Sea turtles off Santa Cruz, a renewed push for offshore drilling, and a grassroots “blue wall” that can actually stop it—this conversation with Save Our Shores executive director Katie Thompson is a masterclass in how local action shapes ocean destiny. We go from childhood dolphin obsessions to data sets that topple bad policy, and the ride never loses steam.

We dig into the hard stuff first: climate change, industrial overfishing, and coral reef collapse. Then we move to solutions with teeth. Santa Cruz wrote the playbook in the late 70s by passing ordinances that ban onshore infrastructure tied to offshore oil. No pipelines or refineries means rigs become uneconomical. That model spread to counties across California and is being updated now for a new era—including a proactive defense against deep seabed mining that could scar the seafloor before we even understand what lives there.

What makes this work stick is people and proof. With nearly 5,000 volunteers and more than 150 cleanups a year, Save Our Shores turns weekend effort into policy leverage. Counting cigarette butts, plastic cutlery, and glass isn’t busywork—it’s evidence that fueled a local first-in-the-world ban on filter tobacco sales. We connect watershed dots too, from river-mouth debris and pallet nails to tide pool etiquette that keeps fragile life intact. Along the way, we talk funding realities, corporate cleanups, how younger donors give by issue, and why the blue economy—tourism, fisheries, ports—depends on a healthy coast far more than a handful of rig jobs ever could.

If you’ve felt stuck between outrage and apathy, this episode hands you a practical to-do list: donate to sustain the work, join a cleanup to see impact firsthand, and add your voice to public comments that shape state and federal decisions. Subscribe, share this with a friend who loves the ocean, and leave a review telling us the first action you’ll take this month to protect our shores.

A coastal market wakes up, wildfire insurance cracks open long-stuck doors, and a Santa Cruz chef proves that comfort food can be both soulful and smart. We kick things off with a frank look at February’s housing heat: listings that sat for months are suddenly pending in two weeks, multiple offers are back, and buyers are testing the waters after a long winter lull. Then comes the twist that could keep deals alive—new wildfire insurance options, including a mountain-friendly carrier with self-inspections and realistic rates, plus a major move from Farmers to welcome back thousands of Fair Plan homes. For agents, lenders, and homeowners, it’s the playbook moment to re-quote, clear brush, and update roofs.

Enter Chef Ty Pearce of Busy Bees Catering and Cafe, whose story stitches together Ben Lomond roots, London kitchens, and a leap of faith in Santa Cruz. Ty shares how a turbulent childhood, early restaurant work, and near-pro MMA training forged a mindset built on action: show up, breathe under pressure, and find a way. He launched Busy Bees with limited cash and a baby on the way, cooked pop-ups to keep the lights on, and built a patio one umbrella at a time. His philosophy is grounded and generous—source local where it counts, cook from scratch, price for neighbors, and treat every event like the one-time moment it is. When reviews land, even the tough ones, he hunts for the pattern, fixes the process, and keeps moving.

We dig into hiring for buy-in, the unglamorous reality of SOPs and compliance, and the joy of feeding a community through milestones—engagements, weddings, and weekend rituals measured in biscuits and Benedict burritos. Ty hints at what’s next: a beverage program with lattes, feature pancakes, a heavyweight cinnamon roll, and a future enclosed patio so everyone, rain or shine, has a dignified seat. If you care about coastal living, small business resilience, and food that carries a neighborhood’s heart, this one’s for you.

Enjoy the conversation? Follow, share with a friend, and leave a quick review—your words help more coastal neighbors find us.

A falling mortgage rate brings energy back to the coast, but the real story lives at a neighborhood table. We sit down with Suda’s co-owner, realtor, and wake-surf competitor Cole Kerby and general manager Mel Lashbrook to explore how a Santa Cruz favorite became the spot you can love twice a week. From leadership and systems to cocktails and comfort food, this is a tour through culture, consistency, and the realities of running hospitality in a high-cost market.

Cole shares how a career built on service—first as a Silicon Valley executive assistant, then in real estate—translated into hospitality at scale. His blueprint: listen first, codify what works, and make standards visible so anyone can win the shift. Mel brings a scientist’s eye to the bar, turning seasonal ingredients into balanced drinks through structured R&D, while protecting beloved staples on the food side. Together they’ve cut turnover to near zero, which regulars feel as familiar faces, steady service, and that “Cheers” sense of belonging.

We dive into pandemic pivots, patio strategy, and the razor-thin margins of restaurants today, from minimum wage to vendor creep to the sticker shock of liquor liability insurance. The counterweight is precision: staggered kitchen and floor labor, constant vendor comparisons, and menu engineering that keeps prices accessible. You’ll also hear how boundaries with guests protect staff and improve the experience, plus the ecosystem around Suda—Motive’s nightlife downstairs and Ulterior’s speakeasy upstairs—creating options for every mood.

Hungry for specifics? Daily brunch is on, hours are expanded, and Girl Dinner Thursdays offer a mini kale Caesar, fries your way, and a martini. If you love restaurant culture, bar craft, Santa Cruz dining, small business operations, or the human side of leadership, you’ll find ideas you can use tonight. If this conversation sparked something for you, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review to help more listeners find us.

A Santa Cruz kid sketches a drum in kindergarten, stands before Steven Tyler at 22, fronts Quiet Riot, and then decides what matters most isn’t fame, but the life built around the songs. That’s the heartbeat of our conversation with James Durbin—raw, funny, and unguarded—about chasing the spotlight without losing your voice.

We dig into the unglamorous truth of American Idol: 30-hour lines, adrenaline whiplash, and the discipline to say no when producers want to pick your songs. James shares how his wife’s belief and a house full of sticky-note affirmations shifted everything, turning talent into momentum. He tells the story behind singing Dream On with Steven’s blessing, the post-Idol offers that tempted him, and the surprising gigs he declined to protect his identity as an artist, not just “the singing show guy.”

Then we get honest about rock and roll reality. Quiet Riot gave him massive highs and some hard lessons—stop-start calendars, long travel for short pay, and creative control that vanished under a firm hand. James explains how those years clarified his values: family time counts, authenticity matters, and music should feel like a choice, not a contract. Back home, The Lost Boys and solo sets let him read the room, swap songs on the fly, and enjoy the simple magic of a crowd leaning in. We close with his new single, Paradise, a coastal reggae rock vibe that pairs naturally with his earlier Capitola on My Mind, plus a synth-driven album in the works.

If you love artist origin stories, rock history, and practical wisdom on balancing ambition with a real life, you’ll feel this one. Hit play, share it with a friend who needs a creative reset, and drop a review to tell us your favorite moment. Subscribe for more stories from the coast.

The Santa Cruz market just did a U-turn. After a sleepy January with only 56 closings, the first days of February brought 18 new pendings—many with multiple offers—reminding us how quickly momentum returns when buyers are ready and listings are sharp. We unpack what those numbers really mean, why last week’s headlines can mislead today’s decisions, and how to read pendings, days on market, and agent chatter to navigate the next move with clarity.

We also break down a money myth: 3.2% home appreciation vs 3% in the bank isn’t apples to apples. With 20% down, appreciation compounds on the full price of the home, not just your cash. That leverage can turn a modest price gain into a meaningful equity lift, before you add principal paydown or potential tax advantages. We explore smart sequencing—build equity first, then redeploy gains into the market—and what early spring activity suggests for buyers and sellers preparing now.

Then we lace up and spotlight Santa Cruz Roller Derby on National Girls and Women in Sports Day. Forget the 1970s theatrics; flat-track derby is a real sport with positions, penalties, strategies, and relentless cardio. You’ll hear how jams work, why lead jammers control the clock, and how disciplined formations turn chaos into chess. The league is a 501(c)(3) in rebuild mode with around 50 active members, a four-date home schedule at the Civic (Mar 21, Jun 27, Sep 19, Nov 7), and a clear path for newcomers: six-week boot camps that take true beginners from first strides to tryout-ready. Sponsors keep the wheels turning—venue costs, travel teams, scholarships, and officiating—and get VIP perks, shout-outs, and real community impact in return.

If you want a downtown night with energy, clarity, and local pride, grab tickets, pick a favorite jammer, and join a crowd that learns the rules as the action unfolds. And if you’re eyeing a move in Santa Cruz housing, use real-time signals, not stale soundbites. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs market context or a new weekend plan, and leave a quick review to help more locals find the show.

Santa Cruz Derby Girls Guests: Mike "Pyro" DeMars & Tamara "Tadow" Dow

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SHOW NOTES & LINKS 

🎟️ Santa Cruz Roller Derby Tickets & Schedule: https://santacruzrollerderby.org

🛼 Learn to Skate / Boot Camps: https://santacruzrollerderby.org/join

Hosts

Brandi Jones
With 16+ consecutive years as a top producer at a firm ranked #1 for over 44 years, Brandi has closed hundreds of transactions across Santa Cruz and Monterey Bay—from first-time buyers to luxury estates. A UC Santa Cruz graduate, longtime community board member, and lifelong advocate for her clients, she pairs deep market knowledge with calm, strategic guidance.

Jerry Seagraves — 
Your go-to Farmers Insurance agent in Soquel for over 20 years, Jerry brings a warm, personal approach to protecting what matters most—from home and auto to business coverage—while staying deeply connected to the Santa Cruz community.

Ryan Buckholdt — 
Branch Manager and Loan Officer with deep local roots, Ryan blends mortgage expertise with a hometown perspective. Raised in a real-estate family and shaped by decades in Santa Cruz County, he simplifies complex financing and guides buyers with clarity and integrity.

What if your skin is telling the story your nervous system can’t say out loud? We sit down with master aesthetician and community leader Jennalee Dahlen of Yoso Wellness to trace a journey from corporate burnout to hands-on healing, and from personal skin cancer to oncology-safe care that restores dignity, calm, and confidence.

Jennalee shares how one facial shifted her life, why giving care can feel better than receiving, and how true holistic skincare goes far beyond products. We dig into stress, inflammation, lymphatic flow, hydration, UV protection, and the art of listening for the details people don’t write on intake forms. Jenny’s philosophy is simple and brave: meet every client without judgment, build a custom blueprint, and support their choices—whether that includes injectables, lasers, or a fully “clean” path—by focusing on longevity and repair.

We also explore Jennalee's civic work as downtown commissioner and police advisory committee member, highlighting how informed, compassionate dialogue can calm extremes and improve community health. Then we move into oncology aesthetics with practical steps for sensitive skin: hyaluronic acid, supportive oils, chamomile and arnica for inflammation, and careful timing around chemo cycles. Jenny explains how a single hour on the table can let someone forget the weight they’re carrying—and why that matters.

Finally, we get real about hormones, perimenopause, and partnership. Expect grounded tools for nervous system regulation, the science of slower hugs, and ways to offer support without judgment when skin, mood, and sleep all change at once. If you care about healthy aging, clean ingredients, and the deeper stories faces carry, this conversation offers thoughtful insights and tangible next steps.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs encouragement, and leave a quick review—your support helps others find these stories.

Hungry for proof that food can rebuild culture one bite at a time?

The newest episode of Owning The Coast opens with a quick reality check on Santa Cruz County—rates, listings, insurance, and the economic pressure shaping how people live and spend—before handing the mic to Daniel J, the creator behind Double Meat Please.

Daniel’s story starts with arriving in Santa Cruz in 2006 and finding belonging through rugby and CrossFit, eventually owning two gyms and building a coaching voice rooted in clarity and trust. During COVID, that same discipline turned into something unexpected: a daily video practice that slowly became a craft. What emerged is Double Meat—highly watchable, no-gimmick food storytelling that actually helps people decide where to eat, without cheap takedowns or inflated hype.

We dig into why Daniel avoids numerical ratings, how he handles negative comments with curiosity instead of defensiveness, and the delicate balance between being honest and still supporting small businesses. He breaks down his content strategy—pho runs, burger crawls, neighborhood series—why research matters before you ever sit down to eat, and even the very practical reason he wears gloves when filming a messy burger.

The conversation also gets tactical. Daniel lays out a clear monetization path for creators and restaurants alike: content packages, on-site shoots, and simple posting playbooks for businesses that need consistent, high-quality video but don’t have the time (or energy) to plan, film, and edit it themselves.

Along the way, there are plenty of specific, drool-worthy recommendations: elevated pub plates at Emerald Mallard, biscuits from Busy Bees, massive sashimi at Naka Sushi, Detroit-style pepperoni from Slice Project, and a downtown after-hours route that stitches together fried chicken, dumplings, ramen, coffee, and cocktails into one nearly perfect night.

If you care about Santa Cruz food, creator ethics, or turning genuine passion into a business that actually serves its community, this episode is loaded with practical ideas and real places to try. Come for the market update, stay for the playbook on building culture with a camera and a crew of friends.

Follow Double Meat on Instagram, check doublemeatplease.com for services, and if this conversation sparked a new craving or idea—share the show, subscribe, and leave a quick review.
 What local dish should we feature next?

A packed gym can change a city—especially when you can feel the hardwood in your chest from 15 rows up. We sat down with Chris Murphy, president of the Santa Cruz Warriors, to unpack how a G League franchise turned a 2,500-seat arena into a winter ritual, a talent pipeline, and a hub for community pride. From the first sellouts to the next arena, this is the story of choosing right-sized over oversized and substance over flash.

Chris shares his coast-to-coast journey from entry-level ticket sales to running the club, and the operating reality beneath the roar: small departments, rising costs, and the tricky math of recruiting in a high-rent market. We dig into the character-first philosophy that shapes the roster, why 60 percent of NBA players now have G League experience, and how Santa Cruz’s “just right” proximity to Golden State fuels real development and real call-ups. You’ll hear why players love living downtown, how front office staff logs 50 to 75 volunteer hours a year, and what it takes to balance practices, school visits, and sold-out nights without losing momentum.

If you’ve never been to Kaiser Permanente Arena, consider this your invitation. Tickets average about forty dollars, the court feels a breath away, and the themed nights are built for locals—think a full Grateful Dead tribute and a celebration of the Golden State Valkyries’ historic season. We also talk candidly about the proposed arena timeline, the partners helping make it possible, and practical ways businesses can plug in—from season tickets as client gifts to sharing community events that make the team more than a game.

Join us for a courtside look at growth, grit, and giving back. If this conversation resonates, follow the show, share it with a friend who loves hoops or Santa Cruz, and leave a quick review to help more neighbors find it.

A rate dip below six percent, insurance carriers tiptoeing back into California’s wildfire zones, and a gum factory reinvented as a hive of ideas—this conversation tracks momentum that actually moves lives. We bring William Ow into the studio to tell the inside story of how his family took on the largest vacant building in Santa Cruz and turned it into a curated ecosystem that powers jobs, innovation, and pride you can point to on any Westside walk.

William pulls back the curtain on the early days: courting skeptical tenants to the far Westside with creative deals, applying a retailer’s curation logic to industrial and R&D users, and enforcing a deceptively simple rule that changed everything—the no-assholes policy. When you protect culture, you protect value. Anchors like USGS and Santa Cruz Bicycles created a foundation, and right-sized space unlocked capability; moving SCB from 27k to over 100k square feet catalyzed assembly-line growth and global reach. The building now breathes like a resilient portfolio: when one tenant consolidates, nine new companies get room to start, test, and scale.

We also dive into the sustainability ledger. With utilities that look like a small city, William installed solar in phases starting in 2006, building to roughly 1.2 megawatts and aiming for consumption parity. During the pandemic lull, he doubled down on upgrades so the return felt tangibly better—because presentation matters when founders are raising capital and hiring teams. And this isn’t a fortress: First Fridays, open studios, a Saturday farmers market, and Cars and Coffee make the upstairs a public-friendly gallery of makers and ideas. From Chelsea Market to Turin’s Fiat factory track, adaptive reuse inspired the vision; Santa Cruz gave it a heart.

We open with rate and insurance shifts that could reanimate moves, refinances, and commercial bets, then show how optimism, problem solving, and local roots turn square footage into an engine. If you care about real estate, startups, Santa Cruz culture, or how to build a thriving middle class through place-based ecosystems, you’ll feel at home here. Enjoy the story, share it with a friend who loves adaptive reuse, and if it resonates, subscribe and leave a review—it helps more builders and dreamers find us.

What if most “bad tenants” weren’t actually the problem? We bring on Anne Michelle Francis, CEO of Blueprint Evictions, to explore the hidden mechanics of landlording in California: the power of a clear lease, the limits of the Tenant Protection Act, and the practical moves that keep you out of court. Anne Michelle shares how education beats escalation, why 75% of well‑crafted notices resolve without eviction, and how small waivers snowball into big losses when owners stop enforcing their own rules.

We dig into one of the most emotional mistakes in housing: keeping rent low for years out of kindness. It feels generous until life happens and a tenant is suddenly priced out. We walk through a better framework—modest, regular adjustments, upfront communication, and even banking the difference if you want to help—so people aren’t blindsided later. From reviewing rental agreements before you buy multi‑unit properties to aligning insurance with the real use of a home, we map the proactive steps that protect cash flow and relationships. You’ll also hear a compassionate cash‑for‑keys blueprint, where clarity, safety, and milestones create dignified outcomes without dragging everyone through a slow legal process.

If you’re a landlord, agent, or investor, this conversation is a masterclass in staying compliant, avoiding common traps, and building a rental business that runs on structure instead of stress. We cover TPA 2019 essentials, the difference between residential and commercial obligations, and why renting to friends without a real lease is a fast track to uncovered losses. Want fewer headaches and more control? Start with the lease, document everything, and keep communication current.

If this helped, follow the show, share it with a landlord who needs it, and leave a quick review to help others find us. Got a lease clause or screening tip you swear by? Tell us—we might feature it next time.