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Issues and Ideas features a wide variety of people sharing their thoughts and perspectives about local issues, initiatives and happenings on the Central Coast. You might hear a policy maker discussing new regulation, an artist sharing their creative process, an entrepreneur exploring sustainable business practices, or an author talking about her latest book.Our regular segments include: "Wine Country" with wine journalist and author Mira Honeycutt; literary conversations on "Bookwaves" with former librarian Brian Reynolds; "Playing With Food" with culinary enthusiast Fr. Ian Delinger; stories of Central Coast downtowns on "Talking Downtown" with Carol Tangeman; Dr. Consuelo Meux's "The Nonprofit Story" that covers the work nonprofits are doing on the Central Coast, and "People and the Planet" with Gianna Patchen, who explores the interconnection between our communities and our environment.The show also carries occasional episodes from "Journeys of Discovery" by KCBX travel correspondent Tom Wilmer; features from the KCBX Newsroom, from KCSB, the student-run radio station at UC Santa Barbara, and from The California Report; along with interviews by other occasional contributors from our Central Coast community.

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Check latest episodes from Issues & Ideas podcast

From food insecurity to abundant tables

2026/03/18

On today’s program, we hear from the new head of a local group that works to address food insecurity on the Central Coast… Wine Country producer Mira Honeycutt sits down with Alma Rosa Winery's Samra Morris to talk about winemaking on the Central Coast... and Father Ian takes listeners to a stunning fruit ranch and wedding venue for a look at seasonal pears in his segment, Playing with Food.

The power of choral music, Author Chris Blake, and a Zero Foodprint program

2025/11/26

This week, we explore how music, storytelling, and environmental leadership are bringing our communities together. First, we’ll hear from the Master Chorale’s Outreach Committee about the power of choral music to connect people and inspire participation. Next, local author Chris Blake shares his journey of searching for meaning and connection in his new book, Searching for a God to Love. And finally, we’ll talk with leaders from Cal Poly’s Initiative for Climate Leadership and Resilience about their work to support regenerative agriculture and climate solutions through the Zero Foodprint program.

Independent bookstores and wine from Cambria

2025/11/22

Brian Reynolds chats with Carroll Leslie, owner of Volumes of Pleasure, about the rich history of the independent bookstore that has been serving Los Osos for over 50 years. Then, for Wine Country, Mira Honeycutt visits with vintner Rajat Parr at his Parr Collective winery in Cambria.

Diablo Canyon, Morro Bay Bird Festival and the SLO Food Bank

2025/11/03

Gianna Patchen is back with People and the Planet. This week she speaks with Kara Woodruff, a member of the Diablo Canyon decommissioning panel and the policy advisor to Senator John Laird.Then Carol Tangeman meets with Bob Revel of the Morro Bay Bird Festival.And our news correspondent, Natalia Young, talks with the SLO County Food Bank about the recent government shutdowns and how the food bank is preparing for people's needs.

Horror flicks, the magical world of legumes, and happy animals

2025/10/28

Halloween’s around the corner, and things are getting spooky at the SLO Film Center. David McAbee talks with Skye McLennan about what’s creeping onto the screen at The Palm Theater, just in time for Halloween.Then, Father Ian’s back with Playing with Food. This week, he’s going nuts for beans as he learns about legumes.And finally, David McAbee speaks with Melisa Beveridge of Woolleybear Travels, whose animal paintings are making a difference one sanctuary at a time.

Film, community libraries, and the power of teaching people to read

2025/10/21

David McAbee sits down with Carlos and Kyle Plummer of the SLO Film Society. With the Film Expo coming up in November and a fundraising night at The Bay Theater, they’ve got a lot happening, both on screen and behind the scenes.Then, Dr. Consuelo Meux is back with The Nonprofit Story. This week, it’s all things library as she talks with Juliane McAdam, President of the SLO Library Foundation, and County Library Director Christopher Barnicle.And we’ll close with Michelle Haddad from The Literacy Connection, who’s helping students and tutors build stronger futures, one page at a time.

Secret cinemas, marine protection & an author's local family history.

2025/10/17

David McAbee sits with Bob Whiteford, one of the owners of Insomniac Video, to talk about the rise, and eventual fall, of the beloved video store and how he’s now teaming up with The Palm Theatre to bring back a little movie magic through Insomniac Secret Cinema.Then, Gianna Patchen returns with another edition of People and the Planet. She speaks with Sandy Alesworth and Steph Wald about the Point Sal Marine Protection Program.And finally, Brian Reynolds talks with author and entrepreneur Mike Miner about his new book Heroes, Rogues, and Wisdom: A 20th Century American Family History.

Arts, advocacy, and a little wine country flair

2025/10/08

David McAbee sits down with Jordan Chesnut, executive director of the SLO County Arts Council, to talk about National Arts and Humanities Month. She also shares the data from the 2025 Arts and Culture Economic Impact Report. It’s art, passion, and data, all coming together.Then Rosie Boultman has a conversation with Christina Dawson from SLO County UndocuSupport, sharing how they’re helping longtime, local undocumented workers and families.And finally, Mira Honeycutt returns with another edition of Wine Country. She chats with Matt Kleefisch of The Ava Hotel in Paso Robles about what drew The Ava to Paso’s lush, inviting landscape.

Permaculture, climate solutions, and fresh ideas for a sustainable future

2025/09/30

Father Ian plays with permaculture. Gianna Patchen speaks with the SLO Climate Coalition about local climate solutions and how you can save money by electrifying your home. Author Tom Bowman talks about his new book, "What if Solving the Climate Crisis is Simple?"

KCBX 50th Anniversary Special

2025/09/26

This week on Issues and Ideas, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of KCBX. Hear from the Waddell Family, KCBX leaders Frank Lanzone Jr. and Chris McBride, journalist Ailsa Chang, and Linnaea, the beloved longtime café owner on the Central Coast.

All Things Writing and Creativity

2025/09/17

It's all things writing and creativity on Issues and Ideas. First we sit down with Meagan Friberg of The Central Coast Writers Conference. Then, we speak with author and poet, Luke Johnson. Finally, how about wine and movies under the stars with The Paso Picture Show?

Tom Wilmer takes us up and down SLO county to find delicious food, fine wine and boutique hotels

2025/09/10

Tom Wilmer explores where you can find some of the best food, hotels and wine on the Central Coast.

Chilled red wines, Cal Poly cats, and two poets laureate

2025/09/06

Wine Country's Mira Honeycutt explores the fascinating world of chillable reds. Then Celeste Geary's guests from the Cal Poly Cat Program share unexpected insights about cat adoption and finding a good, furry match. Lastly, we'll revisit a favorite conversation from January 2025 when San Luis Obispo County Poet Laureate Caleb Nichols interviewed California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick.

Showers for the unhoused, Greek wines in Paso, and a local protest against Chevron for its ties to Israel

2025/08/18

We start this episode with The Nonprofit Story with Dr. Consuelo Meux, where she speaks with Garry Peterson from the nonprofit Shower the People about the impact that showers have on the lives of the homeless community on the Central Coast. Then, for Wine Country, journalist and author Mira Honeycutt talks to James and Manoli Boutzoukas of Boutz Cellars about Greek wines and the importance of heritage. And, last, we have KCSB News Director Rosie Bultman speaking with Carolyn Krueger from the Central Coast Anti-War Coalition about a weekly picket calling on people to boycott Chevron in San Luis Obispo.

Fr. Ian finds out why Spirulina is the future, poet Dian Sousa talks about why she is lovingly afraid of the sea, and composer and winemaker Brook Monroe demonstrates how he turns wine into music

2025/07/28

For Playing with Food, KCBX's Fr. Ian Delinger travels to southern San Luis Obispo County to talk to algae farmers and find out how one particular algae—Spirulina—is made, and why it is considered a complete health food. Then, KCBX's Meher Ali is in conversation with poet and activist Dian Sousa about poetry, the necessity of work, her immigrant parents and their love of the sea, on The Lonely Goat Cafe. Last, reporter Benjamin Purper walks with Brook Monroe, musician and winemaker, in the vineyard that he manages on the Central Coast, where the latter shows him how he incorporates winemaking into his compositions. Purper's story has been sourced from KQED's The California Report.