April is National Poetry Month, and we invited Caleb Nichols, the Poet Laureate of San Luis Obispo County, to gather local poets from the region to do a poetry reading session at our studio. Caleb hosts the segment. Mira Honeycutt, host of Wine Country, speaks to winemakers Edgar Torres and Enrique Torres about their journey to making Spanish wines in Paso Robles. Then, the San Luis Obispo Film Festival starts April 24th and continues until April 29th, with encore screenings from May 1st to the 5th at the Palm Theater. Skye McLennan is the Executive Director of the festival and the SLO Film Center. She talks to me, Meher Ali, about what she’s most excited about for this year’s festival and why a theater is the best place to watch your favorite horror movies.

Marisa Waddell, KCBX Program Director, is in conversation with Ira Glass, the creator, producer, and host of This American Life. Ira is touring with a show called An Evening With Ira Glass, Seven Things I’ve Learned, and he’s coming to the San Luis Obispo Performing Arts Center on April 5th at 8 pm. Here, he shares his thoughts about what makes a great radio story and the importance of documenting our times. Next, KCBX's Fr. Ian Delinger is in entrepreneur Erin Holden's kitchen, sitting in on a caramel-making session. Holden owns Queen Bee Caramels and makes caramels using honey from her bees. Lastly, Sam Doyle-Jacobson, KCBX's Programming Intern, speaks with Kim Bisheff and her musician son Wes about the nonprofit San Luis Obispo Instrumental Music Boosters Association, or SLOIMBA, and how it has changed student lives in San Luis Obispo.

KCBX Programming Intern Sam Doyle-Jacobson's interview with Randy Widera, Director of Programs for California State Parks Foundation, where he discusses the decline in monarch butterfly populations and why their survival is key. Linda Seeley and Jane Swanson, board members of San Luis Obispo Mothers for Peace, speak with KCBX's Meher Ali about their concerns related to the Diablo Canyon Power Plant and why they continue to advocate for its closure. Then, KCSB reporter Mavis Holley talks to Megan Overland, who is part of the Santa Barbara Advocacy Network, about how allies can support the transgender community going forward. Lastly, we have another story from KCSB: this one from reporter Rose Friedrich, who interviews Asian American Studies Professor John Park about the history of birthright citizenship.

Susanne Rostock, director of “Following Harry,” a documentary about the life of singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte, speaks with KCSB reporter Kelly Darroch about her lifelong friendship with Belafonte. The documentary was featured at this year’s Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Then, for Peace, Love and Pets, Robin Coleman of Woods Humane Society talks to Sarah Tomasetti, organizer of Wine 4 Paws Weekend, about participating local businesses and exciting, pet-friendly lineup of events. Our episode concludes with a conversation between KCBX's Tom Wilmer and author Sean Weir, where the latter recounts his days working at a historic California vineyard and the assorted group of individuals who joined him in, what turned out to be, an adventure in winemaking.

We have a brand new segment here on Issues and Ideas! It’s called Wine Country and it’s hosted by wine journalist Mira Honeycutt. Mira is in conversation with Paso Vintners Gary Eberle, founder of Eberle Winery, and Jerry Lor, founder of J. Lor Vineyards and Wines, about Cabernet Sauvignon from Paso Robles. Sarah Mason, founder of the nonprofit Infinite Music, talks to KCBX Programming Intern Sam DJ about the long-term learning benefits of music education. Jim Dantona, host of Working Lunch, speaks with Sue Anderson, CEO of Dignity Health Central Coast Facilities about the specialized care they provide and the future of healthcare in the region.

KCBX reporter Amanda Wernik talks about why it's important for her to report on the Refugio pipeline. Fr. Ian Delinger visits schools in San Luis Obispo County to learn more about California Wheat Commission's Wheat2School project. KCBX reporter Alyssa Toledo's story about the musical Million Dollar Quartet playing at the San Luis Obispo Repertory Theater until March 9th and what sets it apart from other productions. And my interview with community members from SLO county who want to celebrate Palestinian culture through a poetry reading honoring Palestinian poet and activist Refaat Alareer.

KCBX's Robin Coleman talks with Jaime Pierce, owner of the Caffeinated Cat Cafe in Grover Beach for Peace, Love and Pets. Sam DJ, Programming Intern at KCBX, talks to members of Cal Poly's Mariachi ensemble about their heritage and what Mariachi means to them. From the California Report, reporter Benjamin Purper talks to Chencho Perez, a musician, who is part of a community of artists celebrating and experimenting with Norteño music, in the Santa Maria valley. Last but not least, KCBX's Tom Wilmer is in conversation with award-winning author Yang Huang about her literary works and her lived experiences in China and the degree to which they inform her work.

Jim Dantona, host of Working Lunch and CEO of San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce sits down with Maureen Zawalick, Vice President of Business and Technical Services at PG&E to talk about the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant. KCBX's Brian Reynolds talks to Reilly Newman, co-author of a new book, along with his business partner Scott Saunders, titled “Brandy: 101 Sips of Wisdom For Attaining a Successful Brand.” Dr. Ronda Beaman, Executive Director of the nonprofit Dream Makers San Luis Obispo, speaks with KCBX's Meher Ali about what she has learned from fulfilling the final wishes of terminally ill patients in San Luis Obispo County.

Grace Seng, Music Education Manager of the SLO Symphony, in conversation with Marisa Waddell, KCBX's Program Director about music education and the SLO Youth Symphony. Mary Matakovich, Board President for the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. High School Memorial Scholarship Fund, speaks to Sam DJ, Programming Intern at KCBX, about honoring Dr. King through scholarships for SLO high schoolers. One of the founders of SLO County UndocuSupport, Joel Diringer, talks about his new report on immigrants living in SLO County, with KCBX's Meher Ali. And, KCSB student reporter Joyce Chi speaks to UCSB scientists about President Trump's funding pause on the NIH and its impact on science and health research.

Lee Herrick, the poet laureate of California in conversation with Caleb Nichols, the new poet laureate of San Luis Obispo County. Robin Coleman for Peace, Love and Pets speaks to Isabelle Gullö from Care for Paws and Katie Bean from Creekside Pet Boarding, about their efforts to make pet boarding more affordable in San Luis Obispo County. KCBX’s Father Ian Dellinger traveled to Paso Robles this past November to attend the Garagiste Festival. It was the last in a series of wine festivals and this year’s starts next week on February 7th in Solvang.