Haley Cardamon is the Executive Director and Founder of San Jose Day, an annual festival that celebrates the arts and culture of San Jose every April. In this episode, Haley shares her journey in building the festival, its growth over the years, and what’s in store for this year's 7th annual event. Plus, a special guest makes an appearance — Barry, our roommate’s cat, drops by towards the end.

Hope to see you at the 2025 San Jose Day!

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Podcasting and Sound Check

04:02 The Birth of San Jose Day

10:07 Event Production Journey and Community Engagement

16:04 Growth and Evolution of San Jose Day

22:13 Building a Collaborative Team

29:46 Challenges in Event Production

38:41 Navigating Doubts and Responsibilities

41:21 Finding Motivation and Overcoming Challenges

46:45 The Role of Community in San Jose Day

52:58 Cultural Identity and Validation

55:03 Recognition and Its Impact

01:00:09 Innovations for San Jose Day 2025

01:06:42 Personal Growth Through Community Engagement