Ready to send 2025 out in style? On this episode of Up+Adam, we’re counting down the most exciting ways to ring in the New Year right here on the Central Coast. From family-friendly fireworks to funk-fueled dance floors and intimate live shows, there’s something for every vibe—and we’ve got the inside scoop.

Adam welcomes Ryan Orr, Entertainment Director for SLO Brew Rock, and Dan Curcio of Moonshiner Collective for a high-energy conversation on what makes a great NYE party, how their teams are leveling up this year’s experiences, and why live music just hits different when the clock strikes midnight. We also surprise the winner of our Up+Adam NYE Paso Staycation, live on air.

Whether you're eyeing a classy night at the Opera or ready to raise a glass in the heart of downtown Paso Robles, this episode gives you four unforgettable ways to celebrate. Let’s pop the cork, set the vibe, and get your plans locked in.

New Year’s Eve Events Featured in this Episode:

• • Paso Robles City Park Celebration (Hosted by Adam!)
• ➤ prcity.com/New-Years-Eve-2025

• • SLO Brew Rock: Funk Bizarre ft. Pimps of Joytime
• ➤ slobrew.com/NYE-2026

• • Moonshiner Collective Live at Club Car Bar, Templeton
• ➤ Get Tickets

• • OperaSLO Super Gala at PAC SLO (Family-Friendly!)
• ➤ pacslo.org

Follow Our Guests:

• • SLO Brew Rock – slobrew.com | @slobrew
• 
  
• • Moonshiner Collective – moonshinercollective.com | @moonshinercollective

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

Ringing in the New Year does not have to mean staying out late or forgetting the night entirely. In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with the creative team behind the Opera SLO New Year’s Eve Super Gala to talk about a different kind of celebration. One rooted in live music, community, and that feeling you only get when a full orchestra hits the room and you realize you are part of something shared.

At the center of it all is conductor and Opera San Luis Obispo General Director Brian Asher Alhadeff, whose vision for the Super Gala is simple and bold. Make it welcoming. Make it joyful. Make it unforgettable. Brian describes the night as “dessert music,” a sampler of Broadway favorites, classical showstoppers, iconic movie moments, and large ensemble pieces that feel familiar even if you have never been to an opera before.

Joining the conversation is Grammy Award winning baritone Gabriel Manro, whose career spans opera, Broadway, film, television, and major international stages. Gabriel talks about growing up on the Central Coast, finding his voice, and why live, unamplified music still matters in an age dominated by screens and algorithms. You also hear from stage director Justine Prado Manro and Children’s Chorus Manager Luana Gerardis, who share how Opera SLO’s youth programs and citywide collaborations keep the arts alive and accessible for families.

The Opera SLO New Year’s Eve Super Gala takes place December 31 at 7 pm at the Performing Arts Center San Luis Obispo. The show is family friendly, features children on stage, and wraps up early enough to be home for the ball drop. It is a true Central Coast collaboration with multiple local arts organizations sharing one stage for one night only.

If you are looking for a meaningful, memorable way to close out the year and start the next one feeling connected and inspired, this conversation explains why this night is different.

• Opera SLO New Year’s Eve Super Gala

https://www.pacslo.org/events/detail/nye25

• Tickets and information

https://www.pacslo.org/events/detail/nye25

805-756-4849

• Opera San Luis Obispo

https://www.operaslo.org

• Brian Asher Alhadeff

https://www.operaslo.org/about/artistic-director.php

https://www.instagram.com/maestroalhadeff

• Gabriel Manro

https://www.gabrielmanro.com

https://www.instagram.com/gabriel_manro

• Justine Prado Manro

https://www.justineprado.com

https://www.instagram.com/nymphatic

• Luana Gerardis and Opera SLO Children’s Chorus

https://www.operaslo.org/about/staff.php

https://www.instagram.com/luanagerardis/

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

Today’s Up+Adam is one of the most meaningful episodes we do all year.

This is Breaking & Entering Christmas.

Each holiday season, we quietly and anonymously select one local family who has been carrying more than their share, and we show up. Not with pity. With people. With dignity. With a community that decides to say yes.

This episode centers on the family selected this year, chosen from weeks of heartfelt nominations. The letter that nominated them is shared exactly as it was written, with names changed to protect the family. Their story reflects the reality many families face quietly every day. Three generations living in low-income field-worker housing. Grandparents sleeping on the floor so the kids can have a room. A father working long shifts, even on Christmas. A grandmother recovering from breast cancer and collecting recyclables each morning to help the family get by.

What happens next is the heart of this episode.

More than 25 people walk through the door. Movers. Volunteers. Local businesses. Media partners. Listeners. A sleeper sofa replaces the floor. A Christmas tree arrives. Presents are stacked. A broken garbage disposal gets fixed. The house breathes again.

This episode captures the sounds, moments, and emotion of a community showing up in real time. It is not about charity. It is about dignity. It is about service. It is about a Christmas this family never saw coming and the one they deserve.

 Meathead Movers

Libertine Brewing Company

Sinor-LaVallee Wine

North County Copy & Parcel

General Store Paso Robles

Mr Putters Mino Golf

Author Rob Vold and his wife Jenny of Uncle Banana book series

Red Oak Security

Andy’s Awesome Arcade

Spark’l Bands

Salinas River Ranch

Perfetto Cafe

SLO Town Studios

WiLD 106.1 FM

KSBY

95.3 The Beach

KPIG Radio

The Grade Country

Dimes Media Corporation

And to the listeners of Up+Adam who continue to show what community really looks like.

Thank you for being part of the 12th Annual Breaking & Entering Christmas.

********

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

Up+Adam’s Breaking & Entering will air tomorrow 12/23!

In this episode of Up+Adam, we sit down with Pastor Juan and Major Nancy from The Salvation Army San Luis Obispo Corps, a ministry rooted in faith and service dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and families across the Central Coast through programs like food distribution, utility assistance, shelter support, and year-round community care. With a mission “heart to God, hand to man,” the Salvation Army brings hope and practical help to those facing hardship and works tirelessly to uplift our neighbors in Jesus’ name. Learn how their work intersects with the spirit of Breaking & Entering Christmas and how you can connect or get involved. For more information or to reach the San Luis Obispo Corps, visit them at 815 Islay Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401, call (805) 544-2401, or email [email protected] to connect directly with their team this season. 

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

In this heart-opening holiday episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with veteran television host and producer Tommy Habeeb, the creator and star of the nationally syndicated series To the Rescue. Airing on over 200 stations across the country, the show follows real-life animal rescues and the incredible people behind them—first responders, shelter workers, and families who open their hearts and homes to animals in need.

But Tommy’s journey is more than just puppies and happy endings. He opens up about his time as the original host of Cheaters, what that chapter taught him about human behavior, and how it shaped the deeply empathetic lens he brings to his work today. Together, Adam and Tommy explore the emotional terrain of second chances, what animals can teach us about healing, and why "adopt, don't shop" is more urgent now than ever.

Whether you’re an animal lover, a fan of Tommy’s past work, or someone looking for some unexpected inspiration this season, this is a conversation that will stay with you.

• Watch To the Rescue: https://totherescue.tv

• Follow Tommy Habeeb on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tommyhabeeb

• Subscribe to To the Rescue on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVucVLlcH4vCUwadflUeIyw

• Find a shelter near you: https://theshelterpetproject.org/shelters

• Support Woods Humane Society: https://www.woodshumanesociety.org

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

Today’s Guest: Hollywood star Hunter Doohan!

Hunter Doohan is on fire. From his breakout role in Netflix’s Wednesday to haunting performances in Your Honor and Daredevil: Born Again, Hunter is proving he’s not just rising. He’s redefining what it means to show up in this industry with depth, drive, and zero fear of the dark.

In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Hunter to talk about his newest project, The Wilderness. It’s a chilling new indie film based on the real-life trauma of “wilderness therapy” programs. As both actor and producer, Hunter opens up about what it was like to be on a set where the director was reliving his own story, and how telling it changed the way Hunter thinks about power, control, and survival.

But this convo goes deeper. Hunter gets real about losing his dad to ALS, the private grief behind public success, and the moments in his career that felt less like big breaks and more like emotional reckonings. He also shares what it's like moving between monsters and mentors, playing Hyde, working with Bryan Cranston, teaming up with Aaron Paul, and why being behind the camera might just be where his truth lives next.

This one’s raw, real, and packed with perspective. If you want to see what happens when a guest doesn’t just show up, they show out, this is it.

Watch Hunter in The Wilderness – now in select theaters and available on digital and on demand December 16

Watch the trailer

Follow Hunter on Instagram

instagram.com/hunterdoohan

Learn more or donate to Project ALS

projectals.org

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS FAMILY HERE

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

Steve Rossi | Christmas at the Ranch, Family Legacy, and Making Holiday Magic in Wine Country

DESCRIPTION:

What happens when you mix 14,000 acres of ranchland, a few snow machines, and a guy with big holiday vision? You get Christmas at the Ranch. Today’s guest is the man behind it.

Steve Rossi grew up surrounded by story and legacy. Son of Central Coast developer, architect, and visionary Rob Rossi, Steve has stepped into his own lane with purpose, heart, and some seriously cool ideas. In this episode, Adam sits down with Steve to talk about growing up on the ranch, carving out his own voice in the Rossi family legacy, and building one of the most magical holiday events on the Central Coast.

They get into the real behind-the-scenes of what it takes to create Christmas at the Ranch. From the family dynamics (Let’s be real, its all his wife Shelly!), to the new additions this year, to why they said yes to something this bold in the first place.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to bring joy to thousands of strangers and still make it feel personal, this one’s for you.

 • Christmas at the Margarita

• Visit the event page on Travel Paso

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

B&E FREE WINE-COUNTRY XMAS MARKET THIS SUNDAY

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

It’s more than a pop-up. It’s a handcrafted movement rooted in the heart of San Luis Obispo.

On this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Sadie Moss and Kerry Long, the creative forces behind SLOcally Made, a seasonal artisan collective and holiday marketplace that has become a downtown SLO tradition. Born from a simple idea and a shared love of craft, Sadie and Kerry built something truly special: a collaborative space that showcases over 80 local makers, from potters and jewelers to painters and leatherworkers.

Also joining us is Gina Hambly, core member of this year’s pop-up and the heart behind Hambly Farms, where she and her husband grow, harvest, and bottle small-batch lavender products that bring beauty and calm to homes across the Central Coast.

We talk about how SLOcally Made began, what it takes to curate 85 vendors into a seamless shopping experience, and how handmade goods carry intention, story, and soul. It’s a conversation full of laughter, inspiration, and the kind of community spirit that reminds you why shopping local matters.

Visit SLOcally Made in person this season at

877 Monterey Street in Downtown San Luis Obispo

Explore more or shop online

• slocally-made.com

Support Gina and Hambly Farms

• hamblyfarms.com

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

B&E FREE WINE-COUNTRY XMAS MARKET THIS SUNDAY

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS

This holiday season, a brand-new event is bringing that signature SLO CAL spirit to Paso in a way only the Central Coast can.

In this episode, Adam is joined by Meghan Ball of Vinlumia and Rob Tredway of McPrice Myers, who also co-founded Unhinged Craft Candles with his husband. Together, they share the story behind the Wine Country Christmas Market, a holiday event born from a studio brainstorm and brought to life in less than two weeks.

Hosted at the stunning new McPrice Myers tasting room, the market is free, family-friendly, and full of local soul. With more than a dozen artisans, boutique wineries, small-batch food vendors, and even adoptable pets on site, this is more than a place to check off your gift list. It's a celebration of community, connection, and contagious generosity.

All proceeds and donations support Breaking & Entering Christmas, Adam’s beloved tradition where one local family gets the full magic of the holiday season after a year of hardship. This event makes it possible. You sipping wine and grabbing a handmade candle or bar of artisan soap? That’s part of the magic too.

Event Info

• Sunday, December 7, 2025

• 1 PM to 4 PM

• McPrice Myers, 3525 Adelaida Road, Paso Robles, CA

• Free to attend

• Family and dog friendly

B&E FREE WINE-COUNTRY XMAS MARKET THIS SUNDAY

Guests and Links

• Meghan Ball – @vinlumia

• Rob Tredway – @unhinged.cc | unhingedcc.com

• McPrice Myers Winery – mcpricemyers.com

To RSVP or donate to Breaking & Entering Christmas:

• adammontiel.com

********

• Official Website: adammontiel.com
• Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts
• Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify
• iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio
• YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube Music

********

CHECK OUT OUR WOODS HUMANE PET OF THE WEEK!

********

ADAM’S TEDX VIDEO IS HERE!

********

FOLLOW ADAM ON INSTAGRAM

*********

Sincere Thanks to the current supporters of Up + Adam. Please take a moment and visit them and thank them for supporting local broadcasting, and valuing what we do here. Thank you for supporting them!

Life Elements

City of SLO

WoodsHumaneSociety

Tin City Distillery

Original Music by Dan Curcio and Moonshiner Collective

Moonshiner on Spotify HERE

Please Rate, Review, and Subscribe to the podcast, and learn more at AdamMontiel.com