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bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

Episodes

42. Basura Bash: River Aid takes the lead in San Antonio’s annual anti-litter cleanup
Feb. 5, 2024

42. Basura Bash: River Aid takes the lead in San Antonio’s annual ant…

This week’s guest is Charles Blank, co-founder of the local nonprofit River Aid San Antonio (RASA), the volunteer organization that leads monthly cleanups of litter and dumped materials that perpetually clog and deface San Antonio’s watershed, its...

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41. A Conversation with Juan Tejeda
Jan. 29, 2024

41. A Conversation with Juan Tejeda

On this episode of bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard, Bob is joined by Nicholas Frank, senior arts reporter for the San Antonio Report. as they speak with Juan Tejeda, founder of the San Antonio Conjunto Festival. He has published a family memoir...

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40. Laura Terrill - President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas Protecting Women’s Health and Reproductive Rights
Jan. 22, 2024

40. Laura Terrill - President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Tex…

This week’s guest is Laura Terrill, President and CEO of Planned Parenthood South Texas, a position she assumed last year following the retirement of longtime CEO Jeffrey Hons. Laura joined Planned Parenthood in 2012 as executive director of Planned...

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39. Carlos Contreras: How Goodwill San Antonio is Fighting Poverty throughout South Texas
Jan. 15, 2024

39. Carlos Contreras: How Goodwill San Antonio is Fighting Poverty th…

This week on the bigcitysmalltown podcast, host Bob Rivard welcomes Carlos Contreras, CEO and President of Goodwill Industries in San Antonio. As Carlos shares insights about San Antonio’s economic challenges—with nearly half its population...

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38. Rene Dominguez, TRTF/Velocity TX CEO, Envisions Ambitious Expansion on the Near-East Side in 2024
Jan. 8, 2024

38. Rene Dominguez, TRTF/Velocity TX CEO, Envisions Ambitious Expansi…

The setting is Velocity TX, once a cold storage complex now reimagined by Rene Dominguez and his team at the Texas Research and Technology Foundation (TRTF). They're igniting growth in the city's near East side with a focus on bioscience and...

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37. 23 and me: the year in review and a look ahead to 2024
Dec. 25, 2023

37. 23 and me: the year in review and a look ahead to 2024

bigcitysmalltown will return on January 8th, 2024 with a brand new episode. We extend heartfelt thanks to Graham Weston and his company Western Urban, alongside Geekdom for their unwavering support throughout the year. Our journey has been enriched by...

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36. Uvalde native Fr. Eddy Morales: honored by the US Surgeon General for his extraordinary service to community after the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting.
Dec. 18, 2023

36. Uvalde native Fr. Eddy Morales: honored by the US Surgeon General…

On this episode of bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard welcomes Fr. Eddy Morales. On May 24th, 2022, Uvalde was shaken by Texas' deadliest school shooting at Robb Elementary School - 19 students and two teachers perished. In grief's shadow, Father Eddy...

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35. Centro San Antonio Envisions Downtown Revival with Trish DeBerry
Dec. 11, 2023

35. Centro San Antonio Envisions Downtown Revival with Trish DeBerry

In this episode, host Bob Rivard converses with special guest Trish DeBerry, CEO and President of Centro San Antonio. They discuss the evolution and revitalization of downtown San Antonio, its challenges amid corporate departures and COVID-19 impacts,...

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34. Shaping San Antonio's Future: UP Partnership's Dr. Ryan Lugalia-Hollon on SA Higher Education Initative
Dec. 4, 2023

34. Shaping San Antonio's Future: UP Partnership's Dr. Ryan Lugalia-H…

In this episode of bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard welcomes  Dr. Ryan Lugalia-Hollon - CEO of UP Partnership, a non-profit education advocacy organization in San Antonio. Lugalia-Hollon shares his journey from Chicago to San Antonio, his family...

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33. Rebuilding Lives Beyond Bars: The FREED Project's Impact in San Antonio with Bria Woods & Iris Dimmick
Nov. 27, 2023

33. Rebuilding Lives Beyond Bars: The FREED Project's Impact in San A…

Here's a brief show note for the "Big City Small Town" podcast episode: This week's episode of  bigcitysmall town" dives into the impactful work of Bria Woods and Iris Dimmick, who collaborated on the FREED project, highlighting the challenges...

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32. Beto Altamirano's Journey from Life on the Border to Startup Co-Founder and the Call for Public Service
Nov. 13, 2023

32. Beto Altamirano's Journey from Life on the Border to Startup Co-F…

In this episode with , host Bob Rivard welcomes Beto Altamirano, a renowned innovator and entrepreneur hailing from San Antonio, South Texas. Altamirano, widely recognized for his influential role in tech and civic engagement, shares his...

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31. Artful Transformations: Revitalizing San Antonio's Cultural Landscape with Emily Neff, Kelso Director at San Antonio Museum of Art
Nov. 6, 2023

31. Artful Transformations: Revitalizing San Antonio's Cultural Lands…

In this episode of bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard, the conversation delves into the fascinating world of art, culture, and city revitalization with our special guest, Emily Neff, the Kelso director at the San Antonio Museum of Art. Emily's extensive...

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30. San Antonio's Growth and Economic Prospects with Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, CEO and President of greater: SATX
Oct. 30, 2023

30. San Antonio's Growth and Economic Prospects with Jenna Saucedo-He…

On this episode of bigcitysmall town with Bob Rivard, Bob welcomes Jenna Saucedo-Herrera, the leader of the Greater San Antonio Economic Development Foundation.    Jenna Saucedo-Herrera is the CEO and president of greater: SATX, a...

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29. Henry Cisnero's Vision of San Antonio is One of Unprecedented Economic Growth
Oct. 23, 2023

29. Henry Cisnero's Vision of San Antonio is One of Unprecedented Eco…

On this epsode ofbigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard, my guest Henry Cisneros shares the remarkable economic growth and transformation happening in San Antonio, driven by diverse industries and fueled by favorable factors like tax...

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28. Crafting Change: Creating Southside Craft Soda and Organizing Social Progress wiith Andrew Anguiano
Oct. 16, 2023

28. Crafting Change: Creating Southside Craft Soda and Organizing Soc…

Andrew Anguiano is this week's guest on Bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard. He is the founder of Southside Craft Soda and the founding executive director of Southside First Economic Development Council. With a background in craft beer and marketing,...

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27. The Legacy of Mariachi in San Antonio Culture: A Conversation with Michael Acevedo, Director of Mariachi Los Paisanos
Oct. 9, 2023

27. The Legacy of Mariachi in San Antonio Culture: A Conversation wit…

This week’s guest on bigcitysmalltown is Michael Acevedo, an educator, musician and associate professor in UTSA’s School of Music. Of particular interest is Michael’s work as director of Mariachi Los Paisanos. Anyone who has attended a home game...

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26. Preserving the Essence of San Antonio Through Photography: A Conversation with Al Rendon
Sept. 25, 2023

26. Preserving the Essence of San Antonio Through Photography: A Conv…

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard welcomes acclaimed San Antonio photographer Al Rendon, whose 50-year career documenting Latino life and culture is celebrated in a one-person exhibition at the Witte Museum that opened Sept. 2 and...

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24. Andrés Andujar and Hemisfair's Civic Park
Sept. 11, 2023

24. Andrés Andujar and Hemisfair's Civic Park

This week’s guest is Andrés Andujar, CEO of the Hemisfair Park Area Redevelopment Corporation, commonly known as HPARC, a position he has held since 2011. Andujar, an architectural engineer, is the driving force behind the community vision for the...

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23. Managing the Cost of Higher Education With UIW’s Cristen Alicea and UTSA’s Erika Cox
Sept. 4, 2023

23. Managing the Cost of Higher Education With UIW’s Cristen Alicea a…

In this episode of big city small town with Bob Rivard, Cristen Alicea, and Erica Cox discuss the range of higher education options available, such as trade schools, two-year colleges, and private universities. They also discussed the Alamo Promise...

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22. Virtual Dreams to Real Life Achievement: Alberto Piña's Visionary Approach to Affordable Housing
Aug. 28, 2023

22. Virtual Dreams to Real Life Achievement: Alberto Piña's Visionary…

This episode of big city small town with Bo Rivard dives deep into the visionary world of Alberto Piña, the dynamic founder, and CEO of Braustin Homes. Launched right out of Geekdom in 2017, Braustin Homes stands as the nation's premier virtual...

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21. Collaborating for Cultural Preservation: Colleen Swain on Achieving World Heritage Status
Aug. 21, 2023

21. Collaborating for Cultural Preservation: Colleen Swain on Achievi…

My guest this week is Colleen Swain, a proud native of San Antonio who has poured her heart into preserving and amplifying the city's rich history and culture. Her current role as the director of the City of San Antonio's World Heritage Office...

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20. From Geology to Sustainability: Sharing the Story of the Edwards Aquifer with Gregg Eckhardt
Aug. 14, 2023

20. From Geology to Sustainability: Sharing the Story of the Edwards …

Gregg Eckhardt, fondly titled the 'Nerd King' of South Texas water history, comes with an enviable track record. In a career spanning over three decades, he has dedicated himself to studying the unique Edwards Aquifer, contributing...

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19. The Evolving Growth and Mission for Women's Empowerment in San Antonio with the YWCA's CEO Francesca Rattray
Aug. 7, 2023

19. The Evolving Growth and Mission for Women's Empowerment in San An…

Drawing from an ocean of perseverance, Francesca Rattray, CEO of San Antonio's YWCA, shapes the narrative for women in Texas. She spearheads an organization on a mission to obliterate racism and propel women forward. Since stepping into her role in...

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