Fresno's Best

Elizabeth Camarena and Linda Renland, People on the Move Film Series

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 09 Oct 2026 17:12:46 +0000

How do you change the way a community talks about immigration? Elizabeth Camarena and Linda Renland think one answer is a great documentary with a side of pupusas.

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan talks with two founders of the People On The Move Film Series. It’s a volunteer-run series that screens films about migration in Fresno and pairs each one with a panel and food. Elizabeth is a longtime immigration attorney who represented asylum seekers. Linda is a Norwegian-born migrant who has worked with refugees and immigrants across the Central Valley. They share:

How the series started after a Maria Hinojosa talk at the Tower Theatre, just before the 2024 election, and grew into a first screening of All We Carry in January 2025 that drew more than 200 people
Why they choose films that move past the simple “trauma to rescue” storyline, from the Afghan-refugee comedy Fremont to documentaries where the subjects help tell their own stories
What film offers that books don’t: hearing people’s own voices, sharing the experience with a room full of neighbors, and having something in common to talk about afterward
Their favorite places to eat in Fresno

Next screening: Mujer Mariposa, a documentary about three daughters of refugees and immigrants caught between cultures, languages, and generations. It’s on Wednesday, October 22, at Fresno City College. Doors open at 5:30 PM with food (pupusas, lumpia, and samosas), and the film starts at 6:00 PM. Afterward there’s a panel with the director, the cinematographer, and one of the women in the film, moderated by Dr. Kat Fortier of Fresno State. The event is free, with free parking, and all ages are welcome. Reserve tickets on Eventbrite and follow @peopleonthemovefilmseries on Instagram.

Alexa Teal Green, Director of Engagement and Events at KVPR

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 22:03:31 +0000

Alexa Teal Green grew up in Fresno, left for UC Irvine, and spent nearly a decade in Los Angeles and the Bay Area working in comedy, tech marketing, and corporate events before COVID brought her home. Now she leads events and engagement at KVPR. She and Jordan talk about:

coming back to Fresno and bringing corporate skills to smaller organizations
what engagement really means
how to measure success beyond clicks and RSVPs
why "copy and paste" events from bigger markets fall flat here
free versus paid events, with lessons from booking bands at Goldstein's
Porchfest's risks, boundaries, and future

KVPR is holding an open house on Tuesday, October 6, from 5 to 7 PM at its Clovis broadcast center, celebrating 10 years in a building funded entirely by supporter donations. Admission is free, and there will be food trucks, studio tours, and the chance to meet the on-air voices.

Vince Mancini, The Future of Fresno's Food Journalism

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 16:30:55 +0000

Vince Mancini is back on Fresno's Best to talk about food.

Vince has been covering food for Fresnoland, and his reporting on Bulle, the city's buzzy new fine-dining spot, set off one of the more heated local food fights in recent memory. He went in to write a review, liked the food, and then started hearing from employees about bounced paychecks and unpaid vendors. The pushback that followed raises the question at the center of this episode: does "backing Fresno" mean staying quiet when a local business goes wrong? We dig into a widely shared post arguing that critics should give struggling businesses room to make things right, and ask who's left out of that argument, starting with the workers.

We also get into:

Whether food influencers are really just unlabeled ad agencies, and why they all have to chew directly at the camera
Why chasing "the best" is ruining restaurants, and the case that a great burger stops being a burger
The gutting The Fresno Bee and what's left of local reporting
The different economies in the comment secitons
Rotten Tomatoes, review slop, and why reviews need real voices again

Jeff Hammerschmidt, Criminal Defense Attorney and Candidate for Fresno County Superior Court Judge

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 18:39:29 +0000

Judicial elections are some of the hardest races to vote in — nonpartisan, low-information, and easy to skip. In this episode, Jordan Mattox sits down with Jeff Hammerschmidt, a candidate for Fresno County Superior Court judge, to cut through that and get at how he actually thinks.

A former Fresno DA prosecutor turned criminal defense attorney, Jeff brings experience from nearly every seat in the courtroom. Jordan and Jeff dig into what really separates a superior court judge from the law-making justices we see on TV, why a consistent temperament matters more than any single courtroom style, and what "following the law" means in the fact-specific, human moments where a judge still has real discretion.

Along the way: judicial and mental health diversion, juvenile justice and Prop 57, court backlogs and respecting people's time, the judges who shaped his sense of the craft, and a few stories from the DA's office that reveal how he weighs a close call. Plus the usual — his favorite Fresno spots and a couple of book recommendations to send you off.

This is also a companion to our conversation with Jeff's opponent, Jose Salazar — listen to both to hear how the two candidates approach the same questions and decide for yourself which one fits the bench you want.

To learn more about the candidate, search "Jeff Hammerschmidt for Judge."

Wayne Stonecipher, Founder of Central California Tiki

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 20:20:48 +0000

There's no tiki bar in Fresno — yet — but there's a thriving tiki community, and Wayne Stonecipher was instrumental in building it. Wayne is the founder of Central California Tiki, the group he started around 2018 that has grown from four friends making drinks out of the Smuggler's Cove book into a community of well over a thousand members celebrating "tiki escapism" across Central California, from the Grapevine to the Delta. The group hosts meetups throughout the valley and puts on the Central California Tiki Marketplace beside Bakersfield's Tiki-Ko and The Sinking Ship, drawing dozens of carvers, artists, and vendors from all over California.

In this episode, host and Wayne cover the origins of tiki culture (Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic, and the secret numbered rum recipes), the difference between celebration and appropriation, what actually defines a tiki cocktail, the great Mai Tai and Painkiller debates, how to design a transporting home bar, and a fast round of tiki "overrated vs. underrated." They also dig into what a distinctly Central Valley tiki scene could look like — think "tree to glass" cocktails built on the region's incredible citrus and agriculture — plus Wayne's essential book recommendations and a tease about the tiki bar finally coming to Fresno.

Find Central California Tiki at centralcaliforniatiki.com and on Instagram and Facebook @centralcaliforniatiki.

Jose Salazar, Candidate for Fresno County Superior Court Judge and Senior Defense Attorney

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 07 Sep 2026 22:00:00 +0000

Jordan Mattox sits down with Jose Salazar, a senior defense attorney on the major crimes team at the Fresno County Public Defender's Office and a candidate for Fresno County Superior Court judge. Born and raised in Sanger in a family of immigrants, Jose traces his path from Central Valley high school football and debate to Berkeley, UC Hastings law school, and over a decade defending some of the most serious cases in Fresno Superior Court.

The conversation ranges widely: why people are drawn to public defense, what voters should actually look for in a judicial candidate, and how a trial judge balances applying the law, exercising discretion, and managing a courtroom. Jordan and Jose dig into the mechanics of California's elected judiciary, court backlogs and the resources problem behind them, continuances and plea deals, juvenile justice and adolescent brain development, homelessness, and judicial temperament. Jose also lays out the one issue he says sets him apart — his public-policy stance on ICE agents in the courthouse — framing it as a matter of public safety, court access, and fairness for the underserved communities that built the Central Valley.

The episode closes with Jose's case for why he's the right candidate, a nod to fatherhood and family (including the story behind his youngest son's middle name), and his book recommendations: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee and In Cold Blood by Truman Capote.

Jose's campaign fundraiser is Wednesday, September 9th, from 5:30 to 7:30 at Sumner Fox Brewery in the Tower District — all ages welcome. You can find him on Instagram and Facebook at JoseSalazarForJudge, or at joseSalazarForJudge.com. Election Day is November 3rd.

Meahgan McCready, Aerial Performer and Instructor and Adjunct Psychology Professor

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 21 Aug 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Meaghan McCready spends half her life suspended in the air and the other half at the front of a psychology classroom — and on this episode she makes the case that the two aren't as far apart as they seem.

Host Jordan Mattox talks with Meaghan about her path into aerial arts, from a spur-of-the-moment sign-up at Fulton 55 to a decade of teaching silks, sling, and lyra at her downtown studio. They dig into the mechanics and myths of the "art sport": just how much you can trust a strip of nylon, why the muscles that matter most aren't the ones you'd guess, the burns and bruises that come with the territory, and how social media and body-type expectations have reshaped the craft. Meaghan also opens up about how aerial — and the trust it demands — helped carry her through her own struggles with depression.

On the psychology side, they get into the messy state of the field today: wellness influencers, self-diagnosis, ChatGPT as a stand-in therapist, and the grind of adjunct life across three Valley colleges. Plus a round of Overrated or Underrated, a detour through downtown Fresno and the Tower District, and a couple of closing book recommendations.

Curious about trying aerial yourself? Meaghan teaches at the Sun Stereo Warehouse in downtown Fresno and performs with Central Valley Cirque.

Books mentioned:

The Science of Revenge by James Kimmel Jr.
The Unthinkable: Who Survives When Disaster Strikes—and Why by Amanda Ripley

Cactus Harris, Organist, Keyboardist, Educator, and Dean of San Joaquin Valley chapter of the American Guild of Organists

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 10 Aug 2026 17:11:19 +0000

Organist, conductor, and educator Cactus Harris joins Jordan to make the case that the pipe organ is anything but boring. From teaching himself accordion out of his mother's closet to commanding the 1928 Robert Morton theater organ at Warnors, Cactus traces a winding path through saxophone, keyboards, and a master's in conducting. He and Jordan dig into the instrument's unexpected origins, the misconceptions that keep people away, and why he believes there's a far bigger audience for the organ in Fresno than most people assume.

In this episode

Cactus and Jordan open with the best hole-in-the-wall food out by Fresno State before getting into the accordion's underrated versatility, the surprisingly rowdy battlefield origins of the pipe organ, and how it migrated into churches and later silent-film theaters. They cover organ technique and the notorious "octopus" coordination it demands, the terraced versus swell dynamics of different instruments, and a spirited round of overrated versus underrated (harpsichord, Wayne Newton, Me-n-Ed's crust, and more). From there the conversation turns to the Robert Morton organ at Warnors — what makes it special, what a museum-quality restoration would cost, and Cactus's vision for bringing new audiences in — before closing on arts funding, Measure P, and the challenge of defining what art is worth funding in Fresno.

Book recommendations

Liza with a Z / Liza Minnelli's recent memoir (co-created with Michael Feinstein) — a fun read for anyone into Broadway and show-biz history
The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis — a summer re-read Cactus is working through with his kids

Nav Gurm, Candidate for Fresno City Council District 7

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 26 May 2026 17:34:37 +0000

District 7 City Council candidate Nav Gurm joins Jordan to make his case ahead of the June 2nd election. A UCLA and UC Davis Law grad who returned home to Fresno against the brain drain trend, Nav lays out his vision for housing, homelessness, public safety, economic development, and city hall culture.

The conversation covers his all-of-the-above approach to the housing crisis and what revitalizing the Blackstone Corridor and Manchester Mall would actually take, his plan to launch a District 7 project review committee in his first 100 days, why he supports the anti-camping ordinance but wants major reforms and stronger county collaboration, how to bring down 911 response times and invest in preventative public safety tools, and why small businesses deserve the same red-carpet treatment from City Hall that big employers get. Nav also explains why he opposes taxpayer-funded soccer stadiums, points to Los Angeles and San Jose as models for budget transparency and policy outcome tracking, and addresses head-on the critique that at 26, he's too young for the job.

Plus, his favorite vegetarian spots around town, why he recommends Ezra Klein's Abundance, and a final get-out-the-vote push with voting center locations across Fresno.

Election Day: Tuesday, June 2nd. Learn more at @NavForFresno.

Book Recommendation:

Abundance Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson

Naindeep Singh, Candidate for Fresno City Council District One

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 15 May 2026 20:44:17 +0000

Naindeep Singh is running for Fresno City Council in District 1, and he's framing this race as a question of insider versus outsider — a contest of values and integrity rather than the old red-versus-blue divide.

Jordan sits down with Deep to talk about what it's actually like to run for council in Fresno, the trade-offs of the district voting structure, and the critique that community organizers struggle to govern the people they used to organize against. They dig into the West Fresno sidewalk problem and Deep's pitch for a dedicated city fund matched by the county; the parking conversation nobody's having about Tower; how the city could be a partner instead of a hindrance to events like Porchfest; vacant buildings and the missing middle in commercial real estate; and historic preservation through a Strong Towns lens.

On the citywide side: Fresno's strong-mayor system and the absence of checks and balances on Mayor Dyer, why Deep opposes SEDA and what smart growth looks like instead, capping utility rate hikes (trash is already up 80% in five years), whether the city should take on its own public health services, and how to think about the FPD budget when non-emergency calls are going unanswered.

Stick around for overrated/underrated — yard signs, Me-N-Ed's, the 180 Freeway, the Tower Theatre, door knocking, and public comment — plus Deep's current reading list and where to find the campaign.

Find Deep: @Deep4Fresno on Instagram • Text 559-647-4700

Upcoming events: Ice cream socials at Inspiration Park (this weekend, 4–6 PM) • Final District 1 candidate forum at Big Red Church, Monday May 18 at 6 PM.

Book Recommendations

Days of Love and Rage: A Story of Ordinary People Forging a Revolution Anand Gopal

No Good Men Among the Living: America, the Taliban, and the War through Afghan Eyes Anand Gopal

California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric — and What It Means for America's Power Grid Katherine Blunt

Arbitrary Lines: How Zoning Broke the American City and How to Fix It M. Nolan Gray

Fernando Macias, GM and Creative Director of Eden Wine Lounge

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 07 May 2026 20:55:01 +0000

On this episode of Fresno's Best, Jordan sits down with Fernando Macias, the General Manager and Creative Director of the Eden Wine Lounge, to talk about why Fresno's nightlife has been missing somewhere you can actually hear the person across from you. Fernando opens up about the philosophy behind Eden: dim, neo-soul-soundtracked, intentionally conversational, and built as a juxtaposition between elevated ambiance and dive-bar comfort. Along the way, he and Jordan dig into the economics of pouring wine, why Eden pivoted away from imports toward Napa, Paso, and local Central Valley producers, the surprising rise of their cocktail program, and the art of building a charcuterie board people actually photograph. Fernando also weighs in on a rapid-fire Overrated vs. Underrated round (listening bars, Me and Ed's, wine influencers, kegged wine, sommelier certifications, QR-code menus, THC drinks, and the death of the cork), and previews what's coming next at Eden — a new rum-forward May cocktail menu, micheladas, jazz nights, expanded patio seating, and the eventual transition to a full bar.

Eden Wine Lounge Website

Recommended Books:

The Creative Act: A Way of Being Rick Rubin

Anything by Hunter S Thompson

Gilbert Quesada, Executive Director of Operations at PM Lounge

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 20:16:07 +0000

In February, Gilbert Quesada opened the PM Lounge — Fresno's first private business and social club — on a bet that the city has a higher-end hospitality appetite nobody's been serving. This week, Jordan is joined by special guest co-host Vince Mancini to sit down with Gilbert inside one of the club's private suites and talk through what it takes to build something like this here, and what it might mean for the rest of Fresno.

The conversation covers the real difference between a social club and a country club, why the PM Lounge skipped initiation fees and F&B minimums, how Forbes-level training actually works (all 960+ criteria of it), and Gilbert's vision for a menu that moves between Fresno steakhouse roots, French and Italian technique, and a rotating cast of visiting chefs. Along the way: Macallan dinners, Shaq's oversized DJ rig, the fight against Fresno's brain drain, and Gilbert's vision for the future of the city.

Sandra Celedon, Candidate for California Assembly District 31

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 20:44:01 +0000

Sandra Celedon is the President and CEO of Fresno Building Healthy Communities and a lifelong resident of California Assembly District 31. The daughter of Mexican immigrants who began their lives in the U.S. as farm workers, she grew up in Calwa, graduated from Roosevelt High, and earned her public health degree at Fresno State. Over more than two decades in public health and community organizing, she has led the coalition behind Measure P, helped secure $70 million to build the first community college campus in West Fresno, served on the city's Commission on Police Reform, and worked on clinic construction, clean air, and transportation policy across the Central Valley.

In June 2026, Sandra is on the ballot for California State Assembly District 31.

In this episode, Jordan talks with Sandra about what moved her to run after more than twenty years outside electoral politics and how she thinks about coalition-building as a state-level skillset. From there, the conversation moves into policy: Fresno's 2014 General Plan and why she says the problem is enforcement, not the plan itself; the Valley Air District's gap between education and real accountability; the Better Roads Safe Streets Initiative that recently filed 32,000 signatures to succeed Measure C; her time on the Commission on Police Reform and the forty-one recommendations that were never implemented; and healthcare, where she makes a specific case for auditing the $5 billion that California's nonprofit hospitals self-report as "community benefit" every year.

Learn more about Sandra's campaign at sandraceledon.com. California primary: June 2, 2026.

Book Recommendations:

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

Unrig the Game: What Women of Color Can Teach Everyone About Winning by Vanessa Priya Daniel

Deidre Adams and Rosalina Nunez, Candidate for Fresno County Judge

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 18:12:49 +0000

Seven seats are open on the Fresno County Superior Court bench this June — the largest judicial shakeup in recent memory for a system that touches almost every resident, usually on their worst day. Jordan sits down with two of the candidates running for Seat 6: Rosalina Nunez, a 16-year family and civil attorney whose path into law began as a second-grader in immigration court during the Reagan amnesty era, and Deidre Adams, a deputy public defender on Fresno County's Major Crimes team who decided to become a lawyer at age nine, after reading the police report of her father's death.

The conversation moves past campaign talking points and into the texture of the job itself: what trial judges actually do versus what television depicts, the role of empathy in sentencing, Prop 36 and the mental health placement crunch, the flagging of Fresno County's care courts, the bumpy eCourt rollout, the quiet interpreter crisis hitting smaller language communities, AI-generated case law showing up in real motions, and the philosophical tension between rehabilitation and accountability when someone has failed treatment more than once. Both candidates weigh in on pretrial detention, juvenile sentencing, court backlogs, and why representation on the bench matters in a county as diverse as Fresno.

Plus: the best tater tots in downtown Fresno, Deidre's systematic march through every meal of the day, and book recommendations from Bruce Springsteen to Ketanji Brown Jackson to The Alchemist.

Election Day is June 2nd. The judge races sit at the very bottom of the ballot.

Books recommended:

Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen

Lovely One: A Memoir by Ketanji Brown Jackson

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Minkah Taharkah, Multidisciplinary Artist, Land Steward, and Environmental Justice Advocate

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 16:08:10 +0000

In this episode, Jordan sits down with Minkah Taharkah — multidisciplinary artist, land steward, and coordinator for the California Farmer Justice Collaborative — for a wide-ranging conversation about food, equity, and what it means to put down roots in Fresno.

Minkah traces her relationship with ecology from her childhood on Crenshaw Boulevard, where she watched the city cut down a boulevard full of trees to make way for the Space Shuttle, to her years farming with Black Earth Farms in the Bay Area, to her current work supporting BIPOC growers across California. Along the way, she and Jordan dig into the real barriers to agricultural equity — from a farmer driving refrigerated produce from Fresno to San Francisco each week just to make ends meet, to the challenge of getting small farms the marketing support they need to sell local.

They also get into it on permaculture and regenerative agriculture (and why the definitions matter more than people think), the spirituality of planting a seed and trusting it to grow, and what happened when the city of Fresno sent Minkah a complaint about her front yard garden — which she promptly got certified as an official wildlife habitat.

Links

Books recommended:

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Collective Courage: A History of African American Cooperative Economic Thought and Practice by Jessica Gordon Nembhard

Maria Pacheco, Mayor of Kerman and Candidate for Fresno County Supervisor District 1

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 21:34:18 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Kerman Mayor Maria Pacheco, who is now running for Fresno County Supervisor, District 1. Drawing from her lived experience growing up in poverty, raising children as a young parent, and navigating social services firsthand, Pacheco offers a deeply personal perspective on the systems that shape life in the Central Valley.

The conversation moves from education and mental health to housing, homelessness, and the challenges facing rural communities like Kerman. Pacheco makes a case for rethinking how the county invests in social services—especially mental health care—and argues that real change begins by listening to the people most affected by policy decisions. She also reflects on her time as mayor, the realities of rural infrastructure and transportation, and what it would mean to bring a more community-centered voice to county government.

Maria's County Supervisor Campaign Website

Books:

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by Erika L. Sánchez

For Brown Girls with Sharp Edges and Tender Hearts by Prisca Dorcas Mojica Rodríguez

Ariana Martinez-Lott, Community Organizer and Candidate for Fresno City Council District 7

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 20 Mar 2026 17:29:49 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan Mattox sits down with Ariana Martinez-Lott—community organizer, District 7 city council candidate, and longtime advocate for neighborhood-driven change.

Ariana shares how her background in child development, her family’s immigrant experience, and her early exposure to disability through her brother shaped the way she understands systems, culture, and community. The conversation explores the tension between science and culture in public-facing work, and how organizers can better “translate” across those divides.

They dive deep into Fresno-specific issues, including:

The unique challenges of representing District 7’s complex and fragmented geography
A vision for Manchester Mall and the Blackstone corridor
The role of Fresno City College as a community anchor
Parks, Measure P, and the realities of implementation and accountability
Transparency, media fragmentation, and civic engagement in Fresno

Jordan and Ariana also explore what makes an effective city council member—from project management to neighborhood-level civic engagement—and how the culture of City Hall could shift toward greater responsiveness and trust.

Plus, a lively Overrated vs. Underrated segment covering everything from protected bike lanes to faith-based organizing to burritos.

This episode is ultimately about what it looks like to move from frustration with systems to building new ones—starting one conversation, and one neighborhood, at a time.

Books:

Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Shaping Worlds adrienne maree brown

Homegoing Yaa Gyasi

One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel García Márquez

Zach Ocegueda, High School Tennis Coach and Private Instructor

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 17:46:02 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan Mattox sits down with tennis coach Zach Ocegueda for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of tennis in Fresno and what it takes to grow as a player. Zach shares his coaching philosophy, emphasizing accessibility, repetition, and building confidence in athletes of all ages—arguing that anyone can become a great tennis player with the right mindset and practice.

The conversation explores key debates in youth sports, including specialization vs. multi-sport development, the role of mental toughness, and how to recognize and overcome performance plateaus. Zach also offers practical insights on equipment, training routines, and injury prevention, while highlighting Fresno’s underrated tennis scene and the importance of community courts like Roeding Park. The episode wraps with a fun “Overrated vs. Underrated” segment and a glimpse into Zach’s journey as a young coach finding his voice and leadership style on the court.

Miguel Arambula, Executive Director of the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative and Co-Owner of Moses McQueens

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 16:57:11 +0000

Fresno’s Best host Jordan Mattox sits down with Miguel Arámbula, executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative, for a wide-ranging conversation about housing, entrepreneurship, and the future of downtown Fresno.

Miguel shares how his early experience rehabbing homes and working in community development led him into housing policy, and why he believes the Central Valley needs a stronger regional voice when competing for state housing resources. The conversation explores the complexity of housing—from land use regulations and financing to the cultural narratives around suburban development—and why increasing housing supply remains one of the most important factors in addressing affordability.

The second half of the episode turns to Miguel’s entrepreneurial projects in downtown Fresno. He discusses the origin story of Moses McQueen’s, a new bar he co-owns near the stadium and brewery district, and the long process of renovating a historic building and navigating the challenges of financing and development. Miguel also talks about launching a neighborhood farmers market in Tower District and why small, walkable gathering spaces are essential for vibrant communities.

San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative

Moses McQueens

Books:

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World Ian McGilchrist

On the Aesthetic Education of Man Friedrich Schiller

Linda Furnas, President of the Fresno County University of California Master Gardener Advisory Board

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 05 Mar 2026 18:05:45 +0000

Gardening is one of the most practical ways to reconnect with the land we live on—and in a place like Fresno, where climate, water, and ecology are constant topics of conversation, it can also be a civic act. In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Linda Furnas, President of the Fresno County University of California Master Gardener Advisory Board and a member of the Board of the Master Gardener Association of Fresno County, to explore what it means to garden responsibly in the Central Valley.

Linda explains what distinguishes a Master Gardener from a typical backyard enthusiast: certification through the University of California Cooperative Extension and a commitment to sharing science-based, environmentally responsible gardening knowledge with the community. From answering questions on the Master Gardener helpline to organizing community classes and managing demonstration gardens like the Garden of the Sun, the program blends education, environmental stewardship, applied science, and volunteer service.

The conversation ranges widely—from soil health and composting to pollinator gardens, lawn culture in Fresno, and the philosophy of how much control we should exercise over our landscapes. Linda also weighs in during a rapid-fire “overrated vs. underrated” segment, tackling topics like front lawns, heirloom vegetables, rain barrels, artificial turf, and more.

Along the way, Jordan and Linda discuss how gardens shape a city’s identity, why green space matters for Fresno’s future, and how small decisions in our yards can affect water use, biodiversity, and the overall health of our community.

If you’ve ever wondered how to start gardening in Fresno—or how to do it better—this episode offers practical insights from someone helping lead one of the region’s most important gardening education programs.

Fresno Master Gardeners Website

Books:

The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood

The Sunset Western Garden Book Editors of Sunset Magazine

The Antidote: A Novel Karen Russell

Francisco E. Alvarez, President and Senior Instructor at Tai Chi Center of Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:25:18 +0000

On this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan Mattox sits down with Tai Chi instructor Francisco E. Alvarez to explore the discipline, philosophy, and lineage behind one of Fresno’s longstanding martial arts communities.

Inspired as a child by Bruce Lee’s appearance in The Green Hornet, Francisco began training in different martial arts, building a foundation of discipline that eventually led him toward the internal arts. In 1995, he began formal study at the Tai Chi Center of Fresno, later apprenticing and becoming an instructor. Today, he serves as President of the nonprofit and senior instructor, teaching the 37-movement Yang-style form of Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing with a commitment to preserving its integrity and lineage.

In this conversation, Jordan and Francisco discuss the difference between external and internal martial arts, the philosophy embedded within Tai Chi practice, and how traditional forms continue to shape modern lives here in Fresno. This episode is about patience, mastery, community, and the quiet power of long-term discipline.

Tai Chi Fresno Website

Books Recommended:

Tao Te Ching Lao Tzu

T'ai Chi The Supreme Ultimate Excercise for Health, Sport and Self-Defense Cheng Man-ch'ing

Ian Ashby, Certified Master Arborist and Consultant

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 21:37:26 +0000

Today we’re talking about something that quietly shapes our daily lives in Fresno—our trees. From the ones lining our streets and shading our homes to the big, aging oaks that define entire neighborhoods, trees are one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of our city.

My guest today is Ian Ashby, a board-certified master arborist and consulting arborist based here in Fresno. Ian helps homeowners, cities, insurance companies, and even attorneys understand what’s actually happening with their trees—when they’re healthy, when they’re under stress, and when well-intentioned care can actually make things worse.

We talk about everything from hot pot restaurants and Ethiopian food to drought stress, pruning myths, urban canopy planning, soil compaction, mulching mistakes, and why Fresno’s trees so often suffer at the hands of bad trimming practices. If you’ve ever wondered why your tree looks sick, why topping is such a bad idea, or how Fresno could rethink its urban forest for a hotter future, this conversation is for you.

Evan Nebeker, Event Organizer, Co-Founder of Grizzly Fest, and Founder of Grand Rising Sober Parties

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 17:04:29 +0000

What does it really take to build community in Fresno — and why does alcohol sit at the center of so many of our public spaces?

On this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Evan, entrepreneur and founder of Grizzly Fest, to talk about food, festivals, sobriety, and the hidden structures that shape life in the city. Evan shares why The Mad Duck remains his go-to Fresno restaurant.

The conversation digs deep into the rise and fall of Grizzly Fest, the politics of noise complaints, downtown development, and why Fresno struggles to support long-term cultural projects. From there, the episode pivots to Evan’s current work with Grand Rising, a daytime, sober community event that blends music, movement, wellness, and social connection — and challenges the idea that alcohol is necessary for people to gather.

Along the way, Jordan and Evan explore:

Why younger generations are drinking less — and what that means for restaurants and events
The economics of alcohol, mocktails, and sober nightlife
Weed culture, potency, and the shift from “event” use to everyday ambient use
Overrated vs. underrated
Why Fresno may be leaving money — and cultural energy — on the table by making events so hard to produce

The episode closes with a look ahead to the next Grand Rising event and a reflection on what Fresno could become if it invested more seriously in public life, creativity, and inclusive community spaces.

Paris Gaines and Dr. Chris Telesmanic, Recover Lab

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 20:07:32 +0000

What does “recovery” actually mean — and why does it matter so much for how we live, move, and age?

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Paris Gaines and Dr. Chris Telesmanic, Doctor of Physical Therapy, from Recover Lab — a Fresno-based recovery and wellness studio focused on personalized, evidence-informed approaches to healing and longevity.

The conversation explores the difference between active and passive recovery, why modern medicine often struggles to individualize care, and how modalities like assisted stretching, infrared saunas, cold plunges, red light therapy, and mobility work fit into a broader picture of health. Dr. Telesmanic breaks down what’s actually happening in the body during inflammation, soreness, and recovery — and why blunting symptoms without understanding them can sometimes do more harm than good.

Jordan also presses on bigger questions: youth sports specialization, injury prevention, flexibility, longevity, and how Fresno schools and communities could better support health through movement and education. Along the way, the group dives into cold plunge science, sauna benefits, sleep, diet, and the psychology of discomfort — plus a rapid-fire “overrated vs. underrated” segment covering everything from hot yoga and sensory deprivation tanks to Fresno pizza and NFL running backs.

This episode is a thoughtful, grounded look at recovery not as a luxury, but as a foundation for a longer, healthier, and more functional life — right here in Fresno.

Recover Lab Website

Luke Hoekstra, Executive Director of the Kings River Land Trust

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 21 Nov 2025 23:29:22 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Luke Hoekstra, Executive Director of the Kings River Land Trust, for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the Central Valley’s most important—and most misunderstood—natural resources. Luke shares his favorite Fresno restaurants, then dives into the true nature of the Kings River: its volatile flows, its complex system of forks and irrigation diversions, and how the river once supported salmon runs all the way to the Pacific. Jordan and Luke unpack flood risks, groundwater recharge, and why river strainers and spring runoff make the Kings so dangerous. From there, they explore what land trusts actually do, how conservation easements work, and why protecting farmland, ranchland, and riparian habitat matters for the region’s long-term environmental and economic health. The conversation also touches on recreation, environmental psychology, balancing human needs with ecological stewardship, the politics of California water, and the practical challenges of restoring rivers in a changing climate. Luke closes with insights into the Kings River Land Trust’s vision, an update on recent conservation projects, and some favorite books and hiking spots.

Donate to Kings River Land Trust

Christopher Reyes, Owner of Clovis We Rock the Spectrum Inclusive Gym

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 00:13:09 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan talks with Christopher, owner of the soon-to-open We Rock the Spectrum inclusive sensory gym in Clovis, beginning with a tour of Fresno’s Filipino food scene—including food-truck favorites and the eternal question of when Fresno will finally get a Jollibee—before diving into what makes an inclusive gym truly inclusive. Christopher explains how his experience raising two children on the autism spectrum motivated him to bring this franchise to the Central Valley, and he describes how sensory-friendly equipment, child-directed play, calming spaces, and a philosophy of belonging shape every decision he’s making as the gym prepares to open. Jordan and Christopher explore some of the biggest questions facing families of kids with disabilities, including balancing structure and freedom, navigating overstimulation, understanding risk, creating opportunities for social connection, and partnering with schools and therapists. Christopher also offers insights on why Fresno needs more inclusive public parks, how “play with purpose” differs from therapy-led play, what parents should expect during a visit, and ways the gym keeps pricing competitive to remain accessible.

Robert Scott, President of Fresno Cactus and Succulent Society

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:31:14 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox talks with Robert Scott, President of the Fresno Cactus and Succulent Society and Caltrans environmental specialist, about the surprising richness of succulents and cacti in the Central Valley. Scott explains how his environmental work informs his love of plants, shares practical tips on caring for and propagating succulents, and discusses the ethics of collecting, the debate over hybrids, and the importance of drought-tolerant landscaping in California. Together, they explore how Fresno’s plant enthusiasts are cultivating both sustainability and community.

Fresno Cactus and Succulent Society Website

Mona Cummings, CEO of Tree Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 22:12:09 +0000

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Mona Cummings, CEO and Director of Tree Fresno. Mona shares her fascinating journey from serving in the Peace Corps on islands off the coast of Africa to leading international forestry projects in Mozambique, and how those experiences shaped her approach to community work in Fresno. The conversation dives into the role of trees in urban life—from cooling neighborhoods and improving air quality to the deep inequities reflected in canopy cover across the city. Along the way, Mona reflects on the power of storytelling and data in nonprofit fundraising, the cultural meanings of trees, and the importance of engaging communities in building greener, healthier neighborhoods. Whether you’re passionate about the environment, local equity, or just love Fresno, this episode will leave you looking at the city’s trees in a whole new way.

Jordyn Houseworth, Love on Tap Speed Dating

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 18:05:50 +0000

In this episode, Jordan sits down with Jordyn Houseworth, the creative force behind Love On Tap, a unique singles experience bringing speed dating to breweries and venues across California. They dive into the ins and outs of modern romance—how dating apps are changing the game, why in-person connection still matters, and what it takes to organize a successful speed dating event in today’s world.

Book Recommendation:

I'm Glad My Mom Died Jennette McCurdy

Crystal Uyeno and Nayantara Rodrigues, Rooted Heart Yoga

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 00:05:18 +0000

Today we have Crystal Uyeno and Nayantara Rodrigues on the show. They're the co-founders of Rooted Heart Yoga, a 200-hour, all-levels yoga teacher training located here in Fresno. Between these two amazing women, there is so much knowledge and perspective—not only about yoga, the body, and mental health, but also about the qualities of a good teacher and developing a business-minded approach to fitness.

Rooted Heart Yoga's Website

Stephen Wilson, President and CEO of the Fresno Philharmonic

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 15 May 2025 17:54:13 +0000

Today, we have Stephen Wilson. Stephen is the President and CEO of the Fresno Philharmonic, a gem in our community, and is one of our city's biggest advocates for the arts. Stephen and I had a fantastic conversation covering classical music, of course, but also exploring the arts more broadly. Please enjoy!

Fresno Philharmonic's Website

Books:

Authority and Freedom: A Defense of the Arts Jed Perl

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York Robert Caro

Middlemarch George Eliot

Molly DeFrank, Author of Mothering Boys and Digital Detox

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 12 May 2025 21:55:21 +0000

Today, we have Molly DeFrank on the show. Molly is a mom to six children and the author of two parenting books, Mothering Boys: 8 Things Your Son Needs From You Before He Turns 10, and Digital Detox: The Two-Week Tech Reset for Kids. Before children, Molly worked as a press aide to Governor Schwarzenegger.

Molly's Website

Books:

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness Jonathan Haidt

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

Dustin Hail and Matt Denson, Burning Sun Brewing Company

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 20:54:28 +0000

Today we have another edition of our brewery tour through Fresno and Clovis, and we are going to meet Dustin Hale and Matt Denson, the founders of Burning Sun Brewing Company, right on Clovis Avenue in Clovis, California.

Burning Sun's Mission Statement:

Our mission at Burning Sun Brewing Company is to craft exceptional, high-quality beers that ignite passion and inspire moments of enjoyment. We strive to create a memorable experience for our customers by combining innovative brewing techniques, unique flavors, and a commitment to excellence. Through our craft, we aim to foster a sense of community and connection while leaving a positive impact on the environment and the beer industry.

Burning Sun Brewing Company Website

Books:

How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time John Palmer

The New IPA: Scientific Guide to Hop Aroma and Flavor Scott Janish

Danielle R. Shapazian, Founder and Director of the San Joaquin Valley Bookfest

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 25 Apr 2025 13:46:37 +0000

Danielle R. Shapazian is a registered nurse and writer who lives in Fresno. Her essays have appeared in the Fresno Bee and the Los Angeles Times. She is the founder and director of the San Joaquin Valley Bookfest. We dig into all things books, literary culture, audio vs. print books, keys to hosting events in Fresno, and more.

Bookfest Website

Get (Free) Tickets Here

Books:

Esperanza Rising Pam Muñoz Ryan

Tell Me Everything: A Novel Elizabeth Strout

James Ellett, Pinky's Pizza

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 23 Apr 2025 17:50:21 +0000

Today, we have James Ellett on the show. James is the pizza genius behind Pinky’s Pizza, my favorite place to get pizza in town. We talk about all the mechanics and minutiae of the world of pizza.

Pinky's Hotplate Link

Books:

Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza Ken Forkish

The Pizza Bible: The World's Favorite Pizza Styles, from Neapolitan, Deep-Dish, Wood-Fired, Sicilian, Calzones and Focaccia to New York, New Haven, Detroit, and More Tony Gemignani

The Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch

Tower Porchfest 2025 with Alleha Navarro, Joshua DeFisher, and Jessica Mendrin

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:54:47 +0000

Today, we're gonna be covering my favorite event of the year in Fresno: Tower Porchfest. I have three guests on to tell us more about the event in this particular upcoming Porchfest.

The first one is Jessica Mindren, who's the lead organizer of Porch Fest. We also have Joshua DeFisher who is the social media and merch lead. And then Alleha Navarro, who's a three time Porch Fest host. Each of these individuals offers a different perspective and an interesting insights on what makes Porchfest so incredible.

Tower Porchfest Website

Ruth Soderlund, Artist and Founder of The Artist Mentorship Project

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:22:18 +0000

Today, we have Ruth Soderlund on the show. Ruth is a Fresno artist passionate about building connections within the art community. Her new endeavor, The Artist Mentorship Project kicks off this month, April, 2025. The project aims to link artists of varied skill and professional experience to provide young and emerging artists with support as they pursue their individual career goals.

Ruth hopes that this will be a catalyst to bring some big ideas to life, drawing attention and economic growth to the art made here in Fresno. This was a wonderful conversation. Ruth and I are aligned on so many of our goals for Fresno, and I know you'll love her.

The Artist Mentorship Program

Books:

Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver

Art Is Life: Icons and Iconoclasts, Visionaries and Vigilantes, and Flashes of Hope in the Night Jerry Saltz

Dana Pellerin, Owner of South of Shaw Beer Company

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 21:37:00 +0000

Today we have Dana Pellerin on the show. Dana is the owner of South of Shaw Beer Company in downtown Fresno, California on Broadway Street. Not only do they have great beer, but they also have some of my favorite pizza in town.

South of Shaw is one of the places that I love to hang out at. If you're there on a Friday night, there's a high probability you'll see me. It's become kind of institution of downtown, and I wanted to understand the culture and the concept behind it. And I asked Dana to come on to talk about his history, talk about his understandings of beer making, and the big world of pizza.

Books:

Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew Jamil Zainasheff and John Palmer

The Affordable Brewery Tom Hennessey

Kat Kavner Woolf, Founder and Co-CEO of Heyday Canning Co.

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 01:40:26 +0000

Today, we have Kat Kavner Woolf on the show. Kat is the Founder and Co-CEO of Heyday Canning Co, which produces some of my favorite bean products on the market right now. Kat leveraged her experience working in the industry to start Heyday combining beans with amazing sauces and ingedients. We dig into all things beans in this conversation. Nerdy bean conversations was not on my bingo card, but I honestly can say that it has been a while that I've had this much fun on an episode.

Heyday's Website

Ryan Parsley and Cody Sturgis, Reborne Brewing Company

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 17 Mar 2025 22:08:31 +0000

Today, we have Ryan Parsley and Cody Sturgis of the Reborne Brewing Company in Clovis, CA on the show.

Ryan has called Fresno California his home since he was five years old. He has been married to his amazing wife for 15 years, and they both have two beautiful children. Ryan also, has proudly been serving in the California Air National Guard for over 14 years, which helped him complete his education through the University of Maryland, Global Campuses, earning his Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Management. In 2018, Ryan discovered an appreciation of brewing Craft Beer in his garage and made the decision to ’one day’ open a brewery. Over 25 Craft Beer recipes later, in early 2023, it was official. Reborne Brewing Company received its ABC license to Brew and Distribute and its Business License with the City of Clovis.In addition to developing and launching Reborne Brewing Company, Ryan continues to serve, proudly, in the CA Air National Guard and was promoted to Technical Sergeant (E6) in November 2024.

Cody has taken root in the central valley, graduating California State University, Fresno in 2014 with a degree in Cellular/Molecular Biology and minor in Chemistry to build a life focused on the beverage industry. Cody spent some time in the wine industry, eventually settling into the world of coffee processing and roasting for 7 years. He joined Reborne Brewing in late 2020 with a focus on the scientific side of the brewing process, honing in on refining brewing processes and developing a multitude of recipes that strive for quality beyond quantity. His involvement has become invaluable to our small team.

Reborne Brewing Company

Books:

Hops, Malt, Yeast, and Water: A Novice's Guide to Craft Beer and Homebrewing Stan Kaminski

Cocktail Codex: Fundamentals, Formulas, Evolutions Alex Day, Nick Fauchald, and David Kaplan

Innovation Series: Emily Dinino, Founder & CEO of ThermoShade

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 13 Mar 2025 21:56:39 +0000

We are continuing our series highlighting some of the amazing businesses that are supported through the WET Center at Fresno State's Valley Ventures Accelerator program. Today, we have Emily Dinino on the show. Emily is the Founder & CEO of ThermoShade. She spent two years studying the problem of extreme heat as her master’s thesis and is passionate about finding solutions to protect people and animals impacted by heat stress. Emily has extensive experience in finance and entrepreneurship across investment banking, venture capital, and nonprofit finance. She has been an investor in mission-driven technology and consumer companies from Pre-Seed to Series C and is intimately familiar with the challenges early-stage companies face. Emily holds a BA from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management.

WET Center Website

ThermoShade's Website

Roque Rodriguez, Filmmaker and Founder of Swede Fest

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 28 Feb 2025 00:17:54 +0000

Today, we have Roque Rodriguez on the show. Roque is a Fresno based filmmaker and creative working to cultivate a vibrant and diverse film community throughout the San Joaquin Valley. After growing up in the rural farming town of Firebaugh, Rodriguez earned his degree in graphic arts from Brooks College in Los Angeles, only to eventually plant himself in what he calls the “Goldilocks” city of Fresno. In 2008, Rodriguez founded the independent film festival Swede Fest — a quirky collection of locally produced Hollywood remakes using low budget resources and high key creativity. Swede Fest became a cultural institution in Fresno, inspiring multiple satellite festivals across the country and garnered submissions from around the globe. Though the film festival ended in 2023, the legacy of Swede Fest carries on in a new generation of filmmakers who were able to dip their toes in an art form often seen as difficult to break into.

In 2025, Rodriguez launched his newest project: Cen Cal Cinema — an all ages, free film screening series hosted in communities throughout the Central Valley that might otherwise lack access to a movie theater. By removing travel and cost barriers, Cen Cal Cinema hopes to make film more accessible and democratic, while also celebrating the unique ways that cinema can foster community bonding, harkening back to Rodriguez’s own personal experiences.

Manuel Bonilla, President of the Fresno Teachers Association

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 15 Feb 2025 20:37:31 +0000

On today's show, we have Manuel Bonilla, president of the Fresno Teachers Association. We dig into education practice, policy, organized labor, and more in this episode. If you are looking to dig into the weeds of education, this is the episode for you.

Fresno Teachers Association Website

Books:

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy J.R.R. Tolkien

The Infinite Game Simon Sinek

On Bullshit Harry G. Frankfurt

De-Escalate: How to Calm an Angry Person in 90 Seconds or Less Doug Noll

VA Central California Health Care System Conversation

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 02 Feb 2025 20:42:49 +0000

We have a special episode for you today with some of the leaders of the VA Central California Health Care System. We brought in three knowledgable leaders to discuss the state of this organization and their services. This was recorded at the end of last year, so any Trump administrative moves will not be covered here. Here are the three guests who shared in this episode:

Froylan “Froy” Garza, Interim Executive Director of VA Central California Health Care System
Amy Ruiz, HCHV Supervisor
Kimberly Booze BSN, RN, Women Veterans Program Manager

VA Central California Health Care System Website

Alex Van Horne, President of Central Valley Brewers Guild and Co-Owner of Summer Fox Brewing

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 01 Feb 2025 21:32:16 +0000

Today, we have Alex Van Horne on the show. Alex is the president of the Central Valley Brewers Guild and the co-owner of Summer Fox Brewing, one of my favorite breweries in Fresno. I was so excited to record this podcast with Alex! If you really want to nerd out on beer, this is the episode for you.

Summer Fox Brewing

The Central Valley Brewers Guild

Books:

Tasting Beer, 2nd Edition: An Insider's Guide to the World's Greatest Drink Randy Mosher

Any and All Star Wars Books!

Josh Huckaby, Owner of Cybersecurity Firm Hoodwink Consulting

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 22 Jan 2025 19:52:07 +0000

Today, we have Josh Huckaby on the show. Josh is the owner of Hoodwink Consulting, a central valley cybersecurity provider. Josh has spent the last six years focused on cybersecurity, which led to him opening up Hoodwink Consulting here in Fresno. They specialize in helping companies understand cybersecurity risk and provide services to protect them. And his free time, Josh enjoys spending time with his family and watching 49ers football and eating great local food. Josh is a friend, and this conversation was a true pleasure and hopefully this conversation inspires you to take better care of your life online as there are many risks and dangers out there.

Hoodwing Consulting

Books:

The 6 Types of Working Genius: A Better Way to Understand Your Gifts, Your Frustrations, and Your Team Patrick M. Lencioni

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones James Clear

Innovation Series: Ken Camarco, CEO and President of DMax Plasma

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 18:09:35 +0000

We're beginning a series of episodes with the WET Center at Fresno State. WET stands for water, energy and technology. The WET Center's mission is to empower central Valley's core industries by providing access to cutting-edge resources, innovative research and industry expertise, driving sustainable growth and regional prosperity.They have supported amazing startups and companies around the world right from our own backyard.

Our first episode in this series features Ken Camarco, CEO and President of DMax Plasma. Ken has spent his career in all facets of global manufacturing, energy operations, supply chain, information, technology, and management. DMax Plasma utilizes plasma technology to attack contaminants in our water supply. Something that has never been more pressing in today's world.

The Wet Center

DMax Plasma

Kellee Williams, Instructor and Owner at Tower Yoga

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 07 Jan 2025 16:33:22 +0000

On today's show, we have Kellee Williams, owner and teacher at Tower Yoga. Kellee is a deeply experienced and knowledgable teacher and practitioner of yoga. We dig into a lot of topics in this conversation. Please enjoy!

Tower Yoga Site

Books:

Eastern Body, Western Mind: Psychology and the Chakra System As a Path to the Self Anodea Judith

Tantra of the Yoga Sutras: Essential Wisdom for Living with Awareness and Grace Alan Finger

The Path of the Yoga Sutras Nicolai Bachman

Lynda Oniah, Founder and Creative Director of StandTallJeans

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 13 Dec 2024 22:38:12 +0000

Lynda Oniah, founder and creative director of StandTallJeans, is a tall woman who faced the challenge of finding stylish, long-enough denim for herself. Driven by this personal struggle and inspired by her father’s entrepreneurial spirit, Lynda transitioned from a successful banking career to pursue her passion for fashion. After earning a Master’s Degree in Management and graduating with honors from the San Francisco Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she founded StandTallJeans to address the market gap for well-fitting, fashionable denim for tall women. Based in California, Lynda is dedicated to creating high-quality, stylish pieces while upholding ethical and sustainable production practices.

StandTallJeans Website

Discount code: STJTHX20 for 20% off your purchase plus an extra 10% if you sign up for our VIP emails. Gift cards also available

Books:

Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind Al Ries and Jack Trout

Daniel Gonzalez, Senior Program Coordinator at the Youth Leadership Institute

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 22:02:50 +0000

Today, we have Daniel Gonzalez on the show. Daniel is a Central Valley native originally living in the rural community of Easton on the outskirts of Fresno. They are passionate about youth-driven policy change and decision-making, and have a strong commitment to local issues.

Daniel is a proud alum of Fresno State with a Bachelor’s Degree in Sociology, a minor in Philanthropic Community-Based Leadership, and a certificate in Applied Sociological Research. They completed the Humanics@Fresno State program and are a former Bulldog Pride Fund Harvey Milk Humanics Hope Award Scholar.

As a Senior Program Coordinator at the Youth Leadership Institute, Daniel oversees over 60 youth participants in Fresno’s youth journalist and storytelling programs: The kNOw Youth Media, Multilingual Storytelling and Journalists of Color. They organize weekly meetings with young people building up their capacity in storytelling and community advocacy. Additionally, Daniel coordinates an annual youth-led multimedia positive social norms campaign around youth gambling prevention with the Betting On Our Future, a project of the California Friday Night Live Partnership.

On weekends, you can find Daniel at local drag shows alongside friends, watching horror movies, or listening to countless hours of pop music.

Youth Leadership Institute

Books:

When We Rise: My Life in the Movement Cleve Jones

Thinner Stephen King

The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man's World Alan Downs

Dr. Shawn Beaty, Senior Pastor at Clovis Hills Church

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 04 Dec 2024 17:29:35 +0000

Today, we have Dr. Shawn Beaty on the show. Shawn is the senior pastor at Clovis Hills church. In 1995, Shawn left a record deal and a career as a professional musician to go full-time into pastoral ministry. He moved from to Clovis in 2012 to join the team at Clovis Hills and was voted in by the church members as the senior pastor in 2013. Shawn holds a BA and. Sean holds a BA in organizational psychology, a master's in divinity and a doctor of ministry. This is another one of those conversations where there's a lot of inside baseball talk.Whenever you get two people with seminary degrees together, that tends to happen. But even if you're not within a religious world, I think there's a lot you can learn and appreciate about this conversation.

Clovis Hills Church Website

Books:

Is God Real?: Exploring the Ultimate Question of Life Lee Strobel

Relaxed: Walking with the One Who Is Not Worried about a Thing Megan Fate Marshman

Jonathan Linden, Podcast Producer and Journalist at KVPR

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 21 Nov 2024 01:15:47 +0000

Today, we have Jonathan Linden on the show. Jonathan is a podcast producer at KVPR. Born and raised in Riverside, he's a Southern California native. Jonathan's passion for public radio began at a young age when his brother would play NPR while driving him home from middle school. He earned his B.A. in journalism from Biola University in 2019.

Jonathan has worked at several NPR affiliates, including serving as Morning Edition host at KCLU and reporting at KAZU and KVCR. While reporting at KAZU, Jonathan covered the flooding of the town of Pajaro and the first U.S. Women's Open held at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Both stories helped contribute to KAZU's two 2023 regional Edward R. Murrow awards.

When not working, Jonathan can often be found walking or running his Alaskan Malamute Balto or keeping up with the latest Dodgers game.

Link to Central Valley Daily

Amber Balakian, Balakian Farms and College Professor

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 17:04:31 +0000

Today, we have Amber Balakian on the show. Amber is the owner of Balakian Farms, a fourth-generation organic farm rooted in Reedley, CA. Growing up surrounded by agriculture, Amber developed a deep respect for sustainable farming and a passion for bringing high-quality, organic produce to my community. At Balakian Farms, Amber focuses on preserving her family’s farming legacy while innovating to meet today’s demands, from tree fruit to our unique line of organic blended heirloom tomatoes. Amber is also a college professor, supporting students in developing entrepreneurial skills, and a passion for business. Amber’s ultimate goal is to honor her farm’s heritage while paving the way for sustainable and inclusive growth in the farming industry.

Balakian Farms

Books:

Blue Ocean Strategy, Expanded Edition: How to Create Uncontested Market Space and Make the Competition Irrelevant W. Chan Kim and Renée Mauborgne

David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants Malcolm Gladwell

Paul Swearengin, Unconventional Pastor Paul

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 07 Nov 2024 22:15:33 +0000

Today we have Paul swearing-in on the show. Paul is a former TV and radio sportscaster who transitioned to ministry after being ordained by the vineyard association of churches. Paul founded and led an evangelical church in Fresno, California for over a decade before stepping down to focus on content creation, coaching and podcasting . Through social media discussion groups and one-on-one coaching. Paul supports those questioning their faith and seeking emotional and spiritual wellbeing.

Paul was a former guest of the podcast, and I invited Paul back on the show to get some updates on Paul's spiritual journey, and their perspectives on the world of religion today.

Paul's Website

Books:

Searching for Sunday: Loving, Leaving, and Finding the Church Rachel Held Evans

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Love Wins: A Book About Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person Who Ever Lived Rob Bell

Talking to Strangers: What We Should Know about the People We Don't Know Malcolm Gladwell

Dr. Tania Pacheco-Warner, Executive Director of The Central Valley Health Policy Institute

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 31 Oct 2024 19:39:31 +0000

Today we have Dr. Tania Pacheco-Warner on the show. Dr. Pacheco-Warner is a sociologist and public health researcher known for her work in health equity, and social determinants of health, especially in the Central Valley. She currently serves as the Executive Director of The Central Valley Health Policy Institute at Fresno State, which is focused developing on data driven policies to address health disparities among underserved communities. Dr. Pacheco-Warner's expertise is widely sought in areas of community health, environmental justice, and policymaking that impacts rural populations.

Central Valley Health Policy Institute Website

Books:

The Logic of Practice Pierre Bourdieu

Collected Works Of Kahlil Gibran Kahlil Gibran

Blake Zante, Executive Director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 16:39:54 +0000

Today, we have Blake Zante on the show. Blake is the executive director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute and has worked as a district representative to former Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy, as press secretary to state Senator Andreas Borgeas, and operated a public affairs consultancy. We dig into public policy, education, political persuasion, Division I sports, and a lot more. Please enjoy our conversation.

Maddy Institute Website

Books:

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln Doris Kearns Goodwin

Leadership in Turbulent Times Doris Kearns Goodwin

Bob Nelson, Assistant Professor and Former Superintendent of Fresno Unified

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 01:59:28 +0000

Today, we have Bob Nelson on the show. Nelson was the Superintendent of Fresno Unified for nearly seven years and worked in many capacities in the public school system. He’s now an assistant professor at Fresno State focusing on educating future leaders of our schools. Also, he has a great new podcast called #MilitantPositivity Podcast, which I feel is operating on a similar wavelength of this program. Please enjoy my conversation with Bob Nelson!

Link to #MilitantPositivity Podcast

Books:

The Anatomy of Peace, Fourth Edition: Resolving the Heart of Conflict The Arbinger Institute

The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World Desmond Tutu and Dalai Lama

Fresno's Best Podcast Update: Fresnolandia, New Podcast Series, and Soliciting Questions

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 01:38:10 +0000

There's been a lot of changes going on behind the scenes, so I thought it would be important to take a minute to update you all on what's been happening.

Email me: jordanmattox@gmail.com

David Higdon, Co-Founder of Kern Venture Group

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 21:10:32 +0000

Today, we have another Bakersfield Connection podcast. I like doing these because I think the Valley needs to be a lot more integrated in order to be successful. And so today we have David Higdon on the show. David is the co-founder of Kern Venture Group, a venture capital fund based out of Bakersfield, California, that's focused on funding founders and businesses that want to develop and improve the Central Valley, which I think is such an admirable mission and project to focus on, in particular for the Central Valley's future.

KVG's Website

Courtney McNulty, Zoological Animal Manager of the Bird Show at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 10 Aug 2024 19:05:35 +0000

Courtney McNulty is the Zoological Animal Manager of the Bird Show at the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, a position she has held for three years. She developed a passion for wildlife through early exposure to zoos and aquariums in southern California, leading her to pursue a career in animal care and education. With over nine years of experience in the field, including specialized training in exotic animal management, McNulty has dedicated herself to bird care and is committed to advancing animal welfare and conservation for future generations.

Chaffee Zoo Website

Book Recommendations:

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Brene Brown

Monday Morning Leadership: 8 Mentoring Sessions You Can't Afford to Miss David Cottrell

The Invisible Wall: A Love Story That Broke Barriers Harry Bernstein

Dr. Carole Goldsmith, Chancellor of the State Center Community College District

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 17:54:25 +0000

Today, we have Dr. Carole Goldsmith on the show. Dr. Goldsmith became Chancellor of State Center Community College District on January 1, 2022, leading efforts to create a welcoming environment for all. She oversaw the adoption of a new mission, vision, and values, delivered a balanced budget supporting District goals, aligned curriculum for optimal student outcomes, and developed partnerships to enhance faculty effectiveness and student achievement. Prior to this role, Dr. Goldsmith served as President of Fresno City College from 2016 to 2021 and brought 13 years of experience from West Hills Community College District, including her tenure as President of West Hills College Coalinga. She holds a bachelor's degree in history from California State University, Fresno, a master's in educational administration from National University, and a doctorate in higher education leadership from the joint program at Fresno State and UC Davis.

Books:

Star Trek: Discovery: Wonderlands Una McCormack

Lindsay Anton, Chef at Moto Delicatessen

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 17 Jul 2024 14:02:57 +0000

Today, we have Lindsay Anton on the show. A graduate of the San Francisco Cooking School, Lindsay Anton is currently the chef at Moto Delicatessen. Having started her cooking career in New York in 2008, Lindsay has almost 15 years experience in the food and restaurant industry. Lindsay has spent time in the uber successful kitchens of Nopa, Delfina and Locanda in San Francisco, with the majority of her time spent cooking and consulting for private clients in Seattle, San Francisco and New York. She spent over 7 years working with Chef Coreen Carroll of Cannaisseur Series creating multi-course infused and elevated cannabis cuisine at dozens of events in the bay area. In 2016 Lindsay also consulted and created a menu for the wine bar Local and Vine located in New York's posh West Soho neighborhood. With a focus on accessible flavors, fresh ingredients and comfortable yet sophisticated eating environments, Lindsay’s food represents her versatility as a chef and her ability to meet the needs of her diverse client base.

Books:

All Fours: A Novel Miranda Huly

Leslie Young, Business Consultant, Instructor, and Founder of MVM Advisory Group

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 13 Jul 2024 17:26:47 +0000

Leslie Young, a Fresno native with a Master's from Pepperdine, is a dynamic entrepreneur and educator making waves in small business consulting. She founded MVM Advisory Group during the COVID-19 pandemic, focusing on helping small-medium enterprises grow through strategic development and emotional intelligence methodologies. Leslie's impact extends to over 400 small businesses, various nonprofits, and educational initiatives, including designing a course at UCSD and supporting the Mexican Consulate in San Diego with a business certificate program. Balancing her professional success with family life as a wife and mother of three, Leslie continues to inspire women in business while pursuing her passions for sushi and travel.

MVM Advisory Group Website

Books:

The Bible

Discipline Is Destiny: The Power of Self-Control Ryan Holiday

The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level: Transform Your Habits, Transform your Life Gay Hendricks

Dr. Harman Virk DO, Internal Medicine Physician and Owner of The Modern Medicine Group

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 21:30:33 +0000

Today we have Dr. Harman Virk DO on the show. Dr. Virk is a board certified Internal Medicine physician that grew up in Fresno and is now one of the owners of a new medical clinic called The Modern Medicine Group. He hopes to offer a deeper understanding of the unique healthcare challenges faced by residents in Fresno. He is committed to promoting preventive care, and is excited to discuss his compassionate and patient-centered approach to medicine and is eager to continue making a difference in the lives of his patients through his continuous work with his medical clinic.

The Modern Medicine Group

Books:

Being Mortal Atul Gawande

Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order: Why Nations Succeed and Fail Ray Dalio

Marco Tovar, Photographer and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 16:53:53 +0000

Marco Tovar is a Fresno-based photographer and educator specializing in the Wet Plate Collodion process, a photographic process from the 1850's. Marco's process documents the people of the Central Valley.

Marco's Website

Books:

The Creative Act: A Way of Being Rick Rubin

Manage Your Day-to-Day: Build Your Routine, Find Your Focus, and Sharpen Your Creative Mind Jocelyn K. Glei

The Pleasures of the Damned: Poems, 1951-1993 Charles Bukowski

Diane Friederichs, Founder of FART (Foster - Adopt - Rescue - Transport)

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 30 May 2024 03:30:00 +0000

Today, we have Diane Friederichs who is the founder of FART (Foster - Adopt - Rescue - Transport), an amazing animal rescue service in Fresno. Diane is doing amazing work for animals without homes. This was an incredibly fun and wide-ranging conversation. Below the book recommendations, you can find all the links for how you can support her amazing work.

Books:

Dare to Lead: Brave Work. Tough Conversations. Whole Hearts. Brene Brown

Diane's Links:

Danny Bernstein, Founder and Managing Partner of HawkTower

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 16 May 2024 21:04:03 +0000

Today, we have Danny Bernstein on the show. Danny is the Founder and Managing Partner of HawkTower, an early-stage venture capital firm focused on underleveraged California, including the Central Valley. HawkTower invests in scalable early-stage technology companies that address real-world opportunities and imperatives outside traditional entrepreneurial patterns and investment behaviors.

Prior to HawkTower, Danny spent 20 years in Silicon Valley, holding executive roles at Google and Microsoft. In 2012, Danny successfully sold Meebo, a Sequoia Capital-backed Web 2.0 startup, to Google. At Google, he ran business development, strategic partnerships, and developer programs for products like Google Search, Google Assistant, Google Research, Chrome/Web Platform, Google Identity and Sign-In, Firebase, and others. At Microsoft, he led critical product lines for Microsoft Teams.

Books:

Startup Communities: Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Your City Brad Feld

The Rainforest: The Secret to Building the Next Silicon Valley Victor W. Hwang and Greg Horowitt

Dr. Lorin Lachs, Professor and Chair of the Psychology Department at Fresno State

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 10 May 2024 15:41:02 +0000

Today, we have Dr. Lorin Lachs on the show. Dr. Lachs is a professor of psychology and the chair of the psychology department at Fresno State. He has a number of research interests including Multimodal speech perception, Perception of Spoken Language, Psycholinguistics, Perception of Virtual Reality, and Video Gaming Behavior, having published a number of academic articles in these fields. We have a wide ranging conversation that includes many of these topics, their practical, and a host of other topics including free will and determinism, neuralink, online language tools, the replication crisis and much more. Please enjoy our conversation.

Books:

The Language Instinct: How the Mind Creates Language Steven Pinker

Gödel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid Douglas R Hofstadter

The Expanse Boxed Set: Leviathan Wakes, Caliban's War and Abaddon's Gate James S. A. Corey

Leonard L. Longmire, Professional DJ and Vibe Creator

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 06 May 2024 15:57:20 +0000

Today, we have Leonard L. Longmire on the show. Leonard is a professional DJ and general creator of vibes for the city of Fresno. This is an episode we gush about the music we love, explore DJs craft sets, discuss the importance of music venues, and much more.

Books:

The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors Frances Cress Welsing

Miles: The Autobiography Miles Davis

Jon Forrest Dohlin, CEO and Zoo Director of the Fresno Chaffee Zoo

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 29 Apr 2024 21:04:35 +0000

Today, we have Jon Forrest Dohlin on the show. Jon has been the Chief Executive Officer and Zoo Director of Fresno Chaffee Zoo since February 2021. Born and raised in California, Dohlin received a BA in Biology from Humboldt State University in Arcata, CA, and a Masters of Architecture from Parsons School of Design in New York. He worked for the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) at the Bronx Zoo as an Exhibit Designer and in Construction Management before becoming the Director of the WCS New York Aquarium in 2008. This was such a fun conversation about one of Fresno's greatest attractions, and Jon seems like the perfect person to be at its helm. Please enjoy!

Books

A Different Nature: The Paradoxical World of Zoos and Their Uncertain Future David Hancocks

Alexander: The Ambiguity of Greatness Guy Maclean Rogers

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store: A Novel James McBride

Mas Masumoto, Farmer and Writer

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 13:59:00 +0000

Today, we have Mas Masumoto on the podcast. A farmer, writer, and a repository of memories of the valley, Mas is a central voice in the region. I am so excited to have him on the show to talk about farming, memory, writing, agrarian ideas, glyphosate, real estate development, tell intimate family stories, mental illness, pickled peaches, and much more. Please enjoy my conversation with Mas Masumoto.

Masumoto Family Farm Website

Books:

Wendell Berry

Michael Pollan

Book of Delights: Essays Ross Gay

The Grapes of Wrath John Steinbeck

San Joaquin Valley Bookfest with Joseph Rios

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 03:10:34 +0000

In this episode, Joseph Rios makes a return to the podcast to discuss the upcoming book festival on May 4th from 9am-4:30pm at the Fig Garden Swim & Racquet Club. Mark your calendars!

Grace Berg and Andrew Feil, Every Neighborhood Partnership

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 21:56:57 +0000

Today, we have Grace Berg and Andrew Feil of the Every Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) on the show. Partnering with churches, the ENP seeks to provide a number of critical resources to neighborhoods across Fresno, including school support, health and fitness, training, and much more. Grace and Andrew both bring a wealth of experience to their work and have just launched a new podcast called What's Good in the Neighborhood. Please enjoy our conversation!

ENP Website

Books:

Andrew:

American Dirt Jeanine Cummins

The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts You in Charge of Your Life Vanessa Patrick

Grace:

She Deserves Better: Raising Girls to Resist Toxic Teachings on Sex, Self, and Speaking Up Sheila Wray Gregoire, Rebecca Gregoire Lindenbach, and Joanna Sawatsky

Jesus and John Wayne: How White Evangelicals Corrupted a Faith and Fractured a Nation Kristin Kobes Du Mez

Ariel Davis and Mikaela Silva, CCC Speech and Debate

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 06 Apr 2024 21:56:24 +0000

Today, we have Ariel Davis and Mikaela Silva on the show. Ariel and Mikaela are members of Clovis Community College's Speech and Debate Club and team. Speech and Debate is one of the most intellectually rigorous activities available for students, and, as a former member of a speech debate team both in high school and college, I can't recommend the activity more highly.

CCC Spech and Debate Club Site

Books:

The Poppy War: A Novel R.F. Kuang

The Body Keeps Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma Bessel van der Kolk M.D.

Simon Biasell, Pastor at the Big Red Church and Executive Director of Woven Coalition for Justice

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:35:20 +0000

Today, we have Rev. Simon Biasell on the show today. Simon is the pastor at the Big Red Church and Co-Executive Director of Woven Coalition for Justice. For more than twenty years, Simon has worked to build radical hospitality within faith-based groups and is passionate about connecting and organizing community members to speak truth to power. Simon graduated from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary with a Master of Divinity. He and his wife live in the Fresno High neighborhood with their two children. Simon is a doctorate student at the University of Dubuque where his research explores how the next generation of churches can best serve their communities.

Big Red Church Website

Books:

Black Liturgies: Prayers, Poems, and Meditations for Staying Human Cole Arthur Riley

Jarron Young, BBQ Master and Co-Owner of Phill's Corner Grill

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:13:07 +0000

Today, we have Jarron Young on the show. Jarron was born and raised in fresno California and is the co-owner and operator of Phill's Family Grill. In partnership with older brother Phillip Young, they thrive to excel as entrepreneurs by continuing the legacy of late Father Phillip Young owner and operator of Phills Corner Grill in Clovis They are excited to soon be serving Fresno with their twist on California-style backyard BBQ. We talk about all things BBQ, and I know you will love this conversation!

Phil's Corner Grill

Books:

Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life...And Maybe the World Admiral William H. McRaven

Naomi Marie, Artist, Muralist, and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 02:13:58 +0000

Today, we have Naomi Marie on the show. Naomi is a Fresno Artist born and educated in Fresno, California. She is involved in everything from Art Hop to Murals to teaching Art to students. Her goal, above all, is to bring more positivity back to Fresno’s Art scene.

Books:

Van Gogh: The Life Steven Naifeh and Gregory White Smith

Artist Recommendations:

https://www.instagram.com/aiww/

https://www.instagram.com/keithharingfoundation/

https://www.instagram.com/end_in_eon/

Emily Dewise, Founder of Emmie's Swim School and Certified Instructor

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 09 Mar 2024 20:02:00 +0000

Today, we have Emily Dewise on the show. Emily is the founder of Emmies Swim School, where she gives swim and aquatic instruction. Coming from a family of aquatic instructors, Emily found her passion early and hopes to teach many kids across Fresno to learn to love swimming. With the days starting to warm up, I thought this would be the perfect conversation as we start to dream about swimming pools, lake fronts, and the beach.

Emmie's Swim School Website

Books:

The Silent Patient Alex Michaelides

All the Devils Are Here Louise Penny

Jeremy Hofer, Lending Manager for Self Help Credit Union and Co-Founder of Tower Porchfest

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 07 Mar 2024 22:00:01 +0000

Today, we have Jeremy Hofer on the show. Jeremy is the Lending Manager for Self Help's Charter School division where he assists mission-oriented developers and nonprofits finance charter schools that lead to deep community impact. Before joining Self-Help in 2018, he directed Access Plus Capital, a CDFI loan fund serving small businesses. Over the course of ten years he developed and managed the fund helping hundreds of Central Valley entrepreneurs get financed to start and expand their businesses. Jeremy is a board member of the Central California Land Trust, and serves on several loan committees of community lenders in his hometown of Fresno, CA. In addition, Jeremy is a co-founder of Porchfest, an amazing outdoor music event in Tower that takes place on a number of porches. Jeremy is also a talented musician and regularly plays live music around Fresno. Jeremy has a master’s in Community Economic Development from Southern New Hampshire University and an Economic Development Professional certification from the National Development Council.

Porchfest Website

Self Help Credit Union

Reading Recommendation:

Geography Subreddit

Patrick Burriel, Client Advocate with My Time Recovery and Sober Living Manager at Next Door Ministries

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 02 Mar 2024 18:28:09 +0000

Today, we have Patrick Burriel on the show. Patrick is a Client Advocate with My Time Recovery and runs a sober living community with Next Door Ministries. Patrick is an incredible person and has a lot of deep wisdom to share. This podcast is deeply personal for me as I have watched family members struggle to work through addiction and I know a lot of people have family members or friends who have struggled with this issue, and perhaps you have struggled with it as well. This podcast is for all of you.

My Time Recovery Website

Next Door Ministries Website

Books:

Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century Napoleon Hill

Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Robert T. Kiyosaki

Kaysha Rajani, Founder and Creative Director of Curated Giftables

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 01:19:23 +0000

Today, we have Kaysha Rajani on the show. As the Founder and Creative Director of Curated Giftables, Kaysha Rajani is passionate about building and strengthening relationships through gifting. After enjoying a fifteen-year career in marketing and communications, she launched her company that specializes in large-scale, custom gifting for businesses and events, primarily serving California’s Central Valley.

Kaysha is actively engaged with every part of her business operations from client communication to designing and assembling gifts. Her expertise in curating products that are thoughtfully chosen to fit a brand aesthetic or event theme, paired with her creative eye for design result in beautifully presented gifts that leave a lasting impression.

As a graduate of the University of Alabama, Kaysha loves to cheer on the Crimson Tide! When she isn’t tying bows, you can find her enjoying the local restaurant scene and indulging in craft cocktails with friends, or exploring new cities and cultures with her husband.

Curated Giftables Website

Instagram and Facebook: @curatedgiftables

Books:

How to Win Friends & Influence People Dale Carnegie

Keith Newton, Woodworker

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 04:17:16 +0000

Today, we have Keith Newton on the show. Keith has been a woodworker since his early teens. Over the course of a lifetime, he has honed his skills. He always strives for harmony with the wood and the piece the wood finally becomes. Keith chooses his logs carefully and orients them on the sawmill for the maximum benefit the log will yield. The cut slabs dry for three and a half years. Logs are urban salvage and farm field pull-outs. It is important to him that the wood he chooses has been saved from a trip to the biomass plant.

Always driven to try new things, he taught himself to make violins. It was in that self-imposed tutelage he perfected his finishing techniques. Over the course of many years, Keith has accumulated many machines and tools instrumental to his woodworking. Sanding and surfacing machines, elbow grease, and a fortune in sandpaper are the formula behind his smooth finishes. Keith also has outstanding veneer and pressing capabilities for lovely panels, chests, and cabinets. His work predominately incorporates live edge.

He is inspired by the beauty in nature and wants to bring that natural feeling that the outdoors brings.

Keith works from his studio/shop on 2.5 acres in Fresno, CA. His many dogs are his constant companions and will greet you at the gate.

Keith's Website

Books:

Understanding Wood: A Craftsman's Guide to Wood Technology R. Bruce Hoadley

Diego Arambula, Vice President of Educational Transformation at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 22 Feb 2024 00:37:36 +0000

Diego Arambula is transitioning into the role of Vice President of Educational Transformation at the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, following over five years as a Managing Partner at Transcend, where he collaborated with educators nationwide to reimagine learning environments. His journey in public education began in 2005 at Summit Public Schools, where he served in various capacities including classroom teacher, founding principal, and Chief Growth & Innovation Officer, driving the school's shift towards personalization and scalability. Additionally, he founded GO Public Schools Fresno, an advocacy nonprofit focused on innovative school models. Diego's commitment to educational change extends to his volunteer roles on several boards, including the California State University system and Summit Public Schools. With a background in politics and degrees from Harvard and Stanford University, Diego resides in Fresno with his wife and two daughters, actively contributing to educational transformation in his community.

We discuss status in education, Teach for America, teaching social science, how much time administrators should spend in classrooms, summer break vs year round school, reducing teacher turnover, offramp schools, poverty’s role in educational outcomes, expensive education consultants, The Orange Theory, Flipped Classrooms, whether Fresno Unified is too big, and much more.

Books:

The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness Todd Rose

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion Jonathan Haidt

The Name of Wind Patrick Rothfuss

Isabel Dieppa, Fresno Skate Party

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 18 Feb 2024 21:21:19 +0000

Today, we have Isabel Dieppa on the show. Isabel is a journalist, roller skater and performing artist. She founded Fresno Skate Party in 2021. When she is not roller skating Isabel spends her time cosplaying and dancing. You can follow her on Instagram, and Tik Tok @isabelsdieppa

Use the code frensoskateparty people can get %5 at Pigeon Roller Skate Shop (link here)

Books:

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

Be Water, My Friend Shannon Lee

Arthur Moye, CEO of Full Circle Brewing Company

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 15 Feb 2024 22:29:40 +0000

Today we have Arthur Moye on the show. Arthur is the CEO of Full Circle Brewing, Co. in Fresno, California. Formerly a CalCPA Chapter President, after 15 years of homebrewing, he went rogue and sold his CPA practice to purchase Fresno’s longest running brewery. With a background in accounting, he took a leap of faith to see how he could extend his experience with numbers to drive his passion for craft beer. From 2016-2024, he increased Full Circle Brewing's production by 25,000%, and expanded from a 7.5BBL brewhouse with a local footprint, to a 30-barrel brewhouse with packaging and distribution throughout the United States. These numbers continue to grow to this day. Additionally, as a black entrepreneur and brewer, Arthur is proud to have Full Circle Brewing, Co. contribute to the 1% of black majority owned craft breweries in the United States. Arthur is originally from the Bay Area and is an alumnus of San Jose State University. He has chosen the Central Valley as his home to raise his family and grow and his businesses.

Books:

The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level Gay Hendricks

StrengthsFinder 2.0 Don Clifton

Enrique Meza, Meza Studios

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 18:44:07 +0000

Today, we have Enrique Meza on the show.Enrique is the founder and creative director of Meza Studios. He was born and raised in California’s Central Valley. He is a proud son of immigrant labor workers. Connection is a recurrent theme in his creative work, and deriving human emotions is what challenges him. His goal is to leave his audience with a sense of connection and adoration for its subject while maintaining the human element. His craft has granted him the opportunity to travel all over the world, in turn inspiring him to convey that message through his work. Enrique started MEZA in 2003. Since then, he has built a forward-thinking business using creative concepts, campaigns, and collaboration with both traditional marketing agencies and mid to large-sized companies. Enrique’s favorite part of the job is working with different industries and meeting various people from all walks of life. Outside the studio, Enrique loves to hang with his family, travel, hike, and explore the local food scene wherever he might be.

Books:

Creative Calling: Establish a Daily Practice, Infuse Your World with Meaning, and Succeed in Work + Life Chase Jarvis

Nat Strafaci, Therapist, Supervisor, Medium, and Herbalist

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 22:49:04 +0000

Nat Strafaci is a licensed therapist, clinical supervisor, psychic medium, and spiritual herbalist living and working on Lenape and Yokuts land. Their private practice centers the healing of Queer and Trans People of Color at the intersection of spirituality and mental health. They are a graduate of Columbia University School of Social Work and the Sacred Vibes Apothecary Spiritual Herbalism Apprenticeship Program. Informed by almost 15 years of school and community-based work, Nat also provides consultation and training to groups and organizations seeking to deepen their understanding of gender, sexuality, pleasure, trauma, and intuition.Nat offers tarot, mediumship, and consultation sessions at En Las Nubes Spa in Tower District.I really enjoyed talking with Nat and love that they have relocated and will share their knowledge and experience with us.

Books

Mean Miriam Gerba

What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma Stephanie Foo

Sour Heart: Stories Jenny Zhang

Alison LeClair, Breadroom Bakery

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 03:00:49 +0000

Today, we have Alison LeClair on the show of the Breadroom Bakery. Alison made her first loaf of bread in 2008, while studying speciality cake baking. Almost 10 years later and still thinking fondly of that first Pullman loaf, she began keeping a sourdough starter and casually baking with it in 2017. It wasn’t long before she realized that baking bread for people was a very cool way to spend her time. She continued to bake for her community while transitioning to a new city in 2020, where she left her moving boxes full of baking supplies, labeled “the bread room”, sitting around long enough that there was no choice but to call her workspace Breadroom Bakery. Alison (and the breadroom) reside in a 100+ year old house in a very charming part of Fresno, CA, with a porch just big enough for a few dozen loaves of bread (sometimes sourdough cookies) to be picked up by friends and neighbors every week. To her, baking bread as an occupation feels like commitment to a lifelong discovery of people, relationships and of the romance of food that we can all be partaking in a bit more often than we do. She hopes to help offer those moments of discovery to everyone she connects with through breadroom.

Books:

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking Samin Nosrat (Author), Wendy MacNaughton (Illustrator)

A Real American Breakfast: The Best Meal of the Day, Any Time of the Day Cheryl Alters Jamison and Bill Jamison

Tartine Bread Chad Roberston

Elliott Balch, President and CEO of The Fresno Downtown Partnership

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 00:46:04 +0000

Today we have Elliott Balch on the show. Elliott is the president and CEO of the Downtown Fresno Partnership, which is a 501(c) 6. The Partnership is leading downtown Fresno toward its future as a vibrant hub of business activity by promoting downtown’s image; supporting physical improvements and development; advocating for merchants; and hosting special events that bring new life to the historic core of our city. We discuss a lot in this conversation including Public Private Partnerships, signage, parking meters, Chukchansi Park, police presence and the benefits of bicycle patrols, the homeless issue, Christmas Tree Lane, Oppenheimer, Peeve’s, Gentrification, Noise Ordinances, and so much more.

Books:

Paved Paradise: How Parking Explains the World Henry Grabar

Suburban Nation: The Rise of Sprawl and the Decline of the American Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Jeff Speck

Dr. Mallika Nocco and Dr. Samuel Sandoval, Hosts of Water Talk Podcast

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 22:49:59 +0000

Today we have another crossover episode with the sister program to this show that I produce called The History of CA Podcast. The interview is with two of the wonderful hosts of the amazing podcast Water Talk, one of my personal favorite podcasts which explores all things related to water, with an emphasis on California Water issues, but also covering broader areas as well. The first is Dr. Mallika Nocco. Mallika is an Assistant Professor in Cooperative Extension specializing in soil-plant-water relations and irrigation management and director of the Conservation Irrigation Lab at the University of California, Davis. We also have Dr. Samuel Sandoval. Samuel is an Associate Professor in Cooperative Extension and Water Resources Management at University of California, Davis. He has developed effective communication programs in English and Spanish for topics related to water and created virtual forums that foster communities of scientists for exchanging ideas, collaborative projects, fact checking and myth busters. We cover so much in this conversation and I know you will enjoy it.

Christa Wiens, Executive Director of the Central Valley Justice Coalition

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 27 Nov 2023 23:00:02 +0000

Today, we have Christa Wiens on the show. Christa is the executive director of Central Valley Justice Coalition and the focus of our conversation is human trafficking, both globally and locally. We dig into definitions, tactics used by traffickers, signs someone is being trafficked, differences between sex trafficking and forced labor, beyond the obvious, common misconceptions, approaches to education the public, Hollywood depictions of trafficking, fritters, fair trade, law enforcement approaches, and more.

Central Valley Justice Coalition Website

Books

A Church Called Tov: Forming a Goodness Culture That Resists Abuses of Power and Promotes Healing Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer

A Cry of The Heart: Human Trafficking: One Survivor's True Story Debra Rush and Penelope Childers

Marilyn Cowley, CEO and Founder of PREM PR and Social

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 21 Nov 2023 17:27:15 +0000

Marilyn Cowley is CEO and founder of PREM PR and Social and if there is someone in town whose opinion on marketing in this complicated environment I would trust, it would definitely be Marilyn’s. In this episode, we discuss internships, strategizing majors in college, old school marketing tactics, the state of email marketing, motivational speakers, the importance of habits, ballroom dancing, ethics in marketing, building a social media brand, Taylor Swift of course, local news, why certain people are better in front of cameras, and more.

PREM PR and Social Website

Books

Marketing Made Simple: A Step-by-Step StoryBrand Guide for Any Business Donald Miller and Dr. J.J. Peterson

The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure Grant Cardone

Liana Pierce, Owner of Four Corners Yoga

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 03:53:23 +0000

Today, we have Liana Pierce on the show. Liana is the owner of and instructor at Four Corners Yoga Studio in Northeast Fresno. We discuss pain in Yoga, the comparison game, yoga and fitness, common mistakes, conflicts with religious worldview, overrated poses and clothes, the benefit of retreats, the business side of operating a studio, what she has learned about Fresno in teaching classes and operating a studio, and more. Liana is wonderful and I know you’ll love this conversation.

Four Corners Yoga Website

Books:

Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art James Nestor

The Way Forward (The Inward Trilogy) Yung Pueblo

The Measure Nikki Erlick

Ellen Armour, Director of Marketing & Development for the Fresno Philharmonic

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 31 Oct 2023 21:15:35 +0000

Today we have Ellen Armour on the show. Ellen is a native of California's San Joaquin Valley, where she lived until attending UCLA. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Music Composition from the School of Arts & Architecture, and went on to work in project management for the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, Google, Chevron, international consulting firm Turner & Townsend, and TETER Architects & Engineers before landing at the Fresno Philharmonic, where she currently serves as Director of Marketing & Development, developing relationships and marketing best practices for an outstanding non-profit arts organization.

Ms. Armour serves on the Board of Directors for the Association of California Symphony Orchestras and is the immediate past Board President and Marketing Chair for the Fresno Arts Council. Ellen is also a classically trained pianist, vocalist, and composer of 33 years and loves sharing the beauty and joy of music with others. You can find some of her music on Spotify, Apple Music, and all streaming platforms.

Ellen's Website

Books:

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business Charles Duhigg

The Midnight Library Matt Haig

A House for Mr. Biswas V. S. Naipaul

Alex Treas and Jenn Guerra, Reclaim Technologies

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 02:46:19 +0000

Today, I have an interview with Alex Treas and Jenn Guerra. Both from the valley, they share a passion for the growing technology industry here and, after the fallout from Bitwise, are striking out with a new venture called Reclaim Technologies that aims to help businesses and organizations leverage technology to achieve their goals.

Reclaim Technologies Website

Books:

Running Lean: Iterate from Plan A to a Plan That Works Ash Maurya

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones James Clear

The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery Brianna Wiest

Anna Covarrubias and Marcee Rodriguez, The Pie Mamas

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 12 Oct 2023 21:34:30 +0000

Today, we have Anna Covarrubias and Marcee Rodriguez of The Pie Mamas on the show. These two home bakers turned a passion into a thriving business and are baking some of the most beautiful pies in Fresno. Please enjoy our fascinating conversation about our favorite holiday dessert.

The Pie Mamas Website

Timothy Yeager, Chief Clinical Officer at Centria Healthcare

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 08 Oct 2023 17:52:27 +0000

Today, we have Timothy Yeager on the show. Yeager is the Chief Clinical Officer at Centria Healthcare which is the leading provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy to children with autism in the country. Our conversation is wide-ranging covering ABA, pragmatism, NY-style pizza, reducing burnout in the helping industry, diagnosis as determinism, and more.

Books

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity Kim Scott

Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children Todd R. Risley and Betty Hart

Brooke Payton, Tower District Library Project

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 21:18:00 +0000

Brooke is spear-heading a campaign to bring a library to the Tower District of Fresno. As a librarian, the host of this podcast couldn't be more supportive of expanding library access to as many people as possible. Please support the project in any way you can!

The Campaign's Website

Books:

Tempests and Slaughter by Tamora Pierce

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Katherine Blunt, Wall Street Journal Reporter and Author of California Burning

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 01 Sep 2023 01:41:10 +0000

Today's episode is a repost from my other podcast, History of California Podcast, with Katherine Blunt. Katherine Blunt is a reporter for the Wall Street Journal and author of California Burning: The Fall of Pacific Gas and Electric and What it Means for America’s Power Grid. The book, a national bestseller, won the 2022 Golden Poppy award for nonfiction. Her coverage of PG&E, a collaboration with two colleagues, was a finalist for the 2020 Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting and earned a Gerald Loeb award, the highest honor in business journalism.

Scott Miller, President of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 20:10:31 +0000

Today, we have Scott Miller on the show. Scott is the President of Chamber Commerce and the owner of Gazebo Gardens. Please enjoy our conversation!

Arianna Chávez, Executive Director of Arte Américas

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 17 Aug 2023 21:04:05 +0000

Today we have Arianna Chavez on the show. Arianna is the executive of Arte Americas. Born and raised in Fresno, Arianna attributes her passion for art to formative years spent at Arte Américas. She is returning home with a decade of experience in nonprofit arts organizations including the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and artist endowed foundations in New York. Thus far, Arianna’s career has been devoted to creating meaningful experiences and entry points to the arts with and for diverse communities. Arianna is an alumna of the National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC) advocacy and leadership programs. She earned a BA in Art History and Arts Management at the University of San Francisco and an MA in Art History from Syracuse University in Florence, Italy where she studied sixteenth-century Mexican art in Italian collections. This is a wide-ranging conversation centered around art.

Books:

Puritan Conquistadors: Iberianizing the Atlantic, 1550-1700 Jorge Cañizares-Esguerra

Super Cilantro Girl / La Superniña del Cilantro Juan Felipe Herrera (Author), Honorio Tapia (Illustrator)

Jason Castro, Consul General of the El Salvadorian Consulate

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 16:26:54 +0000

Today, we have the Jason Castro on the show. Mr. Castro is the Consul General of the El Salvadorian Consulate in Fresno. We talk about all things El Salvadorian, from the culture and history of the country to issues facing El Salvadorian immigrants in the central valley.

Reis Thebault, Washington Post Reporter Covering Bitwise

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 09 Aug 2023 21:23:01 +0000

Today we have Reis Thebault on the show. Reis reports on the American West Coast from Los Angeles for The Washington Post. He joined The Post in 2018 and has covered national breaking news, European politics and D.C. city hall. He previously worked on the local desks of the Boston Globe and the Columbus Dispatch. We have him on the show today because he wrote a front page story on the Bitwise situation and has done some excellent reporting on the subject, interviewing both former Bitwise employees as well investors and local political figures. Most of all, he is an outside perspective, less clouded by personal connections or vested interests to look at the whole situation clearly.

Link to the Washington Post Article discussed here.

Books:

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein

On Poverty, by America by Matthew Desmond

The Dreamt Land: Chasing Water and Dust Across California by Mark Arax

Kiel Lopez-Schmidt, Executive Director of the South Tower Community Land Trust

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 03:37:27 +0000

Today we have Kiel Lopez-Schmidt on the show. Kiel is a trained architect and the Executive Director of the South Tower Community Land Trust. In this conversation, we discuss affordable housing, planning commissions, AirBnB’s effect on the housing stock, homelessness as a housing problem, historical preservation, and more.

Link to Sign Up for the Queer Housing Summit

Books:

Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good by Adrienne Maree Brown

The First Sister by Linden Lewis

Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler

Renee Delport, Director of Communications at Central Valley Community Foundation

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 02:20:04 +0000

Renee Delport is the director of communications at the Central Valley Community Foundation, an organization that does a lot to steward and direct resources to support our community. Drawing on her experience working in a variety of contexts, Renee has a deep love for community service, articulating a strong message, and recruiting others to join causes. This interview is chocked full of insight and I know you will gain a lot from listening to her thoughts.

Book Recommendations:

The Bible

The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper Together Heather McGhee

Reframing Organizations: Artistry, Choice, and Leadership Lee G. Bolman and Terrence E. Deal

Gung Ho! Turn On the People in Any Organization Ken Blanchard

George Scott, Sinister Boxing MMA Academy

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 20:12:33 +0000

Welcome to Fresno’s Best podcast, I’m your host Jordan Mattox. Today we have George Scott on the show. Scott is the co-founder of the Sinister Boxing MMA Academy and a highly experienced coach with over 25+ years of expertise in various martial arts and a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education. With his vast knowledge and passion for coaching, George is dedicated to helping his clients take their skills to the next level and reach their full potential in both martial arts and fitness. This was an awesome conversation and a bit different than our typical episodes as we dig into a lot of fitness and health topics here. One note before we get started, I will be taking the next few weeks off and will return with our next episode on July 17th. Hopefully, you are also taking some time this summer for some rest and restoration.

Books:

The Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

The WET Center, Benjamin Francis and Samuel Fairbanks

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 30 May 2023 18:52:20 +0000

Today, we have two representatives from the WET Center at Fresno State: Benjamin Francis, Growth Operating Partner and Samuel Fairbanks, Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist. Francis’s key experience includes investment analyst functions, establishing a successful accelerator program, working one-on-one with ventures to secure funding and growth opportunities. Francis has successfully developed and launched the WET Center’s accelerator program – the only accelerator in the CSU system – and has graduated successful companies. Francis holds a Master of Science in Finance from Vanderbilt University and a Bachelor of Arts in Entrepreneurship from California State University, Fresno.

Samuel Fairbanks - Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist Fairbanks is the WET Center’s on-the-ground point person responsible for identifying and cultivating the participation of community stakeholders,
partners, and students. He develops, implements, and provides oversight for outreach and engagement activities to solicit and strengthen community interaction. Fairbanks holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in
History and a Master of Arts in Education, Administration, and Leadership both from California State University, Fresno. He has 10+ years of experience interacting with a wide range of groups and a deep passion for the Central Valley. He is also a proud Downtown Fresno resident.

This is a pretty optimistic conversation about the state of Ag and innovation in the valley.

Books:

1. The Challenger Sale: Taking Control of the Customer Conversation by Matthew Dixon and Brent Adamson

2. Crossing the Chasm: Marketing and Selling Disruptive Products to Mainstream Customers by Geoffrey A. Moore

3. The Fred Factor: How Passion in Your Work and Life Can Turn the Ordinary into the Extraordinary by Mark Sanborn

Joseph Rios, Poet Laureate of Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 22 May 2023 16:16:42 +0000

Today, we have Joseph Rios on the show. Joseph is the newly minted poet laureate of Fresno. He’s also the author of the claimed poetry collection, Shadowboxing: Poems & Impersonations, which won the 2018 American Book Award. This was a fun, all-over-the-place style conversation, with deep insights about the connection between poetry and Fresno, but then also reminiscences about bars, living in the Bay Area, and underrated 90s hip hop.

Books:

Yellow Rain: Poems Mai Der Vang

Heart Like A Window, Mouth Like A Cliff Sara Borjas

The Rendering Anthony Cody

Shadowboxing: poems & impersonations Joseph Rios

All Things Gary Soto

Wilma Hashimoto, Executive Director of CASA of Fresno and Madera

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 15 May 2023 18:47:56 +0000

Today we have Wilma Hashimoto on the show. Wilma is the Executive Director for CASA of Fresno and Madera Counties. She has dedicated her career to positively changing the trajectory of at risk children. Before becoming the Director, Wilma had a long career as an educator. Our conversation will give you a broad overview of what CASA volunteers do, their impact, and what we need to keep supporting at-risk kids in our community.

Books:

The Medici Effect, With a New Preface and Discussion Guide: What Elephants and Epidemics Can Teach Us About Innovation by Frans Johansson

Manpreet Kaur, City Councilwoman for Ward 7 in Bakersfield

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 09 May 2023 21:27:24 +0000

Today, we have Manpreet Kaur on the show. Manpreet is the city council representative for Ward 7 in Bakersfield. Growing up in Bakersfield, Manpreet is intimately familiar with the beauty and challenges of her hometown. After graduating with two master degrees from UW Madison, she decided to return home and run for local office.

Books:

The Death and Life of Great American Cities Jane Jacobs

The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America Richard Rothstein

Paulo Soares, CEO of Camarena Health

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 26 Apr 2023 16:23:24 +0000

Today we have Paola Soares on the show. Paola is the CEO of Camarena Health, the community health clinics that are an integral part of our community health ecosystem. We cover a lot in this conversation, including the history of Camarena Health, care deserts, preventative care approaches, ways to support various demographics, medical expenses, labor challenges, and more.

Books

Think Again: The Power of Knowing What You Don't Know Adam Grant

Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones James Clear

The Bosch Series Michael Connelly

Annalisa Perea, Council Vice President and District 1 Representative

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 19 Apr 2023 19:59:26 +0000

Today, we have Vice President of City Council Annalisa Perea on the show. Perea represents District 1 on the Fresno City Council and is a former trustee on the State Center Community College District Board of Trustees. Annalisa was born and raised in Fresno and attended Fresno City College. She graduated with a B.S. in City and Regional Planning from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. She is an Accredited City Planner with the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP). We covered community college issues, city planning, congestion problems, police and fire, health outcomes in the valley, margaritas, red tape reduction, and more

Dr. David Jeffcoach, Medicine and Global Health

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 17:58:43 +0000

Today we have Dr. David Jeffcoach. Dr Jeffcoach is a Trauma and Critical Care surgeon who grew up in the Central Valley. After completing medical school at UC Davis, surgical residency in Tennessee, and trauma fellowship at UCSF-Fresno, he moved with his family to Sodo, Ethiopia where he was the Chair of Surgery and general surgery residency program director for four years at Soddo Christian Hospital. His primary fields of interest are global surgery, surgical education, and trauma systems management. He returned to Fresno and is currently an Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery at UCSF-Fresno. This is a wide-ranging podcast where we cover a lot of topics, but all around medicine and global health.

Books:

Amazing Grace: William Wilberforce and the Heroic Campaign to End Slavery Eric Metaxas

The Brothers Karamosov Fyodor Dostoevsky

Resurrection Leo Tolstoy

Vincent Catalina, Actor, Writer, and Filmmaker

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 13 Mar 2023 19:25:26 +0000

Vincent Catalina is an actor, writer, and filmmaker and his film that he wrote and played a central role in is called Wild Boys, which was shot locally, and it is going to be available on streaming later this year. Additionally, Vincent is planning a number of screenings in the central valley near you.

Books:

The Name of the Wind: Kingkiller Chronicle, Book 1 by Patrick Rothfuss

The Land by Aleron Kong

The Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynne

Julie Congii, Fresno Bike Station

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 20:27:00 +0000

In this episode, we have a wonderful bike conversation with Julie Congii, from Fresno Bike Station, a wonderful non for profit bike kitchen here in Fresno. Please enjoy our conversation!

Books:

Where the Crawdads Sing Delia Owens

Dr. Benjamin Madley, Professor of History at UCLA and Author of An American Genocide

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 16 Feb 2023 18:35:00 +0000

Today, we have a crossover episode from History of California Podcast featuring Dr. Ben Madley. Benjamin Madley is a historian of Native America, the United States, and colonialism in world history. Born in Redding, California, he spent much of his childhood in Karuk Country near the Oregon border where he became interested in relations between colonizers and Indigenous people. Educated at Yale and Oxford, he writes about Native Americans as well as colonialism in Africa, Australia, and Europe, often applying a transnational and comparative approach. Yale University Press published his first book, An American Genocide: The United States and the California Indian Catastrophe, 1846-1873. Madley is currently co-editing The Cambridge World History of Genocide, Volume 2: Genocide in the Indigenous, Early Modern, and Imperial Worlds, 1535-1914(forthcoming, 2023), with historians Ned Blackhawk, Ben Kiernan, and Rebe Taylor. His current research explores Native American migration and labor in the making of the United States. Please enjoy our conversation.

Dustin Maddox, Lead Pastor of North Fresno Church

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 21:52:00 +0000

Today, we have Dustin Maddox on the show. Dustin is the lead pastor at North Fresno Church. A gifted pastor and preacher, Dustin enjoys creating hospitable spaces for people of all ages and backgrounds to experience God’s love, to be transformed, and equipped to join God’s healing activity in our city and world. He enjoys reading broadly with a cup of coffee, meeting new people, spending time with family and friends, and, most importantly, exploring God’s creation with his incredible wife, Robin, and one-year old son, Beckett.

Dustin graduated with a Master of Divinity from Fresno Pacific Biblical Seminary, and served as Associate Pastor at University Presbyterian Church, Fresno, from 2012-2020. In June 2020, Dustin received the call to become Lead Pastor of North Fresno Church, and he is excited about NFC’s next chapter of being a Jesus people for the sake of others.

Books

East of Eden John Steinbeck

Digital Minimalism Cal Newport

Ethan Chatagnier, Author of Singer Distance

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 19:56:00 +0000

Today, we have Ethan Chatagnier on the show today. He is the author of SINGER DISTANCE, the novel that came out in the fall and is the focus of this conversation, and of WARNINGS FROM THE FUTURE, a story collection that came out in 2018. His short fiction has appeared in a variety of literary journals and have won a Pushcart Prize and been listed as notable in the Best American Short Stories and the Million Writers Award. He is a graduate of Fresno State, where he won the Larry Levis Prize in Poetry, and of Emerson College, where he earned an MA in Publishing and Writing. He lives in Fresno, California with his family.

Books:

Kazuo Ishiguro

Equilateral Ken Kalfus

Light from Other Stars Erika Swyler

Appleseed Matt Bell

Ted Chiang

Saturnalia Stephanie Feldman

What We Fed to the Manticore Talia Lakshmi Kolluri

Sweet, Soft, Plenty, Rhythm Laura Warrell

Talia L. Kullori, Author of What We Fed to the Manticore

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 17:44:00 +0000

Today we have Talia Lakshmi Kolluri on the show. Talia recently published an amazing collection called “What We Fed to the Manticore,” a series of nine stories all written from the perspective of animals. The book blew me away and, as you’ll hear in our conversation, we have a lot of thoughts about the inner lives of animals. Please enjoy this wonderful and thoughtful conversation.

Books:

The Great Derangement Amitov Ghosh

An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us Ed Yong

Eric Washington, Life Coach and Podcast Host

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 06 Dec 2022 18:23:00 +0000

Today, we have Eric Washington on the show. Eric is a life coach and a podcast host with an amazing story. I know you all will love this episode!

I Am Enough Marisa Peer

The Myth of Mental Illness: Foundations of a Theory of Personal Conduct Thomas Szasz

Rich Dad Poor Dad: 20th Anniversary Edition: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! Robert T. Kiyosaki

Julianne Burk, Host of Jul's Armenian Kitchen

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 17:47:00 +0000

Today, we have Julianne Burk on the show. Burk is the creator of a new Armenian cooking show called Jul’s Armenian Kitchen. Originally from Fresno, she moved to the east coast to work as consultant, but when family circumstances brought her home, she made it her mission to preserve the culinary traditions of her family and community. This episode was a lot of fun to produce because we were able to gush about food, cooking, Armenian culture, and more.

Links:

Website: https://www.julsarmeniankitchen.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrQ2DvYAb7PQktbzh7ORM_g

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julsarmeniankitchen

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JulsArmenianKitchen

Pinterest: https://pin.it/126XiK0

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@julsarmeniankitchen

Recipes: Link here

Book Recommendations:

All Things Philip Pullman

Bill Cummings, CEO of Legacy Construction

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 09 Nov 2022 02:03:00 +0000

Today, we have Bill Cummings on the show. Bill is a Merced-based real estate developer and CEO of Legacy Construction which is focused primarily on healthcare and mixed-use development projects. At Legacy Construction, Bill serves as the visionary for the company and manages the day to day operations. Bill moved from Washington, D.C. to Fresno, California in 2006 and created Legacy Construction. In addition to Legacy Construction, Bill co-owns Legacy Realty and Development (LRD), Legacy Commercial (LCRE), First Resource Consulting (FRC) and Soccer City 1852 Visalia. He is a licensed California real estate broker and holds an active California General A & B Contractor’s License. We cover a wide variety of topics in this conversation, and you will walk away with a much better understanding of the state of construction and development in the central valley.

Legacy Construction Website

Books

The Five Love Languages Gary Chapman

David Tangipa, Discussion of Measure E for Fresno State

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 01:41:00 +0000

Today is a special episode focused around Measure E which is a proposal to raise a small tax to build to improve infrastructure at Fresno State. We have David Tangipa, an advocate for Measure E, a Former Fresno State Student-Athlete and 3-Time Fresno State Graduate, who has been campaigning for the measure and is here to share why he thinks you should vote yes. I raise some of the concerns that have been brought up, and I will let you decide which way to vote.

Books

The Prince Niccolo Machiavelli

Lisa Smittcamp, Fresno County DA

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 17:37:00 +0000

Today, we have Lisa Smittcamp on the show. Lisa has been the Fresno County DA since 2015 and has worked in the DA’s office since 2001. This was a fun interview and Lisa definitely pushed back hard on some of the assumptions in my questions. My objective with this conversation was to work hard to understand Lisa’s worldview and I think by the end of this conversation, you will have a clear understanding of her philosophy. Please enjoy my conversation with Lisa Smittcamp.

Book Recommendations:

The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz

James Gearlds II, Artist and Podcaster

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 27 Sep 2022 02:23:00 +0000

Today, we have James Gearlds II on the show. James is an artist with studio space in downtown Fresno and the host of the Arts and BS podcast, an interview focused on artists and their work.

Dr. John Mack Faragher, Yale Historian and author of California: An American History

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 14 Sep 2022 01:53:00 +0000

Today, we have a crossover episode for you. In my other podcast program, The History of California Podcast, I teach about the history of the state of California and interview leading scholars in the field. The podcast I am bringing you today is with Dr. John Mack Farager. An emeritus professor from Yale, Dr. Farager is the author of many books, but today we are focused on his most recent book California: An American History, which I think will become the popular history of California and I hope makes its way into classrooms across California. If you enjoy this episode, you can find my program, History of California Podcast, on all the usual podcast platforms.

Lauren Pratt, Landscape Designer

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 16:51:00 +0000

Today, we have Lauren Pratt on the show. Referred to as the "Drought-Tolerant Queen of the San Joaquin, Pratt is a landscape designer with an eye for our particular environment. This is a wonderful, pratical episode which will hopefully cause you to rethink how you use your outdoor space!

Books/Resources:

The New Western Garden Book: The Ultimate Gardening Guide: Sunset Western Garden Book

Garden Studio Design

Amber Interiors

Miguel Arias, Councilman for District Three

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 31 Aug 2022 17:40:00 +0000

Today, we have Miguel Arias on the show! Fresno City Councilmember President Miguel Arias represents District 3, including the Tower, West Fresno, Central and Downtown neighborhoods. His biography and accomplishments are expansive and we dig into them over the course of the podcast.

Books:

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass

The Reclaim, A Therapy Collective for Adverse Religious Experiences and Spiritual Trauma

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 26 Aug 2022 20:55:00 +0000

Today we have Karen Huckaby, Naomi Wiens, and Breanna Turner, the three LMFT’s behind the new therapy practice in Fresno called The Reclaim, that focuses on adverse religious experiences and spiritual trauma. Given that we all live in the Bible Belt of the west coast, a practice focused around these issues is sorely needed. I hope you enjoy my conversation with these three wonderful therapists.

Benjamin Boone, Musician, Composer, and Professor

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 16 Aug 2022 15:47:00 +0000

Today we have Benjamin Boone on the program. Boone is an American jazz saxophonist, composer, professor, and U.S. Fulbright Scholar to Ghana (2017-18) and the Republic of Moldova (2006). His Origin Records album THE POETRY OF JAZZ was #3 "Best Album of 2018" in the 83rd Annual Downbeat Readers Poll and featured on NPR's All Things Considered, The Paris Review and many others.

Books:

Furnace Creek Joseph A. Boone

Dreamt Land Mark Arax

The Fallen Stones Diana Marcum

The Historian Elizabeth Kostova

Louis Penny’s Author Page

Maisie Dobbs Series Jacqueline Winspear

Effortless Mastery Kenny Werner

The Music Lesson: A Spiritual Search for Growth Through Music Victor Wooten

Predictably Irrational Dan Ariely

Fredrick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom David W. Blight

The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America Matthew Pearl

Sonia Mehrmand, Field Manager for Story Corps' One Small Step Project

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 19:56:00 +0000

Today we have Sonia Mehrmand on the show. Sonia is currently the Field Manager for StoryCorps’ One Small Step project in the Central Valley. She received her Master’s degree in Public History and Museum Studies at UC Riverside, and shortly thereafter moved to Sydney, Australia. During her 4 years there, she worked across the art sector and eventually became Assistant Executive Director at Diversity Arts Australia, a national arts advocacy organization. Sonia is also a freelance creative producer and is on the leadership team for Fresno’s Inhabit Arts Collaborative (@inhabitartscollaborative). She is passionate about increasing equity and access in the arts, and regularly serves as panelist for California Arts Council grants. Her projects are grounded in inclusive storytelling, reciprocity, collaboration, mentorship. Sonia lives on Yokuts land in Visalia.

About One Small Step
One Small Step from StoryCorps is an effort to reconnect Americans, one conversation at a time. Participants will meet someone new — a community member with different views, who they might never talk to otherwise — for a simple, personal, 50-minute conversation. One Small Step helps us move beyond labels like "Democrat" and "Republican" and into the life experiences that shaped how each of us sees our world.

Click here to learn more about it.

Books:

Four Lost Cities: A Secret History of the Urban Age Annalee Newitz

Circe and The Song of Achilles Madeline Miller

Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents Octavia Butler

MaddAddam Trilogy Margaret Atwood

Mike Karbassi, City Councilman from District Two

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 28 Jun 2022 03:21:00 +0000

Today, we have Councilman Mike Karbassi on the show. Fresno born and raised, Councilman Karbassi received his business degree from Fresno State before working in his family’s small business. Karbassi now represents District 2 on the city council. We get into politics, legal issues, conservancy versus development, Persian rugs and food, books and more.

Books:

Worthy Fights: A Memoir of Leadership in War and Peace Leon Panetta

Ian Fleming’s Amazon Page

Des Washington, Entrepreneur, Small Business Consultant, and Burger Expert

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 23 Jun 2022 01:27:00 +0000

Today, we have Des Washington on the show. Des is an amazing entrepreneur, downtown expert, the B2B coordinator for the Metro Black Chamber of Commerce, and burger master! We really get into the nitty gritty of burger stuff, operating restaurants, downtown issues, and more.

Books:

Rock This! by Chris Rock

Kenneth Froelich, Composer, Musician, and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 03 Jun 2022 23:03:00 +0000

Today we have Kenneth Froelich on the show. Kenneth is Professor of Music Composition at California State University, Fresno. Froelich’s music has been performed in over a dozen nations, including the United States, Canada, China, and throughout Europe and South America. He received Doctorate and Masters degrees from Indiana University and a Bachelor of Music summa cum laude from the University of Southern California.

Links:

Froelich's Website

Books

The Mistborn Trilogy Brandon Sanderson

Oryx and Crake Margaret Atwood

Composers/Musicians

Andrew Norman

Nikiko Masumoto, Farmer, Memory Keeper, and Artist

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 17 May 2022 02:42:00 +0000

Today we have Nikiko Masumoto on the show. Masumoto is an organic farmer, memory keeper, and artist. She is Yonsei, a fourth generation Japanese American, and gets to touch the same soil her great-grandparents worked in California where Masumoto Family Farm grows organic nectarines, apricots, peaches and grapes for raisins. With her family, she’s co-authored 2 books: Changing Season and The Perfect Peach. She activates her facilitation, leadership, and creative skills as a performer and leader in the following organizations: co-founder of Yonsei Memory Project, team member of Center for Performance and Civic Practice, member of University Advisory Board (CSU Fresno) board of Trustees of Western States Arts Federation, board of directors of Art of the Rural, and perennial volunteer change-worker. In 2020, she was named one of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts 100 and Creative 10. Her most cherished value is courage and most important practice is listening. I hope you enjoy this wonderful conversation with one of the valley’s treasured artists and next generation of farmers.

Books:

We discuss so many books this episode, so you'll just need to listen!

Links:

Masumoto Family Farm Website

Austin Smith, Real Estate Broker and Developer

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 17 Apr 2022 00:04:00 +0000

Today we have Austin Smith on the show. As a California Real Estate Broker, Austin has worked in commercial and residential real estate since 2005. He holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from San Jose State University. Austin’s work has ranged from designing master planned communities to managing tenant improvement initiatives to developing transformative commercial developments such as 17th Place Townhomes and Cafe Smitten.

Books:

Missing Middle Housing: Thinking Big and Building Small to Respond to Today’s Housing Crisis by Daniel Parolek

Links

Sage Equities Website

Eastchester Living Site

Monisha Mann, Case Manager for Equus Workplace Solutions and Former Radio DJ

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 14 Apr 2022 15:28:00 +0000

Today, we have Monisha Mann on the show. Mann is a case manager for Equus Workplace Solutions where she helps people leaving the prison or the jail system find stable employment. She also was once the DJ on B95 in Fresno, working a radio DJ for 17 years. We had lots to talk about in terms of vulnerability, having a public image, bias, how to help former incarcerated transition to a more fulfilling life and more.

Books:

How to Do the Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal from Your Past, and Create Your Self by Dr. Nicole LePera

Wendy's Got the Heat by Wendy Williams

My Voice: A Memoir by Angie Martinez

I'll Show You by Derrick Rose

Dan Zack, Urban Planner and Consultant

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 30 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0000

Today we have Dan Zack on the show. Dan is an urban planner in Fresno California. In 2022 he founded Zack Urban Solutions, a consulting firm which offers a wide variety of urban planning services to cities, non-profits, and developers who want proven, practical approaches to creating walkable, fun, and inclusive places. Prior to that, he spent 23 years in local government working on downtown revitalization, streetscape projects, parking management, zoning and form-based codes, long-range plans, housing plans, and development entitlements. He spent 7 1/2 years with the City of Fresno: For the last year of that he was the Assistant Director of Economic Development and was focused on bringing housing to Downtown Fresno; for the remainder of his time there he was Assistant Director of the Planning and Development Department. His previous work was in Northern California; as the Downtown Development Manager for the City of Redwood City in the San Francisco Bay Area he attracted the development of 2,500 homes in an area that had stagnated for decades, but which is now one of the most active downtowns in the Silicon Valley.

Zack Urban Solutions Website

Books Mentioned

Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Places Better by Jeff Speck

When Fresno Rode the Rails by Edward Hamm

The Death and Life of Great American Cities by Jane Jacobs

Survival of the City: The Future of Urban Life in an Age of Isolation by Edward Glaeser and David Cutler

Ashlyn Cruise, Miss City of Fresno 2022

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 26 Mar 2022 21:29:00 +0000

Today we have Ashlyn Cruise on the show, who Miss City of Fresno. Miss City of Fresno 2022 a local organization to the Miss America organization. This was a wonderful conversation where we learn about the organization, her advocacy with deaf community, her new children's book, and much more.

Books

My First Book of Baby Signs: 40 Essential Signs to Learn and Practice by Lane Rebelo

The Office: A Day at Dunder Mifflin Elementary by Robb Pearlman and Melanie Demmer

All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold and Suzanne Kaufman

Our Class is a Family by Shannon Olsen and Sandie Sonke

Steven Church, Writer, Educator, and Editor

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 01:00:00 +0000

Steven Church is the author of six books of nonfiction, most recently the collection of essays, I'm Just Getting to the Disturbing Part: On Work, Fear, and Fatherhood. His essays have been published and anthologized widely, including in the Best American Essays. He teaches in the MFA Program at Fresno State and is a founding editor of the literary magazine, The Normal School.

Steven's Website

Books

A Little Devil in America: In Praise of Black Performance Hanif Abdurraqib

They Can't Kill Us Until They Kill Us Hanif Abdurraqib

In the Eye of the Wild Nastassja Martin

Anything by Joan Didion

Alicia Perez, Bee Happy Farms

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 15 Mar 2022 04:57:00 +0000

Alicia Perez is co-owner of Bee Happy Farms Inc a family beekeeping company serving the Central Valley. Bee Happy Farms is dedicated to raising honeybees, pollinating crops and harvesting honey varieties unique to our Central Valley. Their passion for honeybees extends to helping educate others on the importance of honeybees to our food supply chain.

Bee Happy Farms Website

Books

First Lessons in Beekeeping by Keith S. Delaplane

Lourin Hubbard, Congressional Candidate for CA's 22nd District

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 05:06:00 +0000

Today, we have Lourin Hubbard on the show. Lourin is running for California's 22nd Congressional District, comprising portions of Fresno and Tulare counties. Having worked in various capacities for the government, Lourin has a unique perspective he wants to share and utilize as a congressional representative for this area.

Lourin's Website

The Deficit Myth Stephanie Skelton

The Fire Next Time James Baldwin

Jaclyn Manzanedo, Director of Donation Development for Valley Region of Donor Network West

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 09 Feb 2022 04:16:00 +0000

Today we have Jaclyn Manzanedo on the show. Jacyln is the Director of Donation Development, for the Valley Region of Donor Network West. Donor Network West is a federally designated nonprofit, 501(c)3, organ procurement and tissue recovery organization (OPO) with headquarters in Northern California and Northern Nevada. Established in 1987, they serve more than 13 million people and connect a donor’s gift to those in need in 45 counties in Northern California and Northern Nevada. This is a conversation all about organ donation. It’s something that we don’t like to think about (ehem, our death), but we absolutely should.

Books:

The Spirit Catches You When You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman

Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers by Mary Roach

Donor Network West Site

Adam Longatti, Artist and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 05:34:00 +0000

Today, we have Adam Longatti. Adam is an artist and teaches at Fresno State. The focus of his art is landscape, specifically of the central valley. This was a wonderful and winding conversation, and I know you’ll love it!

Books Recommended

The Letters of Vincent van Gogh by Vincent van Gogh

History of the Sierra Nevadas by Francis P. Farquhar

Handbook of Yokut Indians by Frank K. Latta

Garden of the Sun: A History of the San Joaquin Valley, 1772-1939 by Wallace Smith

Adam's Website

Our Patreon Page

Justin St. George, President of Birds for Pride

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 23:43:00 +0000

In today's episode, we talk with Justin St. George, the president of Birds for Pride, the LGBTQ+ club that's been in the news these days. The club was originally started as a class project at FPU, but was rejected as a formal club by the university. This was a great conversation, and Fresno is lucky to have a leader like Justin.

Books Recommended:

The Miracle of Mindfulness: An Introduction to the Practice of Meditation Thich Nhat Hanh

Living Buddha and Living Christ Thich Nhat Hanh

Links

Links for the Birds

Our Patreon Page

Maia Gonzalez, Chalome Gonzalez, and Roald Tenorio, Authors and Illustrators of The Elote Man Goes to College

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 01:15:00 +0000

Today we are talking about the soon to be published children’s book The Elote Man Goes to College written by Maia Gonzalez, Illustrated by Chalome Gonzalez, and Roald Tenorio. I have the three authors on the show to talk about their writing and artistic process, why this story needs to be told, street vendors, elote, the importance of education, the challenges of self-publishing, and much more.

Book Release Information:

Book Release Party Thursday, January 20th, 6-8pm.
Book Reading and Refreshments, books will be available to purchase.
Masks are mandatory.

Books will be available online at www.miicamisa.com at the end of January.

Instagram: @Miicamisa

Follow @arteamericas on facebook for more event details.

Phil Arballo, January 6th Insurrection, Nunes Retirement, and the Special Election (And UFO's)

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 07 Jan 2022 04:34:00 +0000

For the first time in the short history of this show, we have a repeat guest on the program: Phil Arballo. We cover a lot in this episode: our memories of the insurrection, the continuing belief in the election being stolen, the Select Committee, the legacy of Devin Nunes, beating COVID in the valley, the next election, UFO's and much more. Please enjoy our conversation and consider donating to our show here.

Phil's Website

New Year and Season 3

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 01 Jan 2022 16:55:00 +0000

A quick update on the podcast and plans for season three of our show.

Corin Hoggard, Journalist, Investigator, and Anchor

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 06 Nov 2021 20:00:00 +0000

Today we have Corin Hoggard on the show. Corin Hoggard is an award-winning journalist who covers the courts for Action News and is the anchor of the weekend editions of Action News AM Live. This is a wide-ranging conversation that covers a lot, with emphasis of course on journalism and television.

Book Recommendations

Don Quixote Miguel de Cervantes

The Odyssey Homer

Christopher Moore Author Page

Good Omens Neil Gaiman

Our Patreon Page

Josh Tehee, Journalist, Writer, and Podcaster

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 20 Oct 2021 03:13:00 +0000

Today we have Josh Tehee on the show. Josh is a journalist, podcaster, and music critic. Josh is one of those people that follow to keep a pulse on the culture of Fresno. As you might expect, this is a wide ranging conversation, and I hope you enjoy it.

Links:

Music

Turnstile

Deafheaven

Sun Umbra

Books

Dune Messiah Frank Herbert

Blogs/Sites

Video

Two Minutes to Late Night

Links

Aikido of Fresno

Josh’s Substack

Our Patreon Page

Dr. Rong-Huey Liu, Oboist, Performer, and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 12 Oct 2021 04:40:00 +0000

Today we have Dr. Rong-Huey Liu on the show. Hailed as “a phenomenal, expressive oboist”, Taiwanese American, Dr. Rong-Huey Liu is one of Southern California’s most active oboists. She holds principal positions in the Long Beach Symphony, Los Angeles Ballet Orchestra, Reno Chamber Orchestra, Fresno Philharmonic, and Riverside Philharmonic. Dr. Liu has played all over the world and has worked as a studio musician in Hollywood. She holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Thornton School of Music, University of Southern California. If you listen to this podcast, you know that I love classical music so this conversation was as fun for me to produce as it will be for you as a listener.

Books

Marcel Tabuteau by Laila Storch
Casals And The Art of Interpretation by David Blum

Our Patreon Page

Andreas Borgeas, State Senator from District 8

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 04:09:00 +0000

Today we have Andreas Borgeas on the show. Borgeas is a State Senator who represents the Eighth District of California. He has worked in numerous international professional and academic capacities; including, as a Fulbright Scholar, Contributing Fellow for the Woodrow Wilson Center, Policy Specialist Fellow at the US Embassy in Kazakhstan and as Commissioner on the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Andreas began public service as a Fresno City Councilman and member of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors before being elected in 2018 to the California State Senate. Andreas is Chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee and Vice-Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, with other committee assignments. This is a wide-ranging conversation that covers a lot of interesting and diverse topics. I hope you enjoy it.

Books

Peter Mansfield, The History of the Middle East

Elliot Ackerman, James G. Stavridis, 2034: A Novel of the Next World War

Our Patreon Page

Venita Blackburn, Writer and Professor

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 19 Sep 2021 19:07:00 +0000

Today we have Venita Blackburn on the show. Works by Venita have appeared in newyorker.com, Harper’s, Story, McSweeney’s, Apogee, Split Lip Magazine, the Iowa Review, DIAGRAM, Foglifter, Electric Literature, the Virginia Quarterly Review, the Paris Review, and others. She was awarded a Bread Loaf Fellowship in 2014 and several Pushcart prize nominations. She received the Prairie Schooner book prize for fiction, which resulted in the publication of her collected stories, Black Jesus and Other Superheroes, in 2017. In 2018 she earned a place as a finalist for the PEN/Bingham award for debut fiction, finalist for the NYPL Young Lions award and recipient of the PEN America Los Angeles literary prize in fiction. Her next collection of stories, HOW TO WRESTLE A GIRL, will be published in the fall of 2021 by MCD books. She is the founder and president of Live, Write (livewriteworkshop.com), an organization devoted to offering free creative writing workshops for communities of color. Her home town is Compton, California, and she is an Assistant Professor of creative writing at California State University, Fresno.

Venita's Website

Outline of Topics

Where do you like to eat in Fresno?
Questions about Black Jesus and Other Superheroes
Discussion of genre and flash fiction
Overrated vs Underrated
Questions about How to Wrestle a Girl
Book Recommendations

Book Recommendations

James Baldwin Everything

Toni Morrison Sula

Marjorie Liu Monstress Vol. 1

Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone This Is How You Lose the Time War

Brian K Vaughan, Cliff Chiang, and Matt Wilson Paper Girls

Venita's books Black Jesus and Other Superheroes and How to Wrestle a Girl

Our Patreon Page

Bridgette Boothe, Director of Fresno Bully Rescue

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 01 Sep 2021 04:01:00 +0000

Today, we have Bridgette Boothe on the show. Bridgette is the director of the Fresno Bully Rescue. Bridgette and her team are doing great work to home some of the most misunderstood dogs.

Topics Covered:

Where do you like to eat in Fresno?

What are some of the most common myths about “pit bulls”?

How did foreclosures lead to the creation of your organization?

What would we need to do to get to a be no-kill city or county?

Training and education

Fresno Bully Rescue's Website

Our Patreon Page

Jes Therkelsen, Documentarian, Photographer, and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 16:29:00 +0000

Today we have Jes Therkelson on the show. Jes Therkelsen is a documentary storyteller, filmmaker, photographer, and educator who has been telling the stories of others for over fifteen years. His most recent project, a short documentary film entitled One Step At A Time, follows three men as they overcome drug addiction and homelessness in California’s Central Valley. The film was an official selection of The Big Tell, a national film contest and film festival, featuring undiscovered stories from California’s Central Valley sponsored by the Central Valley Community Foundation and Bank of America. Therkelsen’s CV is a fascinating collection of experiences and projects across the world. This is a great conversation where we dig deep into narrative, filmmaking, travel, and much more.

His Website

Documentaries

Dick Johnson is Dead

Nobody's Business

Books

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Ways of Seeing John Berger

Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

Kevin Meikle, Director of Aviation of the Fresno Yosemite Airport

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 12 Aug 2021 02:10:00 +0000

Today we have Kevin Meikle on the show. As Director of Aviation of the Fresno Yosemite Airport, Mr. Meikle is the Chief Executive Officer Central California’s aviation system, which includes Fresno Yosemite International and Fresno Chandler Executive airports. FAT is a small hub airport served by seven domestic and two international airlines. FAT has enjoyed 70% growth since the Great Recession in 2010, accommodates 2,000,000 passengers annually and continues to grow. Chandler is the largest general aviation airport in Central California and serves as a reliever to FAT. Mr. Meikle has served Fresno airports for 19 years. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, is a licensed architect, and has over 40 years of experience in the design and construction industry. Mr. Meikle is also an instrument rated pilot and has been flying for 35 years.

Topics Covered:

Where do you like to eat in Fresno?
French anthropologist Marc Auge categorised the airport as a “non-place”. They are places with no identity. Do you agree with this statement?
How might an architect think about running an airport differently than someone with a background as a pilot?
When you visit a new airport, what are some attributes that you’d look for in trying to determine whether an airport is designed well?
How do you see the future of general aviation and commercial aviation fitting together within a single airport or do you think airports need to focus on one or the other?
What is the process of courting a carrier like Southwest like?
Overrated and Underrated Airports
How does strategy differ between large airports and smaller, regional airports?
Pilot training programs and the market for pilots
What are some resources or books you'd want to share with listeners?

Our Patreon Page

Ryan Jacobsen, Director of the Fresno County Farm Bureau

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 06 Aug 2021 02:51:00 +0000

Welcome to Fresno’s Best Podcast, I’m your host Jordan Mattox. Today we have Ryan Jacobsen on the Show. Ryan Jacobsen, of Easton, is the CEO for FCFB.

Jacobsen is no stranger to Farm Bureau or agriculture. He is the fourth generation of two Fresno County farm families and previously served as FCFB's governmental affairs coordinator and as the organization's membership coordinator, beginning in 2004.

Jacobsen is an honors graduate of California State University, Fresno with a master's degree in business administration and a bachelor's degree in animal science.

He currently serves as president of the Fresno Irrigation District Board of Directors, secretary/treasurer of the Kings River Water Association, chair of Fresno County's Agricultural Lands Conservation Committee, and serves on the boards of California Farmland Trust and the Rotary Club of Fresno.

This may be one of my favorite conversations because Ryan is such a charming, knowledgeable and down-to-earth guy. There are probably places where we could have disagreed, but Ryan has such a powerful diplomatic and level headed approach that I was immediately disarmed. And the reality is is that we found agreement on many of the things we talked about. An awesome conversation with a powerful leader in Fresno.

Links:

Fresno County Farm Bureau

David Mas Masumoto

Victor Davis Hanson

Our Patreon Page

Dr. Kathleen Schock, Host of Valley Edition at KVPR

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 31 Jul 2021 21:20:00 +0000

Today we have Dr. Kathleen Schock on the show.

Dr. Schock is the host of Valley Edition. A Fresno native, Dr. Schock has a bachelor’s in international relations from the University of Southern California, a master’s degree in journalism from UC Berkeley, and a doctorate in educational leadership from Fresno State.

Dr. Schock has more than 20 years of experience in journalism and communications. Her background includes working as a News Associate for NBC News in New York and as a general assignment reporter for KGPE in Fresno.

In addition to her work at Valley Public Radio, Dr. Schock teaches journalism at Fresno City College and serves as the advisor of The Rampage, the college’s student-run newspaper.

As many of you know, I love talking to journalists and this conversation found its way from International Relations to Tap Dancing, from Octavia Butler to what makes an NPR voice distinctive. Please enjoy my conversation with Dr. Kathleen Schock.

Links:

Valley Edition Podcast

Books:

Octavia Butler

The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

The Undocumented Americans by Karla Cornejo Villavicencio

Patreon Page

Bryan Harley, Executive Director of CMAC

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 20 Jul 2021 16:14:00 +0000

Today we have Bryan Harley on the show. Bryan is the executive director of CMACTV, a non-profit organization created to help citizens, schools, non-profits, public agencies and others better connect with our Fresno/Clovis community through the use of media. Bryan also has a lot of experience beyond the camera and an IMDB worth perusing. We talk about film, media literacy, pizza in Fresno, and more.

CMAC's Website

Our Patreon Page

Mark Standriff, Beautify Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 19:09:00 +0000

Today, we have Mark Standriff on the show. A former radio host and a mover in conservative politics, Standriff now directs Beautify Fresno, a campaign to clean up Fresno that you’ve probably seen on Instagram or heard about in the media.

Books:

The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion Jonathan Haidt

Our Patreon Page

Dr. Karen Crozier, Consultant, Educator, Writer, and Community Advocate

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 30 Jun 2021 21:54:00 +0000

Today we have Dr. Karen Crozier on the show. Dr Crozier is a proud native and resident of Fresno and is driving innovation, and change, on racial and environmental justice in agencies and individuals. Dr. Crozier received her B.A. in Psychology from UCLA in 1991, and her M.A. in Education (Early Childhood) from California State University, Fresno in 1996 along with her multiple-subjects teacher’s credential and cross-cultural language academic development credential in 1994 and 1999, respectively. In 2005, she received her M.A. in religious education and her Ph.D. in theology and personality, or practical theology, in 2006 from Claremont School of Theology. She is a former associate professor of practical theology and administrator of faculty development and diversity in Christian higher education. In addition, Dr. Crozier is a former early childhood educator and 7th grade Algebra teacher with over 20 years experience in both education and church ministry. Her current community leadership efforts include black reparations, African American infant mortality, and educational equity and justice. Dr. Crozier is an entrepreneur who brings scholarly activities such as critical thinking, careful analysis, and a radical imagination to engaging racial equity and justice. This was a great conversation and to be completely transparent we get into the weeds of various religious issues here. But we also cover things like Critical Race Theory, gender inclusivity, equitable redevelopment, urban ministry, and much more.

Links

Dr. Crozier's Website

Books

Fannie Lou Hamer's Revolutionary Practical Theology by Dr. Karen Crozier

Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman and Vincent Harding

Women-Church: Theology and Practice of Feminist Liturgical Communities by Rosemary Ruether

When Women Were Priests: Women's Leadership in the Early Church and the Scandal of Their Subordination in the Rise of Christianity by Karen J. Torjesen

Our Patreon Page

Nelson Esparza, City Councilman for District 7

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 09:47:00 +0000

Today, we have on the show City Councilman Nelson Esparza. Councilman Esparza represents District 7 in Fresno. Born and raised in the central valley, Nelson did his education southern California at UC Riverside and UCLA before returning to the valley to make a difference on city council. We talk about a lot in this podcast and if you enjoyed my conversation with his colleague Tyler Maxwell, you will also enjoy this wide ranging and fascinating conversation.

Books:

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

Team of Rivals:The Political Genuis of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Our Patreon Page

John Gliatta, Independent Review for the City of Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 19 May 2021 22:50:00 +0000

Today we have John Gliatta on the show. Mr. Gliatta was appointed in August 2017 as Independent Police Reviewer for the Office of Independent Review, which provides a neutral, third-party review of police policies, procedures, strategies, and internal investigations. He comes to the City of Fresno from the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office, where he worked as a Crime Analyst for their Patrol Division.

Before working for the Sheriff’s Department, Mr. Gliatta spent more than 27 years with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where he was consistently recognized as an outstanding agent and established a national reputation for his exceptional organizational and analytical skills. He was most recently promoted to the Assistant Special Agent in Charge of the Sacramento FBI office, where he managed all criminal investigative units, including Civil Rights, and many of the satellite offices within the division, including the Fresno FBI Office.

Mr. Gliatta also served as an Assistant Inspector of the Inspection Division at FBI Headquarters in Washington, D.C. A graduate of West Virginia University Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management, Mr. Gliatta also completed training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

This was a fascinating conversation and we cover a wide range of topics around policing, reform, and compliance. Small disclaimer at the front for my listeners who are skeptical about law enforcement reform. I would say this to you if you happen to fall into that camp: don’t sit in your silo, you need talk with people you disagree with. It’s important. You still might arrive at the same conclusions (I certainly hold the same views that I did before having this conversation), but I am better informed to make the case for the changes that I want to see after talking with someone like John.

Links:

Independent Review City Link

Our Patreon Page

Susie Harder, SLP, Stuttering Expert, and Junior Author's Program Creator

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 17 May 2021 22:11:00 +0000

Today, we have Susie Harder on the show. Susie is a licesnced speech and language pathologist and is an experienced clinician who devotes much of her passion to working with children, teens, and adults who stutter. She works in both private practice and the school setting to help support children who stutter. In addition to direct therapy, Susie trains speech-language pathologists to work more effectively with students who stutter. Susie teaches the graduate-level fluency course at California State University, Fresno. During her time in Fresno Unified School District (2011-2015), Susie designed the framework for a Fluency Consultant role to utilize specialty skills and support Speech-Language Pathologists working with children who stutter. In addition, to a her quote day job, Susie also created the Junior Author’s program in September of 2020, days after the Creek Fire affected Big Creek and Pine Ridge area families. It was developed as an educationally-focused, social-emotional support for children and families feeling loss and grief due to the fire. Schools across the nation (and world) have joined together to have their students involved in helping our local kids impacted by the fire. This was a great conversation that covered a lot and Susie and I clearly share a love for just one more thing.

Links:

Junior Author's Program

Central Valley Stuttering Center

Fresno's Best Patreon Page

Books:

The Miracle Morning: The Not-So-Obvious Secret Guaranteed to Transform Your Life by Hal Elrod

The Joy of Missing Out: Live More by Doing Less by Tanya Dalton

If I Could Tell You Just One Thing... Encounters with Remarkable People and Their Most Valuable Advice by Richard Reed

Dr. Bradley W. Hart, Researcher, Professor, and Author of Hitler's American Friends

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 09 May 2021 22:21:00 +0000

Today we have Dr. Bradley Hart on the show. Dr. Hart has a Masters in Philosophy from St. Andrews and a PhD from Cambridge University. In 2018, he published the book Hitler’s American Friends which won the German Studies Association Sybil Halpern Milton Book Prize. Dr. Hart is currently an associate professor at Fresno State. This is one of those wide-ranging podcasts where we wander intellectually across a variety of topics.

Links:

Dr. Hart's Website

Our Patreon Page

Books:

The Coming of the Third Reich Richard J. Evans

War and Peace Leo Tolstoy

Hitler's American Friends Bradley W. Hart

The Big Fella Jane Leavy

Isabel Machado, Immigration Lawyer and Advocate

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 04 May 2021 18:35:00 +0000

Today our guest is Isabel Machado. Attorney Machado is a member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), practices exclusively in the area of immigration law with a focus on family-based immigration, employment-based immigration, and complex deportation and removal defense. Like her clients, Machado is a immigrant and those experiences have propelled Machado into helping others pursue citizenship. We talk about a lot of immigration-relation topics, including naturalization, ICE, discourses about immigrants, the situation at the border, and more.

Links:

Isabel's Law Practice

American Immigration Council

Immigrant Legal Resource Center

Our Patreon Page

Books:

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Thunderdog by Michael Hingson

Rob Saroyan, President of Valley Children's Foundation

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 27 Apr 2021 01:45:00 +0000

Today, we have Rob Saroyan on the show. Rob is the president of Valley Children’s Foundation and the Guilds of Valley Children’s. Rob has worked with multiple governors and served as the director of development at Fresno State. This was fascinating conversation and we cover topics of philanthropy, development, Armenian food and much more.

Links:

Valley Children's Foundation

Our Patreon Page

Books:

The Gambler by William C. Rempel

Speed of Trust by Stephen M.R. Covey

Jim Yovino, Superintendent of Fresno County Schools

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 22 Apr 2021 03:53:00 +0000

Today we have Fresno County Superintendant Jim Yovino on the show. Jim attended both California State University, Fresno and Fresno Pacific University. Jim has held positions in education from classroom teacher and coach to principal in Fresno, Dinuba, Central and Clovis unified school districts. Prior to his appointment as the 21st Superintendent of Schools for Fresno County on July 1, 2013, Jim served as Deputy Superintendent. He was elected as the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in 2014 and in 2018 for his current term. He is a champion for all children by advocating for career technical education and the arts, as well as addressing issues of poverty, intervention, civility, homelessness and the importance of early education.

Links:

Fresno County Office of Education Website

Our Patreon Page

Brynn Saito, Poet, Professor, and Activist

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 16:04:00 +0000

Today we have on the show Brynn Saito. Brynn is the author of two books of poetry and co-founder of Yonsei Memory Project (YMP). YMP uses art and storytelling to connect the WWII-era incarceration of the Japanese American community with current struggles for justice. Her poetry has been nominated for a Northern California Book Award and her work has appeared in the New York Times, Vogue, and American Poetry Review. Currently, Brynn is an Assistant Professor of Creative Writing and English at California State University, Fresno, located on Yokuts land. This conversation was great fun and is occasionally or often quite nerdy.

Links

Brynn's Site

Our Patreon Page

Books Recommended:

Kontemporary Amerikan Poetry John Murillo

Wayward Lives, Beautiful Experiments Saidiya Hartman

The World I Leave You Edited by Leah Silvieus and Lee Herrick

Angel Island Erika Lee and Judy Yung

Nisei Radicals Diane C Fujino

The Preacher's Hour Podcast Combined Episode

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 14 Apr 2021 15:36:00 +0000

Today, we have a combined episode with Jeff and Brandon who host the show the Preacher’s Hour, a local program that focuses on religion in our modern time and giving clear advice in an increasingly unclear world. I have enjoyed their show and want to champion local podcasts, so you’ll see more partnerships in the future meant to highlight other people doing good work in town.

Links:

Preacher's Hour Podcast

Books Recommended:

How Africa Shaped the Christian Mind by Thomas Oden

Letters to the Church by Francis Chan

The Reason for God by Tim Keller

Support Us:

Our Patreon Page

Sharon Weaver, Executive Director of San Joaquin River Parkway & Conservation Trust

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 21 Mar 2021 20:45:00 +0000

Today we have Sharon Weaver on the show. Sharon is the executive director of the San Joaquin River Parkway & Conservation Trust, which works to protect the 22-mile stretch of the river between Friant Dam and Highway 99. This was a wonderful conversation about environmental protection, water rights, the politics of development, and much more. Please support our podcast by leaving a rating and review or consider contributing financially at Patreon Page.

Books

The Soil Will Save Us: How Scientists, Farmers and Foodies are Healing the Soil to Save the Planet by Kristin Ohlson

The Worst Hard Time: The Untold Story of Those Who Survived the Great American Dust Bowl by Timothy Egan

Jaime Ramirez, FPU Head Coach and Sporting Director of Fuego FC

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 18 Mar 2021 23:20:00 +0000

Today, we have Jaime Ramirez on the show. Jaime has been a fixture in the Fresno community as the coach for Fresno Pacific University and it was announced that Jaime will take over as the Sporting Director for the Central Valley Fuego FC, who will play their first season in 2022. We spend most of this podcast though talking about coaching, motivation, education, talent development, and the future of sports.

Books:

Revolucion: The Philosophy of Football: In Shadows of Marcelo Bielsa by Jed Davies

Our Patreon Page

Andrew Fiala, Professor of Ethics at Fresno State

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 09 Mar 2021 05:19:00 +0000

On today's show we have Dr. Andrew Fiala, professor of ethics and philosophy at Fresno State. This was a great conversation; we had a lot to talk about! We talk about ethics, ancient philosophy, war, vegatarianism, the popularity of stoicism and much more. Please enjoy.

Recommended Books

The Better Angels of Our Nature by Steven Pinker

Enlightenment Now by Steven Pinker

About Andrew Fiala

His Website

Rachel Dunston, Baker and Custom Cake Maker Extraordinaire

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 03 Mar 2021 04:57:00 +0000

Today, we have Rachel Dunston on the show a custom cake baker in Fresno who has appeared on Food Network. Rachel’s cakes are absolutely stunning, and I encourage you to visit her instagram page linked below to see for yourself.

Rachel's Instagram Page

Rachel's Website

Support Us

Our Patreon Page

Tyler Maxwell, City Council Member from District 4

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 27 Feb 2021 17:02:00 +0000

Today we have on the show Tyler Maxwell, the city council representative from District 4. Tyler recently had success getting a free bus fare program passed and is working on a few different things to improve the lives of Fresnans.

Books

A Promised Land by Barack Obama

The Power Broker by Robert Caro

Support Us!

Our Patreon Page

Lindsay S. Callahan, Director of United Way Fresno and Madera

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 17 Feb 2021 18:36:00 +0000

Today, we have Lindsay Callahan on the show. Lindsay is the director of United Way Fresno and Madera. She has that 10,000 foot view on difficult issues that is so helpful in thinking about the ways for our community to move forward. This was a great conversation!

Books:

Essentialism Greg McKeown

Whistling Vivaldi Claude M. Steele

Support Us:

Our Patreon Page

Jim Boren, Former Executive Editor the Fresno Bee and Current Institute Director at Fresno State

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 13 Feb 2021 20:38:00 +0000

Today, we have Jim Boren on the show. Jim is a journalist, longtime editor of the Fresno Bee, and, most recently, the executive director of the Institute for Media and Public Trust at Fresno State. This was a great conversation and we really dig into some weighty topics after the perfunctory burrito conversations at the beginnings.

Books

All the President's Men

Boys on the Bus

The Road to Character

Support Us

Our Patreon Page

Rei Hotoda, Music Director of the Fresno Philharmonic

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 07 Feb 2021 21:57:00 +0000

Today’s episode is probably my favorite episode so far and it is all due to my wonderful guest Rei Hotoda, whose biography and resume are so expansive that it would be hard to do it justice here. Rei is now in her third season as Music Director of the Fresno Philharmonic and guest conducted around the world. An accomplished conductor and pianist, Rei studied at Eastman School of Music in Rochester New York and USC. This is a fantastic and fascinating conversation.

Books

Support Us

Mike Seay, The Fresnan

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 01:10:00 +0000

Today we have on the Mikey Seay from all the famous fresno media outlets including the blog The Fresnan, and the podcasts the Perfect Pour and Flowing with Famous. He’s the Fresno guy. We obviously have a lot to talk about and we actually spend a lot of time talking about food, content that I know people like listening to. We also unveil the new name of Clovis!

Books

Murder in the Garden Scott Morrison

William Saroyan

Chris Roup, Executive Director of NAMI Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 23 Jan 2021 17:46:00 +0000

On the show today, we have Chris Roup. She is the executive director of the Fresno office of the Naitional Alliance on Mental Illness, a organization that does amazing things to support and advocate for people struggling with mental illness and the families that support them. We talk about mental illness, portrayals of mental illness in hollywood, her own journey, tri tip, and Wonder Woman.

Recommended Books

I'm Not Sick, I Don't Need Help Xavier Amador

Insane Consequences DJ Jaffe and E. Fuller Torrey

Hidden Valley Road Robert Kolker

Support Us

Our Patreon Page

Donald Munro, Arts, Music, and Culture Journalist

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 15 Jan 2021 19:09:00 +0000

On the show today, we have Donald Munro, our local arts and music reporter, who worked at the Fresno Bee for 25 years covering the arts and culture, and now runs his own site called the Munro Review where he has continued this work independently. In this pod, we cover the local music scene, theater, criticism, book recommendations, and much more. Please enjoy my conversation with Donald Munro.

Links:

Donald's Homepage:

The Munro Review

Book Recommendations:

Exhalation by Ted Chiang

Collapse by Jared Diamond

Our Patreon Page

Phil Arballo, Congressional Candidate and Financial Advisor

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 01:15:00 +0000

In this first episode of season two of our program, we speak with Phil Arballo, congressional candidate and financial advisor, about politics, in general and what was happening today in Washington D.C., race and culture, bicycles, breakfast burritos and much more.

The Tower Quartet, Classical Music for Fresno!

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 18 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

Today, we have the Tower Quartet on the show. They are easily my favorite group of classical musicians in town. For the record, though, I don't know that many. They are a brilliant group of musicians making beautiful music. Please enjoy this episode and support us below:

Our Patreon Page

Sara Borjas, Poet, Writer, and Educator

Jordan Mattox — Sat, 12 Dec 2020 01:00:00 +0000

On today’s episode, we have Sara Borjas. Sara is a Fresno poet. Her debut collection of poetry, Heart Like a Window, Mouth Like a Cliff was published by Noemi Press in 2019 as part of the Akrilica series and received a 2020 American Book Award. Her work can be found in Ploughshares, The Rumpus, Poem-a-Day by The Academy of American Poets, and The Offing, amongst others. She is a lecturer in the Department of Creative Writing at UC Riverside, where she works with innovative undergraduate writers.

Support Us: Our Patreon Page

Paul Swearengin, The Non-Partisan Evangelical

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 05:00:00 +0000

On today’s episode, we have Paul Swearengin. Paul has served as a sportscaster/talk show host, business owner, health care business developer and is a founder of a church. More recently, Paul has started the wonderful podcast the Non-partisan Evangelical as well as being the co-host of Fresno famous podcast Two Guys Talking Fresno. In this episode, which we recorded before election, we diagnose the problems that polarize us, how evangelicalism and the republican party fused, and suggest some ways forward.

Books:

Letters from a Birmingham Jail

Jesus and the Disinherited

Love Wins

Talking to Strangers

Support Us!

Our Patreon Page

Sergio Cortes, Founder of uSpark Valley

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 21:00:00 +0000

Today, we have Sergio Cortes on the podcast. Sergio is the owner and Creative Director of Agape Creative studio. He received from Fresno State with a degree in Mass Communications and Journalism. Birthed from his advocacy work, Sergio started a political multimedia studio for the San Joaquin that is targeted towards Millennials and Gen Z called uSpark valley, a creative outlet to deliver news to younger audiences through social media. Sergio was super fun to talk with and the kind of leader Fresno needs.

Books:

Joseph Comes to Town

The Very Good Gospel

Support Us:

Our Patreon Page

Jessica Mast-Foss, Former Director of the Pink House and Fresno Super Fan

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 25 Nov 2020 19:00:00 +0000

In this episode, I interview Jessica Mast-Foss. Jessica is a rural Oklahoman Mennonite girl turned urban Fresno ecumenical woman. Jessica grew up in central Oklahoma, moved to Fresno at age fourteen, and fell in love with the town within a few weeks of her move. She graduated from Fresno Pacific University with a degree in Biblical and Religious Studies and a minor in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies. After graduating, Jessica went on to participate in the Pink House, came to love downtown Fresno more specifically, and grew passionate for community development and exploring the intersection of faith and justice. She has since moved on from her work at the Pink House and has a lot of thoughts as she transitions from that intentional community.

Recommended Book:

Lovecraft Country by Matt Ruff

Our Patreon Page

Art by Elowyn, Fresno-based Artist

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 06 Nov 2020 19:00:00 +0000

Like me, y’all probably exhausted by election drama. So today’s episode will be nice reprieve from all that. Today, we have on the show, the artist Elowyn, who you may know from a beautiful watercolors on Instagram. Elowyn is a Fresno-based artist. I loved this conversation and art is a topic that I don’t get to dig into often, so here we go.

Support Us on Patreon!

Lee Herrick, Poet, Professor, and Former Poet Laureate

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 30 Oct 2020 17:00:00 +0000

Our guest today is Lee Herrick. Lee is the author of many books and his poems have been featured in more magazines than I can count. He served as Fresno Poet Laureate from 2015-2017. And he teaches at Fresno City College and in the MFA Program at Sierra Nevada College. I am just going to prepare you for the nerdy poetry talk that will follow, but as always we talk about food, we talk about hip hop, we talk about the movie Parasite, and much more.

Lee's Homepage

Books:

Philip Levine

Peter Everwine

Larry Levis

Marisol Baca

Anthony Cody, Borderland Apocrypha

Juan Philipe Herrera

Mai Der Vang

Brynn Saito

Steven Sanchez

Joseph Rios

Sara Borjas

David Campos

Steven Church

Corrinne Clegg Hales

Patricia Smith

Brian Turner

Carolyn Forché

Tina Chang

Poetry Foundation

Academy of American Poets

From the Fishhouse

Tracy K. Smith

Support Our Show on Patreon

Chris DeLeon and Amber Donat, Urban Farmers for Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 23:00:00 +0000

We have two guests on today: Chris DeLeon and Amber Donat. They are two of leaders behind a huge urban farming project in Southwest Fresno. The Yosemite Village Permaculture Community Garden and Urban Farm Incubator (Yo’Ville) is a 7.5 acre fresh food production space planned and designed to collaboratively enlist and serve the residents of Southwest Fresno— an important community struggling with extreme poverty and health disparities, and significant environmental injustice and food hardship.

Please support this podcast by either making a financial contribution through Patreon or by giving us a rating and a review.

Books

The Soil and Health

Wendell Berry

Radical Mycology

Edible Forest Garden

Gaia’s Garden

Letters to a Young Farmer

Kiss the Ground

Forks over Knives

Our Patreon Page

Dr. Patrick Fontes, Community Historian, Poet, and Photographer

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 23:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we interview Dr. Patrick Fontes. Dr. Fontes is a fourth-generation Chicano Fresnan. His great grandparents crossed over into El Paso during the Mexican Revolution in 1917, then made their journey over to Fresno, building an adobe home around 1920. Dr. Fontes received his PhD in American History from Stanford University. His research interests include Mexican American history, immigration history, 20th century American youth sub-cultures, and the criminalization of Chicano culture. His poetry has appeared in The Más Tequila Review, the Acentos Review, The James Franco Review, Suisun Valley Review, Silver Birch Press, as well the online poetry site La Bloga.
Floricanto Press published Patrick’s first novel, Maria’s Purgatorio in Jan. 2016.

Links

Voices from Slavery

Patrick's Website

Our Patreon Page

Nayantara Rodrigues, President of Namaste for Compassion

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we interview Nayantara Rodrigues, the president of Namaste for Compassion, an amazing organization that brings Yoga to at-risk groups. Nayantara is also a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), and an instructor at California State University in the Department of Counselor Education and Rehabilitation.

Books

The Body Keeps Score

The Four Agreements

The Seat of the Soul

Outlander

Namaste for Compassion's Website

Our Patreon Page

Steve Skibbie, Photographer and Downtown Advocate

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 29 Sep 2020 18:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we interview Steve Skibbie, photographer and downtown advocate. We talk about a lot of stuff, including the state of photography industry, historical preservation, the importance of walking, and much more.

Books

Black New Yorkers

The Warmth of Other Suns

Caste

Support us!

Our Patreon page

Eat Figs, Not Pigs, The Two Amazing Women Behind the Best Vegan Recipe Blog

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 25 Sep 2020 21:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we speak with the Ashleys, the two amazing women behind the internet's best vegan recipe blog. We talk about overrated and underrated vegetables, the journey to veganism, the psychological effects of giving up animal products, favorite restaurants and chefs, and much more.

Their Website

Eat Figs, Not Pigs

Documentaries:

Cowspiracy

Forks Over Knives

Vegucated

Books

The China Study

Proteinaholic

Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows

We Are the Weather

Superlife

Hot For Food Cookbook

Crossroads Kitchen Cookbook

Bad Manners

Support us!

Our Patreon page

Support us!

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 21:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone! Today's episode is a request for support. We encouraging those who enjoy our episodes to consider contributing to our Patreon page, linked below. We want to continue to produce this show for many years to come, but, to get there, we will need your help. Thanks for listening and stay tuned for our next interview dropping this Friday.

Patreon Page

Vince Mancini, Writer, Film Critic, and Podcaster

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 18 Sep 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Vince Mancini, writer, film critic, and podcaster, of Film Drunk Frotcast. Mancini writes for Uproxx.com, and we dig into journalism in the valley, rethinking food truck concepts, the benefits of MFA programs, what's wrong with those soundscapes in NPR podcasts, and much more. Enjoy!

Vince's Outlets

Filmdrunk Frot Cast

His writing

Book Recommendations

Blue Latitudes

The Pacific: In the Wake of Captain Cook with Sam Neill

Caddyshack: The Making of a Hollywood Cinderella Story

Support us!

Our Patreon page

BKR, Rapper, Producer, and Artist

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 10 Sep 2020 21:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we unveil our new intro song for the podcast produced by local artist BKR. After the unveiling, we speak with BKR about the music scene in Fresno, his hip hop journey, culture vultures, and much more. Enjoy!

Our Patreon page: https://www.patreon.com/fresnosbest

Jennifer Cruz and Emily Johnson, LGBTQ+ Resource Center and Support and Sanctuary Services

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 22:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we speak with Jennifer Cruz, LGBTQ+ Resource Center Manager, and Emily Johnson, Community Outreach Coordinator, both who are working hard to create an infrastructure and support services for LGBTQ folks in the Fresno and the central valley. A great conversation and an important topic that is not covered in many places in local media.

Further reading:

How to be an Antiracist

White Fragility

So You Want to Talk about Race

Me and White Supremacy

The Map of Salt and Stars

Cantoras

Randa Jarrar's Amazon Page

Keith Bergthold, Executive Director of Fresno Metro Ministry

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 21 Aug 2020 18:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we interview the Executive Director of Fresno Metro Ministry, Keith Bergthold. We talk about the history of development in Fresno, building costs, Blackstone Avenue, Lao food, motorcycles, and much more.

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Robert Pusig

Soulcraft: An Inquiry into the Value of Work Matthew B. Crawford

Food Fix Mark Hyman

D.J. Criner, Pastor at Saint Rest Baptist Church

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 18:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we meet D.J. Criner, pastor at Saint Rest Baptist Church. We talk about a lot of things, including growing up in Stockton, how our physical landscapes are related to equity and justice, Greek food, Baptist theology, and much more. Below are some notes from today's podcast and links to a few different ways you can support Fresno's Best.

Books mentioned in the podcast:

The New Jim Crow Michelle Alexander
Divided by Faith Michael O. Emerson
The Cost of Discipleship Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When a Nation Forgets God Erwin W. Lutzer and Eric Metaxas
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership John C. Maxwell and Steven R. Covey

Our Instagram Account

Our Patreon Account

Rabbi Rick Winer, Temple Beth Israel

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 28 Jul 2020 19:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Rabbi Rick Winer. We cover a host of topics including bagels, the history of Jews in Fresno, anti-Semitism, modern misunderstandings about Judaism, and much more.

Natalie Caples and Kym Dildine, co-CEO's of the Central California Food Bank.

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 15:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we speak with Natalie Caples and Kym Dildine, the co-CEO's of the Central California Food Bank. We talk about all things the sources of hunger in Fresno, the importance of cooking, and how they have navigated through the pandemic.

Craig Scharton, Revitalization and Downtown Expert

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 18:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we hang out with Craig Scharton, one of the most knowledgeable people around about issues concerning downtown Fresno. We talk about many things including his political history, revitalization issues downtown, the brewery district, Bitwise, and much more.

D’Aungilique Jackson, President of Fresno State NAACP

Jordan Mattox — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 23:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with D’Aungilique Jackson, the president of Fresno State's NAACP. We had a lot to talk about, so much that we ran out of time. After covering good places to eat, we talked about her fascinating childhood, what led her to Fresno, equity issues at Fresno State, recommended reading, and more.

Dr. Ethan J. Kytle, Chair of the History Department at Fresno State

Jordan Mattox — Thu, 11 Jun 2020 19:00:00 +0000

This was such a timely and wonderful episode! I originally asked Dr. Kytle to come on to talk about COVID after he wrote some articles about Fresno's experience with the Spanish Flu in 1918, but he also happens to be expert on the history of slavery and has written extensively about confederate memorials in the U.S. We ended up spending more time talking about protests and race relations in this episode. This was an amazing conversation and there is so much to be learned here.

Danielle Bergstrom, Director of Fresnoland

Jordan Mattox — Fri, 29 May 2020 02:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we meet Danielle Bergstrom, a researcher, journalist, and urban planner working to improve our city. We talk about her journey toward urban planning, her experience working in advocacy and as a political advisor, eviction, and much more.

Deborah Bernal, Literacy Director of Fresno County Libraries

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 23:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we talk with Deborah Bernal, Literacy Director of Fresno County Libraries. Deborah was, by far, our funniest guest so far, but beyond the humor we cover many topics including doing community organizing work in the Central Valley, inspiring a love for reading, getting things done in complex bureaucracies, how to interview your interviewers when looking for a job, and, of course, her favorite food in town.

Aaron Foster, Community Organizer in the Fight Against Gun Violence

Jordan Mattox — Sun, 16 Feb 2020 17:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we meet Aaron Foster, a community organizer working to end gun violence after tragically losing two of his own children. We discuss southwest Fresno, solutions to violence, political opposition to change, the role of education in solving this problem, and even frog legs.

Alice Daniel, News Director at Valley Public Radio

Jordan Mattox — Tue, 28 Jan 2020 01:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we interview Alice Daniel, the news director at Valley Public Radio. In this wide ranging conversation, we cover a lot including print versus radio journalism, her time teaching in Ghana, memorable stories about the valley, Ethiopian food and much more. We know you'll enjoy this episode.

Reza Nekunamesh, Executive Director of the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno

Jordan Mattox — Wed, 22 Jan 2020 03:00:00 +0000

In this episode, we sit down with Reza Nekunamesh, Executive Director of the ICCF. We talk about where to eat in Fresno, what interfaith work looks like, criminal justice reform, Reza's opinion on tea, and much more. This is not one to miss.