Name Drop San Diego: Recent Episodes
Abby Hamblin & Kristy Totten
Name Drop San Diego is a weekly podcast from The San Diego Union-Tribune celebrating people who have shaped San Diego and been shaped by it. Join hosts Abby Hamblin and Kristy Totten each Tuesday as they get to know the people who make San Diego proud.
Sabrina Goosby's family moved to San Diego in the late 1800s and were among the first Black families to move to the area. In the spirit of giving back, Sabrina has been an advocate for foster children for more than 30 years.
Dr. Natalie Rodriguez is the associate director of the Student-Run Free Clinic, which treats underserved communities in the region. Dr. Rodriguez’s family emigrated from Cuba, and she’s a first generation college graduate that took a nonlinear path into medicine. In this interview, she talks about how her upbringing shaped her as a doctor and how she shares her story to show students there’s not just one way to reach your goals.
Jim and Carmen Beaubeaux have living in an Airstream trailer since 2016, traveling around the United States using the 4-3-2 model: Drive four hours, stop by 3 p.m. and stay for at least two weeks.
Working at his family’s swap meet, Anthony Pretto has come across some pretty great finds.
As a kid, he collected Pokemon cards and Beanie Babies; as a newlywed, he and his wife furnished their home with antiques; and most recently, he scored two 8-foot-tall nutcracker decorations to adorn his front door at Christmastime. The price tag? A steal at $100.
Deacon Jim Vargas is the president and CEO of Father Joe's Villages. In this interview he shares his path to becoming ordained, what he's learned working with people in need and where he plans to go next.
Lisette Islas is the chief impact officer at MAAC, an anti-poverty nonprofit here in San Diego. MAAC helps locals with housing, education, upward mobility and more. Lisette is a true community champion and really believes in paying it forward.
Kaci Brown is a member of the Barona band of the Kumeyaay Nation. She's an archaeologist and a community contributor at the U-T, where she’s written about lessons we can all learn from Native culture. She has an incredible life story, beginning with a milk carton ad.
Amber is a nonbinary drag queen who incorporates social justice themes and commentaries into their art.
Ari Novy is the president and CEO of the San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas. He is an expert horticulturist and a fourth generation florist.
Dr. Lisa Will is a professor of astronomy and physics at San Diego City College and she’s also the resident astronomer at the Fleet Science Center in Balboa Park. She oversees not one but two planetariums, and just generally loves everything related to space and sci-fi.
Chef Lan Thai AKA Chef Lando is the owner of the Enclave restaurant at JuneShine Ranch in Scripps Ranch, where she cooks farm-to-table Asian fusion cuisine.
Brian is an associate professor of film at San Diego State University and the artistic director of the San Diego Asian Film Festival, which basically means he gets to watch movies for a living.
Mayor Sotelo-Solis is the first ever Latina to hold her position. She’s a third generation resident of National City and a proud poli-sci graduate of UC San Diego. Plus, she has really amazing style. We’ll talk about that, as well as family, life philosophy and -- I totally wasn’t expecting this -- but zombie apocalypse escape plans.
Brit Bennett is the author of "The Vanishing Half," about twin sisters from the South who choose to live in two different worlds, one black and one white.
Lisa Easterly is the CEO of the San Diego Cyber Center of Excellence, which promotes innovation and excellence in the region's cyber community. We talked about jobs, diversity in the industry, and of course about Lisa.
Today's guest is Joaquin McWhinney, AKA Quino, the singer behind the 1994 hit "Baby I Love Your Way." His band, Big Mountain, formed in San Diego in the '80s and that song took them to the top of billboard charts and all around the world.
Cody Hooven is the COO of San Diego Community Power, which just inked a big deal with San Diego County to purchase its power. In general, she is a problem solver, champion of the environment and lover of the outdoors.
Joel is the CEO of PATH, also known as People Assisting the Homeless. He lives in downtown San Diego and over the past 25 years has grown a small Los Angeles transitional living home into a statewide operation serving more than 140 communities.
Beth Demmon is a San Diego-based freelance journalist who writes about beer and cider. She’s had a bunch of amazing bylines including Playboy, Vice, Thrillist, Eating Well and the Union-Tribune’s very own Pacific Magazine.
Maya Reddy is the founder of Queer Asian Social Club, a San Diego-based collective that promotes Asian/Pacific Islander/Southwest Asian and Desi visibility.
Shawn is a Navy veteran and the co-founder of the San Diego chapter of the Truman National Security Project. He's hyper involved in San Diego and sits on several boards including the San Diego Convention Center, and the public policy committee of the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Mitch is the San Diego chapter manager of the Surfrider Foundation, a volunteer-driven organization that protects our beaches and oceans. Under his leadership, the group advocates for clean water, beach access, limiting plastic consumption and more. Mitch himself has been mostly single-use plastic-free since 2008.
Minh writes picture books and comics and is a childhood policy expert for the federal government. He’s the award-winning author of Drawn Together, Lift, The Perfect Seat, The Green Lantern Legacy and Let Me Finish, one of NPR's best books of 2016. He recently moved to San Diego with his wife, who is from here, and their two sons.
Margaret Leinen joined UC San Diego in 2013. In addition to directing Scripps, she's been the vice chancellor and the dean of marine sciences.
Growing up in El Centro, Fernando Zweifach López Jr. never thought they'd end up as the executive director of San Diego Pride, an organization with a mission to create a world free of prejudice and bias. But looking back, the trajectory makes perfect sense.
San Diego native Bobby Rubio grew up going to Comic-Con and loving comics. Now he creates his own and works as a story artist for Pixar.
Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins is one of the most influential politicians in California, and she got her start here in San Diego. On this episode, she discusses LGBTQ rights and her own coming out story, her SB 9 housing bill and why she loves Dolly Parton.
Rafael Payare, music director for the San Diego Symphony, has conducted orchestras all over the world, but his approach always remains the same, no matter the location. "I go all in, or nothing -- completely," Payare said.
Award-winning UC San Diego composer Lei Liang was just a teenager when he participated in the now-infamous 1989 pro-democracy protests in Beijing's Tiananmen Square, but the experience still influences his life.
Shawn Walchef's efforts to make Cali Comfort BBQ a digital-first restaurant paid off during the pandemic and now he's opening up shop at the new Barrio Food Hub.
Whether you’re a new or seasoned gardener, a houseplant fanatic or just someone who wants to grow basil on your windowsill, our guest this week has wisdom to share. She’s a botanist, a sustainability activist, a garden designer and a journalist with bylines in Sunset Magazine, the LA Times, Better Homes and Gardens and more.
Tamera Kohler, CEO of the Regional Taskforce on the Homeless, somehow remains optimistic, despite all the obstacles in the way of ending homelessness in San Diego.
Jesse Agler joined the Padres organization in 2014 and became the lead broadcaster — working side by side with Tony Gwynn Jr. — this season in 2021.
Andrew Strong may just be getting started as director of San Diego County's new Office of Equity and Racial Justice, but his family has a history of fighting for racial justice.
How can classical theater better reflect modern times and more diverse audiences?That's what Jesse Perez, as director of the The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program, has in mind as he teaches and directs Master of Fine Arts (MFA) students.
Tommy "The Fishmonger" Gomes is from a San Diego commercial fishing family and is committed to making sure locals eat fish that has been caught off the West Coast, especially in San Diego.
JoAnn Fields has been a vocal leader in the new movement to stop hate and violence toward Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. But she's also been a longtime advocate in San Diego County, fighting for better recognition and representation of Filipinos and all communities of color, especially in the South Bay.
Matt de la Peña is an author of young adult, middle grade and children's book originally from National City. He's also an SDSU professor and his latest release is "Milo Imagines the World."
Our guest this week is Tina Guo. She’s a classical and electric cellist whose playing has been described as “metal cello." Her epic work has appeared in movies like “Wonderwoman,” and the upcoming "Top Gun: Maverick" as well as video games like "Call of Duty."
Californian Ron Nehring has a uniquely comprehensive view of the Republican Party over the last 20 years. He's worked in the GOP at every level, chairing the San Diego County Republican Party, chairing the California Republican Party and serving on the Republican National Committee.
He also ran for lieutenant governor of California against Gavin Newsom in 2014 and was the national 2016 presidential campaign spokesman for Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Dean Nelson is the founder of the annual Writer's Symposium by the Sea in San Diego. He reacts to the famous Prince Harry and Meghan interview, shares stories from his travels and more.
Kelly Marie Tran is an actress from San Diego who you may have seen in "Star Wars," "Sorry For Your Loss," and other tv shows and films.
Marisa Reichardt wrote "A Shot at Normal," about a teen who sues her parents for the right to be vaccinated, before the pandemic began, but now the anti-vax conversation is all the more timely.
Makeda "Dread" Cheatom is a San Diego legend. She's the founder of the WorldBeat Cultural Center at Balboa Park. She started one of San Diego's first vegetarian restaurants, The Prophet, in the 1970s. And she's a radio DJ and concert organizer who has spent time with Radiohead, No Doubt, Shaggy, Sublime and more.
Dr. Wilma Wooten is in charge of San Diego County's COVID-19 response. If you follow local pandemic news, you've definitely heard her name. In this episode, we get to know the personality behind the public figure, including her favorite reggae, the best advice she's ever received and her post-pandemic travel plans.
Art is about humanity, if you ask Roxana Velásquez, because it teaches us about ourselves and others. In this episode, the director of SDMA talks about her lifelong love of art, her curation philosophy and how she put the Balboa Park museum on an international map.
Dr. Bhutani of San Diego State University studies intermittent fasting, holiday weight gain and more.
Freshman Congressperson Sara Jacobs was only four days into the job when a mob of pro-Trump rioters broke into the Capitol. She recounts the terror in the House Chamber, why she supports impeaching President Donald Trump, Congress' plans for COVID-19 relief and more.
Dr. Fricker has one of the coolest jobs in San Diego — literally. Using satellites, she studies the ice sheets of Antarctica and Greenland and they effect they have on our climate. In this episode, she talks about what it's like to go to Antarctica, her work with NASA and more.
Dr. Eric Topol is one of the most influential physicians in the country. He has many areas of expertise, but COVID-19 wasn't one of them ... until now.
Mario Lopez was born and raised in Chula Vista prior to being cast as AC Slater on Saved by the Bell.
At 32, multi-instrumentalist Ilan Rubin is the youngest musician to ever be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He's the drummer of NIN and Angels & Airwaves with Tom DeLonge of Blink-182, and he's plays every instrument for his solo project, The New Regime.
Paola Ávila on joining Todd Gloria in the mayor's office, her career working for the San Diego Chamber of Commerce and her "guiding light."
Lee Ann Kim is a communicator. Whether it's using her own voice to deliver the news or giving voice to others through her arts nonprofit, Pacific Arts Movement.
An economist's job is different everyday, and that's exactly what appealed to Dr. Lynn Reaser, who has worked as chief economist for major banks and an adviser to the California's state controller.
As chief of resources management and science at Cabrillo National Monument, Linh Anh Cat has a lot of fun on the job. She preserves tide pools, protects native plants and even catches lizards.
Kirk K. started his blog 15 years ago to get to know San Diego. Since then, it's grown beyond a food diary into a well-loved blog, exploring the corners of San Diego's culinary scene.
Zachary Patterson started campaigning to create a student position on the San Diego Unified school board when he was in seventh grade. Just a few years later, he succeeded, and was elected by his peers to have the job.
Coach Gary Kloppenburg coached the Seattle Storm for the 2020 season, ultimately winning the WNBA Championship. He's been an assistant coach for many teams in the NBA and WNBA, but started out as a basketball player at La Jolla High School, Feather River College and UC San Diego.
Rita Fernandez is a Chula Vista native who comes from a long line of Spanish, French, Chinese and Mexican immigrants. In her role as immigrant affairs manager, she welcomes new arrivals to the city.
Dr. Gaines is the chief resident in internal medicine at UC San Diego and a senior producer for The DEI Shift, a podcast about diversity, equity and inclusion in medicine.
Michael Vu talks about his family's last-minute departure from Vietnam, how he fell into the election business and what to expect from this year's voting process.
Gerry Torres worked in Tijuana nightclubs and Italian food restaurants before finding his passion bringing inventive tacos to the people.
Dr. Davey Smith is the chief of infectious disease research at UC San Diego, and he's currently testing coronavirus treatments for the federal government. No pressure at all.
Jean Guerrero is a San Diego-based reporter and author. She writes about immigration and the cross-border experience, which led her to investigate White House adviser Stephen Miller. Her latest book is "Hatemonger: Stephen Miller, Donald Trump, and the White Nationalist Agenda."
Capretz is the environmental lawyer and policymaker behind the City of San Diego's Climate Action Plan.
Chef Brian Malarky, known for local restaurants like Herb & Wood and his latest, Animae, recently competed on "Top Chef: All Stars" in Los Angeles and is pivoting to digital dining during the pandemic.
Barney "Scout" Mann is the author of a new book called "Journeys North" about hiking along the Pacific Crest Trail. He has hiked all over the world and serves as a "trail angel" in San Diego.
Judi Sheppard Missett founded Jazzercise in 1969 and it has grown to a company with franchises all around the world. She talks about the lessons she's learned along the way and the "ah-ha" moments that lead to her success.
Generation Z is transforming America’s culture and identity. And its members are just getting started. In this new podcast, you’ll hear their hopes and their fears, who they are — and who they aren’t.
Tony Gwynn Jr. played at San Diego State University before being drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the 2003 Major League Baseball draft. He also played for the Phillies, Dodgers, and Padres before leaving his playing days behind to focus on his family and a career in broadcasting in San Diego.
Chef Claudia Sandoval is a self-taught Mexican-American chef, cookbook author and entrepreneur behind the Cochi Dorado Modern Mexican Bakery.
San Diego sports journalist Jim Trotter covered the Chargers for years before being asked to write "Junior Seau: The Life and Death of a Football Icon." Here, Trotter shares stories about his years working with Seau.
Jim Trotter has covered sports for Sport Illustrated, ESPN, NFL.com and the San Diego Union-Tribune. He wrote "Junior Seau: The Life and Death of a Football Icon," and credits Seau with teaching him to cover a pro locker room.
Not all broken records are worth celebrating. Ralph Keeling, a geochemistry professor at UC San Diego, knows this well as the man who oversees an ever-rising measure of the amount of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere.
Kenneth Barlis is a San Diego-based fashion designer who has dressed celebs such as Cardi B, Janet Jackson and Carrie Underwood. He talks about his inspiration, how being a Filipino immigrant shapes him and, of course, he shares a few fashion tips.
You've heard the slogans and the chants in one city after another, nationwide and countywide. This week, we talk to Jaelynn Kennedy, Nikki Sanchez and Amir Harrison Jr., three young activists who have led protests around San Diego County.
Shane Harris is the founder of the People's Alliance for Justice, based in San Diego. He recently visited the family of George Floyd in Minneapolis and works as a civil rights activist across the country.
Shilpi Somaya Gowda is a New York Times bestselling author based in Rancho Santa Fe. She’s written three books, “Secret Daughter,” “The Golden Son” and her latest, “The Shape of Family.” On Aug. 29, she'll be a featured author at the San Diego Festival of Book.
Davis, a UCSD professor, won the 2020 Pulitzer Prize in music for composing “The Central Park Five,” an opera about five black and Latino teenagers in New York City who were wrongly convicted after a white woman was attacked in Central Park in 1989.
The name "Rubio" will forever be synonymous with fish tacos and San Diego. On this episode, Ralph Rubio tells the story of how he brought fish tacos across the border and what he thinks the restaurant industry will look like, post coronavirus pandemic.
Ellen Ochoa is a local and graduate of San Diego State University who became an astronaut and director of the Johnson Space Center. On this episode, she talks about her early days with NASA, how she lived and worked in space, where NASA is headed next and more.
Jon Foreman is a musician, writer, surfer, philanthropist and San Diego local. In this episode, he talks about the early days of Switchfoot, how he stays creative, his favorite surf spots and more.
Name Drop San Diego is a weekly podcast from The San Diego Union-Tribune celebrating people who have shaped San Diego and been shaped by it. Join hosts Abby Hamblin and Kristy Totten each Tuesday as they get to know the people who make San Diego proud.