Then There's California

By State Senators...in Conversation About California!

What's Then There's California about?

‘Then There’s California' is a dynamic, new podcast featuring members of the California State Senate Democratic Caucus discussing legislative priorities, policy and other related issues that make California...Exceptional!

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Then There's California episodes:

04.02.2024
A Conversation with the New Senate Majority Leader, Lena Gonzalez: "We, as women, we just press on..."
Women's History Month has passed, but the discussions continue, and the State Senate's new Majority Leader, Senator Lena Gonzalez, shares her viewpoints on the growing number of women in elected office and in the work force, pay disparity & 'occupational...
03.19.2024
A Second-Year Conversation with Senator Caroline Menjivar: "How I'm looking at it this year is, how to be more strategic..."
In this wide-ranging podcast conversation, Senator Caroline Menjivar explains how she is starting her second year in office feeling 'way more confident' - while helping tackle a sobering state budget deficit, introducing a 21-bill policy package focused on issues important...
02.22.2024
SB 307 - The College for Foster Youth Act / Senator Angelique Ashby & Former Foster Youth Cody Van Felden
"If you're a former foster youth, there should be no barrier to your success in college..." Senator Angelique Ashby & Cody Van Felden, a former foster youth and now-advocate, discuss SB 307, the 'College For Foster Youth Act,' which was...
02.13.2024
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas on the Memory & Legacy of Rosa Parks: "We have to be like Rosa, we have to stand up on these issues..."
In honor of Black History Month 2024, Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas celebrates the memory of civil rights icon Rosa Parks, and explains how her courageous actions that helped launch the Montgomery, Alabama bus boycott in 1955 placed her front and center...
01.17.2024
Senator Ben Allen & LA Times Reporter Rosanna Xia ~ California's Coastline & the Rising Sea
State Senator Ben Allen & Los Angeles Times Environmental Reporter Rosanna Xia - author of the book "California Against the Sea - Visions for Our Changing Coastline" - join together in a conversation about how our state is confronting the...
12.20.2023
Senator Aisha Wahab Looks Back on 2023: "The first year was a learning lesson in so many ways..."
"I always want it to be a positive journey," says Senator Aisha Wahab, and in this podcast conversation, the freshman lawmaker from CA's East Bay looks back on an eventful past year in office, the fate and future of...
10.26.2023
Senator Bill Dodd, on Artificial Intelligence: "It's not just the future, it's the present..."
State Senator Bill Dodd shares his perspective on California's leading role in encouraging A.I. innovation and creativity...while also prioritizing individual privacy and 1st amendment rights. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this episode!
08.30.2023
Senator Josh Becker on CA's Climate Change Solutions / "The New Enviromental Future"
Despite continued grim climate change forecasts, California continues to be a global leader on climate solutions, and State Senator Josh Becker updates us on our state's continued success in 'getting to zero' greenhouse gas emissions and accelerating our transition to...
08.10.2023
"The debt that is owed" - A Conversation on Reparations / Sen. Steven Bradford & Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas
The California Reparations Task Force has released its report on how our state can begin to repair the damage of slavery and racism. Senator Steven Bradford & Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas assess the details of the report, and discuss the anticipated...
08.02.2023
Senator Catherine Blakespear / "I feel that tremendous sense of honor to have been chosen to do this work..."
She's a former 3-term city mayor, a journalist, and is passionate about transportation issues, the environment, addressing homelessness, and tackling gun violence. Meet newly-elected State Senator Catherine Blakespear! Click here for a closed-cationed version of this episode!
07.26.2023
Senator Anthony Portantino, on Gun Violence / “The more guns in more hands, the more violence we have in our society. It’s that simple.”
When it comes to gun safety, California is a safer state than others, and our gun laws work in concert with each other. Senator Anthony Portantino joins us to talk about the ongoing effort to protect Californians from gun violence...
07.13.2023
Senator Maria Elena Durazo & The Summer of Labor~2023
Is the summer of 2023 the 'Summer of Labor?' State Senator Maria Elena Durazo of Los Angeles talks about the waves of so-called 'labor unrest' sweeping the country, the surge of unions elections, and how thousands of union employees have...
06.27.2023
OUR 100TH EPISODE! "Pie with the Pro Tem" / Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins
To celebrate our 100th episode, State Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins baked us a pie(!), and served up some delicious conversation about her SB 447 - The BRIDGE Project, Pride Month, legislative diversity...and of course, Dolly Parton! Click...
06.20.2023
Sacramento Senator Angelique Ashby & Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, on Poverty: "How do we give people agency over their own lives?"
We gave Sacramento's State Senator, Angelique Ashby and Sacramento's Mayor, Darrell Steinberg, an 'assignment' to read and report back on a provocative, new book about poverty in America. In their revealing and thoughtful conversation about the book, the senator and...
05.31.2023
A Conversation with Senator Aisha Wahab / "The policies we push help people's lives..."
As the first Muslim & Afghan-American elected to the CA State Senate, Senator Aisha Wahab is one of the most high-profile lawmakers currently serving in the legislature. She talks about the Afghan-American community she represents in her East Bay district,...
04.19.2023
Senator Nancy Skinner & CA. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis / Proposition 1 & the Fight for Abortion Rights
State Senator Nancy Skinner, the Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus, is joined by California's Lieutenant Governor, Eleni Kounalakis, in a look back at voter-approved Proposition 1, the 2022 ballot initiative that put the right to an abortion into the...
03.29.2023
Senator Caroline Menjivar / "Being able to represent for queer kids is a feeling I never forget"
Senator Caroline Mejnivar's policy priorities for her first year in legislative office reflect the life experiences that she has had herself ~ as a young woman, a lesbian and a woman of color. Click here for a closed-captioned version of...
03.22.2023
Senator Josh Newman / "Our sacred charge is to make sure California students have access to a quality education."
State Senator Josh Newman is the new Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and he talks about how, in 2023, California schools, students and their families are still coping with the fallout of 2+ chaotic years of COVID 19-related closures...
03.15.2023
Celebrating Women’s History Month & Telling Our Stories / Senator Monique Limón & Isabella Martinez, 2023 Senate Fellow
State Senator Monique Limon & her 2023 Senate Fellow, Isabella Martinez, celebrate Women's History Month by sharing their own stories about equity, career, mentorship, work/life balance, the on-going fight for reproductive rights, and other issues that are priorities for women...
03.08.2023
Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas / "We've got to start, as a new majority, undoing our 20th-Century burdens"
Freshman State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas says she has witnessed, in her work and life, the impact of what MLK called 'SoulForce,' the power and divinity that we have to make transformative, significant change. Click here for a closed-captioned version of...
02.22.2023
Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil / "It's people before politics - that's always been my mantra"
Meet freshman State Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil ~ a two-time cancer survivor, an education innovator, a rancher, a Garth Brooks fan...and a Democrat proudly representing a sprawling, traditionally conservative, richly-bountiful Sierra Foothills senate district. Click here for a closed-captioned version of...
02.14.2023
Senator Steven Bradford & Black History Month-2023 / "We tell the stories and make people understand"
Black History Month, 2023, frames this discussion with Senator Steven Bradford, the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, about the murder of Tyre Nichols at the hands of Memphis Police, the continued work of the State Task Force on Reparations,...
02.01.2023
California's CARE Court / Senator Susan Eggman & Senator Tom Umberg
Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman & Senator Tom Umberg are the original authors of the new CARE Court Act, a law that establishes new court systems to address the needs of people with severe mental health disorders, and give them access...
01.20.2023
Senator Lena Gonzalez / "This Democratic Caucus is committed to ensuring that we're improving people's lives"
Our first TTC episode of 2023 features Senator Lena Gonzalez, of Long Beach, the Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee and the NEW Vice-Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, sharing her legislative priorities for the new session, Latino Caucus priorities,...
12.20.2022
Freshman State Senator Angelique Ashby / "Equal representation is important ~ And the goal"
In her first few weeks after being sworn in as Sacramento's new state senator, Freshman lawmaker Angelique Ashby discusses the historic diversity in the new class of 2023 legislators, and how her own experiences as a young, single mother and...
11.28.2022
“You’re supposed to push the envelope...” / Senator Robert Hertzberg Reflects on His Years in Public Service
State Senate Majority Leader Emeritus (and former Assembly Speaker) Robert Hertzberg is leaving the legislature this week, and in this episode, he looks back on his career in both the public and private sector, his perspective on the future of...
11.16.2022
"These goals MEAN something..." / Senator John Laird & the California Senate's Plans for Addressing Climate Change
As the legislature prepares to convene its 2023-2024 session, Senator John Laird talks about climate change laws and policies in the Senate, his planned visit to COP 27 in Egypt, keeping the Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant in operation...and plans...
10.11.2022
"This is my life's work; this is what I do" / Senator Bob Wieckowski Looks Back
Senator Bob Wieckowski is leaving the legislature after 12 years in the Assembly & Senate, and he reflects on his early career as a congressional staffer, his policy passion for conservation, the environment & helping consumers, and looking ahead to...
09.28.2022
Senator Richard Pan Says Good-bye to the Legislature: "As long as I had more good days than bad days, I feel like I made things better…”
Dr. Richard Pan, Sacramento's first Asian -American state senator, is leaving the legislature after serving 12 years. In this reflective and candid conversation, Dr. Pan looks back at his career as a lawmaker, his fight for affordable and equitable medical...
09.08.2022
Talking Trash: Fighting Plastic Waste / Senator Ben Allen & SB 54
State Senator Ben Allen, Chair of the Senate Committee on Environmental Quality, shares behind-the-scenes details of the effort to enact SB 54, transformative legislation that will drastically reduce plastics pollution in California & the nation. Click here for a closed-captioned...
08.24.2022
"Time to go on to a new adventure" / Senator Connie M. Leyva Leaves the Capitol & Heads Home to Family
Senator Connie M. Leyva is leaving the legislature this fall, after two extraordinary terms in the State Senate. Senator Leyva reflects on her earlier career as a union and statewide labor leader, and details her legislative record that prioritized working...
08.11.2022
Preventing Gun Violence in California / Senator Dave Cortese & Senator Dave Min
State Senators Dave Cortese of San Jose & Dave Min of Irvine, discuss the epidemic of gun violence in the US, how CA leads the national conversation preventing gun violence, the impact the federal courts are having on CA gun...
07.26.2022
"Women, and others who are allies, are not going to put up with it" / Senator Anna Caballero on the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade Ruling
In the second of two conversations about the impact of the SCOTUS ruling on Roe v Wade, State Senator Anna Caballero shares her concerns about the ruling and says that California's focus now needs to be on how our state...
07.13.2022
"It was an absolute gut-punch..." / Senator Nancy Skinner on the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade Decision
State Senator Nancy Skinner, the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus, shares her reaction to the recent SCOTUS decision repealing a woman's constitutional access to abortion, the impact it will have on woman across the country seeking abortion services that...
07.12.2022
"It was an absolute gut-punch..." / Senator Nancy Skinner on the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade Decision
State Senator Nancy Skinner, the Vice-Chair of the Legislative Women's Caucus, shares her reaction to the recent SCOTUS decision repealing womens' constitutional access to abortion, the impact it will have on women across the country seeking abortion services that are...
06.30.2022
Women in the Workplace ~ 2022 / Senator Monique Limón
"When the majority of the population is a woman and is not working, it has real economic impacts..." Senator Monique Limon talks about the challenges and opportunities facing women in the workplace, the legislative effort to secure pay equity, and...
06.28.2022
Women in the Workplace ~ 2022 / Senator Monique Limón
"When the majority of the population identifies as a woman and is not working, it has real economic impacts..." / Senator Monique Limon talks about the challenges & opportunities facing women in the workplace, the legislative effort to promote pay...
06.14.2022
"What's been happening is terrifying and demoralizing..." / Senator Scott Wiener, & anti-LGBTQ legislation in America
Senator Scott Wiener, the former chair of the Legislature's LGBTQ Caucus, talks about the recent, wave of brazen, anti-LGBTQ legislation and executive rulings in the US, their impact on the LGTBQ community - particularly young people - and legislative efforts...
05.10.2022
Is the Legal System Failing Our Children? / Senator Susan Rubio & SB 616, "Piqui's Law'
CA State Senator Susan Rubio, a domestic violence survivor, is joined by Ana Estevez, whose 5-year-old son 'Piqui' was murdered by his abusive father - and by Kathleen Russell, Executive Director of the Center for Judicial Excellence - to discuss...
05.04.2022
EPISODE ENCORE: CA Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins, on the Strength of CA's Reproductive Rights
As advocates across the US react to the leaked SCOTUS decision regarding Roe v. Wade, listen again to this episode from March...as State Senate Leader Toni Atkins reaffirms CA's strength as a stronghold & sanctuary for reproductive rights & freedom....
04.19.2022
"A Crisis of Humanity" / Senator Susan Eggman, on Repairing CA's Mental Health Care System
Senator Susan Eggman's professional and family experiences dealing with mental health care issues, inform and impact her current legislative efforts to address the public health emergency in our state's mental health care system. Click here to access a closed-captioned version...
03.31.2022
“If you don’t have water, you don’t have life” / Senator Melissa Hurtado & Liset Garcia, Owner of 'Sweet Girl Farms' in Reedley, CA
Central Valley State Senator Melissa Hurtado sits down with Liset Garcia, the owner of 'Sweet Girl Farms' in Reedley, CA, to talk about how drought, climate change and water shortages are continuing to impact valley farmers. Click here for a...
03.22.2022
“ You’re going to continue to see us be a beacon” / Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins, and the Strength of California’s Reproductive Rights
State Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins shares how California has long been a reproductive rights leader, and will continue to protect and expand abortion rights, as other states further restrict those rights, and as the US Supreme Court...
03.10.2022
“Shoulder-to-Shoulder With Them” / Senator María Elena Durazo, on the Fight for Immigrant Rights & the Dignity of Workers
State Senator & Latino Legislative Caucus Chair, Maria Elena Durazo shares the story of her personal and professional advocacy on behalf of immigrants & workers, and talks about her new law, SB 62, the Garment Workers Protection Act, and her...
03.02.2022
"Music opened so many doors to me..." / Senator Ben Hueso on Musical & Political Rhythms
In addition to State Senator Ben Hueso's long-time passion for public policy, there's his lifetime passion & love for music! Senator Hueso plays the piano at Sacramento's Stanford Mansion, and talks about his musical & legislative rhythms. Click here for...
01.19.2022
Does California's Recall Election Process Need to Be Fixed? / Senator Steve Glazer
Senator Steve Glazer, the Chair of the CA. State Senate Elections Committee, talks about legislative efforts, in the wake of 2020's gubernatorial election, to consider proposed reforms & changes to California's recall election process. He also shares reflections about the...
12.15.2021
Being a 'Senator Parent' / "It's 110% Teamwork..."
CA State Senators Monique Limón, Josh Newman and Mike McGuire share candid and personal stories about life as a mom/dad to their young children, and the challenges and joys of balancing legislative priorities, travel schedules and other work obligations...with their...
12.01.2021
The California State Senate Delegation to COP26 / "Climate is Global & Personal"
The 5-member California State Senate Delegation to the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow, Scotland, joins us to share their experiences on the world stage, representing CA's impressive leadership on climate policy and goals for future climate action. Click here for...
11.17.2021
Senator Connie Leyva & Ifeoma Ozoma on SB 331 / "Workers Should Always Have the Right to Speak Up"
Equity Advocate Ifeoma Ozoma & State Senator Connie Leyva are co-sponsors of SB 331, the "Silenced No More" Act, a new law that prohibits non-disclosure acts (NDAs) involving workplace harassment or discrimination. Click here for a closed-captioned version of this...
11.10.2021
"There Needs to Be An Awakening that Great Racial Injustices Still Exist..." / Senator Steven Bradford
Senator Steven Bradford, the Chair of the CA Legislative Black Caucus, discusses restorative justice, reparations, 'atonement' for the many injustices still being directed against African-Americans...and the governor's signing of SB 2 & SB 796. Click here for a closed-captioned version...

What's Then There's California about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Then There's California episodes:

A Conversation with the New Senate Majority Leader, Lena Gonzalez: "We, as women, we just press on..."

A Second-Year Conversation with Senator Caroline Menjivar: "How I'm looking at it this year is, how to be more strategic..."

SB 307 - The College for Foster Youth Act / Senator Angelique Ashby & Former Foster Youth Cody Van Felden

Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas on the Memory & Legacy of Rosa Parks: "We have to be like Rosa, we have to stand up on these issues..."

Senator Ben Allen & LA Times Reporter Rosanna Xia ~ California's Coastline & the Rising Sea

Senator Aisha Wahab Looks Back on 2023: "The first year was a learning lesson in so many ways..."

Senator Bill Dodd, on Artificial Intelligence: "It's not just the future, it's the present..."

Senator Josh Becker on CA's Climate Change Solutions / "The New Enviromental Future"

"The debt that is owed" - A Conversation on Reparations / Sen. Steven Bradford & Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas

Senator Catherine Blakespear / "I feel that tremendous sense of honor to have been chosen to do this work..."

Senator Anthony Portantino, on Gun Violence / “The more guns in more hands, the more violence we have in our society. It’s that simple.”

Senator Maria Elena Durazo & The Summer of Labor~2023

OUR 100TH EPISODE! "Pie with the Pro Tem" / Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins

Sacramento Senator Angelique Ashby & Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg, on Poverty: "How do we give people agency over their own lives?"

A Conversation with Senator Aisha Wahab / "The policies we push help people's lives..."

Senator Nancy Skinner & CA. Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis / Proposition 1 & the Fight for Abortion Rights

Senator Caroline Menjivar / "Being able to represent for queer kids is a feeling I never forget"

Senator Josh Newman / "Our sacred charge is to make sure California students have access to a quality education."

Celebrating Women’s History Month & Telling Our Stories / Senator Monique Limón & Isabella Martinez, 2023 Senate Fellow

Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas / "We've got to start, as a new majority, undoing our 20th-Century burdens"

Senator Marie Alvarado-Gil / "It's people before politics - that's always been my mantra"

Senator Steven Bradford & Black History Month-2023 / "We tell the stories and make people understand"

California's CARE Court / Senator Susan Eggman & Senator Tom Umberg

Senator Lena Gonzalez / "This Democratic Caucus is committed to ensuring that we're improving people's lives"

Freshman State Senator Angelique Ashby / "Equal representation is important ~ And the goal"

“You’re supposed to push the envelope...” / Senator Robert Hertzberg Reflects on His Years in Public Service

"These goals MEAN something..." / Senator John Laird & the California Senate's Plans for Addressing Climate Change

"This is my life's work; this is what I do" / Senator Bob Wieckowski Looks Back

Senator Richard Pan Says Good-bye to the Legislature: "As long as I had more good days than bad days, I feel like I made things better…”

Talking Trash: Fighting Plastic Waste / Senator Ben Allen & SB 54

"Time to go on to a new adventure" / Senator Connie M. Leyva Leaves the Capitol & Heads Home to Family

Preventing Gun Violence in California / Senator Dave Cortese & Senator Dave Min

"Women, and others who are allies, are not going to put up with it" / Senator Anna Caballero on the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade Ruling

"It was an absolute gut-punch..." / Senator Nancy Skinner on the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade Decision

"It was an absolute gut-punch..." / Senator Nancy Skinner on the Supreme Court's Roe v Wade Decision

Women in the Workplace ~ 2022 / Senator Monique Limón

Women in the Workplace ~ 2022 / Senator Monique Limón

"What's been happening is terrifying and demoralizing..." / Senator Scott Wiener, & anti-LGBTQ legislation in America

Is the Legal System Failing Our Children? / Senator Susan Rubio & SB 616, "Piqui's Law'

EPISODE ENCORE: CA Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins, on the Strength of CA's Reproductive Rights

"A Crisis of Humanity" / Senator Susan Eggman, on Repairing CA's Mental Health Care System

“If you don’t have water, you don’t have life” / Senator Melissa Hurtado & Liset Garcia, Owner of 'Sweet Girl Farms' in Reedley, CA

“ You’re going to continue to see us be a beacon” / Senate President Pro Tem Toni G. Atkins, and the Strength of California’s Reproductive Rights

“Shoulder-to-Shoulder With Them” / Senator María Elena Durazo, on the Fight for Immigrant Rights & the Dignity of Workers

"Music opened so many doors to me..." / Senator Ben Hueso on Musical & Political Rhythms

Does California's Recall Election Process Need to Be Fixed? / Senator Steve Glazer

Being a 'Senator Parent' / "It's 110% Teamwork..."

The California State Senate Delegation to COP26 / "Climate is Global & Personal"

Senator Connie Leyva & Ifeoma Ozoma on SB 331 / "Workers Should Always Have the Right to Speak Up"

"There Needs to Be An Awakening that Great Racial Injustices Still Exist..." / Senator Steven Bradford