On this episode of The Indy, we’re covering stories about student life as this school year begins to wrap up. Host Molly McAnany speaks with Kendall Pata and Emily, co-leads of Moms Demand Action (@momsdemandactionsb) in Santa Barbara to share their thoughts as mothers and activists fighting for stricter gun regulations. This week, the organization gathered over 200 members to speak out for their children, encouraging those who own guns to practice safe storage and educate themselves on gun safety. Reporter Jennifer Yoshikoshi then takes an in-depth look at the housing crisis for students in Isla Vista and Goleta. She speaks with Valerie Sweatt the owner of the SFM Vista Del Mar property management group about Santa Barbara County, the city of Goleta, and UCSB's long-range development program which was developed in 2010 to combat the issue of over-enrollment by 2025.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Further Reading:

Relationship Between Mass Shootings and Suicide

Sources referenced in this episode:

Moms Demand Action

Moms Demand Action California Meeting

Ghost Guns

California legislation limiting unserialized firearms

California’s Red Flag Law

Red Flag Laws by State

Data on Arming Teachers

Data on Mass Shootings

School Shootings 2022

UCSB Long-term Development Plan

On this week's episode of The Indy, we’re covering the I Madonnari street painting festival hosted by the Children's Creative Project (@childrenscreativeproject), which spans from May 28th to May 30th and brings street artists from around the world to teach the local community about Italian chalk art. We sit down with Kai Tepper, Executive Director of Children’s Creative Project and Coordinator of Festival Sponsorships for I Madonnari to talk about this year’s festival and how the nonprofit organization continues to grant accessibility to the arts in Santa Barbara. Then, as you heard on last week’s episode, reporter Alexandra Goldberg launches the second part of her two part series on the Ukraine-Russia conflict through a local tense. This week she sits down with Oksana Yakushko, a Ukrainian immigrant who has been active in marching and speaking out for Ukrainian support throughout Santa Barbara.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Further reading:

#StandWithUkraine

Sources referenced on this episode:

Children's Creative Project - I Madonnari

Oksana Yakushko

On this week's episode of The Indy, Host Molly McAnany and reporter Jennifer Yoshikoshi cover this week's Taste of Santa Barbara which runs March 16-22. We sat down with Executive Director Todd Schulkin of the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts to talk about this week's events as well as two local chefs Pascale Beale and Sally Ruhl who were both greatly impacted by Julia Child's legacy. Reporter Alexandra Goldberg then launches her two-part series covering the Ukraine-Russia conflict through a local lens. She sits down U.S. Congressman Salud Carbajal and Santa Barbara County Supervisor Das Williams to discuss local and national legislation regarding this issue.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced on this episode:

Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts

Santa Barbara Rally for Ukraine

House passes nearly $40 billion in aid for Ukraine

In honor of Mental Health Month, this episode of The Indy discusses accessibility to mental and physical health facilities in Santa Barbara and throughout California. Host Molly McAnany speaks with Luz Reyes-Martín VP of Engagement and the Action Fund for Planned Parenthood Central Coast about what California is doing to prepare for the potential influx of people seeking reproductive care as women's constitutional right to abortion access has been threatened with the potential overturning of Roe v. Wade. Indy Reporter Jennifer Yoshikoshi sits down with Toni Navarro and Suzanne Grimmesey of the Santa Barbara County Department of Behavioral Wellness to talk about the lack of inpatient psychiatric beds at the state and national level for patients who need and seek help.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced on this episode:

Future of Abortion Council Report

Programs and Services Offered by the SB Dept. of Behavioral Wellness 2022

On this episode of The Indy, we speak to some young athletes on their journey through sports as well as teachers who are inspiring youth to get active again as we come out of the pandemic. Host Molly McAnany first speaks with the Goodman family made up of quadruplets who all participated in signing day at Santa Barbara High this year as well as contributing writer Victor Bryant who wrote last week's cover on the family. Reporter Alexandra Goldberg dives into physical education at a local elementary school to talk about the programs put on by two P.E. teachers for young students at school.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced in this episode:

Goodman Quadruplets

Cheryl Hess

Linda Trigueiro

On this week's episode of The Indy, we sit down with Santa Barbara Records (@santabarbararecords) to discuss new music and being an innovator in the world of artist representation. General Manager Billy O'Connell joins us alongside ERLAND, co-founder and songwriter who recently released his album, Southern Pacific, to talk about the Santa Barbara music scene. From the road, Danny McGaw discusses his growth as a musician and tells some stories about being on tour.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced on this episode:

Santa Barbara Records

On this episode of The Indy, we're celebrating Earth week. The Point Conception Institute at the Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve has formally launched this year and host Molly McAnany speaks with Dr. Mark Reynolds and Dr. Rae Wynn-Grant about this unique living laboratory and the future of conservationist research. Then, Indy reporter Alexandra Goldberg sits down with Joshua Haggmark, City of Santa Barbara Water Resources Manager, about the city’s diversified water sources that have supported us through the statewide drought.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced on this episode:

Jack and Laura Dangermond Preserve

Point Conception Institute Research

Joshua Haggmark - Public Works Division

Charles E. Meyer Desalination Plant

Desalination in Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara City Council Report - Water Supply Update

On this week's food themed episode of The Indy, we chat with the many people behind the food and wine culture of Santa Barbara. First, host Molly McAnany takes a trip to Rancho San Julian to meet with Elizabeth Poett (@elizabethpoett) and discuss all things 'Ranch to Table.' Reporter for The Indy, Jennifer Yoshikoshi, gets the details of this year's Easter Feast at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission (@sb_rescuemission). Lastly, we sit down with Vanessa Vin, the Independent’s new food and wine fellowship writer, to discuss her experience as a woman of color entering the wine industry and the founding of The Hue Society (@thehuesociety) Central Coast chapter.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Further reading:

Finding a Home in the Hue Society - Vanessa Vin

Sources referenced on this episode:

The Ranch Table

Santa Barbara Rescue Mission Easter Feast

The Hue Society

On this episode of The Indy, we sit down with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (@sbmaritimemuseum) team to discuss their newest exhibit Whales are Superheroes! opening on April 14th. The multi-part showcase is their biggest one yet and features an immersive art exhibit as well as a visual presentation detailing whales and their connection to climate change. Marine biologist Holly Lohuis gives us insight into her research and shares why whales are so vital to marine ecosystems.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced on this episode:

Santa Barbara Maritime Museum

Whales are Superheroes!

Whale Heritage Site

California Whale Watching

Holly S. Lohuis

On this week's episode of The Indy, we speak with Santa Barbara Supervisors Gregg Hart and Joan Hartmann about this month's 3-2 vote against ExxonMobil's offshore oil trucking proposal. We dissect the potential impact of phasing out oil on the local job sector, decommissioning offshore platforms, and the push towards renewable energy. Then we talk to Nadia Abushanab from the Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN) about misperceptions regarding the oil industry and the Santa Barbara environmental rights coalitions.

Show Notes:

All music for this episode written by Molly McAnany.

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

Sources referenced on this episode:

Exxon Mobil's Trucking Proposal

Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Recommendation Against

IPCC Impact Report

Supplemental Impact Report - Santa Barbara County

Center for Biological Diversity Poll Results

California Highway Patrol Trucking Accidents Data

Huntington Beach Oil Leak (2021)

Exxon Platform Leaks Santa Barbara (2019)

Exxon Mobil Platforms

Santa Barbara County Action Network (SBCAN)