Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina

Journalist Josh Molina talks about the reporting behind the Montecito Riven Rock/Hot Springs trail drama, as reported at Noozhawk.com on Sunday. Molina, the host of Santa Barbara Talks, explains the work that goes into reporting and photography when reporting a complex, but important story about the interface between residential, urban and outdoor recreation. Molina also explains the "warning" he...

Zumba dance instructor extraordinaire talks about her rise from classically trained dancer in New York to one of the world's foremost Zumba dance instructors. Santa Barbara's Josette Tkacik opens up about defeating Rheumatoid arthritis through diet and lifestyle changes, being a mother and building a business when all the odds were stacked against her. Tkacik also talks about energy and intuition...

Less than a week after seeking the endorsement of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party, Eric Friedman opens up about one of the questions involving his political support of his mother. Friedman also explains why he doesn't always endorse the same people as the Party. "I know the person she is," Friedman says. "I know her whole life, her whole history," Friedman also talks about what equity me...

Dr, Mario Garcia, professor of Chicano Studies at UCSB, is a historian who shares his views on the life journalist Ruben Salazar. Salazar was one of the first Mexican-American journalists to work at the Los Angeles Times and cover issues of concern to the Mexican-American community. He also worked as a journalist for Spanish-language TV station KMEX 34. Garcia has studied Salazar and his impact on...

Former California State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson talks about her 14 years as a member of the California legislature, including her groundbreaking efforts to equalize pay for women in the workplace and require corporations to place women on boards of directors. Jackson also for the first time publicly endorses James Joyce for Santa Barbara mayor. Listen to Jackson talk about the failures of the...

Mike Eliason is one of the country's foremost photojournalists. His also a former firefighter and now the Santa Barbara County Public Education Officer. Listen to Josh and Mike recalls their days working together covering stories everywhere in Santa Barbara County. Eliason also opens up about photography, his favorite moments, how he got his start and details on how he spends his day in search of...

Elise Simmons, principal of Santa Barbara High, talks with Josh Molina about COVID-19's impact on the school, on-campus cohorts, and her thoughts on when high school might re-open to in-person learning for everyone. Simmons also shares her story about how she found education and overcame her own obstacles to emerge as one of the Santa Barbara Unified School District's rising stars.

Gabe Escobedo has emerged as one of Santa Barbara's key political players. He serves on the city's planning commission and was recently selected as one of the 13 members of Santa Barbara Community Formation Commission. Escobedo talks about his upbringing, the challenges and discrimination he faced growing up, and the change he intends to bring to the city. As a 32-year-old, Latino millennial rente...

In first video interview, James Joyce III announces bid for Santa Barbara mayor, looking to unseat Cathy Murillo. Joyce would be the first black man to serve as mayor and would unseat the first Latina. Joyce talks about race, why the time is right for him now, what he can bring to Santa Barbara and how he started Coffee With a Black Guy several years ago to facilitate difficult conversations. Chec...

Dr. Daraka Larimore-Hall sits down with Josh Molina to discuss the strength of the Santa Barbara County Democratic Party, the 2021 Mayor's race, mayor Cathy Murillo's performance as mayor and the role parties in deciding candidates and elections. Larimore-Hall recently started his own podcast called "Talking Strategy, Making History," which can be found at https://www.patreon.com/tsmh.

Santa Barbara City Councilwoman Alejandra Gutierrez talks about the tragic shooting that took the lives of two teenagers on the Eastside on Sunday night. Gutierrez, elected to the City Council in 2019, also shares her story of growing up on the Eastside, deciding to run for office, and the challenges she has faced since her term began. Gutierrez tells all in this one-hour podcast.

One of three Mexican-Americans on the Santa Barbara City Council, Westside resident Oscar Gutierrez opens up to SBT about his two-plus years on the Santa Barbara City Council, the challenges he has overcome, and what it's like to work with his colleagues and the administration. Gutierrez also shares details of his rough high school experience, how mentors have helped shaped him, and his efforts to...

Retired Santa Barbara Police Department Sgt. Mike McGrew talks about his new work with nonprofit 911 At Ease International, a group that provides free and confidential, trauma-informed counseling for first responders. McGrew also opens up about his personal battles, including his struggle with alcohol, overcoming cancer, and losing a child. but finding redemption and purpose when he turned his lif...

Yona Estrada is living his dream. He recently opened YonaRedz, which specializes in birria queso tacos. Yona grew up on Santa Barbara's Westside. In this podcast, Estrada shares his story of growing up poor, in a single-parent household, and turning his mother's recipes into a successful business. He started cooking in a friend's backyard, moved to a rented kitchen, and now opened YonaRedz at 532...

Das Williams, First District Santa Barbara County Supervisor, opens up to Josh Molina about politics, education and his future. In this podcast, Williams states that he will be supporting Cathy Murillo for Santa Barbara Mayor in 2021; talks about the impact of distance learning on students whose parents can't afford to stay home with their kids, and explains how someday he might want to return to...

Journalist, author and nationally syndicated columnist Starshine Roshell talks with SBT about the craft of writing, her favorite columns and her journey from The Hollywood Reporter to one of the region's most respected and popular writers. Roshell explains how she creates her columns, the art and architecture behind her prose, and offers tips on how to breathe life into your writing. Josh and Star...

In this exclusive interview, Wade Cowper, political strategist and co-founder of CCA Enterprise, talks all things politics, including his views on recent election results, Santa Barbara County party politics and the 2021 mayoral contest. Wade and Josh drop a lot of names, including Meagan Harmon, Kate Ford, Alejandra Gutierrez, Virginia Alvarez and Vicki Ben-Yaacov. From there, the conversation tu...

Nick Welsh, executive editor of the Santa Barbara Independent, reveals the man behind the pencil, in this exclusive podcast conversation. Welsh talks about his award-winning Angry Poodle column, his thoughts on writing, and how "Mrs. Powell" in Catholic School helped inspire his path. Welsh talks about his career, how his writing changed after overcoming cancer, and he shares his thoughts on journ...

Caroline Harrah has emerged as one of the South Coast's most influential parent activists with the formation of Facebook group SB PLAN. But Harrah is not new to activism. A parent with a longtime record of volunteering, she is now trying to provide a platform and voice for parents, teachers and administrators who have opinions about the re-opening of public schools during the pandemic. In this pod...

Iconic journalist and author Jerry Roberts visits Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina to discuss the local, state and national political scene. Jerry talks about "triple smart" Meagan Harmon and who's really driving the conversation at Santa Barbara City Hall. Roberts also eloquently outlines the state of play in the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Trustees election, and breaks dow...

Radius Commercial Real Estate Co-Founder Steve Golis talks the state of apartment investing on the Central Coast. Golis shares how student housing has been hit hard by COVID-19, but is surviving. He also talks about some ballot measures, including how rent control would hurt the industry. Golis has more than 40 years in residential real state an brings an expert set of eyes to the real estate inve...

Musician and Realtor Steve Epstein and Kostis Protopapas, artistic and general director of Opera Santa Barbara, tell all about how government officials on the state and local level have ignored live music as part of the COVID-19 re-opening strategy. To say "we will wait until the pandemic is over to have live music," is nonsense, Protopapas says. The two are working with a large group of arts stak...

Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco opens up about all the local election contests, including the contentious Goleta mayor's race, Goleta City Council, and the school board elections in Goleta and Santa Barbara. Kyriaco, a former political consultant, puts his pundit hat on to talk about national politics President Trump, and shares details about his childhood. He talks fondly of his mom and the...

Iliana Gonzalez, marketing director at PHP Agency, speaks with Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina about financial planning, her experience helping managing people's wealth and investments. She also shares her experience as an immigrant to the country, and how she learned financial planning lessons from her parents mistakes.

Dr. Charity Dean, one of the country's foremost experts on battling the COVID-19 pandemic, talks with Josh Molina in this one hour-plus podcast conversation. Dr. Dean is the former assistant director of the California Department of Public Health, and the former Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer. Dr. Dean talks about the importance of COVID-19 testing, the country's failed response to the...