The Sonoma Community Center Podcast

Ever wonder where clay is mined from around the world , the  history of ceramics or what  is a firing cone? Welcome to the beginner's guide to clay and ceramics with Meg Billingham and Dan Clauson. We take a fascinating ride into all things ceramics and in particular our amazing department of Sonoma Ceramics. We also talk Contemporary approaches to clay through performance, movement, and touch as well as beautiful synopsis of how it affects us all as we move and connect through our daily lives. Co host Cat Smith fills in for Gerardo this week! 

Tim Zahner from Sonoma Valley Visitors Bureau and our other favorite podcast, The Sonoma Spiel,  stops by and talks with Gerardo and Molly about recommendations,  best foodie spots and a behind-the-scenes look for those that want to know a true locals guide to  Sonoma. 

  We also learn how to pronounce Milwaukee  the right way "Mi-waukee" from Tim's time at college, coming back to CA and that there is a guy with an epic mustache in the basement of the VB. Besides a better bike rack for the Community Center, Tim really just wants to dance. 

Vanessa Glamore Ronglien has had various reinventions and career shifts throughout her life, including being a stylist, a student, a wife, an a cappella singer, and now the leader of Sonoma Community Center. Her leadership brings warmth, humanity and the fearless attitude that anything is possible at the Center. This interview will touch on her Puerto Rican roots, East Coast upbringing, and her journey to Los Angeles as a stylist then entering the nonprofit world and focus on art and outreach for children and the public. Overall, Ronglien is dedicated to making the dreams and ideas of the community a reality, with a strong focus on family and the arts.

The 2nd annual podcast party is here! Gerardo and Molly chat with the staff at SCC and get their take on lessons learned in 2023 and all the programs, events and goals for 2024 at the Community Center. Lots of talk about gallery shows, clay mining shortages, the 4th of July memories when SCC ran it with only 8 staff members and an eventful 2023. Not to make anyone's head spin but everyone shares about new open studios, summer events, upcoming gallery shows, Chili Bowl, and some new, exciting, and experimental classes. It's a fun and adventurous rabbit hole and a great way to get to know the new and familiar staff that make up the Sonoma Community Center family.

Chef Maria Teresa Capdevielle fills the halls with mouth watering aromas whenever she is teaching one of her popular, authentic Italian cooking and baking classes in the Rotary Kitchen here at The Center. We get the chance to chat with Maria about growing up in Venezuela with her Italian immigrant parents whose roots are from the Abruzzo region in Italy and has influenced much of cooking. After a stint in computer engineering, Maria decided to follow her passion and she graduated from California Culinary Academy in 2003, interned at the famed Chez Panisse in Berkeley, where she learned about hand-selecting and gently preparing perfect produce. Her local experience includes V-Sattui, The Rose Pistola, The Waterfront and currently teaches all over the Bay Area. Maria Teresa Capdevielle is the author of “The Secrets of Baking with Olive Oil."  A delightful and gracious interview, we love Maria's gusto for all things food and family!

Stopping by to chat before a rehearsal of Sonoma Arts Live Theater Company production, Nuncrackers: The Nunsense Christmas Musical!  is Andrew, Maeve, Fiona and Teagan...The Smith family! Andrew is directing, Maeve and Fiona performing and of course the littlest, Teagan as Dad's "co-director." What a talented crew they are.  We talk about the family's love for the theater, growing up athletes, seeing the world performing on cruise ships, and putting down roots in Sonoma Valley. Maeve and Andrew, now working in the wine industry, discuss the driving force for everything, their family. The arching theme that pops up throughout this episode is the contagious gratitude and positivity the Smiths share.

Daniel Clauson is a Queer and Trans Artist who is  currently the Artist in Residence at the Sonoma Ceramics department of the Sonoma Community Center.

Dan utilizes their past experiences of gender dysphoria, relationships, and ‘home’ to influence their work and connects contradicting ideas of love and pain, trauma and acceptance, intimacy and ambiguity. This episode is Dan’s journey thus far from growing up in the Pacific Northwest, loss of love and friendship to drugs and the reality of navigating a broken medical system across the US to have access to  gender-affirming testosterone therapy and the  devastating numbers of survival rate amongst trans youth. This is also a conversation of Dan’s survival, wonders of the library, the influence of David Bowie and finding joy through art, ceramics, writing and community. 

 Dan will  have their solo exhibition, This Yearning for Longevity, Nov 18th - December 17th in Gallery 212 at the Sonoma Community Center.

Celebrating the legacy of Scream the Movie that was filmed right here at the Sonoma Community Center in 1996- we have two interviews lined up for fans! First up Cat Smith and Takeshi Lewis fill in as co-hosts to interview Franco Caramelino: photographer, Ghostface cosplayer, and Scream superfan. Originally from Argentina, this Iowa resident makes frequent pilgrimages to the Bay Area to “haunt” Scream filming locations, including the Center. 

Then it's a rerelease of Episode 7 when Molly Spencer interviews Dan Casabonne, who was the Asst. Executive Director in 1996.  He talks about how he wheeled and dealed a contract with the Scream production company, the real deal with filming and downtime on the set, what didn’t happen with a “friend” at the wrap-up cast party as well as a parting gift in the form of a plaque Dan received, commemorating Woodsboro High School.

It’s the interview you’ve all been waiting for! We sit down with UFOlogist, Jim Ledwith aka “UFO Jim” and get the scoop on all things extraterrestrial. From Jim’s childhood to a young adult, his first abduction in Sonoma, and to the aliens “walking among us, ” including what are mantoids? We ask questions that you want to know and Jim happily answers. “This is the Greatest Story Ever Denied!” - UFO Jim.

Jim Ledwith has been a lecturer for over 10 years on “Science & UFO’s”, “Hollywood & UFO’s” and “Science & Crop Circles” at the Sonoma Community Center, community colleges, adult education courses, Rotary clubs, and other community groups nationally and internationally. He also is a “UFO Film Curator” making sure films and documentaries get representation at the Sonoma International Film Festival. Don’t miss Jim’s next lecture Are They Walking Among Us? presented at The Sonoma Community Center on October 25th! 100% proceeds of all UFO JIm’s lectures benefit the Sonoma Community Center. sonomacommunitycenter.org

Jose Martinez keeps his head in the clouds and pours his heart onto the canvas. Born in Oaxaca, Mexico and migrating to CA , Jose Martinez found his way to painting and hot air ballooning. Through his artwork, he expresses commentary on social and culturally relevant issues through the medium of paint and mixed media. Jose is also a flyer of hot air ballooning co., Sonoma Ballooning Co. Teaching bilingual paint nights in the North Bay including the Community Center, Jose has become a positive force for his students everywhere. Jose is the 2023 Dia de Muertos artist with a gallery show up in October & November. We are delighted to bring Jose’s calm and positive attitude to the airwaves.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, is an intimate interview with our very own podcast co- host, Jose Gerardo Diaz Lerma. A born storyteller , Chef G. and known to some as “Grande” , ( legit name won in an arm wrestling contest ) shares his up and down rollercoaster story of love, hardship, food, friendships and family. From his early days in Mazatlán, cooking with his beloved Grandma, to crossing the border, life in Sonoma and the beautiful love story of meeting his wife, Sonia. Of course Chef G. schools us on the best Mexican food and recipes close to his heart. 

 "Try Something New" is a personal motto of Simon and Kimberly Blattner and that is personified in the journey of their lives.

  A muse is defined as a person or a personified force who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist and The Center has an annual tradition of choosing a notable local as a muse and then celebrating them with a gala. The 2023 Muses this year are - drumroll please - Simon and Kimberly Blattner.

 We sit down and learn about Simon's adventures from starting a non-profit in SF's Haight Ashbury, his love for the Oakland A's, adventures in papermaking, rolling down a printing press to start the Printmaking department here at the Center in 2007, and of course, it's a love story of how Simon met Kimberly. No slouch herself and a wonderful conversationalist is Kimberly! A teacher, ex-competitive swimmer, and classical musical lover who opens up the conversation about nylon strings vs. "gut strings" on instruments.

 A casual and fun interview,  we learn what inspires our Muses and why it makes them such generous hearts that they have become to the community of Sonoma. 

Turiya Gross is a Ceramic Artist based in Taos, New Mexico and has been an artist in residence as well as instructor at the Sonoma Community Center. Her work is influenced by her upbringing in Mexico, her experiences in a Craft Community in Upstate New York, learning Turkish brushstroke and her travels and residencies all over. She aims to create pieces that encourage people to slow down and appreciate craftsmanship. A message of connection that handmade objects and everyday rituals bring simple pleasures. 

Robert Mahar describes himself as craft driven, design inspired and vintage obsessed on his IG page (15.6K followers.) We think of him as a Craft Master and are lucky enough to have him as a Community Center instructor and a wonderful addition to the Sonoma Valley community!

 He is an ambassador to Spoonflower, Alumni of NBC’s Crafting Competition Show, “Making It”, and had a highly successful Youtube channel, Crafted -  all before COVID when everyone started shootING tutorials! In addition, he is a volunteer to non-profit organization, Miry's List that welcomes new arrival refugee families into our communities through inspired crowdsourcing solutions.

Robert teaches imaginative and contemporary crafts from vintage projects and DYI projects all over the nation but also shares with us his inspiration and journey from growing up in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Subscribe and let us know what you think of our interview with Robert!

Gary Saperstein is everywhere! With what seems to be boundless energy,  he is the owner and operator of Out in the Vineyard, an experimental Wine Tour and Events Company for the LGBTQ+, Director of Development of Face to Face,a non profit with a mission to end HIV in Sonoma County and our delightful Master of Ceremonies at SCC’s Trashion Fashion Runway Show.

Gary shares his experiences and stories of his youth on Long Island, life during 80's New York and the devastation AIDS had on the community.  With a move to the West Coast, he fell in love with Sonoma Valley and has been an ambassador and advocate ever since! Plus "diet tips" to get in shape for Gay Wine Weekend and Gary's  love for cooking, entertaining and local restaurant faves in the "What's For Lunch?" segment. 

Shouts out to Costa's Tacos, Spread Kitchen and the Girl and the Fig! 

Gerardo and Molly pull their sound editor, Takeshi Lewis from behind the mic to share his story and fall down the rabbit hole.  We get schooled about sound engineering for radio, movies, and podcasts and how engineering mixers are worth more than houses. We get some scoop on his tough as nails Dad, family upbringing, early music lessons right here at the Center, Bowie memories with Molly, and guilty secret tacos that appalls Gerardo. Like all good tangents… we bring it on home to the Sonoma Community Center and share all new Summer and Fall events happening right here at the Community Center and Sonoma Valley. 

Focusing on Sonoma Community Center's Trashion Fashion month,  we interview creator, innovator, and NYC legend Debra Rapoport who has listened to her heart and let it guide her into a  wildly creative and adventurous life. Working with non-traditional and repurposed materials since the 1960's, she creates hats and accessories out of using found material. She is an Instagram sensation, star of Advanced Style and shares her motto,  "Where there is creativity, there are no rules and when there are no rules - there are no rules."  Back as a third time Trashion Fashion runway judge, we are delighted to hear Debra's story. 

We interview Ellen Toscano, a woman of many talents and one wears many hats! From a national Fundraising Consultant and Singing Auctioneer to  Reiki Master teacher and founder of  Toscano Reiki, Ellen balances the hustle with grace and flow.  Starting as a dancing bon bon n the Nutcracker right here at the Sonoma Community Center as a child,  Ellen takes us on her journey through sports, NYU,  being a popular performer in San Francisco's long running Beach Blanket Babylon, a stint at Transcendence Theater, and becoming a top national Rodan and Fields Consultant. Beyond the glitz and glamour - Ellen gets real about performer burnout, family, finding love and Kissing the Ring" her fiance had to endure to win over her  fun loving Italian family. Enjoy the exuberant stories of Ellen Toscano! 

We also share the full 2023 Trashion Fashion schedule of events from the runway show, Trashion Barbies exhibit to Dogs on the Catwalk! 

In this episode, we interview 2023 current Sonoma Ceramics Artist-in-Residence, Fred Dewitt. Fred is an African American interdisciplinary artist with a disability who is researching and exploring ways to deconstruct notions of white supremacy as it is promoted in early American art. DeWitt’s artwork reflects the life he has lived and what a story it is. A truly moving and inspirational man, he shares his upbringing in Berkeley, sailing the CA coast solo, seed bombs, and more. Fred's work is about the challenges of urban life and the beauty of our united human conquest. 

 In this episode, we feature podcaster and KSVY Radio host Francisco Kilgore and dancer/choreographer/performer Jessica Fudim. "Everyone has a story" is Francisco's motto and today we turn the tables by interviewing one of the Sonoma podcast  OGs! A little family story of his Brazilian and wild west roots, how he "uncorks" a story, and what he is up to these days! The current Community Center's dance artist in residence, Jessica Fudim returns to the roots in Sonoma and shares her passion for dance, storytelling, and connection. She shares about Venomous, her full-length, dance theater that digs deep into the legend of Medusa and invites the audience to see things from Medusa's perspective.  Always the question of what's for lunch, a shout for our favorite taquerias, and a call out to all those who want to participate in our creative sustainability events, Trashion Fashion Sonoma 2023!