Dave Of The Dead Podcast

In this episode of Dave Of The Dead, I sit down with Entrepreneur, TV Host and 3x Emmy Winner, Gaby Natale, and we go deep.  From leaving Argentina with a vision of what her life might be, to realizing quickly in the U.S. that no one was coming to choose her. What followed was a series of bets on herself.  Building SuperLatina from nothing, choosing ownership over visibility, and pushing through the fear that came with it until the first signs it was actually working. We talk about identity as leverage not something to dilute and how she turned being an outsider into an advantage, ultimately becoming a category of one. But the conversation really shifts when we get into the year everything changed when success collided with a breast cancer diagnosis, forcing her to confront mortality, fear, and who she actually was without all of it. For me, this one is about what it takes to stop waiting, build your own lane, and have the clarity to evolve, letting go of what no longer serves you so something stronger can take its place.

In this episode of Dave of the Dead, I sit down with my longtime friend and powerhouse operator Javier Farfan—an executive who's helped shape culture and commerce from the inside at places like the NFL, Roc Nation, Verizon, Walmart, and beyond. We go deep on what it really means to move at the intersection of culture, brand, and business—and how Javier has consistently stayed ahead of where the world is going, not where it's been. From building game-changing partnerships to navigating some of the biggest platforms in sports, music, and retail, this conversation is about pattern recognition, positioning, and playing the long game. We also talk about the evolution of Latino influence across major institutions, what brands still get wrong about culture, and how the next wave of operators will win by owning both distribution and narrative. Javier shares lessons from inside the rooms where billion-dollar decisions get made—and what it takes to not just get a seat at the table, but to redefine it.

In this episode of Dave of the Dead, I sit down with my longtime friend and colleague Susie Jaramillo—an Emmy-nominated director, artist, and the CEO/co-founder of Encantos, the company behind Canticos, the beloved bilingual kids brand helping families raise confident, culturally rooted children. We go deep on identity, reinvention, and what it really takes to build purpose-driven IP—plus Susie's perspective on fearlessness and the stories that shape who we become.  We also talk about growing up "Venezo-gringa," turning art into enterprise, and building culturally rooted children's media at scale.  Susie's leap from agency life to entrepreneurship, the role of purpose in building enduring brands, and why authenticity matters even more in the age of AI are also part of this episode of Dave of the Dead.

Reinvention doesn't always arrive with fanfare. Sometimes it comes through pressure, loss, and moments where the path forward isn't obvious—but staying still isn't an option. My guest on this episode of Dave of the Dead, Mark L. Madrid, knows that kind of reinvention intimately. He's a strategist, a former federal leader, and a lifelong advocate for small business—but more than that, he's someone who has learned how to carry ambition and humility at the same time. Mark's journey stretches from rural Texas and migrant farm worker roots to Wall Street, Stanford, and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Along the way, he faced discrimination, isolation, anxiety, and personal tragedy—experiences that quietly reshaped how he defines success. Rather than chasing status, he chose to build a life grounded in discipline, faith, service, and resilience. This conversation isn't about titles or accolades. It's about learning to fuel yourself when no one else can. It's about starting over without bitterness. And it's about understanding that real influence isn't measured by how high you climb—but by how many people you lift as you rise.

Reinvention usually isn't a decision you announce. It takes shape quietly—through small shifts, honest questions, and choices that start to add up.  My guest on this episode of Dave of the Dead, Kim Gamez, knows that kind of reinvention well. She's a builder, a mother of five, and an entrepreneur shaped by showing up again and again—not by chasing the spotlight. She's built companies, lived the grind, and made the harder call to shut one down before starting her next chapter.  Her latest venture, Sober(ish), didn't start as a business. It started at home—experimenting with non-alcoholic drinks with her mom and questioning ideas around identity, control, and the stories we inherit without realizing it.  This conversation isn't about what Kim has built. It's about who she's become—and why the most meaningful pivots aren't driven by momentum, but by the ability to keep going when it's gone.

In this episode, I sit down with Maribel Lara — founder of Beget Love — to talk about what success costs when no one's watching. Maribel grew up the daughter of immigrants in New York City, became a caregiver to both of her parents, and learned early that ambition doesn't mean much if it isn't rooted in truth. We talk about grief, pressure, survival mode, and the moments that force you to grow whether you're ready or not. Maribel also opens up about her years working alongside Gary Vaynerchuk (aka Gary Vee), what she learned operating at the center of a fast-moving empire, and how that experience sharpened her instincts, confidence, and refusal to wait for permission. This conversation isn't polished. It's about surrendering to hard lessons, building a life and career with intention, and passing the wisdom forward while you're still here.

In the debut episode of Dave of the Dead, host David Chitel sits down with media universe cartographer Evan Shapiro for a candid, wide-ranging conversation about the moments that shape a life—and the courage required to reinvent when the old map no longer works. From growing up as a latchkey Gen-X kid to clawing his way into the entertainment business with no safety net, Evan shares the personal stories behind his outspoken public persona. The conversation moves fluidly through theater, television, corporate media, entrepreneurship, getting fired on his 50th birthday, and ultimately rebuilding a career by breaking every rule he was once told to follow. More than a conversation about media, this episode is about identity, resilience, creative risk, and being radically honest with yourself. Together, David and Evan dig into the four pillars of the show—Life, Business, Reinvention, and the Lessons That Outlive Us—setting the tone for everything to come.