Up + Adam with Adam Montiel

********

********

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

Meathead Movers in the Headlines: Aaron Steed Unfiltered on The Fight You Didn’t See Feb 17, 2026

Show notes

What does it feel like when your life’s work is on the line?

In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Aaron Steed, co-founder of Meathead Movers, for a candid conversation about the federal investigation that began in 2017, the lawsuit filed in 2023 by the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the settlement that could total up to $6 million.

But this episode goes far beyond the headline.

Aaron opens up about the emotional weight of years under scrutiny, flying to Washington, D.C. to meet directly with EEOC leadership, fighting to protect the company he started at 17 years old, and what it cost him personally and professionally. He talks about sleepless nights, the impact on his family, the role of jiu jitsu in keeping him grounded, and why he says this was the fight of his life.

Learn more:

• Meathead Movers https://www.meatheadmovers.com

• Meathead Storage https://www.meatheadmovers.com/storage

• Lumina Alliance https://luminaalliance.org

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

From Amadeus to The White Lotus: Oscar Winner F. Murray Abraham Is Up+Adam Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

Academy Award winner F. Murray Abraham joins Adam Montiel on Up+Adam for a short but powerful conversation about legacy, memory, and the emotional heartbeat behind his latest film, Bookends. From his iconic performance in Amadeus to his recent work in The White Lotus, Abraham has built a career exploring the deepest corners of the human condition. In Bookends, he portrays Saul, a Holocaust survivor facing early dementia, in a story that examines generational love, role reversal, and the fragile beauty of memory.

In just six and a half minutes, this intimate conversation touches on aging, artistry, and what it means to be remembered. We also note there were minor audio difficulties during the recording, but the heart of the exchange shines through. Sometimes short and sweet carries the most weight.

Whether you are a film lover, a theater devotee, or someone navigating the shifting roles within your own family, this episode invites you to slow down and reflect on the time we share with the people who shaped us.

Learn more about F. Murray Abraham and Bookends:

• Official Bookends website: https://bookendsthemovie.com/

• F. Murray Abraham on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000719/

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

Don’t Bring Donuts to Buckingham: What Really Happens Behind the Palace Curtains with Omid Scobie & Robin Benway Feb 12, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Up+Adam, broadcaster Adam Montiel sits down with Omid Scobie and Robin Benway, two powerhouse authors who’ve teamed up to deliver Royal Spin, a sharply funny, satirical, and wildly entertaining look at life behind palace walls.

Scobie, known for his fearless royal reporting (Finding Freedom, Endgame), brings over a decade of frontline journalism into his first work of fiction. Benway, a National Book Award winner and beloved voice in YA literature, joins forces with Scobie to tell the story of Lauren Morgan, a young American politico dropped into the chaos of Buckingham Palace PR just as the monarchy is mid-scandal.

Together, they reveal the real-life inspirations behind the fiction, the chemistry of co-writing, and how the press-palace dance is messier and more human than you think. Whether you're a royal watcher, a fiction lover, or just into juicy behind-the-scenes intel, this convo hits.

• Grab Royal Spin here: https://www.amazon.com/Royal-Spin-Novel-Omid-Scobie/dp/0063424800

• Follow Omid on Instagram: @scobiesnaps

• Follow Robin on Instagram: @robinbenway

Rate, review, and share the show with someone who needs this episode in their life, and don’t forget to subscribe to stay Up+Adam.

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

Sip Happens for Locals Only: Act Now #PasoWineFest Feb 11, 2026

Show notes

Paso Wine Fest is back May 15 through 17, and if you live in San Luis Obispo County, your moment is now.

On this episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with Krista Smith, Marketing and Communications Director for Paso Wine, to talk about the return of Paso Wine Fest and the limited-time Locals Only ticket pricing that’s turning heads. SLO County residents can purchase $99 General Admission tickets for the Grand Tasting before prices climb to $165 and eventually $175. It is Paso Wine’s way of saying thank you to the community that lives and works here.

But this weekend is more than just a tasting. We are talking about 100 plus wineries pouring under one roof at the Paso Robles Event Center, interactive brand activations, chef-driven culinary bites, winery-hosted dinners, Paired Paso’s food and wine competition, and Sparkling Paso brunch to close it all out. It is a full transformation of the space and a celebration of what makes Paso Wine Country one of the most exciting regions in California right now.

Krista also shares insight into the evolution of the festival, the culture of collaboration among Paso wineries, and the growing national attention the region continues to attract. If you love wine, community, or simply watching a region rise together, this conversation is for you.

• Locals Only tickets must be purchased in person with proof of SLO County residency

• Available at the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce and San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce

• Offer valid through February 28

Learn more and view the full schedule at:

https://pasowine.com

Follow Paso Wine for updates:

https://www.instagram.com/pasowine

https://www.facebook.com/PasoWine

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

• Sign up for Casey’s FREE singles database here

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

No Swipes, Just Sparks: Off the Apps and Into a Local Match w/ Casey Galli Feb 10, 2026

Show notes

If dating apps feel like a desert, you’re not alone. In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with professional matchmaker Casey Galli, founder of Found Matchmaking, to talk about why modern dating feels broken and what can actually help fix it.

From dating app burnout to why even attractive, successful singles are struggling to get matches, Casey brings real talk and real solutions. She shares who’s using her service, who’s struggling the most to connect, and how her process is helping people of all ages find real chemistry again, no swiping required.

We also dig into what’s different about love on the Central Coast, how regional matchmaking works, and why people are craving in-person connections now more than ever.

Whether you're single, dating, or just fascinated by the wild world of modern romance, this episode is packed with insights, “aha” moments, and even a little hope.

• Learn more at: foundmatchmaking.com

• Follow Casey on Instagram: @foundmatchmaking

• Use promo code ADAM50 for 50 percent off her next singles event (THIS THUR) at Region SLO

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

How to Think Like a Champion, Even If You’re Not in the NFL #DRIVE Feb 09, 2026

Show notes

When was the last time a seminar actually changed your life?

On today’s episode of Up+Adam, I sit down with Amanda Wittstrom Higgins, Central Coast leader, community builder, and the creator of DRIVE, a half-day professional development experience that doesn’t just hype you up. It hands you the tools to execute. No fluff. No filler. Just a proven roadmap to clarity, accountability, and real results.

We talk about why so many "rah-rah" events fall flat, how DRIVE flips the script with tactical action and a 90 percent success rate, and why this isn’t just for wine industry folks. From NFL speakers like Bear Pascoe to college rodeo coaches and nonprofit execs, if you're ready to stop spinning your wheels and finally move the needle, this one is for you.

Whether you’re in wine, education, entrepreneurship, or just trying to find your next gear, this episode will make you want to get out of your own way and start showing up with purpose.

• Learn more and register for DRIVE 2026: https://www.fullcupsolutions.com/fullcupsolutionscom/drive

• Follow Amanda’s nonprofit: https://www.dreambigdarling.org

• Explore Full Cup Solutions: https://www.fullcupsolutions.com

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

https://www.instagram.com/zootoyouanimals/

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

The Rescue Zoo That Rescued Us #ZooToYou Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

In Part 1, we met the animals. In Part 2, we meet the why.

David and Lisa Jackson of Zoo to You are back for the second half of this unforgettable conversation, recorded live at the LoBro Studio in San Luis Obispo. If you thought holding a baby kangaroo was cool, wait until you hear what it means to actually connect with one. This episode takes us beyond the surface into the instincts, body language, and unspoken trust that make human and animal relationships truly powerful.

Whether you are a parent looking to spark curiosity in your kids or just someone craving more awe in your life, this episode offers deep perspective, surprising stories, and one powerful truth. Animals can feel your energy, so what are you putting out into the world?

To learn more, book your own encounter, or stay overnight inside their rescue zoo:

https://www.zootoyou.org

This conversation was recorded at LoBro Studio in San Luis Obispo. If you enjoyed it, leave a review, follow the show, and share this with someone who needs a little wild in their life.

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO

https://www.instagram.com/zootoyouanimals/

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

Monkey Business and Kangaroo Calm with Zoo to You! Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

What happens when a spider monkey, an armadillo, and a baby kangaroo walk into the LoBro Studio? You get one of the wildest, most heartfelt conversations ever to hit Up+Adam.

In this special two part episode, Adam welcomes David and Lisa Jackson, the powerhouse duo behind Zoo to You, a nonprofit rescue zoo based in Paso Robles that has been connecting humans with animals for over 36 years. From training marine mammals for the Navy to working alongside Jack Hanna and even bringing animals to The Tonight Show, these two have stories that will floor you. More than that, they have built something deeply meaningful. An animal experience that is as much about the heart as it is about the habitat.

Whether you are an animal lover, a parent, an educator, or just someone who believes in connection, this episode will move you.

• Want to meet a capybara

• Pet a porcupine

• Sip wine under the stars while kangaroos graze nearby

Book your own private encounter or overnight stay here:

https://www.zootoyou.org

This episode of Up+Adam was recorded live at the LoBro Studio in Paso Robles.

If you loved this conversation, leave a review, share the episode, and send it to the animal lover in your life.

********

Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:

Official Website: adammontiel.com
Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

********

********

*********

Life Elements

City of SLO