Journalist, author and nationally syndicated columnist Starshine Roshell talks with SBT about the craft of writing, her favorite columns and her journey from The Hollywood Reporter to one of the region's most respected and popular writers. Roshell explains how she creates her columns, the art and architecture behind her prose, and offers tips on how to breathe life into your writing. Josh and Starshine also revisit some of her most memorable and impactful columns. Settle in to this dynamic conve...
Nov 16, 2020•1 hr
In this exclusive interview, Wade Cowper, political strategist and co-founder of CCA Enterprise, talks all things politics, including his views on recent election results, Santa Barbara County party politics and the 2021 mayoral contest. Wade and Josh drop a lot of names, including Meagan Harmon, Kate Ford, Alejandra Gutierrez, Virginia Alvarez and Vicki Ben-Yaacov. From there, the conversation turns to the state of the media and journalists Delaney Smith, Jerry Roberts, Melinda Burns, and the i...
Nov 12, 2020•1 hr 1 min
Nick Welsh, executive editor of the Santa Barbara Independent, reveals the man behind the pencil, in this exclusive podcast conversation. Welsh talks about his award-winning Angry Poodle column, his thoughts on writing, and how "Mrs. Powell" in Catholic School helped inspire his path. Welsh talks about his career, how his writing changed after overcoming cancer, and he shares his thoughts on journalists and journalism. Welsh also opens up about a few of Santa Barbara's most prominent names, past...
Oct 29, 2020•1 hr 34 min
Caroline Harrah has emerged as one of the South Coast's most influential parent activists with the formation of Facebook group SB PLAN. But Harrah is not new to activism. A parent with a longtime record of volunteering, she is now trying to provide a platform and voice for parents, teachers and administrators who have opinions about the re-opening of public schools during the pandemic. In this podcast, Harrah talks openly about her group, how it formed, its goal, and its frustration and expectat...
Oct 19, 2020•49 min
Iconic journalist and author Jerry Roberts visits Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina to discuss the local, state and national political scene. Jerry talks about "triple smart" Meagan Harmon and who's really driving the conversation at Santa Barbara City Hall. Roberts also eloquently outlines the state of play in the Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Trustees election, and breaks down a few of the high-profile statewide propositions. Finally, Jerry talks about Trump and what Americ...
Oct 15, 2020•59 min
Radius Commercial Real Estate Co-Founder Steve Golis talks the state of apartment investing on the Central Coast. Golis shares how student housing has been hit hard by COVID-19, but is surviving. He also talks about some ballot measures, including how rent control would hurt the industry. Golis has more than 40 years in residential real state an brings an expert set of eyes to the real estate investment market.
Oct 08, 2020•42 min
Musician and Realtor Steve Epstein and Kostis Protopapas, artistic and general director of Opera Santa Barbara, tell all about how government officials on the state and local level have ignored live music as part of the COVID-19 re-opening strategy. To say "we will wait until the pandemic is over to have live music," is nonsense, Protopapas says. The two are working with a large group of arts stakeholders to bring live music, with social distancing, back to Santa Barbara. "My community has been ...
Oct 02, 2020•43 min
Goleta City Councilman James Kyriaco opens up about all the local election contests, including the contentious Goleta mayor's race, Goleta City Council, and the school board elections in Goleta and Santa Barbara. Kyriaco, a former political consultant, puts his pundit hat on to talk about national politics President Trump, and shares details about his childhood. He talks fondly of his mom and the sacrifices she made as a single-mother. The councilman also shares why he is such a passionate advoc...
Sep 29, 2020•1 hr 24 min
Iliana Gonzalez, marketing director at PHP Agency, speaks with Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina about financial planning, her experience helping managing people's wealth and investments. She also shares her experience as an immigrant to the country, and how she learned financial planning lessons from her parents mistakes.
Sep 19, 2020•55 min
Dr. Charity Dean, one of the country's foremost experts on battling the COVID-19 pandemic, talks with Josh Molina in this one hour-plus podcast conversation. Dr. Dean is the former assistant director of the California Department of Public Health, and the former Santa Barbara County Public Health Officer. Dr. Dean talks about the importance of COVID-19 testing, the country's failed response to the pandemic and how by February 2020 it was "game over." Dr. Dean explains what the country has learned...
Sep 14, 2020•1 hr 14 min
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 Mexican, Native-American and African descent. For the last few years, he's been on the front lines in Sa...
Aug 31, 2020•54 min
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 leaders facilitate development for a new wave of tech workers. Zucker also explains how COVID-19 has...
Aug 30, 2020•51 min
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 inspirational story of coming to the U.S. from Mexico at 2 and eventually graduating with degrees from Stanford...
Aug 23, 2020•1 hr 8 min
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, and social impact. Epstein in this podcast also talks about her journey, her amazing children, and...
Aug 10, 2020•52 min
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 podcast, Hart talks about his role at this time, but we also reflect on a career of public service and...
Jul 28, 2020•51 min
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 journalism. Palminteri shares what motivates him to stay hungry and continue his insatiable desire to ...
Jul 14, 2020•2 hr 19 min
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.
Jul 10, 2020•58 min
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.
Jul 06, 2020•43 min
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.
Jul 03, 2020•30 min
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.
Jun 29, 2020•34 min
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 State Street.
Jun 19, 2020•30 min
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.
Jun 15, 2020•26 min
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 educational journey while keeping students' needs first and foremost.
Jun 05, 2020•46 min
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.
Jun 02, 2020•39 min
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 Nuevo and Santa Barbara's downtown experience.
May 29, 2020•33 min
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.
May 27, 2020•33 min
Podcast 14: Dos Pueblos High School Principal Bill Woodard by Josh Molina
May 21, 2020•36 min
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.
May 19, 2020•53 min
Podcast 12: Commercial Real Estate Investor Jason Jaeger by Josh Molina
May 15, 2020•33 min
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.
May 11, 2020•45 min
