bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the current landscape and future direction of economic development in San Antonio, focusing on the interplay between attracting new employers and creating long-term opportunities for local residents. Host Cory Ames sits down with Leo Gomez, CEO of the Brooks Development Authority, and Sarah Carabias-Rush, President and CEO of Greater:SATX, for a grounded discussion on the city's approach to thoughtful growth, quality job creation, and the challenges that come with a rapidly expanding population.

The conversation explores:

• How regional partnerships—like those between Brooks and Greater:SATX—shape job growth and neighborhood revitalization

• What kinds of jobs and industries are being prioritized, and why advanced manufacturing is seen as a game changer for economic mobility

• The tension between high-profile economic wins and genuine improvements in household income and quality of life

• The importance of site readiness, workforce training, and coordinated investment in ensuring that growth benefits San Antonio families

• Recent developments, including IEM’s $200 million factory commitment, and how these fit into a broader vision of sustainable, inclusive prosperity

We also hear perspectives on San Antonio’s long-term economic resilience, the need for industry diversification, and the practical realities of balancing outside investment with community values.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Chef Leo Davila, a San Antonio native whose personal journey has led him from childhood field trips downtown to running the kitchens at the historic St. Anthony Hotel. After gaining a following at his acclaimed eight-table restaurant, Sticks and Stone, and being named a James Beard semifinalist, Davila made the decision to close his business and lead the food program at the St. Anthony—one of the city’s most storied venues.

Host Cory Ames and Chef Davila discuss the factors behind this major career move, what it means to build authenticity as a chef who defies easy categories, and the challenges of bringing everyday San Antonians back to downtown dining.

Topics include:

• The evolution of downtown’s dining scene and Davila’s efforts to make it approachable for locals

• How growing up in a mixed Chinese-Mexican San Antonio family shaped his culinary perspective

• The pressures of awards and recognition, and how a health crisis changed his priorities as a chef and leader

• What it takes to keep a restaurant sustainable in San Antonio’s challenging ecosystem

• Why hospitality and care are at the heart of his approach—both for staff and guests

Davila offers an inside look at the realities of running a high-profile kitchen in San Antonio, and his vision for a more unified, adventurous local food scene.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the changing face of San Antonio’s startup scene through the lens of Geekdom, the well-known downtown tech hub entering a new phase. 

Cory Ames is joined by Charles Wooden, CEO of Geekdom, to discuss the organization’s shift from coworking to a membership-driven club model—and why the focus is increasingly on supporting startups past the “Valley of Death”: that risky stage between launch and true validation.

They explore:

• Charles Wooden’s personal journey from Michigan to San Antonio and into local tech leadership
• Geekdom’s evolution since 2011 and why it’s moving beyond coworking
• The impact of COVID-19, rapid changes in downtown, and how local entrepreneurs are adapting
• The growing partnership between Geekdom, Launch SA, and the City of San Antonio
• The significance of the MIT REAP program and what it could mean for retention and growth of innovative companies in San Antonio
• The vital role of UT San Antonio’s downtown expansion in fueling local talent and entrepreneurship
• What success looks like for Geekdom and the broader ecosystem over the next decade—and how locals can get involved

For anyone following the economic and civic development of San Antonio, this episode offers a detailed look at how one institution is redefining its mission in a rapidly shifting landscape.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, filmmaker Ben Masters joins Cory Ames for an in-depth look at Texas’s rivers, conservation, and the stories behind Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers out in theaters, now. 

Set beside a Hill Country creek, the conversation traces Masters’ journey from Amarillo to acclaimed wildlife filmmaker, uncovering what it takes to capture Texas’s landscapes on film and the social, ecological, and historical factors shaping the state’s water.

They discuss:

• The logistical and creative challenges of filming Texas wildlife

• How rivers have shaped Texas’s cities, towns, and ecosystems

• The complicated legacy of dam building and water infrastructure in the state

• Why community-driven conservation efforts are crucial for the future of Texas rivers

• The lessons learned from restoration victories, like the recovery of the Neches River

• What Texans can do to support vibrant, healthy waterways for generations to come

Deep in the Heart 2 opens a window on familiar landscapes, exploring both what’s been lost and what’s possible if Texans invest in stewardship and sustainable water management.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the newly redrawn Congressional District 35 and its implications for San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding rural communities. As political lines shift, so do the issues and challenges facing candidates and residents in the district.

Bob sits down with Johnny Garcia, Democratic candidate and sheriff’s deputy, to discuss the stakes of this pivotal race, the changing demographics of District 35, and how national partisan dynamics are playing out on deeply local terms.

They discuss:

• How redistricting has transformed District 35, shifting its profile from an Austin-anchored stronghold to a district rooted in San Antonio and neighboring counties
• The impact of national politics and party strategies on local races in Texas
• Garcia’s law enforcement background and how it shapes his approach to public safety, immigration, and criminal justice reform
• Economic challenges faced by local businesses, workers, and families—especially in the context of tariffs, inflation, and affordable housing
• The importance of grassroots engagement, earning the Latino and young voter support, and the role of outside money and national figures in the race

As early voting approaches, this conversation provides insight into one of Texas’ most consequential congressional races and the issues at the heart of San Antonio’s future.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the future of San Antonio and other Southwestern cities through the lens of urban design, infrastructure, and climate resilience. 

Bob sits down with Duke Reiter, architect, educator, and founder of the Ten Across initiative, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the cities connected by Interstate 10—from water scarcity and aging infrastructure to rapid growth, affordable housing, and the realities of climate change.

Their conversation explores why San Antonio is at the crossroads—literally and figuratively—for issues shaping the region’s future, how public-private partnerships like the new Central Texas Alliance can bridge gaps between local and state government, and what lessons from Phoenix might inform San Antonio’s evolution.

They discuss:

• The origins and goals of the Ten Across project
• How Southwestern cities are coping with water shortages and infrastructure strains
• Prospects for mass transit, rail, and new mobility solutions in rapidly growing metro areas
• The impact of data centers, energy demands, and economic development along I-10
• Emerging issues around affordable housing and university expansion in downtown cores
• How San Antonio and Phoenix are responding—or failing to respond—to heat, extreme weather, and climate adaptation planning

If you want a clear-eyed look at the forces shaping San Antonio’s next decades, this episode brings regional perspective to local challenges.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a closer look at one of San Antonio’s cornerstone cultural institutions as it enters its centennial year—the Witte Museum. Marking 100 years since its founding in 1926, the Witte continues to serve as the city’s foremost museum of nature, science, and Texas heritage.

Bob sits down with Michelle Cuellar Everidge, President and CEO of the Witte, to dissect the museum’s deep local roots, its evolving role in the community, and the challenges and opportunities that come with stewarding a historic collection in a rapidly changing city.

They discuss:

• The museum’s origins, including its earliest collections and civic partnerships

• The ongoing responsibility to document, preserve, and interpret Texas’s prehistoric and indigenous narratives—such as the famed White Shaman Preserve in Val Verde County

• How the Witte’s expansion, including its educational programming and acquisition of the Herzberg Circus Collection, shapes accessibility for local schoolchildren and families

• The broader landscape of San Antonio’s museums: how collaboration and competition influence cultural growth across the city

• What’s ahead for the Witte as it looks beyond its 100th anniversary, including upcoming exhibitions and a focus on fostering a “curious generation” of Texans

For listeners invested in the institutions that define San Antonio—and the larger questions of how those institutions serve and reflect their communities—this episode offers an in-depth look at the past, present, and future of the Witte Museum.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we look at how UT San Antonio's Klesse College of Engineering is driving new ambition among San Antonio students—and earning global attention in the process. 

As UT San Antonio continues its evolution into a Tier 1 research institution, the experience of freshman-led Team 210 Robotics provides a window into both the campus culture and the resources shaping today’s engineering talent.

Host Bob Rivard is joined by Israel Elizondo and Dyshana Torres, two undergraduates whose team won the 2026 Siemens Immersive Design Competition, an international challenge with 1,900 entries from 350 universities worldwide. Their winning project—RoboRowdy—automates 3D print farms, showcasing both technical skill and initiative.

They discuss:

• How a student-driven idea grew inside a UT San Antonio dorm and became a winning global engineering project

• The processes, faculty support, and university investment behind Team 210’s success

• What it means for San Antonio—and for UT San Antonio—to compete on a world stage alongside Princeton, Georgia Tech, and international universities

• What’s changing for local students as programs, internships, and research expand at UTSA

• Personal stories from Israel and Dyshana about college access, scholarships, and navigating first-generation experiences

• The role of immersive engineering, virtual reality, and AI in shaping education and careers for San Antonio’s next generation

Tune in for a candid conversation about opportunity, preparation, and change at one of the city’s fastest-evolving institutions.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a close look at the evolution of solar energy in San Antonio, a city that now leads Texas and ranks among the top five in the nation for solar capacity. As CPS Energy’s long-running rebate programs wind down and the policy landscape shifts, what does the future hold for local solar initiatives—and for the residents and businesses looking to take part?

In conversation with Robert Miggins, CEO and co-founder of Big Sun Solar, the discussion explores how commercial solar has changed over the past decade, examines San Antonio’s municipal solar project—the largest in Texas, and the second largest in the U.S.—and unpacks how regulatory and economic factors have shaped the city’s unique position in the energy sector.

Topics include:

• The impact of policy changes and waning rebates on San Antonio’s solar growth
• How cost, regulation, and the utility landscape affect solar adoption across the state
• Details and outcomes of the City of San Antonio’s major municipal solar project
• The new community solar initiative making solar accessible to renters and apartment dwellers
• The evolving role of solar, wind, and battery storage in Texas’ energy future

Tune in for an in-depth conversation about the opportunities and challenges facing solar energy in San Antonio, and what it means for the city’s future.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine how San Antonio is preparing for—and managing—the increasing threat of extreme heat. As another sweltering summer grips the city, heat is no longer just an annual inconvenience but a growing risk to public health, infrastructure, and the local economy.

Cory Ames speaks with Laura Patiño, Director of the Department of Resilience and Sustainability for the City of San Antonio. The conversation focuses on the city’s new Heat Resiliency Playbook, what makes San Antonio’s climate challenges distinct, and how neighborhoods most affected by heat are shaping the response.

They discuss:

• What the data reveals about the rise in extreme heat days in San Antonio
• How heat impacts everything from electricity bills and public health to transportation and tourism
• Strategies in the Heat Resiliency Playbook: from cool pavements and tree planting to resilience hubs
• Tracking the effectiveness of solutions—and the challenges of funding and coordination across departments
• Why keeping heat resilience a priority is critical for San Antonio’s future

For a closer look at a city adapting to new climate realities, listen wherever you get your podcasts or visit bigcitysmalltown.com.

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