Spotlight on the Community

Jamie Moraga, CEO of Franklin Revere and guest host of Drew Schlosberg's Spotlight on the Community Podcast, interviews Marcus Chischilly, a Marine Corps veteran and new trustee of the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Marcus shares his journey from service in Afghanistan to his current role, highlighting the memorial's significance in bridging community and military connections. He discus...

Jamie Moraga, CEO of Franklin Revere, hosts a special edition of Drew Schlosberg's Spotlight on the Community podcast at the Mount Soledad National Veterans Memorial. Hannah Morton, the Business and Membership Administrator, discusses the memorial's inclusivity and unique features, such as honoring living veterans. Hannah shares her journey to the memorial through a Hiring Our Heroes internship an...

Chris Cate, President and CEO of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, discusses the mission of Chamber, which has more than 2,000 member businesses.  Cate emphasizes the economic impact of small businesses, which constitute 98% of San Diego's businesses. The Chamber collaborates with local chambers, universities, and organizations such as the EDC to support economic growth. The Chamber also...

Andy Soler and Fran Basson, Co-Chairs of the Invictus Games San Diego, talk about San Diego's bid to become a finalist to host the 2029 games. San Diego is one of six finalists for the 2029 games, competing against cities like Dijon, South Korea, and Kiev, Ukraine. Soler and Basson discuss the local support they have received from business, community and military leaders to bring the Inviticus Gam...

Adam Osorio, Associate Director of Communications at Bayside Community Center, and Kimberly Kustenmacher (KK), a community garden volunteer, discuss the center's mission to empower communities through services, education, and advocacy. KK shares her journey to volunteering through a QR code. Adam and KK talk about the Linda Vista Community Garden, addressing food deserts, and the importance of com...

Ian Solomon, a senior at San Diego State University majoring in Leadership Studies, shares his journey from film production to leadership, inspired by a Levi's pop-up event. Ian chats about a company he launched -- Apali Productions -- focused on experiential marketing and creating immersive experiences. Ian plans to expand his brand into media and clothing, aiming for a comprehensive creative exp...

Dr. Laura Otis-Miles, Executive Vice President of TURN Behavioral Health Services, is joined by Brad Bianchi, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships, discuss the organization's mission to provide mental health and substance abuse services. They highlight the impact of the holidays on mental health, noting a 20% increase in depression and anxiety during this period. The conversation also covers t...

Alexandra White, co-founder of Produce Good, discusses their mission to recover and redistribute citrus and produce to address food insecurity in San Diego, where 850,000 residents are food insecure. Produce Good captures about 500,000 pounds of food annually, providing 1.5 servings per person. They rely on 1,500 volunteers and collaborate with various organizations. Produce Good's website offers...

Melissa Peterman, Executive Director of Townspeople, discusses their mission to provide affordable housing and support to maintain it, aiming for a fully housed San Diego. She notes progress in reducing homelessness through affordable housing, behavioral health support, and shared housing initiatives. Melissa also discusses shared housing as a practical solution to homelessness, with over 1000 peo...

Jess Baron, founder of Guitars And Ukes In The Classroom, along with colleagues Annie Lee, Manager of Training and Development at MAAC, and Jeannine Venegas, Early Childhood Educator at Southwestern College Child Development Center, discuss how Guitars and Ukes in the Classroom integrates music into education to promote social-emotional learning and academic growth. They offer free training to edu...

Dr. Julie Hayden, CEO of the East County Transitional Living Center (ECTLC), discusses ECTLC's mission to transform lives, restore relationships, and heal communities, serving 150 children and 540 adults, including families and single individuals. She highlights the center's unique community model, which includes job training and life skills development. Dr. Hayden also emphasizes the need for com...

Rick Espitia, President and Executive Director of Wounded Warriors Homes, chats about the organization's mission, its new programs, and its Food Pantry.  About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of powerful local p...

Jim Jessop, a Trustee of the San Diego History Center and the Managing Partner of the Jessop Clock LLC, discusses the history of the Jessop Family and the famous Jessop Clock, which will find its new home at the San Diego History Center after a major fundraising campaign to endow the clock. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast...

Cesar Silva, the new Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of the YMCA of San Diego County, talks about the Y's "Two Countries, One Community" agreement; its re-branding approach to community well-being and belonging; and the Escondido YMCA. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hoste...

Jeeyoon Kim, a San Diego classical pianist, chats about her new book, Beyond the Keys , and her newest album, Radiance .  Kim's mission: to make classical music more accessible, creating a bridge between people and classical music. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 2...

Dr. Rebecca Celes Mendiola, CEO of Collective Impact Solutions, Dr. Matt Doyle, Superintendent of the Vista Unified School District, and Eve Lorentzen, President of the Vista Unified Special Education PTA, discuss their unique and impactful partnership.  All three chat about the February 2026 "San Diego North County Special Education Conference and SYNC Inclusion Event." About Spotlight and Cloudc...

Jourdan Ziff, a former professional soccer player and Co-Founder and Director of Marketing and Growth for Her Sports San Diego, shouts out the mission of Her Sports and the challenges women's sports face due to lack of visibility. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 20...

Debra Gookin, Service Director and Past President of the Point Loma Rotary, is joined by Dr. Richard Stakelum, Director to the "Ride the Point" Bike Ride, and Gale Krause, widow of the bike ride's namesake, Jim Krause, a rotarian, who passed away from pancreatic cancer.  Krause talks about the life-changing work of the UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, which has received more than $450,000 from "...

Adrian Lawrence, Co-Owner and Director of Operations for The National Academy of Athletics, chats about the how youth sports can bridge gaps between families, schools and neighborhoods.  Lawrence talks about the importance of character over competition and the power of play. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country,...

Larry Blumberg, President & CEO of Fleet Week San Diego, talks about the effect that the continuation of the government shutdown could have on one of San Diego's longstanding iconic events: Fleet Week San Diego.  Blumberg discusses the mission of Fleet Week, the contributions of the military to the San Diego Community and those events that will not be affected by the shutdown. About Spotlight...

Escondido and San Diego's very own Gabrielle Cavassa, a renowned jazz vocalist recently signed by Blue Note Records, joins Drew Schlosberg, the Host, and Charles Parisi, the CEO of Cloudcast Media, to discuss her success, journey, and challenges, as well as her recent virtuoso performance at the San Diego Tijuana International Jazz Festival.   About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On Th...

AJ Curry, one of the country's top high school baseball players, talks about his experiences in playing in the prestigious Perfect Game All-American Classic in Petco Park; how he balances being an athlete and student; and his family's community outreach values.   About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously...

Nancy Laturno, Founding CEO and Artistic Director for Mainly Mozart, chats about its mission; its youth orchestra; and the largest Mozart Festival in North America. About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On The Community" is the longest running community podcast in the country, continuously hosted by Drew Schlosberg for 19 years.  "Spotlight" is part of Cloudcast Media's line-up of power...

Nancy Rohland-Heinrich, President of the Sports San Diego Board of Directors, and Marc Sawyer, Vice President of External Affairs, talk about the economic impact of increased tourism and hotel nights by producing events such as the annual Holiday Bowl, Rady Children's Invitational Basketball Tournament and California State Games, to name a few.   About Spotlight and Cloudcast Media   "Spotlight On...

Dr. Adela de la Torre, SDSU President, is joined by Gregory Smith, Chancellor of the San Diego Community College District, to chat about the new collaboration and transfer agreement between the two higher education entities.  Smith and de la Torre are joined by Mark Cafferty, President & CEO of the San Diego Regional EDC, to discuss EDC's partnership with SDSU and SDCCD; its inclusive growth g...