Talk of the Bay from KSQD

  On this episode of Moment of Truth, host Meilin Obinata introduces you to the Chair of the Housing Committee and District 10 California State Senator Aisha Wahab. In this housing-centric conversation, you’ll hear about her personal experiences as a rare renter in the state legislature, her views on affordable housing and her concerns about the “silver tsunami” of seniors who will need housing that matches their income as they leave the workforce.  Our conversation also included consumer protection topics beyond housing, such as her battle with investor-owned utilities such as PG&E (SB 332) and online pricing protections to ensure all consumers are paying the same price for a service or product (SB 259).

In this Part II of our series on “Sad Francisco,” we continue our deep dive into the history of the tech executives, crypto billionaires and venture capital/incubator heads who have attempted a (relatively successful) coup in San Francisco and now appear to be organizing a coup on behalf Donald Trump and JD Vance, who worked in San Franciso for Peter Thiel’s Mithril. Long time Bay Area journalists D. Scot Miller and Kevin L. Jones, with the Doom Loop Dispatch podcast weigh in on the connections between Thiel and other VC and tech execs like Marc Andreessen, Ben Horowitz, Garry Tan, Balaji Srinivasan, Ron Conway and others who, aligned with the YIMBY movement, have tilted San Francisco politics right of center and are now allied with MAGA. How might this impact Santa Cruz, CA or your own “Blue” city? Just what do these people want? Is anti-Blackness at the heart of this agenda? Links and Resources: David Talbot and a Season of the Witch interview Emily Mills on Twitter, formerly known as Prince, now known as Cr*p. (Yes, we are dead-naming Twitter) Gil Duran’s essential article at The New Republic, from April, 2024 Gil Duran on Twitter Gil Duran on Substack. The Sad Franciso Podcast, with Toshio Meronek The Doom Loop Dispatch Pod Strive CEO Matt Cole on Linked In (funded by JD Vance’s Narya) The Phoenix Papers report (Part I) on Big Money in SF Politics Peter Thiel’s Praxis Co. plans an autonomous city in the Mediterranean International “Network State” projects Kelly Hayes on Christo-nationalism and Techno-fascism News outlets reporting on all this: 48 Hills Mission Local The San Francisco Standard (note funded by billionaire Michael Moritz, who is also allied with California Forever, etc.) One of our early shows with Ali Collins, a recalled School Board Trustee in San Francisco

Just ahead of his sold-out talk in Santa Cruz on April 25th, Ami Chen Mills grabbed a half hour with actor, comedian and author Rainn Wilson (formerly Dwight Schrute of “The Office”) to discuss his book SoulBoom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution, his Ba’hai faith, the kind of God he believes in, how spirituality has become too individualistic and consumeristic … and many other profound concerns for the human race. This is a shorter version of this interview, edited for KSQD’s spring pledge drive. Find the full interview (“Director’s Cut”) at Moment of Truth with Ami Chen Mills soon at the show page here at KSQD and at all your favorite podcast sites.

In this extraordinary interview with Palestinian Dr. and Professor Izzeldin Abuelaish, who lost three daughters and a niece to Israeli tank shelling in Gaza in 2009—the same day, 15 years ago, as this program–and who recently lost 22 family members in the Gaza Strip to the Israel-Hamas war, Dr. Izzeldin pleads for an end to the siege on Gaza and addresses co-existence, hate, anger, forgiveness and how to move forward toward peace. … We begin with a report on the tumultuous events of Jan. 9 and beyond, when the Santa Cruz City Council considered a community-drafted ceasefire resolution; what happened at that meeting and what happened after that. Dr. Abuelaish addresses comments from local participants in that meeting as well as calls and emails from live listeners. This show was aired as a special production of both the “Talk of the Bay” program and “Moment of Truth with Ami Chen Mills” at KSQD. Show Notes and Resources Please see Dr. Abuelaish’s biography below: Professor and Doctor Izzeldin Abuelaish is a Palestinian Canadian physician and internationally recognized human rights and peace activist devoted to advancing health and education opportunities for women and girls in the Middle East. Dr. Abuelaish was born and raised in Jabalia Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip. He lived through many hardships there, including poverty, violence, and the horrific tragedy of his three daughters’ and a niece’s deaths in the 2009 Gaza War. Professor Abuelaish has been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace Prize, and is known as the Nelson Mandela and “Martin Luther King of the Middle East,” having dedicated his life to using health as a vehicle for peace. Prof. Abuelaish’ s book, I Shall Not Hate: A Gaza Doctor’s Journey on the Road to Peace and Human Dignity, an international best seller and autobiography of his loss and transformation, has achieved worldwide acclaim.  Published in 2010, now translated into 23 languages, this book was  inspired by the loss of his three daughters – Bessan, Mayar, and Aya – and their cousin Noor who were murdered by Israeli tank shelling on January 16th, 2009, the book has become a testament to Izzeldin’s commitment to forgiveness as the solution to conflict and the catalyst towards peace.   I Shall Not Hate has become both a documentary, due out this year and a play. Past US President Jimmy Carter has said of  Dr Abuelaish … “He has expressed a remarkable commitment to forgiveness and reconciliation that describes the foundation for a permanent peace in the Holy Land.” Professor Abuelaish has been awarded nine honorary doctorates, The Order of Ontario, The Meritorious Service Cross, the Mahatma Gandhi Peace Award of Canada; and many other international-level awards. Doctor Abuelaish founded the Canadian charity, Daughters for Life, in memory of his daughters. Daughters for Life provides young women with the opportunity to pursue higher education and to become strong agents of change.  Currently, Dr. Abuelaish lives in Toronto and is a Professor at the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto.  I Shall Not Hate, the book: https://www.amazon.com/Shall-Not-Hate-Doctors-Journey/dp/0802779492 The Daughters for Life Foundation: https://daughtersforlife.com/

On Talk of The Bay on Tues Oct 21st, at 5 pm, host George Cadman interviewed local author, psychotherapist and Family Constellation facilitator, Molly Salans. They discussed her psychological thriller, A Break in The Fog, about a family in turmoil and a dangerous cult, which explores how faith can be used to heal, but also to abuse, and how love and family is what matters most in the end. Molly and George also talked about: cults more generally (including the cult of Trump); what draws someone into a cult or controlling system; the longing to belong – and how that deep human need can lead either toward love and connection or toward control and manipulation; how to awaken oneself and others to mind control; how compassion and understanding can free us from fear and polarization both personally and collectively; and the power of creativity, community, and ceremony to restore love and empathy in a divided world. Deeply involved in Santa Cruz’s creative and spiritual communities, Molly Salans reminds us that compassion is not just a feeling – it’s a path forward in healing ourselves and our world. For more than thirty years Molly has guided people through the landscapes of grief, love, and transformation—blending psychology, spirituality, and creative expression. Through her Constellation circles and community gatherings, she helps people uncover the hidden love that lives beneath pain and conflict.   abreakinthefog.com

  Interviews with Adam Scow and Dr. Ann Lopez: Adam Bolaños Scow is a Public-Interest Advocate, Violinist, and Music Teacher. For over 15 years Adam has helped win environmental campaigns in the Monterey Bay region including the efforts to ban fracking in Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. He is a co-founder of the Campaign for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture (CORA), a grassroots group working to transition agricultural fields away from toxic pesticides to organic in the Watsonville area. He has served on the boards of Regeneración Pajaro Valley Climate Action, Watsonville Wetlands Watch, and the Sierra Club. He previously served as a Board Trustee for the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, where he helped win one the largest salary increases for teachers and staff in the history of the district and protected vital arts and music programs. As a violinist Adam performs with the Santa Cruz Symphony and also performs Mariachi music with Mariachi Libertad. Adam teaches both orchestra and mariachi through the award-winning El Sistema program in Watsonville and at Cabrillo College. Dr. Ann López is the Executive Director of Center for Farmworker Families. She is an emerita professor and taught courses in biology, environmental science, ecology and botany in the biology department at San José City College for many years. She has a Ph.D. from UCSC in Environmental Studies, where she studied the impact of the North American Free Trade Agreement on the farms of west central Mexico. Her book entitled The Farmworkers’ Journey summarizes the results, arguments and conclusions of her research and was published by UC Press. She has been recognized for her work by the U.S. Congress and many organizations. She was chosen as a Woman of the Year for 2013 and 2014 by the National Association of Professional Women. In March 2018, she was chosen for a 16th Annual Cesar E. Chavez Community Award in Watsonville and in 2019 was recognized by Assembly Member Mark Stone as Woman of the Year in California’s 29th District.

Talk of the Bay Host George Cadman interviews Jenni Veitch-Olson about California Proposition 50. Jenni is a compassionate community leader. Jenni is the Director of Development for Emerge California, the premier training program for Democratic women who want to run for office and win. She served as the Vice Chair of the Santa Cruz County Democratic Central Committee, prior to being elected the Chair in January 2025. She also serves as a Watsonville Planning Commissioner. In 2024, Jenni was awarded Santa Cruz County’s Democrat of the Year for her mobilization of resources to those affected by the Pajaro River flood. Known as “Def Jen Wreckers” on the track, Jenni plays roller derby with the local Santa Cruz Roller Derby team. https://stopelectionrigging.com/ https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/10/voter-guide-2025-print/  

KSQD’s Talk of the Bay, Meilin Obinata welcomes Omar Dieguez to discuss his month-long hunger strike to raise awareness of the dangers of pesticide use in agriculture, and his work to ban pesticide use in the community.

From Suki Wessling: Reporting from the October 18 No Kings Rally in Downtown Santa Cruz today, I heard a clear message: What’s happening in this country is not OK. People from all walks of life came together with a message of unity and hope. Although there was anger, there was a distinct lack of partisanship and hateful speech. Listen in to what locals had to say about the state of our democracy and the message they hope to send. To learn more about future events, join your local Invisible’s mailing list. Suki Wessling interviewing Curtis Reliford Crowd photo by Herb Jellinek.  

Did you know having a dark sky is healthier for humans and other animals? Many creatures rely on the stars to navigate or know where to migrate. Dark Sky International is a movement to reclaim the sky at night, led by amateur astronomers and scientists. Light pollution disrupts wildlife, impacts human health, wastes money and energy, contributes to climate change, and blocks our view of the universe. In this interview with three group members, we hear ideas of what we can do to help darken the night sky again.

Even in a banner year for coastal storm damage, Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches stood out in 2022 and early 2023. A relentless flurry of atmospheric river storms slammed the popular seaside destinations, snapping the historic Seacliff pier in two, dramatically flooding the day-use area with sand and debris and striping away much of the park’s infill material to such a degree that the campground area remains offline to this day. The indelible images even inspired a visit from then-President Joe Biden, who delivered a speech on the impacts of climate change right outside Seacliff’s Welcome Center. Though many of the facilities have recovered in the past few years, climate experts have cautioned that Seacliff and New Brighton remain vulnerable to the supercharged storms that climate change will make more frequent in the years to come. With that in mind, State Parks, in collaboration with local partners, has produced the Recovery and Resilience at Seacliff and New Brighton State Beaches study and shared it with the public for the first time earlier this month. The report, which took more than two years to put together, reveals much about how these beloved parks remain vulnerable to climate change impacts and how local planners can continue the rebuilding effort in way that recognizes the realities of the future and puts resiliency at the forefront. To help us better understand what this report has to offer, host PK Hattis was recently joined by Scott Rohlf, a staff recreation specialist with California State Parks who acted as the Santa Cruz District lead on this study. NOTES https://www.seacliffresilience.org/ https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2025/09/29/new-study-reveals-adaptation-scenarios-at-seacliff-new-brighton-state-beaches/ https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/03/20/its-really-sad-seacliff-pier-demolition-process-begins/ https://www.santacruzsentinel.com/2023/03/27/crews-demolish-historic-monterey-bay-pier-in-danger-of-collapse-after-january-storm-damage/

On this episode of Talk of the Bay, host George Cadman talks with Elaine Johnson, Executive Director of Housing Santa Cruz County, about Measure C, the proposed Workforce Housing Affordability Act appearing on the November ballot in Santa Cruz. They discuss how the measure came about, what kinds of taxes it would establish, how the funds would be used, and what oversight would guide spending. Johnson also responds to concerns raised by community members and outlines the intended goals for addressing local housing needs. It’s an informative and balanced look at one of the key issues facing Santa Cruz voters this fall—housing, affordability, and the future of the community.

Roaring Camp Railroads  is hosting a magical walk in the giant redwoods lit up by movie lighting artists and lamp-makers. I went on a preview of the event with the artists and about 200 other curious folks, and have this story.   ROARING CAMP INTRODUCES “SEQUOIAS AT NIGHT” FAMILY-FRIENDLY STROLL THROUGH ILLUMINATED GIANT REDWOOD FOREST VIEW TOWERING 250-FOOT REDWOODS IN A NEW LIGHT, FEATURING HANGING, LIGHTED LANTERNS CREATED BY LOCAL METALSMITH ARTISTS FELTON, CA – SEPTEMBER 19, 2025 – Roaring Camp, Inc. (Roaring Camp) today introduced “Sequoias at Night,” its new family-friendly experience beneath towering 250-foot-tall redwood trees in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The Sequoias at Night lighted stroll will be open to the public on Saturday, Sept. 27 at 7:30pm. The nighttime experience provides visitors with a magical and immersive perspective on the ancient forest at Roaring Camp. During the 0.8-mile loop walk, visitors will view 26 unique, lighted lanterns, hung approximately 50 feet above the ground. The lanterns were crafted by local artists including Anna Bobisuthi, Roaring Camp’s resident blacksmith, and Chris Butler, who also created the lighting design for Sequoias at Night. Sequoias at Night will be open on Friday nights, weather permitting. Expanded dates are planned for Spring 2026. Tickets are available at www.roaringcamp.com. Adult tickets will be $24.95, children $12.95 and kids under two enter for free. Roaring Camp’s food services and gift shop will be open. Roaring Camp is located at 5401 Graham Hill Rd, Felton, CA.  

Across the country, there has been a huge increase in attempts to ban books from libraries and schools. The American Library Association is fighting back against attempts to censor books from libraries by raising awareness of protecting our right to read what we choose. We hear from Heather Norquist, youth programs coordinator for the Santa Cruz Public Libraries about how important it is to nurture a love of reading in young people, and not remove books by authors of color or ones that contain LGBTQ+ themes.  

  On Talk of the Bay, host Meilin Obinata welcomes Paul Kmiec the director of the Santa Cruz Film Festival. Join us in learning how this 25 year old film festival is rejuvenating itself with Paul, a filmmaker in his own right, at the helm. Most importantly, be sure to attend the free parties and meet the filmmakers who are coming to town for this celebration of creativity and independence from Wednesday October 8th through Sunday October 12th! SCFF Schedule https://www.santacruzfilmfestivals.org

Tim Eagan, beloved cartoonist, satirist, radio drama guy and all around cultural icon of Santa Cruz passed away in August of 2025. We hear from friend and radio host Bruce Larsen, and poet Stephen Kessler about his legacy and we hear an interview I did with Tim in April, 2022 upon the release of his graphic novel.’

On this episode of Talk of The Bay, host George Cadman is joined by Tony Nuñez, Marketing & Communications Director at Community Bridges, where he leads strategic messaging to highlight the impact of the nonprofit’s 10 programs serving more than 20,000 children, families, and seniors each year across Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito Counties. These programs deliver hot meals to homebound seniors, provide accessible transportation to medical appointments, connect families to food and housing resources, nurture children through early education, and offer critical recovery support during disasters. Tony and George will discuss the important work of Community Bridges in our tri-County area and the upcoming Pie for The People event on Oct. 26th which will benefit this critical community resource.   In the second half of the program, George Cadman is joined by local educator and life-long learner Megan Grenier who over the last 28 years has worked in a variety of educational settings – as an elementary classroom teacher, an Education specialist for a charter school, a mentor teacher, a private tutor, and as a director of a learning lab to help struggling readers using the Orton Gillingham approach. Her passion is to help students learn to read proficiently. Megan and George will discuss the importance of literacy to individuals and society, two recent CA Senate bills passed in 2024 requiring schools in CA to screen all K-2 students for reading difficulties, including dyslexia, this school year, as well as two upcoming Dyslexia Simulations she and other educators are hosting to raise awareness about the frustrations and struggles that individuals with dyslexia experience on a daily basis in the classroom. They encourage parents, teachers and life-long learners to register for the simulations which will be held at the Scotts Valley public library and the Simpkins Swim Center/Live Oak Annex in October, which is Dyslexia Awareness Month.

The Arts Council of Santa Cruz County kicks off their Open Studios Art Tour the first weekend in October. Celebrating their 40th year Open studios is bigger than ever featuring over 340 artists! Working in 22 mediums from seasoned professionals to new and emerging, Open Studios presents an opportunity for everyone to discover, experience, and connect with artists and their work. KSQD Host Christine Barrington welcomes Open Studios Program Manager, Bree Karpavage along with two participating artists to share behind the scenes details into what makes Open Studios an event you do not want to miss. Featured artists: Anna Cummins (#239) is a full-time ceramicist who creates functional pieces that have whimsical sculptural and painted elements.  Biagio Scarpello (#78) is a mixed media sculptor and blown glass master who also teaches art at San Jose State and Cabrillo College in Aptos. Tour Weekends (10am–5pm) Oct 4–5: South County Oct 11–12: North County Oct 18–19: All County ✨ Preview Exhibits Santa Cruz Art League | Sept 26–Oct 19 Pajaro Valley Arts | Sept 20–Oct 19 📍 Plan Your Visit Website: santacruzopenstudios.com Printed Guide: Available at Good Times drop-off spots from mid Sept App: “Santa Cruz County Open Studios” on iTunes & Google Play from mid Sept ✉️ For More Info: Email mercedes@artscouncilsc.org Guest Recommended Studios: Mattie Leeds #343 Tessa Hope Hasty #342 Tina Fuller Somers #332 Elijah Pfotenhaur #126 Coeleen Kiebert  #26 Santa Cruz Clay #313-317        

  Dr. Janice Hadlock is a professor of acupuncture and a well-known researcher in the field of Chinese medicine. She has been published in the top journals in the field and has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding treatments for Parkinson’s Disease. She is the first non-MD acupuncturist to be published in that medical journal. Early in the COVID pandemic, she discovered that the symptoms of COVID, and of Long COVID, are caused by a trio of electrical blockages in the subdermal fascia. Through successive treatments of COVID patients in 2019 and 2020, she found that these blockages can easily be straightened and removed by stroking the affected area with the hand. Her findings, based on her own work and work of other practitioners using the treatment she developed, were published in the Fall 2022 edition of the Journal of Chinese Medicine. Her instructions for doing the treatment are available for free at covidtreatment.info. Dr. Hadlock has been working with the NIH since 2022. Although the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health has approved the treatment, its parent organization, the National Institutes of Health, has been suppressing the information for three years.

In this episode of Talk of the Bay, host Janet Quinn sits down with Brian Sweeney and Omar Guzman of the Homeless Garden Project. They share how the project provides job training, community, and hope for people experiencing homelessness, while also growing fresh food, handmade goods, and deep connections in Santa Cruz. From the upcoming Sustain Supper fundraiser featuring chef Jozseph Schultz and poet Jane Hirshfield, to the excitement of securing a permanent farm site, this conversation highlights the power of collaboration, resilience, and renewal rooted in the soil. Listen now to hear an inspiring story of growth—on the farm and beyond. Join HGP for their Sustain Supper, Saturday, October 18th at Natural Bridges Farm in Santa Cruz—an evening of farm-to-table dining, community, and poetry, all in support of the Homeless Garden Project. Enjoy a locally sourced four-course meal by Chef Jozseph Schultz, dessert from The Penny Ice Creamery, and a keynote by renowned poet Jane Hirshfield. Tickets and details at homelessgardenproject.org.