Fresno's Best

Today, we have James Gearlds II on the show. James is an artist with studio space in downtown Fresno and the host of the Arts and BS podcast, an interview focused on artists and their work. 

Today, we have a crossover episode for you. In my other podcast program, The History of California Podcast, I teach about the history of the state of California and interview leading scholars in the field. The podcast I am bringing you today is with Dr. John Mack Farager. An emeritus professor from Yale, Dr. Farager is the author of many books, but today we are focused on his most recent book Cali...

Today, we have Lauren Pratt on the show. Referred to as the "Drought-Tolerant Queen of the San Joaquin, Pratt is a landscape designer with an eye for our particular environment. This is a wonderful, pratical episode which will hopefully cause you to rethink how you use your outdoor space!    Books/Resources: The New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide: Sunset Western Garden Book Gard...

Today, we have Miguel Arias on the show! Fresno City Councilmember President Miguel Arias represents District 3, including the Tower, West Fresno, Central and Downtown neighborhoods. His biography and accomplishments are expansive and we dig into them over the course of the podcast.   Books:  Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

Today we have Karen Huckaby, Naomi Wiens, and Breanna Turner, the three LMFT’s behind the new therapy practice in Fresno called The Reclaim, that focuses on adverse religious experiences and spiritual trauma. Given that we all live in the Bible Belt of the west coast, a practice focused around these issues is sorely needed. I hope you enjoy my conversation with these three wonderful therapists. 

Today we have Benjamin Boone on the program. Boone is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, professor, and U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Ghana (2017-18) and the Republic of Moldova (2006). His Origin Records album THE POETRY OF JAZZ was #3 "Best Album of 2018" in the 83rd Annual Downbeat Readers Poll and featured on NPR's All Things Considered, The Paris Review and many others. Books: Furnace Creek...

Today we have Sonia Mehrmand on the show. Sonia is currently the Field Manager for StoryCorps’ One Small Step project in the Central Valley. She received her Master’s degree in Public History and Museum Studies at UC Riverside, and shortly thereafter moved to Sydney, Australia. During her 4 years there, she worked across the art sector and eventually became Assistant Executive Director at Diversit...

Today, we have Councilman Mike Karbassi on the show. Fresno born and raised, Councilman Karbassi received his business degree from Fresno State before working in his family’s small business. Karbassi now represents District 2 on the city council. We get into politics, legal issues, conservancy versus development, Persian rugs and food, books and more. Books: Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership i...

Today, we have Des Washington on the show. Des is an amazing entrepreneur, downtown expert, the B2B coordinator for the Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, and burger master! We really get into the nitty gritty of burger stuff, operating restaurants, downtown issues, and more. Books:  Rock This! by Chris Rock 

Today we have Kenneth Froelich on the show. Kenneth is Professor of Music Composition at California State University, Fresno. Froelich’s music has been performed in over a dozen nations, including the United States, Canada, China, and throughout Europe and South America. He received Doctorate and Masters degrees from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music summa cum laude from the University of...

Today we have Nikiko Masumoto on the show. Masumoto is an organic farmer, memory keeper, and artist. She is Yonsei, a fourth generation Japanese American, and gets to touch the same soil her great-grandparents worked in California where Masumoto Family Farm grows organic nectarines, apricots, peaches and grapes for raisins. With her family, she’s co-authored 2 books: Changing Season and The Perfec...

Today we have Austin Smith on the show. As a California Real Estate Broker, Austin has worked in commercial and residential real estate since 2005. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from San Jose State University. Austin’s work has ranged from designing master planned communities to managing tenant improvement initiatives to developing transformative commercial developments such as...

Today, we have Monisha Mann on the show. Mann is a case manager for Equus Workplace Solutions where she helps people leaving the prison or the jail system find stable employment. She also was once the DJ on B95 in Fresno, working a radio DJ for 17 years. We had lots to talk about in terms of vulnerability, having a public image, bias, how to help former incarcerated transition to a more fulfilling...

Today we have Dan Zack on the show. Dan is an urban planner in Fresno California. In 2022 he founded Zack Urban Solutions, a consulting firm which offers a wide variety of urban planning services to cities, non-profits, and developers who want proven, practical approaches to creating walkable, fun, and inclusive places. Prior to that, he spent 23 years in local government working on downtown revit...

Today we have Ashlyn Cruise on the show, who Miss City of Fresno. Miss City of Fresno 2022 a local organization to the Miss America organization. This was a wonderful conversation where we learn about the organization, her advocacy with deaf community, her new children's book, and much more.    Books My First Book of Baby Signs: 40 Essential Signs to Learn and Practice by Lane Rebelo The Office: A...

Steven Church is the author of six books of nonfiction, most recently the collection of essays, I'm Just Getting to the Disturbing Part: On Work, Fear, and Fatherhood. His essays have been published and anthologized widely, including in the Best American Essays. He teaches in the MFA Program at Fresno State and is a founding editor of the literary magazine, The Normal School. Steven's Website Book...

Alicia Perez is co-owner of Bee Happy Farms Inc a family beekeeping company serving the Central Valley. Bee Happy Farms is dedicated to raising honeybees, pollinating crops and harvesting honey varieties unique to our Central Valley. Their passion for honeybees extends to helping educate others on the importance of honeybees to our food supply chain. Bee Happy Farms Website Books First Lessons in...

Today, we have Lourin Hubbard on the show. Lourin is running for California's 22nd Congressional District, comprising portions of Fresno and Tulare counties. Having worked in various capacities for the government, Lourin has a unique perspective he wants to share and utilize as a congressional representative for this area. Lourin's Website The Deficit Myth Stephanie Skelton The Fire Next Time Jame...

Today we have Jaclyn Manzanedo on the show. Jacyln is the Director of Donation Development, for the Valley Region of Donor Network West. Donor Network West is a federally designated nonprofit, 501(c)3, organ procurement and tissue recovery organization (OPO) with headquarters in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Established in 1987, they serve more than 13 million people and connect a donor...

Today, we have Adam Longatti. Adam is an artist and teaches at Fresno State. The focus of his art is landscape, specifically of the central valley. This was a wonderful and winding conversation, and I know you’ll love it! Books Recommended  The Letters of Vincent van Gogh by Vincent van Gogh History of the Sierra Nevadas by Francis P. Farquhar Handbook of Yokut Indians by Frank K. Latta  Garden of...

In today's episode, we talk with Justin St. George, the president of Birds for Pride, the LGBTQ+ club that's been in the news these days. The club was originally started as a class project at FPU, but was rejected as a formal club by the university. This was a great conversation, and Fresno is lucky to have a leader like Justin.  Books Recommended:  The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to t...

Today we are talking about the soon to be published children’s book The Elote Man Goes to College written by Maia Gonzalez, Illustrated by Chalome Gonzalez, and Roald Tenorio.  I have the three authors on the show to talk about their writing and artistic process, why this story needs to be told, street vendors, elote, the importance of education, the challenges of self-publishing, and much more. B...

For the first time in the short history of this show, we have a repeat guest on the program: Phil Arballo. We cover a lot in this episode: our memories of the insurrection, the continuing belief in the election being stolen, the Select Committee, the legacy of Devin Nunes, beating COVID in the valley, the next election, UFO's and much more. Please enjoy our conversation and consider donating to ou...

A quick update on the podcast and plans for season three of our show. 

Today we have Corin Hoggard on the show. Corin Hoggard is an award-winning journalist who covers the courts for Action News and is the anchor of the weekend editions of Action News AM Live. This is a wide-ranging conversation that covers a lot, with emphasis of course on journalism and television.  Book Recommendations Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes  The Odyssey Homer Christopher Moore Author Pag...