Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcasts

Culture Junkie: My "movie date" with Tommy Smothers

Petaluma Argus-Courier writer David Templeton recalls his chat with comedian Tom Smothers in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County back in 1999. Hear a bit of their conversation recorded at Third Street Aleworks. 

The low snarl of a Jaguar encounter

Sonoma Index Times reporter Chase Hunter shares the story of Sonoma's Bernie Krause, a 'soundscape' engineer whose describes in vivid detail his encounter with an exotic predator. 

Santa Rosa Police Dept news conference on fatal stabbing of Montgomery HS student

Santa Rosa Mayor Natalie Rogers

Santa Rosa Mayor Natalie Rogers speaks during a Black History Month event organized by Petaluma Blacks for Community Development.

"I think it's a fascinating time in our country." Post-election Analysis

Local analysis on election results in North Bay, California and national elections. Sonoma State political science professor David McCuan provides analysis on Tuesday's elections in this conversation with Press Democrat Deputy Editor Brett Wilkison and reporters Paulina Pineda and Phil Barber including a breakdown of local races of interest in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Windsor and Rhonert Park, as well as statewide ballot issues and national trends.

Five years after Tubbs Fire, Mark West Springs neighbors forced to flee united by grief, change

Press Democrat reporters Mary Callahan and Kerry Benefield talk about the survivors' harrowing stories from the Mark West neighborhood during the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County 2017 and how you move on from that. They talk about gaining trust as a reporter with people who have gone through the most devastating experiences. About dispatchers working through the night of the fire knowing their own homes were burning down and stories from first responders still wishing they could have done more.  ...

In His Own Words: The Night of the Tubbs Fire

Mike Harkins stayed behind as the flames approached his Coffey Park neighborhood and everyone else evacuated. Harkins knocked on doors to make sure people were awake, and leaving. He helped his elderly neighbor, a wheelchair user, into her van. When he wasn’t hosing down his house and the houses of neighbors, Harkins was stamping out spot fires. Harkins recalls that night for The Press Democrat. 

PDPreps Ep. 10

Football season is coming down to the wire. Press Democrat sportswriters Gus Morris and Kienan O’Doherty take a look at some big results from Friday Night Lights — including a surprise in our Game of the Week — and look ahead to the second-to-last week of the regular season, with league title races very much up in the air:

PD Preps 100 Yard Walk Ep. 9

100 yards with Casa Grande’s Kodi Cornelius. The Gauchos lineman talks with The Press Democrat about this week’s big rivalry game with Petaluma, the annual Egg Bowl.      

Generation Disaster

Sonoma County children who were in kindergarten when the 2017 wildfires blazed have barely known a school year without major disruptions, such as the pandemic and the wildfires. In our ongoing series, Press Democrat Deputy Editor Brett Wilkison and Senior Investigative Reporter Martin Espinoza talk about Generation Disaster, and the impact of the 2017 wildfires on these children who are now fifth graders.       

PDPreps

Press Democrat Sports Reporters Gus Morris and Kienan O'Doherty wrap up week eight in high school football while looking ahead to week nine in this episode of the PDPreps.

PDPreps Podcast: Ep. 8

Press Democrat Sports Reporters Gus Morris and Kienan O'Doherty wrap up week seven in high school football while looking ahead to week eight in the eighth episode of the PDPreps podcast. 

Compounded Misery

Press Democrat staff writer Austin Murphy and deputy editor Brett Wilkison talk about the fire survivors victimized by bad contractors in the wake of the 2017 wildfires that swept through Sonoma County.  Austin Murphy calls what the survivors have dealt with "a cosmic one-two punch."   

What's Wrong with the Fire Victim Trust?

The Press Democrat shares its October 2022 series marking 5 years since the 2017 wildfires. Those who lost everything say the deck was stacked against them from the start. In this episode, Press Democrat "In Your Corner" columnist Marisa Endicott and Press Democrat enterprise and investigative reporter Andrew Graham talk about the frustration that's been building as fire victims wait for compensation some five years later.  

The Press Democrat Podcast: A Walk in the Ashes

In this first of a series of podcasts throughout October 2022 to accompany reports in print and online, The Press Democrat examines five years since the 2017 wildfires.  Deputy editor Brett Wilkison talks with senior reporter Phil Barber about the fires, what we've learned since, and views on how climate change plays a role. 

Biteclub Podcast: Margarita Madness in Healdsburg

Biteclub Podcast 4 : Agnolotti of Destiny

In this episode, Heather hits up the new Michael Mina restaurant and falls apart in front of the celeb chef as she tries the world's best pasta. Plus, The Block, big restaurant openings and closings and Michelin pulls its California stars, oh my!

BiteClub: Flavor Bistro in Sebastopol – even the takeout will blow your mind

In this new episode Heather shares her lovely dining experience at the reopened Flavor Bistro, now in Sebastopol, with all the old favorites still there.  She also talks about her vivid memories of the burned down high--end Napa restaurant Meadowood and where to find good takeout sushi, yes it does exist. Check out our BiteClub podcast, hosted by our food writer and SMI dining editor Heather Irwin. In the podcast, Heather is looking at the Sonoma County food scene, including unique stori...

BiteClub: There is nothing like a good tamale

Check out our new BiteClub podcast, hosted by our food writer and SMI dining editor Heather Irwin. In the podcast, Heather is looking at the Sonoma County food scene, including unique stories about the servers, chefs, and restaurateurs who make it so special. New episodes drop every other week.

BiteClub: Pandemic or not - new restaurants are still opening in Sonoma County

Check out our new BiteClub podcast, hosted by our food writer and SMI dining editor Heather Irwin. In the podcast, Heather is looking at the Sonoma County food scene, including unique stories about the servers, chefs, and restaurateurs who make it so special. New episodes drop every other week.

Overtime: First time ever: Friday night football at Piner High School in Santa Rosa

The journey to bring lights to Piner High School’s athletic fields has been decades-long. At 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24, the Prospectors will host Novato High in Piner’s first home night football game in school history. In the latest podcast episode of “Overtime with Kerry Benefield,” we talk with Piner senior and football player Colton Roy about what lights mean to the team and to the student body in general. 

Local expert’s take on World Cup 2018

Chris Ziemer is athletic director and girls’ soccer coach at Sonoma Academy. He’s also a lifelong fan of the game of soccer. As the World Cup unfolds in Russia, Ziemer shares his expertise on teams to be reckoned with and players to watch in the latest episode of the podcast “Overtime with Kerry Benefield.”

Overtime: Cloverdale senior on how football changed his life

Cloverdale High senior Ray Sayago knew little about football when he signed up to play for the Eagles his freshman year. In fact, on his first day of practice he put on his pads backwards. But the sport and the team experience made his high school journey more rewarding.

Drinking Stories podcast: All you need to know about syrah

The “Drinking Stories” podcast is back. This episode features local vintner David Ramey, who opened his Ramey Wine Cellars in 1996 after helping put the Matanzas Creek and Chalk Hill wineries on the map. The varietal is gaining more attention, especially as it’s a featured grape of the new Petaluma Gap wine region. David also talks about why some instead call it “shiraz” and what foods it pairs best with.

La Prensa Sonoma: Martha Toledo, cantante zapoteca de Oaxaca

Martha Toledo, cantante zapoteca de Oaxaca, nos habla de la cultura oaxaqueña en California y de la situación de la mujer en México. Además, nos canta a capela.

Drinking Stories: All you need to know about chardonnay

Drinking stories: Why cabernet sauvignon is so popular - and so darn pricey

The “Drinking Stories” podcast continues its exploration of the different varietals around in Sonoma County with a discussion on cabernet sauvignon. Nate Weis of Silver Oak walks us through what makes this big, bold red so popular — and so darn pricey. Weis also talks about what consumers should look for when trying to decipher what bottle to buy.

Overtime: Pressure? No, just great expectations. Cardinal Newman High School success coach talks strategy

The Cardinal Newman High School girls basketball squad won the Div. 4 CIF state title last season. They also return all five starters from that team. Pressure? No, just great expectations. We talk with coach Monica Mertle about focus, motivation and what comes next in this episode of "Overtime with Kerry Benefield."

Drinking stories: Why pinot noir is so special - even after Sideways

Given the wealth of talented winemakers around the area, we are starting a discussion of all the different varietals we have in Sonoma County. We are starting a series where we will have one winemaker talk about one specific variety of grape. First up is Alison Crowe, director of winemaking at Plata Wine Partners. She will be discussing pinot noir, that ornery grape that was thrust into the spotlight more than a decade ago with the movie “Sideways.” Crowe breaks down what makes Pinot N...

Overtime: "Our football program is solid" - Ed Conroy on leaving the Cougars

The more than three decade coaching career of Rancho Cotate’s Ed Conroy is coming to a close, but not before his Cougars make a run at the Div. 3 North Coast Section football tournament. The Cougars earned the No. 3 seed and will host St. Mary’s of Albany Friday night. Hear Conroy’s take on that game, as well as his thoughts about how area teams in other divisions may do in the post season in the latest podcast episode of “Overtime with Kerry Benefield.”

Overtime: Analy QB's work behind the scene leads to glittering numbers

Jack Newman has a tough act to follow. His own. The Analy High School senior was last year’s Press Democrat All-Empire Large School Offensive Player of the Year. So far this season, he is on pace to match those numbers for the Tigers who are 5-1 overall and 2-0 in the Sonoma County League. Hear Newman’s take on stats, his hopes for this season and what he’s working on to make his game better in this episode of “Overtime with Kerry Benefield.”

Overtime: How Santa Rosa got its first pump track

Three years in the making, the first pump track in Santa Rosa will be ready for bike enthusiasts to ride in the coming weeks thanks to the persistence of a few stalwart volunteers. Hear the story of how this bike course, now located in Northwest Community Park near Comstock Middle School, came to be in the latest episode of “Overtime.”

Drinking Stories: Tony Magee: "Our job is to take over Heineken"

A year after his Lagunitas Brewing Co. announced a 50-50 partnership with Heineken International, the 56-year-old is brimming with ideas and plans to grow the business of craft beer both domestically and globally. In the latest “Drinking Stories” podcast, Bill Swindell sat down with Magee to talk about what’s next in the $22 billion craft beer business and the role the Petaluma brewery will play in expanding the sector’s reach globally. The topics covered included a new European brewery, t...

Overtime: From Gridiron To Cheer

El Molino High School senior Azur Ingrassia had been playing football since the seventh grade when a cyst on his pituitary gland forced him to undergo surgery and miss two months of his junior year. A return to football was out of the question. Today, Ingrassia is still on the sidelines supporting the Lions, although now he does it as a member of the cheerleading team. To download the Podcast via iTunes, or to subscribe to Press Democrat podcasts, click here.

Overtime: Aimee Holland - From Tiny Orphan to Super Athlete

As a baby, Holland was found abandoned in a box on a street corner in China. After Annette and Jim Holland adopted her, she grew into a remarkable athlete first as a soccer player, and then, after a severe concussion, as a runner. And it is as a runner that Holland finds a unique way of saying thank you.

Overtime: Aimee Holland - from tiny orphan to super athlete

As a baby, Holland was found abandoned in a box on a street corner in China. After Annette and Jim Holland adopted her, she grew into a remarkable athlete first as a soccer player, and then, after a severe concussion, as a runner. And it is as a runner that Holland finds a unique way of saying thank you.

Drinking stories: Episode: 4 Hard cider (part 2)

With the apple harvest upon us in Sonoma County, we turn to the subject of hard cider in this edition of “Drinking Stories with Bill Swindell.” Our guests are Darlene Hayes, author of the book “Cider Cocktails – Another Bite of the Apple,” and Ellen Cavalli, co-owner of Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Windsor. They provide a cider 101 tutorial about the drink and its history in advance of the Gravenstein Apple Fair this weekend at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol, where local producers will be pou...

Drinking Stories: Episode 3: Hard Cider ( part 1)

With the apple harvest upon us in Sonoma County, we turn to the subject of hard cider in this edition of “Drinking Stories with Bill Swindell.” Our guests are Darlene Hayes, author of the book “Cider Cocktails – Another Bite of the Apple,” and Ellen Cavalli, co-owner of Tilted Shed Ciderworks in Windsor. They provide a cider 101 tutorial about the drink and its history in advance of the Gravenstein Apple Fair this weekend at Ragle Ranch Park in Sebastopol, where local producers will be pou...

Drinking Stories: Episode 3: Amelia Ceja

Wine business reporter Bill Swindell interviews Amelia Moran Ceja, President of Ceja vineyards, about her impressive journey from growing up on a farm in Mexico, working in the vineyards as a 12 year-old in Napa  to becoming  the first woman Mexican-American Vineyard President in the country.

Drinking Stories, Episode 2

Press Democrat Staff Writer Bill Swindell catches up with the people who run Hill Farmstead, Toppling Goliath, de Garde Brewing and Moonlight Brewing to get their thoughts on what to expect next in a craft beer industry that's seen a tremendous amount of growth and change.

Drinking Stories, Episode 1

Bill Swindell interviews Kevin Sea of Santa Rosa Junior College about yeast, and the important role it plays in making that sauvignon blanc taste like passion fruit.

Overtime with Kerry Benefield

Prep sports columnist and Sonoma County native Kerry Benefield takes you inside, outside and upside prep sports and elsewhere in this twice-monthly Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcast. Put in some Overtime. In this episode, Benefield takes on a serious subject: concussions. She explores what they are and whether the rules governing heading the ball in soccer should have been revised.

Overtime: Brained

Prep sports columnist and Sonoma County native Kerry Benefield takes you inside, outside and upside prep sports and elsewhere in this twice-monthly Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcast. Put in some Overtime. In this episode, Benefield explores concussions in the beautiful game. She talks with experts, parents and coaches about what concussions are and whether new rules go too far.

Storybytes: "The Boom"

A Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcast about the life and communities of California's North Bay region, and the friends, neighbors and strangers we live with. This episode spends a morning at Lita's Cafe, a popular, old fashioned Santa Rosa diner.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcasts

Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcasts bring you into the life, times and many communities of California's North Bay region.

Overtime with Kerry Benefield: What knife?

Prep sports columnist and Sonoma County native Kerry Benefield takes you inside, outside and upside prep sports and elsewhere in this twice-monthly Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcast. Put in some Overtime. In this episode, Benefield asks how three of the best high school cross country in the North Bay keep going, and going and going.

Storybytes: Fifty Years

A Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcast about the life and communities of California's North Bay region, and the friends, neighbors and strangers we live with. This episode follows a woman living out a dream she's held onto for 37 years.

Overtime with Kerry Benefield. Welcome to the Time Machine

Prep sports columnist and Sonoma County native Kerry Benefield takes you inside, outside and upside prep sports and elsewhere in this twice-monthly Santa Rosa Press Democrat podcast. Put in some Overtime. In this episode, Benefield has an encounter with a baseball player she idolized as a child.