The Indy

The work of bees can be traced back to one third of the human diet because of their pollination efforts. The Indy reporter Chiloé Spelius interviewed local Santana Barbara ranch manager and beekeeper, Jose Luis, on the art and impact that beekeeping has on the Central Coast.

Then, the 49th annual Santa Barbara Summer Solstice parade is coming down the block on June 24 at noon. The Indy reporter Raymond Vasquez sat down with DJ Darla Bea to talk about the “roots” of the parade and what visitors can expect this year.

Next, James Joyce’s controversial novel “Ulysses” is celebrated each year on June 16 in an event called Bloomsday. Fans and readers recently visited James Joyce Pub to commemorate the novel’s influence on the world of literature and book censorship laws. The Indy reporter Rebecca Fairweather spoke with author and Bloomsday event coordinator Jim Buckley about the impact of “Ulysses” and how the community celebrated.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Theme music written by Molly McAnany.

Other tracks used include Ola and IOverjoy by Ketsa; Valladolid Funeral and Cloud Line by Blue Dot Sessions.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://www.solsticeparade.com/

In 1972, ornithologist George Hunt and anthropologist Molly Warner discovered homosexuality in the natural world— a turning point for the science and queer community. The scientists found female-female nesting pairs in a seagull colony on Santa Barbara Island, 38 miles off of our coast.

Joining us on the show this week is Lulu Miller, co-host of WNYC Studios Radiolab, to talk about the ripple effects this discovery had on science, politics and acceptance in the queer community.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Theme music written by Molly McAnany. Other track used is Big Feeling Man by Blue Dot Sessions.

Sound effects by freesfx.co.uk; http://www.freesfx.co.uk.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://radiolab.org/podcast/seagulls

What is the future of the State Street promenade?

The Santa Barbara City Council settled on a $2 per square foot rate for outdoor dining parklets in April. But, discussions about the rates have been a hot topic in the City Council since January, where the original resolution charged businesses between $3-12 per square foot.

While the fees are said to pay for the high maintenance costs of State Street, downtown business owners are pushing back. Randy Rowse, mayor of the City of Santa Barbara, sat down with The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg to talk about how State Street will adapt to upcoming changes regarding parklets, transportation, vacancies and meeting American Disability Act requirements.

Then, Anti-Defamation League CEO Jonathan Greenblatt spoke at UCSB’s Arts and Lectures about taking back the momentum of antisemitic extremism and conspiracy theories on May 22.

The Indy reporter Chiloe Spelius was joined by Dan Meisel, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League Santa Barbara/Tri-Counties, who brought this conversation into a local lens. Meisel discusses the rise of antisemitism, antisemitic incidents in Santa Barbara County and the importance of teaching anti-hate in the community.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

Fighting antisemitism segment begins at 27:00.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://santabarbaraca.gov/government/mayor-city-councilhttps://santabarbara.adl.org

The Taste of Santa Barbara is in full swing, and The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg got a glimpse at the week-long food and drink celebration.

Joining us on the show this week is Todd Schulkin, Executive Director of the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, who talked about how Julia Child inspired the culinary world to know where your food comes from.

Julia Child is a culinary educator who spent her summers in Santa Barbara, and became a popular television personality on her series The French Chef. Her legacy on the culinary world remains, inspiring cooking schools like Apples to Zucchini to take part in her mission of food education.

Alexandra visited A to Z Cooking School for Pascale Beale’s “Souffle Perfection” class, and also spoke with Nancy Martz, executive director of the school, and Jeff King, coordinator of adult cooking classes.

Then, The Indy reporter Rebecca Fairweather explored Terre et Sang in Los Olivos, a vineyard operated by a mother-son duo who share the same passion for grapes and family. Rebecca sat down with Duncan and Dalita Harmon to chat about why they call winemaking “a labor of love.”

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

Terre et Sang segment begins at 28:27.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Music for this episode written by Molly McAnany and Ketsa.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://sbce.events/https://www.terreetsang.com/

The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg spoke with Salud Carbajal, the U.S. representative for California's 24th congressional district, about the 2023 Farm Bill.

The Farm Bill is a multiyear, nationwide legislative package that governs food assistance programs and agriculture in the United States. It’s broken down into 12 sections, or titles, that are said to impact every family in our community.

Carbajal joined us this week on The Indy to talk about which programs are most integral to the Central Coast and how the community can get their voices heard in the House Agriculture Committee.

Then, The Indy reporter Chiloe Spelius covered the history behind Cinco de Mayo and how the annual celebration empowers the Mexican American community.

She spoke with Melinda Gandara, an adjunct faculty member in the Department of American Ethnic Studies at Santa Barbara City College and a trained art historian, who shared her story of finding historical truth.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://carbajal.house.gov/farmbill/

On this week’s episode, The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg sat down with the Santa Barbara chapter of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit dedicated to providing resources amid the affordable housing crisis. Habitat Santa Barbara aims to repair homes, clean up neighborhoods, construct homes with affordable mortgages, and advocate for fair housing policies.

Joining us on the show today is Jessica de L’Arbre, Habitat Santa Barbara’s CEO, to discuss the affordable housing initiatives and resources they offer to the community.

Crush Bar & Tap, Santa Barbara’s only “official” gay bar, is currently listed for sale at a reduced price. With the bar in search of a new owner, patrons fear the loss of a safe space for LGBTQ people.

This week, Daniel Huecias sits down with Feltaan, drag queen and host at Crush Bar & Tap, discussing the significance of the bar’s presence here in Santa Barbara.

The Santa Barbara Independent is hosting its inaugural Wine Week. Thirty-three establishments will be pouring $10 glasses until May 3.

The Indy reporter Rebecca Fairweather joined Sam Marmorstien, owner of Los Olivos Wine Merchant & Cafe, to chat about the unique business that brings the farm and vineyard to the table.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

Music for this episode written by Molly McAnany and Blue Dot Sessions.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://www.sbhabitat.org/https://www.independent.com/2023/04/26/welcome-to-santa-barbara-wine-week/

This week, The Indy is celebrating National Poetry Month and Earth Day.

The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg sat down with George Yatchisin, host of the ninth annual “Spirits in the Air: Potent Potable Poetry” reading that went down at The Good Lion bar on April 19.

All of the poems are about libations, or alcohol. “This event will attest to the multi-faceted ways poets have found inspiration, solace, and yes, sometimes sickness in the bottle. Now in its ninth year, this event makes clear just how fun poetry can be, and we all look forward to getting to celebrate Poetry Month together, with a delicious drink in hand,” Yatchisin said in a press release.

As April is National Poetry Month, Yatchisin joined us on the show to talk about how this event aims to connect the Santa Barbara community with poetry over a glass of wine— maybe a cocktail— or whatever attendees prefer at the no-host bar.

Then, The Indy reporter Chiloé Spelius-Olave spoke with ​​Kathi King about the upcoming 2023 Santa Barbara Earth Day Festival. King is the director of climate education and leadership at the Community Environmental Council, and she also coordinates the event which is scheduled for April 29-30 at Alameda Park.

Earth Day originated in Santa Barbara after the 1969 oil spill in the Santa Barbara Channel. Now, community members come together to celebrate environmental advocacy in the birthplace of the movement.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://www.sbearthday.org/

On this week’s episode, The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg sat down with The Starfish Connection, a Santa Barbara-based nonprofit that provides emergency gap grants to families in need.

The nonprofit partners with Hospice of Santa Barbara, Teddy Bear Cancer Pediatric Foundation, and Bethel House, providing financial assistance— one starfish at a time.

Hear from the founder, Virginia Benson Wigle, and executive director, Sarah Abrams, who joined us on the show to talk about how The Starfish Connection is helping residents with sudden financial crises.

The Indy reporter Rebecca Fairweather then spoke with UC Santa Barbara’s Environmental Affairs Board to discuss the environmental impacts of the Santa Barbara pipeline, if it reopens on the coastline.

Members of the Santa Barbara community are worried that the reemergence of pipeline 901 could mean environmental degradation and loss of marine life for the Santa Barbara coastline.

The Plains Pipeline Development project seeks to revive line 901, looking to install safety valves to ensure oil containment and prevent a spill from occurring. Environmental organizations and climate activists have begun advocating for the dismissal of this project.

Joining us on the show is president of UCSB’s Environmental Affairs Committee, Kat Lane, and the group's program advisor, Sarah Siedschlag.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.

For more information, visit: https://www.thestarfishconnection.org/https://eab.as.ucsb.edu/

Santa Barbara Unified School District presented plans for a $1.3 million “Summer of Learning” program at a district board of education meeting in February.

The program is designed to assist elementary school students in meeting STAR testing requirements and to get secondary school students college and career ready. A group of 540 elementary school students will be identified by teachers and administration to work on English Language Arts, English Language Development, and Math requirements.

The Indy host Alexandra Goldberg spoke with elementary superintendent Stanley Monroe and secondary superintendent Lynne Sheffield about their goals for this ‘student-centered’ initiative.

Hosted by Alexandra Goldberg.

The Indy: A Podcast was co-created by Molly McAnany and the Santa Barbara Independent.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support and contact [email protected] for advertisements.