bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the conversation focused on leadership transition in San Antonio’s police department, a significant shift for the city after nearly two decades under chief McManus. As newly appointed Chief Jesse Salame Jr. takes the reins, the discussion explored his background growing up in San Antonio’s near Westside, his career path from patrolman to chief, and the internal promo...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the conversation focused on the intersection of art, business, and community in San Antonio’s music scene through the story of Doc Watkins and the evolution of Jazz Texas at the Pearl. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Jazz Texas stands as a rare example of a successful local jazz club that has weathered industry challenges, a global pandemic, and ongoing pressur...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the current landscape and future direction of economic development in San Antonio, focusing on the interplay between attracting new employers and creating long-term opportunities for local residents. Host Cory Ames sits down with Leo Gomez, CEO of the Brooks Development Authority, and Sarah Carabias-Rush, President and CEO of Greater:SATX, for a grounded d...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Chef Leo Davila, a San Antonio native whose personal journey has led him from childhood field trips downtown to running the kitchens at the historic St. Anthony Hotel. After gaining a following at his acclaimed eight-table restaurant, Sticks and Stone, and being named a James Beard semifinalist, Davila made the decision to close his business and lead...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the changing face of San Antonio’s startup scene through the lens of Geekdom, the well-known downtown tech hub entering a new phase.  Cory Ames is joined by Charles Wooden, CEO of Geekdom, to discuss the organization’s shift from coworking to a membership-driven club model—and why the focus is increasingly on supporting startups past the “Valley of Death”:...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, filmmaker Ben Masters joins Cory Ames for an in-depth look at Texas’s rivers, conservation, and the stories behind Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers out in theaters, now.  Set beside a Hill Country creek, the conversation traces Masters’ journey from Amarillo to acclaimed wildlife filmmaker, uncovering what it takes to capture Texas’s landscapes on film and the socia...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the newly redrawn Congressional District 35 and its implications for San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding rural communities. As political lines shift, so do the issues and challenges facing candidates and residents in the district. Bob sits down with Johnny Garcia, Democratic candidate and sheriff’s deputy, to discuss the stakes of this pivotal race,...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the future of San Antonio and other Southwestern cities through the lens of urban design, infrastructure, and climate resilience.  Bob sits down with Duke Reiter, architect, educator, and founder of the Ten Across initiative, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the cities connected by Interstate 10—from water scarcity and aging infrastructu...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a closer look at one of San Antonio’s cornerstone cultural institutions as it enters its centennial year—the Witte Museum. Marking 100 years since its founding in 1926, the Witte continues to serve as the city’s foremost museum of nature, science, and Texas heritage. Bob sits down with Michelle Cuellar Everidge, President and CEO of the Witte, to dissect the...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we look at how UT San Antonio's Klesse College of Engineering is driving new ambition among San Antonio students—and earning global attention in the process.  As UT San Antonio continues its evolution into a Tier 1 research institution, the experience of freshman-led Team 210 Robotics provides a window into both the campus culture and the resources shaping today...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a close look at the evolution of solar energy in San Antonio, a city that now leads Texas and ranks among the top five in the nation for solar capacity. As CPS Energy’s long-running rebate programs wind down and the policy landscape shifts, what does the future hold for local solar initiatives—and for the residents and businesses looking to take part? In conv...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine how San Antonio is preparing for—and managing—the increasing threat of extreme heat. As another sweltering summer grips the city, heat is no longer just an annual inconvenience but a growing risk to public health, infrastructure, and the local economy. Cory Ames speaks with Laura Patiño, Director of the Department of Resilience and Sustainability for the C...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the latest ALICE data and the stark realities of financial hardship facing working families in San Antonio and Bexar County.  According to a new report from UnitedforALICE and United Way, 44% of local households are struggling to afford basic needs—even when earning more than twice the federal poverty line. Host Cory Ames is joined by Stephanie Smith of Un...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to Knight Aerospace—an innovative San Antonio company with a global footprint, yet little name recognition. Based at Port San Antonio, Knight Aerospace specializes in creating advanced modular systems for military and government aircraft, enabling rapid transformation for missions ranging from medical evacuations to VIP transport. Bob sits down...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we explore the unlikely journey of Tio Pelon’s Salsita, a San Antonio-made salsa brand found across Texas grocery shelves—and the story of the entrepreneur behind it. Bob sits down with Oscar Perez, architect-turned-founder of Tio Pelon, to examine how a borderlands upbringing, a family recipe, and a series of calculated risks transformed a backyard experiment into a...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the conversation turns to the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) at a pivotal moment in its history. As YOSA prepares for its 50th anniversary and the opening of its first permanent home, the discussion examines the organization’s impact on music education, city culture, and the future of classical music in San Antonio. Bob is joined in the studio by YOSA Music D...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the focus shifts to homelessness in San Antonio—an issue that remains top-of-mind for both policymakers and residents, despite substantial public and private investment. Bob welcomes Rhonda Mundhenk, who recently stepped into the role of CEO at the San Antonio shelter, Haven for Hope. They discuss the realities on the ground, the evolving demographics of homelessness...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, a San Antonio local who has served 32 years on the federal bench. Known for his distinctive, often witty legal opinions, Judge Biery offers a candid look into the realities of the Western District of Texas—one of the nation’s largest and busiest federal court districts, encompassing everything from Austin to El Paso. B...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we visit Clementine, a family-owned restaurant in Castle Hills that has quietly become a fixture for neighborhood dining and local sourcing in San Antonio. Bob Rivard sits down with Chef John Russ to discuss the realities of operating an ambitious independent restaurant outside of the city’s trendiest areas—and how decisions around location, size, and sustainability...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to local leadership and public service in San Antonio. Bob sits down with former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, now the Democratic frontrunner for Bexar County Judge, to discuss his new memoir, The Education of a Texas Public Servant , published by Trinity University Press. The conversation delves into Nirenberg’s journey from jazz station man...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with registered dietitian Claudia Zapata to examine the challenges and opportunities facing San Antonio’s food culture and public health. A longtime advocate for healthier eating and community well-being, Claudia brings her experience as a columnist, former television host, and founder of the Diplomacy Diet to the discussion. Bob and Claudia disc...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with San Antonio Police Chief William  McManus as he approaches the end of his nearly 20-year tenure leading the San Antonio Police Department. With retirement on the horizon in September 2026, Chief McManus offers a candid reflection on two decades of service in a city that has grown and changed dramatically. Bob Rivard guides a conversation that covers...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Charlie Amato and Gary Dudley, co-founders of SWBC, to mark the company's 50th anniversary. What began in 1976 with $1,500, a third partner in Dallas, and car trunks for offices has grown into one of San Antonio's largest and most diversified private companies, with 2,500 employees, operations in all 50 states, and a growing presen...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Ambassador Tony Garza, a Brownsville native who served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico under President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2009 and now works as counsel and special advisor to the global law firm White & Case in Mexico City, to discuss the state of the U.S.-Mexico relationship at a moment of unusual tension and opportunity. They dis...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Ashley Alvarado, CEO of Texas Public Radio, and Angie Mock, CEO of the San Antonio Report, to discuss a major development in San Antonio's local news landscape: the two organizations are merging.  Effective July 1st, the San Antonio Report will donate its assets to Texas Public Radio, combining operations under one roof to strengthen in...