The Rancho Cordova Podcast

Few players electrified fans with breakaway speed more than Mark Young. His 28 touchdowns and 2,257 all-purpose yards as a senior led the Max Miller coached Lancers to an 11-1 record in 1983 and a 22-2 two-year varsity record. Young was an elite flanker, punt returner and tailback who was named to the Bee’s 1983 1st team All-Metro squad.   Young’s signature football moment was a bewitching 53-yard...

One of Northern California's busiest musicians, Music Director and Conductor Pete Nowlen has been a member of the UC Davis faculty since 1988 and currently serves as Director of Concert Bands. Pete currently holds Artistic Director posts with Camerata California Chamber Choir and the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band. He has been the California Youth Symphony Brass Coach since 1992 and summer...

Mike Marando sits down with Larry Wolfe, one of Cordova High School’s early three-sport stars who went on to play MLB for the Minnesota Twins and Boston Red Sox. Wolfe is a 1971 CHS graduate who starred in football, basketball and baseball for the 1969-1971 Lancers and developed into one of the area’s top quarterbacks, infielders and pitchers as a senior. Larry was inducted as part of the Rancho C...

On today’s show we welcome back Rancho Cordova Mayor, David Sander to the podcast.   Mayor Sandor has served the City of Rancho Cordova since the city was incorporated back in 2003 where as one of the original elected officials, has served on the city council for over 20 years and this year, 2024 is serving his fifth term as Mayor.   We are particularly delighted to have Mayor Sander on the show t...

Arts and Entertainment: Rancho Cordova is known as the "City of Events" and houses one of the best Art Complex in our region The MACC. The City has its own orchestra, Symphony D'oro, a Swing Dance Band, a Black Box Theatre, and features one of the largest July 4th fireworks displays in the region, and a whole slate of large outdoor events. Every month Director/ Curator of The MACC, Cheryl Gleason...

On today’s show we speak to Robert Sanger Executive Director of the Folsom Cordova Community Partnership.   The Folsom Cordova Community Partnership is a 501(c)3 community based non-profit whosemission and vision is to: build strong families, meet the needs of struggling parents to increase self -sufficiency, promote youth development through positive peer and adult relationships and develop emplo...

We are honored to have Cheryl Gleason Curator/ Artist Director of the MACC Gallery- Mills Station Arts and Cultural Center to be joining us again.   Cheryl Gleason's roots in the art world date back to her childhood. Growing up in Sandpoint, Idaho, she was passionate about drawing, often recreating found pictures on paper with pencil. She dreamed of being an artist. After finishing high school Che...

On this episode of the Rancho Cordova Podcast, we introduce you to the new Rancho Cordova Police Chief, Matthew Tamayo who took over the reigns as RCPD Chief from Chief Brandon Luke in December 2023. Chief Tamayo is no stranger to Rancho Cordova, having had three previous stints at RCPD as Sergeant, Lieutenant and Assistant Chief under Brandon Luke.    Matthew Tamayo started his law enforcement ca...

Happy New Year!  We are very happy to be back after a two-month Hiatus during which time we have been working hard to bring you diverse slate of shows with some great guests in 2024.    As we kick off 2024 our guest today in Russell Ducharme manager of the City of Racho Cordova's Neighborhood Services.  The Neighborhood Services Division’s goal is to grow and maintain strong and vibrant neighborho...

As the gift of Christmas and the hope of a New Year approach, on this weeks show, guest host Mike Marando sits down with 1989 Cordova High School Alum and former football player Joey Ortiz, for an unabashedly candid conversation how he overcame a series of personal tragedies, and how his experience can offer a beacon of hope to those addicted to drugs and alcohol. AS we prepare for our new season...

Welcome to the Rancho Cordova Podcast brought to you by the Rancho Cordova Film Office.   While we continue to take a break for the month of December as we put together a great slate of shows for our new season that will launch January 3rd of 2024, this month we are going to replay some of our most listened to and popular episodes.   This week we are delighted to replay the conversation I had with...

Today's podcast was taped 4 weeks ago, and we saved it to launch this week in honor of Veterans dat.  On this week show we speak to Merryl Tengesdal a retired career military officer who is the first and only Black woman to fly the United Sates Airforce's U-2 spy plane used for specialized high-altitude reconnaissance missions. She is one of five women and only the fourth Black person to be in the...

On this week's episode we speak with Sacramento Police Chief Kathy Lester. Kathy Lester was raised in Rancho Cordova and enlisted in the Army after High School. She attended the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, CA where she became fluent in Russian, and served as a crypto logical linguist. Additionally, she was cross trained as a combat medic and range master. Kathy served both stateside an...

One of our missions here at the rancho Cordova film office is to organize and put on the California Capital Documentary Film Festival that this year takes place on Saturday, September 29 and Sunday October 1. The film festival screens over 50 films at three screening locations over the two days. This will be the second year of the festival and this year is shaping up to be a great event.     The m...

Yvette Collins and the 1984 Lady Lancers racked up a 32-1 record on their way to the Section Championship and is considered the best girls basketball team in Cordova High history.  Today she owns and operates an academy for young children in Ghana, West Africa.   

The most important and long-lasting institution in Rancho Cordova history has been Mather Field which would become Mather Air Force Base and today is Mather Airport. For 100 years, Mather has drawn people from around the country and the world. But as the old saying goes, people’s memories are good, but short. And that is what makes the contribution of former Mather Wing Commander Col. Robert J. Ma...

In today's episode, we have a conversation with a pair of directors. We'll be hearing from Iyad H. Amer, the director of "The Long Road to Hope - Ending Parkinson Disease," ," and Chris Casaceli, the director of "Our World in Our Words." Our show's initial portion will be conducted in English, followed by our inaugural international interview segment, which will be in Spanish. Over the next 6 week...

On today's episode we speak with Darcy Brewer, Executive Director at California Capital Airshow.  Darcy has always had a mission to inspire and educate young people using the power & magic of flight. She set her sights on accomplishing this through highlighting the important role aviation plays in history, showcasing the innovation and opportunity found in aviation, aerospace, and military ser...

Today we have a conversation with Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. who has represented Sacramento County in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2013. The 6th Congressional District is located just east and north of California's capitol city, and lies entirely within Sacramento County. Representative Bera is currently a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, where he serves as Chairman of the...

In today's episode, we have a conversation with a pair of directors. We'll be hearing from Steven Nye, the director of "Losing Grip," and Ismael Villasenor, the director of "The Happiness Line." Our show's initial portion will be conducted in English, followed by our inaugural international interview segment, which will be in Spanish. Over the next 6 weeks or so leading up to the festival, we will...

Today we have a very interesting show as two our favorite past guests make a return visit to the podcast discuss Rancho Cordova on this, its 20th anniversary year.   Today we have a very interesting show as two our favorite past guests make a return visit to the podcast discuss Rancho Cordova on this, its 20th anniversary year.   I was so happy to sit down again with Rancho Cordova Mayor Linda Bud...

In June of last year, here at the film office we organized and presented the California Capital Documentary Film Festival. It was our first year and all in all, the festival went of without a hitch, well maybe a hitch or two but was enjoyed by all who attended. We presented around 60 documentary film  over three days and we learnt some lessons along the way.   Well the time has come for the Second...

I am delighted about today’s show for a couple of reasons. When we opened the Rancho Cordova Film Office three years ago we were very fortunate to get some TV coverage about our opening. A producer from ABC 10 in Sacramento called me and told me that the following morning at 5.30am their entertainment reporter would be here with a crew to do a series of live shots from our new offices for the Sacr...

Recently We had the pleasure of visiting Soil Born Farms right here in Rancho Cordova. If you have never visited Soil Born I would recommend a visit.     So what is Soil Born Farms?  Inspired by a shared vision of healthy food for all, a dedication to improving the quality of life in our community and a love of the natural world, three co-founders transformed the farm into a non-profit organizatio...

Cordova is pleased to announce John Patrick “JP” Dolliver as the new Cordova High School, Head Football Coach.  Coach Dolliver comes to us from El Camino High School where he led the team to success on the field, making the 2021 playoffs, and more importantly, created a winning culture with a strong emphasis on character and high academic achievement. With over 30 years of coaching experience span...