Insight With Vicki Gonzalez

By CapRadio

Award-winning journalist Vicki Gonzalez hosts daily interviews with community leaders, advocates, experts, artists and more to provide background and understanding on breaking news, big events, politi... more

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FAQs about Insight With Vicki Gonzalez:

How many episodes does Insight With Vicki Gonzalez have?

The podcast currently has 1,545 episodes available.

Insight With Vicki Gonzalez episodes:

November 14, 2023 Palestinians and the Israel-Hamas War | Veterinarian Shortages at Animal Shelters | State Park Passes at Public Libraries
A human rights professor discusses Palestinians and the Israel-Hamas War. What is causing an ongoing veterinarian shortage across California animal shelters. Free state park passes at public libraries.
Palestinians and the Israel-Hamas War
Just over a month ago, on Oct. 7, Hamas militants launched attacks on Israel, killing civilians and taking hundreds of hostages. In retaliation, Israel has conducted extensive bombing campaigns and launched a ground invasion of the isolated Gaza Strip. Health officials in Gaza report that over 11,000 people have been killed so far, while Israeli authorities count over 1,200 dead. As the fighting continues, increasingly forceful attention has been called to the human rights challenges of the current conflict, from allegations of war crimes and ethnic cleansing, to concerns over antisemitism and Islamophobia here at home. Keith David Watenpaugh, professor and director of Human Rights Studies at UC Davis, joins Insight for a deeper look at the human rights challenges of the current war.

Veterinarian Shortages at Animal Shelters
There are more than 200 animal shelters across California and many are facing a growing dilemma– caring for more animals with less staff. Money doesn’t seem to be the main driver, but an ongoing veterinarian shortage that escalated during the pandemic. A study this year from the San Francisco SPCA and UC Davis shows that of the shelters that have budgeted positions for veterinarians and vet nurses, more than half of those positions remain vacant. Which means hundreds of thousands of shelter animals across the state do not have access to reliable veterinary care– with consequences that include overcrowding, higher instances of illness and euthanasia. Front Street Animal Shelter in the city of Sacramento is among the sites impacted. Dr. Victoria Smalley is Front Street’s only full-time veterinarian and joins us with a closer look at the challenges. And Dr. Kate Hurley is the director of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, which partnered for the study, and joins us with a closer look at a veterinary shortage across the state, and how the community can help.

State Park Passes at Public Libraries
Visiting a state park may not be in the cards for many lower income Californians. Entry fees coupled with the cost to get there, like gas, can add up quickly. CapRadio Politics Reporter Nicole Nixon joins us about a state park entry program that is free and only requires a library card to access. We’ll also learn about how Californians can get free access to gear that makes exploring the outdoors even more enjoyable.
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51min
November 13, 2023California Political Roundup | Potential PG&E Rate Hikes | Christmas Tree Permits
POLITICO’s California Playbook shares the latest political current events in the state. State utility regulators to weigh proposed PG&E rate hikes. How to get a Christmas tree permit with the U.S. Forest Service.
California Political Roundup
The political pace is picking up as we close 2023 and quickly round the corner to the March primary. Which means the stakes are on an upward trajectory, with every political decision carrying more weight. Dustin Gardiner is co-author of POLITICO’s California Playbook and joins us with a dive into a new UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies poll that shows growing disapproval ratings for both President Biden and Gov. Newsom among California voters, the importance of the APEC Summit underway in San Francisco, and the trial of David DePape, charged with the assault and attempted kidnapping of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul Pelosi at their home in Oct. of 2022.
Potential PG&E Rate Hikes
PG&E is asking for another double-digit rate hike and state regulators could approve the utility’s request later this week. It could cost customers hundreds of dollars more a year. PG&E argues it needs the additional money to improve wildfire safety, while consumer advocates say it’s too much, too soon, unfair and inequitable. Joining us to help us better understand why PG&E keeps raising its rates and turning to its customers with more hikes is Meredith Fowlie, Professor of Economics at UC Berkeley’s Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics.
PG&E released a statement to Insight: “PG&E recognizes our responsibility to serve our customers safely and reliably, and we are aggressively focused on how to deliver work safely at a lower cost. We prioritize safety above all else. Undergrounding powerlines in the highest fire-risk areas will make our hometowns and California safer, improve electric reliability, and save customers billions of dollars in avoided annual tree trimming and overhead line maintenance costs. Investing in our system to make it more climate-resilient and decarbonized will make it safer and cleaner. We are working to keep customer cost increases at or below assumed inflation, between 2 and 4% a year. Actions we’ve taken to reduce costs include working with customer advocates on an alternative to commercial insurance saving customers up to $1.8 billion over the next four years, and accessing non-traditional funding sources like federal grants and loans to speed up safety work at a lower cost to customers.”
Christmas Tree Permits
It’s that time of year when people begin thinking about the winter holidays and the many associated traditions, including getting a Christmas tree. For those looking for an affordable and environmentally-beneficial way to partake in this tradition, the U.S. Forest Service is selling Christmas tree permits for people to harvest their tree in multiple national forests across the country, including several in California. Lisa Herron, Public Affairs Specialist with the USDA Forest Service’s Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit joins Insight to talk more about the permit program’s benefits.
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50min
November 09, 2023 Survey Asks ‘What Do You Like About Sacramento?’ | CalMatters EDD Investigation | Sac Observer’s 60th Anniversary Gala
City of Sacramento launches its annual community survey. CalMatters investigation reveals ongoing unemployment issues and fraud losses within California’s EDD. The Sacramento Observer celebrates with a 60th anniversary gala.
Survey Asks ‘What Do You Like About Sacramento?’
What do you like about Sacramento? Is there something you’d like to see improved? Every year the City of Sacramento asks residents to participate in a survey about how they feel about the community. And this year’s opportunity to speak your mind has just launched. Sacramento City Auditor Jorge Oseguera joins us to discuss the survey. We’ll learn how Sacramento city leaders use the information to guide policy decisions and allocate funds to areas that need attention, based on the feedback they receive.
CalMatters EDD Investigation
California is launching a massive overhaul of its unemployment and disability agency EDD, following one of the largest waves of fraud in US history, when suspected scammers reaped billions of dollars in unemployment aid during pandemic job losses. A new investigation from CalMatters Reporter Lauren Hepler reveals what caused the crash that touched 1 in 8 Californians, and the devastating consequences to real workers who went without unemployment benefits for weeks and months on end.
CalMatters is a non-profit newsroom that is a content sharing partner with public media stations across the state.
Sac Observer’s 60th Anniversary Gala

Larry Lee, President and Publisher of The Sacramento Observer, shares the history of becoming one of the leading African American newspapers in the country, ahead of the paper’s 60th Anniversary Gala Celebration. Sac Observer and CapRadio have a unique partnership with Report For America, a national service program that places journalists into local newsrooms to report on under-covered issues and communities.

This conversation first aired in July.
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51min
November 08, 2023 Five Years After the ‘Camp Fire’ | 100th Science Cafe
Five years after the Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. The Davis “Science Cafe” holds its 100th event.
Five Years After the ‘Camp Fire’
On Nov. 8, 2018 the Camp Fire ignited in Butte County and became the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. In the five years since, survivors in Paradise– and surrounding communities like Magalia, Pulga and Concow– have overcome hurdle after hurdle to rebuild. Jennah Baker helped senior residents escape from Sunshine Assisted Living that fateful day. Jennah was part of a documentary with Insight host Vicki Gonzalez while at KCRA, that followed four families in the year after the Camp Fire. Jennah joins Insight to share what home feels like now.
Thousands of students, staff and teachers were impacted by the 2018 Camp Fire. Schools burned down or were seriously damaged, students and teachers fled, and the recovery process has been slow. But out of the ashes comes hope for a revival of the area’s education system, with new buildings and facilities and a return to class. Paradise Unified School District Superintendent Tom Taylor joins us to discuss the journey back to school and what the future holds for the community.
100th Science Cafe
On the second Wednesday of every month, the Davis Science Café provides a casual environment for scientists to talk about their research with the general public. On Nov. 8, the free series will be holding its 100th edition at the G Street WunderBar in Davis. Science Café host and founder Dr. Jared Shaw reflects on the history of the series. And guest presenter Dr. Crystal Rogers, Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Cell Biology at UC Davis, provides a preview of this month’s event “Why Are Faces Different? Genes, the Environment, & Embryonic Development.”
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51min
November 07, 2023 Sacramento’s X Street Navigation Shelter | El Niño Winter Forecast | Is Wildfire Season Over? | 30th Annual ‘Run to Feed the Hungry’
Sacramento’s X Street Navigation Shelter progress and setbacks for those unhoused. What we know, and don’t know, about the El Niño winter forecast. Is this year’s wildfire season over? The 30th Annual “Run to Feed the Hungry.”
Sacramento’s X Street Navigation Shelter
It’s one of Sacramento’s busiest homeless shelters and while there has been some success in connecting people with housing options, there’s still room for improvement. CapRadio Homelessness and Housing Affordability Reporter Chris Nichols joins us for an update on the X Street shelter and the significant barriers that still keep people from finding a permanent, safe, place to live. We will also learn about a new seasonal shelter that has opened in Elk Grove.
El Niño Winter Forecast
The forecast this winter is that El Niño is making a comeback, a weather pattern associated with wet weather and flooding. But it’s not that simple or predictable. According to the NOAA, El Nino dates back to the 1600s, when South American fishermen noticed periods of unusually warm water in the Pacific Ocean. Some 400 years later, there is still a great deal we don’t know. While some climate models are predicting a “super El Nino” this winter, it doesn’t mean we’ll feel that impact in Northern California. Dr. Paul Ullrich, Professor of Regional Climate Modeling at UC Davis, explains how big of a role El Niño plays in predicting wintertime precipitation in California.
Is Wildfire Season Over?
You might think this year’s wildfire season is a closed chapter. But history would caution otherwise. Tomorrow marks five years since the Camp Fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history. And in Southern California, the 2017 Thomas Fire is among one of the largest and most destructive in state history. They are sobering reminders that wildfires can defy seasons and be year round. Craig Clements, Professor and Director of the Wildfire Interdisciplinary Research Center at San Jose State University and joins us with a clearer picture of where things stand so far this year.
30th Annual ‘Run to Feed the Hungry’
is the largest Thanksgiving Day fun run in the country, and the largest annual fundraiser for the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. This year, the Sacramento tradition returns for its 30th year, and a goal of 30,000 participants. Blake Young, President and CEO of the Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services gives a preview of the 30th annual run taking place on Nov. 23, and how it will support those in the Sacramento region facing hunger and food insecurity.
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51min
November 06, 2023 Sacramento County Jail Conditions | Book on the Rise of Mass Incarceration | Sacramento French Film Festival
The Sacramento County jail isn’t meeting people’s constitutional rights. Here’s what is being done about it. UC Davis professor’s book “American Purgatory: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration.” The fall edition of the Sacramento French Film Festival returns.

Sacramento County Jail Conditions
Sacramento County Jail has been under a legal agreement to improve health conditions since 2020. But progress has been so slow for those incarcerated, that the jail is at risk of a rare federal takeover and essentially losing control of its operations. CapRadio’s Healthcare Reporter Kate Wolffe explains how it got to this point, including a proposal for a possible $1 billion annex that has been questioned by lawyers and advocates.
Book on the Rise of Mass Incarceration
A UC Davis professor whose focus is on systemic racism and inequality is taking a hard look at our country’s mass incarceration system, and a history that he says is inextricably linked to the expansion of American power around the globe. Dr. Benjamin Weber joins us about his new book “American Purgatory: Prison Imperialism and the Rise of Mass Incarceration.”
Sacramento French Film Festival
Oh là là! The fall edition of the Sacramento French Film Festival is underway and there are several films for everyone to enjoy. Joining us with a preview of three new films is Cecile Downs, Executive & Artistic Director of the Sacramento French Film Festival.
We’ll learn how you can watch the movies from the comfort of your own home, as well as interact with one of the movie directors.
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50min
November 02, 2023 Sierra I-80 Emergency Repairs Update | Gov. Newsom’s Trip to China | Hidden Brain host Shankar Vedantam
Caltrans updates emergency repairs on I-80 in the Sierra. Governor Gavin Newsom returns from a weeklong trip to China. Hidden Brain host Shankar Vedantam launches new series “Healing 2.0”

Sierra I-80 Emergency Repairs Update
The holidays are fast approaching and so is the bad weather. CalTrans crews are working as fast as possible to get I-80 back in shape after last season’s brutal beating from the rain, snow and wind. We’ll get an update from Caltrans’ Jeremy Linder on several hotspots identified for emergency repairs, the timeline for completion and how best to keep tabs on travel conditions, road work and traffic.
Gov. Newsom’s Trip to China
Gov. Gavin Newsom has returned from a weeklong trip brokering deeper ties and collaboration with China. Behind the international stage is a lot at stake– from climate, to tourism, tech, and education– China touches many arms of California’s economy. But a trip of this scale is far from simple, given U.S.-China relations are strained. It’s a trip that’s difficult to digest from overseas. Luckily, a handful of California journalists joined the governor along the way. San Francisco Chronicle Politics Reporter Sophia Bollag discusses what the governor’s trip to China accomplished, and where California fits in.
Hidden Brain host Shankar Vedantam
He has long been host of the show Hidden Brain which takes listeners on an exploration of our inner world so we can get to know ourselves better, with less judgment and curiosity. Shankar Vedantam joins Insight about his latest project, a series called “Healing 2.0” with new episodes every Thursday, starting Nov. 2. The series explores how we can change our lives by taking a closer look at the stories we tell ourselves about our lives; discuss the nature of loss; and consider a mind-bending idea about whether we should try to do away with grief. And it will investigate whether it’s really true that “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” and end with a conversation about crafting better apologies.
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51min
November 01, 2023 New Law To Improve VC Investment In Women | Sacramento’s Office of Violence Prevention | “5000 Watts” Electric Art Show
New state law requires venture capitalists disclose the race and gender of companies they fund. The people behind a reduction in violent crime within the city of Sacramento. “5000 Watts” electric art show in Oak Park this weekend.

New Law To Improve VC Investment In Women
A new state law, recently signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and taking effect in 2025, has the power to shine sunlight and potentially change the way venture capitalists invest in California businesses. Historically, venture capital firms have invested in Silicon Valley companies founded by men, but this new measure will require VC’s to disclose the race and gender of the founders of the companies they fund. Hanisha Harjani is a reporter with The Fuller Project and joins us on Insight with how the law holds investors accountable.
Sacramento’s Office of Violence Prevention
Sacramento Police have reported that violent crime is down in the city by roughly 18% overall, compared to the same time last year. And a lot of credit was given to the Office of Violence Prevention– particularly the person who leads the department. Dr. Nicole Clavo was appointed to lead the department three years ago, but has long and deep ties to Sacramento. Dr. Clavo also intimately understands the pain and toll of gun violence. Her teenage son J.J. Clavo was a student-athlete at Grant Union High School. He was murdered in 2015 before the school’s football game. Dr. Clavo joins Insight with Mervin Brookins, Founder of Brother 2 Brother Mentoring, to share what’s happening on the ground that’s contributing to a reduction in violent crime, as well as the challenges that still remain.
“5000 Watts” Electric Art Show
This weekend, a free electric art show is returning to Sacramento’s Oak Park neighborhood, in a combination of creativity, arts, and technology. The event, 5000 Watts, is organized by a local nonprofit seeking to improve equity in STEAM education by providing programs to low-income and underrepresented students. Nicholas Haystings, Executive Director of the Square Root Academy, talks about how his organization’s work, as well as how 5000 Watts both supports the Academy and empowers the next generation of STEAM scholars.
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51min
October 31, 2023 Investigation into Hospital Bias in Maternal Care | Bulosan Center’s New Direction | Broadway International Festival
Investigation into hospital bias for maternal care. UC Davis Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies is moving in a new direction. Broadway International Festival this weekend.
Investigation into Hospital Bias in Maternal Care
Black women are far more likely than other pregnant people to die during pregnancy. In 2019, California lawmakers passed a law requiring hospitals to provide training on unconscious bias and racial disparities around maternal deaths. Yet a new investigation by the California Department of Justice finds that few hospitals are complying, and serious disparities - especially for Black women - still persist. Kristen Hwang, Healthcare Reporter for CalMatters, talks about the investigation, as well as recommended steps aimed at reducing maternal mortality.
Bulosan Center’s New Direction
Five years ago, a first-of-its-kind grassroots research organization focused on the experiences of the Filipino American community was established at UC Davis - the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies. Now the center is embarking on a new, independent direction, while continuing its community-engaged work. Dr. Robyn Rodriguez, founder of the Bulosan Center, joins Insight to look back on the organization’s founding, mission, and impact on the local Filipino community. She also talks about its future as a priority of the Amado Khaya Initiative, named after her late son.
Broadway International Festival
Sacramento’s Broadway corridor is the pulse of Sacramento’s vibrant ethnic food, music and arts scene. This Saturday, the Broadway community is coming together to celebrate its diversity and culture at the annual Broadway International Festival. In addition to all of the fun festival offerings, this event also has a health and wellness component to it. Joining Insight is Zion Taddese, owner of the Ethiopian Queen Sheba restaurant and organizer of the festival.
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50min
October 30, 2023 Chico State AI Study | Ultra-Processed Foods | 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas at Folsom Lake College
A Chico State professor launches study looking at AI’s impact on kids. A Sacramento dietician-nutritionist takes on the stigma around ultra-processed foods. Folsom Lake College puts on innovative showing of “20,000 Leagues Under the Seas.”

Chico State AI Study
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly commonplace, from image generators to virtual assistants. But concerns still remain around privacy, misinformation, and its impact on people in the long run. A new study launched at Chico State aims to analyze the current research around AI’s impact on children. Its lead investigator Dr. Abbas Attarwala, an Associate Professor of Computer Science, joins Insight to talk about the study, and how it can serve as a guide for future policy changes.
Ultra-Processed Foods

is a Sacramento-based registered dietician-nutritionist, consultant, podcast host and author, who uses her experiences navigating the dietetic fields as a Black, queer dietitian to dismantle how both the public health and medical framing of “healthy eating” and “obesity” has contributed to disordered eating and self blame. Recently, Jessica has taken on the stigma surrounding "ultra processed foods"-- which can mean a lot more than what we think.

20,000 Leagues Under the Seas at Folsom Lake College
A Broadway-caliber production of 20,000 Leagues Under the Seas is opening this week at Folsom Lake College. Today on Insight, we speak with Director David Harris and actor Brennan Villados about what makes this production so special, including a much-anticipated automated set. We’ll also learn the innovative work the students get involved in and some of the unique programs Folsom Lake College offers.
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49min

FAQs about Insight With Vicki Gonzalez:

How many episodes does Insight With Vicki Gonzalez have?

The podcast currently has 1,545 episodes available.

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