Restart at Any Age!

Today we’re joined by Marcia Sivek, a passionate advocate for cheetah conservation with the Cheetah Conservation Fund. Pivoting from her experience at the time. the journey began in 2017 when she met Dr. Laurie Marker at the Wildlife Conservation Network Expo — a meeting that led her all the way to Namibia as a working guest at CCF’s conservation center.

Retired — or thinking about what’s next?

In this episode, Marcia Sivek shares ...

Go Ahead and Tell Me!

Join us for an inspiring conversation with Tenzin Chogkyi — meditation teacher, compassion trainer, and longtime community educator — as we explore how it’s never too late to live with purpose, get involved, and make a meaningful difference.

Drawing from decades of Buddhist practice, modern psychology, and hands-on service work — from international teaching to prison programs and local volunteer efforts — Tenz...

On Go Ahead and Tell Me, host Susan Douglas explores how later chapters of life can become a time of reinvention, creativity, and purpose.

This week, she talks with Dr. Deborah Bronstein and Lesley Harris of the Santa Cruz Symphony about leadership, inspiration, and the Symphony’s exciting upcoming season — including Amadeus with Charles Pasternak — and their decades-long commitment to music education.

Tune in for a conversation ab...

What happens when two artists are shaped by Africa—and connected by a coastal town in California?

On this episode of Go Ahead and Tell ME!, host Susan Douglas brings together Mary Collis, a Kenyan abstract painter and child of Africa, and Michelle McClune, a Santa Cruz local whose journey from veterinary science to wildlife art was deeply shaped by Kenya.

They talk about art as expression and advocacy, conservation and community, ...

The Artistic Director of Santa Cruz Shakespeare returns to talk about what’s ahead — including plans for 2026 — and for the first time ever, he shares a special plan out loud that’s never been announced before . 

 Listen now and join the excitement!

#GoAheadAndTellMe #SantaCruzShakespeare #CharlesPasternak #TheatreTalk #ExclusiveR...

This episode we sit down with Joe & Gayle Ortiz, the husband-and-wife team behind the iconic Gayle’s Bakery & Rosticceria in Capitola. For more than 45 years, they’ve filled our community with incredible food, unforgettable pastries, and the kind of warmth that keeps people coming back generation after generation.

In this episode, we talk about:  How Gayle’s began in a tiny 800-sq-ft space  Their commitment to everything sc...

From blockbuster films like Zodiac, Transformers, and The Pursuit of Happyness to the hit TV series Brooklyn 99, Ryan “RJ” Allen and David Mong have seen it all.

Now, these two industry veterans are bringing their decades of on-set experience to the coast of Santa Cruz — as the founders of HWY 17 Studios, a state-of-the-art production facility offering three fully customizable stages for film, events, and creative experiences.In th...

In this episode we have the extraordinary pleasure of speaking with Tam and Susan O'Conner Fraser,  You may know  them as Santa Cruz Voice hosts for " Think Local First” they are a dynamic duo whose lives have been anything but ordinary. From Tam’s childhood traveling with the circus in Kansas City, Missouri, to Susan’s grounded upbringing in Pittsburg, California, their paths converged in high school on the set of a school musical...

Have you ever felt a song move through you — not as performance, but as prayer? In this week’s episode of Song as Medicine, we sit in circle with the luminous Heather Houston, singer, composer, and founder of Sisters in Harmony.

Together we explore how song becomes healing, how harmony weaves community, and how the voice itself can open the heart’s doorway. 💫

 Heather shares:  The moment she realized the voice could be medicine Th...

What happens when you mix Puccini with a pint? You get Opera on Tap!

 Lori Schulman and Jordan Best, the powerhouse duo behind the Santa Cruz Opera Project — the company that’s redefining what opera looks (and sounds!) like on the Central Coast.

Hear how a 3-hour parking-lot conversation turned into a thriving company, why they believe opera is for everyone, and how their latest project is bringing arias to breweries — and joy to n...

Get ready for a powerhouse conversation with two of Santa Cruz’s most iconic entertainers — John Michael, the dynamic frontman and vocal impressionist behind The John Michael Band, and Otis Coen, the multi-talented musician known for his soulful blend of rock, Motown, and blues.

With careers that span decades, both artists have lit up stages across California and beyond — sharing the spotlight with legends, building loyal following...

Two award-winning sommeliers, John Haffey and Ryan Cooley, traded Michelin stars for ocean air and opened Vin Vivant — Capitola’s newest wine bar where world-class bottles meet coastal ease.

In this 54-minute interview, we dive into their journey from the precision of Aubergine to the freedom of building their own vision — a place where wine feels alive, not intimidating. Expect stories of risk, craft, community, and a few unexpect...

We had the honor of welcoming Christy Licker, founder of Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift Shop in Aptos, to the show.

Caroline’s was created in memory of Christy’s daughter and has since become a beacon of generosity, raising millions for local nonprofits that support children and families in need. 💙

 You can support Caroline’s mission by shopping secondhand, donating gently used items, or volunteering your time at the shop. Together, ...

What do barrel racing, triathlons, international nursing, professional theatre in Kenya, writing groundbreaking books, winning national basketball titles at the Senior Games, and stand-up comedy have in common?

They’re all chapters in the extraordinary life of our next guest.

From working with the Indian Health Service in Oklahoma to coaching basketball in Pakistan, acting on stage in Kenya, writing about Third Culture Kids in Bost...

In this episode of Go Ahead and Tell Me we’re joined by Elizabeth Borelli — author, coach, and wellness guide who inspires people to eat well and live joyfully.

Elizabeth’s first book, Beanalicious Living, showed us how simple plant-based foods can transform our health. Her newest release, Tastes Like la Dolce Vita, takes us on a journey into the Mediterranean lifestyle — filled with flavor, mindfulness, and a fresh perspective on ...

In this episode of Go Ahead and Tell Me, we sit down with two inspiring women—Susan Lovegren and Theresa Salzburg—who are each creating community and connection in unique ways. Susan, the dynamic leader of a local Meetup group, shares her journey of bringing people together and fostering spaces where authentic conversations and meaningful relationships can flourish. Theresa, an artist, healer, and educator, opens up about the trans...

In this extraordinary episode, we sit down with a remarkable 100-year-old native French woman  whose life reads like a gripping novel of resilience, courage, and unexpected love. Born Jewish in wartime France, she escaped the horrors of Nazi occupation, surviving against impossible odds. During the war, she worked with the Free French forces under General Charles de Gaulle,  After the liberation, fate led her across the Atlantic—wh...