Shows
GroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreakers LATAM Rising with Sebastian, Jonathan and AntonioGroundBreakers Presents: LATAM Rising Episode 2: Fragmentation to IntegrationIn this episode, hosts Ritvick Bhalla and Sebastián Lobo-Guerrero explore how the region is shifting from fragmented monitoring to integrated decision intelligence connecting sensors, dataloggers, remote sensing, and intelligent platforms like Proqio.Featuring:Jonathan Mendoza Chávez – Encardio-Rite PeruAntonio Lozano – Geoengineering Services Consulting, PeruDiscover how integration drives better slope stability analysis, mining safety, and infrastructure resilience — turning data into foresight and action.“Integrar es proteger — integrar es avanzar.”Integration is protection — and progress.Watch now and be part of t...
2025-11-101h 24
jetztklimachen – der PodcastBauwende statt Beton: Wie GROUNDBREAKERS nachhaltiges Bauen beschleunigtJetzt für die aktuelle Förderrunde bewerben!Der Stuttgarter Klima‐Innovationsfonds ist in Europa der größte kommunale Innovationsfonds für das Klima. (Das Gesamtvolumen beträgt über 20 Millionen Euro.)Die aktuelle Förderrunde läuft derzeit: Bis zum 31. Oktober können sich Wirtschaft, Wissenschaft oder zivilgesellschaftliche Organisationen in allen drei Förderlinien online bewerben.Holt euch den Kickstart für eure Klima-Innovation!www.jetztklimachen.de/innovationUnsere #klimacher:innen in dieser Woche heißen Elena Schön und Wim S...
2025-10-2331 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Prof Neelima SatyamIn the 18th episode of #GroundBreakers, we are honored to host Prof. Neelima Satyam, a pioneering voice in geotechnical earthquake engineering and resilience in India. A SERB Power Fellow and civil engineering professor at IIT Indore, Prof. Satyam brings her deep expertise, institutional experience, and global perspective to a powerful conversation on the future of India’s geotechnical landscape.Our dialogue explores how India can leap forward by combining cutting-edge technologies with traditional engineering wisdom. From seismic microzonation and instrumentation to landslide risk and early warning systems, Prof. Satyam shares a sharp, systems-level view of what's working, what’s not...
2025-09-0638 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Peter ScottIn this episode of #GroundBreakers, we sit down with Peter Scott, Managing Director of Osprey Measurement Systems International, to explore the cutting edge of geotechnical and structural health monitoring. With over 20 years of leadership in some of the world’s largest instrumentation and monitoring (I&M) projects, Peter brings unparalleled insight into how precision technology is scaling to meet modern infrastructure demands.We dive deep into the philosophy behind Osprey’s innovative hardware — like their signature Tilt String system — and examine how Peter’s team is pushing the boundaries of usability, scalability, and system interoperability. From managing massive infrastructure footprints...
2025-08-0547 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreakers x I&M Geotech Podcast Present: LATAM Rising – Episode 1: Mining in LATAMJoin hosts Andre Silva, Ritvick Bhalla, and Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero as they kick off this special six-episode series exploring the Latin American geotechnical and mining sectors. In Episode 1, we dive into the heart of mining in LATAM, examining how cutting-edge technologies—InSAR, electronic sensors, UAVs, and integrated software platforms—are shaping operations from underground tunnels in Chile to open-pit mines in Brazil.Our guests, Daniela Pollak, Hylltton Bazan and Mauro Codevolla, share firsthand experiences implementing advanced instrumentation and remote sensing solutions in diverse terrains. They discuss:1. Key challenges the region face...
2025-06-061h 28GroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreakers x I&M Geotech Podcast Present: LATAM Rising – Episode 1: Mining in LATAMJoin hosts Andre Silva, Ritvick Bhalla, and Sebastian Lobo-Guerrero as they kick off this special six-episode series exploring the Latin American geotechnical and mining sectors. In Episode 1, we dive into the heart of mining in LATAM, examining how cutting-edge technologies—InSAR, electronic sensors, UAVs, and integrated software platforms—are shaping operations from underground tunnels in Chile to open-pit mines in Brazil.Our guests, Daniela Pollak, Hylltton Bazan and Mauro Codevolla, share firsthand experiences implementing advanced instrumentation and remote sensing solutions in diverse terrains. They discuss:1. Key challenges the region faces (terrain complexity, regulatory frameworks, logistics)2. Successful case studies: integrating Remo...
2025-06-0455 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Philipe MatiasIn this episode of #GroundBreakers, we are excited to welcome Phillipe Matias, a seasoned civil engineer and geotechnical consultant with extensive experience in dam safety, instrumentation, and automation. Phillipe brings a wealth of knowledge from his work with industry leaders like Santiago e Cintra Geotecnologias and CTG Brasil, offering a unique perspective on how innovative technologies are enhancing safety and efficiency in dam projects.We dive into the transformative impact of advanced tools such as InSAR, fiber optics, GNSS, and integrated software platforms on geotechnical monitoring. Phillipe shares his insights into the evolving landscape of dam safety...
2025-03-1037 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Nathan McgeeIn this episode of #GroundBreakers, we are thrilled to welcome Nathan McGee, an expert at the intersection of AI, machine learning (ML), and IoT in the geotechnical and infrastructure industries. Nathan takes us on a journey through the evolving landscape of technology, offering his unique perspective on how AI and ML are transforming our field. We discuss the future of critical technologies, such as data loggers, communication systems, and advanced monitoring tools, exploring where they’re headed in the coming years.
Nathan shares his insights into the dynamic world of both corporate and startup environments, shedding light on...
2025-01-1439 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Francisco Navarrete MandlyIn this episode of Groundbreakers: Transforming Geotech, we’re excited to welcome Francisco Navarrete Mandly, CEO of APLITOP, a leading innovator in surveying and civil engineering software. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Francisco has dedicated his career to applying cutting-edge technology to optimize projects and boost productivity.
In this conversation, Francisco shares his insights on the latest advancements in surveying software, including how innovative tools like APLITOP’s solutions are shaping the future of civil engineering projects. He also dives into the challenges and opportunities of integrating advanced technology into real-world applications, from design thro...
2024-12-0542 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Pavel ChumakouIn this episode of Groundbreakers: Transforming Geotech, we’re thrilled to host Pavel Chumakou, an expert in tunneling and surveying with an extensive international career across Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Germany, and beyond. Pavel shares his insights on the evolution of survey technology, from Total Stations to gyroscopes, and his experiences managing major projects like the Chennai Metro and the Dubai Deep Tunnel Storm Water System.
Join us for an inspiring and educational conversation that dives deep into the changing landscape of geotechnical engineering and surveying. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from Pavel’s experiences and his vis...
2024-10-2729 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Mike DavisIn the eleventh episode of #GroundBreakers, we are excited to welcome Mike Davis, a dynamic and passionate leader in civil engineering and mining. Mike takes us through his remarkable career journey, from his consulting work at Stantec to his current role at TransAlta Mining, where he is at the forefront of digitizing mines and assets. He shares pivotal moments and key innovations that have transformed the mining industry through technology over recent years.
Our conversation delves into the integration of traditional methods with cutting-edge data solutions, exploring how technologies like InSAR, electronic sensors, and automated data acquisition...
2024-09-0440 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Todd RobertsIn the tenth episode of #GroundBreakers, we are thrilled to welcome Todd Roberts, a distinguished leader in geotechnical engineering. Todd takes us through his impressive career journey, highlighting his transition from product development to strategic project management consulting. He shares pivotal moments and key milestones in the evolution of technology within geotechnical engineering over the past two decades.
Our discussion delves into the integration of IoT and traditional methods in civil engineering, exploring the synergy between modern data management solutions and time-tested techniques. Todd provides insights into emerging trends such as AI, digital twins, and the integration...
2024-07-2626 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Jordan KeeneyIn the ninth episode of #GroundBreakers, we are excited to welcome Jordan Keeney, a visionary entrepreneur in the field of dam safety and technology. Jordan discusses his transition from a consulting role to launching a startup dedicated to enhancing dam safety. He shares insights into the motivations and challenges encountered in the pursuit of safeguarding critical infrastructure in the United States, highlighting the significant gaps in applying advanced technologies for asset protection.
Our conversation explores the adoption of critical technologies such as Instrumentation, IoT, Fiber Optics, InSAR, Integrated Software Platforms, and UAVs in the dam safety sector...
2024-05-2349 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with Brendan BradleyIn the eighth episode of #GroundBreakers, we're thrilled to host Brendan Bradley, a distinguished leader in the transportation and geotechnical design sector. Currently serving as the Rail Business Lead at Arup in Denmark, Brendan brings a wealth of knowledge from his extensive involvement in tunneling projects across London, Denmark, and Europe. In this episode, Brendan shares his in-depth experiences and challenges faced in complex underground construction and the innovative solutions implemented to overcome them. He discusses the critical role of geotechnical engineering in ensuring the safety and efficiency of transportation infrastructure. We delve into the specifics of urban tunneling...
2024-04-2636 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundbreaking with John MetzgerIn the seventh episode of #GroundBreakers, we are excited to feature John Metzger, a renowned expert in the mining and tailings industry. With an illustrious career dedicated to enhancing mine safety and operational efficiency, John delves into the critical aspects of mining operations and tailings management. This episode sheds light on the pivotal role of engineering in the mining sector, emphasizing the integration of technologies such as TIRI, Radar, Proqio, and remote sensing for comprehensive mine asset safety monitoring. John shares his journey, detailing the evolution of safety practices and the innovative application of technology in monitoring and mitigating...
2024-03-1948 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with Hamzah M. B. Al-HashemiIn the sixth episode of #GroundBreakers, we are thrilled to welcome Hamzah M. B. Al-Hashemi, a distinguished figure in geotechnical engineering. Hamzah brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the application of remote sensing technologies, including InSAR, to geotechnical monitoring and design. Throughout this episode, we explored the unique nature of the ground beneath our feet, highlighting the critical role of geotechnical engineering in understanding and interacting with the diverse complexities of different sites. Hamzah shares his insights into the importance of combining traditional in-situ monitoring techniques with cutting-edge technologies like remote sensing to enhance our ability to...
2024-02-1833 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with Hamzah M. B. Al-HashemiIn the sixth episode of #GroundBreakers, we are thrilled to welcome Hamzah M. B. Al-Hashemi, a distinguished figure in geotechnical engineering. Hamzah brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the application of remote sensing technologies, including InSAR, to geotechnical monitoring and design. Throughout this episode, we explored the unique nature of the ground beneath our feet, highlighting the critical role of geotechnical engineering in understanding and interacting with the diverse complexities of different sites. Hamzah shares his insights into the importance of combining traditional in-situ monitoring techniques with cutting-edge technologies like remote sensing to enhance our ability to...
2024-02-1733 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with J. Andres ChavarriaIn the fifth episode of #GroundBreakers, we are excited to feature J Andres Chacvarria, an enthusiast about fiber optic monitoring and seismology. He is the technical director at Luna Optasense and has immense experience using fiber optic technologies across industries. Join us as we delve into seismic monitoring, infrastructure health monitoring, and more using fiber optic technology. This episode is full of experiences and examples of this groundbreaking technology. Don't miss out on this enriching journey into the future of engineering innovation. Please tune in for an episode brimming with knowledge and inspiration as we continue to pave the...
2024-01-1228 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with Professor Kenichi SogaIn the fourth episode of #GroundBreakers, we are excited to feature an exceptional guest, Professor Kenichi Soga, a luminary in Civil Engineering. Professor Soga's extensive work at Cambridge and UC Berkeley has solidified his reputation as a pioneering force in the field. Join us as we delve into the intriguing realms of civil engineering research, shedding light on revolutionary advancements like fiber optic sensing and wireless monitoring systems. This episode is a treasure trove for those enthralled by the latest civil engineering and groundbreaking technologies. Don't miss out on this enriching journey into the future of engineering innovation. Please...
2023-12-0424 min
Futuro PúblicoGovTech Groundbreakers 2023: Episodio Kickoff con Paola SantanaEsta miniserie es el resultado de una colaboración entre Futuro Público y GLASS. Futuro Público se dedica a visibilizar las innovaciones en el sector público, mientras que GLASS está revolucionando la forma en que los gobiernos realizan compras. Juntos, hemos unido fuerzas para presentarte la mini serie "Groundbreakers 2023: Donde la tecnología se une con los gobiernos". En nuestro episodio kick-off, conversamos con Paola Santana, CEO y fundadora de GLASS, la start-up que lidera la iniciativa Groundbreakers. En este encuentro, Paola nos cuenta sobre GLASS, la comunidad Groundbreakers y nos explica la razón de ser...
2023-11-1320 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with Mr. Amod GujralIn this captivating third episode of #Groundbreakers, we dive into the pioneering spirit of innovation that shapes the backbone of Encardio Rite. Mr. Amod Gujral, an alumnus of IIT Kharagpur and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, joins us to share his inspiring journey of establishing and growing the beacon of excellence in geotechnical and infrastructure health monitoring. Discover the story of how Encardio Rite rose to international prominence under his visionary leadership, pushing the boundaries of Metasensing technology and contributing to the safety of megastructures around the globe. Tune in as we explore Mr. Gujral's valuable insights and the...
2023-11-0632 minGroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with Dr. Joel Van CranenbroeckIn this enlightening second episode of #Groundbreakers, we embark on a technological journey exploring the vast world of GNSS and its revolutionary impact on geodetic and geotechnical engineering. Dr. Joel, a pioneering figure in GNSS development and the mastermind behind maintaining the Burj Khalifa's verticality, joins us to unravel the intricate tapestry of its history and progressive evolution over the decades. Join us as we uncover the history of GNSS and its developments over the past few decades, journey through Dr. Joel's unique experiences, and comprehend the unmatched significance of meticulous monitoring in geotechnical projects. Let's delve deep into...
2023-10-0333 min
GroundBreakers: Transforming GeotechGroundBreaking with Sebastian Lobo-GuerreroI'm excited to have the privilege of chatting with Sebastian in our inaugural episode of #Groundbreakers: Transforming Geotech. Join us as we uncover the deep-rooted history of our industry, journey through Sebastian's unique experiences, and emphasize the unparalleled value of instrumentation and monitoring in geotechnical endeavors. Dive into these insightful conversations with us. #TransformingGeotech #Instrumentation #Monitoring #GeotechnicalEngineering #podcastjourney
2023-08-2839 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #20: The Show Must Go On in Post-Pandemic HollywoodThis pandemic has created a major upheaval in Los Angeles, the global hub of entertainment.
We’re now used to streaming movies and TV shows whenever we want, and we’re finding new types of entertainment in places like YouTube, Twitch and TikTok.
So what does the future hold for movie theaters, streaming services, film and TV studios, and the people who work for all of them, when this pandemic ends?
Listen to two experts in entertainment and pop culture who tell us what types of things we’ll be watching in the future, how we’ll be watching then, and what...
2021-08-011h 08
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #19: How Technology Is Getting Better, Worse & More Dominant In Our LivesSilicon Valley has always been the global hub of technology, and in the past 18 months, it has made the tools that allowed Americans -- and the American economy -- to survive the pandemic.
Right now, California’s tech industry is triumphant, and flush with profits. What will it do with all that money and power? And who, if anyone, can restrain tech, and its potential to dominate the way we live our lives?
We talk with Cindy Cohn, executive director of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, about what Big Tech and Silicon Valley are doing – and should be doing – when it comes...
2021-08-0155 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #18: Redesigning the Art WorldCalifornia's arts institutions are dealing with budget cuts and revenue shortfalls due to the pandemic, and a reckoning with systemic racism in the art world.
So what progress have they made in diversifying their staffs, their artwork, and their audiences over the past year? And will any of us ever look at art, and the meaning of it, in the same way again?
We talk with two people who present great works of art to the public, but do it in very different ways.
GUESTS
* Thomas Campbell, CEO and director of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and former...
2021-07-181h 20
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #17: A Totally Different Type of Food SceneFew business sectors in California were more battered by the pandemic than the dining industry -- nearly a third of the state’s restaurants permanently closed in the past year, and two-thirds of workers temporarily lost their jobs.
Now as California opens back up, how many restaurants will reopen, and will they bounce back?
We talk with two people who write about California’s dining scene about how restaurants are adapting post-pandemic, and what we should expect now when we go out to eat.
GUESTS
* Janelle Bitker, food enterprise reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle (https://www.sfchronicle.com/author/jane...
2021-07-1142 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #16: The New "Experience" of ShoppingThe pandemic has changed the concept of physical stores – do we still need them, what’s their purpose now, and how should they change to stay relevant?
And what about the stuff we buy – do we need to have the same things we bought before the pandemic, and do we still need to shop for so much of it?
We talk with two retail experts about how the coronavirus has shaken up the industry, how our consumer spending habits are shifting, and what shopping will look like in the future.
GUESTS
* David Fishbein, co-founder of the Runyon Group, a real-estate develo...
2021-07-0437 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #15: New Types of Trips and Travel StylesTravel is bouncing back, but there’s still plenty we don’t know about how the pandemic -- and new variants of the coronavirus -- will play out, either here in California or overseas. And those big unknowns are still dramatically shaping the future of travel.
We talk with two California-based travel experts who have been on the road this year about what to expect for local, domestic and international travel, what’s quickly going back to normal, what may be changing permanently, and what’s still to be determined.
GUESTS
* Julia Cosgrove, vice president and editor in chief of Afar Med...
2021-07-0448 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #13: How We'll Be Getting Around CaliforniaNow that California is reopening, where do we go and how do we get there?
This three-part episode focuses on the future of transportation in the state, from clean cars and electric trucks to high-speed rail and highway removals. We're talking with three people who are working on innovations in all those areas.
GUESTS
* Part 1: Robert Powers, general manager of Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART )
* Part 2: Craig Segall, deputy executive officer of mobile sources and incentives at California's Air Resources Board
* Part 3: Jeanie Ward-Waller, deputy director of planning and modal programs at Caltrans
PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY
* 0 to 2:30 min...
2021-06-201h 07
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #12: Covid's Effect on Cities, Suburb and Small TownsThe pandemic has re-shifted our priorities, particularly where we want to live and work.
For many Californians, that location may be a different one than the place they were living before the coronavirus hit. And that’s causing major changes in cities, suburbs and small towns across the state.
Join us as we talk with two planning and development experts who about how the pandemic is changing the urban and rural regions they live and work in, and what those changes mean for California overall.
GUESTS
* Alicia John-Baptiste, CEO of SPUR, a nonprofit think tank focused on regional planning and pu...
2021-06-1349 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #8: Will Parents Get a Better Work/Life Balance?What does the future hold for working parents in California?
Will the childcare crisis, homeschooling debacle and issues involving remote work and essential work put us on a new path to better work-life balance?
Are the federal and state governments going to make parenting easier to do going forward?
And how can we use what we’ve learned during the pandemic to ensure that raising kids while working full-time fills us with happiness instead of with heartburn?
We talk with two people who focus on better work-life balance issues professionally at their day job, and also personally at home as pa...
2021-05-1642 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #7: California's Plan for Your Senior-Citizen YearsCOVID-19 caused the early deaths of many seniors, but even as we see the light at the end of the tunnel, the big issues of aging and senior care in California won't be easing up. The new Census data shows that California keeps getting older, and by the year 2030, nearly a quarter of our population will be over age 65. That affects nearly everything in this state, including housing, pensions, jobs and of course, healthcare.
That’s why California has created a new Master Plan of Aging to address the issue of aging in the Golden State, and how we’re all...
2021-05-0941 min
California GroundbreakersThis Changes Everything #6: How to Improve Our Public Health SystemEven though coronavirus infections have sharply dropped, and the CDC is relaxing the rules around masks and mingling, what are we going to do about California’s healthcare system and our shell-shocked hospitals? How can we make sure we prevent so many unnecessary deaths among the people who cook our food, clean our houses, take care of our kids and do all the essential work we rely upon them for?
Join us as we talk with Elaine Batchlor, M.D. -- or "Dr. B" for short -- the CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital in Los Angeles, which wa...
2021-05-0235 min
UNLV Groundbreakers PodcastEpisode 09 I First Generation Celebration I Interview w/ Krickett & BradyIn this first of five-episode series, we are highlighting the experiences of our first-generation students here at UNLV. Being a first generation college student can be quite intimidating as it breaches unfamiliar territory. Krickett and Brady are both UNLV students walking down this path with the goal of turning the tide in their respective families, and it has been a stressful journey walking on this unpaved road. For many people, education is one of their biggest regrets, and Krickett and Brady aspire to finish their academia and establish financial stability with their degrees. In this podcast, they talk...
2020-11-0900 min
California GroundbreakersThe New Normal in California #9: The Future of Restaurants** This podcast was recorded on May 18 **
NOTE: Forgive us for the spots of glitchy audio in this one -- they're worst in the first 4-5 minutes, and then it gets better. Such is podcasting during Pandemic Time!
After nearly two months in lockdown, restaurant owners got their first concrete guidelines for opening up again when the state of California issued a 12-page document with 99 new regulations covering everything from physical partitions and closed bars to dishwasher goggles and table wait times.
How will these guidelines change the way restaurants look and operate?
Will they guarantee safety of staff and customers?
...
2020-05-2100 min
California GroundbreakersThe New Normal in California, #8: Strategies for Keeping Your Mental Health Strong and SoundIn this episode, we’re talking about how to keep our mental health and our sanity intact during Pandemic Time.
Dr. Peter Yellowlees, Chief Wellness Officer at UC Davis Health System, has been writing a newsletter called “Good Stuff” about how to keep one’s mental health in good shape. He started writing it when the pandemic began, specifically for essential workers on the frontlines at UC Davis Medical Centers. But because his advice is applicable to other people stressed out by the current situation, we got him to sit down and offer mental health tips and strategies for the rest of...
2020-05-1800 min
California GroundbreakersThe New Normal in California #6: Grocery Stores in Pandemic Time, or Where's the Toilet Paper?** This Q&A was recorded on May 8, 2020**
We’re taking a look at California’s grocery stores -- how they’ve handled becoming the “public square” that everyone is still allowed to go to, and all the stressful issues that go along with it, from ensuring the health and safety of their front-line employees, to making sure there’s enough toilet paper, flour and beef cuts on the shelves.
And now, with more people using e-commerce to get their groceries delivered, and cooking more meals at home than ever before, what’s the New Normal for grocery stores and how people will sh...
2020-05-1300 min
California GroundbreakersThe New Normal in California #5: Fixing the Broken Food Supply ChainIn this episode, we’re taking a look at California’s food supply chain – how it’s under stress, and even breaking, because of the coronavirus crisis. We’re talking with a couple of people who are literally “in the field” and seeing how pandemic-induced glitches in the food supply chain are playing out.
First is Evan Wiig, communications director for the Community Alliance with Family Farmers, which is helping California’s small farms get through the pandemic by matchmaking them with food banks, school districts and other food hubs that need supplies.
In the second half, we talk with Dave Daley, chai...
2020-05-0300 min
California GroundbreakersThe New Normal in California #2: How Will This Thing (Hopefully) End?Over the next few weeks – or however long it takes before we are allowed to leave our houses again – we’ll be looking at the ways our coronavirus-affected lives are changing over the short- and long-term, and talking with Californians making significant change in this New Normal.
In episode #1 of this series, we talked with a UC Davis epidemiologist about how COVID-19 got its start. In this episode, we‘re asking the question: How will it meet its end? How close are we to a vaccine? Will it kill it, or will it mutate and come back? In the meantime, should w...
2020-04-1700 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: The Women Training Other Women to Run for Political Office -- and Win2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, so we’re running a Q&A series this year called “The Women in Charge,” focusing on California women who are doing groundbreaking things in policy and politics, both here in the Golden State and around the nation.
Because it’s also an Election Year, we’re going to talk with the women in charge of getting other women inspired to run for political office, funding them so they can go the distance, and training them so they’ll succeed.
California is home to innovative organization...
2020-03-1500 min
California GroundbreakersChristine Pelosi and "The Nancy Pelosi Way"Mom knows best . . . especially when she’s the Speaker of the House. So Christine Pelosi decided to write a book about her mom, Nancy, the homemaker and mother of five who became a Congresswoman from San Francisco and is now the most powerful woman in U.S. politics.
2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, so we've started a new Q&A series called “The Women in Charge,” focusing on California women who are doing groundbreaking things in policy and politics, both here in the Golden State and around the nation.
We kicked...
2020-02-2200 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought: Meatless Meat, Plant-Based Dairy and the New "Alt Proteins"A new food economy is taking root in places like the dairy section of grocery stores and the drive-thrus of Burger King. Plant-based and lab-made meat, cheese, ice cream and even sushi are appearing more regularly on menus, and many of the companies creating them are based here in the Golden State.
The Age of Animal Protein — with its environmental, ethical and health baggage — seems to be giving way to the Age of Alternative Protein.
But are these newfangled proteins all they’re supposed to be? Critics say they’re heavily processed, contain lots of non-natural ingredients, and aren’t that great...
2020-02-0800 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: California's Chief Business and Economic Advisor Lenny Mendonca** This podcast was recorded on November 18, 2019**
Our final “Policy and a Pint” of 2019 is with a former farm boy from the Central Valley who is now Gavin Newsom’s go-to guy for advice on California ‘s economy and business affairs, and also chair of the state’s High Speed Rail project.
Lenny Mendonca grew up milking cows on his family’s farm in Turlock, but he was the first one in his family to go to college -- Harvard University -- where he became student body president.
A Stanford MBA, a partnership at management consulting mega-firm McKinsey, and advising roles at Californi...
2019-11-2400 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How California Is Changing "Gig Economy" EmploymentIs the jig up for the “Gig Economy” in California?
Governor Gavin Newsom just signed California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) legislation into law — and it’s one of the most contentious bills this year that we’ll probably still be talking about (and voting on) during Election Year 2020.
AB5, which kicks in on January 1, changes the test used to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The legislation will affect at least one million workers, ranging from ride-hailing drivers and food-delivery couriers to construction workers and franchise owners, who could now all be reclassified as employees.
Proponents o...
2019-11-2000 minUNLV Groundbreakers PodcastRebel Groundbreakers Podcast: IntroductionHey Rebels! This podcast was started by the IHS Peer Mentors here at UNLV, hope you enjoy!
--------------Show Notes & Shout Outs!-------------------------
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Email us at: rebelgroundbreaker@gmail.com
READ OUR SHOW TRANSCRIPTS!
Special thanks to Scandinavianz for the audio we used
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Logo and images made in snappa.
2019-11-1300 min2019-11-1200 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: Architecture and Urban Planning with Kristopher Barkley and Nikky MohannaKristopher Barkley and Nikky Mohanna are two people who are literally changing the shape of Sacramento’s skyline. They’re designing and constructing buildings that aim to show off the Capitol City at its best, and they’re striving to innovate the places in which we live, work and play.
Barkley, who has just hit the 30-year mark at Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture (which is about to celebrate its 70th birthday), has designed or contributed to nearly all of the firm’s projects, including remodeling of the CalPERS headquarters, renovation of SMUD’s headquarters, and the new Powerhouse Science Center on the riverf...
2019-10-1300 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought: Getting "Farm to Fork" into California's Public SchoolsEating local, sustainable and seasonal is something we hear a lot in the “Farm-to-Fork” capital city of Sacramento. Is that message making its its way to school lunchrooms here as well?
Many school districts are trying to get local ingredients on the menu. And other organizations, from Bay Area startups to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, are helping them out with a big push to promote healthy eating and local agriculture.
But three questions: How will school districts pay for it? How can parents, farmers and other food promoters help out? And will California kids eat it if it’s...
2019-10-0600 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How to Handle Living in a High-Risk Wildfire ZoneWe took a road trip to hold this conversation (our 50th event!) at the lovely Gold Rush town of Auburn because, according to Cal Fire maps, it sits in the “high” risk zone of wildfire hazards, and it’s right next to the “very high” risk zone that includes much of the Sierra Nevadas, including Paradise, Grass Valley and Nevada City, and all of Lake Tahoe.
In fact, one in four Californians live in a high- or very-high risk wildfire zone. So a lot of people are at risk of being hit when the next wildfire burns.
For our second event focu...
2019-09-2400 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A with UC Davis Chancellor Gary MayIt’s a special “Back to School” edition of Groundbreakers Q&A as we sit down with Gary May, Chancellor of UC Davis, and talk with him about his vision and goals for UC Davis and the Sacramento region, and his take on the state of higher-education today — the college admission scandals, massive student loan debt, improving diversity levels and graduation rates, boosting students’ STEM skills and career opportunities while trying to find them affordable housing and food.
We’ll also ask him about his inspirations, whether his love of "Star Trek" helped UC Davis score $15 million from NASA to research spa...
2019-09-1600 min
California GroundbreakersPop-up Panel: Travel and Tourism in the Central Valley*This event was recorded on July 10, 2019 *
Sacramento is still sometimes called “that place halfway between San Francisco and Lake Tahoe.” And travelers often drive to those two tourist attractions without stopping to see what’s in between them. But that’s changing.
Sacramento is dedicated to turning the Old Sacramento waterfront into a new type of tourism draw. The town of Winters in Yolo County just got selected by USA Today as one of the country’s best small-town food scenes. And Lodi, originally(in)famous for the Creedence Clearwater song, is a place people now don’t mind getting stuck in, th...
2019-07-1900 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A with State Senator Scott Wiener** This discussion was recorded on June 26, 2019**
State Senator Scott Wiener, who represents San Francisco, has made waves since he came to Sacramento in 2016.
His efforts to build more housing around public transportation and in wealthy suburbs have made his legislation the most talked-about so far this year at the Capitol, and in the media. He’s also famous for his proposal to “keep the bars open till 4 a.m.”, citing the cultural and economic benefits of nightlife.
Wiener compares San Francisco politics to “a knife fight in a phone booth,” and says getting his start there had made him steely enough to...
2019-07-0700 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: Talking "Wildfire Season" with Wade Crowfoot, Secretary of Natural Resources** This conversation was recorded on June 4, 2019 **
Wildfire Season is here! (Although in California, it’s now almost year-round, right?) To find out how the Golden State is planning for it, we talked with the man who is now responsible for a lot of those fire management and firefighting efforts — Wade Crowfoot, California’s new Secretary for Natural Resources.
He’s in charge of CAL Fire and the Departments of Water Resources, Fish and Wildlife, and Parks and Recreation. Basically, Crowfoot is making a lot of the decisions about what happens on California lands — and what should happen to those lands in this ag...
2019-06-0900 min
California GroundbreakersGrapes and Groundbreakers: Talking and Tasting Sacramento-Grown Wines** This event was recorded on May 23, 2019**
California is known for its amazing wines and its innovative, offbeat ways of growing, producing and marketing them. So in our offbeat and innovative way, we’re going doing a new type of tasting, mixing plenty of great wine with good gab by California Groundbreakers who turn grapes into liquid bliss.
Our wine pros this time around are:
* Andrew Willsen, manager and sommelier at top Sacramento restaurants including Mulvaney’s B&L, the Waterboy, Hawks and Taylor’s Kitchen
* Craig Haarmeyer, who runs his Haarmeyer Wine Cellers out of West Sacramento, is designated a “winemake...
2019-06-0300 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: Chefs Rick Mahan and Patrick Mulvaney**This event was recorded on April 30, 2019**
This "Groundbreakers Q&A" is with two guys who know their way around a kitchen.
Rick Mahan and Patrick Mulvaney are Sacramento's Top Chefs. Their restaurants, The Waterboy (opened in 1996) and Mulvaney B&L (in 2006), set the bar for fine dining in Sacramento, and they're still atop the list of places worth opening up your wallet for a memorable meal.
When they're not cooking, they're still doing plenty to promote good food, boost Farm to Fork efforts, and improve Sacramento's dining scene. Mahan is a big supporter of the Food Literacy Center, and Mulvaney...
2019-05-0500 min
California GroundbreakersPop-Up Panel: Blockchain & Cryptocurrency - What Are They, and How California Wants Us to Use Them** This conversation was recorded on April 17, 2019**
California’s legislature is looking at how to make blockchain and cryptocurrency easier to use here. One bill would set up a structure for regulating virtual-currency business activities in the state. Another would require California to start accepting “stablecoins,” digital currency tied to the U.S. dollar, from cannabis businesses starting in 2020, so they don't have to pay their taxes and fees via briefcases full of cash.
And blockchain isn’t just about currency — California water-rights experts are placing IBM-made sensors in Central Valley rivers to monitor real-time volume and usage. And the Sacramento Kings, the...
2019-04-2400 min
California GroundbreakersThe Future of Transportation in Sacramento**This discussion was recorded on April 8, 2019**
Sacramento is getting attention nationwide for its alt-transportation methods, which focus on smarter, safer and more efficient ways of getting people from A to B, while reducing carbon emissions and traffic congestion in a big way.
But it’s not always a smooth ride. There are multiple complaints about how Jump bikes are blocking sidewalks, and Jump scooters are not that safe for their drivers or the people they run into. The City is putting new fees, rules and restrictions in place that Jump says is expensive and prohibitive to expanding its services. The Do...
2019-04-1300 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: Art Mavens Liv Moe and Estella Sanchez* This podcast was recorded on April 3, 2019 at Antiquite Midtown in Sacramento*
We’re talking with some of Sacramento’s mightiest movers and shakers this year, people who are bringing changes, making waves and putting California’s capital on the map in bold font.
This conversation is with two people who play big roles in shaping Sacramento’s arts scene, supporting and promoting local artists, and getting their efforts talked about in cultural circles around California and nationwide.
Liv Moe, founding director of Verge Center for the Arts, and Estella Sanchez, founder and executive director of Sol Collective, do all this by provi...
2019-04-0700 min
California GroundbreakersPop-Up Panel: Getting Economic Growth to the Neighborhoods that Need It** This event was held on February 27, 2019 at Antiquite Midtown in Sacramento **
One of the City of Sacramento’s big initiatives: Come up with the right jobs strategy that boosts all of its neighborhoods, especially those with less-than average employment rates and high poverty.
So how is that going? How is Sacramento residents' feedback on the matter being used? What is funding being spent on, and who and where is it benefiting? And how can the City’s government, businesses, nonprofits and us individuals turn these efforts into tangible economic growth and good jobs that boost people’s incomes and improve the ne...
2019-03-0400 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: Katherine Bardis and Bay MiryWe’re talking with some of Sacramento’s mightiest movers and shakers this year, people who are bringing changes, making waves and putting California’s capital on the map in bold font.
First up is a conversation with two of Sacramento’s most well-known groundbreakers — literally — who are responsible for what the city's growth will look like.
Katherine Bardis and Bay Miry were born into real estate development families, and they’re carrying on the tradition. They like to go into under-the-radar parts of town and revitalize them (Miry's red-hot “R Street Corridor” and the 700 block of K Street; Bardis' housing community...
2019-02-1100 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: We Voted . . . Now What?** This podcast was recorded on November 9, 2018 **
Good job, you filled out your ballot and cast your votes — now what are you going to get in return? How are the results of Election 2018 going to affect you as a resident, taxpayer and user of services in California?
For our last election-focused “Policy and a Pint, we’re with a savvy group of political experts to discuss the results of Congressional races, top state offices, ballot initiatives, voter turnout -- and what’s next for California in 2019 with a new governor, state legislature and the 116th Congress taking charge.
PANELISTS
* Kim Alexander, presiden...
2018-11-1200 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on the Environment? Proposition 12Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" are focusing on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
In this podcast, we're talking about Proposition 12, about banning the sale of meat and eggs from animals confined in spaces below specific sizes.
NOTE: Our "No on Proposition 12" panelist had...
2018-10-2500 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on the Environment? Proposition 3Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" are focusing on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
In this podcast, we're talking about Proposition 3, the "Water Bond," about authorizing $8.87 billion in general obligation bonds for water infrastructure, supplies and storage, and watershed and fisheries improvements.
PANELISTS
* Gerald...
2018-10-2400 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on Taxes? Sacramento's Measure UElection 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" are focusing on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
In this podcast, we're talking about Measure U, establishing a one-cent sales tax increase -- and making it permanent -- in the City of Sacramento to maintain public services, and...
2018-10-2300 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on Taxes? Proposition 6Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" are focusing on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
In this podcast, we're talking about Proposition 6, about repealing 2017’s gas tax and vehicle fee increases, and requiring a public vote on future increases in transportation-specific spending.
PANELISTS
* Kiana Valentine, se...
2018-10-2200 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on Housing? Proposition 2Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" will focus on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
Of the 11 propositions on the ballot this year, four of them are focused on housing.
In this podcast, about letting the state use revenue from the "millionaire's tax" on $2 billion...
2018-09-2200 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on Housing? Proposition 1Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" will focus on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
Of the 11 propositions on the ballot this year, four of them are focused on housing.
In this podcast, we're taking a look at Proposition 1, about issuing $4 billion in general bonds...
2018-09-2200 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on Housing? Proposition 5Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" will focus on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
Of the 11 propositions on the ballot this year, four of them are focused on housing.
In this podcast, we're taking a look at Proposition 5, about preserving lower property taxes for...
2018-09-2100 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: How You Gonna Vote on Housing? Proposition 10Election 2018 is in full swing -- and now is the time to start figuring out how you're going to vote!
Our Fall 2018 "Policy and a Pints" will focus on California's General Election ballot. We're holding discussions with panelists who, whether they are "for, " against" or "neutral," will give us the straight talk on local/statewide propositions and races, and what it means if you vote yay or nay on each.
* * * * *
Of the 11 propositions on the ballot this year, four of them are focused on housing.
In this podcast, we're taking a look at Proposition 5, about preserving lower property taxes for...
2018-09-2100 min
California GroundbreakersPop-Up Panel: The Sound and the Fury of Sacramento's Music SceneThe City of Sacramento recently announced it would rethink its ordinance on buskers and outdoor music performers. It also hired a new "Creative Economy" director to think how arts and music can get a bigger boost here.
But there are still some sour notes. The Police Department is still called out to turn the music down. Gentrification means long-time music venues are getting complaints from new neighbors. Local musicians say they lack community support due to a lack of small venues, rehearsal spaces and frugal audiences who don't want to pay.
So what should Sacramento be doing to boost its...
2018-07-0100 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: The Men in Charge of Sacramento SchoolsThey're both new to Sacramento. This is their first year on the job. They're listening, watching and learning how things are done here. They're in charge of Sacramento City's public schools and 101-year-old community college. And now they're starting to put their stamp on how education is handled in Sactown's classrooms.
Listen to our discussion with Jorge Aguilar, the new superintendent of the Sacramento City Unified District, and Michael Gutierrez, the new president of Sacramento City College, as they talk about schooling Sacramento students; their future plans and how they're going to roll them out; what they've learned this past...
2018-05-2800 min
California GroundbreakersGroundbreakers Q&A: The Activist ArtistsArt has changed people's minds, shifted public opinions and made history. In our first “Groundbreakers Q&A,” we're talking with four people who create art that does just that.
The Chicano Movement, known as "El Movimiento," was a major effort in the 1960s and 1970s to extend Mexican-American civil rights and empowerment. A major component of El Movimiento was the artists. They created a socio-political movement that highlighted the plight of Mexicans in the U.S., they gave birth to a Chicano world view and, they generated a cultural renaissance, particularly here in California.
Think of the famous murals in San Francisc...
2018-05-0800 min
California GroundbreakersSacramento Style: What Is It? And Do We Have It Yet?The movie "Lady Bird" brought a lot of attention to Sacramento. After its release in Fall 2017, California's capital was written up as a travel destination in the Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle and the New York Times. So now that the spotlight is on us, have we arrived as a destination and place to visit/live/exist?
Listen to some of Sacramento's taste-makers and trend-setters talking about Sacramento Style. What is it? When you think of Sacramento fashion, decor, architecture, what do you see in how we dress, decorate and live? How do we compare and contrast to San...
2018-04-0700 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: Women Running for OfficeThere is an unprecedented surge of first-time female candidates, running for political office nationwide in Election Year 2018.
But here in California, the bluest state of them all, women candidates are still hitting a wall. Women account for only 26 of the 120 state legislators -- and they actually lost seats in the past two elections. In a round of caucus meetings back in January, Democratic Party activists in three competitive Southern California House races overlooked EMILY’s List-endorsed candidates and threw their support, by wide margins, to men.
Even after the #MeToo movement, female candidates in California are still forced to contend wi...
2018-03-3000 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: Affordable Housing on the Voting BallotIt's obvious that "affordable" and "housing" rarely go together in California. We're known for having some of the highest rental and housing prices in the U.S.
But some Californians are taking action by:
* fighting for more funding for affordable housing construction
* authoring laws that create higher-density housing and forces cities to meet their housing goals
* demanding rent control on apartment buildings, and demanding the repeal of a law that forbids it
And come November 6, Californians will be voting on some of their actions on the state ballot, and many local ones, too.
This "Policy and a Pint" focuses on...
2018-03-2700 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought: How Immigration Issues Are Affecting California's FoodRecorded on February 26, 2018 at CLARA Auditorium in Sacramento
The Central Valley is often called "America's Salad Bowl" and "the World's Breadbasket." It's definitely integral to Sacramento's "Farm to Fork" image. But right now, more than ever, it is Ground Zero for immigration-reform issues, ICE raids, and a Federal/State clash over "aiding and abetting authorities."
That's leading to a lot of fear, turmoil and changes in Central Valley -- to the towns, the farms, the workforce and the food that's being grown and raised there. No matter where you live in California, all of that will affect the food you...
2018-03-0400 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought: Local Chefs with Michelin-Star SkillsSacramento calls itself the "Farm to Fork Capital," but it won't be written up in a Michelin Guide for the foreseeable future (we're not included in the Guide for the Bay Area and Wine Country).
But that's okay, because we've got a couple of natives who left town to work at Michelin-starred restaurants and are now coming back home with their Top Chef skills and creds, and opening up their own places here.
For our first "Food for Thought" event of 2018, those two chefs talk about all things food - skills, favorite dishes and ingredients, their new restaurants, and whether "...
2018-02-1100 min
California GroundbreakersThe Future of Downtown SacramentoThis discussion was recorded on November 30, 2017.
We partnered up with the Crocker Art Museum for its "Conversations that Matter" series to have a conversation about the future of the neighborhood that surrounds it -- Downtown Sacramento.
It has been a little more than a year since the Golden 1 Center opened. The arena brought in a host of hot-ticket concerts and kicked off a slew of new development around it. Next up: development of the Railyards, revitalizing the riverfront, and making Old Sacramento more of a draw for the locals.
But what are the plans for housing? For handling the homeless...
2017-12-0700 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought #5: The Future of FarmingWe're running a monthly series called "Food for Thought," in-depth conversations with groundbreakers who run farms, restaurants, wineries, breweries and bars around California and are shaking up the way we eat and drink.
For our fifth talk, we're emphasizing the "farm" in farm-to-fork efforts, and discussing the future of farming in California.
Are there enough young farmers to take over for seasoned ones who want to retire? Can they afford to make a living in a high-cost-of-living state? Can they be profitable and sustainable when climate change makes it harder to predict what they can sow and reap?
PANELISTS
* Dennis...
2017-11-2600 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: The Gas Tax and California TransportationCalifornia's new gas tax went into effect November 1. That means most drivers will pay 12 cents more per gallon of gas, diesel increases 20 cents a gallon. Starting January 1, you'll be charged a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 to $175, depending on the value of your car.
The gas tax increase ushers in a 10-year program to raise more than $52 billion for transportation projects, like repairing roads and improving traffic congestion across the state. Will that money be spent wisely?
Governor Jerry Brown fought hard to get the gas tax (officially known as Senate Bill 1) passed last April, saying "real money" is...
2017-11-1100 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought #4: The BrewmastersWe're running a monthly series called "Food for Thought," in-depth conversations with groundbreakers who run farms, restaurants, wineries, breweries and bars around California and are shaking up the way we eat and drink.
Our fourth talk is with the Brewmasters, two people who've won lots of awards for creating some of some of the best craft beer to come out of Northern California.
One is a seasoned vet who helped a small Chico-based brewery grow into a billion-dollar company. The other is a young whippersnapper who, 13 months after moving his beers from the garage into a professional setup, won two...
2017-10-1500 min
California GroundbreakersIcebreaker Podcast: Kate Whelan of Sacramento Beer WeekHere's the final "Icebreaker" mini-podcast focused on California Groundbreakers in the beer industry, in advance of our live "Brewmasters" event on October 11 .
Like many beer lovers, Kate Whelan started out as a homebrewer. But she was tired of talking only with guys about beer. So she co-founded HopBroads nearly five years ago, a group focused on attracting more women to the craft beer culture. She's also a member of Pink Boots Society, which supports and promotes women working in the craft brewing industry ( one superstar Pink Boots member is Crooked Lane Brewery head brewmaster Teresa Psuty, who just won a...
2017-10-1100 min
California GroundbreakersIcebreaker Podcast: Glynn Phillips of Rubicon BrewingHere's our third "Icebreaker" mini-podcast focused on California Groundbreakers in the beer industry, in advance of our live "Brewmasters" event on October 11 .
November 1, 2017, marks the 30th anniversary of Rubicon Brewing, the oldest operating brewery in Sacramento (and the 6th oldest in California). But owner Glynn Phillips couldn't make it that far. On August 7, he told the public he was shutting down. It was one of the worst days in his life.
Two months later, Phillips sat down with us -- bringing along a big-ass bottle of unfiltered Rubicon IPA to drink -- and talked about the rise and fall of...
2017-10-0900 min
California GroundbreakersIcebreaker Podcast - Charlie Bamforth, the "Pope of Foam" at UC DavisHere's our second "Icebreaker" mini-podcast focused on California Groundbreakers in the beer industry, in advance of our live "Brewmasters" event on October 11 .
Charlie Bamforth, the Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences at UC Davis, is nicknamed the “Pope of Foam,” which pretty much says it all. Throughout his 30-plus-year career, Bamforth has embraced every dimension of beer, from raw materials and processing to its impact on the human body, published multiple research papers and written nine books, and he is generally considered to be one of the world's leading writers and speakers on beer. He also is a foot...
2017-10-0900 min
California GroundbreakersIcebreaker Podcast - J-E Paino of RuhstallerWe're starting to do "Icebreakers," mini-podcasts that we upload in advance of our live Groundbreaker events (which are always recorded and uploaded as the main podcasts).
In advance of our "Brewmasters" event on October 11 -- a live conversation all about beer with master brewers Steve Dresler of Sierra Nevada and Mike Mraz of Mraz Brewing -- we're sitting down in the recording studio with a few other people who also do groundbreaking stuff in the beer industry.
First off, a conversation with J-E Paino of Ruhstaller Brewing in Sacramento. Not only did he restart the once-largest brewery west of the...
2017-10-0400 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought #3: Los Autenticos - The "Real" Mexican Food MovementWe're running a monthly series called "Food for Thought," in-depth conversations with groundbreakers who run farms, restaurants, wineries, breweries and bars around California and are shaking up the way we eat and drink.
Our third talk is with "Los Autenticos," four well-known restaurateurs known for their Mexican cuisine. All of them have opened up new hotspots in Sacramento during the past year, and they're intent on serving authentic food and drink the way it should be prepared -- and serving it up in settings that reinforce the fact you are indeed eating the "real" thing.
To get an early start...
2017-09-2200 min
California GroundbreakersWide Open Walls: The Impact of Street Art in SacramentoWide Open Walls (WOW) is the official name for Sacramento's annual mural festival, now in its second year. Between August 10-20, 2017, 50 artists from 12 countries are painting 40 individual surfaces, from small-business walls and back-street alleys on the Grid to silos and water towers in the suburbs.
When they look around Sacramento, what will catch their eye? When they put down their brushes and paint-sprayers, what will they leave behind for us?
Street art is a big deal around the globe -- think Montreal with its own famous Mural Festival, Wynwood Walls in Miami, San Francisco's Mission District.
As the capital of...
2017-08-1700 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought #2: Chris Jarosz and Garrett Van Vleck, the Empire BuildersWe're running a monthly series called "Food for Thought," in-depth conversations with groundbreakers who run farms, restaurants, wineries, breweries and bars around California and are shaking up the way we eat and drink.
Our second talk is with a couple of "empire builders" in the region's restaurant scene: Chris Jarosz of Broderick Roadhouse fame and Garrett Van Vleck, one of the partners in the Shady Lady crew. Neither of them are top chefs or award-winning bartenders, but they sure know how to build brands and turn concepts into drink and dining hotspots.
Listen to Jarosz and Van Vleck talk about...
2017-08-1000 min
California GroundbreakersFood for Thought #1: Andrea Lepore and the KavookjiansWe've started a new series called "Food for Thought," in-depth conversations with groundbreakers who run farms, restaurants, breweries and bars around California and are shaking up how we eat and drink - and the way we think about food and drink.
Kicking it off is a discussion with two well-known Sacramento restaurateurs -- Andrea Lepore of Hot Italian, and N'Gina and Ian Kavookjian of South. While one restaurant focuses on pizza and the other on down-home Southern cooking, the three owners share a common trait: they wanted to serve food they've since childhood that is rooted in their cultural heritage...
2017-07-1200 min
California GroundbreakersCEQA Reform: California's Crazy Housing Market, Part 4An affordable housing project for seniors in San Francisco's Mission District was just taken to court. Affordable housing for low-income residents in Orange County was waylaid for several months. And a homeless shelter for teenagers originally planned for San Francisco's Marina District had to move elsewhere.
They're just a few examples of how the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, is used as a way to block housing and other types of development.
But CEQA’s defenders say the landmark law, passed in 1970, has given California cleaner air, less congestion and sewage, and made it a more desirable place to li...
2017-05-1400 min
California GroundbreakersThe Good and The Bad of Gentrification: California's Crazy Housing Market, Part 3According to Realtor. com, Sacramento is #7 of the Top 10 U.S. cities that are gentrifying the fastest in 2017. And while our median home price increase during 2000-2015 has more than doubled (from $127,500 to $255,000) we're only 26.5 percent gentrified.
Sacramento is also on Top 10 Lists of most diverse cities. How can we gentrify our city and still keep the neighborhoods diversified in age, race and income?
That's the topic of Part 3 of our four-part panel series, "California's Crazy Housing Market," held in Ground Zero of gentrification in Sacramento today - Oak Park.
PANELISTS
* William Burg, Sacramento historian and author -- his latest...
2017-03-2700 min
California GroundbreakersIs "Affordable Housing" an Oxymoron Here? - California's Crazy Housing Market, Part 2What does "affordable housing" mean in California, especially when only 30 percent of state residents can afford the median-priced home?
What will it take to make housing affordable -- build more of it, pass some more laws, repeal some others?
And with the crazy supply-and-demand status of housing here these days, can it even be done?
Listen to our panelists talk about the current options and potential opportunities for the affordable-housing market in California -- and who, if anyone, will benefit from it.
PANELISTS
* Melinda Coy, policy specialist for the California Department of Housing and Community Development
* Rachel Iskow, CEO of...
2017-03-1800 min
California GroundbreakersWhy Are Housing Costs So Damn High: California's Crazy Housing Market, Part 1We're planning a four-part panel series on California's Crazy Housing Market, taking a look at why it's crazy, can it ever calm down, and what can be done -- economically, politically, and locally -- to make it easier for renters and homebuyers to afford a roof over their heads in this state.
This first panel is a 360-degree overview of the housing market (the other three will be about Affordable Housing, Gentrification, and the love-it/hate-it effects of the California Environmental Quality Act). We focus on the Sacramento area's real estate and rental markets -- who and what are affecting...
2017-02-0500 min
California GroundbreakersInnovation City: Does Sacramento Have What It Takes to Be One?California Groundbreakers and Comstock's Magazine partnered up to present "Innovation City" at the CLARA auditorium on January 23, 2017.
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Before he left office, former Mayor Kevin Johnson put a plan in place to jumpstart Sacramento's innovation economy. That includes investing $1 million in local companies via the city’s RAILS grant program, which stands for Rapid Acceleration, Innovation and Leadership. So what's next? If Sacramento wants to succeed in becoming an innovation hub, what needs to happen now?
Mayor Darrell Steinberg, kicked off the talk with his hopes and plans for jump-starting innovation in Sacramento. Then a moderated Q&A with some RAILS gr...
2017-01-2800 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: Pot Is Legal . . . Now What?So Proposition 64 has passed. The first thing you may want to know is, "When can I start buying recreational pot, and use it legally?" Yeah, but there's so many more questions to ask -- and the answers are still evolving.
For our first "Policy and a Pint" panel of 2017, we gathered people who are shaping and creating the state's cannabis industry explain the highs and lows of Proposition 64, how it's going to affect California economically, culturally and politically -- and, whether you partake or not, what you need to know about our biggest cash crop.
PANELISTS
* Lori Ajax, Chief of...
2017-01-1600 min
California GroundbreakersThe Future of Food: How Yolo County Is Shaping ItAgTech is a big deal in Sacramento's "Farm to Fork" economy. UC Davis is all all over it, a lot of companies have moved here to benefit from the school's world-class research, and the local industry just keeps seeing green -- investors forked over $4.6 billion to AgTech startups worldwide last year (compare that to only $500 million in 2012) as they look to tackle production and sustainability issues facing the farming sector. All that action will affect the regional economy, the crops and livestock raised here, and ultimately the food on your plate.
At Davis's Sudwerk Brewery, AgTech innovators explained how innovations...
2016-11-1600 min
California GroundbreakersPolicy and a Pint: Shaking Up the Election ProcessSure, there's plenty of movers and shakers in California's political scene. But who are the Groundbreakers aiming to break the mold, move the needle, and establish a better connection between elections, the campaigning process and social change?
We're starting a series of events called "Policy and a Pint" -- moderated panels and Q&As revolving around policy and politics on a local, regional and statewide level. In short: what's coming out of the Capitol, and how it's going to affect you as a voter, a taxpayer and a California resident. We're going to hold these events at breweries and other...
2016-11-0500 min
California GroundbreakersOn the Waterfront: Revitalizing the Sacramento RiverWe've got Old Sacramento and now the Barn, but what else do we have along the Sacramento River? Why can't we have the hike/bike trails, the boat launches, the water taxis, and work/live/play options along the waterfront? Both West Sacramento and the City of Sacramento say they're making waterfront revitalization a priority, but what's do-able and what's not?
For our second event at The Barn in West Sacramento on September 22, we asked questions to people who know the Sacramento River well about what's in the works for the short term -- and what needs a lot of...
2016-10-1700 min
California GroundbreakersFuture of California Craft BeerCalifornia is having a Beer Boom. In the Sacramento area, at least one new craft brewery is popping up every month. But how long will that last? Are we at a tipping point of quality beer, or is there room for more? What are the top names in NorCal brewing planning to do next? And for beer lovers, what’s on the horizon?
For this discussion on all things beer, local brewers and beer pros tell you where California’s craft beer scene is at, where it’s headed next, what their own plans are, and how it’s going to affec...
2016-09-1800 min