Comstock's Talks

In this miniseries of Action Items, Comstock's tackles the implication of Senate Bill 826, which requires publicly traded for-profit companies headquartered in California to ensure gender diversity on the boards as well as how to go about positioning yourself for a board of directors seat. Here, we talk to  Kim Box, a former vice president of HP and current CEO of Gatekeeper Innovation. She is a P...

In this miniseries of Action Items, Comstock's tackles the implication of Senate Bill 826, which requires publicly traded for-profit companies headquartered in California to ensure gender diversity on the boards as well as how to go about positioning yourself for a board of directors seat. Here, we talk to Erica Dias, senior vice president and director of marketing and community engagement for Ame...

For our grand finale, we decided to do things a little different and give you an inside look at the season from the creators themselves. In this episode,  Action Items  executive producer and  Comstock's  editor in chief Allison Joy, managing editor Sena Christian and  Action Items  technical producer Johnny Flores join host Tre Borden to discuss what we learned over the season, check in with past...

What if things like "butterflies in your stomach" are more than just cutesy cliches? Scientists are discovering that our guts are more complex and influential than we had fathomed. Our stomachs don't merely send messages to our brain regarding digestion or if we're hungry. The signals can have a fundamental impact on how we feel throughout our bodies. The gut is now being called the body's "second...

On this episode of  Action Items , Sacramento State President Dr. Robert Nelsen and Dr. Ting Sun, executive director of the Natomas Charter School and member of the California State Board of Education, join host Tre Borden to discuss K-12 public education, and college and workforce preparedness. Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Holmes

In the throes of the recession, many trade workers moved on to other industries.  The Sacramento Area Council of Governments reported that between 2013 and 2021, the region needs to build about 105,000 housing units to meet demand. Dividing that number by the nine years means almost 12,000 units per year. This year, the greater Sacramento region is on track to hit about 6,000. Also looming over th...

On this episode of Action Items , Dr. Jessica Kriegel , an organizational development consultant at Oracle and author of the book "Unfairly Labeled: How Your Workplace Can Benefit From Ditching Generational Stereotypes," and Angélica Quirarte, a government innovations strategist for the California Government Operations Agency, and join host Tre Borden to discuss how the State — and private organiz...

Since the first Punjabis emigrated from India to California at the turn of the 20th century, this population has carved out a prominent role in the economy, culture and identity of Yuba City, despite decades of laws that prevented immigration, citizenship and land ownership for Indian Americans. The Yuba-Sutter area boasts one of the largest Sikh populations in the U.S., estimated to be over 15,00...

With a new federal administration has come a promised immigration clampdown. In the Capital Region, the effects of the new policies may be felt most acutely by farmers. But some restaurateurs, builders and labor contractors also say the immigration squeeze will shrink their already-tight labor pool. The departure of long-established but undocumented Mexicans from California is a signal that the fl...

The politics of the small Wilton Rancheria tribe — the only federally-recognized native American tribe in Sacramento County — are inextricably intertwined with the City of Elk Grove's, thanks in large part to their plans to build a $500 million casino and resort on 36 acres in the southernmost area of the city, at the junction of Grant Line Road and Highway 99. Proponents say the project would cat...

We're revisiting our pilot episode: Justin Knighten, vice president at Lucas Public Affairs and Bernadette Austin, associate director of the Center for Regional Change, join host Tre Borden to discuss the importance of mentorship. We talk about leadership transitions, diversity and inclusion, and hitting up potential mentors at the gym. Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Ho...

If you imagine a humming city as a living body, the conventional alleyway might be the large intestine. It's a lonely grey loading zone, a collection point for garbage, and a covert space for drug use and violence. But as U.S. cities grow denser, urban passageways that were once ignored and crumbling are enjoying a renaissance. Alleyway activation is a designer buzzword for modernizing utilitarian...

On this episode of Action Items ,Yolo County Supervisor Don Saylor and cannabis entrepreneur Daniel Conway  join host Tre Borden to discuss how cannabis can be incorporated into a vision for a new economy in the Capital Region. Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Holmes

In 2016, business and government leaders in Nevada County had an "ah-ha" moment: A report, commissioned in part by the Nevada County Economic Resource Council showed stakeholders that the county's local workforce needed easy access to tech-based skills. These findings prompted local residents who work in the technology industry to create the Connected Communities Academy — a motivated task force o...

California fig farmers, who grow nearly all the figs produced in the U.S., harvested about 30,000 tons of fruit worth $22 million in 2015, according to the latest crop report from the California Department of Food and Agriculture. But of all those figs, there were just a handful of genetically distinct varieties — mostly black mission, Kadota, Adriatic and brown Turkey. Meanwhile, almost uncountab...

On this episode of Action Items , Greater Sacramento Economic Council CEO and President Barry Broome and Code for Hood cofounder Alona Jennings join host Tre Borden to discuss the need for Sacramento to disrupt its economy by strengthening career pathways that leverage its diversity.   Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Holmes

According to an October 2016 study from the National Association of Realtors, the number of single-women homebuyers has been on the rise, climbing from 11 percent in 1981 to 17 percent today, and is expected to continue to grow. Women also represent 62 percent of all certified realtors in residential real estate and are joining the professional ranks on the homebuilding side, founding companies an...

The open-source movement has taken on patient health. Liz Salmi, a local woman who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer nearly a decade ago, is at the vanguard of the movement.   Written by Sena Christian; read by Allen Young

Crest Saechao, director of DECODE and bootcamp curriculum at Hacker Lab, joins Rivkah Sass, executive director of Sacramento Public Library, to discuss the role of third spaces in addressing homelessness. Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Holmes

Women are still underrepresented in educational leadership —  Comstock's speaks to University of the Pacific president Pamela Eibeck, CSU Stanislaus president Ellen Junn and others, about how California's state institutions of higher education are leading the way in gender parity.  Written by Steven Yoder; read by Allen Young

Heather Fargo and Michael Rios discuss how public transportation can better serve all residents in the Capital Region. Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Holmes

Even with advanced family planning methods more readily available, working moms still struggle to have it all. Written by Amy Westervelt; read by Katie Tortorice

For families taking care of a special-needs child or adult, solid financial and legal planning gives a measure of control over an expensive future. Written by Steven Yoder; read by Katie Tortorice

Celestine Syphax and Clay Nutting join host Tre Borden to discuss supporting the arts economy, and collaboration between established and grassroots artistic movements.  Music: "Thinking Time" by Lunaverse; "Motivation" by Scott Holmes

Studies show certain foods preserve cognition into the twilight years ... but can brain foods make you smarter today? Written by Jeff Wilser; read by Allen Young