WOW Brand Podcast

About WOW Brand Podcast

Every small business has a story behind it. The late nights. The sacrifices. The moments that almost broke them and the ones that made it all worth it. WOW Brand is a podcast dedicated to spotlighting small business owners across America. We sit down with the everyday entrepreneurs building their communities one business at a time and we let them tell it in their own words. From burger shops in Georgia to businesses across the country these are the stories that don't always make the headlines but deserve to be heard. Real people. Real struggles. Real success. New episodes available

Publisher

WOW Brand

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

22 May 2026

Latest episode

25 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

23 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   25 Aug 2026

   Why Banking Is More Than Just Money

   In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with Eric Bustamante, First Vice President and General Manager of Philippine National Bank New York, to explore his inspiring journey through more than two decades in the banking industry and why he believes banking is ultimately about serving people.What began as an unexpected career path became a lifelong mission of helping the Filipino community in the United States. Eric shares how leadership, humility, and a passion for service have shaped his career, from leading one of the oldest overseas Philippine banks to guiding clients through financial milestones, even during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.We dive into leadership, finance, customer service, personal growth, and the lessons he's learned after more than 20 years in banking.In this conversation, we discuss:How an unexpected career led to bankingWhat it takes to lead a successful financial institutionWhy banking is a service-driven professionLeading a team through the COVID-19 pandemicCommon financial mistakes people should avoidBuilding trust through exceptional customer serviceLeadership lessons from managing high-performing teamsHelping overseas Filipinos invest back homeThe importance of humility and leading by exampleAdvice for young professionals entering the banking industryWhether you're a finance professional, entrepreneur, aspiring leader, or simply interested in personal and professional growth, this episode is filled with practical wisdom, leadership lessons, and real stories from one of the banking industry's most respected leaders.Guest: Eric BustamanteFirst Vice President & General ManagerPhilippine National Bank New YorkHighlights:Over 20 years in the banking industryFirst Vice President & General Manager of PNB New YorkLeading one of the oldest overseas Philippine banksPassionate advocate for the Filipino-American communityThree-time Best Customer Service Award recipient (PNB New York team)📸 Instagram:@ericbustamantee📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

2. 

   24 Aug 2026

   From Home Kitchen to Restaurant Owner

   In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with **Christopher Yu**, co-founder of **Yumpling**, to explore how an idea that started in a home kitchen grew into one of New York City's fastest-growing Taiwanese fast-casual restaurant brands.Without any formal culinary background, Chris left corporate life, started cooking for friends, tested his recipes with neighbors, and slowly scaled from a home kitchen to flea markets, food trucks, and now two successful restaurant locations. Along the way, he learned that building a restaurant isn't about luck. It's about discipline, partnership, execution, and relentless consistency.We dive into entrepreneurship, building a food business from scratch, creating a unique fast-casual concept, expanding a restaurant brand, and why success often comes from taking calculated risks one step at a time.In this conversation, we discuss:* Leaving corporate America to start a restaurant* Growing from a home kitchen to two successful locations* Building Yumpling without a culinary background* Why testing your idea before scaling matters* The importance of finding the right business partner* Creating the first fast-casual Taiwanese concept in New York* Scaling through systems and operational excellence* Managing burnout as an entrepreneur* The discipline required to grow a restaurant business* Why customer experience is the foundation of every successful brandWhether you're an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, foodie, or someone thinking about starting a business, this episode is packed with honest advice, practical lessons, and real stories about what it takes to build a brand from the ground up.**Guest:** Christopher YuCo-Founder of YumplingHighlights:* Co-Founder of Yumpling* Two restaurant locations in New York City* Featured by Eater, The Infatuation, and NBC* Winner of Taiwan's Golden Bell Award for hosting a History Channel travel show* Expanding one of NYC's leading Taiwanese fast-casual brands📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

3. 

   21 Aug 2026

   He Quit Wall Street. It Changed His Life

   In this episode of the WOW Brand Podcast, we sit down with John Kastanis, co-founder of Casita of BK, to explore how he left a successful career on Wall Street to build one of New York City's fastest-growing coffee brands.What started as a leap of faith during the uncertainty of 2020 has grown into three successful coffee shop locations built around one simple philosophy: Home is not a place, it's a feeling. John shares how hospitality, community, and genuine human connection became the foundation of Casita of BK and why creating memorable experiences matters more than simply serving great coffee.We dive into entrepreneurship, opening a business during COVID, building a loyal customer base, scaling multiple locations, and why getting uncomfortable is often the first step toward building something extraordinary.In this conversation, we discuss:Leaving Wall Street to pursue entrepreneurshipBuilding three successful coffee shop locationsOpening a business during the height of COVIDCreating a hospitality-first brandBuilding customer loyalty through genuine relationshipsGrowing a business without losing its identityThe challenges of hiring and scaling a teamUsing social media to grow a local businessWhy community is the heart of every successful brandThe mindset every entrepreneur needs to succeedWhether you're an entrepreneur, restaurant owner, coffee lover, or someone thinking about taking a leap of faith, this conversation is filled with practical business advice, inspiring stories, and lessons on building a brand people truly love. Guest: John Kastanis Co-Founder of Casita of BK Highlights:3 successful coffee shop locations across New YorkFeatured in The Wall Street JournalFeatured by The InfatuationBuilt one of NYC's most community-focused coffee brands📍 WOW Brand Podcast – Midtown Manhattan

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

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Guest appearances

Books guests

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