Philip Mauriello Jr. started the California Underground Podcast in 2018 as an outlet for his interest in politics which started in 2004 during Kerry v. Bush presidential campaign. Six years, and hundreds of episodes later it has grown into a source of information and perspective for folks looking for something other than the mainstream messages polarizing our country. During this episode Philip and James talk about the divide between Republicans and Democrats. Philip gives his hot take on war, conservative influencers and what scares the California Republican Party. We also talk about some of his favorite California Underground guests including Republican California Assembly Members James Gallgaher, Joe Patterson, Diane Dickson, Josh Hoover, as well as the husband and wife politicos Brian and Megan Dahle. 

Learn more about Philip here:

https://www.californiaunderground.live/about-the-show

Check out Philip and James Together on NBC 7 San Diego

Prop 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9y3olsvSgMQ

75th Assembly: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms3tkGw0zkE

#KitchenTablePolitics #Arguendo #JonTaffer #RealHousewivesofJersey #CaliforniaUnderground #Fbomb #Topanga #BoyMeetsWorld #Democrat #Republican #NBC7SanDiego #CharlieKirk #CarlDeMaio #Thuggish #BennyJohnson  #FoxNews #GatewayPundit #CaliforniaGlobe #GavinNewsom #CamilleWilliams #PartOfTheProblem #Libertarian #Catholics

Jacqueline Sarkissian took an unconventional path through the fashion industry and reached journalism after a family-friend connected her with a television news anchor who became her mentor. Today this USC graduate, after stops at San Diego’s Fox 5 and other markets, is a reporter at KTLA 5 where she did her first internship on the assignment desk. Jacqueline who loves doing fun, experiential stories shares what it's like when your job in news gives you the chance to participate in Dancing with the Stars, cover the L.A. Dodgers opening day and ride a terrifying zipline! Jacqueline is a mom of two and she shares with us what it’s like balancing family responsibilities and her career. She also shares her take on saying bad words, and her unique talents like doing a downward taco with her tongue and being double jointed in her elbows.   

Learn more about Jacqueline here: 

https://ktla.com/author/jacqueline-sarkissian/ 

https://jacquelinesarkissian.com

#Hoda #JennaBush #Toodles #KTLA #SoSanDiego #Fox5SanDiego #Baby #Marriage #USC #SongGirl #JustinTimberlake #OMG #RealHouseWives #OrangeCounty #BeverlyHills #Armenian

Joe Little has a big personality and a knack for using facts combined with great visuals and  awesome interviews with people you can root for to report the news! Joe is the Director of Storytelling and a News Reporter for NBC 7 San Diego. He got into journalism to be a sports anchor, and later found himself in a Pennsylvania field reporting on the crash of United Flight 93 during the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks that changed our Country forever. During this episode, Joe gets into his college basketball career, how he came to hate sports journalism, why local news is better than the networks, what it’s like being married to NBC 7’s Audra Stafford and his special talent of making gourmet cheeseburgers.    

Check out stories Joe did that we talked about on the podcast:  

The Dividers Story:

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/videos/san-diego-elementary-students-turn-plastic-pandemic-dividers-into-art/3050568/

The Tony Gwynn/Mike Howder Story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy0xCW1fUww&t=5s

9/11 Recap:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XamrfjhF8o&t=26s

#GeorgeMasonPatriots #Syracuse #MarvAlbert #MikeTirico #NBC7SanDiego #10News #FlackTalk #Journalist #News #MMJ #Padres #Emmy #TonyGwynn #Crew #SDSU #Sweet16 #SexyStreets #MoonLanding #JFK #RoyKent

Karlene Chavis’ parents must’ve been clairvoyant because when she was six years old, they told her she would be a meteorologist. They took her passion for earth science, the fact she played with dinosaurs instead of Barbies, and enjoyed the outdoors as signs that she was destined for greatness. Today, Karlene is the Chief Meteorologist for CBS 8 San Diego and the first black Chief Meteorologist in San Diego television history. On this high energy episode Karlene shares how she got to San Diego, talks about what it takes to report the weather, inspiring women in science, her favorite season, childhood celebrity crushes and why she is a self-described “Pumpkin Spice Latte Basic Bitch!” 

Karlene’s Bio: 

https://www.cbs8.com/article/about-us/team-bios/karlene-chavis/509-e4097009-bb5a-499b-b7f9-8b17585841a5 

Washington Post Article About Karlene

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2023/02/03/black-women-meteorologists-tv-weather/ 

Example Weather Reports by Karlene 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ss6ESN74iTs 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEdFBeyUPh4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQg4lv3wZh4 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKXlCpcrHdw 

#FudgeNugget #Yousif #SuperSenior #Weather #Meteorology #Geological #WeatherBalloon #CBS8 #WSI #PSL  #RyanGosseling #JTT #Usher #BruceWillis #MeghanTheStallion #BadBitch #Skechers #ScienceNerd

Darren Nichols' resilience is special. He’s been a journalist in Detroit, Michigan for three decades and in 2014 while working on the biggest story in Detroit history, he unexpectedly had a stroke. Darren was down, but not out. His determination and winner’s attitude saw him put in six hour days during rehabilitation – not a common practice. That hard work, and lunch pail mentality means he’s bounced back: started DNick Media, and today his opinions columns on the state of the Motor City grace the pages of the Detroit Free Press. Darren is Detroit’s son, and everyone is happy he’s here to tell the stories of his hometown, and his own! 

 News Stories About Darren’s Stroke:

https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/former-detroit-reporter-sharing-stroke-recovery-through-dancing 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/opinion-i-waited-25-minutes-for-detroit-ems-in-2014-response-time-remains-a-problem/ar-AA1dVIF8

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2015/08/28/fundraiser-darren-nichols/71335358/ 

Recent Columns:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/02/opinion/coronavirus-detroit.html?searchResultPosition=1 

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2024/01/23/detroit-lions-stephen-a-smith-espn/72322131007/ 

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2023/10/10/michigan-intimidation-law-protect-against-bullying-hate-crimes/71124298007/ 

https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2021/01/20/kwame-kilpatrick-president-trump-commutation/4236417001/ 

Career Bio:

https://darren-nichols.com/about-darren-a-nichols 

Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez, the hosts of Dear San Diego, recently invited me to be a guest on their show. I had a lot of fun talking about my career, cooking, painting, and Michigan summers. I am releasing my interview with Tony and Juan here on Flack Talk in case you want to learn some things about me you didn't know.  Below is the Dear San Diego description from when my episode dropped. I hope you enjoy! 

James Canning Unveiling the Power of Crisis Communication: A Lesson from Detroit to San Diego

Did you know that a regular guy from Detroit could end up in the heart of crisis communications, managing scandals for renowned leaders? I'd like you to meet James Canning, a man who has weathered countless storms in the world of PR and has some intriguing insights to share. My first encounter with James was a testament to the serendipity of life. I was in Detroit, exploring the nuances of public relations when a friend mentioned James and his astonishing journey. The idea of a regular guy navigating the intricate maze of crisis communication intrigued me, and I knew I had to meet him. As I sat down with James, what struck me most was his resilience. Through multiple challenges, from dealing with a scandal involving the Detroit mayor to managing a crisis for a renowned county leader in San Diego, he remained unflinching. His tales of standing up for leaders he believed in and taking bullets when necessary, left me in awe. The lighter side of his life, filled with personal anecdotes on cooking and sports, added a dimension of relatability to his persona. This is why you should tune in to this week's episode of Dear San Diego. You'll get to hear James's riveting journey, learn about the power of crisis communication, and its influential role on personal and professional life. Moreover, you'll uncover the value of building tangible relationships with journalists and their unique takes on life. Ready to dive into the world of PR and crisis communication with James? Here’s where you can listen. If you've been seeking insights and strategies to navigate crisis communications or just want to hear an engaging conversation, this episode is for you. 

Stay tuned, Tony and Juan

Humberto (Beto) Gurmilan became paralyzed at 15-years-old after diving off his surfboard. It changed his life, but it did not stop him from pursuing and achieving his dream of becoming a journalist. Beto at 24-years-old became a sports anchor at Telemundo San Diego and spent 14 years there behind the news desk in his wheelchair. Waves of Courage Overcoming Adversity by Harnessing the Courage Within is his new inspirational book that is available now. During this episode we talk about Quadriplegia, his career in journalism and continued passion for surfing and his foundation to help others with disabilities. 

Learn more about Beto: 

Bio & Book Website: HumbertoGurmilan.com/

Foundation Website: www.GurmilanFoundation.org   

Video of Beto Surfing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXElYLBIKDE 

Video of Beto Skydiving: https://youtu.be/s1pEg27ILWE       

#Padres #Surfing #ChulaVista #Tijuana #WavesofCourage #Telemundo20 #GuinnessBook #Disability #NoMames #FlackTalk #NoraVargas #SanDiego #PRSA #SPJ #PublicRelations #Journalist #ArtCastañares #SanDiegoCounty  

Award winning journalist and San Diego native Jennifer Kastner after a 17-year career in television news – most recently with ABC 10 in San Diego – decided to try her hand at print journalism, and is now a reporter for the San Diego Business Journal. During this episode we talk with Jennifer about how and why she became an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), her story that went viral thanks to Saturday Night Live, using the bathroom while out in the field reporting, her favorite curse word, how she learned to fly like an eagle, and what it's like covering Artificial Intelligence, biotech, Chat GPT and life sciences.

More about Jennifer 

MuckRack Profile https://muckrack.com/jennifer-kastner

San Diego Business Journal  https://www.sdbj.com/

Linkedin Profile https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferkastnernewsreporter

X https://twitter.com/JenKastnerNews

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/jenniferkastner10news/

Missing Explosives Story that Made Saturday Night Live https://www.10news.com/news/local-news/sources-high-powered-explosives-missing-possibly-stolen-from-southern-california-military-base

Times of San Diego Story https://timesofsandiego.com/business/2023/03/26/marketink-jennifer-kastner-switches-from-tv-reporter-to-newspaper-staff-writer/

#ABC10 #SNL #EMT #SANDIEGO #MMJ #FlackTalk #JamesCanning #Journalism #Broadcast UniversityofColorado #Broadcast #SDBJ #AI #LifeSciences #RelationshipGoals #ChadGoesDeep #Stoked  #PalomarHospital #ColinJost #MichaelChe

Deborah Brennan, a former County government reporter, at the time of recording had taken a buy-out from the San Diego Union-Tribune, after the paper was purchased by a news conglomerate.

Her love of writing at an early age, and the formative writing done at her high school newspaper, along with an uncle who was a columnist propelled Deborah into journalism after graduating from U.C. Berkeley. 

Now a veteran reporter that has worked for the LA Times, LA Daily News, the Desert Sun and the San Diego Union Tribune, Deborah has covered the bread and butter of journalism – local government – for many years, but she has a passion for the environment and  takes great pride in her reporting on climate change, air quality, water quality, green sea turtles kelp beds and salt flats.  

In this episode, we get into her work covering the Los Angeles Police Department after Rodney King was beaten by officers and the first Black Police Chief in LA took over. We also discuss her favorite places in San Diego to enjoy the outdoors; hear about her love of reading fantasy and historical fiction, and the short story she wrote that will soon be published in an anthology.

Information from the Interview:

Deborah’s San Diego Union-Tribune Bio & Articles: https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-deborah-sullivan-brennan-staff.html

Deborah’s Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-brennan-5890317b/

Deborah’s Twitter: https://twitter.com/Deborahsbrennan 

Leopard Sharks: https://lajolla.com/article/la-jolla-snorkeling-leopard-sharks/

Guitarfish: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/common-guitarfish

Elfin Forest: https://hiddensandiego.com/things-to-do/places/elfin-forest

Lake Hodges: https://www.sandiego.gov/reservoirs-lakes/hodges-reservoir 

Listen to Flack Talk here:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music / Audible
• iHeart Radio
• Audacy
• Deezer
• Gaana
• Player FM
• FlackTalk.com
• YouTube.com/@jamesecanning

#DeborahBrennan #SDUT #SanDiego #LeopardSharks #LaTimes #Journalism #SPJ #Shapeshifters #Selkie #SanGabrielValley #Scripps #NOAH  #Guitarfish #ElfinForest #Lake Hodges #LADailyNews #Watchdog #BernardParks #RampartScandal #ChuckECheese #Ephemeral #Impactful #Affect #Effect

Ashlyn Lipori-Russie, a former content manager for San Diego-based Inewsource, at the time of recording had been laid-off after the non-profit news company she worked for reduced staffing. She says the job at Inewsource was her “dream job” that fell from the sky because it melded her passion for digital content marketing and journalism; and the lay-off blindsided her. 

She is a “California kid” who thought she wanted to be involved in politics, and even participated in her City Council’s youth commission, and then in college decided satirical political writing was her thing – then she found investigative journalism.   

In this episode, Ashlyn discusses working on an award winning investigative journalism team in the Bay Area – a #6 news market – and then doing the graveyard shift at local San Diego TV news stations before deciding to step away from the biz to learn the digital marketing business, and eventually joining Inewsource. We also discussed her personal writing, and a side project with friends on TikTok called Nashville News.   

Information from the Interview 

• Ashlyn’s Professional Website & Blog: https://ashlynliporirussie.com/
• Ashlyn’s Resume: https://ashlynliporirussie.com/resume/
• Ashlyn’s Linkedin Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ashlyn-lipori-russie/
• Nashville News: https://www.tiktok.com/@nashvillenews 

Listen to Flack Talk here:

• Spotify
• Apple Podcasts
• Amazon Music / Audible
• iHeart Radio
• Audacy
• Deezer
• Gaana
• Player FM
• FlackTalk.com
• YouTube.com/@jamesecanning

#JohnStewart #Inewsource #SPJ #FlackTalk #Peabody #Dupont #JamesCanning #UCBerkeley #PRSA #PRSASanDiego #GenZ #EveningNews #NashvilleNews #SanDiego #California #BayArea