It's opening week for UCSB Arts & Lectures' 2022-23 season! On this week's episode, we sit down with Celesta Billeci, Miller McCune Executive Director for UCSB Arts & Lectures, Caitlin O’Hara, Director of Public Lectures and Special Initiatives, as well as Charles Donelan, Senior Writer and Publicist, to talk about the new season line-up and what’s to come this fall. This year's theme emphasizes challenging the status quo and inspiring the next generation to be change-makers.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

For more information:

• UCSB Arts & Lectures - What's On

On this episode of The Indy, we speak with artist Mary Heebner to chat about the early days of the recently closed Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara and Contemporary Arts Forum. As of August 28th, the premier contemporary art venue shared that it couldn’t bear the financial strain anymore and closed its doors permanently. Heebner was one of the early members of CAF and supported its endeavors in creating a collaborative space for artists across the country. Although Heebner is sorry to see it go, she shares that the art scene is still thriving in Santa Barbara and celebrates her most recent exhibit launch at the Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara Gallery which is open until November 5.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

For more information:

• Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara Announces August Closure

• Mary Heebner’s Latest Work at Architectural Foundation of Santa Barbara Gallery: ‘Prayer Flags & A Tale of Longing’

On this episode of The Indy, freelance reporter for the Santa Barbara Independent Zoë Schiffer shares more about this week’s cover story where she dissects accessibility to childcare in Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a unique case; pre-K programs are impacted and there are few licensed childcare centers in the area. This is leading many parents to forgo waitlists and pay thousands of dollars out of pocket for childcare so that they can return to work. Zoë shares her own experience as a new mother and debriefs the stories of five local families who have struggled through the financial and emotional burden of securing care for their children.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

Check out the cover story here:

• 'The Kids Are Alright. Are the Parents?'

On this episode of The Indy, we speak with Mark Morey, the Surfrider Foundation Santa Barbara Chapter Chair, and Ken Palley, longtime activist, executive committee member, and former chair about the foundation's mission and history of their environmental work along the Gaviota Coast. They share more about their battles with developers over land, community outreach projects, and the importance of upholding environmental legislation that protects preservations.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

For more information on the Santa Barbara Surfrider Foundation:

• Santa Barbara Chapter - Surfrider Foundation

• Isla Vista Chapter - Surfrider Foundation

• How to Get Involved

On this episode of The Indy, we sit down with Bradley Bennett, Owner and ‘Principal Pickle’ of Pacific Pickle Works in Santa Barbara to talk about the manufacturing industry in Santa Barbara. Bradley shares more about their 'cheeky' product line of pickled vegetables, the creation of the brand, and the challenges that they have faced over the past year as a small business and local manufacturer based in Santa Barbara.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

For more information on Pacific Pickle Works:

• Pacific Pickle Works Website

• Unpacking the Success of Pacific Pickle Works

If you’d like to see one of your favorite local businesses spotlighted on The Indy, please reach out to [email protected].

On this episode of The Indy, we sit down with Jen Faust, CEO of Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara to discuss the future of their community programs as well as to clear up any confusion about the recent closure of their Eastside center. Jen shares Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara’s plan to restructure their outreach and bring long-time favorites as well as new specialized programs directly to schools in the district.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

For more information on Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara:

Strategic Direction & Ortega Property Sale

Fall Programs

School Outreach Programs

She.Is.Beautiful Race, September 17th

On this episode of The Indy, Host Molly McAnany heads to the Santa Barbara Bowl to get a behind the scenes look at one of the city’s most iconic and oldest music venues. Moss Jacobs, head of talent booking at the bowl, discusses his time working with artists and in the music industry as Slightly Stoopid prepares to take the stage in the background. Since partnering with Goldenvoice many years ago, the SB Bowl has been able to host a ‘broad catalog of world-class artists,’ making it a worthy competitor for live music venues around the country. Jacobs shares that the Bowl is small but mighty, highlighting how the Santa Barbara Bowl Foundation has remained true to the architecture of Santa Barbara and the community at large. Jacobs emphasizes that their team of locals will continue to keep this venue lively for many years to come.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

Sources referenced on this episode:

Moss Jacobs, Santa Barbara Bowl

Santa Barbara Bowl Lineup 2022

On this episode of The Indy, Host Molly McAnany sits down with Spencer the Gardner, one of the very active veterans of the local music scene whose work infuses Santa Barbara’s surf heritage with Latin rock and cumbia sounds. Spencer has journeyed around the world and back to Santa Barbara where he says ‘Spencer the Gardener’ was eventually born. We talk about his time playing in London with his band The Tan, his Latin and Irish music influences, the power of radio, and how he’s seen the music industry change over the years.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on social media @theindypod to support.

Sources referenced on this episode:

Who is Spencer the Gardener?

The Tan - We’re Hanging Out (1982)

Life of the Party, Man About Town

On this episode of The Indy, we were talking about the supply chain issues facing farmers on the Central Coast. Water, land, gas, and most recently, food are all hitting record high costs and are expected to keep rising throughout the rest of 2022. Many Californians are asking, ‘Why are general food items and certain products climbing along with inflation?’ Dana Olsen from the John Given’s Farm shares that growers need to make up for high costs, and this is the only way how. Annmarie Cameron, head of the Mental Wellness Center, also joins the show to talk about this year's Mental Health Arts Festival as well as some programs that are yet to come to Santa Barbara.

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

Follow ‘The Indy’ on Instagram @theindypod to support.

Sources referenced on this episode:

• Food Price Outlook Report - May 2022

• California Budget and Policy Center

• House Agriculture Committee 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Perspectives from the Field - July 7, 2022

For further reading:

• Farmers Sound Alarm Over Coming Food Shortages

• Ebby’s Organic Farm Pushed Out of Ellwood Canyon Property in Goleta

• Why Climate Change Could Wither Santa Barbara Agriculture

• Santa Barbara’s Mental Wellness Center Hosts 26th Annual Mental Health Arts Festival

On this episode of The Indy, we host a Juneteenth panel to talk about what the newly recognized federal holiday means to the local Black community. Juneteenth has been celebrated for over 150 years but it was only last year that it became a federal holiday. This week some states have refrained from recognizing and celebrating Juneteenth, even though this is the only holiday on the federal calendar that addresses slavery and emancipation. On this episode, we’re joined by Jordan Killebrew co-founder of Juneteenth Santa Barbara, Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt President of the NAACP Santa-Maria Lompoc Branch, and Stirling Nix-Bradley owner of Soul Bites restaurant on State Street to talk about the support and renewal of Black community in Santa Barbara and what kind of conversations around Juneteenth they would like to see happen in the future.

Nominations are now open for Best of Santa Barbara, nominate your favorite businesses in over 200 categories at independent.com/bestof2022. Nominations are open now through July 6.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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Special thanks to our co-host for this episode, Professor France Winddance Twine, Ph.D from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Special thanks to our guests on the panel:

• Jordan Killebrew, Co-Founder of Juneteenth Santa Barbara

• Lawanda Lyons-Pruitt, President of the NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc Chapter

• Stirling Nix-Bradley, Owner of Soul Bites Restaurant on State

To support and donate to the organizations featured on this episode, click the link in bio @theindypod or check out the links below.

Donate to Juneteenth SB

Donate to the NAACP Santa Maria-Lompoc Chapter

Grab a bite to eat at Soul Bites located on 423 State Street to show support for a local, Black-owned business.

For further information/resources:

What is Juneteenth?

The Black Power Mixtape