This is part 2 of a 3-part series with Das Williams, outing Santa Barbara County First District Supervisor. Williams is the longest-serving elected official in the county. He was first elected to the Santa Barbara City Council in 2003. After an unsuccessful bid at re-election in 2024, Williams is looking at his next move, which likely will involve working in an environmental field, to focus on climate change and renewable energy. In this podcast, Williams talks about his final Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors meeting, his years in the California State Assembly, his legislation involving oil, education, gun laws, environmental sustainability. He also talks about cannabis and his views on the those who turned on him over cannabis policy and cannabis contributions. Check out this compelling podcast and don't miss Part 1, also on ‪@santabarbaratalkswithJosh‬ . Expect Part 3 in January.

John Davies is Santa Barbara's premiere conservative political mind. He sits down with Josh Molina for an in-depth discussion on conservative politics across the nation and locally and discusses why he believes Trump defeated Kamala Harris in November. Davies, the founder and CEO of Davies Public Affairs and Blaze PR, also has deep knowledge of Santa Barbara County politics. Davies talks about what may have been behind Das Williams' stunning re-election defeat, thoughts on his legacy and what he will miss about Williams. He also shares his views on Alejandra Gutierrez, who lost her bid for re-election to Wendy Santa Maria. Davies calls her a friend and said he spoke with her during the campaign. We also hear his views on the local Republican Party, and the reasons why Republicans can't seem to win seats locally. We also get his surprising views on Santa Barbara City Councilwoman and California Coastal Commissioner Meagan Harmon, and many other topics.

Check out this podcast as well 200 others by visiting and subscribing to Santa Barbara Talks on YouTube. Josh Molina is a journalist and college instructor who creates community conversation on topics such as housing, education, politics, business, culture and more. Also visit www.santabarbaratalks.com for more content.

Das Williams joins Josh Molina to talk about the early part of his life and career in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks. Williams explains how his early work for CAUSE, field representative for Hannah-Beth Jackson and campaign manager for the No on Recall campaign against Gail Marshall led to a successful run for Santa Barbara City Council. He shares about his "troubled" childhood, growing up with divorced parents, and little supervision helped shape his survival instincts. He credits four Santa Barbara City College professors, David Lawyer, John Kay, Manou Eskandari, and Peter Haslund for helping to reset him turn him in the correct direction.

Williams also talks about how he won a seat on the City Council, his campaign strategy of talking to voters outside of the Golden Triangle, and his focus on water, housing and neighborhoods. Williams also talks about lessons he learned from an ill-advised run for Santa Barbara County Supervisor in 2005, two years into his City Council term. Williams also reflects on his mistakes, successes, lessons learned, and his political enemies. This is Part 1. In Part 2 we will discuss his years in the California State Assembly and Santa Barbara County Supervisors, and what went wrong in his bid for re-election.

Rev. David Moore sits down with Josh Molina to talk about Trump's victory in the presidential contest, why and how it happened, and what it means for the country. He also shares his thoughts on Democrats, whether they turned their backs on working people, and how the situation in Gaza affected the presidential outcome. Moore also shares his views on local political issues, including rent control and affordable housing. Then he discusses his background and upbringing and how he became a human rights advocate.

Check out this podcast conversation as well as more than 150 others by visiting and subscribing to Santa Barbara Talks on YouTube. Josh Molina is a journalist who creates community conversation on topics such as housing, education, politics, business, culture and more. Also visit www.santabarbaratalks.com for more content.

Dr. Eliot Jacobson, professor of mathematics and computer science returns to Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina to talk about the major weather storm currently hitting California. Jacobson explains why it is happening, and why we should expect more extreme weather events. Jacobson also talks about what it means to be an environmental doomer (it's not what you think), and expresses his frustration with some environmentalists who perpetuate a green energy agenda. He says there is no quantifiable difference between green energy and fossil fuels and that the real solution is for everyone to consume less of everything. Jacobson also has some messages for young people and how they can be part of the environmental solution. Essentially, he says we need to think about making change not for people, but for the natural world.

Journalist Josh Molina breaks down the contest between incumbent Oscar Gutierrez and challenger Tony Becerra in the battle for seat on the Santa Barbara City Council in District 3.

Please consider a financial contribution to support these podcasts by visiting santabarbaratalks.com. Joshua Molina is a journalist and college instructor who creates dynamic conversations on the topics of housing, politics, education, culture and business. Please hit subscribe on YouTube.

They call him the mayor of the Westside. Tony Becerra, a karate trainer, enters the political arena to challenge his former student Oscar Gutierrez for a seat on the Santa Barbara City Council in District 3. In this podcast, Becerra opens up about the reasons why he is running for office and his views on issues such as rent control, State Street and the sales tax increase. Becerra also talks about his personal story, being a renter, a small business owner, and one of 12 children in his family. He says he has a vision, is an entrepreneur and plans to advocate for more crosswalks and services on Santa Barbara's Westside. Becerra also talks about Gutierrez, notes that he lives with his mother, and says that ''at some point you have to create your own life, your own opportunities.' Learn about Becerra's campaign in the latest episode of Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina.

Please consider a financial contribution to support these podcasts by visiting santabarbaratalks.com. Joshua Molina is a journalist and college instructor who creates dynamic conversations on the topics of housing, politics, education, culture and business. Please hit subscribe on YouTube.

Jennifer Smith is running for Goleta City Council in District 3. In this podcast conversation with journalist Josh Molina, Smith talks about the housing proposal at the Glen Annie Golf Club, the county's Housing Element process, Old Town Goleta's re-striping efforts, traffic in Goleta, plans to close the Goleta library for two years, and variety of issues and challenges facing Goleta. Smith also talks about her work as a Legal Aid Foundation attorney and her background and the events that shaped her public service.

Josh Molina is a journalist who creates dynamic conversation with people on the topics of housing, education, business, politics, culture and the issues facing our region. Please hit subscribe on YouTube and consider a financial contribution to support these podcasts at www.santabarbaratalks.com

Dave King is running for a re-election as Buellton Mayor in the Nov. 5, 2024 election. King was first elected in 2008 to the City Council. King talks with journalist Josh Molina about his re-election campaign. King shares his plans to build a disc golf course, re-open a movie theater, and explains the plan to open a bowling alley in Buellton. In addition, King, a retired CHP officer, said he wants to bring more CHP officers to Highway 246 to slow down speeding on the highway. King discusses his time as mayor and his plans for re-election.

Journalist Josh Molina host Santa Barbara Talks with Josh Molina and creates dynamic conversations on topics such as housing, business, education, culture and politics. Please subscribe on YouTube and visit www.santabarbaratalks.com to make a financial contribution to support these podcasts.

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Josh Molina breaks down the behind-the-scenes dynamic behind the City Council District 1 contest between Alejandra Gutierrez and Wendy Santamaria, amid recent endorsements, and allegations of sign theft. Josh Molina is a college instructor and journalists who interviews people on a variety of issues, including housing, education, culture, business and politics. Santa Barbara Talks is a place for all perspectives to discuss solutions on topics that affect all of us. Visit SantaBarbaraTalks.com to make a contribution. Please hit subscribe on YouTube.