Tune in this evening at 7pm to KSQD 90.7 FM Community Radio or streaming at Ksqd.org to hear from Cabrillo College culinary instructor Chef Andrea Mollenaur.  Andrea shares her career journey from being a student of Cabrillo's culinary program to recently being hired as a full time instructor, to running her Food Lounge in downtown Santa Cruz

Andrea Mollenauer | Chef Instructor Cabrillo College Culinary

On this episode of the What to Be Show we hear from jade sculptor Justin Barrett(JustinJade.com).  Justin scuba dives off the Big Sur coast as well as mines in the Sierra Nevada foothills to source jade which he then carves into contemporary jewelry and art pieces.  Tune in to hear his inspiring career journey!

Justin Barrett | Jade Sculptor

In this episode of the What to Be Show we hear from Tom Laidig.  Tom has worked for the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration(NOAA) for over 30 years as a research fisheries biologist.  Tom leads an exciting career doing underwater research on mostly fish and corals using ROVs, AUVs, and scuba diving up and down the California coast, as well as Alaska and Hawaii.  Tune in to learn more!

Tom Laidig | NOAA Research fisheries biologist

On this episode of the What to Be Show we hear from Patricia Greenway. Patricia shares her meaningful career journey for us from being the President of Access to Employment where she assists youth and adults find work, as well as going into jails to help inmates integrate back into the workforce. Patricia also works for the Santa Cruz City Schools as a career development specialist with the special education department at Soquel High School. On top of all that Patricia is also on the board of directors for the Santa Cruz Symphony League that is involved in education for students. Tune in to find out more! Also available on Spotify and SoundCloud

Patricia Greenway | Santa Cruz City Schools Career Development Specialist

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Carol Panofsky. 

Carol, a musician, teacher, and graphic artist, is a s long-time Santa Cruz resident. She runs a minuscule business that provides layout and design services for musicians as well as teaching materials. She serves as Theory Director for the Ragazzi Boys Chorus and also teaches oboe, piano, early winds, and music theory privately. She is on the boards of the Santa Cruz County Branch of the Music Teachers’ Association of California, and of the Santa Cruz County Youth Symphony. 

Carol loves chamber music, and was one of the early organizers and performers for the Santa Cruz Chamber Players. More recently she started a series of free lunch-time concerts at the central branch of the Santa Cruz Public Library. Her plan was to do it as long as people came to the concerts and as long as there were musicians eager to donate their performances. The project was a stunning success, but is currently on hold due to Covid. With luck, concerts will resume in January.

Tune in to learn more about Carol’s career journey.

Carol Panofsky | Musician, Teacher & Graphic Artist

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Kay Blackwolf.

Kay is the Director of Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Programs at Defib This in Santa Cruz, California.  He started in EMS as a volunteer with the Muscogee Creek Nation Ambulance in Oklahoma.  He went on to work in New York City, North Carolina, Missouri, and California.  He continues to work in the field, doing standby medical for special events.

Tune in to learn more about Kay's career journey!

Kay Blackwolf | Paramedic & Director of DeFib This Santa Cruz

Tune in today to the What to Be Show to hear from Kim Corneille. 
Kim is a lifelong educator with 23 years of experience working in various roles- as a tutor, mentor, outdoor educator, classroom teacher, Education Liaison, and, most recently, as the Foster Youth Services Coordinator and Senior Community Organizer at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. She's worked with a wide range of underserved children and young people (ages 3-24), as well as families, teachers, administrators, and other community partners in Santa Cruz County. Kim is a trainer in Trauma Informed Practices for Schools and passionate about transforming schools into more healing-centered environments for at-promise students and the adults who serve them. 

Tune in to learn more about Kim’s career journey!

Kim Corneille | Foster Youth Services Coordinator at Santa Cruz County Office of Education

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Payson McNett. 

Payson is a Studio Art Professor and Director of Visual, Applied, and Performing Arts, Fab Lab, and Campus Makerspace programs at Cabrillo College in Aptos California. He earned his BA at San Jose State University and MFA from Indiana University. Tune in to listen to Payson’s inspiring career journey!

Payson McNett | Studio Arts Professor Cabrillo College

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Brett Steenbarger.

Brett Steenbarger, Ph.D. is Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY.  He serves as Director of Student Development for internship provider Connect-123 and works as a performance psychologist for professionals in financial markets.  When not working, Brett enjoys traveling with his wife of 39 years, Margie; visiting with their children and grandchildren; and playing with their three rescue cats. 

Tune in to learn more about Brett's career journey!

Brett Steenbarger | Professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences SUNY Upstate Medical University

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Nik Altenberg.

Nik is an early-career journalist currently working as a copy editor and fact checker for Santa Cruz Local and as a newscast intern for KQED. She earned a degree in Latin American and Latinx Studies from UCSC. Her goal is to tell stories that make connections and cross borders. @nikaltenberg.

Tune in to learn more about Nik's career journey!

Nik Altenberg | Journalist

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from McKenzie Prillaman.

McKenzie is a freelance science journalist who enjoys writing about neuroscience, health, and medicine. She graduated from the UCSC SciCom program and now lives in Washington, DC.

Tune in today to learn more about McKenzie's career journey!

McKenzie Prillaman | Freelance Science Journalist

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from local Santa Cruz Artist and Painter Ray Evans.

Following early art training at La Jolla High School, Mr. Evans began his art exposure and sales at the Bazaar Del Mundo in Old Town, San Diego. He had an ongoing contract with them as their in-house artist and had frequent showings there, as well as at the Tri Forum Gallery in Point Loma. He now resides in Santa Cruz, CA where he extensively studied at the nearby University of California and Cabrillo College. His work has been shown in many coastal galleries including San Francisco, Monterey, Carmel, and Venice Beach. Further from home, the Thompson Art Gallery in South Carolina, private collections in Arizona, and various restaurants and businesses have his pieces. Additionally, he continues to offer custom paintings for individual homes, even assisting in the design on location.

Tune in today to hear more about Ray's career journey!

Ray Evans | Artist and Painter

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Mary Gaukel Forster.

Mary Gaukel is a retired educator having served as a K -12  teacher and administrator in the county for over 33 years including 9 years as principal at Delta High School.   As an educator she served all students, with an additional focus on alternative education and second language learners.  Upon retirement, Mary served as the Executive Director for Your Future Is Our Business,  a non-profit dedicated to providing career exploration opportunities  for every student in Santa Cruz County.  She  continues with Your Future Is our Business serving Educational Partnerships. Mary  is a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)  for youth in the foster care or juvenile justice system, a National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)  presenter for Ending the Silence for School Staff,  the Santa Cruz Rotary Sunrise Interact Advisor for Delta High School, a Hospice Volunteer, a member of the Delta High School Board, a coach for new school administrators, and the proud grandparent of 6.   Her professional and community service has been recognized with awards for Association of California Administrators (ACSA) Administrator of the Year, Santa Cruz County Administrator of the Year, and the Red Cross Central Coast Educator Hero Award, and just recently as the Santa Cruz County Community Hero by the Santa Cruz Sentinel.  She  holds a degree in English from San Jose State University and a Masters in Education Administration from Santa Clara University.

Tune in to learn more about Mary's career journey!

Mary Gaukel Forster | Educator

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Diane Cowen.

Diane is the Adult Services Librarian at the Capitola Branch of the Santa Cruz Public Libraries. After serving as the Communications Manager for the Library system for 10 years, she is happy to engage the community directly with adult programs and services. Her programming interests include social justice and outreach to underserved populations, civic engagement, and the humanities. She has a BA in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Santa Cruz and a Masters of Library and Information Science (MLIS) from San Jose State University. She is the project manager for the Library’s SoundSwell Local Music Collection, which fairly compensates local musicians for making their music available to library cardholders for free. A long-time supporter of Community Radio, Diane is thrilled to volunteer on the Board of Directors for K-Squid Community Radio, which brings together her programming interests in community conversations with great music for a local feel.

Diane Cowen | Adult Services Librarian Capitola

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Mariah Roberts.

"I serve my community through creative/collaborative efforts across sectors. Currently, I'm laser focused on activating the power of our Santa Cruz County Park public spaces through inclusion, access and partnerships.”

Tune in to learn more about Mariah's career journey!

Mariah Roberts | Executive Director at County Park Friends

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Sara Decelle.

Sara is an Academic Specialist faculty member at Cabrillo College specializing in the development of career education noncredit courses. Sara partners with faculty all across the college to revise and develop noncredit courses. These courses are tuition free, repeatable, and designed for gaining or refining skills for the workplace. In addition, Sara runs a STEM field teaching class at Cabrillo College with partner funding from CSUMB's RISE Ready NSF Noyce grant.

Sara Decelle | Academic Specialist Faculty Cabrillo College

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Malakai Wade.

Malakai is an independent audio producer creating podcasts in Los Angeles. She currently works as an associate producer for Wondery. She has a degree in journalism and a passion for solutions-driven storytelling, astronomy, and photography.

Malakai Wade | Independent Audio Producer

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Hilary Bryant.

Hilary is the Donor Services Director for the Community Foundation Santa Cruz County. She co-founded Buoy Labs in 2015, a tech startup that optimizes the way we use water, which was acquired in 2019. She was a Santa Cruz City Council member from 2010-2014 and served as Mayor in 2013. Hilary is Co-chair for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary Foundation Board, Chair of the Local Stewardship Council for the Santa Cruz World Surfing
Reserve and on the Cruz Foam Advisory Board. In addition, she is a member of the Santa Cruz Sunrise Rotary and the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce Emeritus Board. A UC Santa Cruz graduate, Hilary earned her BA in Biology, was an All-American water polo player, and enjoys biking, running, and surfing.

Hilary Bryant | Donor Services Director at Community Foundation Santa Cruz County

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Executive Salesman Sean Bigley.

"I was born in Boston and grew up in the East Bay area of Northern California. I grew up very much involved in sports & played college baseball. I enjoy sports, fitness, cooking, writing, coffee & punk rock music. I have a side fitness business and for most of my professional career, I've been a sales executive. Companies I've worked for are Xerox, Ikon, WebEx, and VSP(vision service plan)."

Tune in today to learn more about Sean's career journey!

Sean Bigley | Executive Sales

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Dave Decelle. "After 7 years as a Director of Consumer Insights at Netflix, I started my own consulting firm in 2019. For over 20 years, I’ve been weaving essential consumer and business insights into compelling stories and conceptual frameworks that simplify complex relationships, crystallize business strategies, and, ultimately, persuade executive audiences.

I’m adept at synthesizing insights across multiple data sources, including qualitative, survey, behavioral, a/b test and analyst data. I apply design thinking in my research to develop conceptual frameworks that creatively contextualize business opportunities and unlock innovative thinking.

While I most recently focused on the technology and entertainment media categories at Netflix, I have experience across a variety of sectors, including financial, automotive, food & beverage, retail, and general consumer goods and services. 

In a past life, I was a videographer and multimedia producer, and I continue to apply those storytelling skills to bringing consumers to life in a compelling way that helps business leaders deeply empathize with their customers. My work has spanned the globe, taking me to such places as London, Stockholm, Barcelona, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Singapore, Beijing, Seoul, Mumbai, Ho Chi Minh City, Bogota, Sao Paolo and Voronezh (that’s in Russia).

In my downtime, you can find me surfing head-high waves on my longboard off the coast of Santa Cruz, CA.”

Experience in: Consumer research, consulting, storytelling and conceptual frameworks that drive innovations in product and content development, brand positioning, and marketing strategy.
Tune in today to learn more about Dave’s career journey!

Dave Decelle | Consultant

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Erin Dunn.

Erin is a bilingual educator, nonprofit professional and former US Army nurse with a master's degree in International Development. She's dedicated over 20+ years to learning, volunteering and working to create positive change in hospitals, schools, churches, and diverse communities around the globe. As a former ultra runner/elite cyclist and dancer she's always been a part of the fitness and wellness community. Her strong belief in the healing powers of movement inspired her to become a personal trainer and take a serious career pivot into the fitness and wellness industry. She is the Group Fitness Co-Director at Rocky's Rehabilitation, Fitness and Conditioning where she works with nationally-recognized fitness expert Rocky Snyder and his team to deliver specialized programs focused on cutting-edge neuroscience and biomechanics to help people face their unique challenges. 

Tune in today to learn more about Erin’s career journey!

Erin Dunn | Rocky's Fitness

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Bibianna Rocha.

Bibianna is the Tax Collection Supervisor at the County of Santa Cruz with ten years of accounting, human resources, and outreach experience. She utilizes this experience to ensure the Tax Collector’s Office follows the laws required for collection of Property Tax, Cannabis Business Tax, Transient Occupancy Tax, and Cup Tax while effectively communicating with the public.
 
Bibianna was born and raised in Northern California in a small town called Live Oak where she found her passion to volunteer and give back to her Latino community. In 2020, Bibianna distributed over 10,000 masks to farmworkers in South County in the height of the COVID pandemic. Bibianna also created the first ever Rally in the Pajaro Valley softball tournament to raise funds for a local youth organization and encourage team building among nonprofit agencies. Since moving to Watsonville in 2019, she has served on several Board of Directors and Committees for the following nonprofits: Encompass Community Services, United Way, and Central Coast Early Childhood Advocacy Network. She currently serves as a member for the Data and Equity Group within the county to ensure the county is putting into action the new equity statement that was unanimously passed in October 2023.
 
In addition, Bibianna is a mother of two young children and hopes to instill the same passion to volunteer in her children.

Tune in today to learn more about Bibianna’s career journey!

Bibianna Rocha | Tax Collection Supervisor County of Santa Cruz

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Dr. Cristine Chopra.

Dr. Chopra is the Executive Director of the Santa Cruz County College and Career Collaborative at the Santa Cruz County Office of Education. She began her career in education in 1996 as a high school English teacher in San Jose. She served as the Director of the Collaborative for Instructional Development at the Washington State GEAR UP Project at the University of Washington as well as working with the Center for Curriculum Transformation and the Center for Multicultural Education. Dr. Chopra earned her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Washington and has taught as an adjunct faculty member at UCSC and CSUMB.

Tune in today to learn more about Christine’s career journey!

Cristine Chopra | Executive Director of Career Collaborative at the Santa Cruz County Office of Ed

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Nick Calubaquib. 

For more than 25 years, Nick has worked in the parks and recreation profession, serving the cities of Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Watsonville and Morgan Hill. He served as the Recreation Superintendent for the City of Watsonville from 2004-2011 and returned to the City in 2018, where he currently serves as the Parks and Community Services Director, managing the City’s 26 parks and extensive recreation programs. Nick received his Master’s in Recreation Management in 2007 from San Jose State, where he has also served as a part time lecturer.  Over the years, he has been very involved with the California Parks and Recreation Society, serving on a number of statewide committees and holding a variety of local and statewide board positions. He also serves on the Board of Directors for Community Bridges and Black Surf Santa Cruz and volunteers for the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. When he is not creating recreational opportunities for others, he enjoys spending time with his wife and two kids, surfing, skiing and training for triathlons. 

Tune in today to learn more about Nick’s career journey!

Nick Calubaquib | Parks and Community Services Director for the City of Watsonville

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Jeff Hall.

“From a young age, I dove headfirst into the wild world of work, kickstarting my career at a mere 14 years old as an ambulance dispatcher.  College wasn't just about textbooks for me; I tried my hand as a bouncer and later slung drinks as a bartender, honing my finesse and charm in handling all sorts of situations.

After snagging a degree, I decided to shake things up by joining the family business in financial services. But with a fire for independence burning within, I waved goodbye to the cozy confines of the family firm and set off on a San Francisco adventure armed with nothing but $3000 and a big ol' dream.

In the throes of the new millennium, I teamed up to co-found a consulting and software company, specializing in healthcare finance. For nearly two decades, I poured my heart and soul into growing that baby until 2018 came along, and I decided it was time for a change of pace, craving the sunny shores and family vibes of Santa Cruz.

I thought life by the beach would be all hammocks and sunsets, but fate had a plot twist. When the world got hit with the Covid-19 curveball, I felt the call to step up and serve my community. So, during lockdowns, I became the lifeline for families, delivering groceries to those stuck at home.

But just when I thought I had life figured out, our schools reopened, and I felt the tug to make a difference in young lives. Next thing I knew, I was behind the wheel of a school bus in the Santa Cruz City School District. Now, I cruise those roads not just as a driver but as a beacon of kindness and support for the kiddos I ferry – a gig that fills my heart to the brim.”

Tune in today to learn more about Jeff’s career journey!

Jeff Hall | Bus Driver Santa Cruz City Schools

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Dr. Paula Sims.

“I am a creative thinker who approaches long-contemplated ideas and reframes them. In doing so, I offer new discussions that lead to new approaches and solutions when necessary. I have a B.A. in Liberal Arts and studied at Baldwin-Wallace College in the Conservatory of Music where I also studied Psychology and Communication. My M.A. is in Counseling Psy and I hold a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Achieving advanced degrees as a single mother. It has been my honor to work with private non-profits, corporations, government agencies, and in higher education. I just started a new venture as a freelance writer that utilizes some of my prior experience, providing me with an outlet for my thoughts. I think it is of ultimate importance for someone to be true to themselves and their beliefs so I will never leave the social work side of myself on the doorstep that work will always be important. My forte' is looking for creative ways to tackle roadblocks through strategizing and thinking out of the box. If there is a great idea but it hasn't quite taken shape, I can move it from a work in fiction translating it into a viable work plan in the real world. I take pleasure in uniting people and moving them toward realizing common goals. My demeanor is always professional; however, I have a warm and engaging style and never lack a sense of humor.
 
Specialties: writing, editing, presenting, training, creating strategic plans along with their implementation, counseling, conceptualizing, advising, and investigative research. I have acquired a diverse expanse of knowledge spanning a wide range of topics. I believe I can speak just as well to theoretical frameworks, assessment, and problem-solving strategies moving from realistic to ethereal. I am comfortable speaking to sports and science just as well as I am at ease in addressing those in health, beauty, and spirituality. If you'd like to speak with me about employment possibilities please get in touch with me. I'm open to chat.”

Tune in today to learn more about Paula’s career journey!

Dr. Paula Sims | Clinical Psychologist & Teacher at CSUMB

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Morgan Guerra. 

“Hi I’m Morgan Guerra a fashion journalist. My initial work experiences in retail layed the groundwork for my future in fashion. I held leadership positions, trained new hires, and ran the sales floor, learning the most about personal style by witnessing others purchase their own. While pursuing a Communications degree at Cabrillo College, I was offered a trial to write a fashion column for Growing up in Santa Cruz. After interviewing the most stylish people I could find downtown and writing about the apparent trends in Santa Cruz, I fell in love with Fashion Journalism. I get to meet so many wonderful people and advertise small retail businesses in Santa Cruz by collaborating with creatives during my interviews and I cannot wait to see what the future brings.” Tune in today to learn more about Morgan’s career journey!

Morgan Guerra | Fashion Journalist

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Gave Kittle-Cervine.

“Gabe has over a decade of experience producing and hosting Poetry Slams, Hip Hop jams, live music concerts, art markets, workshops and multi-media art exhibitions. Gabe has two poetry publications from T*B*D*ink.; “I Like Being Dead” (2022), and a pocket book of his 4 part poem “Blank Page Boy” released in March of 2024. Currently, they live in the Live Oak neighborhood of Santa Cruz, working full time at Pacific Collegiate School, selling typewriter poems on the street most weekends Saturday, hosting workshops and readings for public as well as for private patrons. They also curate a free online antiracism resource called www.BetrayingWhiteness.org which is designed to provide well-meaning white folks with tools to begin undoing racism. Learn more about Gabe’s numerous works, and contact him directly at www.BlankMetaFour.com or follow him on Instagram @blankmetafour for all the most recent updates.” Tune in today to learn more about Gabe’s career journey!

Gabe Kittle-Cervine | Independent Publisher & Community Arts Organizer

Tune in to the episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Sally Arnold.

Sally is a retired teacher and current transportation activist.  She serves on the board of Friends of the Rail and Trail, the Transportation Committee of the local Sierra Club, and the Bicycle Advisory Committee to the Regional Transportation Commission.  She earned her BA with honors in Environmental Studies and her Teaching Credential at UCSC.

She sees that providing safe and convenient ways to travel without a car is a leverage issue.  Transforming our local transportation will affect the environment, climate change, land use patterns and preservation of habitat.  It will affect the health and safety of children and adults. Transportation is an economic issue brining  both employees and customers to businesses as well as providing working people with affordable access to opportunity.  Transportation is also an equity issue.  By providing an economical reliable passenger rail system to connect north and south county we can build the social and political connections that our county needs to thrive. Tune in today to learn more about Sally’s career journey!

Sally Arnold | Educator & Transportation Activist

Tune in to this episode of the What to Be Show to hear from Sam Kabert.

“Sam spent the early part of his career chasing success and in the process was named to Silicon Valley’s 40 under 40 list at just 31 years old. Despite building a million-dollar business as an Entrepreneur, Sam realized that he was unfulfilled and was lacking a deeper purpose to his life. Since 2019, Sam has courageously embraced a transformative path of self-discovery, centering his focus on prioritizing mental health. This personal evolution has become the heartbeat of his message, as he passionately speaks about the profound yet simple practice of SOUL/Life Balance.“ Tune in today to learn more about Sam’s career journey!

Sam Kabert | Author, Keynote Speaker & Entrepreneur

1st woman of color to serve as CEO of the United Way, Santa Cruz

CEO of the United Way, Santa Cruz | Keisha Frost

Ethical HACKER, Computer Information Systems Instructor | Irvin Lemus

Fashion Institute Of Design (FIDM) Guest Speaker | Brook Ewoldsen

Santa Cruz Boxing Owner | Brian Dunniway

Chief Operations Officer Defib This/Flight Nurse | Aki Williams

Radiology Technologist | Krista Cramer

Murry Schekman sits down with us to talk about his career journey as a teacher and principal. Murry provides some great advice for those interested in a career at K-12 schools!

Murry Schekman | Retired K-12 Administrator, Full-TIme Lecturer at San Jose State University

Andrea Willy | District Grant Writer with the Pajaro Valley Unified School District

Dr. Jon Girvetz | Clinical Psychologist

Tom AmRhein has been working on a farm almost his entire life. No, really, for literally almost his entire life. Tom was born and raised a hard worker, the son of a World War II veteran. In this episode, we learn from Tom what it is like to work among all areas of the agriculture industry, from field work to data collection, he's had hands on everything in the farm.

Tom AmRhein | Vice President of Naturipe Berry Growers and General Manager of Elkhorn Berry Farms

A radio show hosted by Your Future Is Our Business, a Santa Cruz non-profit which helps students explore careers. We interview and highlight the careers of inspirational people in Santa Cruz County and ask them to tell us what their job is really like, and how they got there! Our show airs Sundays at 7pm 90.7fm KSQD Santa Cruz , or stream online at ksqd.org. New episodes uploaded every week!

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