We Are One Marin Podcast

S1 | E26:  In our final episode of Season 1, we continue inviting you, the listener, deeper into our process. 

Today, you will hear our conversation with Ogi Teker, 4th generation owner of Istanbul Rug - and you'll hear it from start to finish, literally, as we hit the record button right when Ogi arrives. 

Ogi and his father Esref opened their San Rafael store in 2019 right on 4th Street.  Now, one of three locations in the Bay Ar...

S1 | E25:  You just heard strong words from KPIX-TV sports broadcaster, Vern Glenn, from a recent story he did about the Play Marin program and its creator, Paul Austin.  We talked to Paul a few episodes ago about the success he has had teaching life lessons to kids of all colors through sports. 

Back to Vern, you may know him from his current 11 year run at KPIX or previously as "Mr. Involvement", during his 22 years at KRON.  Ver...

S1 | E24:  Welcome to our last drop of Season 1!

Today, Kalina and I turned on the mics a little early, so you can join us in the room where it happens with Anil and Nidhi Dhir.  We are keeping it in the family today, father-and-daughter owners of Jolly King Liquors in Mill Valley.  

Guests:  Anil and Nidhi Dhir, Jolly King Liquors

www.yelp.com/biz/jolly-king-liquors-mill-valley

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S1 | E23:  MCYC is the Marin County Youth Commission, founded in 1969 to act as a political voice for young people.  Today we sit down with the Commission's coordinator, Samantha Ramirez, who has dedicated her career so far to the San Rafael schools, where she was once a student.  This year, she was recognized for her efforts with a special honor.  Stay tuned as Kalina and I get schooled on how Marin works.  

Guests:  Samantha Rami...

S1 | E22:  What do a pickup truck, a Valentines Day dance and an auto body shop have in common?  You'll have to meet the Llamas family to find out.  And what's funny is everyone in their auto body business has a different answer.   But, whatever the family stories are, one thing they all agree on is how the parts fit together, at home and at work - it starts with a strong foundation.  Join us for a conversation with a father-daught...

S1 | E21:  Those were my comments from before we began our interview with the three nurses who own AidLife Home Care in San Rafael.  We don't usually start our episodes with me talking, but that "getting to know you" chat was a good example of the personal stories and experiences many of us have with caring for our relatives.  We learned as we spent more time with Patricia Ursua, Jocelyn Cruz and Kenneth Liggayu that ...

S1 | E20:  You just heard from one of the owners at F45 Training in San Rafael, who is no stranger to community.  Together with his husband, not only are they building community here in Marin, they had to build it after a move from the East Coast, after two dramatic career changes and perhaps, most notably, after years of struggle to join the community of married couples.  We will talk about it all and laugh too as Kalina and I wor...

S1 | E19:  Work experience can be hard to come by for high school kids.  Juggling school and the possibility of college is overwhelming enough, but how do you figure out what you might want to do or what you might be interested in?  Or, if college is right for you at all?  The Marin County Office of Education has a program for that.  Keisha Fuller's job there is match maker, matching interns with intern hosts.  Turns out her own li...

S1 | E18:  Picture yourself for a moment, in the heart of Marin County - San Rafael, California.  A town with many distinct neighborhoods, East San Rafael is home to the Canal neighborhood.  It's one that marries cultural diversity and economic vitality.  There are a few industrial districts there, and today Kalina and I find ourselves in a former Star Wars warehouse, seated between a life-size, cardboard C3PO and several crates of...

S1 | E17:  Stinson Beach has been called the most southern California of Marin's beach towns.  In a town of 541 people, where there are three real estate agencies, two restaurants, one grocery store and about 150 rental houses, there is only one residential cleaning business - that's Good & Clean.

Stinson Beach is separated from the rest of the County by a steep, windy, two-lane highway.  Along the drive there, you may see a few wh...

S1 | E16:  Alegre Home Care is a safe place for everyone, including it's LGBT clients and staff.  Founder and CEO, Charles Symes, started Alegre from a small apartment in San Francisco's Castro District by following his personal mission to be of service.  His company now serves people in nine office throughout the greater Bay Area, and they do it thoughtfully.  As a gay man starting his own business, Charles wanted other LGBT mento...

S1 | E15:  In our continuing celebration of Marin City's 80th, we made a visit to MC Arts & Culture, where we learned that the "MC" stands for many things.  It can be Marin County, Marin City or, in the more traditional sense, Master of Ceremonies, which is where Oshalla Diana Marcus comes in.  As you will hear, she wears the title MC very well. 

She is of the world, but always circles back to her MC, Marin City, where the gallery ...

S1 | E14:  Today's guest practically needs no introduction.  She's lived and worked in Marin City for more than thirty years.  She's both a youth advocate and these days, she's becoming an historian.  Felecia Gaston is the Director of Performing Stars Marin, an arts enrichment program with a mission to combat the isolation of Marin City's children.

Stay tuned for the second episode in our three-part special this month, where Feleci...

S1 | E13:  Paul Austin has heard this refrain from many parents as the founder and head coach of Play Marin in Marin City.  It's one of the reasons his program grew from one basketball team of nine players to twelve separate teams full of kids from his neighborhood and all over the County.  When we met, he led us in some drills, not only on diversity and inclusion, but we also talked about his coaching philosophy and how the lesson...

S1 | E11:  We made an appointment with Bishlam Bullock at Salon B in San Rafael for this episode and haircuts were just the beginning of the conversation.  We spoke to him about his hairstyling history, his business history, his personal history and what he learned along the way.  Colorist, stylist, specialist - or is the specialty something else entirely?  The answer may surprise you, so stay tuned for a look in the mirror at Salo...

S1 | E10:  Happy customers are the key to any business, but Sergio Vergara isn't a weather man.  Together with his wife, Susy, he owns the Stinson Beach Market, where they sell just about everything - except sunshine.  We spoke to him about the special sauce they provide at their West Marin grocery store and how the allure of this beach town drew them from their native Peru in the first place. 

A visit to West Marin also gives us a...

S1 | E9:  This is Frank Gomez, owner of Wink Optics in San Anselmo.  When Kalina and I sat down with him, he went to the heart of the We Are One Marin campaign's mission - how do we promote social equity in business and in community right here in this County?  From his childhood in one of Sacramento's poor neighborhoods to his early career in the emerging rave culture, Frank has made the most of his opportunities.  Even after he st...