October 17, 2026 · DECKER. Newsletter Issue #2

My first live, in-person podcast interview — and I picked the right first guest

Lead story

Straight Talk / Connector Spotlight, Episode 1 — recorded at Kilates Coffee

On October 15, I sat down with Kathya Reppart of Kilates Coffee Roasting Co. — at her store, cameras rolling — for my first live video podcast interview. No voice notes. No screen. A real conversation, face to face, in the place she built.

We talked about what it actually takes to start a business from nothing and keep showing up for it. Her story says more about building than any business book I’ve read — you’ll see why in the spotlight below.

The episode — Straight Talk / Connector Spotlight, Episode 1 — is finished and approved. It releases Monday, October 19. I’ll send the link when it’s live.

Episode drops Monday, October 19 — watch alandecker.co →

Connector Spotlight

Kathya Reppart — Kilates Coffee Roasting Co., Corpus Christi

Kathya opened Kilates on July 4, 2022. Her first day in business, she sold one bag of coffee.

One bag.

She opened again the next day.

That’s the whole story of this business in two sentences. No viral moment, no shortcut — just a woman who kept opening the door. Today Kilates is one of the best coffee companies on this coast, and it got there one morning at a time.

Her words, from our interview:

If you run a business — or you’re thinking about starting one — tape that to your wall.

Kilates Coffee Roasting Co., 14254 S Padre Island Dr #103, Corpus Christi, TX 78418. Open Mon–Sat 7am–3pm, Sun 8am–3pm. kilatescoffee.com — go get a bag. Tell her Alan sent you.

Coming up

• Monday, October 19 — Straight Talk / Connector Spotlight, Episode 1 releases: my conversation with Kathya Reppart of Kilates Coffee Roasting Co. Link lands in your inbox when it’s live.
• Know a local business owner I should spotlight next? Tell me who.

From the arena

• Wednesday: Guest Day at the Bay Area Business Alliance, noon. We brought prospective members into the regular room to see how it actually works. Johnny Enzo founded this group; I serve as Co-Chair — and days like Wednesday are why it works: real owners, real referrals, no pitch-fest.
• Thursday: recorded my first live video podcast interview, at Kathya’s store. Different energy when you’re sitting across from somebody. More of these coming.
• Saturday: episode’s done, approved, and queued for Monday. Building in public means shipping in public too.

— Alan