It’s the end-of-year staff podcast party and everyone grabbed a mic.
This two-part takeover features quick hits, big wins, and bold previews of what’s coming in 2026.

Host, Gerardo Diaz, fills us in with highlights from the culinary department (yes, food talk is mandatory) and host, Molly Spencer, serves a side of Trashion Fashion runway and sustainability highlights. Cat Smith from marketing drops the scoop on Pride 2026 and upcoming smaller shows. Ceramics Director, Meg Billingham brings the heart and gives us the first look at the 2026 Sonoma ceramics residency artists. Norine reflects on surviving—and thriving—her first year at the community center and what she’s excited for next.

It’s the end-of-year staff podcast party and everyone grabbed a mic.
This two-part takeover features quick hits, big wins, and bold previews of what’s coming in 2026.

Host, Gerardo Diaz, fills us in with highlights from the culinary department (yes, food talk is mandatory) and host, Molly Spencer, serves a side of Trashion Fashion runway and sustainability highlights. Cat Smith from marketing drops the scoop on Pride 2026 and upcoming smaller shows. Ceramics Director, Meg Billingham brings the heart and gives us the first look at the 2026 Sonoma ceramics residency artists. Norine reflects on surviving—and thriving—her first year at the community center and what she’s excited for next.

Join us for the wild ride and electric chat with Rubén Valtierra, the award winning keyboardist who is best known for his thirty plus collaboration with the legendary "Weird Al" Yankovic .

From their serendipitous meeting at the Dr. Demento 20th Anniversary special in '91 to sharing the stage with icons like Stevie Wonder and the Red Hot Chili Peppers to being animated in The Simpsons, Rubén's story is bursting at the seams with energy and vitality.

Now a proud resident of Sonoma, Rubén, along with his wife Ladonna , is transforming The Speakeasy
(Sonomaspeakeasy.com) into a hotspot for world-class music and entertainment.
Tune in and be inspired with Rubén's lust for life and music.

From punk shows in San Jose, living in New York, cranberry farming to hand-dug Ozark clay, Melissa Weiss has built a bi-coastal, big-hearted practice rooted in resilience and resistance. The hurricane Helene flood took out her Asheville studio, but she keeps creating—on the road, in residences, and from 75 wild Arkansas acres she and her husband dig clay from each year. Influenced by ancient forms, folk art, and animals, Melissa’s work is as much about people as pots—whether teaching across the country or founding Potters for Palestine.

Hosted by Molly Spencer and guest co-host, Sonoma Ceramics Director, Meg Billingham.

Molly Spencer and guest co-host, Cat Smith, sit down with Libby Oberlin—an award-winning Bay Area actor, stage director, and educator whose passion for the stage began at just six years old. From her start as a kid reporter in Springfield, Massachusetts to a rich career spanning Shakespearean powerhouses, opera divas, and comedic clowns, Libby has done it all.

We dive into her impressive journey through companies like We Players, Shotgun Players, The Mountain Play, and more, including her celebrated turn as Maria Callas. But at the heart of this conversation is her upcoming role as the one and only Janis Joplin in A Night with Janis at Sonoma Arts Live Theater—a show that promises powerhouse vocals, raw emotion, and Libby’s signature fearless energy.

Fun, witty, and deeply passionate about her hometown of Sonoma, Libby shares the joys, challenges, and inspirations that have shaped her as an artist.

Step into the world where horses heal and community thrives. This week, we’re talking with Becca Knopf, the dynamic program manager behind the magic at Square Peg Foundation Sonoma —a nonprofit that’s redefining what belonging looks like.

From retired racehorses to neurodivergent youth and adults, Square Peg creates a space where every story matters (tails included).

Becca opens up about her roots, her personal journey of growth, and becoming a part of Square Peg, the organization’s celebrates being part of the new documentary Rescued Hearts, which beautifully captures the life-changing bond between humans and horses. Gallop along with us and discover the beatiful story of Square Peg Foundation .

In this episode, we catch up with Spencer DeSylva, Sonoma’s own Trashion Icon, who once globe-trotted through the fashion capitals of London and Manchester, earned a degree in Fashion Marketing, and landed a job with, yes- the Philip Treacy. Between a pandemic and Brexit, Spencer found themselves returning to the States wondering what was next.

Enter Trashion Fashion Sonoma. From outreach, education, social media, taking the runway by storm and holding a year-long artist residency that’s chock full of entertaining, dazzling and informative YouTube videos.

Every Trashion season, Spencer is a part of Trashion and divides their time with their business' Vignette du Vin, creating fashion illustrations using wine as the medium and also being an integral part of Professionals with Pride, Sonoma County's first LGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce.

We talk about using trash as the fashion medium, the dangers of consumerism and what it takes to live an unapologetically extravagant life in the arts. And trust us—reading about Spencer is one thing, but hearing them? That’s a runway moment of its own.Come for the couture, stay for the charisma. Spencer DeSylva is the moment.

This week on the pod, we sat down with a true community legend: Manuel Merjil, a connector of many and all-around cultural spark plug. Born and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, forged in San Francisco, and bloomed in Sonoma Valley, Manuel’s journey is anything but ordinary. From teaching citizenship classes, part founder of three magazines, and building community bridges for the latino, LGBTQ, theater and art communities - his story is a vivid mural of resilience, joy, and pure corazón.

We’ll talk about his upcoming honor at the 2025 Sonoma Community Center Muse Gala celebrating opportunity, unity and community. Tune in for a love story, inspiration and a true humanitarian who believes in the power of positivity.