The Soul of California

After 75+ shows of the Soul of California, I am closing out the podcast. This finale is a short five minutes, reflecting on the podcast, some of the stories and a few of my takeaways. 

A MASSIVE thanks to you out there. I hope that you learned something, enjoyed it along the way and felt inspired to go out and have a California experience. I certainly did. 

Please download them and share them - it is unclear how long I will keep the site running. Some are precious stories of people who were very instrumental in creating a new reality and for some reason were not "bankable" enough for prime time. If you want to get in touch, drop me a line at [email protected]. 

I am now on to creating the world's first Bridge Museum. In a time of walls, shouldn't we celebrate bridges? Connection over division? Dialogue over debate?

Intrigued? Check out www.bridgemuseum.org. You are the change, if you want to be. 

And don't forget. Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

In this 32-minute episode, Violet Grgich, President of Grgich Hills Estates, discusses the history of the Napa wine producer and the Paris Tasting of 1976, which catapulted her father Mike Grgich, a Croatian villager who fled Yugoslavia to settle in the US, to the center of the wine industry. 

Violet then touches on the types of wines that Grgich produces (min. 8) and the differences in climate and land, which impact the final product (min.11). She recounts the honor and the collective reaction to be named as one of the 101 objects that made America. Her 95-year old father still hasn't gotten over it. Violent subsequently talks about taking over the reins at Grgich Hills and the lessons that her father gave her (min. 17). 

Turning to Violet the person, she discusses her love of music as well as which wines she would bring to a desert island (min. 23). Wrapping it up, she talks about simplicity and complexity - in music, wine and life. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

Next up - our swan song - it's been fun! 

In this 34-minute episode, UC Santa Cruz artist/scientist Juniper Harrower places the iconic Joshua Tree in the context of the desert, her PhD research (complete with her mom and a ladder), then moves on to the implications of climate change on the tree (min. 6), and her own nod to social media's dating power for the tree (min. 12). 

She then moves on to the balance of the throngs of tourists now visiting the park, stretching public services (min. 24), which medium she prefers to make an impact (min. 27) and closes out with her favorite spot (min.33). 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

juniperharrower.com

In this 17-minute episode, photographer Julian Wasser shares some of his best stories from a 50-year career shooting the titans of entertainment.

Julian's lens caught the likes of MLK, the Kennedy brothers, Joan Didion and Roman Polanski, among dozens of others, freezing important moments in time, becoming instantly iconic and acting as a reference point for generations.

Throughout it, he gives a comic and an honest look at the profession and additionally offers his thoughts on some of the most meaningful photos, which other photographers have taken. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

Next up: Juniper Harrower on the Joshua Tree. 

In this 45-minute podcast, Richard Strozzi-Heckler shares the importance of the body in leadership. The eyes, the walk, shoulders, breathing - it plays a massive role in how you are perceived and the confidence that you exude. 

Richard gives background on the Dojo (the place) and the Soma (the whole body) and its role in leadership, then moves onto the impacts that it has globally (min. 7), the role of the marital arts and how they fit into the “Western” type of leadership (e.g. Peter Drucker (min. 9)) and how morality is a key aspect of leadership.  

He talks about individual physical aspects - the eyes, breathing, shoulders - and how they communicate and how words count for ONLY 7% of how others interpret you.  Yes, a whopping 93% is about your body language…..

We then discuss leadership today (min. 23), Rebecca Solnit’s “mansplaining” (min. 31) and then close it up with Richard's admission that he sometimes falls into the trap of sizing up someone’s soma, becoming more tolerant of the limitations of others and his favorite place in CA. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

In this 33-minute episode, Lauren Jabusch of the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) discusses the increasingly important influence and financial impact that divestment is having within the public school system. 

Lauren starts with CSSC's origins as well as the massive reach of the Golden State's public university system and its multi-billion dollar pension schemes, then moves on to the evolution of issues (min. 6) and the engagement with local communities (min. 9). 

She then continues with the subtleties of each issue and winning over hearts and minds (min. 12),  the dual use of facts and storytelling and California's broader influence of divestment in the U.S. and abroad (min. 20). 

Lauren closes it up with keeping a student-run movement going and  her favorite places in California.   

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

In this 41-minute podcast, Stanford’s Paul Brest (and former President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) gives an overview of the philanthropy sector, explaining the growth of foundations, the trade-off between a foundation and a donor-advised fund and the coordination of foundation policy on big bets, particularly climate change. Much of our discussion touches on aspects of his just released book, co-authored with Hal Harvey, Money Well Spent: A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy. 

Paul further discusses the trade-off and analysis between what are the benefits of succeeding and the likelihood of that success, the "happy accident" of becoming the President of the Hewlett Foundation, as well as touching on a few of the larger California foundations and their programs. Given the increase in the creation of foundations as well as their experimentation in policies potentially impacting a large swathe of the population, this is a timely discussion about their role. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

Next up: Lauren Jabusch on Protest Divestment. 

In this 41-minute episode, cancer survivor Cheryl Buck shares her own experiences of being one of 1.6 million per year diagnosed with cancer. To her, the tumor is just a symptom of an imbalance - the real problem rests with a body's metabolism.  

Cheryl disregarded the usual “cut, burn or poison” approach, embracing the protocol advocated by Dr. Max Gerson, which concentrates on a full court press towards toxicity coupled with nutrients to the nth. Forbidden in the US (but with a presence in San Diego), the Gerson approach has been an option for those diagnosed with cancer, despite fierce opposition from the medical establishment. 

Cheryl discusses the history behind this alternative approach, her own story, the underground hospital and the dedication of the daily routine. Informative. Brave. Timely. 

Next up: Stanford’s Paul Brest on the Philanthropy Movement. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening.  

In this 39-minute podcast, Obi Kaufmann takes us on a big picture ride of the system, indeed the organism, that is California. Fresh off the surprise hit of his California Field Atlas, Kaufman recounts his beginnings as a painter, respect for the environment verging on the spiritual and his hope about the “wild reimagining” of the Golden State.  

Obi discusses the process of putting together the book (min. 12), his surprise at the extent of the knowledge available (min.18), the coming of the post-carbon economy (min. 24) and the possible “undoing” of projects this century. He then moves on to his feelings about the book’s reception (min. 31), its educational potential (min. 34) and closes off with his favorite place. It’s not a “where” question, but a “when” question. Get your pencil ready....

All through it, Obi remains philosophical, cheerful and moved by the Golden State’s natural beauty and makes the case that we all should be more geographically literate to protect it. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening. 

Politician, icon, myth, Jerry Brown leaves an impression on everyone. Love him or loath him, he is the governor of the 5th largest global economy, with the (moral) authority resembling that of a head of state. 

In this 55-minute podcast, journalist Narda Zacchino shares with us the background to Brown's 1970s revolution as the State's youngest governor, who is now closing out his long career with his fourth term in that office. 

Narda discusses the influence of his father, his messaging in the early days (min. 3), Brown's "canoe politics", and his love of policy (min. 14). She then reflects on his time as Oakland's mayor (min. 16), the eternal rivalry with Texas (min. 20) and "typical" Jerry moments (min. 26). Turning to impact, Narda recounts the good and the work left behind (min. 32) and for the last 15 minutes turns to her own experience as a journalist, the influence of California on the global stage, NorCal vs. SoCal, analog vs. digital and (very likely) California's next Governor.

Next time: Obi Kaufman - the poetry of watercolors, serving as a teaching tool. 

Feed your soul. Keep listening.