Business Innovators Radio - Checking In: The Room Behind Talk Derby To Me

Episode Date: May 1, 2026

In this episode, Lisa C. sits down with Shawndrell and Marcell, the creators behind Talk Derby To Me — a GlowHouse production that’s quickly becoming one of the most intentional and talked-about rooms in Santa Clarita. A sold out room of 300 professionals, business & community leaders at the Sand Canyon Country Club, Santa Clarita CA.What started as an event has evolved into something more: a curated environment where culture, connection, and real opportunity meet.Together, they unpack:what was missing in Santa Clarita that led to creating this experiencehow intentional curation changes the entire energy of a roomthe importance of an inclusive room was the intentionwhy layering fashion, social moments, and experiences like the Check-In Lounge mattersand how the right room can lead to real business, collaboration, and continued relationshipsThis conversation goes beyond events — it’s about building spaces people actually feel, remember, and move within.Key Takeaways:Not all rooms are created equal — intention changes everythingCuration isn’t about exclusivity, it’s about alignmentCulture doesn’t happen by accident — it’s builtThe right environment can accelerate connection and opportunityPeople don’t just remember events — they remember how they felt in the roomConnect / Learn More:Talk Derby To Me — GlowHousehttps://www.eventbrite.com/e/talk-derby-to-me-2025-tickets-1298662968899About GlowHouse StudiosGlowHouse Studios is a premium event and experience company specializing in immersive environments, creative production, and high-impact social experiences. From concept to execution, GlowHouse transforms events into curated moments designed for both in-room engagement and lasting impact. GlowHouse Studios is a division of GlowHouse Enterprises.Company Name: GlowHouse StudiosContact Person: Shawndrell LynchEmail: [e-mail]: 855-348-4569Country: USAWebsite: https://glowhousegaming.comCAREGD™ — Culture. Care. Connection.www.caregd.comDon’t just show up. Check in.@wearecaregdSource: https://businessinnovatorsradio.com/checking-in-the-room-behind-talk-derby-to-me

Welcome to Business Innovators Radio, featuring industry influencers and trendsetters, sharing proven strategies to help you build a better life right now. Welcome back. Today, I'm sitting down with Chondrell and Marcel, the creators behind Talk Derby to Me, a glowhouse production and one of the most intentional rooms being built in Santa Clarita. This isn't just an event. It's a curated experience where culture, connection, and real opportunity meet. Today, we're getting into how they built it and what really makes this room different. Hi, Chandrael. Hi, Marcel. Hey, how you doing?

And thank you for that fantastic intro. I can't say it better at myself. Well, this is hot. This is, this event is, I think, going to be one of the stellar events of Santa Clarita. would you agree? Absolutely. Absolutely. All right. Well, tell me, take me back to the beginning. What felt missing in Santa Clarita that made you say, we need to create this? Chandra, I'll let you start. Okay, well, I will start with, we throw parties and events all the time, right? And a lot of times we actually test the concept at home with our friends and family. So this talk,

Derby to be concept actually started in our backyard three years ago. We were like, hey, let's see if the community will enjoy a themed event. So that's really kind of what sparked it. We didn't want it to compete with like a Halloween or another kind of like heavily competitive, overly crowded or saturated event season. So we felt like the Derby, the Kentucky Derby, was something different that we could all enjoy. together. And not just as being something, something different, but not trying to let the people of Santa Clarita go to Los Angeles. So we felt we had enough people here within the area from

Santa Clarita to Beggarsfield, Palmdale, Lancaster. They can just stay right here in this community. So for us, that was the goal, because we were like, we don't have to go over the hill for everything. Yes, we need Hollywood every now and then, but why not create our own events here? I love it. And Marcel is actually like this is his brainchild. This is absolutely his brain. You got to say it like that. But that's the true.

It really is. Tell me more about it, Marcel. So basically, I don't know. We'll just be sitting around. So we call Sundays our think tank days. And this event probably happened on a Sunday. So we're just relaxing. And I was like, you know what?

Because I've been to the Derby a long time ago. And I just say, you know what? We'd like to do theme events. So what was coming up? And I said, let's have a Kentucky Derby party. And she was like, a what? A Kentucky Derby party? Like, what is that?

So I'm not really knowing either. So I had to Google it. We had to get on the computer and be like, okay, we're going to get dressed up and just have a good time. So for us, it was more like introducing the finer thing. So like from the mint juleps that I didn't know what it was, but just kind of opening the culture out and seeing what the Kentucky Derby was all about. So bringing like, like-minded entrepreneurs like me and John Drill together in a wonderful room started in our backyard. So here we are. So you're having the Kentucky of the Kentucky Derby in Santa Clarita at the San Canaan Canyon Country Club.

And who knew? In three years, we would go from the backyard to a part nine. So for us, for us, it's like the. the elevation is really great. Maybe, you know, we felt that maybe we would have been at this point in five years. But it's been so much excitement. We're actually turning people away, so to speak, because, you know, they're like, oh, my God, I can't get a VIP sold out table.

They're all gone. So, but it's really, really exciting. I think everybody in committee is really pushing, is pulling for us. And, hey, here we are. Let's go. So, okay. So tell me this. What are you doing intentionally that most people overlook when they build something like this?

Chandra, well, for me, it's the experience. I mean, you can always go to an event, but what are you going to take away from it? You know, we all think that we've done enough partying. So for me, let's party with a purpose. So to be able to go to an event like this and to be able to meet different entrepreneurs like yourself, seeing the type of events that we produce. So you'll definitely take away something that you spent your money for not just an event,

but for an experience. And then you made a bunch of great, great, fantastic people. And I think that's definitely what sets us apart from other party goers, entrepreneurs, and things like that. But you're going to leave here remembering people's names,

getting phone numbers, and also enjoying yourself. Nice. Yeah, we want to do. to make the, we were very intentional about like the different type of activations that we're doing at the event as well as the invite list, right? So it's not just for everybody, but we really had a curated list of people and organizations that we reached out to that are community focus, that have influence that so we can get the right folks in the room that can make decisions

and put brands in front of them so that it's a win-win for everybody. The party goer, the sponsors, everybody involved, the community. We were very intentional with it. It sounds like, yeah, it's a curated room. So tell me a little bit about the evening. Let's give people a taste. Okay, so I'm like, imagine this. Imagine this.

So think the grand entrance. coming into, let's say like Met Gala style, but Kentucky Derby meets Met Gala, right? So upon entrance, there's like red carpet photography and photos being taken. You're being seated, walk to your seats and past tray welcoming cocktails and hors d'oeuvres. There's live jazz musician playing. There's free-flowing bar. there's what else we got going. There's the patio.

Yeah, go ahead. So then we have the roulette table. We will also be having a live artist painting a portrait of our event. So her intent is to capture the moment of this event. And then after this event is over, we will auction off her painting. We'll have a female cigar roller. I don't know the exact name of what that's called. She will be in the house.

We will have our mint julep specialists who will be over there taking care of that portion of it. So it's going to be really, really exciting. And of course, the best dress men and women contest. And if you know about the derby, you really have to dig into your bag and to your grandma's hats and go find you that perfect hat for this event. And, of course, we have the most stylish table. So make sure everyone at your table of eight is ready to go. I love it. I love it. And at 4 o'clock, you guys are going to actually have the Kentucky Derby live, correct? Oh, yes. That part. That part, right.

The whole purpose of the event, yes. Oh, right. The fastest two minutes in sports, we cannot forget about the derby. So, like I said, even last year, we had, I mean, we turned up the music, we turned off the music, we turned up to volume, and everybody gets really deep into this horse. race for two minutes. So it's really, really a good time. And once it's over, that's what a party happens. And people get to actually bet on the year. Yes. So if they want to go, quote-unquote, derby betting, they can all always use their phones. But we do have a nice, fun type of betting that we do. And the winner left with a couple hours last year. Yes, it's a pool. There you go. Okay. I love it. And of course, this year, the check-in lounge.

Yes. Check-in lounge. I can't wait. Can't wait to just experience that whole experience of that. And we are looking forward to it. Many of our guests, our sponsors, definitely want to get more involved in that. And they're anticipating this. So it's time for you, Ms. Lisa, to show up and show out.

We're waiting at you. Well, Caregood is looking forward to bringing a vibe. Yes. Back in lounge. All right. That's what I'm talking about. We can't wait. We cannot wait.

So this is going to be a fantastic event. We're going to have over 250 people in the house already. Like I said, we're turning people back at this point. So let's just set a great experience to get ready for 2027. All right. Well, here's a question for you. A lot of people wouldn't expect a strong, visible black professional presence in Santa Clarita. but this room clearly has that.

Is that correct? It clearly does. Yes, that is correct. Was that intentional? Well, it's kind of like I would say we're actually intentionally making it multicultural because I feel like naturally we gravitate towards people of our own, right? So naturally the majority of attendance is black professionals and community-based local business owners. but we have intentionally, like I mentioned before,

curated our invite list so that we can have a cross-cultural connection and get to share in these experiences together. So we don't want, we're very inclusive rather than exclusive. Mixing and mingling. That's right. I love it. I love it. Yes.

What kind of opportunities have come out of this event in the past? And what are you anticipating? I'll go first, but we're just introducing to the individuals, the different sponsors that will be there. They just won't be there with having their name on a banner to be able to talk to different insurance agents to different entrepreneurs who are involved in this event. So definitely it's all about the connections with the people who's going to be in the room. And of course, we have included ourselves and got to deal with DCF. with the Department of Children's Services, we've been able to connect with those type of individuals, and now we have created a whole new bond together.

So just being in the room and this room, you're going to definitely leave with something, not just a good time. All right. Absolutely. So I assume school districts, churches, the gamut corporations. Well, you know, we're going to, I can't unveil all the different surprises. but someone said that the mayor and Santa Carilla just might show up. I'm just saying, I don't know because two years ago,

we didn't think the mayor even knew our names. Now the mayor knows our name based on this event. So just the energy, the buzz in the air, I'm telling you, next year, who knows? Dodger Stadium, let's go. There you go. I love it. So my final question, for someone who hasn't experienced this event yet, What should they expect when they walk into your room?

Chandra. High energy, fashion, openness, welcomeness, a feeling of belonging and wanting to stay. Yeah, and people will feel the love, you know, the connection. That's what we're intentionally trying to create that environment. And so it's authentic. It's genuine. and yeah, I think everybody will be pleasantly surprised if this is their first time. Because most of the time when you go to events like this, it's not powered.

I mean, it hasn't been backed by us. So now we are basically the power, the engine around an event of this magnitude. So we can't wait and we can't wait to see everybody show up, show out, and make sure that you have on your hats. Let's go. I love it. I love it. Well, thank you both because I can feel the intention behind what you've built.

This isn't just about a good time. It's about creating a space where people actually connect and something that can continue afterwards. Appreciate you both for building this and coming on to share. And to everyone listening, don't show up out there without checking in first. Thank you. That's right. Thank you.

All right. see you. All right, you guys. That's great. This is fun. Thanks for listening to Business Innovators Radio. To hear all episodes featuring leading industry influencers and trendsetters, visit us online at businessinnovators.com today.