Civil Dialogues

Civil Dialogues visits with Amy Weaver, Direct Relief CEO and the Business Times CEO of the year for a conversation about the nonprofit's origins and its obligations in an era of upheaval in government funding of humanitarian endeavors.

Thank you to our sponsors: UCLA Health, Meissner, Limoneira Company, Ventura County Community Foundation, Santa Barbara Foundation and Yardi.

We sat down with Erica Groshen, former Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to discuss why accurate economic data belongs in everyone's hands — not just policymakers.

Tune in to hear Erica's take on how informed citizens, business owners, and community leaders can shape a stronger economic future.

Enjoy our conversation with Erica!

Thank you to our sponsors:  UCLA Health, Meissner, Yardi, Limoneira, the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Santa Barbara Foundation. 

Dr. Kurt Ransohoff talks about demographics, innovation and the workforce — breaking down how an aging population is reshaping care, which new tools and models are actually making a difference, and what it'll take to keep good people in healthcare on the Central Coast.

Thank you to our sponsors: UCLA Health, Meissner, Yardi, Limoneira, the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Santa Barbara Foundation. 

Steve Weil, President and Chief Creative Officer of Rockmount Ranch Wear, joins us to talk about what it takes to keep a family business alive across generations. Now leading the iconic western wear brand into its fourth generation, Steve shares stories from growing up around the company and learning from the family before him — along with the pressure and pride that comes with protecting a name that's been woven into American fashion history for decades. He also gives us a glimpse behind the scenes at some of the notable musicians, actors, and style icons who've made Rockmount a go-to over the years. It's a conversation about heritage, hard work, and what it really means to carry a family legacy forward.

Thank you to our sponsors: UCLA Health, Meissner, Yardi, Limoneira, the Ventura County Community Foundation and the Santa Barbara Foundation. 

In this podcast interview, Mark Sylvester, co-founder and CTO of Coastal Intelligence, discusses how AI is transforming businesses and communities across California’s Central Coast and beyond. He shares insights on responsible AI adoption, aligning technology with business goals, and how organizations can use AI to enhance human capabilities, drive innovation, and create lasting value.

Thank you to our sponsors: UCLA Health, Meissner, Limoneria, the Ventura County Community Foundation, Yardi and the Santa Barbara Foundation. 

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Joey Zumaya, Head of Nonprofit Enterprise Sales and Strategy at LinkedIn, to hear a story that is as inspiring as it is instructive.

eff Lambert, CEO of Ventura Housing, and a community development expert, talks about possible solutions to the housing crisis on the Central Coast and across the nation.

Enjoy this conversation!

Thank you to our sponsors: Yardi, Limoneira, Meissner, the Ventura County Community Foundation, the Santa Barbara Foundation and UCLA Health. 

We’re joined by Heather Long, Chief Economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, for a timely conversation on what today’s economy really means for families.

Heather shares her expert insights on the financial pressures households are facing — from rising costs to tough trade-offs — and the sacrifices many are making just to stay afloat.

Don’t miss this thoughtful, data-driven discussion with one of the country’s leading economic voices.

We kick off the year with a snapshot of the American economy from one of Bankrate.com's leading experts, Mark Hamrick.

Dr Shawn Lin of UCLA Health shares his vision for the potential of AI in treating patients and advancing eye surgery and other medical specialties. Tune in to listen to this timely conversation!