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The bigcitysmalltown podcast, hosted by Bob Rivard, is dedicated to telling the stories of San Antonians working to make the city a more sustainable, better educated, equitable and prosperous city. We want San Antonio to become a destination city for talented and creative people, and a city where young people born or raised here want to build their futures here. We embrace diversity, multiculturalism, and every individual’s right to realize their full potential without fear of oppression.Each Friday, bigcitysmalltown will offer listeners a new podcast release, a timely, focused look in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States that serves as the economic, cultural and regional capital of South Texas.
160 Episodes
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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the transformation of Mitchell Lake on San Antonio’s South Side—from decades as a city sewage dump to its current status as a 1,200-acre urban wildlife sanctuary and a critical stop along the Central Flyway for hundreds of migratory bird species. Cory Ames is joined by Erin Magerl, Senior Education Coordinator at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, to detail the lake’s complicated history, its current ecological significance, and what its rebirth says a...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the realities behind CPS Energy’s record-setting proposed budget and the future of San Antonio’s energy infrastructure. As San Antonio and South Texas experience unprecedented growth, CPS Energy—the nation’s largest public energy utility—faces a host of challenges and opportunities in delivering reliable, affordable power to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses. Bob Rivard sits down with Rudy Garza, President and CEO of CPS Energy, for a candid ...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the pressing issue of San Antonio’s stray animal population and the role of affordable spay and neuter services in addressing it. With a 20% euthanasia rate at the city’s shelters and persistent challenges around pet overpopulation, animal welfare remains a critical public concern. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Cathy Rosenthal, syndicated animal welfare columnist, and Vanessa Richey Said, chairwoman of the San Antonio Spay/Neuter Network. Together, the...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine Grassroots Carbon—a San Antonio-based company working at the intersection of ranching, environmental stewardship, and carbon markets. Founded in 2021 by Lew Moorman and Ed Byrne, Grassroots Carbon partners with ranchers across Texas and beyond to implement regenerative grazing practices that enhance soil health and facilitate carbon capture. Bob Rivard sits down with Brad Tipper, CEO of Grassroots Carbon, to discuss the science behind soil carbon sequ...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the future of professional classical music in San Antonio in the wake of disruption, dissolution, and ongoing uncertainty for long-standing arts organizations. San Antonio native Paul Montalvo, a former firefighter who now leads The Orchestra San Antonio, discusses growing the organization from a $45,000 budget to a projected $2.4 million this year, and the unique model he believes can sustain orchestral music in the city where prior efforts have stru...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Cory Ames sits down with Jaci Randel, executive director of the Bexar Branches Alliance, to examine the ongoing decline of San Antonio’s urban tree canopy and the push to restore regional “tree equity.” Since 2000, Bexar County has lost 20% of its tree cover, while the state of Texas has lost nearly 25%. Achieving equitable canopy coverage across neighborhoods would require planting more than 1.5 million trees in San Antonio alone. In this episode, they dis...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on Bexar County leadership and the ongoing challenges facing San Antonio’s county government. In light of the upcoming March 3 primary election, Bob Rivard and Cory Ames interviews Judge Peter Sakai, the incumbent county judge seeking re-election. The conversation covers Judge Sakai’s decades-long public service, his approach to “back to basics” government, and the county’s response to acute issues, including economic instability, food insecurity, affor...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the race for Bexar County Judge through the lens of former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg’s candidacy. After serving as mayor from 2017 to 2025—a period marked by both crisis and growth—Nirenberg is now challenging incumbent Judge Peter Sakai. As one of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, Bexar County faces new and unresolved questions around public safety, health care access, infrastructure, and the organization of local government. Cory Ame...
In the first episode of bigcitysmalltown of 2026, we reflect on a pivotal year for San Antonio and look ahead to the challenges and opportunities of 2026. Bob Rivard and Cory Ames examine how shifts in media—from the podcast’s expansion into video to the growing influence of YouTube—are changing civic engagement and local news consumption. They discuss the impact of major regional elections, including the controversial mayoral race and the county’s vote on the Spurs arena proposition, and con...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our focus to the rapidly evolving corridor between San Antonio and Austin—a megaregion that is reshaping the future of Central Texas. Hosts Cory Ames and Bob Rivard are joined by former San Antonio mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Henry Cisneros, to discuss his and Bob's new book, which examines the unprecedented growth, challenges, and opportunities along this urban corridor. The conversation moves beyond headlines about popula...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Chef Nicola Blaque, the force behind San Antonio’s only Michelin-recognized Jamaican restaurant, The Jerk Shack. Chef Nicola shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. as a child, navigating life in New England, and serving in the Army through three tours, to eventually reclaiming and expressing her Jamaican heritage through food in San Antonio. Host Cory Ames joins Nicola in the restaurant to discuss how her identity, family, and military ...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the Alamo Promise program—a tuition-free initiative from the Alamo Colleges District aimed at lowering barriers to higher education for Bexar County high school graduates. The program, now entering its sixth year of enrollment, has set out to make college accessible to all students regardless of income, academic standing, or background. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Stephanie Vasquez, Chief Program Officer for Alamo Promise, to discuss the impact of th...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine one of San Antonio’s newest and most debated cultural gatherings: the Krampus Parade in King William. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Bob Crittenden, senior Scrum Manager at USAA and founder of San Antonio’s Krampus event, which drew approximately 10,000 participants and spectators in its inaugural year. Together, they discuss the origins of Krampus in Central European Alpine traditions, its transformation from private house visits to public festivals, a...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine dyslexia—one of the most common, yet frequently misunderstood learning challenges affecting up to one in five individuals. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Jasmin Dean, founder and CEO of Celebrate Dyslexia, a San Antonio nonprofit advocating for better diagnosis, intervention, and public understanding of dyslexia across schools, healthcare, and society. Drawing on both personal experience and current research, Jasmin Dean discusses the realities facing f...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the San Antonio Botanical Garden at a pivotal moment—its 45th anniversary year. Known as a living museum, the Garden has grown into a statewide leader in plant conservation and environmental education, serving hundreds of thousands of visitors annually while shaping the city’s approach to urban nature and sustainability. Cory Ames speaks with Katherine Trumble, President and CEO of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, about the Garden’s newly unveiled te...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s housing crisis and the challenges facing public housing as both federal support and affordability decline. Bob Rivard is joined by Michael Reyes, CEO and President of Opportunity Home—San Antonio’s housing authority—to discuss what’s at stake for the city’s most vulnerable residents and the future of local affordable housing. With an annual operating budget of $250 million and 600 employees, Opportunity Home provides housing assistance t...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine one of the most significant recent developments in San Antonio’s advanced manufacturing and economic landscape: the arrival of JCB Texas. British construction equipment manufacturer JCB broke ground on a new plant on the city’s south side in 2023—an investment that promises to bring 1,500 new jobs to the area and reshape the region’s industrial ecosystem. Bob Rivard sits down with David Carver, operations director for JCB Texas, to discuss the progres...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to one of San Antonio’s most significant entrepreneurial success stories: Supergoop! and its founder, Holly Thaggard. From its origins here in Texas, Supergoop! has grown into an internationally recognized skincare company, known for its innovative approach to sun protection and public health. Host Bob Rivard sits down with Holly Thaggard to explore her journey from third grade teacher and professional harpist to award-winning entrepreneur ...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the critical decisions facing Bexar County voters and their impact on the future of San Antonio’s east side, the Spurs, and the Stock Show & Rodeo. Bob Rivard sits down with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai to discuss what’s at stake in the upcoming countywide election, where voters will decide on two propositions affecting the Frost Bank Center, potential new development, and the future economic direction of the city. Judge Sakai shares his perspec...
This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the present and future of San Antonio’s water supply—a topic at the center of new rate increase discussions and long-term regional planning. San Antonio has quietly become a national leader in water conservation, with steady water use despite decades of rapid population growth, distinguishing itself from many fast-growing Texas cities now facing water shortages. Host Cory Ames sits down with Robert Puente, CEO of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), t...
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