From punk shows in San Jose, living in New York, cranberry farming to hand-dug Ozark clay, Melissa Weiss has built a bi-coastal, big-hearted practice rooted in resilience and resistance. The hurricane Helene flood took out her Asheville studio, but she keeps creating—on the road, in residences, and from 75 wild Arkansas acres she and her husband dig clay from each year. Influenced by ancient forms, folk art, and animals, Melissa’s work is as much about people as pots—whether teaching across the country or founding Potters for Palestine.
Hosted by Molly Spencer and guest co-host, Sonoma Ceramics Director, Meg Billingham.
Molly Spencer and guest co-host, Cat Smith, sit down with Libby Oberlin—an award-winning Bay Area actor, stage director, and educator whose passion for the stage began at just six years old. From her start as a kid reporter in Springfield, Massachusetts to a rich career spanning Shakespearean powerhouses, opera divas, and comedic clowns, Libby has done it all.
We dive into her impressive journey through companies like We Players, Shotgun Players, The Mountain Play, and more, including her celebrated turn as Maria Callas. But at the heart of this conversation is her upcoming role as the one and only Janis Joplin in A Night with Janis at Sonoma Arts Live Theater—a show that promises powerhouse vocals, raw emotion, and Libby’s signature fearless energy.
Fun, witty, and deeply passionate about her hometown of Sonoma, Libby shares the joys, challenges, and inspirations that have shaped her as an artist.
Step into the world where horses heal and community thrives. This week, we’re talking with Becca Knopf, the dynamic program manager behind the magic at Square Peg Foundation Sonoma —a nonprofit that’s redefining what belonging looks like.
From retired racehorses to neurodivergent youth and adults, Square Peg creates a space where every story matters (tails included).
Becca opens up about her roots, her personal journey of growth, and becoming a part of Square Peg, the organization’s celebrates being part of the new documentary Rescued Hearts, which beautifully captures the life-changing bond between humans and horses. Gallop along with us and discover the beatiful story of Square Peg Foundation .
In this episode, we catch up with Spencer DeSylva, Sonoma’s own Trashion Icon, who once globe-trotted through the fashion capitals of London and Manchester, earned a degree in Fashion Marketing, and landed a job with, yes- the Philip Treacy. Between a pandemic and Brexit, Spencer found themselves returning to the States wondering what was next.
Enter Trashion Fashion Sonoma. From outreach, education, social media, taking the runway by storm and holding a year-long artist residency that’s chock full of entertaining, dazzling and informative YouTube videos.
Every Trashion season, Spencer is a part of Trashion and divides their time with their business' Vignette du Vin, creating fashion illustrations using wine as the medium and also being an integral part of Professionals with Pride, Sonoma County's first LGBTQIA+ Chamber of Commerce.
We talk about using trash as the fashion medium, the dangers of consumerism and what it takes to live an unapologetically extravagant life in the arts. And trust us—reading about Spencer is one thing, but hearing them? That’s a runway moment of its own.Come for the couture, stay for the charisma. Spencer DeSylva is the moment.
This week on the pod, we sat down with a true community legend: Manuel Merjil, a connector of many and all-around cultural spark plug. Born and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, forged in San Francisco, and bloomed in Sonoma Valley, Manuel’s journey is anything but ordinary. From teaching citizenship classes, part founder of three magazines, and building community bridges for the latino, LGBTQ, theater and art communities - his story is a vivid mural of resilience, joy, and pure corazón.
We’ll talk about his upcoming honor at the 2025 Sonoma Community Center Muse Gala celebrating opportunity, unity and community. Tune in for a love story, inspiration and a true humanitarian who believes in the power of positivity.
It's another KSVY & SCC podcast merge with KSVY radio host Cat Smith and Molly Spencer from the SCC podcast!
We have a chat with Jesse Fernandez, a 17-year stand-up comedian who is instructing a summer course at SCC called Make Them Laugh - A Stand Up Comedy Class!
Jesse, who regularly performs at all the major Bay Area clubs, has been featured in 11 SF Sketchfests, written and produced for Emmy-winning teams and videos, presented research at The International Society For Humor Studies Conference, and won the Speechless improvised PowerPoint competition as well as the National College Comedy Competition. Among the countless people he’s opened for are Maria Bamford (from Netflix’s Lady Dynamite), Andy Kindler (judge on NBC’s Last Comic Standing), Mary Lynn Rajskub (from Fox’s 24), and even Steve-O (you know what he’s from). He’s written in the funniest parts of great TED Talks, Starbucks, MSN, ABC, eBaum’s World (yes, they’re still around), famous comedians, and many more.
From humble beginnings with Top Ramen dinners in a big Hawaiian family to becoming a fermentation queen and thriving business owner, Sam Paone has crafted a unique path through food, music, and business. As the owner of Golden State Pickle Network/Collective Cultures, Sam turns everyday ingredients into extraordinary flavors—think kimchi dressings, bold aiolis, and more.
From music school in Denver to the restaurant kitchens of Berkeley, Sam helped advise on a Kenwood restaurant opening , where an obsession with fermentation turned from a hobby into a thriving business. Now, with sold-out fermentation classes at the Sonic Community Center and a new pilot series, "Jarring Everything" , Sam is expanding their culinary influence and currently raising sponsorship to bring the show to life on Eat This Network.
Tune in as we dive into the wild world of fermentation, the artistry of balancing bold flavors, and the adventurous life journey of an amazing woman!
In this episode, we sit down with Anthony Fontaine, a chef, teacher, and beekeeper who brings a touch of Normandy, France, to the heart of Northern California. From Berkeley to Petaluma, Anthony has not only planted roots but infused his communities with the warmth and depth of French cuisine.
Teaching at the Sonoma Community Center, he believes a meal is more than just food—it’s an experience, an atmosphere, and an opportunity to bring people together. His philosophy is simple yet profound: “Find your own answer around the table.” Through his classes, he inspires home cooks to embrace independence in the kitchen, particularly teens in the Kitchen on Fire program in Berkeley, where he fosters confidence and creativity in young chefs.
Beyond the classroom, Anthony is passionate about knife skills and classic French bistro cooking, which he aims to bring to his classes at SCC. But his love for food extends beyond the kitchen—he is also a dedicated beekeeper. A fascinating journey indeed!!
Brooklyn-based multidisciplinary artist Christian Moses is the 2025 Sonoma Ceramics Artist in Residence and kicks off the pod with a deep dive into his whimsical world of ceramics, where nostalgia meets New York’s rich cultural history. Born and raised in Harlem and Brooklyn with five siblings, Christian’s ceramics journey really took off in 2020 with his handcrafted, unconventional ceramic designs filled with whimsical illustrations started gathering attention.
We talk about his early hustle, launching a skateboard deck design business at just 16, his love for bones shirts, and how his latest work draws inspiration from the iconic Pelle jackets that defined hip-hop style in the ‘70s. Tune in for a conversation about craftsmanship, culture, and a slice of the Christian Moses story!
Join us for an inspiring episode featuring Tony Gonzalez, the Artistic Director of Transcendence Theatre Company. Tony opens up about his deep-seated belief in the power of teamwork and how it shapes his work in theater, family and life.
From his Ohio roots to the dazzling lights of Broadway, Tony shares his incredible journey as a performer and associate choreographer in the hit musical "Mama Mia," which took him around the globe for over 10 years. He shares his enthusiasm and love for the incredible family and community of the Transcendence Theater Co.
With a passion for positivity and an infectious enthusiasm, Tony’s story is a testament to following your dreams. Plus, we'll delve into his love for Mexican food and traveling! Get ready for an upbeat and heartwarming episode filled with laughter, inspiration, and the magic of the performing arts.
Meet Azelia Mazur, the warm and vibrant Sonoma Ceramics studio tech and assistant, as she invites you into her world of creativity and connection. In this episode, Azelia shares her journey growing up with Deaf parents, becoming bilingual in ASL, and how these experiences shaped her unique perspective. From milking water buffalo to creating wild and wonderful ceramics, she blends her passions into an extraordinary life. Listen in as Azelia talks about her favorite foods, her love of swing dancing, and the joy she finds in building community through art and movement. It’s a heartfelt, inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss!
Meg Billingham, Director of Sonoma Ceramics, co-hosts the podcast and we dive into the immersive creative journey
of interdisciplinary artist, Kate Rusek. Kate is based in the vibrant heart of New York City and is currently the Fall 2024 artist-in-residence at Sonoma Ceramics at SCC. Her upcoming exhibit, Filtering the Feast will be in SCC Gallery 212 from Nov 23- Dec 23, 2024.
Kate describes her work as "maximalist biophilic forms, combining valuable and value-less materials through a lens of ‘naturalness’, and an interrogation of deep time. My practice is a means to examine climate grief, ecological collapse, loss, and heartbreak through a lens of organic abundance. My work is an action to reshape anthropogenic ruin into an act of eco-future making." .
Kate also takes us behind the scenes and describes her role on the costume design team at SNL(Saturday Night Live), current and past design projects and the need to surround herself in nature as a recent explorer of trail running in the hills of Sonoma. Prepare for an insightful journey that challenges perceptions, illuminates craftsmanship and learn more about a visual artist whose life is full of curiosity.
The Center's Screambassador, Cat Smith, pops in to reintroduce the Scream Extravaganza episode. Learn about Screamers and Scream-ees. Test your knowledge of Scream trivia while Cat discovers that Molly and Takeshi are really just Screamees. This episode revisits interviews with Daniel Casabonne, the man responsible for making it possible to film Woodsboro High School scenes at the Center, and Franco Caramelino, a Scream enthusiast who haunts the Center all the way from Iowa!
Tickets are on sale now for the SCREAM (1996) showing in Andrews Hall on Wednesday, October 30, at 7 PM. Tickets are available at SonomaCommunityCenter.org. Limited edition tote bags and screenprints (made right inside the Woodsboro High classroom, Room 208 at the Center) will be sold while supplies last. The current design is by artist Sydney Boldt.
If all prints and totes sell out by the film's end on October 30th, we will reveal the next limited edition design from New Yorker Cartoonist, Hilary Fitzgerald Campell! (Hear her on the podcast in Episode 34: Hometown Hits with Hilary Campbell) Preorders of totes and prints will be sold that night.
Kelly Autumn is an American Asian visual artist and multidisciplinary printmaker based in Northern California. Currently, she is showcasing her solo exhibition, "Everything on the Table" at the Center. In this exhibition, Kelly draws inspiration from her unique upbringing in a dome during the 1970s, raised by a free-spirited, DIY, back-to-the-earth family.
Her artistic journey has taken her through various creative endeavors, including owning a small cooperative arts and crafts store in the East Bay, before ultimately finding her passion for printmaking at Diablo College.
IKelly provides Printmaking 101 for us and by breaking down the essentials of intaglio, monoprinting, relief, and screen printing. She also explores various methods, from woodblock printing to linocut, and the innovative and fun use of materials such as Legos, recycled items, and even veggies!
Hot musical vibes as we sit down with multi talented Sophia De Leon Sanchez, a flamenco dancer, musician, songstress and beautiful human with a zest for life!
First time podcast moment- Sophia sings us a soulful version of Cucurrucucú Paloma. We talk about growing up in Chicago with deep multi-cultural roots and early exposure to dance and music through her family and neighborhood. We also talk about life in Sonoma with su amor, Frank Orrall, new friends and community and of course favorite food choices including where to get delectable beef tongue/ lengua. Get excited for upcoming classes and performances with Sophia!
Eric Jackson stops by Sonoma and doubles up a visit and interview with Molly Spencer of the Sonoma Community Center podcast and Cat Smith of the KSVY 91.3 radio show Hollywood and W. Napa! Eric' is currently Associate Artistic & Outreach Director at Pioneer Theatre Co in Salt Lake City , UT and returns to Sonoma for Trancendence Theater Co. summer production! We know and love him as former Creative Director and Trashion Fashion lead at the Center.
In a whirlwind of energy and love - Eric shares his roots and passion in finding theater, current projects and productions (including Tracendence Theater Co) record breaking 11 plays on a recent NYC trip and plays he would love to see come to life. We also talk Trashion, time at the Center and small town moments when Jerome the mailman recognizes you whipping around Sonoma!
Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell is living the dream! A multi-talented New Yorker cartoonist, author, comedian, and filmmaker. Her debut memoir, *Murder Book*, snagged the title of Best Graphic Novel of the Year at the 2022 Midwest Publishing Awards, solidifying her spot in the creative cosmos. With a knack for humor and insight, she has illustrated acclaimed books like *Feminist Fight Club* and *Are You My Uber?*, and her eagerly awaited second memoir, *The Joy of Snacking*, is set to grace bookshelves in 2025.
But before she became the queen of quirk and comic genius, Hilary was just a Sonoma girl with a love for Happy Dog, roller skating the bike path, and starting the dance team at Sonoma Valley High School. Oh, and let's not forget her cartooning roots at the beloved old-school movie rental gem, Movie Merchants, where she learned the cartooning ropes from the unforgettable Scott… uh, what was his last name again? It’s on the tip of her tongue, but that’s the magic of nostalgia! Hilary is a testament to how the quirks of our upbringing can shape our creative journeys.
Lee Armstrong is co-owner, producer and puppeteer at Images In Motion Inc., a company that specializes in puppetry for TV and film.
Hailing from Nova Scotia, Canada, Lee went looking for a job in the Arts and after Canada ManPower shared they did not even have an arts folder- Lee had them create one. Low and behold - one job came through the next day seeking a puppeteer and the rest is history!
She worked on Canadian network TV for ten years, including three years as a puppeteer on Jim Henson’s Emmy winning “Fraggle Rock.” Partial credits also include: Fraggle Rock, Follow That Bird, Monkeybone, Being John Malkovich, etc.She is a recipient of two regional Emmys, as a producer/writer and puppeteer. work has been a key part of videos that have earned awards the National Ad Council, national Telly Awards, and more.
She is the President of the San Francisco Bay Area Puppeteers Guild and shares all about the upcoming 2024 Puppet Festival taking place August 2024 right here at the Sonoma Community Center!
Claire shares their magic to living an organic and authentic life! We talk to this "master of disguise" (as Gerardo calls them) and learn all about how they are a born Sonoman with deep Italian roots, and a clinical herbalist and teacher at the CA. School of Herbal Studies. They share their rich past rich in farming with the renowned Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley and a former student/farmer of Green String Farms founded by Bob Cannard - the grandfather of local, organic agriculture.
Currently, Claire is the liaison for Queer Art Club & Queer Art Camp, an SCC and Positive Images program for LGBTQIA+ teens. She leads fiber arts/sewing instruction at SCC as well as an assistant at the Kala Stein Ceramics studio.
We fall down the rabbit hole of which top five herbs and flowers you would choose?
