Hello Sonoma!

George Webber is a dedicated Sonoma Historian. He has spent the last 20 years bringing our history to life through animated portrayals of Sonoma icons like General Vallejo and Agostin Haraszthy, and the inimitable Mark Twain. Though it's George doing the talking, he completely embodies these characters, not shying away from the nuances that made them less than ideal personalities. It's that dedication to finding the truth that gives us a better appreciation for each one's historical significance.

Alongside that passion for true storytelling, he has created and written a long-time radio melodrama, Radio Theatre of the Wild West which features characters like Wild West Willie and Old Cougar Face – a far cry from his previous career as an options trader.

In this episode, we talk about the genesis of his now famous Sonoma Historical Walking Tours, the inspirations for his radio program, his other wonderful characters like Luigi the Italian Chef and Professor Vine, his upbringing in Des Moines and wine expertise, as well as some of the lessons he has learned along the way.

If you want to:

Learn more about George Webber, visit Georgewebber.com

To listen to more episodes, check out Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Meg Beeler's journey as a teacher taught her how to learn. How to listen to her students as much as they listened to her. So when, many decades later, she met a new teacher, she was ready to listen in a new way. What followed was an unexpected journey to reconnect with nature through traditional indigenous practices in the Andes. She studied with the Q'ero people, and has since continued learning and begun teaching some of their perspectives on the natural world and the energy coursing all around us. In this episode we talk about what shamanism is, what it means to be a shamanic guide, and the ways in which we are already connecting with animals, plants, and mountains in our neighborhood.

If you want to:

Learn more about Meg at her website: https://megbeeler.com/about-meg-beeler

Listen to more Hello Sonoma episodes at Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Hello Sonoma!

This is a bonus episode – a break from regular programming – and an on-the-ground reporting of Adobe Drugs' new opening in June of 2023.

This 10 minute segment originally aired on the Thursday morning show at KSVY, but I thought you all might enjoy hearing it as well as a tribute to the incredible accomplishment of re-opening the shuttered pharmacy as an independent drugstore.

As a painter and a photographer, Pat Meier-Johnson sees Sonoma through a unique lens. Her artwork conveys an understanding of her surroundings beyond day-to-day observations, capturing everything from road-side barns on sunny afternoons to golden hills with grazing cows. As Sonoma's 2022 Treasure Artist, she's used her talents to involve the community in her work and to encourage us to be as inspired as she is by our valley, connecting people to what makes Sonoma what she calls her "greatest inspiration." In this episode we talk about the sources of her inspiration, her many Sonoma involvements, as well as her travels and her life in PR before the Sonoma art world.

If you want to:

Learn more about Pat Meier-Johnson and her work, go to: https://www.patmeierjohnson.com/about

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Arthur Dawson is as much detective as he is an historian, as much a naturalist as he is a storyteller. His life and work has given him a deep knowledge and appreciation for our local land, the people who currently care for it, and their ancestors have been doing so for millennia. As a historical ecologist, he uses science to better understand everything from water drainages to fire patterns. As an oral historian, he takes time to listen to the stories of people who have lived here long before he moved many years ago. And as an author and poet, he has captured the feelings associated with these histories both past and present. Having lived through (and lost his house to) the 2017 fires, his connection to nature is personal and meaningful, and yet he aims to continue connecting people to the natural world all around us.

In this episode, we talk about the indigenous concept of fire as a member of our community, some of the history of Sonoma Valley, the beauty and majesty of Sonoma Mountain, even Arthur's travels around the world before he settled in Sonoma and his journey through it all.

If you want to:

Read more about Arthur Dawson, visit https://baselineconsult.com/

Learn more about Sonoma Mountain and to purchase the book visit https://sonomamountain.org/

Listen to more Hello Sonoma episodes, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Roy Tennant has written many exciting chapters in his life book. As a renown librarian educator, a white water river raft guide, and a pioneer in the early internet age, he has been able to teach and learn both indoors and outside. He is just as familiar with the south rim of the Grand Canyon as he is with the digital library systems at UC Berkeley and the California Digital Library. In this episode, we talk about Roy's connection to Sonoma as a steward of the Sonoma Overlook Trail and its parallels to his deep knowledge appreciation for the Grand Canyon, his journey in library sciences, the impact of his teaching and the legacy of his teachers.

If you want to:

Learn more about Roy Tennant and his many projects and passions, check out roytennant.com

Read more about the Sonoma Overlook Trail and the Thistle Pirates, go to https://overlookmontini.org/

To learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Long before his Broadway debut, Eric Jackson was drawn to the theater. Whether it was the grandeur of the stage, or the songs of Sondheim, Eric knew that was where he was meant to be. After playing on broadway and on tours across the country, he has since moved backstage, helping weave connections between the stage and the community. In this episode, we talk about Eric's journey to find his dream, his thoughts once he got there, and the many ups and downs behind the curtain that brought him to where he is today.

If you want to:

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Daniel Sonnenfeld connects people through his values.

By believing in integrity, transparency, and getting things done, he brings together the deaf & hearing communities, the LGBTQ+ & straight communities, and the tech & luddite communities, with a kindness that everyone remembers and an emphasis on having fun.

His journey through technology has emphasized this ability, leading engineering projects at Apple, and accessibility at Oracle and Salesforce to ensure the products so many of us take for granted are usable for people with various needs. He's opened doors for people at every stage, blazing the trail for those who follow in his footsteps.

In this episode we talk about Daniel's work to make digital tools more accessible, his upbringing on three continents, his linguistic abilities, and how he caught the computer bug (not the kind that needs fixing).

If you want to:

View the full transcript of this interview, visit ⁠https://www.hellosonoma.org/daniel-sonnenfeld⁠

Learn more about the AIDS life cycle at: https://www.aidslifecycle.org/

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, go to Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Kate Bruno is extreme. Whether it is behind the counter at her family's local restaurant, or behind the drums of her punk rock band, Kate takes her craft to the extreme, doing everything possible to ensure customers are well fed and happy, and shredding the cymbals to give her fans have something to jump around to. But even when she was catching waves teaching surfing in Mexico or skating down Sonoma's biggest hills, Kate is most extremely herself. She brings her delightful positive attitude to everything she does, helping others feel comfortable, happy, and heard. On her radio show, It's All About You, she talks to people from all over Sonoma as they share music that highlights aspects of their lives. In this episode, we got to turn the tables and talk a little bit about Kate and her many adventures, stories, and lessons.

If you want to:

Learn more about Kate's show, tune in Thursdays at 10am to 91.3FM or go to ksvy.org/category/its-all-about-you/

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Rajae Sahouri (رجائي ساحوري) is a young entrepreneur who strives to bring the best to his audience. His podcast, The Straight Up Start Up, interviews guests from all over the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, acting as a repository of knowledge for those looking to get started in business. Though he started the program just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut us all in our homes and he broadcasts from Amman, Jordan, his connections now spread far and wide. In this episode we talk about his motivations for starting the program, lessons from his many guests, his aspirations for where it can go, and the many blends that exist in his life between English and Arabic, Jordan and Beyond, even Christianity and Islam.

If you want to:

Learn more about The Straight Up Startup at: https://thestraightupstartup.buzzsprout.com/

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!