Community & Social Impact Episodes

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine one of San Antonio’s newest and most debated cultural gatherings: the Krampus Parade in King William. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Bob Crittenden, senior Scrum Manager at USAA and fou...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine dyslexia—one of the most common, yet frequently misunderstood learning challenges affecting up to one in five individuals. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Jasmin Dean, founder and CEO of...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the San Antonio Botanical Garden at a pivotal moment—its 45th anniversary year. Known as a living museum, the Garden has grown into a statewide leader in plant conservation and enviro...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s housing crisis and the challenges facing public housing as both federal support and affordability decline. Bob Rivard is joined by Michael Reyes, CEO and President of Op...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine one of the most significant recent developments in San Antonio’s advanced manufacturing and economic landscape: the arrival of JCB Texas. British construction equipment manufacturer J...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to one of San Antonio’s most significant entrepreneurial success stories: Supergoop! and its founder, Holly Thaggard. From its origins here in Texas, Supergoop! has grown i...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the critical decisions facing Bexar County voters and their impact on the future of San Antonio’s east side, the Spurs, and the Stock Show & Rodeo. Bob Rivard sits down with Bexar Cou...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of food sustainability and local agriculture at the San Antonio Food Bank—an organization best known for feeding more than 100,000 people each week, but less recognized as on...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s evolving approach to urban growth and resource management through the lens of the city’s deconstruction and circular economy initiatives. San Antonio stands out as the l...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the evolving landscape of angel investing and startup growth in San Antonio and South Texas. As the city’s early-stage innovation ecosystem matures, a new generation of founders and i...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the work of Gardopia Gardens, a San Antonio nonprofit at the intersection of public health, food access, and neighborhood safety. Founded by Stephen Lucke, Gardopia uses urban gardeni...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the intersection of community, identity, and the outdoors through the work of Black Outside, Inc. Founded and led by Alex Bailey, the San Antonio-based nonprofit is dedicated to reco...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo’s pivotal role in the city’s cultural and economic landscape and explore what may be its biggest transition yet. As plans for a new arena and sign...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, newly elected District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan joins host Cory Ames for an extended conversation about the close race that made him the youngest member of San Antonio’s City Council—and the imme...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s historic summer of flooding and the urgent questions facing the city and region. In June and July 2025, San Antonio and surrounding areas experienced two of the deadlies...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we meet Ariana Chaudhary, a San Antonio high school student and founder of Access to Specialist Knowledge (ASK), a nonprofit connecting frontline doctors in underserved regions around the world ...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the changing landscape of small business support in San Antonio through the lens of Launch SA—a city-backed resource center for entrepreneurs and business owners. Now operating under ...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we look at the evolving landscape of professional soccer in San Antonio, focusing on San Antonio FC and their role in building international connections through sport. Host Bob Rivard and Co-Hos...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine how San Antonio residents are rethinking their relationship with nature—starting in their own front yards. Guest host Cory Ames interviews Monika Maeckle, author, naturalist, and foun...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Mayor Ron Nirenberg as he prepares to leave office after serving eight years as mayor and a total of twelve years in San Antonio’s city government. Bob and Mayor Nirenberg revie...

This week on bigcitysmalltown , we examine the transformation underway at Brooks—formerly Brooks City Base—on San Antonio’s Southeast Side. Over the past decade, Brooks has shifted from a dormant military installation to a gr...

This weekend on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to San Antonio’s mayoral runoff as Bob Rivard sits down with candidate Rolando Pablos for a focused conversation on city governance, economic growth, and the future of S...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard sits down with Sarah Dingivan, outgoing CEO of the San Antonio Legal Services Association (SALSA), and Gregory Zlotnick, board member for SALSA and faculty at St. Mary’s Universi...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of the Texas Biomedical Research Institute—better known as Texas Biomed—in San Antonio’s scientific community, the rapidly changing landscape of research funding, and the cha...