Santa Barbara's Laura Knight, owner of Pascucci, 509 State St., is one of Santa Barbara's restaurant success stories. In this podcast she talks about surviving the pandemic, re-opening in a instant and offering expanded dining. She also talks about her hopes for State St., and Josh and Laura recall their memories of the late Babatunde Folayemi and his sweet potato pie.

When the pandemic hit, Santa Barbara Unified School District teacher Jennifer Cervantes pivoted to find a way to teach her junior high school students. She turned to Instagram and social media to find inspirational people to speak to her class. In this era of distance learning, Cervantes discovered that not only is she the teacher and the master, but she's also the student and she's enjoying her educational journey while keeping students' needs first and foremost.

James Joyce, founder of Coffee With a Black Guy, talks about the death of George Floyd, racism and injustice in America, the history of policing in the U.S., and a variety of topics related to the current state of the country. Joyce also breaks down Santa Barbara's protest and rally, and the importance of "teachable moments," and the getting comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Mary Lynn Harms-Romo, the senior marketing director for Paseo Nuevo, opens up about the loss of Nordstrom, the future of the iconic, 30-year-old mall that once-rescued the downtown, what's going on with the old Macy's building, and the $20 million in tenant improvements that the mall's owners are investing. Harms-Romo also offers her views on closing State Street to cars and her vision for Paseo Nuevo and Santa Barbara's downtown experience.

Rob Dayton, Santa Barbara's Transportation Planning and Parking Manager, talks about his vision for Santa Barbara, why at heart he truly is a car advocate, and the importance of building housing downtown.

Podcast 14: Dos Pueblos High School Principal Bill Woodard by Josh Molina

Santa Barbara City Councilman Mike Jordan talks about Santa Barbara's COVID-19 pandemic problems, Paseo Nuevo, the downtown, Old Spanish Days, building heights and five of the worst months of his life, in a wide-ranging interview with Josh Molina.

Podcast 12: Commercial Real Estate Investor Jason Jaeger by Josh Molina

Thomas Tighe is the President and CEO of Direct Relief. Hear him talk about his organization's response during COVID-19, his thoughts on the Lompoc prison outbreak, and the factors in his youth that helped shaped him into a humanitarian. Tighe also talks about Direct Relief's other big mission: supporting midwifery and helping to prevent the unnecessary deaths of mothers and children during labor.

Santa Barbara's Bob Stout, owner of the Wildcat Lounge, talks rebuilding during the COVID-19 pandemic and life as a nightclub owner.