Dear San Diego

Drew Lieberman counts San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, Hawaii Governor Josh Green, and the U.S. Navy among his clients. Drew has worked with Tony and Juan on several land-use campaigns. 

A savvy and seasoned pollster, Drew is Executive Vice President at Strategies 360. He also is a dedicated father of two, a loving husband, and a travel baseball dad. With a wealth of political strategy expertise, Drew has lent his skills to numerous notable campaigns, earning a reputation as a top-notch pollster. 

Tony and Juan talk to this Encinitas native about polling, politics, baseball, beer and more.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jessica Grounds does not shy away from a challenge and that’s a good thing considering she spends her days developing young leaders and striving for change in board rooms, on committees, and in corner offices. 

Backed by years of experience and painstaking research, Jessica is CEO Corporate Directors Forum and co-owner of Mine The Gap, an international consulting business that helps organizations harness the power of diverse leadership and inclusive work environments. Jessica is a force in the diversity, equity and inclusion arena. She’s also a mom to two little ones and a wife to a husband she met when she was working on political campaigns in her 20s in Washington – helping women get elected. Jessica’s husband is a Republican; she’s a Democrat. 

Jessica discusses that, political divisiveness, advice for emerging leaders, her journey back to San Diego (where her daughter attends the same elementary school she attended), and more in a wide-ranging discussion with Tony. Juan was on vacation when this podcast was recorded.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tamera Kohler is the leading voice on homelessness in our region. As CEO of RTFH or the San Diego Regional Task Force on Homelessness, Kohler is deeply invested in the region’s most pressing issue. 

Tamera wears a lot of hats but she and her team are best known for collecting and analyzing data that shapes policy and governs decisions throughout the county. She is a trusted advisor to service providers, elected leaders, government staff, and others. She also represents San Diego on the Washington-based National Alliance to End Homelessness Leadership Council. Her background is in housing so it’s not surprising to hear Tamera say homelessness is a housing problem. 

And if we change the way we think about housing, and solve our housing crisis, then we will reach a point where homelessness becomes a rare and brief occurrence for people with nowhere to turn after losing a job, an apartment, or a loved one. 

While homelessness is her calling, Tamera is just as invested in her family. Some mornings she starts her day by playing video games virtually with her grandson in Utah. She discusses that and much more with Tony and Juan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Beginning his journey as a high school intern for a well-known political figure, Art Castañares quickly proved his mettle in the world of state and local politics. As Chief of Staff for former California Senator Steve Peace, Art fostered a deep understanding of public affairs. 

In addition to serving as Peace’s Chief of Staff, Art built a successful political consulting business, winning a number of high-profile campaigns. Art then pivoted to journalism, where his distinctive writing style, influenced by his speech and debate training in high school, quickly found a home and a following. 

As the publisher and editor of La Prensa, Art brings decades of political experience to his columns, delivering hard-hitting and thought-provoking content that earns him praise and criticism. His columns often create social media buzz and mainstream newsrooms aren’t shy about linking to them in their stories. 

Art is well-sourced and armed with a reliable BS detector. He discusses all that and more with Tony and Juan.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.