Today we’d like to introduce you to Krista Escamilla.
Krista, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I grew up in Northern California and graduated from California State University, Sacramento. During my college years, I worked full time as a dance teacher, karaoke DJ, professional acrobat for the San Francisco Opera, and performer at California’s Great America as a singer and dancer.
Halfway through college, I interned in the newsroom at KXTV, a television station and quickly realized I had found my passion. That experience inspired me to switch my major to broadcast communications. After graduation, I became a news anchor for ABC and later spent 12 years as the morning anchor at CBS7, where our show was the number one morning show in the Midland/Odessa market for a decade.
In 2018, I stepped away from broadcast news when my oldest son became a senior in high school because I no longer wanted to wake up at 3 a.m. and be half asleep all day. In 2019, I began podcasting and truly haven’t looked back. As a wife and mom of four, podcasting gives my husband and me the flexibility to travel for our children’s sports while continuing to give back to the community we love so much.
Through my podcast, I strive to highlight the good people and positive stories happening across West Texas. I truly want everyone’s dreams to come true, which is why I love giving guests the opportunity to share not only their successes, but also the challenges they overcame and the lessons they learned along the way. My motto has always been: Dream big, believe, and never give up.
That message is deeply personal to me because there was a time in my life when I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. Thanks to mentors and people who believed in me more than I believed in myself, I was able to achieve goals I once only dreamed about. Now, my goal is to help others believe in themselves too.
I also love emceeing events and supporting the incredible nonprofits throughout West Texas. One of my greatest passions is speaking to students about public speaking, confidence, and overcoming challenges. I had a stuttering problem in third grade, but thanks to a wonderful teacher who recognized it, speech therapy, and a mom who encouraged me to speak publicly as much as possible, I’ve now spent more than 30 years talking for a living.
My mission is to inspire others to remember that no matter what challenges they face, their dreams are still possible.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No road is smooth and there have been many pivots along the way!
But I truly believe I would not be where I am without the challenges!
In 2015 my husband and I opened a business called Rig-ID selling flame resistant clothing and embroidery for the companies working in the west texas oil fields.
When covid hit and oil went negative! We had to pivot to keep the doors open! We transitioned into a grocery store for a short time and sold medical supplies.
We also started focusing on headwear and started making hats for a local convenience store called Kent Kwik! To this day they are one of our biggest customers and we are grateful they gave us the opportunity to put hat racks in their store!
One thing I’ve learned is every struggle and challenge both professionally and personally is preparing you for the next season of life and truly happens for a reason!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Rig-ID Workwear and Escamilla Media?
At Escamilla Media, our mission is simple: to tell meaningful stories that inspire, inform, and connect our community. Through The Krista Escamilla Show and the Permian Strategic Partnership podcast, we focus on highlighting the people, businesses, nonprofits, and leaders making a difference across West Texas and beyond.
What sets our brand apart is authenticity. We truly care about people and believe everyone has a story worth sharing. Whether we are interviewing community leaders, entrepreneurs, athletes, educators, or nonprofit organizations, our goal is always to create conversations that encourage others to dream bigger, overcome challenges, and make a positive impact in their own communities.
The Krista Escamilla Show is known for uplifting and inspiring storytelling, while the Permian Strategic Partnership podcast focuses on important conversations surrounding education, workforce development, healthcare, infrastructure, and the future of the energy industry in the Permian Basin. Together, these platforms allow us to celebrate both the heart of our community and the innovation shaping its future.
In addition to media and podcasting, my husband Al and I also own Rig-ID Workwear, a full-service embroidery shop specializing in custom hats and branded apparel. We love helping businesses, teams, and organizations bring their brands to life through high-quality embroidery and personalized products that help them stand out.
What I’m most proud of brand wise is that everything we do is rooted in relationships and community impact. Whether it’s through a podcast interview, emceeing an event, promoting a nonprofit, or creating custom apparel for a local business, we want people to feel seen, valued, and supported. Our brands are built on positivity, hard work, authenticity, and a genuine love for West Texas and the people who call it home.
How do you think about happiness?
My family! My husband and four kids are my “why” for everything I do! I also love seeing other people’s dreams come true.
I truly am a glass-half-full person. I know each day is a gift, so I wake up finding joy in every day because tomorrow is not promised. From daily walks with my husband, Al, to reading and spending time with our kids, it all truly brings me so much happiness.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.KRISTAESCAMILLA.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristaescamilla
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/17oreqFyV8/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-escamilla-71083698
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thekristaescamillashow
- Other: https://youtube.com/@psppodcast-s2b
