Issues & Ideas

SLO Youth Symphony's upcoming concerts, MLK Jr. Scholarship Fund's big event, first-ever report on SLO County's immigrant community and the impact of the NIH funding pause Feb 04, 2025

Grace Seng, Music Education Manager of the SLO Symphony, in conversation with Marisa Waddell, KCBX's Program Director about music education and the SLO Youth Symphony. Mary Matakovich, Board President for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Memorial Scholarship Fund, speaks to Sam DJ, Programming Intern at KCBX, about honoring Dr. King through scholarships for SLO high schoolers. One of the founders of SLO County UndocuSupport, Joel Diringer, talks about his new report on immigrants living in SLO County, with KCBX's Meher Ali. And, KCSB student reporter Joyce Chi speaks to UCSB scientists about President Trump's funding pause on the NIH and its impact on science and health research.

Lee Herrick, California's poet laureate, affordable pet boarding and the Garagiste Wine Festival Jan 27, 2025

Lee Herrick, the poet laureate of California in conversation with Caleb Nichols, the new poet laureate of San Luis Obispo County. Robin Coleman for Peace, Love and Pets speaks to Isabelle Gullö from Care for Paws and Katie Bean from Creekside Pet Boarding, about their efforts to make pet boarding more affordable in San Luis Obispo County. KCBX’s Father Ian Dellinger traveled to Paso Robles this past November to attend the Garagiste Festival. It was the last in a series of wine festivals and this year’s starts next week on February 7th in Solvang.

New California laws, reflecting on the Live Oak Music Festival, UCSB's researchers speak against war and a visit to the National Civil Rights Museum Jan 13, 2025

A summary of state laws taking effect this year, from the California Report. Frank Lanzone, KCBX Director and General Manager, and Greg Perry, Development Director and key organizer of the Live Oak Music Festival chat with KCBX's Meher Ali about their best moments at Live Oak. Festival tickets go on sale January 20th at 10 am. Researchers Against War is a group founded by grad students at the University of California, Santa Barbara that is highlighting the university’s ties to the Department of Defense as well as military companies. Zoha Malik from KCSB, the university's student radio station reports. A story from our archives! KCBX’s Tom Wilmer travelled to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis in 2018 and spoke to Faith Morris, the museum's External Affairs Officer about the importance of educating people on history.

Navigating life in a divided nation, the Morro Bay Bird Festival and the concerns of undocumented immigrants living on the Central Coast Jan 07, 2025

Tania Israel, author and Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara, speaks with KCBX’s Brian Reynolds about her new book Facing the Fracture: How to Navigate the Challenges of Living in a Divided Nation. Registration is open at this year’s Morro Bay Bird Festival that starts on January 16th until the 20th. Bob Revel and Susie Reddy, from the Festival's planning committee, talk to KCBX's Carol Tangeman about the exciting lineup. Mario Espinoza-Kulick, health equity expert and faculty at the Ethnic Studies department at Cuesta College, talks with KCBX's Meher Ali about the concerns of undocumented immigrants, as the new administration takes office.

Son Care Foundation, Visit SLO CAL, protecting Monarch butterflies, and the Run SLO club Dec 17, 2024

Rhys Jensen of Son Care Foundation discusses the ways the nonprofit is saving lives through the human-canine bond. Cathy Cartier, Visit SLO CAL’s CEO, shares insights about San Luis Obispo County’s non-profit tourism promotion organization. Devon Szalva, a student reporter for KCSB radio, spoke with researcher Ethan Anadon about the challenges facing monarch butterfly habitats. KCBX’s Allysa Toledo looks at the impact of the Run SLO Club.

African Californios, a journey from Nanjing to SLO, and immigration policies Dec 10, 2024

Cal Poly Professor Cameron Jones and student Anthony Herrera talk with KCBX's Meher Ali about the African Californios Project. Journalism professor Yan Shan shares her journey from Nanjing to Cal Poly with KCBX’s Tom Wilmer. UCSB student reporter Ashley Segat speaks with UC Santa Barbara professor Alfredo Gonzalez about what immigration policies could look like under the Trump administration.

Pearl Harbor Day, chronic pain- part 2, and Playing With Persimmons Dec 03, 2024

December 7th is National Pearl Harbor Day, and back in 1991, KCBXs Tom Wilmer created a short radio story chronicling two fictional SLO High graduates of the class of 1942. Also, you’ll hear part two of Brian Reynolds’ interview with David Hanscom, MD, author of Back in Control: a Surgeon's Road Map out of Chronic Pain and Douglas Garland, MD, author of The Tall Poppy Syndrome: the Joy of Cutting Others Down. KCBXs Alyssa Toledo takes you behind the curtain at The Great American Melodrama & Vaudeville. And from our Playing With Food archives, we look at the different ways to enjoy the different varieties of persimmons.

SLO for Home, corporate responsibility, and Back in Control: a Surgeon's Roadmap out of Chronic Pain. Nov 26, 2024

KCBX intern Meher Ali talks with Katie Lichtig of SLO for Home, about their goal to empower refugee families to rebuild their lives on the Central Coast, and SLO for Home's recent rebranding. On Playing With Food, Fr. Ian speaks with Brian Talley of Talley Vineyards about corporate responsibility. KCBX’s Brian Reynolds chats with David Hanscom, MD, author of Back in Control: a Surgeon's Road Map out of Chronic Pain and Douglas Garland, MD, author of The Tall Poppy Syndrome: the Joy of Cutting Others Down.

Your green waste bin, wine industry changes, The Monday Club and the Budget Cafe Nov 20, 2024

KCBX intern Meher Ali gets answers to questions about green waste bins, in a conversation with Rachelle Paris, the city’s Solid Waste & Recycling Coordinator. Ash Mehta, local wine retailer, speaks with KCBX’s Stu Soren about recent changes in the wine industry. KCBX’s Alyssa Toledo explores how The Monday Club’s centennial pays tribute to its past while looking forward to the next hundred years. The Budget Café in San Luis Obispo is a mirror of the unpretentious side of San Luis Obispo, according to KCBX’s Tom Wilmer. He speaks with the owner of the iconic cafe.

Sideways Uncorked, SLO County's Veterans Memorial Museum, and senior pets and grief Nov 12, 2024

The Movie Sideways is 20 years old, and there’s a new book out – Sideways Uncorked- a Perfect Pairing of Film and Wine. We talk with the authors, Kirk Honeycutt and Mira Advani Honeycutt. KCBX’s Tom Wilmer checks in with Bart Topham, Director/Curator with SLO County's Veterans Memorial Museum. On Peace, Love & Pets, host Robin Coleman shares stories about senior pets and grief.

SLO County's Regional Road Safety Plan, the Morro Bay Bird Festival, and Playing With Food- local coffee Oct 29, 2024

John DiNunzio, Transportation Planner with SLOCOG, speaks with KCBX’s Marisa Waddell about the county’s Regional Road Safety Action Plan. The Morro Bay Bird Festival is in January of 2025, and Bob and Robbie Revel talk about how to best enjoy the festival. Fr. Ian, of Playing With Food, is sharing his exploration of coffee produced on the California Coast.

Winter weather forecast; Avila Beach, California- a book; and the band Fruition Oct 22, 2024

Retired meteorologist John Lindsey chats with KCBX’s Kim Foster about what to expect- weather wise- this coming winter. Paul Karlen and Lisa Wilkerson, the creators of a new book called Avila Beach California, talk about the project- calling it a ‘labor of love’. The band Fruition will be performing at SLO Brew Rock soon, and band member Kellen Asebroek spoke with KCBX’s Brad Kyle.

Melanie Senn's novel 'Murray', Pete Kelley- restaurateur and author, and blending art with jazz. Oct 08, 2024

SLO Women’s Rugby celebrates 20 Years of breaking barriers. Local writer and freelance reporter Melanie Senn talks about her new book- Murray: A Novel. Fort Hunter Liggett is leading the energy independence charge with micro-grids. Pete Kelley, owner of the "Pete's" Central Coast restaurants from 1977 to 2007, talks with KCBX's Carol Tangeman in this interview from the archives, recorded in 2022. Morro Bay ceramicist Ross Hale blends sculpting with jazz, and talks about his aspirations for the project.

'Sideways', Hope on Park, Playing With Wine, and a sonic journey through a wine harvest Oct 01, 2024

The movie Sideways celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Evan Kleiman of KCRW explores the movie’s lasting effects on the Santa Ynez Valley. Correspondent Tom Wilmer enjoys a conversation with second generation winegrower Austin Hope. Fr. Ian plays with wine. Former KCBX news director Benjamin Purper takes us on a sonic journey through a Central Coast wine harvest.

Peace Love & Pets- ASAP Cats, and the Central Coast Bioneers Conference Sep 17, 2024

On Peace, Love & Pets, host Robin Coleman and Jessica Wiebe, of ASAP Cats, share ideas and information about how we can help homeless cats on the Central Coast live better lives. Also, the upcoming Central Coast Bioneers Conference includes a tour of green energy buildings. Andy Pease of In Balance Green Consulting talks with Carol Tangeman about the Conference and the tour.

Extreme heat, a family history, equitable housing, and the Goleta Pipeline Sep 10, 2024

Extreme heat can be life-threatening for many Californians without air conditioning in their homes, and renters in California can’t force landlords to install air conditioners. Also, California schools must now adjust sports practices and games when it’s too hot outside. KCBX correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Victoria Newhouse and Quince Williams, architectural historians and NYC architects who discuss social equity, architecture and hope for the future of affordable housing in a new book- Housing the Nation. KCBX's Brian Reynolds speaks with author Dianna Jackson about her new book From Beloit to Clark Gable in Three Generations. She traced her great grandfather’s journey across the United States to California’s Central Coast in the mid 1800s. An oil spill in 2015 devastated the Santa Barbara community and its ecosystem. The Pacific Pipeline Company has gotten the okay from the county for a major step toward resuming operations. Rosie Bultman from KCSB-FM on the UC Santa Barbara Campus speaks with Brady Bradshaw of The Center for Biological Diversity.

Local grass fed beef, the CA Cadet Corps., a forgotten Chumash island, and the resilient Bishop pine. Aug 26, 2024

On Playing With Food, Fr. Ian meets a local cattle-woman whose family has been raising grass-fed beef for six generations. Correspondent Tom Wilmer visits with Major Tate Burns, who shares insights about the California Cadet Corps. UC Santa Barbara hosts a nine week course where students team up to create an original documentary about the coast. Finally, we’ll learn about the Bishop pine, which has fashioned its own way of surviving the ages in California.

Precision Construction, Strategic Pet Recovery, and "Whose Waters?" Aug 20, 2024

On today’s Working Lunch, Karl Vaillancourt and Stephanie McDonald of Precision Construction chat with host Jim Dantona of the SLO Chamber about their projects: including the world’s first hyperloop, the first rocket landing facility on the West Coast, and their restoration work on the historic Ahwahnee Hotel. On Peace, Love & Pets, host Robin Coleman and Shawn Dienhart of Strategic Pet Recovery share stories of reuniting lost pets with their owners. We’ll also take a look at the exhibit "Whose Waters?" at the SLO Museum of Art. It combines photography, painting, filmmaking, and more to tell stories about how surf culture affects people of color.

KCBX Special: Central Coast locals remember Woodstock Aug 12, 2024

In mid August of 1969, half a million young people gathered on a farm in New York for the Woodstock Music & Art Festival. Enjoy an hour long trip back in time 55 years to this legendary event. Five years ago, on the 50th anniversary, eight Central Coast listeners who attended the Woodstock Music and Arts Festival shared their experiences. Hear their stories once again, along with the iconic music of those three days of peace, love, mud, and crowds at what became simply known as Woodstock.Listen along as Central Coast locals remember their time at Woodstock: how they got there, their experiences during the festival and how the seminal gathering impacted their lives in the ensuing decades.

Natural disaster resilience and preparedness, Infinite Music, and Resonance choral ensemble Aug 06, 2024

Scott Jalbert, director of the SLO County Offices of Emergency Services, joins KCBX’s Kim Foster in a discussion about how each of us can become more resilient and prepared for natural disasters. On the Nonprofit Story, host Dr. Consuelo Meux focuses on Infinite Music, an educational nonprofit that provides youth, especially those in underserved communities, the chance to experience the transformative power of music through education, appreciation, and performance. The group Resonance has been producing a cappella choral music on the Central Coast since 2012. They join KCBX’s Craig Russell for a conversation and some music ahead of their upcoming performances.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected