California Groundbreakers

Doing live, in-person events is off the table for a while, but we’re still interviewing Californians doing groundbreaking things during “Pandemic Time.”

So here is our podcast series “The New Normal in California.” Over the next few weeks – or however long it takes before we get the all-clear to leave our houses again – we’ll be looking at the ways our coronavirus-affected lives are changing over the short- and long-term, and talking with Californians making significant change in this New Normal.

In this first episode, we’re taking a look at the coronavirus that sparked a global pandemic, where it started and why, and what can we do as humans to stop this kind of thing from happening again?

To help us understand all that, we interviewed Dr. Christine Kreuder Johnson, a professor of epidemiology at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine who studies animal-to-human transmission of viruses. Her new study about that type of viral transmission was published early April in a prestigious research journal, and it is already the most downloaded study in that publication’s 105-year- history.

We talk with Dr. Johnson about animals, humans, how they mix, how that leads to deadly pandemics, and how there is still hope for reducing them – if we make significant changes in the way we live today.

PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY

* O to 6:30 min - Intro to this new podcast series, and why Dr. Anthony Fauci inspired this first episode

* 6:30 min - How dizzy water birds that were unable to fly made Johnson become an epidemiologist and do wildlife research

* 11:15 - Why you should watch the movie "Contagion" to understand how small actions can turn into a global pandemic

* 17:10 min - From AIDS in the 1980s to Ebola around 2013 -- why have more of these animal-to-human virus outbreaks been happening one after the other?

* 24:25 min - How COVID-19 got its start, and how it's different from other viruses in the coronavirus family

* 29:55 min - Johnson's just-published "rockstar" findings, and why hers is the most-downloaded study in the 105-year history of the "Proceedings of the Royal Society B" journal

* 36 min - California has a lot of animals cited in Johnson's study -- should we who live near them be concerned about human-to-animal transmission of viruses?

* 38:40 min - What about "zoonotic spillover" between humans and their cats, dogs and other pets?

* 41:10 min - Johnson is in charge of PREDICT, a program that detects new, potentially dangerous diseases, and helps labs worldwide to stop global pandemic threats -- but last year the Feds stopped its funding, and the program was scheduled to shut down in March 2020. Has that changed?

* 46:30 min - Has this global pandemic made it more likely that countries will collaborate in efforts to stop more of them?

* 49:10 min - Will "zoonotic spillover" ever really go away? And what can we as humans do to reduce the number and risk of them?

2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, so we’re running a Q&A series this year called “The Women in Charge,” focusing on California women who are doing groundbreaking things in policy and politics, both here in the Golden State and around the nation.

Because it’s also an Election Year, we’re going to talk with the women in charge of getting other women inspired to run for political office, funding them so they can go the distance, and training them so they’ll succeed.

California is home to innovative organizations that are getting more women elected and appointed to top spots on local, state and national levels.

* California Women Lead is the state's first, and still only, nonpartisan organization that encourages and mentors women to run for office or apply for an appointment at the state or local level.

* Emerge California is a top training program for Democratic women who want to run for office (graduates include Eleni Kounalakis, California’s first female Lieutenant Governor, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf).

* Fund Her, the first political action committee focused on electing progressive women, provides that badly-needed financial support to ensure their candidates are well-positioned to win.

* And Ignite goes all the way down to the K-12 grade level to train young women who want to become the next generation of political leaders.

Join us for a conversation with some inspiring political leaders in California who know how to maneuver through the political world, and teach other women how to navigate successfully, too.

PANELISTS

* Esmeralda Cortez Rosales, West Coast program manager for Ignite National

* Samantha Farmer-Helton, chief political strategist for Fund Her, and deputy political director for Consumer Attorneys of California

* Lindsey Nitta, executive director of California Women Lead

* Melanie Ramil, executive director of Emerge California

PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY

* O to 5 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and the reason for this specific event

* 5:10 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and highlight particular California women in politics who have inspired them

* 11:15 min - How California Women Lead gets more women appointed and elected around the state

* 15 min - How Emerge California picks women to train, and how it trains them

* 19:50 min - How Fund Her is getting women candidates to be better fundraisers and get connected to more donors with deep pockets

* 23:05 min - How Ignite is training young women to be future political leaders

* 30:45 min - Women typically haven't run for office unless they've been asked to -- is that changing?

* 35:40 min - What skill sets do women need to run for office in 2020?

* 39:55 min - What skills women need to raise money to run their campaigns

* 46:20 min - How each of the panelists' organizations are funded

* 52:15 min - Do you need to be a "yes man" as a woman climbing the political career ladder?

* 57:25 min - How college students can explore career opportunities in the political world

* 1 hr, 40 sec - How high schoolers can start thinking about getting involved in politics

* 1 hr, 6:35 min - The pros and cons of social media for women running for office

* 1 hr, 10:15 min - How do you balance the "likeability" factor with "being real" while running for office?

* 1 h, 13:30 min - Lessons learned from the six female Democrats who ran for the Presidential nomination this year

Photo credit: Ignite National

Mom knows best . . . especially when she’s the Speaker of the House. So Christine Pelosi decided to write a book about her mom, Nancy, the homemaker and mother of five who became a Congresswoman from San Francisco and is now the most powerful woman in U.S. politics.

2020 marks the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which gave women the right to vote, so we've started a new Q&A series called “The Women in Charge,” focusing on California women who are doing groundbreaking things in policy and politics, both here in the Golden State and around the nation.

We kicked things off by having a conversation with Christine Pelosi, a political mover and shaker herself (she’s currently Chair of the California Democratic Party Women’s Caucus), an attorney, an author and the second-oldest of Nancy Pelosi’s five children. Her latest book is "The Nancy Pelosi Way: Advice on Success, leadership and Politics from America’s Most Powerful Woman. "

The recent iconic images of her mother interacting with President Donald Trump — staring him down across the table at the White House, giving him what looks pretty much like a clapback at the State of the Union speech — made Christine believe it was time to relay how Nancy Pelosi gets stuff done, and how women in business and politics can claim their own seat at the table.

Join us for a conversation with Christine about her mom’s rise to political powerhouse, her role in current events, and the Pelosi advice on politics, family and friendship.

PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY

* O to 6:15 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and to Christine Pelosi

* 6:15 min - Christine's first memory, literally sitting in her stroller, of her mom in political mode

* 9:40 min - What Nancy Pelosi was thinking during the last State of the Union, and why she ripped up her copy of President Trump's speech

* 15:40 min - How motherhood prepared Nancy Pelosi for politics and to be Speaker of the House

* 24:05 - How does one not be pigeonholed as "running as a woman," and instead be considered as "the best person for the job"?

* 30:45 min - The various ways Nancy Pelosi took "a seat at the table" and how other women can do the same

* 38:40 min - Building strategic alliances to get things done and be successful in your career

* 43:30 min - How to handle criticism and keep your cool

* 49:40 min - How to handle fear during such a tumultuous time

* 54:50 min - How both Christine and Nancy Pelosi have addressed -- and made changes -- to the "Capitol culture" to get rid of sexism and harassment

* 1 hr, 2 min - Christine's thoughts on the Democratic candidates for President

* 1 hr, 8:05 min - Other countries worldwide have women as heads of state, why won't America elect one?

* 1 hr, 13:20 min - Advice for people to get more engaged politically -- and where can we make the most impact?

A new food economy is taking root in places like the dairy section of grocery stores and the drive-thrus of Burger King. Plant-based and lab-made meat, cheese, ice cream and even sushi are appearing more regularly on menus, and many of the companies creating them are based here in the Golden State.

The Age of Animal Protein — with its environmental, ethical and health baggage — seems to be giving way to the Age of Alternative Protein.

But are these newfangled proteins all they’re supposed to be? Critics say they’re heavily processed, contain lots of non-natural ingredients, and aren’t that great for our health. And will they shut down the industry of cattle ranching and poultry farms, or is there a more eco-friendly way for us to have our animal proteins without the guilt?

Listen to this fabulous food-focused discussion with chefs, scientists and food developers about the latest efforts to reimagine and redesign animal- and animal-free proteins.

PANELISTS

* Jamie Cavanaugh, owner of soon-to-open Pure Soul Plant Based Eats in Sacramento

* Doni Curkendall, vice president of operations and logistics at The Better Meat Co.

* Isaac Goldman, head of business development at Eclipse Foods

* Ermias Kebreab, professor of animal science at UC Davis, and director of UC Davis World Food Center

* Stephen Leopold, COO and general manager of Burger Patch

PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY

* O to 5 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers

* 5 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and reveal the alt-protein they're currently eating all the time

* 11:35 min - An overview of the "meatless meat" industry, and the new innovations

* 15 min - How Eclipse Foods plans to be the "Impossible Foods of dairy"

* 18 min - Truths and myths about the cattle/livestock industries and their impact on the environment

* 23:40 min - Consumer adaptation of alt proteins, and how their tastes and preferences for that food type have changed

* 29:25 min - Innovations and expansion of alt-protein products that chefs can serve up in their kitchens

* 32:40 min - How healthy is the Impossible Burger and similar foods?

* 39 min - As demand for this food type goes up, will supply keep up with it?

* 44:40 min - What's the difference between a vegan diet and a plant-based diet, and between plant-based and lab-grown? And what do all these terms like "clean meat" mean?

* 51 min - What markets these companies are targeting, and what education strategies they'll be using

* 58:25 min - Are there any changes in nutritional values when the plant is turned into product?

* 1 hr, 3:05 min - How are these companies handling the issue of GMOs?

* 1 hr, 6:35 min - Can these foods be made -- and sold -- at a cost that's equal to their traditional counterparts?

* 1 hr, 11:20 min - What are your personal/professional motivations for making these foods?

* 1 hr, 16 min - Is there an environmental cost in the rise of alt proteins?

* 1 hr, 22:30 - After the Impossible Burger, what's the next hot Alt Protein we'll be hearing about soon?

** This podcast was recorded on November 18, 2019**

Our final “Policy and a Pint” of 2019 is with a former farm boy from the Central Valley who is now Gavin Newsom’s go-to guy for advice on California ‘s economy and business affairs, and also chair of the state’s High Speed Rail project.

Lenny Mendonca grew up milking cows on his family’s farm in Turlock, but he was the first one in his family to go to college -- Harvard University -- where he became student body president.

A Stanford MBA, a partnership at management consulting mega-firm McKinsey, and advising roles at California startups and nonprofits gave him such an impressive resume that Governor Newsom tapped Mendonca to be his Chief Economic and Business Advisor, the director of the state’s Office of Business and Economic Development (also known as GO-Biz), and, last but not least, the chair of California’s High Speed Rail Commission.

Those are a lot of responsibilities, but Mendonca is taking them on — his mission now is to make Inland California the most desirable place to live in the state. He wants to raise the region’s stature in the eyes of companies on the coast, and solve some of its biggest problems around housing, jobs, transit and wealth inequality.

Join us for this conversation down in the basement of Ruhstaller’s taproom in Downtown Sacramento as we talk with Mendonca about his Central Valley roots and vision, and how he plans to bring the jobs, the housing and the high-speed transit to California’s “flyover country."

PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY

* 0 to 6:45 min: Intro to California Groundbreakers, and a brief backgrounder of Mendonca

* 6:45 min - Mendonca, also owner of Half Moon Bay Brewing, shares his favorite beer on tap there, and a must-visit place he recommends in Inland California (also involves yeast)

* 10:15 - How growing up on a dairy farm, running for student body president, and adjusting from Turlock to Harvard University prepped him for the future

* 18:05 - How Mendonca envisions the private and public sectors working better together

* 23 min - The big news coming out of this year's economic summit run by California Forward, which Mendonca helped create

* 26:40 min - How he met Gavin Newsom, who made him a job offer he couldn't refuse

* 29 min - The disconnect between Silicon Valley and Central Valley: How Mendonca wants to better connect coastal California and inland California

* 35:35 min - How concerned should California be about so many of its companies and middle-class workforce leaving for other states?

* 41 min: The future of California's agricultural industry; and what local governments can do to prevent brain drain and draw new businesses

* 47:40 min - Boosting education, reducing inequality there, and connecting it more closely to business

* 53:30 min - The importance of digital innovation in state government, and "civic tech" as a hot business sector

* 58:50 min - What can Property Business Improvement Districts do to improve the urban core, and can they partner up with Go-Biz?

* 1 hr, 6:40 min - Investing in Inland California's rural communities

* 1 hr, 9:40 min - The future of high-speed rail in Inland California

* 1 hr, 14:50 - Hidden business gems in Inland California that need investment help

* 1 hr, 17:40 min - How to encourage businesses to decentralize and do more teleworking

* 1 hr, 19:45 min - Is there a problem with state legislators who lack business experience but are passing bills that directly affect businesses?

* 1 hr, 22:35 min - What is California doing to boost business in the nature/wildlife/outdoors tourism industry?

* 1 hr, 25:40 min - How Mendonca manages his multiple jobs sanely; and his direct pitch to our podcast producer Kaleb to consider staying in California

Is the jig up for the “Gig Economy” in California?

Governor Gavin Newsom just signed California’s Assembly Bill 5 (AB5) legislation into law — and it’s one of the most contentious bills this year that we’ll probably still be talking about (and voting on) during Election Year 2020.

AB5, which kicks in on January 1, changes the test used to determine whether a worker is an employee or an independent contractor. The legislation will affect at least one million workers, ranging from ride-hailing drivers and food-delivery couriers to construction workers and franchise owners, who could now all be reclassified as employees.

Proponents of AB5 say the new bill gives gig economy workers more access to basic workplace protections, like a minimum wage and unemployment insurance.

Those against it say it will prevent contract workers from having flexibility and control over their schedules, and it will make running businesses in California even more expensive.

Besides knowing how this may affect your job, you'll also have a better sense about how you may vote on it in 2020 (Uber, Lyft and DoorDash are planning to spend $90 million to support a ballot initiative that would essentially exempt them and their contract workers from AB5).

Join us for a interesting conversation about how this bill could change up jobs, labor unions, the workplace and the economy in California — and the rest of the country.

PANELISTS

* Anthony Giannotti, owner of Anthony's Barber Shop and Bottle & Barlow in Sacramento

* Kimberly Lucia, partner and attorney specializing in employment law at Boutin Jones Inc. in Sacramento

* Khaim Morton, vice president of policy and economic development at Sacramento Metro Chamber

* Jeff Perry, a Sacramento-based Uber driver, and an organizer for Gig Workers Rising

* NOTE: Caitlin Vega, legislative director for the California Labor Federation, had a family emergency and couldn't attend the event

PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY

* O to 7:15 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and the focus of this discussion: the contentious Assembly Bill 5 (AB5)

* 7:15 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and share the most interesting "gig job" they've ever had

* 10:50 min - Lucia gives us a primer on AB5 -- the court ruling that got the ball rolling, and a general summary of the bill Governor Newsom signed into law

* 16:20 min - Giannotti describes how that court ruling hit his business hard, and what has happened since

* 20:25 min - Perry explains the current situation for gig workers, and how he sees AB5 improving things for them

* 27:50 min - Morton tells why the Metro Chamber sees AB5 as really bad for its business members

* 30:15 min - Why labor unions and organizers support AB5

* 37:25 min - Why did some types of employees get exemptions under AB5 (e.g., hairdressers and doctors) and some did not (e.g. truck drivers and freelance writers)?

* 43:50 min - How will AB5 impact consumers -- and their wallets?

* 1 hr, 2:25 min - Why Uber, Lyft and DoorDash are spending $90 million to create a ballot initiative in 2020 that shoots down AB5 -- and will they succeed?

* 1 hr, 10:35 - How easy will the independent-contractor-to-employee transition be for workers and businesses?

* 1 hr, 16 min - Panelists' personal thoughts on the current situation of work, the workplace, workers' rights, and employee benefits -- and how it could be changed

* 1 hr, 22:05 min - What's the outlook for the Gig Economy, and how will it affect other industries?

With fires blazing yet again in Wine Country and the hills of Los Angeles, PG&E power outages, and historic, triple-digit-m.p.h. windstorms blowing through the state, we thought it would be a good time to talk with someone who could help us make some sense of all this Wildfire Season craziness, someone with 30-plus years of experience dealing with it on a daily basis.

So we sat down with California's top firefighter Ken Pimlott, the just-retired head of Cal Fire, who was in charge over the past 8 years of putting out (in)famous blazes like the Wine Country, Woolsey, Mendocino Complex, Carr and Camp Fires.

Listen to Pimlott's take on the latest round of fires blazing; last year's historic Wildfire Season and the 103 people it killed; PG&E and its power shutoffs; what he was thinking while briefing Jerry, Gavin and Donald about the Camp Fire (see photo above); and more.

PODCAST PLAY-BY-PLAY

* 0 to 5:50 minutes - What it's like to be a firefighter in the middle of a raging wildfire

* 5:50 min - Lessons learned from being the head of Cal Fire

* 12:30 min - The strategy for fighting big blazes like the Kincade Fire in Sonoma County and just-started-but-still-dangerous fires like the Getty Fire in Los Angeles

* 21:05 min - What has changed -- and hasn't -- in Pimlott's time as Cal Fire chief in terms of fighting fires, public perception and media coverage

* 30:40 min - Memories and experiences of the Camp Fire in Paradise, which started nearly a year ago

* 38:20 min - His take on PG&E's role in wildfire management, the shutoffs, and how to deal with the power lines

* 48:15 min - What are the best ways to alert people that a wildfire is coming their way?

* 51 min - Should we keep building homes farther afield, especially if they're in high-risk wildfire zones?

* 55:35 min - How we'll need to deal with the "New Normal" of Wildfire Season year-round

Kristopher Barkley and Nikky Mohanna are two people who are literally changing the shape of Sacramento’s skyline. They’re designing and constructing buildings that aim to show off the Capitol City at its best, and they’re striving to innovate the places in which we live, work and play.

Barkley, who has just hit the 30-year mark at Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture (which is about to celebrate its 70th birthday), has designed or contributed to nearly all of the firm’s projects, including remodeling of the CalPERS headquarters, renovation of SMUD’s headquarters, and the new Powerhouse Science Center on the riverfront.

At age 29, Mohanna has quickly gained the reputation as one of Sacramento’s most innovative homebuilders, with her about-to-open Midtown “microunits” apartment building, 19J, and her about-to-break-ground 10K, a mixed-use building in Downtown that combines a hotel with studios and co-living spaces.

Listen to this great conversation with a “young whippersnapper” and a “seasoned veteran” as they talk about their groundbreaking projects in Sacramento, and find out how their views compare and contrast on architecture, design, urban planning, and the future of live/work/mixed-use living in California.

PEOPLE

* Kristopher Barkley, partner and design director at Dreyfuss + Blackford Architecture

* Nikky Mohanna, principal at Mohanna Development

PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY

* 0 to 6:55 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and why we're putting on this event

* 6:55 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and tell us what building in California inspires them most

* 9:30 min - How Barkley, who grew up in Central Washington, not known for a lot of buildings, became an architect

* 11:20 min - How growing up with a real-estate developer and an architect as parents influenced Mohanna's career path

* 13:15 min - Barkley's approach to designing a new building versus renovating a local landmark, like the 50-year-old Modernist SMUD Headquarters

* 16:50 min - How living in London influenced Mohanna's lifestyle, and the layout of her residential buildings

* 23:10 min - What cities are inspiring, and what cities Sacramento should use as models for urban planning

* 28:10 min - What do you want people -- particularly government officials who issue building permits -- to know about architecture?

* 32:35 min - What is good about building and architecture in California, and what would you like to see changed?

* 37:35 min - What's the future for young architects and builders in California?

* 41:50 min - Taking climate change and Sacramento's City of Trees" reputation into account when designing and building structures

* 46:40 min - How famous Pop artist Wayne Thiebaud made his mark on Sacramento architecture

* 49:20 min - Innovation and new technology being used in architecture and building

* 56:20 min - If you were playing "Sim City: Sacramento," what would you change about the city's layout, particularly the riverfront?

* 1 hr, 4:20 min - Thoughts about "upzoning" and "alley activation" for more urban density in Sacramento

* 1 hr, 8 min - What's the importance of exteriors in buildings these days?

* 1 hr, 14:15 min - Advice for young people to follow in Barkley and Mohannah's footsteps

* 1 hr, 20:15 min - How to address cars, parking and public transit issues with future buildings

* 1 hr, 27:10 min - How would you change the suburbs, and what would you do with buildings like the Sleep Train arena and the dying shopping malls?

* 1 hr, 32:30 min - How are you using your role as a builder to tackle a pressing issue in California, like homelessness or inequality?

Eating local, sustainable and seasonal is something we hear a lot in the “Farm-to-Fork” capital city of Sacramento. Is that message making its its way to school lunchrooms here as well?

Many school districts are trying to get local ingredients on the menu. And other organizations, from Bay Area startups to the California Department of Food and Agriculture, are helping them out with a big push to promote healthy eating and local agriculture.

But three questions: How will school districts pay for it? How can parents, farmers and other food promoters help out? And will California kids eat it if it’s not fried or chocolate?

Join us for a food-focused conversation about how schools, parents, the public and private sectors, and foodies in general can work together to bring the fresh high-end cuisine California is known for into the cafeteria.

PANELISTS

* Nick Anicich, Farm to School Program lead at the California Department of Food and Agriculture

* Diana Flores, director of Nutrition Services, and the future Central Kitchen, at Sacramento City Unified School District

* Todd McPherson, Urban Agriculture Academy coordinator at Luther Burbank High School

* Kirsten Saenz Tobey, co-founder and chief impact officer of Revolution Foods

* Amber Stott, founding executive director of the Food Literacy Center

PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY

* 0 to 6 minutes - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and why we're having this discussion

* 6 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and share their favorite lunchtime meal

* 12:30 min - How Sacramento City Unified School District is getting fresh, local food into its cafeterias

* 21:15 min - How California's Department of Food and Ag is helping other school districts statewide to do the same

* 24:20 min - How Oakland-based Revolution Foods is getting public school districts nationwide to serve its meals

* 29:05 - Teaching kids about food literacy, and lessons learned about how to make them more food adventurous

* 33:15 min - Teaching students about growing, gardening, food activism, and agriculture as a career

* 37:40 min - Working with Federal rules and regulations about school meals

* 51:45 min - Any new state legislation that passed to boost "Farm to School" programs?

* 55:20 min - How would proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)affect school funding and meals for children?

* 58:05 min - How can small school districts procure better foods and partner with farms to improve their meal offerings?

* 1 hr, 7:50 min - Panelists share their recent Farm to School success stories (e.g., making pesto for fellow students, testifying in front of City Council, building a cooking school and commercial kitchen, partnering up with Stephen Curry)

* 1 hr, 17:20 min - How can farmers and ranchers better connect with schools for offering climate change-focused food and ag education?

* 1 hr, 17:20 min - The challenges of switching over school menus to healthier food that won't make students revolt

* 1 hr, 24:05 min - What can individual Californians do to help public schools serve better, healthier, fresher food to their students?

RESOURCES

For info on panelists' organizations, and other organizations mentioned during the podcast, go to the event info on our website - www.californiagroundbreakers.org/events/2019/9/25/farm-to-fork-in-california-schools

We took a road trip to hold this conversation (our 50th event!) at the lovely Gold Rush town of Auburn because, according to Cal Fire maps, it sits in the “high” risk zone of wildfire hazards, and it’s right next to the “very high” risk zone that includes much of the Sierra Nevadas, including Paradise, Grass Valley and Nevada City, and all of Lake Tahoe.

In fact, one in four Californians live in a high- or very-high risk wildfire zone. So a lot of people are at risk of being hit when the next wildfire burns.

For our second event focusing on “Wildfire Season,” we’re talking with a great group of panelists whose jobs involved making a lot of big decisions about the wildfires that hit California in the past few years. They explain those decisions and what it means to live in a risk zone for wildfires, and give advice on what you need to know, how you need to prepare; how things are changing, from forest management and firefighting to utility usage and homeowners’ insurance policies; and how all that will probably change your lifestyle and the place you live.

PANELISTS

* Todd Leopold, county executive officer for Placer County

* Michael Picker, newly-retired president of the California Public Utilities Commission

* Ken Pimlott, newly-retired chief of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection

* Seren Taylor, senior legislative advocate for the Personal Insurance Federation of California

PODCAST PLAY BY PLAY

* 0 to 6:25 min - Intro to California Groundbreakers, and to this event

* 6:25 min - Panelists introduce themselves, and divulge whether their dream retirement home is in a high-risk wildfire zone or not

* 12:40 min - How California's wildfires -- and fighting them -- have changed over the past few years

* 17:20 min - The connection and clash between public utilities and wildfire-risk zones, and how the "public safety power shutoff" decision came to be

* 30 min - How insurance companies are rethinking their coverage of California homes in wildfire-risk zones, and how that will affect the homeowners

* 38:45 min - What wildfire-prevention legislation came out of the state capitol, and what should lawmakers have done?

* 49:50 min - Do forest thinning and fire breaks really works? Would the money be better spent on fireproofing homes?

* 57:20 min - What type of early-warning alarm system should be set up in the high-risk zones? And what should you do if the fire hits before you can leave?

* 1 hr, 4:45 min - Say you're the urban planner in charge of a town in a high-risk zone, how would you build up (or rebuild)that town to make it better withstand wildfires?

* 1 hr, 16:20 min - When the state legislature starts again in January, what wildfire-focused issue do you want them to address?