Welcome to Grass Valley

On this episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, host Maxx sits down with guest Jordan Beaver for an honest and reflective conversation about personal growth, family, faith, loyalty, and learning from past mistakes. Together, they discuss changing perspectives with age, the importance of making better choices, staying grounded through difficult times, and focusing on what truly matters in life. Through...

Ryan calls in from Avenal State Prison for a raw conversation about missing his kids, finding strength through faith, staying sober, and trying to rebuild a life after everything changed. He and Nathaniel talk about family, discipline, love, forgiveness, dating, prison conditions, and the practical work of keeping Welcome to Grass Valley moving with Maxx and Lindsay. Through frustration, grief, an...

Maxx and Lindsay welcome local artisan Aria Griffiths back to Grass Valley to revisit her story. Aria details Make Local Habit, her 17-year-old downtown shop curating wares from Nevada County artists, and her brand-new expansion at 110 West Main, where Golden Soul Herb Company runs a tea bar and Ursula Young's artwork rotates on the walls. The conversation roams through growing up on the ridge...

In this episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, host Maxx checks in with Ryan Doty during a series of calls from Avenal State Prison, where Ryan opens up about the fear, stress, and emotional weight of prison life while also sharing a renewed sense of hope after friends and community members helped find a safe home for his dog, Patty. Ryan expresses deep gratitude to Jordan Beaver, Desiree, Nathaniel,...

In this episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, the host shares a second letter from his incarcerated brother, Ryan Doty, written from Avenal State Prison. Ryan offers heartfelt encouragement about staying positive, getting outside, praying, and blessing a glass of water before drinking it as a simple gratitude practice. He describes harsh conditions, constant prayers for his kids and family, and grat...

DJ Loot (Mike) sits down with Maxx and Gary Pate for a wide-ranging conversation on his path from sixth-grade saxophone to running a full-service studio in Citrus Heights. He traces his work through Chico State's recording arts program, Mobile Music Records, and years of mixing for Hollow Tip, San Quinn, Frank C, Lyrical Vision, J-Red the King, and the 530 Factors. He previews Cali Fire Volume...

Maxx reads two letters from his incarcerated brother Ryan, writing from Avenal State Prison. Ryan describes earning a forklift job after quietly outworking other inmates, being named representative for the whites in his building, and preaching sobriety and peace to hardened gang members from every set. He recounts declining a violent assignment, witnessing removals and a shooting on the yard, and...

Maxx catches up with longtime friend Ryan Doty in a heartfelt Easter Sunday call from North Kern State Prison. Ryan shares how he quickly landed a kitchen forklift job, navigated tense yard politics, and found real power in a Calvary Bible service behind the walls. He pours gratitude on Taylor Garrett for rescuing his dog Niner and helping save Patty, thanks Lindsay and Nate for holding down the s...

In this collaborative episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, hosts Maxx, Lindsay, and Nathaniel sit down with local guest Eric Oliver to highlight philanthropy and the intricate world of beekeeping. Eric discusses his leadership of the Nevada County Toy Run, a decades-old nonprofit that supports families during the holidays, and provides details on the new Ride for Hope motorcycle event scheduled for...

In this raw and confrontational episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, host Ryan calls in from jail to share a vivid, razor sharp dream about a giant mountain lion on his property, which co-host Maxx interprets through a medicine card reading as a powerful lesson in leadership, accountability, and the balance of power. Ryan speaks candidly about his dark mental state, declaring that his faith in God...

In this episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Ryan calls in from the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility to share a raw update on his life and mindset while incarcerated. He discusses finding solace in spirituality and literature, specifically citing the humbling impact of Viktor Frankls Man’s Search for Meaning and Masaru Emotos The Hidden Messages in Water as essential tools to help him navigate fee...

In this community-focused episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, interim host Maxx is joined by local realtor Lindsay Weills to discuss the unique lifestyle of Nevada County and provide an update on Ryan's status. Maxx shares that he recently had a long conversation with Ryan, who remains in good spirits and is focusing on reading and physical fitness while incarcerated. They highlight the import...

In this poignant and raw episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, host Ryan calls in from jail to provide a status update to his co-host Maxx and his loyal listeners. Facing an imminent transfer to prison, Ryan discusses the emotional toll of being separated from his children—Ocean, Dublin, Orlando, and Zeryn—while finding solace in his village of friends and the wisdom found in Viktor Frankls Mans Sea...

In this transitional episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Maxx steps in solo to provide a housekeeping update as Ryan prepares for his imminent transfer to an undisclosed location to begin his sentence. Maxx reports that Ryan is in good spirits, maintaining a head down, chin up attitude, and hopes to have him call in later to speak directly to the audience. Looking toward the future, Maxx outlines...

In this high-stakes episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, recorded on location at the new spot, Ryan and new co-host Maxx Hudec count down the final hours before Ryan’s 6:00 PM surrender to the Wayne Brown Correctional Facility. The conversation delves into the realities of impending incarceration, Ryan's strategies for maintaining sobriety by substituting beer with sparkling water, and his plan...

In this nostalgic and deeply personal episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Ryan is joined by long-time friend Adrienne for a wide-ranging conversation that blends high school reminiscence with profound life updates. Adrienne shares her vulnerable journey of overcoming cervical cancer at age 29 and the miracle of becoming a mother to her son, Luca, through surrogacy, while Ryan reflects on his own p...

In this emotionally heavy episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Ryan shares a vulnerable final update on the morning before he is set to turn himself in for a prison sentence resulting from a bar fight gone bad. Grappling with a real-life nightmare, Ryan describes being overwhelmed by anxiety following the recent death of his cat and his mother’s sudden surgery for a broken hip, all while trying to...

In this Valentine's Day episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Ryan is joined by Gary Pate to share a series of heavy personal updates and reflections as Ryan prepares for an upcoming prison sentence. Ryan discusses a sense of karma and relief following the recent arrest of his daughter's mother and her boyfriend on serious charges, which has ultimately secured his daughter Ocean’s safety wit...

In this episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Ryan and Nathaniel pass the torch to Maxx Hudec, who will step in alongside Nathaniel and new co-host Lindsay Weills while Ryan serves an upcoming prison sentence. Ryan opens up about the heavy personal burdens he is currently navigating, including his mother’s recent hip break/surgery and dementia, and a stressful legal and financial battle with his bab...

In this episode of Welcome to Grass Valley, Ryan is joined by Dave Mullen and Fred Viola of Project H.E.A.R.T., which stands for Holding Excellence Above Relapse Team. The guests share the organization's unique origin story, which began when Fred—then a probation officer—invited his probationer, Dave, to meet for coffee at Java John’s to discuss doing something different with his life after decade...

In this episode of the Welcome to Grass Valley podcast, host Ryan sits down with Lindsay Weills, a fifth-generation local and successful realtor, to discuss the unique charm and challenges of living in Nevada County. Lindsay shares intriguing stories from her career, including encounters with haunted properties and the practical importance of hiring local experts who understand regional nuances li...

In this episode of the Welcome to Grass Valley podcast, Ryan sits down with local youth football mentor Coach Kyle to explore the intersection of sports, parenting, and community in Nevada County. Drawing on his 13 years of coaching experience with the Junior Miners, Coach Kyle discusses the importance of teaching the next generation to embrace doing hard things in an increasingly sedentary world....

In Episode 41 of the Welcome to Grass Valley Podcast, Ryan navigates a whirlwind of emotions as he celebrates being featured on the front page of The Union newspaper while simultaneously grappling with the cold, harsh reality of an upcoming two-year prison sentence. Amidst the high anxiety of being separated from his children and his home, Ryan issues an urgent plea to the community to help find s...

In this raw and emotionally charged episode of the Welcome to Grass Valley Podcast, Ryan opens up to Nathaniel and the listeners about the devastating reality of being sentenced to two years in prison following a year-long pre-trial release. He expresses deep frustration with a legal system he feels has cheated him, particularly as he prepares for a painful separation from his daughter Ocean, his...

Episode 39 of the Welcome to Grass Valley podcast, titled "Smartsville Homies," features an emotional and high-energy reunion between host Ryan and the crew from the Welcome to Smartsville podcast—Delano, Archie, and Clayton—who originally inspired Ryan to start his own show. The group breaks bread over a meal of barbecue chicken, tri-tip, collard greens, and baked beans as Ryan reveals he is faci...