Unable to catch her breath because of PTSD – brought on by years of abuse and trauma she suffered at the hands of her husband – Mariah Dawn sat down and tried something new. She opened a Word document and started writing. She noticed right away that she felt better. The writing was a release. It was cathartic. So, she kept at it, eventually telling a friend at church she thought she had written a book. Would he take a look? 

That 164-page Word document is now “Dragon In You, A Memoir” written by Mariah Dawn. Her book was published in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the 3-year mark of her husband’s death.

Mariah says she wrote the book to help herself, to help others, and to use the dragon in her (she says there’s a dragon in all of us) for good. 

You can buy Mariah’s new book on her website and use the code DearSD at checkout to receive a 10 percent discount. Her book also is available on Amazon minus the discount.

Tune in to this episode of Dear San Diego to learn more about Mariah and her new book.

More than 1 in 3 women (36%) and 1 in 4 men (29%) in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know needs help, please visit www.thehotline.orgfrom a safe computer or call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at OlasMedia.com



The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Overcoming Adversity 
00:03:20 - Kendall's Animal Adventures 
00:04:32 - Introducing Mariah Dawn 
00:07:28 - Writing as Therapy 
00:11:25 - Leaving the Mormon Faith 
00:13:41 - Exploring Faith and Relationships 
00:15:01 - Transitioning Away from Mormonism 
00:16:39 - Finding Compassion and Grace 
00:20:24 - Understanding Trauma and Violence 
00:26:03 - Leaving and Finding Courage 
00:29:03 - Finding the Courage to Write a Book 
00:30:38 - Overcoming Domestic Violence 
00:31:55 - Advice for Women in Similar Situations 
00:34:11 - Breaking the Cycle of Abuse 
00:39:54 - The Message of the Book 
00:44:47 - The First Responder Mentality 
00:46:11 - Regaining Confidence and Professional Growth 
00:46:25 - Memorable Concert Experiences 
00:47:49 - Rapid Fire Questions 

Unable to catch her breath because of PTSD – brought on by years of abuse and trauma she suffered at the hands of her husband – Mariah Dawn sat down and tried something new. She opened a Word document and started writing. She noticed right away that she felt better. The writing was a release. It was cathartic. So, she kept at it, eventually telling a friend at church she thought she had written a book. Would he take a look? 
That 164-page Word document is now <a href="https://thedragoninyou.com/">“Dragon In You, A Memoir”</a> written by <a href="https://thedragoninyou.com/author">Mariah Dawn.</a> Her book was published in October, which is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and the 3-year mark of her husband’s death.
Mariah says she wrote the book to help herself, to help others, and to use the dragon in her (she says there’s a dragon in all of us) for good. 
You can <a href="https://thedragoninyou.com/shop">buy Mariah’s new book on her website</a> and use the code DearSD at checkout to receive a 10 percent discount. Her book also is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0981595898?ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_DD2THSY0MEX3TCNEPJ2S_1&amp;ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_DD2THSY0MEX3TCNEPJ2S_1&amp;social_share=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_dp_DD2THSY0MEX3TCNEPJ2S_1&amp;skipTwisterOG=1">available on Amazon</a> minus the discount.
Tune in to this episode of Dear San Diego to learn more about Mariah and her new book.
More than 1 in 3 women (36%) and 1 in 4 men (29%) in the U.S. have experienced rape, physical violence, and/or stalking by an intimate partner in their lifetime, according to the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know needs help, please visit <a href="http://www.thehotline.org/">www.thehotline.org</a> from a safe computer or call <a href="tel:1-800-799-SAFE">1-800-799-SAFE</a> (7233).
Don’t forget to follow and subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/dear-san-diego">OlasMedia.com</a> 
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Overcoming Adversity  00:03:20 - Kendall's Animal Adventures 00:04:32 - Introducing Mariah Dawn 00:07:28 - Writing as Therapy 00:11:25 - Leaving the Mormon Faith 00:13:41 - Exploring Faith and Relationships 00:15:01 - Transitioning Away from Mormonism 00:16:39 - Finding Compassion and Grace 00:20:24 - Understanding Trauma and Violence 00:26:03 - Leaving and Finding Courage 00:29:03 - Finding the Courage to Write a Book 00:30:38 - Overcoming Domestic Violence 00:31:55 - Advice for Women in Similar Situations 00:34:11 - Breaking the Cycle of Abuse 00:39:54 - The Message of the Book 00:44:47 - The First Responder Mentality 00:46:11 - Regaining Confidence and Professional Growth 00:46:25 - Memorable Concert Experiences 00:47:49 - Rapid Fire Questions

Creating Beauty from Devastation, Mariah Dawn on her new book, Dragon In You: A Memoir

POLITICO’s Chris Cadelago joined Tony and Juan for a special 2024 Election Episode of Dear San Diego. Chris provided really smart takes on local, state, and national races, and shared some behind-the-scenes info, too. Chris covered the Trump White House and the Biden White House. He is currently working on building a statewide bureau for POLITICO in California, and covering Kamala Harris and her presidential campaign. 

Don’t forget to vote by mail or in person on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5! You can register to vote online through Oct. 21 or in person at your polling place on Election Day. Use this polling place lookup tool to find your polling location.

Don't forget to follow and subscribe at OlasMedia.com

The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:01 - Introduction to Dear San Diego podcast 
00:04:27 - Chris Cadelago's Career 
00:11:33 - Covering the Trump and Biden White Houses 
00:12:43 - Insights into the Trump White House 
00:14:31 - Shocking Remarks from Former President Trump 
00:17:19 - Presidential Endorsements and Primary Process 
00:19:41 - Harris's Flawless Campaign Strategy 
00:24:28 - The Importance of Economic Plans 
00:26:18 - Trump's Base and Swing States 
00:27:38 - California Politics 
00:29:32 - House and Senate Races 
00:30:56 - Mayoral Races and Ballot Measures 
00:35:54 - News Sources and Digital Media 
00:39:30 - Exploring the San Diego and Texas Political Landscape 
00:40:15 - Insight into the 2020 Presidential Election 
00:41:41 - Predictions for the 2024 Presidential Election 
00:44:37 - Political Dynamics in San Francisco 

Insta: @ccadelago

Twitter: @ccadelago

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccadelago/

Web main: https://www.politico.com/

Web bio: https://www.politico.com/staff/christopher-cadelago

POLITICO’s <a href="https://www.politico.com/staff/christopher-cadelago">Chris Cadelago</a> joined Tony and Juan for a special 2024 Election Episode of Dear San Diego. Chris provided really smart takes on local, state, and national races, and shared some behind-the-scenes info, too. Chris covered the Trump White House and the Biden White House. He is currently working on building a statewide bureau for POLITICO in California, and covering Kamala Harris and her presidential campaign. 
Don’t forget to vote by mail or in person on Election Day, Tuesday Nov. 5! You can register to vote <a href="https://registertovote.ca.gov/?t=s">online</a> through Oct. 21 or <a href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voter-registration/same-day-reg">in person</a> at your polling place on Election Day. Use this <a href="https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/polling-place/">polling place lookup tool</a> to find your polling location.
Don't forget to follow and subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/dear-san-diego">OlasMedia.com</a>
The key moments in this episode are: 00:00:01 - Introduction to Dear San Diego podcast 00:04:27 - Chris Cadelago's Career 00:11:33 - Covering the Trump and Biden White Houses 00:12:43 - Insights into the Trump White House 00:14:31 - Shocking Remarks from Former President Trump 00:17:19 - Presidential Endorsements and Primary Process 00:19:41 - Harris's Flawless Campaign Strategy 00:24:28 - The Importance of Economic Plans 00:26:18 - Trump's Base and Swing States 00:27:38 - California Politics 00:29:32 - House and Senate Races 00:30:56 - Mayoral Races and Ballot Measures 00:35:54 - News Sources and Digital Media 00:39:30 - Exploring the San Diego and Texas Political Landscape 00:40:15 - Insight into the 2020 Presidential Election 00:41:41 - Predictions for the 2024 Presidential Election 00:44:37 - Political Dynamics in San Francisco 
Insta: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/ccadelago/?hl=en">@ccadelago</a>
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/follow?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2F&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Ebuttonembed%7Ctwterm%5Efollow%7Ctwgr%5Eccadelago&amp;region=follow_link&amp;screen_name=ccadelago">@ccadelago</a>
LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccadelago/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/ccadelago/</a>
Web main: <a href="https://www.politico.com/">https://www.politico.com/</a> 
Web bio: <a href="https://www.politico.com/staff/christopher-cadelago">https://www.politico.com/staff/christopher-cadelago</a>

Election Special 2024 - Chris Cadelago

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/4f79226a-e4e3-45c5-85fb-b203012f6fa3/transcript

The Padres sensed they had a problem. So they called John Nienstedt, who helped them figure out they should switch to brown jerseys. John brought in models who wore different jerseys to a series of focus groups. Each participant in the room was armed with a dial that they cranked one way for approval and another way for disapproval. John used the dial tests to block debate and strong personalities from influencing the room, he said. The Padres, of course, used John’s research and data to switch from blue to brown uniforms a few years ago.

John has been surveying voters, consumers, fans, and others for decades as head of the company he co-founded in graduate school at SDSU, Competitive Edge Research & Communication or CERC. The information he provides his clients helps them make informed decisions about strategy, marketing, messaging, and more.

John counts some of the biggest names and brands in San Diego as clients, including Mayor Kevin Faulconer, COX and Sempra. Nationally, John and his research firm have worked for Costco, Airbnb, and other leading organizations.

On this episode of Dear San Diego, John discusses his love of family, baseball, and polling. At the end of the show, he shares a funny story with Tony and Juan about Tony’s last name. Stick around for that and more.

Don't forget to Follow and Subscribe at OlasMedia.com

The key moments in this episode are:


00:00:01 - Introduction to Dear San Diego
00:01:06 - Catching Up on Personal Lives
00:03:07 - Work and Business Development
00:05:15 - Personal Health and Wellness
00:08:34 - John's Values and Priorities
00:12:56 - The Impact of Seasonal Play on Performance
00:14:06 - The Real Deal: Over 45 Baseball
00:15:01 - The Intersection of Baseball and Politics
00:16:58 - Public Sentiment on San Diego's Direction
00:19:18 - John's Journey to Becoming a Pollster
00:26:34 - Explaining Ballot Measures vs. Candidates
00:27:30 - The Importance of Research in Decision-Making
00:32:05 - Unique Branding in Baseball Uniforms
00:34:17 - The Power Metrics Approach
00:37:14 - The Role of Newsletters in Lead Generation
00:39:37 - Expectations and Leadership
00:42:23 - Movie Preferences
00:43:03 - Breakfast and Coffee
00:44:45 - Physical Activity and Fitness
00:50:12 - John's Personality and Passion
00:52:05 - Unique Last Name
00:53:01 - Podcast Credits

The Padres sensed they had a problem. So they called <a href="https://cerc.net/our-team/">John Nienstedt,</a> who helped them figure out they should switch to brown jerseys. John brought in models who wore different jerseys to a series of focus groups. Each participant in the room was armed with a dial that they cranked one way for approval and another way for disapproval. John used the dial tests to block debate and strong personalities from influencing the room, he said. The Padres, of course, used John’s research and data to switch from blue to brown uniforms a few years ago.
John has been surveying voters, consumers, fans, and others for decades as head of the company he co-founded in graduate school at SDSU, <a href="https://cerc.net/">Competitive Edge Research &amp; Communication or CERC.</a> The information he provides his clients helps them make informed decisions about strategy, marketing, messaging, and more.
John counts some of the biggest names and brands in San Diego as clients, including Mayor Kevin Faulconer, COX and Sempra. Nationally, John and his research firm have worked for Costco, Airbnb, and other leading organizations.
On this episode of Dear San Diego, John discusses his love of family, baseball, and polling. At the end of the show, he shares a funny story with Tony and Juan about Tony’s last name. Stick around for that and more.
Don't forget to Follow and Subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/dear-san-diego">OlasMedia.com</a>
The key moments in this episode are:
 00:00:01 - Introduction to Dear San Diego 00:01:06 - Catching Up on Personal Lives 00:03:07 - Work and Business Development 00:05:15 - Personal Health and Wellness 00:08:34 - John's Values and Priorities 00:12:56 - The Impact of Seasonal Play on Performance 00:14:06 - The Real Deal: Over 45 Baseball 00:15:01 - The Intersection of Baseball and Politics 00:16:58 - Public Sentiment on San Diego's Direction 00:19:18 - John's Journey to Becoming a Pollster 00:26:34 - Explaining Ballot Measures vs. Candidates 00:27:30 - The Importance of Research in Decision-Making 00:32:05 - Unique Branding in Baseball Uniforms 00:34:17 - The Power Metrics Approach 00:37:14 - The Role of Newsletters in Lead Generation 00:39:37 - Expectations and Leadership 00:42:23 - Movie Preferences 00:43:03 - Breakfast and Coffee 00:44:45 - Physical Activity and Fitness 00:50:12 - John's Personality and Passion 00:52:05 - Unique Last Name 00:53:01 - Podcast Credits

Padres Uniforms and Persuadable Voters: The Art of Polling with John Nienstedt

Michael Inzunza is running for Chula Vista City Council. He comes from a long line of public servants and political dynamos.

Next year will be the 50th anniversary of his parents’ first major campaign victory. They ran a bilingual campaign as a couple for two local school board seats. They both won, defeating two incumbents. A picture of the couple campaigning at the San Ysidro apartment complex where the family lived is one of Michael’s earliest political memories. 

“Inzunza is part of a family of politicos who were once called ‘The Kennedys of the South Bay’ when his father, Ralph Inzunza Sr., served on the City Council of National City, his uncle, Nick Inzunza, served on the South Bay School District Board, and his older brother, Ralph Inzunza Jr., served on the San Diego City Council,” is how LaPrensa.org puts it. 

Michael has never held elected office. He has, however, built a career as a community advocate, mostly in the educational space, not unlike his parents. He's running for City Council because he believes he can make a difference in the community he loves, where just about everyone knows him and his family.

“Don't get me wrong, my name, ID and my familiarity with the South Bay really helps. But there hasn't been any member of my family in political office in 20 years. And there's never been an Inzunza elected in the city of Chula Vista. So I sort of really had to start from scratch, so to speak,” he says.

Be sure to Follow and Subscribe at olasmedia.com

00:01:08 - Introduction and Sugar Rush
00:03:27 - Overcoming Challenges
00:09:33 - Family Political Legacy
00:13:05 - Kennedys of the South Bay
00:13:55 - Avoiding Politics
00:14:44 - Civic-Minded Background
00:18:21 - Decision to Run
00:21:14 - Chula Vista's Growth
00:23:48 - Future Development
00:26:19 - Affordable Housing and Market Rate Housing
00:27:05 - Biotech Development in East Chula Vista
00:28:14 - Development in East Chula Vista
00:30:39 - Public Safety and Homelessness
00:36:28 - Tackling Homelessness and Housing Challenges
00:36:00 - Addressing Homelessness in Chula Vista
00:37:30 - Compassionate Approach to Homelessness
00:39:28 - Running for Office and Community Engagement
00:44:29 - Community Bond and Cultural Preservation
00:45:59 - Family Roots and Community Involvement
00:48:49 - Rapid Fire Questions

<a href="https://www.michaelinzunza.com/">Michael Inzunza</a> is running for Chula Vista City Council. He comes from a long line of public servants and political dynamos.
Next year will be the 50th anniversary of his parents’ first major campaign victory. They ran a bilingual campaign as a couple for two local school board seats. They both won, defeating two incumbents. A picture of the couple campaigning at the San Ysidro apartment complex where the family lived is one of Michael’s earliest political memories. 
“Inzunza is part of a family of politicos who were once called ‘The Kennedys of the South Bay’ when his father, Ralph Inzunza Sr., served on the City Council of National City, his uncle, Nick Inzunza, served on the South Bay School District Board, and his older brother, Ralph Inzunza Jr., served on the San Diego City Council,” is how LaPrensa.org puts it. 
Michael has never held elected office. He has, however, built a career as a community advocate, mostly in the educational space, not unlike his parents. He's running for City Council because he believes he can make a difference in the community he loves, where just about everyone knows him and his family.
“Don't get me wrong, my name, ID and my familiarity with the South Bay really helps. But there hasn't been any member of my family in political office in 20 years. And there's never been an Inzunza elected in the city of Chula Vista. So I sort of really had to start from scratch, so to speak,” he says.
Be sure to Follow and Subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/dear-san-diego">olasmedia.com</a>
00:01:08 - Introduction and Sugar Rush 00:03:27 - Overcoming Challenges 00:09:33 - Family Political Legacy 00:13:05 - Kennedys of the South Bay 00:13:55 - Avoiding Politics 00:14:44 - Civic-Minded Background 00:18:21 - Decision to Run 00:21:14 - Chula Vista's Growth 00:23:48 - Future Development 00:26:19 - Affordable Housing and Market Rate Housing 00:27:05 - Biotech Development in East Chula Vista 00:28:14 - Development in East Chula Vista 00:30:39 - Public Safety and Homelessness 00:36:28 - Tackling Homelessness and Housing Challenges 00:36:00 - Addressing Homelessness in Chula Vista 00:37:30 - Compassionate Approach to Homelessness 00:39:28 - Running for Office and Community Engagement 00:44:29 - Community Bond and Cultural Preservation 00:45:59 - Family Roots and Community Involvement 00:48:49 - Rapid Fire Questions

Preserving Community While Tackling Growth: Michael Inzunza's Vision for Chula Vista

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/a964f5c6-4222-474c-a8b5-b1d80138e5c7/transcript

Kelly Williams takes care of people who need care, and she’s creating an army of therapists like her to try and meet the needs of people wrestling with PTSD throughout San Diego. Williams is Clinic Director of The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Veterans Village of San Diego.

In her spare time, Kelly supervises and mentors up-and-coming therapists in San Diego. Additionally, she takes part in public speaking opportunities in the community on the importance of mental health care, particularly for the military community.  She also is a dog lover and enjoys reading, lifting weights, spending time at parks and exploring San Diego through kayaking, beach days and bay walks.

June is PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a national mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. While approximately 50 to 60% of Americans experience at least one traumatic event during their lives, only 7 to 8% experience PTSD.

(If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD or any other mental health issue, call 988. Active-duty military, veterans and military families should call 988 – then press 1.)

Follow and Subscribe Dear San Diego on OlasMedia.com

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:01 - Vocational Compassion and Community Work
00:01:01 - Wedding Planning and Busy Times
00:03:36 - Cold Plunging and Morning Rituals
00:05:56 - PTSD Awareness and Trauma Definitions
00:11:57 - Support for Veterans and Their Families
00:12:31 - The Creation of Veterans of September 11
00:13:08 - Understanding Trauma
00:14:32 - Importance of Timely Treatment
00:19:29 - Desensitization in PTSD Treatment
00:21:40 - Breaking the Silence on Trauma
00:24:29 - Generational Trauma and Openness to Therapy
00:25:27 - Increased Demand for Therapy Services
00:26:10 - Generational Trauma and Military PTSD
00:27:53 - Access to Therapy Services and Kelly's Journey
00:35:25 - Rewarding Aspects of the Job
00:37:01 - The San Diego work ethic
00:38:11 - Mentoring and Public Speaking
00:41:45 - Benefits of Fitness and Therapy
00:43:43 - Making Mental Health Accessible
00:44:53 - Rapid Fire Questions
00:49:26 - Kelly's Compassion and Hustle
00:50:00 - Importance of Mental Health
00:50:52 - Evangelizing Success
00:51:38 - Conclusion and Credits 

<a href="https://vvsd.net/cohenclinicstaff/">Kelly Williams</a> takes care of people who need care, and she’s creating an army of therapists like her to try and meet the needs of people wrestling with PTSD throughout San Diego. Williams is Clinic Director of <a href="https://vvsd.net/cohenclinicsandiego/">The Steven A. Cohen Military Family Clinic at Veterans Village of San Diego.</a>
In her spare time, Kelly supervises and mentors up-and-coming therapists in San Diego. Additionally, she takes part in public speaking opportunities in the community on the importance of mental health care, particularly for the military community.  She also is a dog lover and enjoys reading, lifting weights, spending time at parks and exploring San Diego through kayaking, beach days and bay walks.
June is PTSD Awareness Month. PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder, is a national mental health problem that some people develop after experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening event, like combat, a natural disaster, a car accident, or sexual assault. While approximately 50 to 60% of Americans experience at least one traumatic event during their lives, only 7 to 8% experience PTSD.
(If you or a loved one are struggling with PTSD or any other mental health issue, call 988. Active-duty military, veterans and military families should call 988 – then press 1.)
Follow and Subscribe Dear San Diego on <a href="olasmedia.com">OlasMedia.com</a>
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:01 - Vocational Compassion and Community Work 00:01:01 - Wedding Planning and Busy Times 00:03:36 - Cold Plunging and Morning Rituals 00:05:56 - PTSD Awareness and Trauma Definitions 00:11:57 - Support for Veterans and Their Families 00:12:31 - The Creation of Veterans of September 11 00:13:08 - Understanding Trauma 00:14:32 - Importance of Timely Treatment 00:19:29 - Desensitization in PTSD Treatment 00:21:40 - Breaking the Silence on Trauma 00:24:29 - Generational Trauma and Openness to Therapy 00:25:27 - Increased Demand for Therapy Services 00:26:10 - Generational Trauma and Military PTSD 00:27:53 - Access to Therapy Services and Kelly's Journey 00:35:25 - Rewarding Aspects of the Job 00:37:01 - The San Diego work ethic 00:38:11 - Mentoring and Public Speaking 00:41:45 - Benefits of Fitness and Therapy 00:43:43 - Making Mental Health Accessible 00:44:53 - Rapid Fire Questions 00:49:26 - Kelly's Compassion and Hustle 00:50:00 - Importance of Mental Health 00:50:52 - Evangelizing Success 00:51:38 - Conclusion and Credits

Treating the Invisible Wounds: A Clinician's Mission to Help Vets

A licensed attorney, Chad Peace never expected to lead a digital communications company that serves an impressive list of clients. With dozens of designers, project managers, and others, IVC Media, LLC’s binational team has offices in Mission Valley and Tijuana. 

Politically, Chad has sort of cornered the market when it comes to talking to independent or NPP (No Party Preference) voters for a variety of campaigns, but he and his team do much more for a wide variety of businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and others.

Tony and Juan unpack all that with Chad, CEO of IVC Media. Chad also explains what full stack digital means; that he has never seen the movie Love Actually, even though the love story he shares with his wife, Arieli, is similar to the best love story in Love Actually; and why he drives an electric car no one can repair.

Tune in to this entertaining episode of Dear San Diego to hear what Chad has to say about digital communications, marketing, family life, and his “high potential teenager,” aka his Fisker Ocean One.

Subscribe or follow at olasmedia.com

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:01 - Inside Successful Families
00:01:31 - Karaoke Go-Tos
00:02:26 - Remote RV Trip
00:04:09 - Culture Inside a Home
00:09:29 - Growth and Expansion
00:12:51 - Lack of outreach to independent voters
00:13:48 - Non-partisan voters' preferences
00:15:10 - Significant number of independent voters
00:18:27 - Family culture and success
00:22:58 - Personal life balance
00:25:05 - The From the Nest Podcast
00:25:33 - The Independent Voter Project
00:26:17 - The Fisker Ocean One
00:27:43 - Should People Go All Electric?
00:35:14 - Chad's Lifestyle Choices
00:37:26 - Importance of Confidence
00:38:46 - Trusting Yourself
00:40:00 - Resilience in Business
00:43:16 - Building Partnerships
00:45:27 - Impact of Resiliency 

A licensed attorney, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chadpeace/">Chad Peace</a> never expected to lead a digital communications company that serves an impressive list of clients. With dozens of designers, project managers, and others, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/ivc-media-llc/">IVC Media, LLC</a>’s binational team has offices in Mission Valley and Tijuana. 
Politically, Chad has sort of cornered the market when it comes to talking to independent or NPP (No Party Preference) voters for a variety of campaigns, but he and his team do much more for a wide variety of businesses, nonprofits, government agencies and others.
Tony and Juan unpack all that with Chad, CEO of IVC Media. Chad also explains what full stack digital means; that he has never seen the movie Love Actually, even though the love story he shares with his wife, Arieli, is similar to the best love story in Love Actually; and why he drives an electric car no one can repair.
Tune in to this entertaining episode of Dear San Diego to hear what Chad has to say about digital communications, marketing, family life, and his “high potential teenager,” aka his <a href="https://www.fiskerinc.com/">Fisker Ocean One</a>.
Subscribe or follow at <a href="olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:01 - Inside Successful Families 00:01:31 - Karaoke Go-Tos 00:02:26 - Remote RV Trip 00:04:09 - Culture Inside a Home 00:09:29 - Growth and Expansion 00:12:51 - Lack of outreach to independent voters 00:13:48 - Non-partisan voters' preferences 00:15:10 - Significant number of independent voters 00:18:27 - Family culture and success 00:22:58 - Personal life balance 00:25:05 - The From the Nest Podcast 00:25:33 - The Independent Voter Project 00:26:17 - The Fisker Ocean One 00:27:43 - Should People Go All Electric? 00:35:14 - Chad's Lifestyle Choices 00:37:26 - Importance of Confidence 00:38:46 - Trusting Yourself 00:40:00 - Resilience in Business 00:43:16 - Building Partnerships 00:45:27 - Impact of Resiliency

Chad Peace on Marketing, Love, Family and his Finicky Fisker

Lenny Leszczynski is a car guy, dating back to his days as a young man who drove a Daytona Blue 1964 Chevy Impala, but his wife was not expecting him to land this job.

After all, Lenny had never been a CEO before. He did take advantage of all the free time the pandemic gave us by going back to school to earn an advanced degree. He was in Disneyland with his wife and kids hours after his job interview when he received the call. He got the job. He was the new CEO of the San Diego Automotive Museum located in Balboa Park.  

That was four years ago. Since then, Lenny and his team have taken several steps to breathe new life into the automotive museum, and they have some ambitious plans for one of the city’s coolest spaces. And Lenny knows a thing or two about cool. Just ask him about that Impala he purchased when he was 17.

He discusses all that and more with Tony and Juan in this episode of Dear San Diego.

<a href="https://sdautomuseum.org/pages/our-staff">Lenny Leszczynski</a> is a car guy, dating back to his days as a young man who drove a Daytona Blue <a href="https://issuu.com/jordanrpm/docs/muscle_car_plus_aug-sept_2021_issuu/s/13061092">1964 Chevy Impala,</a> but his wife was not expecting him to land this job.
After all, Lenny had never been a CEO before. He did take advantage of all the free time the pandemic gave us by going back to school to earn an advanced degree. He was in Disneyland with his wife and kids hours after his job interview when he received the call. He got the job. He was the new CEO of the <a href="https://sdautomuseum.org/">San Diego Automotive Museum</a> located in Balboa Park.  
That was four years ago. Since then, Lenny and his team have taken several steps to breathe new life into the automotive museum, and they have some ambitious plans for one of the city’s coolest spaces. And Lenny knows a thing or two about cool. Just ask him about that Impala he purchased when he was 17.
He discusses all that and more with Tony and Juan in this episode of Dear San Diego.

Car guy lands dream job as CEO of San Diego Automotive Museum

The author of California’s Top Two Candidates Open Primary, which took effect in 2012, wants to reform his reform.

Steve Peace, a founder of the Independent Voter Project, wants California to move to a system that would ask voters to rank 4 or 5 candidates instead of voting for just one. Alaska and Maine have adopted a similar Rank Choice Voting system.

Peace looks through the national political lens and the local one too to discuss voter reform on this episode of Dear San Diego. Listeners also get to hear about his family life (he says he’s an Uber driver for his grandkids) and the advice he gives young people.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction to California's top two primary
00:01:29 - Inception of the top two primary
00:03:22 - How the top two primary works
00:08:24 - Flaws in the current political system
00:14:01 - Manipulation of the top two primary system
00:15:26 - The Power of Campaigns Driven by Turnout
00:17:27 - Political Maneuvering and Campaign Strategies
00:19:23 - The Influence of Committees and Political Alliances
00:22:29 - Advancing Electoral Reform: Ranked-Choice Voting
00:26:29 - The Need for Continuous Electoral Reform
00:31:02 - Ranked Choice Voting System
00:33:21 - Nonpartisan Top Four or Top Five System
00:35:17 - Reducing Campaign Costs
00:41:13 - Fixing Ranked Choice Voting
00:46:35 - Misjudging Willie Brown
00:48:27 - Steve Peace's Personal Life
00:53:30 - Motivations and Family
00:55:50 - Privacy Rights and Identity
01:00:17 - Childhood Influence
01:03:39 - Reflection on past behavior
01:05:13 - Advice for life
01:05:59 - Importance of facing adversity
01:07:02 - Perception of need and resilience
01:08:57 - Closing remarks

The author of <a href="https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sdut-new-primary-system-could-shake-california-politics-2011aug13-htmlstory.html" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sdut-new-primary-system-could-shake-california-politics-2011aug13-htmlstory.html&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1707975593537000&amp;usg=AOvVaw2RlRX0MlBfgIN4qrGZKb-d">California’s Top Two Candidates Open Primary,</a> which took effect in 2012, wants to reform his reform.
Steve Peace, a founder of the <a href="https://independentvoterproject.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://independentvoterproject.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1707975593537000&amp;usg=AOvVaw34n0_KhZWHqPPmu1SBxfvu">Independent Voter Project,</a> wants California to move to a system that would ask voters to rank 4 or 5 candidates instead of voting for just one. Alaska and Maine have adopted a similar Rank Choice Voting system.
Peace looks through the national political lens and the local one too to discuss voter reform on this episode of Dear San Diego. Listeners also get to hear about his family life (he says he’s an Uber driver for his grandkids) and the advice he gives young people.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Introduction to California's top two primary 00:01:29 - Inception of the top two primary 00:03:22 - How the top two primary works 00:08:24 - Flaws in the current political system 00:14:01 - Manipulation of the top two primary system 00:15:26 - The Power of Campaigns Driven by Turnout 00:17:27 - Political Maneuvering and Campaign Strategies 00:19:23 - The Influence of Committees and Political Alliances 00:22:29 - Advancing Electoral Reform: Ranked-Choice Voting 00:26:29 - The Need for Continuous Electoral Reform 00:31:02 - Ranked Choice Voting System 00:33:21 - Nonpartisan Top Four or Top Five System 00:35:17 - Reducing Campaign Costs 00:41:13 - Fixing Ranked Choice Voting 00:46:35 - Misjudging Willie Brown 00:48:27 - Steve Peace's Personal Life 00:53:30 - Motivations and Family 00:55:50 - Privacy Rights and Identity 01:00:17 - Childhood Influence 01:03:39 - Reflection on past behavior 01:05:13 - Advice for life 01:05:59 - Importance of facing adversity 01:07:02 - Perception of need and resilience 01:08:57 - Closing remarks

Steve Peace on San Diego Politics and Reforming his own California Voting Reform

Michael Zucchet is one of those guys who listens more than he talks, and his calm and thoughtful demeanor has served him well at the poker table and at the negotiating table.

Zucchet oversees the City of San Diego’s largest labor union as General Manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association. 

In addition to his day job, Michael is one of San Diego’s leading political minds, frequently called on for his strategic advice and recommendations. He’s also a fierce poker player, enjoying rare success in Vegas. Michael also serves as a San Diego Port Commissioner.

He’s married with two kids and he and his family reside in Ocean Beach. It’s his family life, he says, that’s the priority and it may not have been if his political career did not take an unexpected turn.

Michael has seen a lot in and around City Hall over the years. He discusses local politics, poker, leadership, work-life balance, his wife and kids, and much more with Juan and Tony on the latest episode of Dear San Diego.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest's First Impression
00:01:20 - Podcast Overview
00:05:29 - Guest's Background and Personal Life
00:10:29 - Balancing Work and Family
00:13:36 - Career Aspirations of the Guest's Son
00:14:33 - World Series of Poker Win
00:15:12 - Endurance and Emotions
00:16:31 - World Series of Poker Experience
00:19:42 - Poker and Life Skills
00:26:50 - San Diego Municipal Employees Association
00:29:59 - Discovering Local Politics
00:31:08 - Partisanship in Politics
00:33:22 - Changing Dynamics in Politics
00:36:43 - Impact of Media and Public Perception
00:41:18 - Political Endorsements and Races
00:46:26 - Political Race Predictions
00:47:45 - Impact of National Politics
00:48:33 - Personal Lifestyle Choices
00:49:36 - Daily Habits and Routines
00:59:33 - Closing Remarks
01:01:12 - Michael Zuchett's Leadership Style
01:01:39 - Getting to Know Michael Zuchett
01:02:10 - Unique Woodworking Family
01:03:19 - Zuchett's Political Insights
01:03:40 - Conclusion and Gratitude

<a href="https://www.sdmea.org/union/staff/michael-zucchet/">Michael Zucchet</a> is one of those guys who listens more than he talks, and his calm and thoughtful demeanor has served him well at the poker table and at the negotiating table.
Zucchet oversees the City of San Diego’s largest labor union as General Manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association. 
In addition to his day job, Michael is one of San Diego’s leading political minds, frequently called on for his strategic advice and recommendations. He’s also a fierce poker player, enjoying rare success in Vegas. Michael also serves as a <a href="https://www.portofsandiego.org/people/board-port-commissioners/michael-zucchet">San Diego Port Commissioner.</a> 
He’s married with two kids and he and his family reside in Ocean Beach. It’s his family life, he says, that’s the priority and it may not have been if his political career did not take an unexpected turn.
Michael has seen a lot in and around City Hall over the years. He discusses local politics, poker, leadership, work-life balance, his wife and kids, and much more with Juan and Tony on the latest episode of Dear San Diego.
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Guest's First Impression 00:01:20 - Podcast Overview 00:05:29 - Guest's Background and Personal Life 00:10:29 - Balancing Work and Family 00:13:36 - Career Aspirations of the Guest's Son 00:14:33 - World Series of Poker Win 00:15:12 - Endurance and Emotions 00:16:31 - World Series of Poker Experience 00:19:42 - Poker and Life Skills 00:26:50 - San Diego Municipal Employees Association 00:29:59 - Discovering Local Politics 00:31:08 - Partisanship in Politics 00:33:22 - Changing Dynamics in Politics 00:36:43 - Impact of Media and Public Perception 00:41:18 - Political Endorsements and Races 00:46:26 - Political Race Predictions 00:47:45 - Impact of National Politics 00:48:33 - Personal Lifestyle Choices 00:49:36 - Daily Habits and Routines 00:59:33 - Closing Remarks 01:01:12 - Michael Zuchett's Leadership Style 01:01:39 - Getting to Know Michael Zuchett 01:02:10 - Unique Woodworking Family 01:03:19 - Zuchett's Political Insights 01:03:40 - Conclusion and Gratitude

Family, Labor, Politics & Poker: A Sit-Down with Michael Zucchet

The majority of San Diegans are renters, but rents are crazy expensive because supply is so low. Very few new homes are built, so those that are sold come with a steep price. The average home in San Diego sells for $900,000.

How did we get here? What caused our region’s housing crisis? How do we fix it? What do we need to do to build more homes San Diegans can afford? 

Tony and Juan get answers to these questions from two of the region’s leading housing advocates, Lori Pfeiler and Hannah Gbeh, on this episode of Dear San Diego.

In addition to housing policy and politics, Lori and Hannah talk about what it’s like working in an arena mostly dominated by men at the top of the food chain.

Lori is CEO of San Diego County Building Industry, and Hannah is the organization’s Vice President of Government Affairs.

The key moments in this episode are:

The key moments in this episode are:

00:00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Overview
00:05:21 - Housing Crisis in San Diego
00:07:05 - Impact of Regulatory Environment on Housing
00:13:37 - Infrastructure and Funding Challenges
00:14:09 - Challenges of Bureaucracy and Budgets
00:15:03 - Unprecedented Leadership
00:19:33 - Gender and Leadership
00:22:00 - Housing Crisis and Regulations
00:26:16 - Environmental Impact and Building
00:28:13 - Government Regulations and Impact on Housing
00:35:55 - The Cost of Building in California
00:37:45 - Influence of Local Policy and Education
00:40:32 - Life as a Single Mom and Former Farmer
00:41:37 - Diverse Farming Experiences
00:41:48 - Lucrative Non-Edibles
00:42:20 - Missing Being Mayor
00:43:12 - Coffee vs. Tea
00:47:14 - Policy vs. Politics
00:49:25 - AI and Housing Crisis 

The majority of San Diegans are renters, but rents are crazy expensive because supply is so low. Very few new homes are built, so those that are sold come with a steep price. The average home in San Diego sells for <a href="https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-search/San-Diego_CA/overview#">$900,000.</a> 
How did we get here? What caused our region’s housing crisis? How do we fix it? What do we need to do to build more homes San Diegans can afford? 
Tony and Juan get answers to these questions from two of the region’s leading housing advocates, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lori-pfeiler/">Lori Pfeiler</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannahgbeh/">Hannah Gbeh,</a> on this episode of Dear San Diego.
In addition to housing policy and politics, Lori and Hannah talk about what it’s like working in an arena mostly dominated by men at the top of the food chain.
Lori is CEO of <a href="https://biasandiego.org">San Diego County Building Industry,</a> and Hannah is the organization’s Vice President of Government Affairs.
The key moments in this episode are:
The key moments in this episode are:
00:00:00 - Introduction and Podcast Overview 00:05:21 - Housing Crisis in San Diego 00:07:05 - Impact of Regulatory Environment on Housing 00:13:37 - Infrastructure and Funding Challenges 00:14:09 - Challenges of Bureaucracy and Budgets 00:15:03 - Unprecedented Leadership 00:19:33 - Gender and Leadership 00:22:00 - Housing Crisis and Regulations 00:26:16 - Environmental Impact and Building 00:28:13 - Government Regulations and Impact on Housing 00:35:55 - The Cost of Building in California 00:37:45 - Influence of Local Policy and Education 00:40:32 - Life as a Single Mom and Former Farmer 00:41:37 - Diverse Farming Experiences 00:41:48 - Lucrative Non-Edibles 00:42:20 - Missing Being Mayor 00:43:12 - Coffee vs. Tea 00:47:14 - Policy vs. Politics 00:49:25 - AI and Housing Crisis

The Women Leading the Building Industry Association

Dear San Diego is a public affairs podcast with personality.

Hosted by veteran communication specialists Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez, Dear San Diego gives newsmakers and others a platform to discuss the big issues of the day, but that’s just the beginning. 

Tony and Juan’s guests share what’s not in their bios, who they are away from work, secrets to success, and more. Tony and Juan also discuss work, home, fatherhood, health and wellness, and youth sports – where the politics can be way more fierce than they are at city hall. 

Tony and Juan met a decade ago while working for dueling mayoral candidates in San Diego. Since then, the two friends have worked together on numerous public affairs, land-use, and issue campaigns. 

Dear San Diego is a public affairs podcast with personality.
Hosted by veteran communication specialists Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez, Dear San Diego gives newsmakers and others a platform to discuss the big issues of the day, but that’s just the beginning. 
Tony and Juan’s guests share what’s not in their bios, who they are away from work, secrets to success, and more. Tony and Juan also discuss work, home, fatherhood, health and wellness, and youth sports – where the politics can be way more fierce than they are at city hall. 
Tony and Juan met a decade ago while working for dueling mayoral candidates in San Diego. Since then, the two friends have worked together on numerous public affairs, land-use, and issue campaigns.

Dear San Diego

Hosted by veteran public relations specialists, Tony Manolatos and Juan Hernandez discuss the not so obvious talents, attributes, and behaviors of fellow colleagues. Learn what's not in the bios and CV's and what's be the secret to the sauce of their success.

Hosted by veteran public relations specialists, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonymanolatos">Tony Manolatos</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/juan-m-hernandez-pisano-3166a275/">Juan Hernandez</a> discuss the not so obvious talents, attributes, and behaviors of fellow colleagues. Learn what's not in the bios and CV's and what's be the secret to the sauce of their success.

Dear San Diego

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