Hello Sonoma!

Kathy Witkowicki is someone to look up to. When she founded the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance, she couldn't have imagined the depth of the organization's impact. What she helped create has set the tone for what is possible in her community and beyond, not only influencing hundreds of young people in Sonoma, but acting as a model for mentoring organizations around the country. In this episode, we talk about Kathy's early mentors, her community philosophy, and her current project of bring incredible speakers to our valley. In everything she's done she's put the focus on people – helping them reach their true potential. We can learn a great deal from her story.

If you want to:

Read more about The Sonoma Speaker Series: https://www.sonomaspeakerseries.com/

Discover the Sonoma Valley Mentoring Alliance: https://sonomamentoring.org/

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend! "

Mike Acker's collages create stunning and surprising new perspectives on the world around us. In a society that so often values far-off travels and worldly issues, Mike's art draws us in to our own backyards, fostering wonder for our communities and local environments. Beyond physical sculptures, murals, and paintings, Mike's media include databases and museum curations to tell the often unknown stories of Sonoma's History, sparking curiosity and interest in what may be everyday, but he argues is not mundane at all. In this episode, we talk about why it is so important to pay attention, how art can give value to new perspectives, and how we are all a part of history.

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If you want to:

Learn more about Mike Acker's Springs Museum project, visit: https://springsmuseum.org/

For more info about his studio art in general go to: www.mca-studios.com

To view his project highlighting the buildings along hwy 12 in his Main Stem Project, see: https://www.valleyofthemoonmainstemproject.org/

And finally, to follow Mike on social media, search for: @ackermichael6

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!

Sherri Ferris connects cities, companies, nations, and people . She develops platforms for all kinds of connections that help facilitate friendships, business relationships, and ultimately peace. In her role as protocol professional, she has acted as the City of San Francisco's Deputy Chief of Protocol, welcoming members of the world's royal families, heads of diplomatic missions, and more; she was the lead VIP Hostess at Disneyland, helping magic happen for many famous guests; and in Sonoma she has helped bolster our connections to Sister Cities and nations around the world.

In this episode, we discuss what protocol is, what it means, and who it can benefit. We also talk about Sherri's own incredible travel experiences, and the ways in which we can build long lasting relationships if we incentivize and prioritize civility. It is a fascinating dive into a world of relationships few have a chance to see. 

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If you want to:

Learn more about Sherri's business and background, visit protocolprofessionals.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!

Molly Spencer made a career out of creating flower arrangements; organizing nature's beauty into organic attractive compositions. Since then she's been a dance teacher, a mother, and a friend to so many – but through her role as engagement director at the Sonoma Community Center, she goes back to her florist roots, pulling pieces of Sonoma's people, history and art into bouquets for the community to enjoy. Having grown up in the valley, her town knowledge is incomparable – going  back to the days when Green Day and Primus played in Andrew's Hall (tickets were $5). 

In this episode we talk about her love of dancing which brought her to New York then back to Sonoma, her adventures in Europe as a young solo traveler, and her seemingly boundless courage and optimism she shows to everyone she meets. Miss Molly is a star!

If you want to:

Learn more about the Sonoma Community Center and Molly's role in it, visit: sonomacommunitycenter.org 

Learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org 

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Elliott Burdin is a connecter. Whether it be through the stories he tells with his videography, the people he's met both in town and on his travels, or his cultural connections to Paris and Sonoma, Elliott helps connect people to new ideas, friends, and opportunities. His postive early experiences coming to Sonoma as a child made him want to try living here as an adult, and though he moved at the height of the pandemic and during 2020's fire season, he's leaped into connecting to the community in various ways. In this episode, we talk about his dual identities as a French person and an American, his travels in Russia, and his love of Settler's of Catan, as well as his connections to the air and his aspirations and mentors in the world of real estate.

If you want to:

Check out Elliott's Compass page: www.compass.com/agents/elliott-burdin/

See Elliott's media company: 2L2T media at www.2l2tmedia.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!

Growing up in rural Montana, Amy's dream was to move to glamorous city life in California. Little did she know the twisting path she would take to get here. In this episode we talk about the challenges of being a young person in a small town, the confidence required for effective costume design and styling, and the relationships we build with the places we escape from.

TW: Suicide

If you live in California and are struggling with your mental health or are contemplating suicide dial 988

Click here to learn more.

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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!

Don Landis the Olive Guy is doing all this just for fun. For the past 40 years he has dived deep into a passion for olives, learning all their varieties, experimenting with both ancient and modern ways to make them edible at least 4 different ways, and all while educating people about it. While he doesn't sell his products (he tried it, but it just wasn't enough fun), his knowledge and contagious curiosity is worth far more than any mediterranean appetizer. In this episode we take a tour of his Olive Oasis while learning about the process of preparing olives, we hear about his background as a soccer player and refrigeration expert, and we get advice on how to pursue our own passions with dedication and a love for fun.

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To learn more about Don the Olive Guy visit www.donsolives.com

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!

Karina Garcia strives to represent her community in various ways. First as a Television executive for TV Azteca, she traveled the Bay Area finding and highlighting local stories. Now as the community liaison for Sonoma County's district supervisor and as a part of the Springs Municipal Advisory Council, she is the eyes and ears of Sonoma County and, much like KSVY, the voice of Sonoma Valley in our government offices. In this conversation we discuss much more than her official roles, but the ways in which she continues to learn from the people around her, about her passion for travel, and about the countless ways we can inspire and be inspired by getting involved in our own communities.

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Get in touch with Karina and send her a message at [email protected] 

Learn more about Sonoma County at sonomacounty.ca.gov

Get involved with the Springs MAC sonomacounty.ca.gov/springs-mac

Learn more about Hello Sonoma by visiting Hellosonoma.org 

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

What a year! 

✅ - 43 episodes

✅ - 70 interviews

✅ - 8 Countries and 3 Sister Cities 

In this episode, we relive some of those moments with my incredible guests from Sonoma and beyond, with highlights from 23 episodes and music, as always, by @SharingSkies. 

I hope each guest's story will inspire you as much as they inspired me, and that these moments can give you optimism and hope for an excellent 2023.

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In order of appearance, featured guests include:

Alicia Morga :54 

Jean-Charles Boisset 2:19

Kristen Anacker 4:32

Gary Saperstein 6:46

Charlotte Hajer 8:54

Sofia Jeremias 10:59

Squire Fridell 13:08

Erin Hill-Freschi 14:59

Jessica Fudim 16:00

Elise Gonzalez-Sahota 18:59

Lee Armstrong 21:51

Lynne Lancaster 22:41

Scott "Woody" Woodworth 29:44

Brenda / Flight Attendant 31:18

Otilia Mayer 34:27

Kathryn Arohnson 34:52

Kaeti Bailie 36:23

Nancy Dome 38:02

Maite Iturri 38:46

Dean Biersch 40:04

Sherri Mignano 42:56

Martín Gobbée 44:19

Bruno Freijanes 45:49

Alan Early 48:23

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Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

To learn more about Hello Sonoma, visit Hellosonoma.org 

To hear more Sharing Skies visit bandcamp.com

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!

Dean Biersch has a passion for creating environments that bring people together to enjoy themselves. First as co-founder of Gordon-Biersch, now as head of Sonoma and Marin County's Hopmonk Taverns, Dean has tapped into the spirit of beer to create fun, relaxing, and unpretentious communities.  He used his experience in the restaurant industry to create top-notch food matched with carefully crafted beer and helped set off the craft-beer phenomenon all across the United States. Plus, he and his partner Dan Gordon created the Garlic Fries that now grace ball games in almost every state. In this episode, we talk about Dean's interest in design, his journey of entrepreneurship, and how being open to opportunities can take you to unexpected heights. 

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Learn more about Hopmonk Taverns by visiting: hopmonk.com 

& 

Discover more about Hello Sonoma at Hellosonoma.org 

Thank you, as always, for tuning in.

And if you enjoyed this episode, tell a friend!