Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina

Fidel Rodriguez has decades of experience holding workshops that focus on practical wellness tools, history, trauma, poverty, racism, leadership and healing. Fidel graduated from USC as a McNair Scholar with degrees in Chicano/Latino and African American studies. He is a certified trainer for Franklin Covey and an initiated Shaman. He was born and raised in Santa Barbara, California and is of Mexi...

Rising young political star Lucas Zucker is the policy and communications director for the Central Coast Alliance United for a Sustainable Economy (CAUSE), a nonprofit community organization working to advance social, economic, and environmental justice in the Central Coast of California. In this podcast Lucas talks about the Latino exodus of families in Santa Barbara, and property owners as city...

Luz Reyes-Martin, executive director of public affairs and communication for Santa Barbara City College, talks with Josh Molina about distance learning as the SBCC semester is set to begin. She's also a parent and a board member for the Goleta Union School District, and explains how Goleta schools successfully dealt with the first week of distance learning. Reyes-Martin also shares her inspiration...

Goleta Union School Board member Susan Epstein opens up about the state of schools and distance learning, just before the start of the school year. Epstein has served 16 years on the board and talks about the challenges and opportunities related to equity and education. Epstein is also a social entrepreneur, early AI researcher and possesses a mind for technology policy, education, good governance...

Gregg Hart is one of Santa Barbara County's most respected and well-known elected officials. With more than 30 years of public service, Hart has served on the Santa Barbara City Council, County Board of Supervisors and California Coastal Commission. Now, as chair of the Board of Supervisors, he's a key figure in the COVID-19 pandemic, helping the county tackle this public health crisis. In this po...

Santa Barbara journalistic icon John Palminteri talks with Josh Molina about his career, his biggest stories and life as a media celebrity. He talks about his Instagram platform, and how he uses it to break news. We also talk about his most controversial posts and moments, including the infamous selfie attempt. Along the way we drop a lot of names and offer a fierce defense of the importance of jo...

Santa Barbara Police Department Sgt. Rashun Drayton talks about what it is like to be a Black police officer, his Santa Barbara upbringing, boot camp and career in the U.S. Marine Corps, life as father of two girls, and the state of the country, amid the fallout of the George Floyd killing.

Frann Wageneck, assistant superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, talks about what equity means to her, the social justice activism of today's youth, the discrimination that she has faced and overcame, and her efforts to understand her white privilege and how she can be a better advocate and educator.

Robin Elander, interim executive director of the Downtown Santa Barbara Organization, explains how Gov. Gavin Newsom's rollbacks affect Santa Barbara's restaurants and businesses. She also talks about the future of State Street, and the possibility that there wont be a downtown holiday parade this year.

For Shaun Smith, Institution Ale is not just a restaurant and bar, it's a way of life. He, his brothers and father grew the company from a home-brewing hobby to one of the region's top beer destinations. Hear about how he grew his business, life as a new dad, and the future amid COVID-19.

Aron Ashland transformed a longtime restaurant on State Street into The Cruisery, a popular eatery and brewery. With a long history of managing restaurants and nightclubs, Ashland has been one of the driving forces behind State Street's recent revitalization. Ashland talks about overcoming the pandemic, pivoting to expanded dining and pushing the city to pay more attention to the 500 block of Stat...

Santa Barbara's Laura Knight, owner of Pascucci, 509 State St., is one of Santa Barbara's restaurant success stories. In this podcast she talks about surviving the pandemic, re-opening in a instant and offering expanded dining. She also talks about her hopes for State St., and Josh and Laura recall their memories of the late Babatunde Folayemi and his sweet potato pie.

When the pandemic hit, Santa Barbara Unified School District teacher Jennifer Cervantes pivoted to find a way to teach her junior high school students. She turned to Instagram and social media to find inspirational people to speak to her class. In this era of distance learning, Cervantes discovered that not only is she the teacher and the master, but she's also the student and she's enjoying her e...

James Joyce, founder of Coffee With a Black Guy, talks about the death of George Floyd, racism and injustice in America, the history of policing in the U.S., and a variety of topics related to the current state of the country. Joyce also breaks down Santa Barbara's protest and rally, and the importance of "teachable moments," and the getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Mary Lynn Harms-Romo, the senior marketing director for Paseo Nuevo, opens up about the loss of Nordstrom, the future of the iconic, 30-year-old mall that once-rescued the downtown, what's going on with the old Macy's building, and the $20 million in tenant improvements that the mall's owners are investing. Harms-Romo also offers her views on closing State Street to cars and her vision for Paseo N...

Rob Dayton, Santa Barbara's Transportation Planning and Parking Manager, talks about his vision for Santa Barbara, why at heart he truly is a car advocate, and the importance of building housing downtown.

Podcast 14: Dos Pueblos High School Principal Bill Woodard by Josh Molina

Santa Barbara City Councilman Mike Jordan talks about Santa Barbara's COVID-19 pandemic problems, Paseo Nuevo, the downtown, Old Spanish Days, building heights and five of the worst months of his life, in a wide-ranging interview with Josh Molina.

Podcast 12: Commercial Real Estate Investor Jason Jaeger by Josh Molina

Thomas Tighe is the President and CEO of Direct Relief. Hear him talk about his organization's response during COVID-19, his thoughts on the Lompoc prison outbreak, and the factors in his youth that helped shaped him into a humanitarian. Tighe also talks about Direct Relief's other big mission: supporting midwifery and helping to prevent the unnecessary deaths of mothers and children during labor.

Santa Barbara's Bob Stout, owner of the Wildcat Lounge, talks rebuilding during the COVID-19 pandemic and life as a nightclub owner.

Famed Santa Barbara architect Brian Cearnal talks about rebuilding during the COVID-19 pandemic and architecture in Santa Barbara.

If you think you know Jerry Roberts, think again. The longtime journalist talks behind the scenes of his news blog, his political coverage in San Francisco and ways Santa Barbara can revitalize State Street.

Santa Barbara bike guru Ed France talks leadership, achieving goals and finding the strength to pursue activism in the face of adversity. Hint: You have to strive for little wins that lead to big wins in the long run. Listen to Ed's hypnotic style and approach in this cool conversation.

First 5 Santa Barbara County Executive Director Wendy Sims-Moten talks about how the COVID-19 virus affects children, her views on ending the achievement gap and her definition of "uncommon courage."