Grabbing Life By the Horns with Mr. Marine and Mr. Avilla

Marine and Avilla have a great chat with Granada high school substitute teacher turned elementary and middle school special education teacher turned Livermore real estate agent Jacob Fahnhorst. We discussed Jake's deep roots in Livermore, his transition from educator to real estate agent, and his heart for serving others, which is what he does best. Listen in to hear more about his work ethic...

Granada High School sweethearts David Stunkel (class of '05) and Christie Keller Stunkel (class of '04) join us in studio 511 to talk about their relationship journey that started in high school. Hear about how their relationship started on a romantic trip to Europe and all the fun times they had together at Granada. They also did a fantastic job on our version of the newlywed game 15 ques...

Marine and Avilla are back and feeling comfortable in studio 511 after a three-month hiatus. We welcome Granada graduate from 2016 Aaron Andrews to the show to talk to us about his road to being a division one football athlete. Andrews also discusses his new job and passion as an assistant winemaker at Las Positas Vineyards here in Livermore, California. Listen in to hear more about Aaron's di...

Clark Conover returns to studio 511 now as the principal of Granada and is joined with his daughter, Taylor, who is a freshman at the school as well. Principal Conover and Taylor both discuss being at the same school together and their perspectives on the whole situation. Listen to this fun father-daughter duo as they try to beat each other in a question trivia game we made up for them.

Marine and Avilla chat it up with one of the best vice principal duos Granada has ever seen, current VP Tori Ha and former VP Vangi Sugden. The two VPs reunite on Granada's campus to talk about all the good times they had together. We find out that Vangi was a "pure" mathematics major in college and that Tori looks up to Vangi as her "life coach." Listen to hear more about...

Marine and Avilla sit down to learn all the Livermore details from Granada class of '88 alumnus and now Granada administrative assistant to the principal Jennifer Advincula.  We learn some Livermore history from Jennifer going back to the days of her working at the local JC Penney's in downtown on second street to coming back to work at Granada starting in 2017.  Listen to hear more abou...

Marine and Avilla have both our wives on the show. Hillary Marine and Nicole Avilla grace studio 511 with their presence. Both couples tell their origin stories of how they fell in love as well as talk about challenges and advice in relationships.  Listen in to hear more about these two amazing women and the fun twist we put on the 20 questions round.  

Marine and Avilla have some laughs and learn the life story of Granada alumnus class of 2003 and Altamont Beer Works owner/founder Steve Sartori.  We get to hear the origin story of how the brewery came to be and all the hard work and dedication that Steve put in to make his vision come true.  Listen in to hear more about his strong ties to the Livermore community and how whenever he bre...

Marine and Avilla have a fun and interesting conversation with Granada alum class of 2010 and Marine's sister Lexi Marine.  Lexi talks about changing career paths after getting a degree in graphic design and becoming a pastry chef.  She discusses working at many different top restaurants in the bay area and which celebrities have tipped well at her restaurants in the past.  We also...

Marine and Avilla finally get to have an awesome conversation with long-tenured former Livermore superintendent Kelly Bowers.  We delve into Mrs. Bowers' journey from educator all the way up to being the top dog in the district and all the stops in between.  Listen in to hear more about Mrs. Bowers' leadership style, her constant connection with students, and, of course, stories about he...

Marine and Avilla sit down with new Special Education teacher Will Smith.  We discuss all of Mr. Smith's connections to Granada while he was growing and how he was meant to be a part of the Granada family from the start.  Listen to hear more about Mr. Smith's different coaching philosophies, especially coaching the recent JV football team in their undefeated season.  Mr. Smith also...

Marine and Avilla sit down with local pastor, Granada parent, and collaborator with the FIT program Darin Anderson.  Mr. Anderson drops so many sage words and truth nuggets throughout our conversation.  Listen in to hear more about his journey to becoming a pastor, how he organizes the money in his wallet, and his approach to parenting six children.  

Marine and Avilla talk basketball shop with Granada boys head basketball coach and new health teacher Coach Q.  We get to hear Q's own basketball journey trying to make it to the NBA as well as the behind-the-scenes insights into his excellent five year tenure with the Granada boys basketball team so far.  Listen in to hear more about Q's college days playing pickup games against NBA pla...

Welcome back HG's to season 2 of the podcast! Marine and Avilla were ecstatic to have an enlightening conversation with Granada math teacher John Thayer.  We discuss his time teaching at LHS and in Albuquerque before coming to Granada.  Listen in to hear more about his crazy experience getting hit by a car on his way to the first day of at Granada as well as his connection with host Mr....

Marine and Avilla sit down with beloved former Granada science and FIT teacher Will Rasor for the final episode of season 1.  We discuss all the different involvements that Mr. Rasor had on campus during his 12-year stint at Granada, especially his great ability to organize the staff for homecoming skits and other events.  Listen in to hear about Mr. Rasor's passion for tie dying t-shirt...

Marine and Avilla have a light-hearted yet inspiring conversation with Granada alumnus class of 1978 now Granada PE teacher and volleyball coach Rich Cortez.  We discuss Rich's love for volleyball as well as the moment he realized that work ethic and dedication lead to real results in life and sports.  Listen in to hear more about Rich growing up in Livermore being the oldest of 8 siblin...

Marine and Avilla have an historical and passionate conversation with former Granada principal ('94-'04) Kevin Drake.  We learn about his time playing football at Pacific University and all the NFL players and coaches that he rubbed shoulders with during his time there.  Mr. Drake also talks about how the school transitioned from a traditional schedule to a block schedule in the 90s and...

Marine and Avilla have our first current students on the podcast.  Juniors Nubia Pokam and By'reiona Mott sit down with us and have an honest and hilarious conversation about Granada life as a student now.  Both of them give great advice to incoming high school students and speak to the culture at Granada in regards to race and gender.  Listen in to hear about By'reiona's interestin...

Marine and Avilla have a relaxing conversation with science and marine biology teacher Terri Grass.  We talk about Mrs. Grass coming to Granada in 1990 as the only female science teacher in her department as well as her career shifting from being a naturalist to becoming a classroom teacher.  Listen to hear more about Terri's favorite sea creatures and the mystery varmint that has recent...

Marine and Avilla celebrate passing 1000 total plays on the podcast and flip the whole show around.  The hosts ask each other questions about their own journeys and make each other go through the Quick Fire 20 Questions gauntlet.  We also reminisce about some highlights from the past 13 episodes and reveal the listener who actually was the official 1000th listener.  Tune in to hear...

Marine and Avilla sit down with former English teacher, former vice principal and current principal of Granada High School Matthew Hart.  We talk to Principal Hart about how he ended up coming to Livermore from the Fresno area and his appreciation for everything Granada and the city of Livermore has given him.  Hart also discusses many stories on campus throughout the years that deal wit...

Marine and Avilla have an intellectual and philosophical conversation with Granada alumnus class of 2002 and now innovation director for the city of Livermore Brandon Cardwell.  We discuss Brandon's journey from getting a government degree at Sacramento State to then getting involved with the city of Livermore and helping run Daybreak labs formerly called iGate, an incubator in town.  Li...

Marine and Avilla have a fun chat with Granada alumnus class of '92 and now KTVU channel 2 news anchor Gasia Mikaelian.  We learn about her journey she took towards becoming an anchor at channel 2, making stops in Arizona, Alabama, and Texas before coming back to the Bay Area.  She gave great advice about pursuing passions and goals in life and being truly grateful for what life gives an...

Marine and Avilla have a fun chat with former Granada PE teacher, football coach, and now construction company owner Rick Watt.  We discuss that Rick was born and raised in town and actually born in a former Livermore hospital off of seventh street.  Listen in to hear more about Rick's career at Granada as well as having to teach some years at Christensen middle school because of budget...

Marine and Avilla have their first guest duo on the show with two Granada legends Jan Freytag and Monica Brickwedel.  Both Freytag and Brickwedel taught together for many years and have almost 80 years of Granada experience between them.  Freytag talks about the early days of teaching PE at Granada and leading the cheer team and rally committee together with Brickwedel.  Listen in t...