The Catalyst

About The Catalyst

The Catalyst is a high-energy podcast for business owners and operators ready to scale influence, sharpen execution, and stay ahead in a noisy market. Build smart. Move fast. Get the edge that lasts. Hosted By Stuart Takehara, VP Membership with the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. More info about Stuart can be found at StuartTakehara.com

Publisher

Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce

Category

business · business · news

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

19 Dec 2025

Latest episode

26 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

25 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2026

   When Life Gives You the Blues, Keep Playing. A chat with Bill Grissolia

   What happens when a professional singer nearly loses his voice? Or when life throws cancer, heart failure, addiction, and homelessness into the mix? For Bill Grissolia, founder of the Long Beach Blues Society, the answer has always been to keep going, keep believing, and keep making music. In this episode of The Catalyst, Stuart Takehara sits down with Bill to explore a remarkable journey through the music industry, personal adversity, and a lifetime of giving back. From bringing blues music into schools, senior centers, and veterans' communities to creating opportunities for the next generation of arts professionals, Bill has made music about much more than entertainment. He also shares how an unexpected partnership helped secure a $3.5 million building for the Long Beach Blues Society and the emerging Long Beach Music Museum. Along the way, Bill offers advice for entrepreneurs facing their own challenges, talks about the importance of persistence and community support, and explains why sometimes the best thing you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other. Because sometimes the blues aren't just something you play. They're something you overcome. The Catalyst is presented by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, featuring the people, businesses, and organizations helping move Long Beach forward.

2. 

   3 Aug 2026

   Investing in Long Beach's Next Generation with Heaven's Angels Academy

   Finding quality child care isn't always easy. In fact, Long Beach is considered a child care desert, meaning there simply aren't enough licensed child care providers to meet the needs of local families. In this episode of The Catalyst, Stuart sits down with Crystal Stringer, founder and owner of Heaven's Angels Academy, to discuss her journey from operating a successful family child care program in Carson to opening a brand-new early learning center in Long Beach. Crystal shares the challenges of opening a licensed child care facility, why she chose the Wrigley neighborhood, how the pandemic changed child care, and why creating a welcoming environment for children is about much more than colorful walls and toys. If you're a parent, entrepreneur, or simply interested in how businesses grow while serving their communities, this conversation offers an inside look at what it takes to build something that truly makes a difference. In This Episode 00:00 Welcome to The Catalyst 00:44 What is Heaven's Angels Academy? 01:33 From an in-home daycare in Carson to a second location in Long Beach 02:00 Why Crystal chose Long Beach and what it means to be a "child care desert" 02:52 Why the Wrigley neighborhood became the perfect location 03:57 The reality of opening a child care center: permits, licensing, and a three-and-a-half-year journey 06:15 How COVID permanently changed child care and today's flexible scheduling needs 08:22 Supporting parents with non-traditional work schedules 09:28 The inspiration behind designing a warm, welcoming learning environment 11:57 Why early childhood education is about much more than babysitting 14:32 Outdoor learning, movement, and helping children develop through play 16:00 Building community while investing in Long Beach's future 17:33 What families can expect from Heaven's Angels Academy 18:35 Final thoughts and how to schedule a tour Key Takeaways Long Beach has a significant shortage of licensed child care providers. Opening a child care center requires years of planning, permitting, licensing, and construction. Child care has evolved to meet today's flexible and hybrid work schedules. A thoughtfully designed learning environment can shape how children learn, explore, and grow. Play-based learning builds social, emotional, and academic skills long before kindergarten. Community partnerships are essential when launching a new business. Learn More To learn more about Heaven's Angels Academy, schedule a tour, or explore enrollment opportunities, visit their website or contact the academy directly. https://www.heavensangelsacademy.com/ The Catalyst is produced by the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, highlighting the businesses, leaders, and organizations making a difference throughout the Long Beach community Mentioned in this episode: Heavens Angels Academy Open House https://heavensangelsacademy.com/ Back to School Open House Saturday August 8 | 10am-2pm

3. 

   13 Jul 2026

   You Joined the Chamber… Now What?

   Joining the Chamber is the easy part. Getting involved is what turns your membership into something valuable. In this solo episode of The Catalyst, Stuart Takehara, Vice President of Membership at the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, talks about how members can get more from their Chamber membership by being intentional about why they joined, building the right relationships, and becoming strategically involved in the business community. Stuart shares practical advice for approaching Chamber events, including why collecting business cards is not the goal, why you should focus on having conversations worth continuing, and why trying to sell your product the first time you meet someone is usually the wrong approach. The episode also explores the Chamber’s business councils and how members can use smaller groups to build stronger connections, get involved in conversations that matter to them, and become known within the Long Beach business community. Most importantly, Stuart explains why simply joining the Chamber does not create value. Members have to show up, build relationships, follow up, and stay involved. In this episode: • Why joining the Chamber is just the beginning • How to decide where to spend your time and get involved • Why meeting the right people matters more than meeting everyone • How being useful helps you become known, liked, and trusted • Why you should build relationships before you need them • How the Chamber’s business councils can help you find the right rooms and conversations • Why showing up consistently matters • The importance of following up after events The key takeaway: Joining the Chamber gives you access. Getting involved turns that access into value. That value is built through connection, community, and conversation. Learn more about the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce, explore upcoming events, and discover opportunities to get involved through the Chamber’s website. TimeStamp 00:07 Welcome and Introduction to Chamber Membership 02:39 Understanding the Value of Membership 05:13 Building Meaningful Relationships 08:01 Engaging with Business Councils 10:53 Strategic Involvement vs. Busywork 13:42 The Importance of Follow-Up

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Apple Podcasts (US)

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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