With over a billion active users, TikTok has become one of the most popular apps used worldwide. Videos are uploaded every second of every day and if you’re lucky it might go viral. You can find almost every mainstream company and brand on Tiktok. The app has become a powerful tool in self promotion and with just a smartphone and some creativity, going viral might allow for life changing opportunities. In this series, we hear from individuals who were able to gain success from TikTok. Today we hear from Daniel Huang, the CEO of a dating app called Monet, which went viral back in 2020. Jennifer Yoshikoshi has the story.

After 2 years with Monet, Daniel and the rest of the team have decided to shut down the app, but so many amazing stories have come from not only the users but also for its creators.

The UC Santa Barbara administration is facing several challenges in an effort to resolve a student housing shortage by building what would become the world's largest dormitory. KCSB's Clarissa Hom speaks with Daily Nexus reporter Mark Alfred and Dick Flacks, of the Sustainable University Now organization, to bring you the latest news on this topic, including a scathing new report from the faculty senate claiming the building plans would pose a variety of problems to its residents.

When the largest higher-education strike in United States history started over a month ago, on November 14th, those involved had clear demands in mind. We at KCSB have been covering the state of those demands since the strike started. I’ve been checking in biweekly with Emily Fox, a PhD student at UCSB, and she’s been keeping us informed on what’s been happening at the bargaining table and in the minds of some of her fellow strikers. Proceedings got complicated – you can listen to past episodes to hear more on that – but the strike officially ended just a few days ago, on Friday. The two unions who were still bargaining for their contracts at that point were SRU, the union for graduate student researchers, and UAW2865, the union for TAs, tutors, and readers. So now, the strike is over…but that doesn’t necessarily mean everything is sunshine and rainbows moving forward.

On Friday, December 16, a tentative agreement was reached between union bargaining teams and University of California leadership. Hear what that does and doesn’t mean for academic workers on all nine UC campuses.

Over the weekend of December 10, the UAW and UC bargaining teams appointed Darrell Steinberg to serve as negotiation mediator. He is currently the mayor of Sacramento, and was suggested by Governor Gavin Newsom for the role. Now, though nothing is in writing yet, there have been verbal proposals and updates from both sides since Steinberg got involved. PhD student and KCSB's resident Strike Updater Emily Fox spoke with Jackie Sedley at 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 15, with the latest.

An interview with Will Breman, a Santa Barbara based singer who you may have seen perform in your local wineries and breweries. If you find his voice familiar, you might have also seen and heard him sing on The Voice back in 2019. KCSB reporter, Jennifer Yoshikoshi talks to Will Breman to learn more about his music background, his inspirations, upcoming concerts, and his newly released Christmas Sampler.

Earlier in November, the Supreme Court heard arguments in the case Haaland v. Brackeen, which could overturn the landmark federal policy called the Indian Child Welfare Act. The policy implements minimum federal standards for when a Native American child is removed from their family. KCSB’s Zoha Malik speaks to journalist Kathleen Sharp for more insight on why this law was created, its ongoing relevance today, and the potential long-lasting impact if it is overturned.

King Tides are coming to the California Coast Christmas week, and the California Coastal Commission is asking the public to document the event. KCSB's Sarah Jagger spoke with a representative of the King Tides Project to find out what they are -- and what scientists can learn from them.

The AS UCSB Food Bank helps feed hundreds of hungry students every week. KCSB's Clarissa Hom speaks with Celest Sorrentino and Daniel Chavez with the ASFB to learn more about the services and support they provide.

Santa Barbara County needs to plan for how and where to build more housing soon to ease a shortage - and to meet state requirements. Planners are scrambling to find possible sites where the new residences can go. KCSB's Robert Stark speaks with Noozhawk reporter Joshua Molina to find out more.