The RJ Ledesma Podcast

What does it take to become Mercato Centrale's Next Big Food Entrepreneur?As the co-founder of Mercato Centrale, one of the country's leading food entrepreneur incubators, this episode is especially meaningful to me because it features the winners of a competition we created to discover, mentor, and launch the next generation of Filipino food business owners.This year, I sit down with the founders behind PokéBee, Agepan Japanese Fried Bread, and Ancestre—the standout winners of Mercato Centrale's Next Big Food Entrepreneur competition.Among them is Grand Winner PokéBee, founded by Goldwin and Vina Garcia. What started as a recipe inspired by Goldwin's late brother eventually became a business concept that impressed our judges and emerged victorious against aspiring food entrepreneurs from across the country.But this competition was never just about finding great food.It was about finding great entrepreneurs.Through the Mercato Academy, participants received mentorship, business training, and entrepreneurial guidance to help them improve their operations, strengthen their brands, and prepare for long-term growth.The winners didn't just take home recognition. They earned a six-month rent-free incubation opportunity inside Mercato Centrale, giving them a real-world platform to grow, test, and scale their businesses in front of actual customers.In this episode, we talk about the stories behind the brands, the lessons they learned throughout the competition, and what it truly takes to transform a passion for food into a sustainable business.If you've ever dreamed of launching your own food concept, this conversation is packed with valuable insights on entrepreneurship, resilience, and growth.🎙️ Watch the full episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast.And if you're an aspiring food entrepreneur who would like to become part of the Mercato Centrale community, send me a DM. We'd love to hear about your concept and explore how we can help you take your food business to the next level.#TheRJLedesmaPodcast #MercatoCentrale #NextBigFoodEntrepreneur #MercatoAcademy #FoodEntrepreneurship #MSMEPhilippines #StartupStories #EntrepreneurshipPHFor any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

The wedding industry is worth billions of pesos. Yet for many couples, planning their big day can be one of the most stressful experiences of their lives.Who can you trust? Which suppliers are legitimate? And how do you know you're making the right decisions for one of the most important milestones you'll ever celebrate?While most wedding fairs simply bring vendors and clients together, Michelle "Mich" Siasoco and Caroline "Carol" Gomez believed there was a better way.Seeing the growing need for trust, accountability, and a more meaningful planning experience, they created Forever in a Day Weddings, Events and Debut Fair—a highly curated platform designed to help couples connect with quality suppliers while giving event professionals a better way to grow their business.How did they spot this opportunity? What challenges did they face in building their brand? And what makes their approach different in an industry filled with competition?Let's find out in this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

Most people think aging is just something we eventually learn to live with.Mike Chan believes we may soon be able to manage it far more proactively.On this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with the Founder and CEO of House of Gaia, the Philippines’ first AI-powered longevity center, to explore how technology is transforming the future of healthcare and human vitality.From full-body MRIs and genome sequencing to biomarker tracking, AI diagnostics, and precision medicine, Mike shares how longevity medicine is shifting healthcare from simply treating disease… to detecting risk earlier and optimizing health before problems even begin.One insight that really stayed with me?Many of today’s biggest health risks—heart disease, cancer, stroke, and dementia—are closely linked to aging itself. Yet most people only start paying attention once symptoms already appear.This conversation goes far beyond fitness trends or supplements.It’s about living longer with energy.Staying sharper as we age.And understanding how science and technology may completely redefine what “healthy aging” looks like in the future.Watch the full episode now on The RJ Ledesma Podcast. 🎙️#TheRJLedesmaPodcast #MikeChan #HouseOfGaia #Longevity #AIPoweredHealth #PrecisionMedicine #FutureOfHealth #Wellness

He wasn’t in retail.He wasn’t in distribution.He wasn’t even planning to start a business.He was an IT professional.Then one day… he saw something on Shark Tank.That product? Scrub Daddy.What started as a simple “what if” turned into something much bigger.In this episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Dustin Ng of Wincorp—a former expat IT professional who took a chance on a product he believed in, despite having zero background in retail or distribution.No roadmap.No guarantees.Just the willingness to reach out, take a risk, and figure things out along the way.From spotting an opportunity on TV…to building a full-scale business bringing a global brand into the Philippine market—this is a story of hustle, resilience, and commitment.Because sometimes, the biggest opportunities don’t come from experience.They come from seeing something others don’t—and acting on it.🎧 Watch the full episode now.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

Most people don’t lose money because they picked the wrong investment.They lose money because they had no strategy when things started falling apart.On the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Jun Tarrobago—a former Chief Investment Officer at UnionBank of the Philippines who has managed billions in assets, navigated multiple market cycles, and helped build top-performing equity funds.Today, he works closely with entrepreneurs and investors—not just telling them where to invest, but helping them understand how to think, decide, and stay disciplined when everything becomes uncertain.Because in times like these, it’s not about chasing returns.It’s about having a clear, structured strategy when the pressure hits.If you’re building wealth, running a business, or simply trying to make smarter financial decisions—this conversation might just change how you approach money.🎧 Watch the full episode now.#RJLedesmaPodcast #InvestingPH #FinancialStrategy #WealthBuilding #EntrepreneurMindsetFor any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

In this episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Eric Darryl Lim, co-founder of Autokid Mobility Solutions—a fast-growing mobility and fleet solutions company helping businesses move smarter and scale faster.A recognized young business leader, Eric is also a Mansmith Young Market Masters Awards awardee, honoring the country’s most promising marketing-driven entrepreneurs. In our conversation, he opens up about the real entrepreneurial journey—building from the ground up, navigating challenges, and finding the right model to grow. But here’s where it evolves… Today, Eric is also an Associate Professor at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, helping shape the next generation of founders. 👉 Don’t just watch—take action. Join One Day with Master Entrepreneurs and learn directly from practitioners. 📅 April 23, 2026 | 8:00 AM – 5:30 PM 📍 Ateneo Rockwell Campus Get a practical deep dive into Marketing, Operations, HR, and Finance—so you can make smarter business decisions, faster. 📩 Contact: Kharla Villaflor 📱 (+63) 917 705 9465 📧 kvillaflor@ateneo.eduFor any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

Most businesses start with a plan.This one started with a hobby.On this episode of the RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Archie Chiang, founder of Second Skin Industries—a self-made entrepreneur whose journey began back in college… not with cars, but with wrapping cellphones.That curiosity turned into skill.That skill turned into wrapping laptops.Then cars.And eventually… some of the most prized supercars in the country.From working out of a humble five-car garage to now operating across two warehouses, Archie didn’t just build a business—he built it layer by layer, one wrap at a time.This is a story about passion that compounds, skills that scale, and how something small—when pursued consistently—can grow into something world-class.If you’ve ever underestimated where your “hobby” can take you… this episode might just change your mind.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

Most people see weddings as a one-day celebration. But behind every “I do” is an entire industry—and one woman helped build that from the ground up.On this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with Sharon Fabian, the visionary behind Themes & Motifs and Wedding Expo Philippines—the country’s longest-running bridal fair. From spotting a gap in the market to creating a platform that has connected thousands of couples and suppliers over the years, Sharon shares how she turned a simple idea into a lasting legacy.But beyond the business, this is a story of resilience, reinvention, and staying relevant in an industry that constantly evolves. Plus, if you’re planning your big day—or building your own business—you’ll want to hear her insights on the latest wedding trends and what it really takes to thrive for decades.🎙️ Watch the full episode and discover how one entrepreneur turned wedding dreams into an entire ecosystem.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.

Many entrepreneurs build their companies with grit and instinct — a lot of “ready, fire, aim.” But as your business grows, that same energy can also create confusion, bottlenecks, and misalignment inside the team.In this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast, I sit down with my co-founder and wife Vanessa Pastor-Ledesma, and EOS Implementer Haraya Del Rosario Gust, founder of Satori Consulting, to talk about what it’s really like to bring the Entrepreneurial Operating System into our company, Mercato Centrale. Known as the country’s pioneering food market and incubation platform for small food entrepreneurs, Mercato has helped launch and grow hundreds of food businesses across the Philippines. But like many founder-led organizations, growth also brings complexity — and EOS is helping us create clearer vision, stronger accountability, and better execution across the team.Vanessa and I share candidly about the leadership challenges that surfaced as we began implementing EOS — from founder dynamics to decision-making tensions — and how its practical tools are helping us align the organization and scale more sustainably. Watch this episode of The RJ Ledesma Podcast to get an honest, behind-the-scenes look at what happens when founders commit to installing the right operating system for their business — and why that structure might be the key to turning entrepreneurial chaos into sustainable growth.For any collaboration, brand partnership, and campaign run inquiries, e-mail us at info@thepodnetwork.com.