Hello Sonoma!

Gary Saperstein brings people together. As a co-founder of Out in the Vineyard, Gary has brought together members of the LGBTQ+ community to Sonoma to celebrate the magic of wine country for decades. But his desire to showcase the beauty of Sonoma Valley includes a dedication to local community service through participating in county commissions, enticing travelers through the visitors bureau, and taking tours of friends around the plaza and beyond. In this episode, we talk about the unique camaraderie that comes from being able to be yourself in wine country, the importance of community, and we even recall Gary's first Tea Dance.

Jean-Charles is a dreamer. In every arena, whether that be wine, spirits, fragrances, or jewelry, his forward thinking allows him to imagine the future far beyond the next bottle vintage or stylistic trend. He builds on history to fuel his innovation, whether that be to reduce packaging throughout his 30+ wine supply chains, or to introduce biodynamic and organic farming as a standard. With kindness, exuberance, and an open heart, Jean-Charles invites the world to clink glasses and share in the fruits of his labor, whether they be red, white, rosé, or sparkling, and celebrate the beauties of life. In this episode we talk about his upbringing in France,  wine culture on both sides of the Atlantic, and his philosophy on how to live life fully (hint: it involves dreaming big).  

Whether it be Corporate Law, Digital Marketing, Teaching, Writing, or Venture Capital, Alicia Morga leaves a trail of excellence wherever she goes. She sold her first company, Consorte Media, after it became a hugely successful bridge between advertisers and latino markets for big brands such as Ford and Best Buy. Since then, she has continuously built new companies and expanded into new ventures. As a digital marketing teacher, she shares important lessons with her students on the skills they need to be successful and to thrive in the world of entrepreneurship. In this episode, we discuss how business and personal identities play off one another, the myths of awards, and the benefits of stepping outside your comfort zone.

Gianna Biaggi is a world citizen. Having grown up in Sonoma, she got her first taste of the world outside the valley on a trip to Paraguay in high school. Since then, Gianna lived in Nairobi, Kenya where she helped started a literacy project for local girls, and later in Abaarso, Somaliland (formerly Somalia) as the head of lower school at a world-class boarding institution. Using what she learned on these projects abroad, she wants to bring the best of global education to Sonoma County through the Magnolia Global Academy for Leaders. In this episode we talk about how her international experiences shaped her drive and what she hopes to achieve through her incredible new initiative. 

Dan Blumin is an explorer. As a New Yorker, Dan frequently explores the Big Apple's underground art and music scene while he's there. And when he's not, he dashes off for adventures in Iceland and India, climbing mountains in the west, or even road trips across the country – all while working at one of the fastest growing healthcare consultancies in the country. Having grown up in a Jewish-Buddhist Russian family, Dan admires and appreciates diverse cultures whether they be in other nations, or among artistic subgroups. In this episode, we discuss how art has influenced his worldview including his passion for healthcare and love of the outdoors.

Renata Virk has more than a decade of experience in the publishing world. Her background at Sonoma Magazine and Valley of the Moon Magazine led her to create a new periodical in town called the Social Publication with an aim similar to Hello Sonoma's: to highlight the people who make Sonoma what Renata calls the "greatest little town in America." In this episode we discuss how this project came to be, but also what made Renata so fascinated with storytelling, including her diverse linguistic and cultural background as well as what made her bravely start so many endeavors and what keeps her going.

Katherine Fulton is a Journalist, a Philanthropist, and an expert on Impact Investing. Over the years, she has started her own newspaper, predicted the rise of the internet as a disruptor of traditional journalism, anticipated the crowd-sourcing of philanthropy, and acted decisively in times of crisis. Through the Catalyst Fund, Sonoma's temporary funding source to help address changing local needs during the COVID-19 pandemic, Katherine has left an indelible impact on The Valley. In this episode we discuss not only these incredible accomplishments, but also the value of thinking across different time scales and the importance of learning from others.

Eva Bertran's first taste of sparkling wine was when her family welcomed her into the world with a drop of Cava. Since that grand entrance, she became a leader in the wine industry starting first as an MBA intern at Gloria Ferrer when the winery's vines were still seedlings and eventually as the Executive Vice President and representative to José and Gloria Ferrer themselves. In this episode, we get back to the basics with a quick tip for discovering the best wine for you, we dive into the world of sparkling wine, and we explore Eva's Catalonian origins and international adventures.

Gene Kilgore knows ranch country. As the author of a best-selling travel guide, "Ranch Vacations," Gene has spent the past 40 years visiting and writing about ranches all over the Americas to share the magic of the west with the world. In this episode, we discuss what makes this long-standing tradition so special and how families can learn from their time spent in the great outdoors. We also talk about the circuitous journey Gene took before returning to his childhood dream of making ranches an integral part of his life. 

Yasser and I have known each other since we lived and worked in Amman, Jordan in 2017. As colleagues we collaborated on conferences, projects, and exchange programs and I've always admired Yasser's ability to connect with and inspire people. In this episode, Yasser inspired me as he shared some of the incredible accomplishments he's had in Afghanistan, including initiatives to help empower women, build entrepreneurship and build youth capacity. Since then, he has come to settle in the United States -- a place he had always wanted to come to for a masters degree, but not like this. When Kabul fell earlier this year, Yasser had to escape, leaving his family and packing only a single backpack with one change of clothes. Stick around to the end of the interview to hear both his uplifting story and harrowing journey.