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 and member of the Texas Business Hall of Fame. Together, they discuss the deeply personal experience that sparked Supergoop!, the scientific rigor and product development that set it apart, and the practical business lessons learned along the way.

They discuss:

• The founding story of Supergoop!, and its mission to address skin cancer through daily sun protection
• Thaggard’s early advocacy for sun safety in schools and her efforts to de-seasonalize sunscreen
• The challenges and milestones of building a national brand from San Antonio, including funding, product development, and retail partnerships
• Insights into company growth, from niche retail launches to global expansion and acquisition by Blackstone
• The importance of local family support, community investment, and maintaining San Antonio roots during rapid growth
• Thaggard’s continued work advising new founders, her approach to entrepreneurship, and her commitment to public health innovation

This episode offers a close look at the impact one San Antonio founder has made—locally and globally—and what her example means for the next generation of Texas entrepreneurs.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #138. Alamo Angels: The Future of South Texas Startups – If Holly Thaggard’s Supergoop journey inspired you to think bigger about entrepreneurship, dive into this episode to learn how San Antonio’s startup ecosystem is taking shape. Host Bob Rivard sits down with Sebastian Garzon of Alamo Angels to discuss how early-stage investors and founders are fueling the next wave of innovation and success across South Texas.

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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 perspective on the use of the tourist tax to fund county facilities, clarifies public misconceptions around Referendums A and B, and details the legal constraints that govern how these funds can—and cannot—be spent. The conversation sheds light on long-standing issues of eastside economic revitalization, the importance of keeping the Spurs in San Antonio, and the unique roles played by both the Rodeo and Spurs in the city’s civic, economic, and cultural identity.

They discuss:

• What Referendums A and B would actually fund—and what they won’t
• How the tourist tax works and why it doesn’t impact local property taxes
• The future of the Frost Bank Center and what losing the Spurs could mean for San Antonio
• Long-term visions for east side redevelopment, small business growth, and new public-private partnerships
• How state law restricts local governments’ ability to redirect venue tax funds to other priorities like housing or education
• Lessons learned from previous facility deals and how new contractual stipulations could benefit the community

Listen in for a fact-based, unvarnished look at one of the most consequential local decisions in recent years and the broader vision for Bexar County’s future.

▶️ #133. How the Spurs Arena Could Change the San Antonio Rodeo – As Judge Peter Sakai discusses the future of Bexar County venues and east side revitalization, dive deeper into how a new Spurs arena could transform the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo and the surrounding community. Host Bob Rivard sits down with Rodeo CEO Cody Davenport to explore potential year-round impact, cultural shifts, and what these changes mean for local youth and economic development.

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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), to discuss how decades of planning, innovation, and strategic failures led to San Antonio’s robust and diversified water portfolio. They explore the historical context behind recent rate hikes, how SAWS manages a “wet water” supply, and the implications of upcoming infrastructure investments.

This episode addresses:

• The origins and timeline of San Antonio’s water conservation success

• Why San Antonio draws on multiple water sources—and what that means for resilience

• The rationale behind the anticipated rate increase, what it would fund, and how residents can hold SAWS accountable

• Major challenges ahead, from aging wastewater infrastructure to climate change and regional growth

• How SAWS is planning for the city’s future needs, including conservation targets and adaptation to extreme weather

Puente also discusses the unique rule changes that govern local aquifers, collaboration (and competition) with neighboring cities, and how San Antonio’s approach could serve as a model for regional water strategy.

For those invested in San Antonio’s long-term sustainability, water security, and civic planning, this episode offers an in-depth look at one of the city’s most critical—and often overlooked—success stories.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #131. Too Much, Too Fast: San Antonio’s Floods and the Fight to Adapt – Dive deeper into the environmental challenges facing San Antonio with this timely episode. Host Cory Ames is joined by local experts to unpack the aftermath of record-breaking floods, explore climate change’s impact on water management, and discuss what it takes to make our city more resilient. If you’re interested in how San Antonio tackles water security, flooding, and smart growth, this conversation is a must-listen.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of food sustainability and local agriculture at the San Antonio Food Bank—an organization best known for feeding more than 100,000 people each week, but less recognized as one of the city’s largest farming operations.

Host Cory Ames sits down with Mitch Hagney, Director of Food Sustainability at the San Antonio Food Bank, to discuss how the Food Bank is rethinking traditional emergency food services through innovative farming practices and climate-adapted crops. With more than 70 acres under cultivation, including fields at Mission San Juan and the Food Bank’s main campus, Hagney and his team are growing millions of pounds of fresh produce while addressing long-term food security for the region.

They discuss:

• The origins and evolution of the Food Bank’s farming initiative
• The challenges and advantages of agriculture in San Antonio’s climate and soils
• Why the Food Bank invests in drought-tolerant crops like figs, cactus, and amaranth
• San Antonio’s underutilized potential for urban agriculture and perennial food forestry
• The broader implications of building a resilient regional food system in a fast-growing city
• Opportunities and limitations for organic and regenerative farming across Texas

This conversation explores what it means for a city like San Antonio to build a sustainable and secure food future—connecting health, culture, land use, and community resilience.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #127. What If We Replaced Every Lawn in San Antonio? – Explore how transforming our yards could reshape the city’s health and environment. Guest host Cory Ames interviews Monika Maeckle about native plants, water-wise landscapes, and practical tips for building a more sustainable, biodiverse San Antonio—one lawn at a time.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s evolving approach to urban growth and resource management through the lens of the city’s deconstruction and circular economy initiatives. San Antonio stands out as the largest city in North America to adopt a deconstruction ordinance, shifting how older buildings are taken down and how building materials are valued, reused, and kept within the community.

Cory Ames sits down with Stephanie Phillips, Senior Deconstruction & Circular Economy Program Manager at the City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation, to discuss the origins and aims of this policy, the environmental and community impact of slowing demolition, and the pathways to a more circular local economy. Their conversation offers insight into how these programs seek not only to reduce landfill waste but also to preserve the city’s heritage and build social cohesion.

In this episode, they cover:

• The history and impact of San Antonio’s deconstruction ordinance

• How embodied carbon and building material reuse are becoming central to city planning

• Workforce development and the challenges of scaling deconstruction in a fast-growing city

• The potential for both commercial and residential expansion of circularity efforts

• How local organizations and residents can get involved in supporting reuse and sustainable building practices

• What makes San Antonio uniquely positioned to lead on these issues

Stephanie also shares observations on the city’s “big city, small town” identity, the importance of community engagement in policy, and what a circular future may look like for San Antonio.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #135. Planting Change in San Antonio through Community Gardens – How can green spaces transform a city’s health, safety, and future? Host Cory Ames sits down with Gardopia Gardens founder Stephen Lucke to explore the role of urban agriculture in boosting wellbeing, fostering land justice, and inspiring new generations of community leaders in San Antonio.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the evolving landscape of angel investing and startup growth in San Antonio and South Texas. As the city’s early-stage innovation ecosystem matures, a new generation of founders and investors are shaping the region’s entrepreneurial identity.

Host Bob Rivard sits down with Sebastian Garzon, managing partner of Alamo Angels, to discuss the group’s growth from a handful of local investors into a regional network with more than 140 members and $7 million deployed across 50+ startups since 2020. The conversation explores how Alamo Angels is connecting investors and founders from San Antonio to Brownsville, the Rio Grande Valley, and beyond—and what it will take for the city to cultivate its own major tech success stories.

They discuss:

• How Alamo Angels selects and supports early-stage startups
• The expanding reach of angel investment into South Texas and the cross-border region
• The risks and rewards of early-stage investing, and the need for investor education
• Local examples of successful exits, and what they signal for San Antonio’s future
• Why ecosystem growth is a generational process—and the outlook for the next wave of founders and investors

For local entrepreneurs curious about securing their first investment—or seasoned investors looking to make an impact in their city—this conversation provides a grounded look at where San Antonio’s startup scene stands, and where it could be heading.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #129. Inside Launch SA — San Antonio’s One-Stop Resource for Small Business – If you enjoyed learning how Alamo Angels supports local startups, this episode dives deeper into the support ecosystem with Launch SA. Guest host Cory Ames talks with director Matthew Espinoza about new partnerships, post-pandemic challenges, and how San Antonio is working to empower its next generation of business owners.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard speaks with Brandon Seale, a San Antonio-based energy entrepreneur and historian, about one of Texas’s most consequential yet least understood events: the 1813 Battle of Medina. Seale discusses his years-long efforts to locate the lost battlefield and the surprising discoveries that are reshaping the historical understanding of early Texas.

Bob and Brandon trace how an executive leading cross-border energy projects became deeply invested in uncovering the stories that shaped San Antonio’s identity, especially during the Mexican War of Independence era. From the multidisciplinary search for the Medina battlefield—combining archival research, metal detecting, and veteran-led archaeological surveying—to the broader challenges of public memory and historical trauma, the conversation explores the lasting impact of forgotten chapters in Texas history.

They cover:

• The latest developments in the quest to confirm the Battle of Medina’s location

• Why the Battle of Medina has been largely left out of public consciousness

• The historical trauma and political complexities that have obscured the story for generations

• The collaborative efforts between local historical commissions, archaeologists, and veteran organizations to recover artifacts and restore the battle’s narrative

• How new scholarship and public projects—like a forthcoming documentary and legislative initiatives—are bringing renewed attention to this pivotal moment

• The connections between San Antonio’s unique past, its indigenous roots, and ongoing efforts to reflect a more complete history in educational and cultural institutions

This episode offers an in-depth look at how San Antonio’s history is being actively rediscovered—and reconsidered—for a new generation. You can find Brandon’s podcast and other work at brandonseale.com 

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #81. Ronald Davis: Slavery in Texas – Explore the overlooked legacy of Black cowboys and the deep roots of slavery in Texas. Curator Ronald Davis joins Bob Rivard to unravel hidden histories, share insights from the Witte Museum’s acclaimed exhibition, and discuss why telling a fuller, more inclusive story of Texas matters now more than ever.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we revisit a pivotal chapter in San Antonio’s history: the closure of Kelly Air Force Base and its transformation into Port San Antonio, as the city prepares for the upcoming San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame luncheon. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Christopher Mammen, executive director of the Dee Howard Foundation; Tullos Wells, long-time community leader and member of the Kelly closure transition committee; and Kathryn Bolish, program manager at the WEX Foundation and one of this year’s Hall of Fame honorees.

Together, they examine the local impact of the Kelly closure nearly thirty years later, the community’s response to the loss of one of San Antonio’s largest employers, and the decades-long effort to rebuild and reimagine the area as a center for aerospace, education, and emerging technologies.

They discuss:

• The role Kelly Air Force Base played in building San Antonio’s middle class and shaping the city’s identity
• The work of the Dee Howard Foundation in honoring San Antonio’s aerospace legacy and preparing local students for the industry’s future
• How the WEX Foundation is introducing San Antonio youth to space science and STEM careers, with a focus on real-world, hands-on learning
• The evolution of Port San Antonio as a major economic and technological hub, and what’s next for the region’s aerospace sector

This episode takes an in-depth look at how San Antonio continues to adapt and lead, drawing on its history to shape new opportunities in aviation, education, and innovation. Learn more about the impact of the WEX Foundation and the Dee Howard Foundation. 

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RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #125. The Man Behind Brooks: How Leo Gomez Reimagined the Southside – Explore how Brooks transformed from a closed military base into a thriving community hub. Host Bob Rivard talks with Leo Gomez about the bold vision, partnerships, and investments fueling economic and urban development on San Antonio’s Southeast Side—an inspiring companion to this episode’s focus on Port San Antonio and revitalization after base closure.

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the work of Gardopia Gardens, a San Antonio nonprofit at the intersection of public health, food access, and neighborhood safety. Founded by Stephen Lucke, Gardopia uses urban gardening and education as a response to longstanding challenges in San Antonio’s food system and community health landscape.

Cory Ames sits down with Lucke to trace his path from local student, collegiate athlete, and aspiring medical professional to nonprofit founder and environmental advocate. The conversation explores both the personal motivations and community conditions that led to Gardopia’s formation, as well as the organization’s approach to public health and land justice.

They discuss:

• Barriers to healthy eating and physical activity in San Antonio’s built environment
• The evolution of Gardopia’s mission, from individual wellness to systems-level change
• How community gardens and micro farms can contribute to crime reduction and neighborhood safety
• The opportunities and obstacles facing urban agriculture and local food production in San Antonio
• Gardopia’s role in youth education, land access, and supporting new generations of urban farmers
• What it will take for San Antonio to secure its food future amid rapid population growth

Lucke shares candid reflections on what it means to serve the community you call home, the realities of starting and sustaining a grassroots initiative, and the persistent gaps in food access and health outcomes across San Antonio.

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #127. What If We Replaced Every Lawn in San Antonio? – Explore how transforming our yards could reshape the city’s health and environment. Guest host Cory Ames interviews Monika Maeckle about native plants, water-wise landscapes, and practical tips for building a more sustainable, biodiverse San Antonio—one lawn at a time.

-- -- 

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the intersection of community, identity, and the outdoors through the work of Black Outside, Inc. Founded and led by Alex Bailey, the San Antonio-based nonprofit is dedicated to reconnecting Black youth with nature—an effort rooted in generational healing, cultural history, and a reimagining of what belonging in outdoor spaces looks like.

Cory Ames sits down with Bailey to discuss the evolution of Black Outside, its ties to family legacy, and the organization’s rapid growth over the past five years. The conversation covers the challenges of expanding access to nature, the importance of cultural storytelling, and how programming like Camp Founder Girls and Brothers With the Land are changing the narrative for Black youth—not just in San Antonio, but across Texas.

They discuss:

• The early influences that led Bailey to launch Black Outside
• The family and local history behind programming, including the revival of Camp Founder Girls
• How Black Outside approaches youth development, self-confidence, and cultural connection
• Challenges of funding, capacity, and inclusivity in outdoor education
• The broader impact of community knowledge and how local organizations can further diversify access to San Antonio’s natural spaces

RECOMMENDED NEXT LISTEN:

▶️ #81. Ronald Davis: Slavery in Texas – Explore the overlooked legacy of Black cowboys and the deep roots of slavery in Texas. Curator Ronald Davis joins Bob Rivard to unravel hidden histories, share insights from the Witte Museum’s acclaimed exhibition, and discuss why telling a fuller, more inclusive story of Texas matters now more than ever.

CONNECT

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