Best Picture Predictions, Academy Awards Buzz & Rialto’s Oscars Night for a Cause

🎬 Oscars season is here — and we’re breaking it down from a Sonoma County perspective.

Joined by Ky Boyd and Joe Mulcare of Rialto Cinemas in Sebastopol, we dive into this year’s Academy Awards race — from Best Picture front-runners and bold predictions to the films that truly deserve the big screen.

Plus: details on Rialto’s live Oscars Night on March 15 benefiting Food For Thought.

Inside the conversation:

⭐ What Oscar season looks like from inside an independent movie theater 🎥 Why nominated films often hit differently on the big screen vs. streaming 🏆 This year’s chaotic Oscars race — and what’s driving it 🎭 Under appreciated films and surprising nominees 🎬 The performances and directors that left a lasting impact 🔊 Why editing, cinematography, and sound design deserve more love

We also dive into:

• Must-watch nominees to catch before Oscar night

• Films sparking the biggest post-screening conversations at the Rialto

• Bold predictions — including who should win vs. who will win

• Possible dark horses and surprise winners

• The movie most likely to age best over the next decade

Plus — if you're looking for a fun, communal way to watch the Oscars:

📍 Rialto Cinemas’ Annual Awards Night — March 15 in Sebastopol

Experience the Academy Awards live on the big screen with:

✨ Red carpet 🍷 Appetizers & drinks 🎭 Costume contest 🎲 Trivia & prizes

All benefiting Food For Thought, supporting vital nutrition services across Sonoma County.

Whether you're filling out a ballot, catching up on nominees, or planning your Oscar watch party — this episode is your local guide to the 2026 Academy Awards.

🎟️ Featured Topics

• Best Picture contenders like Sinners and One Battle After Another

• Under-the-radar favorites including Train Dreams and Eddington

• Acting race insights — including potential career wins

• International and animated category predictions

• How Oscar nominations shape theater audiences

🍿 Coming Soon at Rialto Cinemas

• Keep an eye out for upcoming releases discussed in this episode, including:

• Calais Malaga
• The Bride
• Project Hail Mary
  

🍺 Crack One Open

To toast Oscars season, this episode highlights a true classic: Duvel, the iconic Belgian Golden Strong Ale. Effervescent, dry, and deceptively powerful at 8.5%, Duvel pours with a signature fluffy head and bright, sparkling character — offering aromas of pear, honeysuckle, and subtle spice.

Award-winning in its own right and an inspiration for beers like Russian River’s Damnation, Duvel is a celebratory choice worthy of any Oscar watch party — pairing perfectly with appetizers, canapés, and even a few deviled eggs.

A timeless beer for a night of timeless cinema.

🎧 Subscribe for more conversations at the intersection of film, culture, and Sonoma County.

In this episode, we preview the 14th annual TEDx Sonoma County event happening March 7, 2026 at the Jackson Theater in Santa Rosa.

Executive Producer Marilyn Nagel joins us to discuss this year’s theme:

“Mindshift: Power of Perspective.”

In a world shaped by AI, algorithms, social media, and rapid internet culture, how do we separate truth from perception? How do we rethink criticism, authenticity, resilience, and leadership in 2026?

We break down:

• The difference between TED and TEDx

• How TEDx Sonoma County curates 200+ speaker applications • The “X-factor” that makes an idea worth spreading

• Why perspective feels urgent in the age of misinformation

• How live intellectual events build real community

2026 Speaker Lineup Includes:

• NBA Champion Festus Ezeli

• CEO and entrepreneur Mauricio Umansky

• Nichole Warwick

• Experts on AI, sleep science, multi-generational living, internet culture, and navigating change

The afternoon features curated talks, live performances, a Blue Zone-inspired reception, and a community gathering designed to spark conversation beyond the theater.

TEDx Sonoma County

📍 March 7, 2026

📍 Jackson Theater — Santa Rosa, CA

🎟 In-person and virtual tickets available (event typically sells out)

If you're interested in innovation, leadership, technology, media, psychology, or community-driven ideas, this episode is your inside look at one of Sonoma County’s most anticipated intellectual events.

🍺 Crack One Open: Death & Taxes

The Craft Beer Concierge revisits a Santa Rosa classic: Moonlight Brewing Company’s Death & Taxes.

Brewed since the early ’90s and dubbed a “San Francisco Black Lager,” this cult favorite pours dark as night while staying remarkably drinkable. At 5.3% ABV, it carries a slightly fuller body than expected for the style, with a bold roasted aroma that leans coffee-adjacent. The flavor balances that roast with a clean lager finish and a subtle creaminess that adds depth without heaviness.

Originally crafted to offer something dark yet approachable, Death & Taxes has earned its staying power — proof that a beer can be both niche and timeless.

Curious to revisit it? The Craft Beer Concierge hosts a beer & cheese pairing event at Moonlight Brewing on Tuesday February 24th. Tickets are available here.

Have a beer that surprised you? Share it in the comments.

The Ultimate Sonoma County Craft Beer Guide With Sayre Piotrkowski | Bay Area Brewers Guild + SF Beer Week Preview

Searching for the best breweries in Santa Rosa? Planning a Sonoma County beer trip during SF Beer Week? Curious why FeBREWary has become one of Northern California’s biggest craft beer traditions?

This episode is your inside guide.

FeBREWary started as a winter collaboration with Visit Santa Rosa to boost local business — and has evolved into a month-long craft beer celebration that now anchors Sonoma County’s beer tourism season. From limited IPA releases to guild collaboration brews, February has become a defining moment for Bay Area beer culture.

Advanced Cicerone and Bay Area Brewers Guild Executive Director Sayre Piotrkowski joins us to break down:

• The origin and growth of FeBREWary in Santa Rosa

• How Sonoma County became a world-class craft beer destination

• The history behind Pliny the Younger and IPA culture

• The connection between SF Beer Week and the North Bay

• The identity of Sonoma County beer vs. wine country

• Beer tourism in Northern California

• How breweries are adapting to changing consumer trends

• Why collaboration is the secret ingredient in craft beer

If you love IPAs, West Coast beer, brewery travel, Santa Rosa events, or Sonoma County food and drink culture — this episode belongs in your queue.

🍺 Crack One Open: “Bright Future” IPA (SF Beer Week Collab)

Instead of reviewing something already in the glass, we preview a beer you’ll want to hunt down during SF Beer Week 2026.

Each Bay Area Brewers Guild chapter brewed a collaboration IPA for SF Beer Week — and the North Bay team (Old Caz, HenHouse, Parliament Brewing, Cuver, and more) created a modern West Coast IPA called:

Bright Future

✔ Clear & bright✔ Crisp finish✔ Low bitterness✔ Big tropical hop aroma

Available at Old Caz in Rohnert Park during SF Beer Week (launching February 20) and pouring at the SF Beer Week Kickoff Festival in San Francisco.

If you’re building a Santa Rosa brewery itinerary, add this to the list.

🍻 3 Beers That Define Sonoma County Craft Beer

If you only drink three during FeBREWary:

• Death & Taxes — Moonlight Brewing Company

• Pliny the Younger — Russian River Brewing Company

• Chismosa — Old Caz Beer

From dark lagers to iconic double IPAs to modern local expressions — this trio captures Sonoma County’s range.

🔎 Topics Covered

Sonoma County breweries

Santa Rosa craft beer

FeBREWary events

SF Beer Week 2026

Russian River Brewing Company

Pliny the Younger release

West Coast IPA history

North Bay breweries

Beer tourism California

Best breweries in Sonoma County

Craft beer culture Northern California

 🔗 Resources & Mentions

SF Beer Week

Bay Area Brewers Guild

Visit Santa Rosa

Breweries:

Russian River Brewing Company

Moonlight Brewing Company

Old Caz Beer

HenHouse Brewing Company

Parliament Brewing Company

Cuver Brewing

Parliament Brewing

Influential Figures:

Vinnie Cilurzo

Brian Hunt

Whether you're a local craft beer fan, a Cicerone student, planning a Sonoma County weekend getaway, or just chasing the best IPAs in California and beyond — this episode gives you the roadmap.

Drink local. Explore Santa Rosa. And cheers to FeBREWary. 🍻

From preserving historic ranchland to creating “people-powered parks,” LandPaths is quietly reshaping how Sonoma County connects with nature — and this episode goes inside how it’s happening.

LandPaths has spent nearly 30 years connecting people to the wild landscapes of Sonoma County — not just by protecting land, but by inviting the community to care for it.

In this episode, we’re joined by Craig Anderson, co-executive director of LandPaths, to explore a more human, inclusive approach to conservation — one he describes as “paying our rent to nature.”

Craig shares how his lifelong relationship with the outdoors led him to LandPaths, how community stewardship differs from traditional park models, and what it really takes to preserve land while keeping it accessible, welcoming, and alive.

We also go behind the scenes of LandPaths’ recent acquisition of Calvi Ranch, a historic 70-acre property west of Occidental, and discuss:

• What it took to secure the land after 90 years of family ownership
  

• How LandPaths is honoring the Calvi family’s legacy
  

• Plans for future public access and guided walks
  

• Collaborations with Indigenous communities and multi-generational ranching families
  

The conversation expands into LandPaths’ youth and education programs — including In Our Own Backyard and Inspired Forward — and why nature-based mentoring is especially critical for young people today.

We close with a rapid-fire guide to Craig’s favorite Sonoma County hikes, from world-class coastal trails to hidden gems, waterfalls, dog-friendly walks, and places to simply be.

✏️ Perfect for: Nature lovers, hikers, families, educators, conservation-curious locals, and anyone looking to reconnect with the land — right in their own backyard.

🍺 Post-Hike Pour

Inspired by Craig’s love for Sonoma County’s open spaces, I took his advice out onto the Kortum Trail — and earned a beer after.

Big Trees Pale Ale from Adobe Creek Brewing (5.4% ABV) was the perfect match: piney, lightly hazy, and packed with grapefruit and berry notes from Strata, Amarillo, and Citra hops. Crisp, refreshing, and ideal after time in the trees. Found at Wilibees or at Adobe Creek’s taprooms.

Featured Guest:

• Craig Anderson, Co-Executive Director, LandPaths
  

🔗 Resources & Mentions

LandPaths Environmental education and land conservation nonprofit based in Santa Rosa, CA🌐 https://landpaths.org

Caryl Hart: Parks advocate and co-founder of LandPaths

🌿 Land Conservation & Places

Calvi Ranch70-acre historic property west of Occidental preserved by LandPaths→ Volunteer stewardship & fire-safety efforts underway

Grove of Old Trees Near Calvi Ranch and longtime LandPaths project area

Estero Americano Scenic coastal landscape highlighted for hiking

Gualala River Northern coastal river mouth recommended for solitude and wildlife viewing

Stillwater Cove (Sonoma Coast) Quiet coastal spot and hidden gem for reflection and nature connection

🥾 Trails & Hiking Highlights

Pomo Canyon Trail Coastal trail expanded through LandPaths’ advocacy

Kortum Trail World-class coastal hike with dramatic views and wildlife

Sugarloaf Ridge State Park & Willow Creek Trail Winter waterfalls and seasonal hikes

Fitch Mountain Fall hiking favorite overlooking the Russian River

Laguna de Santa Rosa Springtime wetlands, birdlife, and peaceful walks

🌱 Programs & Initiatives:

In Our Own Backyard Environmental education program connecting local students to nearby open space

Inspired Forward Teen leadership and mentorship program using nature as a tool for connection and belonging

People-Powered Parks LandPaths’ volunteer-driven model for land stewardship and community care

Author Paula McLain on hidden Paris, two timelines, and a woman’s fight for creative freedom across centuries.

Bestselling author Paula McLain discusses her new novel Skylark, a dual-timeline historical novel set in Paris in 1664 and during the Nazi occupation of the 1940s.

The conversation begins with a reading from Skylark and unfolds into a deep exploration of resistance, artistic freedom, and the women history tried to silence. McLain shares how Paris’s underground tunnels and the buried River Bièvre inspired the novel, and why parallels between 17th-century sumptuary laws and WWII persecution demanded to be told together.

We also revisit McLain’s acclaimed novels The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, and Love and Ruin, and her enduring fascination with women who lived close to power but remained in the shadows. From Hadley Richardson to Beryl Markham and Martha Gellhorn, McLain reflects on the many ways women claim agency—by staying, leaving, or risking everything.

📚 Perfect for fans of historical fiction, Paris-set novels, women’s stories, and Paula McLain.

Featured Guest:

Paula McLain – Author of Skylark, The Paris Wife, Circling the Sun, Love and Ruin

Upcoming Event:

Paula McLain: Morning in Paris — Skylark Reading & Conversation

📍 Little Saint , Healdsburg, CA

🗓️ Saturday, February 7 ⏰ 10:00 AM

☕ Coffee, pastries & Parisian conversation

📖 Featuring Paula McLain with photographer and Francophile Rebecca Plotnick

Mentioned Books & Topics Mentioned:

• ​Skylark
• ​The Paris Wife
• ​Circling the Sun
• ​Love and Ruin
• ​Heart the Lover
• ​Women in historical fiction
• ​Paris underground & the River Bièvre
• ​Dual-timeline novels
• ​Creative freedom & resistance
• ​Writing women history overlooked

Crack One Open 🍻

February marks the return of “Flagship February,” a time to revisit the core beers that built our favorite breweries. This week’s pick is Stoked! Hazy Pale Ale from HenHouse Brewing Company—an easy-drinking OG that returns to its roots with Citra hops front and center. Pouring a bright straw yellow, Stoked delivers passionfruit and citrus aromatics with a light body and ultra–thirst-quenching finish. Widely available across Sonoma County, it’s a reminder that sometimes the classics really do hit the hardest. A perfect beer to kick off Flagship February—and one of the best times of year to explore local beer.

Wayne Thiebaud is celebrated for his iconic Americana paintings of cakes and pies, but this exhibition explores a lesser-known side of his mastery: printmaking.

This episode explores The Unknown Thiebaud: Passionate Printmaker, a rare exhibition that uncovers the quiet, obsessive printmaking practice that shaped one of America’s most beloved artists.

Serafina Palandech, executive director of the Sebastopol Center for the Arts (SebArts), joins us to explore how this landmark show brings together six decades of Thiebaud’s prints—from early experiments to deeply refined, meditative studies—and why Sebastopol is the perfect place for this story to be told.

Running January 10 – March 8, 2026, The Unknown Thiebaud: Passionate Printmaker reveals a more intimate side of Thiebaud’s work through drypoints, monotypes, woodcuts, and iterative variations of familiar subjects. While his thickly painted desserts made him famous, these prints challenge and expand our understanding of his artistic identity, process, and legacy.

Serafina shares how this exhibition reflects SebArts’ core values of community, accessibility, and expanding artistic narratives, and why Sebastopol is the perfect place for a show of this caliber. We dive into the story behind the exhibition’s creation, including the crucial role of local collectors and donors—most notably the late gallerist Allan Stone, whose family loaned over 35 rarely seen works, many never before exhibited publicly.

The conversation also explores:

• Why Thiebaud’s printmaking practice is essential to understanding his artistic identity
  

• How repetition, perspective, and distortion evolve across decades of work
  

• Thiebaud’s deep ties to Northern California and his legacy as a regional “hometown hero”
  

• The often-overlooked role of master printmakers, including collaborators from Crown Point Press
  

• Underrated prints and techniques that quietly steal the show
  

Beyond the gallery walls, Serafina previews an exciting slate of community programming, including printmaking workshops, docent tours, artist talks, and a special film presentation by documentary filmmaker Olympia Stone exploring the life and influence of Allan Stone.

We close with a look at SebArts’ future—from expanding free education and youth programs to new residencies—and how listeners can get involved as artists, volunteers, members, or supporters.

Whether you’re a longtime fan of Wayne Thiebaud, curious about printmaking, or passionate about community-driven arts spaces, this episode is a must-listen.

🎟️ Exhibition: The Unknown Thiebaud: Passionate Printmaker

📍 Location: Sebastopol Center for the Arts

📅 Dates: January 10 – March 8, 2026

Crack One Open 🍻
Pacific Crush, a West Coast IPA from Cellarmaker Brewing Company, clocks in at 6.1% ABV. Hopped with Mosaic, Citra, Cascade, and the newer Krush varietal, it’s impressively light-bodied and balanced, with bright floral aromas, tangerine citrus, and just enough bitterness to keep things crisp. This is a crushable, crowd-pleasing IPA that’s easy to recommend to fans of classic West Coast balance.

He didn’t touch a piano until 14 — now he’s a Grammy-nominated jazz artist redefining what modern jazz can be.

Jazz, legacy, and late starts — a deep conversation with one of today’s most exciting musicians.

Jahari Stampley, one of the most decorated jazz musicians of his generation, is the winner of the 2023 Herbie Hancock Institute International Competition, a 2024 Grammy nominee, and the 2025 ASCAP Herb Alpert Composers Award recipient.

From touring with legends like Stanley Clarke to hitting #1 on the iTunes Jazz chart with his debut album Still Listening, Jahari has moved effortlessly between jazz clubs, concert halls, film, and orchestral stages. His latest album, What A Time, blends jazz, gospel, pop, and cinematic influences — and features an all-star lineup including Keyon Harrold, Derrick Hodge, and his mother, D-Erania Stampley.

In this wide-ranging interview, Jahari opens up about starting piano “late,” navigating performance anxiety, protecting artistic integrity in a commercial industry, and why curiosity — not pressure — has guided his career. We also dive into his innovative music education app Piano Chronicles, his love of technology and gaming, and what success really means to him at this stage of life. Plus, we get to hear a track from "What a Time."

🎶 Live Show Alert:

The Healdsburg Winter Jazz Festival welcomes the Jahari Stampley Family Trio on Friday, January 30 at 7pm, where Jahari will debut brand-new, unreleased music.

In This Episode, We Cover:

• Realizing you’re musical — and why starting piano at 14 changed everything
  

• Growing up in a musical family without feeling boxed in
  

• Chicago’s musical legacy and how it shaped Jahari’s sound
  

• From jazz clubs to Carnegie Hall, film, and symphony orchestras
  

• Overcoming stage anxiety and staying present during live performance
  

• Handling on-stage chaos and technical failures in real time
  

• Balancing artistic integrity with industry expectations
  

• Building albums from concept to final cut
  

• Collaborating with major artists — and why reliability matters more than ego
  

• Making music with his mom (and her surprising drone-pilot skills!)
  

• Redefining success beyond fame and accolades
  

• Advice for musicians just starting out
  

• Piano Chronicles: blending gaming, learning, and music education
  

• Guilty-pleasure listening, dream jam sessions, and what’s next

🎁 Giveaway Alert

We’re hosting a special ticket giveaway for the Healdsburg Winter Jazz Festival on Instagram. Follow @pod_locally for your chance to win tickets to the "Good Vibes" show with Joel Ross on Feb.1.

Beer Review

After our conversation about a jazz musician’s life, one idea lingered—collaboration—and it felt fitting to pour a beer built on that same spirit: “Disciples of Foam,” a hoppy pilsner collaboration from Laughing Monk Brewing and Geisthaus Brewing. Known for doing classic styles right, these two Northern California breweries deliver a bright, bubbly, and crisp pilsner at 5.7% ABV that cuts nicely through winter’s heavier beers, using classic German hops Huell Melon and Saphir to bring light citrus brightness alongside grassy, malty notes. It pours with a beautiful foamy head and drinks effortlessly—an ideal pairing for sunshine, snacks, and the shared creativity that comes from great collaborators coming together.

🎧 Listen now and discover how a late start became a defining strength.

How Local Woodworkers Built One of North America’s Most Respected Art Shows

In this episode, we head inside the 36th Annual Artistry in Wood Exhibition at the Museum of Sonoma County in Santa Rosa, joined by two masters of the medium and curators of the show: John Cobb, a renowned professional woodturner, and Don Jereb, master woodworker and longtime leader of the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association.

Together, they pull back the curtain on how raw, locally sourced wood becomes museum-grade art — and how a once-local gathering evolved into one of the most respected woodworking exhibitions in North America.

What You’ll Hear in This Episode

• How John Cobb discovered woodturning and developed his signature hollow forms and bowls from reclaimed Bay Area timber
  

• Don Jereb’s path into fine woodworking — from furniture-making to curating a museum exhibition
  

• The origins and mission of the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association, founded by graduates of the College of the Redwoods
  

• How Artistry in Wood grew over 36 years from a regional show into a nationally respected exhibition
  

• The curatorial and judging process: what separates good craftsmanship from exceptional artistic expression
  

• The relationship between function and fine art in woodworking — furniture, sculpture, and everything in between
  

• Standout works and artists featured in this year’s exhibition, including advanced turning, inlay, and sculptural forms
  

• How community, mentorship, and knowledge-sharing shape the woodworking world
  

• Why this exhibition matters — not as a career shortcut, but as a celebration of skill, creativity, and tradition
  

Exhibition Details

🪵 36th Annual Artistry in Wood Exhibition

📍 Museum of Sonoma County — Santa Rosa, CA

🗓️ On view now through May 24, 2026

🎶 Special Concert Event

🗓️ February 1, 2:00–3:30 PM

🎻 Featuring musical instruments by Santa Rosa-based instrument maker Andrew Carruthers

Why This Episode Matters

Artistry in Wood challenges the outdated divide between “craft” and “fine art.” Through the voices of its curators, this conversation explores how woodworking sits on a creative continuum — where precision, material knowledge, and imagination meet.

Whether you’re an artist, maker, design lover, or simply curious about how objects are made, this episode offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at one of Sonoma County’s most respected cultural exhibitions.

Explore More

• Visit the exhibition at the Museum of Sonoma County
  

• Learn more about the Sonoma County Woodworkers Association
  

• Discover the work of John Cobb and Don Jereb
  

👉 Follow the show for more conversations with artists, cultural leaders, and the people shaping Sonoma County’s creative landscape.

🍺 Crack One Open: Craft Beer Pairing

In our Crack One Open segment, we pair the episode with Tipple, a Wet Hop Winter Ale from Moonlight Brewing. Brewed with freshly harvested Sonoma County hops and layered onto a dark, roasty ale, Tipple delivers notes of burnt coffee, toasted caramel, orange peel, and subtle spice. At 6.7% ABV, it’s a balanced, warming winter beer — and a perfect match for conversations about craftsmanship.Limited release — grab it while it’s fresh.

Local newsrooms are vanishing across the country — and the consequences reach far beyond headlines. This episode explores what’s driving the collapse of local journalism and why it matters to anyone who cares about their community.

What happens to democracy when local journalism disappears? Oscar-nominated filmmaker Rick Goldsmith joins us to explain how vulture capital and private equity are accelerating the collapse of local journalism — and what it will take to save American news.

Award-winning documentary filmmaker Rick Goldsmith joins This Must Be the Place to discuss the power of documentary film in an era of collapsing local news, media consolidation, and growing distrust in journalism.

Goldsmith is a two-time Academy Award nominee and the director of Stripped for Parts: American Journalism on the Brink, a searing investigation into how hedge funds and corporate ownership are hollowing out America’s local newsrooms—and what it means for democracy.

With a career spanning nearly 50 years, Rick reflects on his path from architecture, music, and community activism into documentary filmmaking, and why long-form storytelling still matters in a world of shrinking attention spans and polarized media.

🎬 In this episode, we explore:

• Why documentary films play a critical role when journalism falls short
  

• How Stripped for Parts exposes the corporate stripping of local newspapers
  

• The real-world consequences of losing local news coverage
  

• What filmmakers can do to balance artistry, research, and truth
  

• Why stories about people who “speak truth to power” endure
  

• Lessons from Goldsmith’s Oscar-nominated films on press freedom
  

• Whether there’s hope — or pessimism — for the future of journalism
  

• How audiences can actively support local news and independent media

Rick also shares behind-the-scenes insight into the challenges of funding, distributing, and sustaining socially engaged documentaries — and what he’s considering next, including podcasting as a storytelling medium.

🎟️ Local Screening & Panel Discussion Stripped for Parts screens Sunday, January 11 (1:30–4:30 PM) at the Ner Shalom Synagogue in Cotati, followed by a panel with local journalists Carl Molesworth, Laura Hagar Rush, and Troy Niday.

🎥 About Rick Goldsmith Goldsmith’s acclaimed work includes Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press and The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers, both examining journalism, dissent, and democracy. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and a leading voice in socially engaged filmmaking.

This episode is essential listening for anyone concerned about the future of local news, press freedom, and how stories shape democracy.

🍺 Beer Review

To close the episode, the Craft Beer Concierge kicks off the new year with a tasting of Best Day Brewing Co.’s Non-Alcoholic West Coast IPA, exploring the rise of Dry January and how far NA beer has come. Brewed with classic Cascade hops, the beer delivers familiar IPA bitterness with a lighter body and slightly sweeter profile, offering a flavorful option for listeners looking to moderate without giving up the ritual.

Featured Guest:

Rick Goldsmith

Resources Mentioned:

Stripped for Parts

PBS

The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers

Tell the Truth and Run: George Seldes and the American Press

Featured Beer:

Best Day Brewing Co.’s Non-Alcoholic West Coast IPA

Stand-up comedy in Sonoma County is thriving — and this episode goes inside the North Bay comedy scene with two of the people helping shape it.

Award-winning comedian Gina Stahl-Haven joins the show to talk about her storytelling-driven approach to stand-up, her unconventional path from theater and improv to comedy competitions like the San Francisco International Comedy Competition and America’s Got Talent, and why authentic self-disclosure resonates more than one-liners. Gina also previews her New Year’s Eve comedy show in Santa Rosa, where she’ll debut new material.

Next, comedian and booking agent Jon Lehre breaks down what it takes to build and sustain a local comedy scene in the North Bay. From early open mics at HopMonk Tavern to booking shows at Barrel Proof Lounge, Jon shares insights on performing, booking talent, supporting multiple venues, and keeping live comedy alive in Sonoma County.

The episode wraps with a New Year’s reflection from host Allo Gilinsky, the Craft Beer Concierge, featuring a nostalgic review of Miller High Life — the champagne of beers — and a reminder that great drinks, like great comedy, are about connection and shared experience.

🎤 Perfect for fans of stand-up comedy, Bay Area comedians, and live entertainment in Sonoma County.

Featured Guests

Gina Stahl-Haven

Jon Lehre

Upcoming Show Mentioned

New Year’s Eve Comedy Show

📍 Barrel Proof Lounge

🗓️ December 31

🎤 Live stand-up comedy with Gina Stahlhaven

Resources Mentioned

• ​San Francisco International Comedy Competition
• ​America’s Got Talent
• ​Barrel Proof Lounge
• ​Hopmonk Tavern
• ​Tim Robinson (comedic influence)
• ​Robbie Hoffman (comedic influence)