim your spot for the free Meta Ads webinar here: 👉 JOIN THE WEBINAR HERE (https://www.adslevelup.com/july2026-webinar?sa=sa0045737118f7d05f09b8e69263b30f9a86d23411) Connect With Us: Show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing! We'd love to hear your takeaways in the comments below. Follow me on social media: @shansebastianty For inquiries and guesting requests, send us an email at podcast@shansebatian.com Visit our website to learn more: www.shansebastian.com/podcast

6. 

   23 Apr 2026

   Ep8: How Skip Tan never skip the process to achieve his business breakthroughs

   Host Shan Sebastian interviews multi-passionate entrepreneur and sports coach Michal "Skip" Tan about his journey to business breakthroughs powered by faith and process.

7. 

   17 Mar 2026

   Ep7: How Patrick build 17 branches of his Cafe business even during the Pandemic

   Host Shan Sebastian interviews Patrick James Gabriel, Founder and CEO of CHN Cafe, about building 17 cafe branches during the pandemic.

8. 

   10 Mar 2026

   Ep6: How solving a simple family problem turned Mark into an entrepreneur

   Host Shanse Sebastian interviews entrepreneur Mark Mercado about how he transformed a family problem into a thriving business, offering insights into innovative entrepreneurship.

9. 

   15 Feb 2026

   Ep5: How a Scam turned a GEN Z to build his Own Business

   Welcome to Episode 5 as I talked to one of the young entrepreneurs in my circle, Lloyd De Leon, (https://www.instagram.com/_adsmakesense/) the CEO and Founder of Beyond Breakeven Digital. On this episode, we talked about his journey as a young Gen Z entrepreneur unfold from his scam story and depression to his successful digital marketing agency today. Featured Guests: Lloyd De Leon Founder and CEO of Beyond Breakeven Digital Follow him on IG @_adsmakesense and @beyondbreakevendigital Connect With Us Show your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing!We'd love to hear your takeaways in the comments below. Follow us on social media: @shansebastianty

10. 

    5 Jan 2026

    Ep4: How John Pagulayan became "The Legend" in the Filipino Freelancing Industry

    Host Shan Sebastian interviews John Ryan Pagulayan, founder of The Freelance Movement, as he shares his journey to becoming a legend in the Filipino freelancing industry.

11. 

    25 Oct 2025

    Ep3: How JQ saved his business through patience and consistency

    Welcome to Episode 3 where I invited one my brothers in this industry, my cofounder of PH Business Network, JR Quilantang also known as JQ. Featured Guests: JR Quilantang CEO and Cofounder of Recurra Cofounder of PH Business Network Content Creator with over 300K+ followers on social media Connect With UsShow your support by liking, sharing, and subscribing! We'd love to hear your takeaways in the comments below. Follow us on social media: @shansebastianty

12. 

    8 Sept 2025

    Ep2 Part 2: How Eb, Nabbe and Dom Reignite Their Creativity

    Host Shan Sebastian interviews Eb Fajardo, Nabbe Francisco, and Dominic Nibungco as they share strategies for overcoming creative burnout and reigniting passion to discover true purpose.

13. 

    1 Sept 2025

    Ep2 Part 1: How Eb, Nabbe and Dom Monetize Their Creative Skills

    Host Shan Sebastian interviews Eb Fajardo, Nabbe Francisco, and Dominic Nibungco about monetizing creative skills and building sustainable careers beyond the hustle culture.

14. 

    30 Aug 2025

    Ep1 - How Allan Ngo turned his failures into business

    Host Shan Sebastian interviews Allan Ngo, founder of Email Underground Intensive, exploring how his entrepreneurial journey transformed failures into a foundation for online business success.

Who has been a guest on Beyond the Hustle

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Patrick James Gabriel
• Mark Mercado
• Kwento ni Long
• Eb Fajardo
• Nabbe Francisco

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Spotify

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Contact Beyond the Hustle

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.