County Conversations

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Latest Episodes:

Coroner Rosa Vega, MS Jan 29, 2026

In this episode of "County Conversations," host Kim Nava interviews Rosa Vega, the Sacramento County Coroner, to discuss the vital and often misunderstood role her office plays in the community. A key highlight of the conversation is the independence of the Sacramento County Coroner’s office. While 48 out of 58 California counties operate under a "sheriff-coroner" model, Sacramento is one of only four counties with an independent system. This independence ensures that death investigations are thorough and unbiased, remaining separate from the influence of law enforcement or the District Attorney.

Public Defender Amanda Benson Oct 03, 2025

Join host Kim Nave as she talks with Sacramento County Public Defender, Amanda Benson, who explains the essential role of public defenders in upholding due process and safeguarding the integrity of the justice system by ensuring legal counsel for everyone, regardless of wealth. Benson emphasizes that public defenders are highly skilled and dedicated attorneys addressing the need to view clients as human beings often shaped by factors like poverty and mental illness, rather than just their charges.

County EMS Medical Director Dr. Gregory Kann Apr 28, 2025

Tune in to the latest episode of County Conversations and discover the groundbreaking work happening at Sacramento County Emergency Medical Services (EMS).

Join host Kim Nava as she speaks with Dr. Gregory Kann, Medical Director for Sacramento County EMS, to learn about innovative initiatives revolutionizing emergency care in the region. Dr. Kann discusses the agency's mission to provide world-class prehospital healthcare efficiently and effectively.

Animal Care Services with Annette Bedsworth (Repost) Mar 10, 2025

Annette Bedsworth is the Director of Sacramento County's Animal Care Services. Annette began in her role as director in January 2022. Bedsworth has more than 30 years of public service, including more than 20 years in management and director level positions. Before she came to the County, Bedsworth served as the Executive Director for Animal Services for Stanislaus County since 2008.

In this conversation, Annette talks about the challenges the shelter faces in terms of operations and animal care; how members of the community can be involved in supporting the shelter through volunteering, fostering kittens or donating; and advice for anyone considering adopting a pet.

Child, Family and Adult Services with Shelby Boston Mar 07, 2025

Kim Nava sits down with Shelby Boston, the director of the Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services (DCFAS). The interview covers Shelby's background and path to social work, including her experiences growing up and her accidental entry into the field, and then proceeds to a discussion of the different types of social workers within the department and the challenges they face, especially regarding under-resourcing and client autonomy.

Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Megan Sheffield and Dr. Gurleen Roberts from Public Health Jan 24, 2025

Welcome to the Sacramento County Podcast Series with Kim Nava as your host. Kim Nava interview with Sacramento County's Division of Public Health officials celebrating their recent national accreditation. The discussion centers on the significance of this achievement, highlighting the rigorous process, involving years of work. The interview also showcases the importance of teamwork, community partnerships, and health equity within their various programs, such as public health nursing, disease control, and health education.

Behavioral Health Division with Dr. Ryan Quist Nov 14, 2024

In this episode of County Conversations, Kim Nava interviews Dr. Ryan Quist, director of the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Division. They discuss the differences between mental health and behavioral health, and the challenges and resources available to individuals experiencing mental health issues, particularly during the holiday season. Dr. Quist highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing stress, normalizing the need for support, and connecting with community resources like the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988). The conversation also delves into the county's approach to addressing mental health needs, including new initiatives like Care Court and Prop 1. The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to prioritize their mental health, reach out for help when needed, and utilize available resources.

Department of Finance with Chad Rinde Oct 01, 2024

In this episode of County Conversations, Kim Nava sits down with Chad Rinde, the Director of Finance for Sacramento County. Chad discusses the various responsibilities of the department, including internal support functions for accounting, public serving functions such as tax collection, utility billing, revenue recovery, and business licensing. He also explains how property taxes are assessed and collected, as well as the different payment options available for property taxes, including online payment.

Regional Parks with Liz Bellas Jul 22, 2024

Liz Bellas has been a parks professional for over 26 years. She was appointed as Director of Sacramento County Regional Parks in January 2019, and has served many roles within the Department, including recreation operations, master planning, budget and fiscal officer, and park management.

In this conversation, Liz talks about her biggest challenges in managing the County’s regional parks system, how she addresses them, as well as some exciting new projects in the works.

Homeless Services and Housing with Emily Halcon Jun 11, 2024

Emily Halcon is the Director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) for Sacramento County. Emily serves as the central coordinator of the County’s policy and program development efforts to address homelessness with the goal of aligning and integrating County policies, programs, services and funding toward reducing the prevalence of homelessness in Sacramento County and its impact on communities, business districts, and people experiencing homelessness.

Prior to joining the County in 2021, Emily spent six years as the Homeless Services Manager for the City of Sacramento, overseeing policy and programs through the City to address homelessness.

County Sustainability Manager John Lundgren Jun 11, 2024

Our County Conversation is with John Lundgren, Sustainability Manager for the County.

John Lundgren is the County Sustainability Manager in the Office of the County Executive. John was hired by Sacramento County in 1995 after obtaining his bachelor's degree in Range and Wildlands Science from U.C. Davis. Prior to his current assignment, he advanced in his County career through Code Enforcement, Animal Services, Environmental Review, and Long-Range Planning.

In this conversation, John talks about the community-wide sustainability measures the County has implemented, the challenges the County has faced in its efforts to become more environmentally friendly, and what listeners can do to support a greener environment.

Chief Probation Officer Marlon Yarber Jun 11, 2024

Join in us as we welcome Marlon Yarber, Chief Probation Officer for Sacramento County in our inaugural podcast “County Conversations: Sac County Podcasts" series!

Marlon Yarber was appointed Sacramento County Chief Probation Officer in October 2021. He began his career with Sacramento County Probation as Assistant Chief Probation Officer in December 2013. He provided oversight of Adult Operations between 2013 and 2018 and then transitioned to Juvenile Operations. Before joining Sacramento County, Yarber worked for Stanislaus and Yolo County Probation Departments, as well as the State of California - Board of Corrections.

In this conversation, Marlon gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of administering the County's Department of Probation, the myths vs. reality, the department's focus on rehabilitation, and an inspiring story about how he stays motivated in spite of challenges.

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