Doobie Dogs Pet Taxi owner Ron Velez went from oil and gas and cleaning Airbnbs to shuttling Houston’s dogs to daycare, vets, and groomers. He shares traffic nightmares, 165‑pound Newfoundlands, and the fatherly advice that pushed him to buy van number two.

Learn more about Doobie Dogs HERE.

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube!

This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE.

Key Takeaways 

1. How a routine Airbnb route and a doggy daycare sparked the pet taxi idea.

2. The greenlight from Ron’s conservative dad that changed his career.

3. Why Houston’s dog culture makes this niche business work.

4. Handling anxious rescues, giant breeds, and kennel‑hating seniors without losing it.

5. How traffic, patience, and being “the fun guy” shape his daily grind.

Doobie Dogs Pet Taxi owner Ron Velez went from oil and gas and cleaning Airbnbs to shuttling Houston&rsquo;s dogs to daycare, vets, and groomers. He shares traffic nightmares, 165‑pound Newfoundlands, and the fatherly advice that pushed him to buy van number two.
Learn more about Doobie Dogs <a href="https://doobiedogsus.com/">HERE</a>.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.
Key Takeaways 
1. How a routine Airbnb route and a doggy daycare sparked the pet taxi idea.
2. The greenlight from Ron&rsquo;s conservative dad that changed his career.
3. Why Houston&rsquo;s dog culture makes this niche business work.
4. Handling anxious rescues, giant breeds, and kennel‑hating seniors without losing it.
5. How traffic, patience, and being &ldquo;the fun guy&rdquo; shape his daily grind.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn about the people driving its growth.

These are the stories about the individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the greater Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn about the people driving its growth.
These are the stories about the individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the greater Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.

Cruz through HTX

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.

Cruz through HTX spotlights the stories, individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the Houston area GREAT.

A podcast for Houstonians who want to engage more with their hometown and learn more about the people driving its growth.
Cruz through HTX spotlights the stories, individuals, businesses, and organizations that make the Houston area GREAT.

Twenty-six year radio veteran Freddy Cruz has gone indie.


From former special forces operators and CEOs to authors and journalists, join
Freddy as he seeks to learn from some of the highest achieving individuals in the
world. These are stories of grit and blasting through the crucible of life. Stories of
standing up to powerful corporations and defying the odds. Not all of his guests
are authors, but they all have epic stories to share.

Freddy Cruz

Dog Taxi Confessions: Houston Traffic, Giant Breeds, and Second Vans

Health coach and podcast host Samantha Elizabeth grew up in a vet family with snakes, gators, and rescued farm animals. She explains how pets shape our stress, why dogs absorb our energy, and how coaching differs from therapy when you’re trying to change your life.

Learn more about Samantha’s coaching and consulting HERE, and subscribe to her podcast Stress MessHERE.

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube!

This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE.

Key Takeaways

1. Growing up in a family of vets and feed stores with constant rescue drop‑offs.

2. Life with snakes, alligators, horses, and why nothing grosses her out.

3. The difference between therapy (past‑focused) and coaching (present‑future).

4. How pets regulate stress through movement, routine, and emotional support.

5. Why dogs absorbing our pain should change how we show up for them.

Health coach and podcast host Samantha Elizabeth grew up in a vet family with snakes, gators, and rescued farm animals. She explains how pets shape our stress, why dogs absorb our energy, and how coaching differs from therapy when you&rsquo;re trying to change your life.
Learn more about Samantha&rsquo;s coaching and consulting <a href="https://samanthaelizabeth.com/">HERE</a>, and subscribe to her podcast Stress Mess <a href="https://youtube.com/@coachsamanthae?si=ckgzwXsZs6LB7hVy">HERE</a>.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.
Key Takeaways
1. Growing up in a family of vets and feed stores with constant rescue drop‑offs.
2. Life with snakes, alligators, horses, and why nothing grosses her out.
3. The difference between therapy (past‑focused) and coaching (present‑future).
4. How pets regulate stress through movement, routine, and emotional support.
5. Why dogs absorbing our pain should change how we show up for them.

How Growing Up in a Rotating Zoo Made Her a Better Health Coach

Manready Mercantile founder Travis Weaver connects life with his dogs Delilah and Indy to the discipline of building a national retail brand from a hungover bubble‑bath epiphany and homemade candles in whiskey glasses. Consistency, routines, and responsibility are the throughline.

Learn more about Manready Mercantile HERE.

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube!

This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE.

Key Takeaways 

1. Why daily walks and sensory enrichment for dogs mirror business fundamentals.

2. How a hungover bath with stolen Bath & Body gear led to candle classes.

3. The evolution from stove‑top candles to farmers markets to a Heights flagship.

4. Making “unisex but guy‑friendly” products in a pink‑bottle industry.

5. How naming, Twitter‑era character limits, and Instagram helped grow Manready.

Manready Mercantile founder Travis Weaver connects life with his dogs Delilah and Indy to the discipline of building a national retail brand from a hungover bubble‑bath epiphany and homemade candles in whiskey glasses. Consistency, routines, and responsibility are the throughline.
Learn more about Manready Mercantile <a href="https://manready.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoprqBJsDjcB61amfHMa9nLb5qPgyw5RhLj9eXw089dwxJNK2zkY">HERE</a>.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.
Key Takeaways 
1. Why daily walks and sensory enrichment for dogs mirror business fundamentals.
2. How a hungover bath with stolen Bath &amp; Body gear led to candle classes.
3. The evolution from stove‑top candles to farmers markets to a Heights flagship.
4. Making &ldquo;unisex but guy‑friendly&rdquo; products in a pink‑bottle industry.
5. How naming, Twitter‑era character limits, and Instagram helped grow Manready.

Candles, Dogs, and Buc‑ee’s: Inside Manready Mercantile

Former global program director Andy Raman walked away from corporate oil and gas to turn a house full of rescues into Fido’s Home, a dog resort in Katy. He breaks down patience, strict love, and why you never treat pet parents like walking dollar signs.

Learn more about Fido’s Home HERE.

Subscribe on Apple, Spotify and YouTube!

This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start HERE.

Key Takeaways

1. How Andy went from Shell/BP/Accenture to launching Fido’s Home in 90 days.

2. Lessons from living with sixteen dogs and running a dog resort for a decade.

3. Why patience and firm boundaries with dogs mirror leading a team.

4. The “extra mile” tactics that turn grooming freebies into long‑term loyalty.

5. How community barbecues and low‑cost vaccines turn a daycare into a hub.

Former global program director Andy Raman walked away from corporate oil and gas to turn a house full of rescues into Fido&rsquo;s Home, a dog resort in Katy. He breaks down patience, strict love, and why you never treat pet parents like walking dollar signs.
Learn more about Fido&rsquo;s Home <a href="https://www.fidoshome.com/">HERE</a>.
Subscribe on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cruz-through-htx/id1693177880">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/2EipITDvfHUHanTmhWDVqp">Spotify</a> and <a href="https://youtube.com/@thefreddycruz?si=WATJcgjHMjja789L">YouTube</a>!
This season of Cruz through HTX is powered by Speke Podcasting. Have an idea for a show? Let's get a conversation started. Start <a href="https://www.spekepodcasting.com/">HERE</a>.
Key Takeaways
1. How Andy went from Shell/BP/Accenture to launching Fido&rsquo;s Home in 90 days.
2. Lessons from living with sixteen dogs and running a dog resort for a decade.
3. Why patience and firm boundaries with dogs mirror leading a team.
4. The &ldquo;extra mile&rdquo; tactics that turn grooming freebies into long‑term loyalty.
5. How community barbecues and low‑cost vaccines turn a daycare into a hub.

Dog Taxi Confessions: Houston Traffic, Giant Breeds, and Second Vans

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Freddy Cruz

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