Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina

Dave King is running for a re-election as Buellton Mayor in the Nov. 5, 2024 election. King was first elected in 2008 to the City Council. King talks with journalist Josh Molina about his re-election campaign. King shares his plans to build a disc golf course, re-open a movie theater, and explains the plan to open a bowling alley in Buellton. In addition, King, a retired CHP officer, said he wants...

Josh Molina breaks down the behind-the-scenes dynamic behind the City Council District 1 contest between Alejandra Gutierrez and Wendy Santamaria, amid recent endorsements, and allegations of sign theft. Josh Molina is a college instructor and journalists who interviews people on a variety of issues, including housing, education, culture, business and politics. Santa Barbara Talks is a place for a...

Goleta resident Rich Foster is running for Goleta Mayor! Foster is a regular at government meetings and often-critic of the Goleta City Council and staff. In this podcast, Foster talks about his views on housing, the Old Town Goleta re-striping project, the spending for the new train station remodel, roads, and other Goleta issues. Foster is challenging incumbent Paula Perotte. Please check out th...

Journalist Josh Molina talks about how AI further erodes the quality of journalism and says news outlets should hire more journalists to save the industry. He also talks about media bias, explains what censorship is and what it is isn't talks the difference between on-the-ground news gatherers and influencers. Josh Molina is a college instructor and journalists who interviews people on a variety o...

Buellton Vice Mayor David Silva stole the show at the recent Santa Barbara County Democratic Party Labor Day Barbecue. His explanation for why he his running for mayor wowed the crowd of nearly 300 people. Silva sits down with journalist Josh Molina for a candid discussion about his candidacy and his views on politics. "I don't view this as pitting against two people," Silva says on the podcast. "...

A Los Angeles developer wants to build 255 apartments on a hill behind the Santa Barbara Mission and across the street from the Mission Rose Garden. Josh Molina explains what is going on in this fast-break, special episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina. He also talks about the plan to create more housing at La Cumbre Plaza and talks about councilwoman Kristen Sneddon and her leadership....

Santa Barbara City Councilmember Alejandra Gutierrez is running for a second term on the Santa Barbara City Council. In this podcast, Gutierrez talks about her accomplishments during her first term in office, and answers questions about her stance on rent control, housing, and her primary opponent, Wendy Santamaria. Gutierrez also talks about her new alliance with Jason Dominguez, the person she u...

Hilda Maldonado, Superintendent of the Santa Barbara Unified School District, opens up in this podcast with journalist Josh Molina. Maldonado answers questions about the turnover in the cabinet, her leadership style, the Santa Barbara Teachers Association contract controversies, the strike threat, Hozby Galindo, what role being Latina plays in how she is perceived, and much more. She also talks ab...

Journalists Jade Martinez-Pogue and Lily Dallow talk their epic Taylor Swift concert in Amsterdam. After spending hours online waiting to order tickets, the two lucked out and scored near front-row seats, for less than $250 each, a fraction of what Taylor tickets cost in the U.S. Hear about their amazing journey, along with friend Phoebe, through Europe, including their hostel stays. Also, Lily an...

Four days after Josh Molina talked about the Democratic Party's snub of Santa Barbara City Councilman Mike Jordan in his re-election campaign, Daraka Larimore-Hall comes on the show to talk about the endorsement process and explain the reasons why Jordan didn't have support. He says it was about more than just rent control. Larimore-Hall also criticizes Molina for his podcast comments and says he...

Journalist Josh Molina breaks down the plan between the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce and the city of Santa Barbara over an economic development proposal. The city wants to move forward, but without doing a request for proposals. Councilwoman Meagan Harmon raises some concerns about not doing a competitive process. Also, the democratic party declines to endorse Mike Jordan in his r...

Jett Black-Maertz suspends campaign in District 1 on Santa Barbara's Eastside. Tony Becerra, martial arts sensei challenges Oscar Gutierrez in District 3 on the Westside. Josh Molina explains how these changes shakeup the Santa Barbara City Council contest. Joshua Molina is an award-winning journalist who creates dynamic conversations on the topics of housing, education, transportation, business,...

Three members of StrongTowns SB join Josh Molina for a special episode of Santa Barbara Talks to discuss the future of State Street! Ian Baucke, Joanna Kaufman and Tristen Miller outline their vision for the State Street Promenade. The group would like to see no cars allowed between the 500 and 1300 blocks and they prefer the "flat and flexible" way. In this podcast, they explain what they actuall...

Architect Ed Lenvik talks the future of Santa Barbara' State Street and the promenade, including his views on cars, bikes, parklets, pedestrians whether to become "curbless." He also discusses retail, the "restaurant mafia," and his views on the the progress of the State Street Advisory Committee, a group he sits on. Lenvik, a member of the Historic Landmarks Commission, pulls no punches in his as...

osh Molina and Emily Zacarias talk bullying, smart phones and social media, in this hour-long podcast between two parents. Zacarias is a member of the Goleta Union School District Board of Education and a parent of two children. She is focused on the use of smart phones and social media among young people We also discuss bullying cases in recent months, including two tragic cases. Zacarias shares...

Tom Widroe, executive director of the Santa Barbara Barbara County Taxpayers Association, joins Josh Molina and Santa Barbara Talks to talk the presidential election, Trump, culture wars, Jerry Seinfeld, comedy, Republican politics and other issues. Josh Molina is a journalist who creates dynamic conversation and provides media content on the issues of the day, including housing, transportation, e...

osh Molina explains what is going with the Montecito Hot Springs controversy and why people are arguing over whether the pools are legal. A viral video sparked the latest wave of attention, as Montecito homeowners and trail hikers collide over parking in the neighborhoods, and alleged dumping of trash, fires, cooking and other behavior. Journalist Josh Molina gets you caught up to speed on the lat...

Journalist Josh Molina talks about two California bills designed to help safe journalism. Molina also talks about his idea of teaching journalism as part of the curriculum in elementary schools to promote critical thinking and educate young people about the importance of understanding media literacy. Joshua Molina is a journalist who talks about housing, education, media, politics, business and cu...

Goleta City Councilman Stuart Kasdin announces his plans for re-election and seeking a third term on the Goleta City Council. Kasdin also shares his views on the Goleta Old Town restriping project, housing, potholes on Phelps Road, and the success of Goleta's businesses, including the Camino Real Marketplace. Kasdin also discusses his background and his career teaching political science, most rece...

Wade Cowper and Paula Phan are back to talk about the Waula Festival, this Saturday, May 25 at 5 p.m. Spencer the Gardener. The festival features a musical lineup of The English Beat, Spencer the Gardener, Queentide, Young Santa, and lots wine. All money goes to benefit the Sarah House a home for hospice patients. For tickets visit www.waulafest.com Please subscribe to Santa Barbara Talks with Jos...

anta Barbara's plan to reduce free parking downtown on dozens of city blocks and in city lots and garages crashed and burned at the Santa Barbara City Council. From the first time it was unveiled, the proposal appeared ill-timed and lacking a cohesive public relations message. Journalist Josh Molina breaks it all down in this Top 10 list of reasons why the Santa Barbara proposal fell short. Visit...

This is the week of May 14 and the city of Santa Barbara is talking budget, including a proposal for a half-cent sales tax on the Nov. ballot to raise $15.6 million, along with a proposal to raise parking fees to generate another $3.1 million, all while facing a lawsuit from Disney and Hulu over a video utility users tax and streaming services. Also this week, Wendy Santamaria appears on an episod...

Wendy Santamaria is running for Santa Barbara City Council in District 1, which represents Santa Barbara's Eastside. In this conversation with journalist and college instructor Josh Molina, Santamaria outlines her vision for creating more affordable housing, tenant protections and "saving the fabric of Santa Barbara." "Are we really going to put profit over people's livelihood," Santamaria says. S...

Joshua Molina breaks down Tuesday night's Santa Barbara Unified School Board meeting and explains how the District should do everything it can to avoid a strike. The tensions between the District and the Santa Barbara Teachers Association is at a high, and the meetings have escalated into tense situations. Check out the latest in this episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina Visit www.santa...

Journalist Josh Molina talks about the heroic work student journalists are doing at colleges and universities across the country, at this time of protests and counter protests. Molina explains the role of the free press, and why journalists daily face adversarial circumstances to report the news. Santa Barbara Talks is a podcast hosted by journalist and college instructor Joshua Molina. He creates...