Fresno's Best

Today we have Crystal Uyeno and Nayantara Rodrigues on the show. They're the co-founders of Rooted Heart Yoga, a 200-hour, all-levels yoga teacher training located here in Fresno. Between these two amazing women, there is so much knowledge and perspective—not only about yoga, the body, and mental health, but also about the qualities of a good teacher and developing a business-minded approach to fitness.

Rooted Heart Yoga's Website

Today, we have Stephen Wilson. Stephen is the President and CEO of the Fresno Philharmonic, a gem in our community, and is one of our city's biggest advocates for the arts. Stephen and I had a fantastic conversation covering classical music, of course, but also exploring the arts more broadly. Please enjoy!

Fresno Philharmonic's Website

Books: 

Authority and Freedom: A Defense of the Arts Jed Perl

The Power Broker: Robert Moses and the Fall of New York Robert Caro

Middlemarch George Eliot 

Today, we have Molly DeFrank on the show. Molly is a mom to six children and the author of two parenting books, Mothering Boys: 8 Things Your Son Needs From You Before He Turns 10, and  Digital Detox: The Two-Week Tech Reset for Kids. Before children, Molly worked as a press aide to Governor Schwarzenegger. 

Molly's Website

Books: 

The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness Jonathan Haidt 

Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen

 Today we have another edition of our brewery tour through Fresno and Clovis, and we are going to meet Dustin Hale and Matt Denson, the founders of Burning Sun Brewing Company, right on Clovis Avenue in Clovis, California.

Burning Sun's Mission Statement: 

Our mission at Burning Sun Brewing Company is to craft exceptional, high-quality beers that ignite passion and inspire moments of enjoyment. We strive to create a memorable experience for our customers by combining innovative brewing techniques, unique flavors, and a commitment to excellence. Through our craft, we aim to foster a sense of community and connection while leaving a positive impact on the environment and the beer industry.

Burning Sun Brewing Company Website 

Books: 

How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time John Palmer 

The New IPA: Scientific Guide to Hop Aroma and Flavor Scott Janish 

Danielle R. Shapazian is a registered nurse and writer who lives in Fresno. Her essays have appeared in the Fresno Bee and the Los Angeles Times. She is the founder and director of the San Joaquin Valley Bookfest. We dig into all things books, literary culture, audio vs. print books, keys to hosting events in Fresno, and more. 

Bookfest Website

Get (Free) Tickets Here

Books: 

Esperanza Rising Pam Muñoz Ryan

Tell Me Everything: A Novel Elizabeth Strout

Today, we have James Ellett on the show. James is the pizza genius behind Pinky’s Pizza, my favorite place to get pizza in town. We talk about all the mechanics and minutiae of the world of pizza.

Pinky's Hotplate Link

Books: 

Flour Water Salt Yeast: The Fundamentals of Artisan Bread and Pizza Ken Forkish

The Pizza Bible: The World's Favorite Pizza Styles, from Neapolitan, Deep-Dish, Wood-Fired, Sicilian, Calzones and Focaccia to New York, New Haven, Detroit, and More Tony Gemignani

The Lies of Locke Lamora Scott Lynch

Today, we're gonna be covering my favorite event of the year in Fresno: Tower Porchfest. I have three guests on to tell us more about the event in this particular upcoming Porchfest.

The first one is Jessica Mindren, who's the lead organizer of Porch Fest. We also have Joshua DeFisher who is the social media and merch lead. And then Alleha Navarro, who's a three time Porch Fest host. Each of these individuals offers a different perspective and an interesting insights on what makes Porchfest so incredible.

Tower Porchfest Website

Today, we have Ruth Soderlund on the show. Ruth is a Fresno artist passionate about building connections within the art community. Her new endeavor, The Artist Mentorship Project kicks off this month, April, 2025. The project aims to link artists of varied skill and professional experience to provide young and emerging artists with support as they pursue their individual career goals.

Ruth hopes that this will be a catalyst to bring some big ideas to life, drawing attention and economic growth to the art made here in Fresno. This was a wonderful conversation. Ruth and I are aligned on so many of our goals for Fresno, and I know you'll love her.

The Artist Mentorship Program

Books: 

Demon Copperhead Barbara Kingsolver

Art Is Life: Icons and Iconoclasts, Visionaries and Vigilantes, and Flashes of Hope in the Night Jerry Saltz

 Today we have Dana Pellerin on the show. Dana is the owner of South of Shaw Beer Company in downtown Fresno, California on Broadway Street. Not only do they have great beer, but they also have some of my favorite pizza in town. 

South of Shaw is one of the places that I love to hang out at. If you're there on a Friday night, there's a high probability you'll see me. It's become kind of institution of downtown, and I wanted to understand the culture and the concept behind it. And I asked Dana to come on to talk about his history, talk about his understandings of beer making, and the big world of pizza. 

Books: 

Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew Jamil Zainasheff and John Palmer

The Affordable Brewery Tom Hennessey  

Today, we have Kat Kavner Woolf on the show. Kat is the Founder and Co-CEO of Heyday Canning Co, which produces some of my favorite bean products on the market right now. Kat leveraged her experience working in the industry to start Heyday combining beans with amazing sauces and ingedients. We dig into all things beans in this conversation. Nerdy bean conversations was not on my bingo card, but I honestly can say that it has been a while that I've had this much fun on an episode. 

Heyday's Website