Inside Petaluma

Inside Petaluma

By Inside PetalumaNewsNews Commentary
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Inside Petaluma episodes

  • Episode 132: Chelsea Thompson, City of Petaluma, Water Conservation

    Chelsea Thompson, Environmental Services Analyst and Water Conservation Outreach Coordinator with the City of Petaluma’s Public Works and Utilities Office. Chelsea covered an array of topics on how we can best meet the mandatory 25% reduction of water usage for both residential and business customers in Petaluma. To find out more, visit the City of Petaluma's web page

    56 min
  • Episode 131: Renee Ho, Founder, 'Amor Para Todos' ("Love For All"), LGBTQI+ School Inclusivity

    Renee Ho discusses the issues facing LGBTQI+ students and how they can be better addressed in schools.


    "Founder of APT, Renee Ho, is a mother of a young transgender child. She intimately knows the struggles of transgender students and is also a teacher who first-hand knows the importance of early intervention education in schools. Without a strong foundation of a supportive, gender and LGBTQIA+ inclusive school environment it is challenging to move forward as a school community. School staff need to be taught how to create an gender and LGBTQIA+ inclusive school. Even with the most open minded and non-judgmental teachers and staff there is a gap and lack of education to be able to teach transgender and non-binary students. That lack of education can and does contribute to the alarming suicide rates."

    54 min
  • Episode 129: Sebastian Saint James, Guitarist, Singer/Songwriter, Producer

    Born and raised in Petaluma, Sebastian Saint James is a guitarist, singer/songwriter, and producer who is well known for leading several local bands including Hillside Fire, Highway Poets, as well as his solo performances featuring live loop recording. Sebastian discusses his life during the pandemic and his return to live performance in an engaging interview that includes a brief on air acoustic performance as well as a track from his most recent release, "Live and Unsheltered".

    57 min
  • Episode 127: Lance Lew, NBC Producer, Asian Pacific America show

    Lance Lew discusses growing up in Petaluma as an Asian American, his work as an NBC TV producer of "Asian Pacific America", philanthropy, and the challenges of anti-Asian hate.


    Lance Lew

    Director, Community Marketing

    Producer, Asian Pacific America

    NBC Bay Area

    Lance Lew joined NBC Bay Area as the Director, Community Marketing in 2002, bringing more than thirty years of experience in the entertainment and advertising industry. Lance is responsible for all community outreach efforts, including development of promotional campaigns and event marketing. He is also the producer of NBC Bay Area’s television show, Asian Pacific America with Robert Handa. The show, the only one of its kind, provides a voice for Bay Area Asian and Pacific Islander community. Weekly topics features: API newsmakers, community topics, events, cultural music & dance.

    Lance currently serves on the advisory council for the Asian Pacific Fund, board member of the Farrington Historical Foundation and past member of the CSU Chico foundation board of governors. Lance has received many awards, including the CSU Chico Distinguished Alumni Award representing the College of Education & Communications and Cine Awards for two Asian American documentaries he spearheaded while working for CBS5 in San Francisco. He also received recognition while at NBC Bay Area for his leadership with a multi-year, 165-location food drive for Bay Area Food Banks and the Outstanding Corporate Grant Maker award from the Association of Fundraising Professionals/Silicon Valley.

    He co-founded & currently serves as the co-chair of Growing Up Asian in America essay, art & video contest commemorating Asian Pacific American Heritage month. This program, the largest educational program celebrating Asian heritage in the country during APA month, has received more than 30,000 entries and distributed over $500,000 in awards in the past twenty-six years.  The program amplifies the silent voice for first generation students and serves as a platform for multi-ethnic Asian American students to express their struggles as the model minority.  Art is still a skill revered in the Asian communities, but not recognized as a career choice in America.

    He also has served as judge for the James Beard Awards for the broadcast category from 2015-2019. In addition, Lance is an accomplished floral designer, home chef & events coordinator often sharing these skills to raise money for charity.

    Lance established the Outstanding College of Communications Student Award at CSUC, Chico honoring his late father.

    56 min

About Inside Petaluma

From the publisher's feed

Inside Petaluma is your window into local issues and people. Hosted by Cindy Thomas with co-hosts Janice Cader-Thompson and Jason Davies (until 11/15/21), Inside Petaluma features a variety of guests with insights into a range of topics around Petaluma.