Santa Rosa Press Democrat Podcasts

Petaluma Argus-Courier writer David Templeton recalls his chat with comedian Tom Smothers in Santa Rosa, Sonoma County back in 1999. Hear a bit of their conversation recorded at Third Street Aleworks. 

Sonoma Index Times reporter Chase Hunter shares the story of Sonoma's Bernie Krause, a 'soundscape' engineer whose describes in vivid detail his encounter with an exotic predator. 

Santa Rosa Mayor Natalie Rogers speaks during a Black History Month event organized by Petaluma Blacks for Community Development.

Local analysis on election results in North Bay, California and national elections. Sonoma State political science professor David McCuan provides analysis on Tuesday's elections in this conversation with Press Democrat Deputy Editor Brett Wilkison and reporters Paulina Pineda and Phil Barber including a breakdown of local races of interest in Santa Rosa, Petaluma, Windsor and Rhonert Park, as well as statewide ballot issues and national trends.

Press Democrat reporters Mary Callahan and Kerry Benefield talk about the survivors' harrowing stories from the Mark West neighborhood during the Tubbs Fire in Sonoma County 2017 and how you move on from that. They talk about gaining trust as a reporter with people who have gone through the most devastating experiences. About dispatchers working through the night of the fire knowing their own homes were burning down and stories from first responders still wishing they could have done more.     

Mike Harkins stayed behind as the flames approached his Coffey Park neighborhood and everyone else evacuated. Harkins knocked on doors to make sure people were awake, and leaving. He helped his elderly neighbor, a wheelchair user, into her van. When he wasn’t hosing down his house and the houses of neighbors, Harkins was stamping out spot fires. Harkins recalls that night for The Press Democrat. 

Football season is coming down to the wire. Press Democrat sportswriters Gus Morris and Kienan O’Doherty take a look at some big results from Friday Night Lights — including a surprise in our Game of the Week — and look ahead to the second-to-last week of the regular season, with league title races very much up in the air:

100 yards with Casa Grande’s Kodi Cornelius. The Gauchos lineman talks with The Press Democrat about this week’s big rivalry game with Petaluma, the annual Egg Bowl.      

Sonoma County children who were in kindergarten when the 2017 wildfires blazed have barely known a school year without major disruptions, such as the pandemic and the wildfires. In our ongoing series, Press Democrat Deputy Editor Brett Wilkison and Senior Investigative Reporter Martin Espinoza talk about Generation Disaster, and the impact of the 2017 wildfires on these children who are now fifth graders.       

Press Democrat Sports Reporters Gus Morris and Kienan O'Doherty wrap up week eight in high school football while looking ahead to week nine in this episode of the PDPreps.

Press Democrat Sports Reporters Gus Morris and Kienan O'Doherty wrap up week seven in high school football while looking ahead to week eight in the eighth episode of the PDPreps podcast. 

Press Democrat staff writer Austin Murphy and deputy editor Brett Wilkison talk about the fire survivors victimized by bad contractors in the wake of the 2017 wildfires that swept through Sonoma County.  Austin Murphy calls what the survivors have dealt with "a cosmic one-two punch."   

The Press Democrat shares its October 2022 series marking 5 years since the 2017 wildfires. Those who lost everything say the deck was stacked against them from the start. In this episode, Press Democrat "In Your Corner" columnist Marisa Endicott and Press Democrat enterprise and investigative reporter Andrew Graham talk about the frustration that's been building as fire victims wait for compensation some five years later.  

In this first of a series of podcasts throughout October 2022 to accompany reports in print and online, The Press Democrat examines five years since the 2017 wildfires.  Deputy editor Brett Wilkison talks with senior reporter Phil Barber about the fires, what we've learned since, and views on how climate change plays a role. 

In this episode, Heather hits up the new Michael Mina restaurant and falls apart in front of the celeb chef as she tries the world's best pasta. Plus, The Block, big restaurant openings and closings and Michelin pulls its California stars, oh my!

In this new episode Heather shares her lovely dining experience at the reopened Flavor Bistro, now in Sebastopol, with all the old favorites still there.  She also talks about her vivid memories of the burned down high--end Napa restaurant Meadowood and where to find good takeout sushi, yes it does exist. Check out our BiteClub podcast, hosted by our food writer and SMI dining editor Heather Irwin. In the podcast, Heather is looking at the Sonoma County food scene, including unique stories about the servers, chefs, and restaurateurs who make it so special. New episodes drop every other week.

Check out our new BiteClub podcast, hosted by our food writer and SMI dining editor Heather Irwin. In the podcast, Heather is looking at the Sonoma County food scene, including unique stories about the servers, chefs, and restaurateurs who make it so special. New episodes drop every other week.

Check out our new BiteClub podcast, hosted by our food writer and SMI dining editor Heather Irwin. In the podcast, Heather is looking at the Sonoma County food scene, including unique stories about the servers, chefs, and restaurateurs who make it so special. New episodes drop every other week.

The journey to bring lights to Piner High School’s athletic fields has been decades-long. At 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 24, the Prospectors will host Novato High in Piner’s first home night football game in school history. In the latest podcast episode of “Overtime with Kerry Benefield,” we talk with Piner senior and football player Colton Roy about what lights mean to the team and to the student body in general.