Issues & Ideas

From competing to campus: Chef Arthur Dulin brings his award winning culinary talent to Cal Poly Jul 31, 2026

Cal Poly Dining Services Chef Arthur Dulin talks about his recent award and going for gold at next year's National Association of College & University Food Services Challenge. From bagels to cookies, San Luis Obispo baker Michael Milch talks about baking the foods he loves– gluten free. And John Smigelski with the California Alliance for Community Energy talks about a recent report on the cost to keep Diablo Canyon Power Plant running.

Teddy’s Juke Joint, a legendary home for the blues and community Jul 23, 2026

We hear about one of the last standing Juke Joints in the country, Teddy’s Juke Joint near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. We revisit two interviews, one from BookWaves producer Brian Reynolds with award winning author Susan Straight on her latest book Sacrament. Then RaiseUp Radio producer Julie Lynem speaks with CalPoly professors Kerry Langner and Amanda Fry on the complexities of raising children on the Central Coast.

Festival Mozaic's SLO Music and Arts Festival kicks off Jul 15, 2026

El Niño is poised to impact the climate globally and potentially along the Central Coast. The San Luis Obispo Music and Arts Festival by Festival Mozaic is set to return this week. And, the Santa Barbara News-Press is back! We’ll hear how the paper has been rebuilding its newsroom.

SLO’s Citywide Single Vote: How did we get here? Jun 01, 2026

San Luis Obispo is changing the way it elects city council members. A whitepaper out of UCSB argues PG&E is overcharging ratepayers. We wrap up with winemakers from Turley Cellars and Radial Estate.

From food insecurity to abundant tables Mar 17, 2026

On today’s program, we hear from the new head of a local group that works to address food insecurity on the Central Coast… Wine Country producer Mira Honeycutt sits down with Alma Rosa Winery's Samra Morris to talk about winemaking on the Central Coast... and Father Ian takes listeners to a stunning fruit ranch and wedding venue for a look at seasonal pears in his segment, Playing with Food.

The power of choral music, Author Chris Blake, and a Zero Foodprint program Nov 26, 2025

This week, we explore how music, storytelling, and environmental leadership are bringing our communities together. First, we’ll hear from the Master Chorale’s Outreach Committee about the power of choral music to connect people and inspire participation. Next, local author Chris Blake shares his journey of searching for meaning and connection in his new book, Searching for a God to Love. And finally, we’ll talk with leaders from Cal Poly’s Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience about their work to support regenerative agriculture and climate solutions through the Zero Foodprint program.

Independent bookstores and wine from Cambria Nov 21, 2025

Brian Reynolds chats with Carroll Leslie, owner of Volumes of Pleasure, about the rich history of the independent bookstore that has been serving Los Osos for over 50 years. Then, for Wine Country, Mira Honeycutt visits with vintner Rajat Parr at his Parr Collective winery in Cambria.

Diablo Canyon, Morro Bay Bird Festival and the SLO Food Bank Nov 03, 2025

Gianna Patchen is back with People and the Planet. This week she speaks with Kara Woodruff, a member of the Diablo Canyon decommissioning panel and the policy advisor to Senator John Laird.Then Carol Tangeman meets with Bob Revel of the Morro Bay Bird Festival.And our news correspondent, Natalia Young, talks with the SLO County Food Bank about the recent government shutdowns and how the food bank is preparing for people's needs.

Horror flicks, the magical world of legumes, and happy animals Oct 28, 2025

Halloween’s around the corner, and things are getting spooky at the SLO Film Center. David McAbee talks with Skye McLennan about what’s creeping onto the screen at The Palm Theater, just in time for Halloween.Then, Father Ian’s back with Playing with Food. This week, he’s going nuts for beans as he learns about legumes.And finally, David McAbee speaks with Melisa Beveridge of Woolleybear Travels, whose animal paintings are making a difference one sanctuary at a time.

Film, community libraries, and the power of teaching people to read Oct 21, 2025

David McAbee sits down with Carlos and Kyle Plummer of the SLO Film Society. With the Film Expo coming up in November and a fundraising night at The Bay Theater, they’ve got a lot happening, both on screen and behind the scenes.Then, Dr. Consuelo Meux is back with The Nonprofit Story. This week, it’s all things library as she talks with Juliane McAdam, President of the SLO Library Foundation, and County Library Director Christopher Barnicle.And we’ll close with Michelle Haddad from The Literacy Connection, who’s helping students and tutors build stronger futures, one page at a time.

Secret cinemas, marine protection & an author's local family history. Oct 17, 2025

David McAbee sits with Bob Whiteford, one of the owners of Insomniac Video, to talk about the rise, and eventual fall, of the beloved video store and how he’s now teaming up with The Palm Theatre to bring back a little movie magic through Insomniac Secret Cinema.Then, Gianna Patchen returns with another edition of People and the Planet. She speaks with Sandy Alesworth and Steph Wald about the Point Sal Marine Protection Program.And finally, Brian Reynolds talks with author and entrepreneur Mike Miner about his new book Heroes, Rogues, and Wisdom: A 20th Century American Family History.

Arts, advocacy, and a little wine country flair Oct 08, 2025

David McAbee sits down with Jordan Chesnut, executive director of the SLO County Arts Council, to talk about National Arts and Humanities Month. She also shares the data from the 2025 Arts and Culture Economic Impact Report. It’s art, passion, and data, all coming together.Then Rosie Boultman has a conversation with Christina Dawson from SLO County UndocuSupport, sharing how they’re helping longtime, local undocumented workers and families.And finally, Mira Honeycutt returns with another edition of Wine Country. She chats with Matt Kleefisch of The Ava Hotel in Paso Robles about what drew The Ava to Paso’s lush, inviting landscape.

Permaculture, climate solutions, and fresh ideas for a sustainable future Sep 30, 2025

Father Ian plays with permaculture. Gianna Patchen speaks with the SLO Climate Coalition about local climate solutions and how you can save money by electrifying your home. Author Tom Bowman talks about his new book, "What if Solving the Climate Crisis is Simple?"

KCBX 50th Anniversary Special Sep 26, 2025

This week on Issues and Ideas, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of KCBX. Hear from the Waddell Family, KCBX leaders Frank Lanzone Jr. and Chris McBride, journalist Ailsa Chang, and Linnaea, the beloved longtime café owner on the Central Coast.

All Things Writing and Creativity Sep 17, 2025

It's all things writing and creativity on Issues and Ideas. First we sit down with Meagan Friberg of The Central Coast Writers Conference. Then, we speak with author and poet, Luke Johnson. Finally, how about wine and movies under the stars with The Paso Picture Show?

Tom Wilmer takes us up and down SLO county to find delicious food, fine wine and boutique hotels Sep 10, 2025

Tom Wilmer explores where you can find some of the best food, hotels and wine on the Central Coast.

Chilled red wines, Cal Poly cats, and two poets laureate Sep 05, 2025

Wine Country's Mira Honeycutt explores the fascinating world of chillable reds. Then Celeste Geary's guests from the Cal Poly Cat Program share unexpected insights about cat adoption and finding a good, furry match. Lastly, we'll revisit a favorite conversation from January 2025 when San Luis Obispo County Poet Laureate Caleb Nichols interviewed California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick.

Showers for the unhoused, Greek wines in Paso, and a local protest against Chevron for its ties to Israel Aug 18, 2025

We start this episode with The Nonprofit Story with Dr. Consuelo Meux, where she speaks with Garry Peterson from the nonprofit Shower the People about the impact that showers have on the lives of the homeless community on the Central Coast. Then, for Wine Country, journalist and author Mira Honeycutt talks to James and Manoli Boutzoukas of Boutz Cellars about Greek wines and the importance of heritage. And, last, we have KCSB News Director Rosie Bultman speaking with Carolyn Krueger from the Central Coast Anti-War Coalition about a weekly picket calling on people to boycott Chevron in San Luis Obispo.

Fr. Ian finds out why Spirulina is the future, poet Dian Sousa talks about why she is lovingly afraid of the sea, and composer and winemaker Brook Monroe demonstrates how he turns wine into music Jul 28, 2025

For Playing with Food, KCBX's Fr. Ian Delinger travels to southern San Luis Obispo County to talk to algae farmers and find out how one particular algae—Spirulina—is made, and why it is considered a complete health food. Then, KCBX's Meher Ali is in conversation with poet and activist Dian Sousa about poetry, the necessity of work, her immigrant parents and their love of the sea, on The Lonely Goat Cafe. Last, reporter Benjamin Purper walks with Brook Monroe, musician and winemaker, in the vineyard that he manages on the Central Coast, where the latter shows him how he incorporates winemaking into his compositions. Purper's story has been sourced from KQED's The California Report.

Author Kevin Carver on his debut novel, "The Forbidden Parallel," a nonprofit that provides mental health support for those impacted by cancer, and how the Sierra Club's local chapter supported the designation campaign for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary Jul 21, 2025

For Bookwaves, Brian Reynolds speaks with local author and musician Kevin Carver, about his debut fantasy novel “The Forbidden Parallel“ that he has released alongside an album of the same name. Also, for The Nonprofit Story, Dr. Consuelo Meux talks with Candace Galli, Executive Director of the Cancer Support Community, about the reason why her nonprofit prioritizes mental health support for cancer patients. And, Gianna Patchen, the Sierra Club’s Santa Lucia chapter coordinator in San Luis Obispo County, shares the story of how the organization supported the designation campaign for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary, with KCBX's Meher Ali.

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