It’s A Long Beach Thing

Ed Caspers discovered art accidentally in college while searching for a minor, and it quickly turned into a passion that has guided him throughout his life. Today, he has his own art studio in Signal Hill and is continuing to build both his career and his life in Long Beach through creativity, hard work, and dedication to his craft.

Oscar Cancio talks about being raised in Koreatown in Los Angeles by a single dad, an experience that helped shape his work ethic, resilience, and perspective on community. From there, his journey led him into the military, where he developed leadership skills and a deeper appreciation for service and discipline.

More than 10 years ago, Oscar moved to Long Beach and quickly fell in love with the city, its diversity, neighborhoods, culture, and people. Having lived in several different parts of Long Beach over the years, he believes he has a unique understanding of both the strengths and challenges facing the city today.

Oscar shares his thoughts on public safety, housing, local business growth, and community connection, while discussing what he believes can help improve the quality of life for residents across Long Beach.

Rebecca Hinderer, owner of Let's Yolk About It and candidate for Long Beach City Council District 3, shares her inspiring journey from growing up in the foster care system to building a thriving restaurant business in Belmont Shore.

In the conversation, she discusses the challenges she overcame, her deep passion for the city of Long Beach, and the experiences that shaped her as a business owner and community leader. Rebecca also explains why she decided to run for City Council, her vision for District 3, and her commitment to supporting local businesses, public safety, and the Long Beach community.

Joshua Rodriguez a husband, father, and police officer has reached a turning point. Frustrated by rising crime, homelessness, and a challenging environment for local businesses, he’s stepping up to take action in the city he loves, Long Beach.

Long Beach mayoral candidate Chris Sweeney joins the podcast to share his vision for the city. He discusses his plans to lower crime, address homelessness, support small businesses, and create a stronger future for Long Beach.

Bill Grisolia, founder of the Long Beach Blues Society, talks about his love for blues music and how it became his life’s passion starting at the age of 27. Bill shares the many ways he has helped elevate blues music in Long Beach and the work he has done to support and grow the local blues community.

Chris Acker, head coach of Long Beach State men’s basketball, talks about his basketball journey and his transition into coaching. He also shares why he decided to take the job at California State University, Long Beach and what needs to happen for the program to be successful. He discusses the culture he wants to build, the type of players he wants in the program, and his vision for the future of the team.

Hector Bordas talks about his style of leadership and his definition of a strong workplace culture. As a Chief Clarity Officer, he shares the tools in his toolbox that help businesses improve their work culture in Long Beach and beyond. His insights offer practical strategies for leaders who want to build stronger teams, better communication, and more positive work environments.

Jordan Baseball Head Coach Phil Berman talks about his opportunity to play baseball at Jordan and as result, it gave him an opportunity to play college ball. Now has the head coach, he helps his players live out their goals and passions on and off the field.

Desiree Vavak shares how being taken advantage of through her own personal mortgage loan inspired her lifelong mission to protect and support others. Tune in to hear her inspiring journey to becoming a successful loan officer, helping people who have been turned away elsewhere and finding solutions to secure the loans they need.