Best Tommy Nguyen Podcasts (2024)

1
The "Why" of Work Life Balance 37:55

6h ago37:55

37:55

In this special 100th episode, we revisit our very first topic from two years ago- work life balance. Whether you own a business or just work for one, the motivation behind your work ethic drives everything you do, from the amount of time you spend with your family to the effort you put into your job. We discuss our own work life balance, the "Why"…

1
The Future is Here with James Hatfield 44:14

2d ago44:14

44:14

The future of tenant communication is video. Face time, snaps, zoom, google meet, and a host of other options have grown this tech in person to person communication, but we haven't seen it hit its stride in the self storage space... that is until Live Switch decided to enter our industry. It's not often we're blown away by a new piece of tech that …

1
Watch Out For That Snake 21:50

9d ago21:50

21:50

Snakes, birds that attack, glow in the dark tenants... we've got a few fun stories from our recent travels to share on this lighter 4th of July special episode. There is never a dull day in self storage, and we are extremely thankful for the freedom to work in this industry and build our business. Despite the strange circumstances, tempermental tec…

1
The Good, Better, and Best In Storage Security w/ Aaron Harwell 1:04:41

17d ago1:04:41

1:04:41

Get ready for one of our most entertaining podcasts of the year. Aaron Harwell from SpiderDoor joins Tommy and Melissa to talk about self storage security. Aaron has experience both as a self storage owner and the owner of a self storage security company and talks about what has (and hasn't) worked for his facilities and what led him to the many un…

1
Dealing With Business Operators 21:15

1M ago21:15

21:15

Up next in our series on "Dealing with Problem Tenants" are our business operators. This is a tricky category as many of our business tenants are our best tenants. They follow the rules, pay on time, and stay forever. But there's a difference between a business that stores with you and one that operates on your property. How can you discover this p…

1
Dealing With "Thief" Tenants 42:17

1M ago42:17

42:17

Theft is one of many security issues facing every self storage facility. Preventing it should be a top concern. Sadly, one of the sources of theft is our own tenants. For most of your renters, you have nothing to worry about. But what about that one bad apple? How can you "thief-proof" your facility? Better yet, how can you head off a thief before …

1
Dealing With "Bully" Tenants 41:24

2M ago41:24

41:24

Tenants are the life blood of our business. Most of the time, and with most of our tenants, the relationship is great. But every once in a while you get that one tenant... Today we tackle the first of many problem tenant types: The Complainer/Bully. This is the tenant who knows your business better than you do and always has a "helpful" suggestion.…

1
Unsinkable Shannon Lee: How to handle being Bruce Lee’s Daughter? Set up your own legacy! Podcaster/Producer of Warrior 52:39

1M ago52:39

52:39

Welcome to our soft relaunch of YOLK magazine via podcast! Introducing successful Producer, Martial Artist, American Actor with amazing audio voice Performer with her Bruce Lee podcast - Flowing with Shannon Lee, thriving Writer and businesswoman. She is the daughter of late martial arts film star, Bruce Lee and retired martial arts teacher, Linda …

1
How does Arnold Chun use his History degree to make his characters more believable? 1:12:30

1M ago1:12:30

1:12:30

We were entertained with his many theatrical accents and educated by Arnold Chun, an American Actor/Director. He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, and graduated from the Humanities Magnet Program at Grover Cleveland High School in Reseda, CA. He holds a B.A. in East Asian/European History from UC Irvine. Arnold has appeared in many hit shows like,…

1
Ms Kieu Chinh- How Does One Survive 2 wars & A Lifetime Of Trauma? 1:02:46

2M ago1:02:46

1:02:46

DAME KIEU CHINH NGUYEN We are grateful to have our guest, Dame Kieu Chinh on this YOLK podcast and I had the immense pleasure to interview her. In her career spanning over sixty years from 1957 to the present, Ms. Nguyen has received many accolades including an Emmy Award in 1996. On of her most renown roles is in The Joy Luck Club as Suyuan Woo, m…

1
Enlisting Your Customers 26:01

2M ago26:01

26:01

There is a common denominator every self storage business shares that is often under-valued and under-utilized: the customer. Building customer loyalty is the final step in the sales funnel. But too often, companies are so focused on getting customers, they don't know how to truly enlist them to continue building their business. Today we gab about …

1
It's Legal, But Be Careful 27:44

2M ago27:44

27:44

The self storage laws in Georgia were recently updated to include new provisions for non-monetary defaults and unsigned lease agreements. But along with these changes are best practices to protect both the facility owner and the tenant. While some practices are now legal, owners must be careful to implement them in the right way. We break down some…

1
Increasing Occupancy With a Great Experience with Luke Westbrooks 1:11:32

2M ago1:11:32

1:11:32

Increasing occupancy is top of mind for most self storage operators. Advice is plentiful, from upping your ad spend to dropping your rates. But what really works? Luke Westbrooks joins the webinar to discuss what has and hasn't worked for the portfolio under his care. You won't be surprised by the bottom line- it's all about the customer experience…

1
What can 1 person do to bring the Arts to a diverse genre? Tim Chang made it happen! 38:29

2M ago38:29

38:29

Tim Chang, Associate Dean of Student Life and Administration, from Loyola Marymount University School of Education, where he was the Associate Dean for Business Services in the School of Education. He accomplished a B.A. from Bradley University in Psychology and an M.A. in Higher Education Administration from Teachers College, Columbia University. …

1
The Most Important Thing In Self Storage 37:27

2M ago37:27

37:27

After more lunches, sessions, trade show seminars, podcasts, and webinars than we we can count, we've finally cracked the code and figured out the most important thing in self storage. It's not your website, location, class, security, software, or curb appeal, although all those elements relate to it. At the end of the day, self storage is a busine…

1
Elevating Your Marketing Through Curb Appeal w/ Jane Sauls 1:15:08

3M ago1:15:08

1:15:08

Curb appeal isn't just about what you see. It's about what others see when they visit your property, whether in person or online. The right curb appeal can attract a great tenant leading to long term healthy arrangement. But the reverse is also true. Negative curb appeal can keep good tenants away or attract the wrong kind of tenant. So, what are t…

1
Keep It Clean Y'all: Physical Curb Appeal 28:52

3M ago28:52

28:52

You never get a second chance to make a first impression. This famous slogan rings true in more areas than just keeping your hair free of dandruff. It's especially true in the self storage industry. What are people's first impression when they drive by or walk on your property? Today we dive into the different aspects of keeping your facility neat,…

1
Top 5 Sales Skills for Managers with Carol Mixon 1:05:29

3M ago1:05:29

1:05:29

One of the top training guru's in self storage, Carol Mixon, joins the podcast today to talk all about selling skills. Active listening, problem solving, customer care, product knowledge, and of course closing those leads are just a few of the many topics covered in todays episode. Carol shares a variety of helpful examples along with practical adv…

1
Sommer meets Summer about Summer's Specials sustainable skincare - Say that 3x! 33:05

4M ago33:05

33:05

Giving Larry Tazuma the day off, we welcome an intelligent and spiritual entrepreneur who worked under Deepak Chopra, then started her own company of mental and physical wellness. Summer Rathswohl brokers skincare and supplements for total health wellness and maintenance. Her website summersspecials.com (under construction) and her IG is @summerssp…

1
Inside Self Storage 2024 Recap 27:14

4M ago27:14

27:14

We're back from Inside Self Storage with all our fun takeaways from the education, networking, and trade show. Dozens of speakers, hundreds of vendors, and thousands of attendees made this an event to remember. And speaking of thousands, the Storage Gives event was HUGE, raising thousands for all the worthy causes they support. Interested in purcha…

1
Legal Chat Episode 1 with Carlos Kaslow and Scott Zucker 38:19

4M ago38:19

38:19

Welcome to Episode 1 of Legal Chat. This is the podcast version of the virtual "Power Hour" featuring Carlos Kaslow and Scott Zucker which covers a variety of topics and questions sent in from self storage owners and operators around the country. Today we get to know Carlos Kaslow's origin story before the guys dive in to the legal topics facing th…

1
SSA Spring Show Takeaways 28:15

4M ago28:15

28:15

We're back (for a few days at least) from the recent '24 Self Storage Association Spring Conference. Honestly, we were blown away by the amount of new additions to the storage space. Today we share a few key takeaways regarding new tech players in the industry, session highlights, and products to consider. There are more tools today than ever befor…

1
What It Takes To focus On Showbiz- Our honorary Asian friend, Actor Carl Bressler! 55:35

4M ago55:35

55:35

Carl Bressler recently hit the halfway mark of 25+ for the goal of performing fifty characters named "Berg". He enjoys acting, guesting as an older actor in acting classes, advises senior executive challenges in the entertainment business and involved in all kinds of entrepreneurial ventures, particularly if charitable and/or for social good. Singl…

1
It's Not Personal, It's Just Business: Collections 32:40

5M ago32:40

32:40

Collections may be the least favorite part of self storage management. But you gotta do it. It starts with a good policy and ends with getting paid, but the in-between part of interacting with customers and vetting excuses is where it gets fuzzy. Or does it? As with most things, consistency is key with collections. Rent is due when it's due. If you…

1
George Lee: from baseball to King of Indie Film Cinema 50:52

5M ago50:52

50:52

Mr. Lee is a Co-Founder and CEO of Venture 3D and Storyoscopic Films. Mr. Lee’s experience in the motion picture business include co-production, financing, foreign distribution and licensing of major Hollywood studio films in Asia and currently in the U.S. In January 2016, Mr Lee became partners with one of Hollywood’s biggest directors, Michael Ba…

1
Does Grassroots Marketing Work in 2024? w/ Stacie Maxwell 1:44:18

5M ago1:44:18

1:44:18

Digital marketing dollars don't go as far as they used to, but don't worry- Stacie Maxwell, the Grassroots Guru, joins us to explore the ways you can get involved in your community to keep your facility top-of-mind when people need storage. Do you host local events? Have a robust referral program? Use QR codes? Engage in social media? Partner with …

1
Exploring New Revenue Streams 29:54

5M ago29:54

29:54

Are you getting the most out of your self storage facility? Raising your rates is still the best way to increase your income, but these days price increases are a bit more tricky. Today we explore several affordable and effective ways to increase revenue from retail, to technology, to value pricing, and many more in between. Our industry is full of…

1
What's Trending in Self Storage 24:55

5M ago24:55

24:55

Trade show season is off to a great start! We were at the Florida Self Storage Association Conference & Expo last week and noticed a few things trending in self storage. Of course, AI was talked about, but we don't share the same opinion as some others who think it'll be a slow roll-out in our industry. Plus, we're noticing a growing trend of more …

1
When Should You Drop Your Day Job? DJ/Actor/MRI Specialist Paris Wang Responds 37:04

5M ago37:04

37:04

Larry Tazuma and Sommer Nguyen welcomes PARIS WANG, and Actor and DJ/Producer of Electronic music tracks. He ventured in event planning in his 20s and decided music was his first love. Paris' discovered his other passion was acting after entertaining people on the stage. He talks here about his never-ending desire to entertain audiences even when t…

1
Enforce Your Lease 31:41

6M ago31:41

31:41

The lease is probably the most important document for your self storage business. It's the agreement between owner and tenant, outlining all the fees, penalties, and agreed upon practices for having a good relationship with your customers. One of the most frustrating things we are seeing through the industry is owners not enforcing their lease. Thi…

1
Alexandra Chun, badass Dog Activist & Working Actor 1:06:11

6M ago1:06:11

1:06:11

Alexandra Chun pursued a medical career, but then after a relationship with a musician enlightened her to a career in Performing Arts. She was cast in NYC Another World and then she returned to Los Angeles to work in numerous film and television shows in recurring and guest-starring roles in dozens of shows, including but not limited to Mrs. Davis …

1
Training Is Essential 26:49

6M ago26:49

26:49

Training is essential... Seems like a fairly obvious statement, but how many of us put it into practice? Do you have a training plan for yourself and/or your team? Training is so much more than handing a new manager a book of policies on day one, expecting them to read and implement it their own. It's about the people and equipping them with all th…

1
Chatting with former Editor of Yolk Magazine turned Actor, Alex Luu 57:23

6M ago57:23

57:23

Happy to have a former Yolk Writer/Editor be our guest today, Alex Luu, a solo performance/theater artist, Teaching Artist, and writer. He is with the Los Angeles County Arts Ed Collective and a previous Teaching Artist with the Ford Theater and East West Players. Alex also created a workshop called My Own Story to teach underrepresented & underser…

1
2024 State of the Industry w/ John Chang 1:20:06

6M ago1:20:06

1:20:06

It's time for an economic temperature check for the self storage industry, and who better to share his insights on this than John Chang from Marcus & Millichap. Where are we now? What should we expect with the recession, occupancy, street rates, or construction? How should operators be approaching pricing, expanding, or investing? What should self …

1
Customer Friendly Websites 31:14

6M ago31:14

31:14

We pay all sorts of attention to our curb appeal to make the most of that first impression. Same thing with our phone skills (more on that in last week's episode). Do we have the same focus for our websites? Are they intuitive and customer friendly? Is the experience of renting a unit as easy as if a manager was walking them through the process on …

1
My hubby, next level relationship and oversharing online 31:33

6M ago31:33

31:33

Chat up with my hubby, JP while we wait for host Larry Tazuma to get better from his injury. Get well fast, Larry! Edited with skills by CJ Bautista, thank you CJ, you a great human, you can follow him here @undersiege360, and thank you! @sommertimecasting, @pariswangofficial for the intro/outro!By Tommy Tam

1
Phone Skills Pay the Bills 34:25

6M ago34:25

34:25

Thousands of dollars are spent each month in the hopes of making the phone ring, but if you aren't there to answer it or don't know how to sell, that money is wasted. Today is all about those phone skills- being prepared, asking the right questions, overcoming objections, and closing the sale. Make sure those marketing dollars are well spent. If yo…

1
Opening and Closing Time 26:14

7M ago26:14

26:14

We're going back to basics to kick off 2024, and it doesn't get more basic than opening and closing your self storage facility. Do you have an opening check-list? If you needed to hand off opening or closing procedures to someone else for a day or a week, would everything be taken care of? Turning on lights and checking email might seem like common…

1
Predictions for Self Storage 44:26

7M ago44:26

44:26

It's the final episode of 2023, so we're looking into our crystal balls to see what's in store for the self storage industry in 2024. Will occupancy bounce back? Is remote management here to stay? Where will marketing dollars be spent? What systems will come under the microscope? We discuss all this and more as we get ready to turn the calendar ove…

1
2023 Year In Review 1:14:01

7M ago1:14:01

1:14:01

It's the final webinar of the year and it did not disappoint. Industry experts Jane Sauls, Nick Newcomb, and Ginny Sutton talked the good, bad, and ugly of 2023 along with a few predictions for 2024. They discussed the impact of decreased rental activity, rising costs, and tenant issues, along with the crucial role of technology adoption in staying…

1
Optimizing Your Day to Day Part 2 1:22:11

8M ago1:22:11

1:22:11

We're back for a second look at day to day operations. The normal routine of a self storage manager is anything but routine. There are several day to day practices that can make the job run smoothly and efficiently no matter what your property or your tenants throw your way. Our experts weigh in on communication software, sending information to ten…

1
Don't Discount Yourself 48:47

8M ago48:47

48:47

Apparently it's time to panic. Occupancy is down, deliquency is up, and we have to do whatever it takes to fill up our self storage facilities, right? False. There is a time and place for discounts and specials, but has that time come for you? Just because the big boys are dropping discounts doesn't mean you need to do it as well. Today we talk abo…

1
Thankful for Self Storage 36:29

8M ago36:29

36:29

Today is all about Thanksgiving! And we certainly have a lot to be thankful for, especially when it comes to the self storage industry. Our Gabfocus Friends helped us out for this episode, so a special shout out to Max, Adam, Megan, Cindy, Sue, Bob, Chad, Alonna, and all the rest who chimed in with their reasons for gratitude. From tenants, to mana…

1
Keeping Your Facility Secure 1:16:27

8M ago1:16:27

1:16:27

A secure self storage facility is one of the top 2 priorities for new and existing tenants. But how can practically and affordably keep your facility secure? What are the best gates, cameras, and lights? How often should you upgrade your technology? What are the newest tools entering the storage industry? Our experts tackle these questions and many…

1
Keeping Up With Your Facility Part 2 1:08:32

9M ago1:08:32

1:08:32

Maintaining your property is a huge area of focus if you own and operate self storage. If done properly, it can save you thousands of dollars. It's so important that we've dedicated not one, but two webinars to it. Jackie and Nigel are back for round two. Last time was all about doors. This one is about all the rest- gates, locks, driveways, beauti…

1
Managers Make the Difference 36:20

9M ago36:20

36:20

Managers are crucial to the success, or failure, of your self storage business. We learned this lesson again and again on our membership drive through Louisiana last month as we encountered dozens of managers. The vast majority were fantastic, exemplifying the importance of that friendly face in the office. Of course, there were some not so great o…

1
2023 Storage Legal Update with Joe Doherty 1:15:00

9M ago1:15:00

1:15:00

Joe Doherty (Self Storage Association) joined us for our 2023 Storage Legal Update! We reviewed the latest national and state legal updates and discussed the trickiest legal sticking points of self storage. What are the legal challenges happening around the country? What are the biggest concerns facing operators? How do you handle dead bodies in yo…

1
Who Won The Storage Debates? 34:17

9M ago34:17

34:17

How important is social media? Is a manager really necessary? Tenant protection or tenant insurance? These were the topics debated at the 2023 Tennessee Self Storage Association conference in Nashville. Our participants gave great arguments on all sides of these issues. But who won? We go through the arguments, highlight our favorite points, and de…

1
Attorney, Author, & Self Storage Guru: Scott Zucker 45:40

10M ago45:40

45:40

We're excited to welcome Scott Zucker, one of the best self storage attorneys, to the podcast. You may be familiar with Scott's work as his expertise has played a role in many leases and laws throughout the storage world. But you may not be as familiar with him as an author or baseball fan. Today, we cover all three as we hear some incredible stora…

1
Practical Marketing and QR Code Secrets 22:18

10M ago22:18

22:18

Marketing can be a maze of acronyms, analytics, and ad management, but it doesn't have to be. Simple solutions are out there for even a beginner self storage manager or owner to utilize. Today we tackle some takeaways from a few of the recent shows we attended. In particular, we get practical with marketing, give away some tools to help verify your…

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