The story starts with following Chris Balthasar from a Swiss-American childhood in Philadelphia and winds through Hollywood backlots, a B-movie alligator, and a surreal day in a Sonic the Hedgehog suit getting heckled by Tony Danza all day-then pivots into law, environmental advocacy, and a move to Santa Cruz that finally felt like home. Chris takes us on a  winding road with uncommon honesty, connecting big breaks and bigger heartbreaks to the simple habits that keep him grounded: food choices with purpose, a community that welcomes you as you are, and the discipline of Jiu-Jitsu.

We explore how a single book, Diet for a New America, reshaped his view of health and ethics and led to meaningful work with EarthSave. We dig into his time at a major plaintiffs’ firm in what turned into the movie Aaron Brockovich without him even knowing. He shares the emotional whiplash of career shifts, and why Santa Cruz’s quirky, collaborative culture changed his sense of belonging. Along the way, we talk candidly about wealth sitting beside work boots, street music and science labs, and a shared commitment to the redwoods and the bay that cuts across politics.

Jiu-Jitsu threads it all together. Chris trained at the original Gracie academies in the early 90s, stepped away for years, then came back in a personal storm—businesses failing, marriage ending, savings evaporating. The mat became therapy and tribe. He set a terrifying goal, entered the Pan Ams, which is one of the most important tournaments in the US, and walked out with gold and no points scored against him. We unpack how trust, mercy, and presence define the art, why fundamentals beat fads, and how the sport has evolved without losing its heart. 

Gratitude, he says, is the real engine: waking up healthy, loved, and in a place that fits.

If you’re navigating change, looking for a community that heals, or curious how Santa Cruz quietly reshapes people, this conversation will land. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs some hope, and leave a review to help others find the show.