bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the conversation focused on the intersection of art, business, and community in San Antonio’s music scene through the story of Doc Watkins and the evolution of Jazz Texas at the Pearl. Now celebrating its 10th anniversary, Jazz Texas stands as a rare example of a successful local jazz club that has weathered industry challenges, a global pandemic, and ongoing pressures within the performing arts sector.

The discussion explored why Watkins chose this moment in his career to author a memoir, the realities and risks of expanding his club model to Houston and Ch...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the current landscape and future direction of economic development in San Antonio, focusing on the interplay between attracting new employers and creating long-term opportunities for local residents. Host Cory Ames sits down with Leo Gomez, CEO of the Brooks Development Authority, and Sarah Carabias-Rush, President and CEO of Greater:SATX, for a grounded discussion on the city's approach to thoughtful growth, quality job creation, and the challenges that come with a rapidly expanding population.

The conversation explores:

• How regional partnerships—like those between Brooks and Greater:SATX—shape job growth...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Chef Leo Davila, a San Antonio native whose personal journey has led him from childhood field trips downtown to running the kitchens at the historic St. Anthony Hotel. After gaining a following at his acclaimed eight-table restaurant, Sticks and Stone, and being named a James Beard semifinalist, Davila made the decision to close his business and lead the food program at the St. Anthony—one of the city’s most storied venues.

Host Cory Ames and Chef Davila discuss the factors behind this major career move, what it means to b...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the changing face of San Antonio’s startup scene through the lens of Geekdom, the well-known downtown tech hub entering a new phase. 

Cory Ames is joined by Charles Wooden, CEO of Geekdom, to discuss the organization’s shift from coworking to a membership-driven club model—and why the focus is increasingly on supporting startups past the “Valley of Death”: that risky stage between launch and true validation.

They explore:

This week on bigcitysmalltown, filmmaker Ben Masters joins Cory Ames for an in-depth look at Texas’s rivers, conservation, and the stories behind Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers out in theaters, now. 

Set beside a Hill Country creek, the conversation traces Masters’ journey from Amarillo to acclaimed wildlife filmmaker, uncovering what it takes to capture Texas’s landscapes on film and the social, ecological, and historical factors shaping the state’s water.

They discuss:

• The logistical and creative challenges of filming Texas wildlife

• How rivers have shaped Texas’s cities, towns...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the newly redrawn Congressional District 35 and its implications for San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding rural communities. As political lines shift, so do the issues and challenges facing candidates and residents in the district.

Bob sits down with Johnny Garcia, Democratic candidate and sheriff’s deputy, to discuss the stakes of this pivotal race, the changing demographics of District 35, and how national partisan dynamics are playing out on deeply local terms.

They discuss:

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the future of San Antonio and other Southwestern cities through the lens of urban design, infrastructure, and climate resilience. 

Bob sits down with Duke Reiter, architect, educator, and founder of the Ten Across initiative, to examine the challenges and opportunities facing the cities connected by Interstate 10—from water scarcity and aging infrastructure to rapid growth, affordable housing, and the realities of climate change.

Their conversation explores why San Antonio is at the crossroads—literally and figuratively—for issues shaping the region’s future, how public-private partnerships like the new Centr...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a closer look at one of San Antonio’s cornerstone cultural institutions as it enters its centennial year—the Witte Museum. Marking 100 years since its founding in 1926, the Witte continues to serve as the city’s foremost museum of nature, science, and Texas heritage.

Bob sits down with Michelle Cuellar Everidge, President and CEO of the Witte, to dissect the museum’s deep local roots, its evolving role in the community, and the challenges and opportunities that come with stewarding a historic collection in a rapidly changing city.

They discuss...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we look at how UT San Antonio's Klesse College of Engineering is driving new ambition among San Antonio students—and earning global attention in the process. 

As UT San Antonio continues its evolution into a Tier 1 research institution, the experience of freshman-led Team 210 Robotics provides a window into both the campus culture and the resources shaping today’s engineering talent.

Host Bob Rivard is joined by Israel Elizondo and Dyshana Torres, two undergraduates whose team won the 2026 Siemens Immersive Design Competition, an international challenge with 1,900 entries from 350 universities worldwide. Their winning proje...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a close look at the evolution of solar energy in San Antonio, a city that now leads Texas and ranks among the top five in the nation for solar capacity. As CPS Energy’s long-running rebate programs wind down and the policy landscape shifts, what does the future hold for local solar initiatives—and for the residents and businesses looking to take part?

In conversation with Robert Miggins, CEO and co-founder of Big Sun Solar, the discussion explores how commercial solar has changed over the past decade, examines San Antonio’s munici...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine how San Antonio is preparing for—and managing—the increasing threat of extreme heat. As another sweltering summer grips the city, heat is no longer just an annual inconvenience but a growing risk to public health, infrastructure, and the local economy.

Cory Ames speaks with Laura Patiño, Director of the Department of Resilience and Sustainability for the City of San Antonio. The conversation focuses on the city’s new Heat Resiliency Playbook, what makes San Antonio’s climate challenges distinct, and how neighborhoods most affected by heat are shaping the response...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the latest ALICE data and the stark realities of financial hardship facing working families in San Antonio and Bexar County. 

According to a new report from UnitedforALICE and United Way, 44% of local households are struggling to afford basic needs—even when earning more than twice the federal poverty line.

Host Cory Ames is joined by Stephanie Smith of United Way of San Antonio and Bexar County, and Jonathan Gurwitz, United Way board member and partner at K. Harvey Brand Partners, to break down what the ALICE numbers reveal and wha...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to Knight Aerospace—an innovative San Antonio company with a global footprint, yet little name recognition. Based at Port San Antonio, Knight Aerospace specializes in creating advanced modular systems for military and government aircraft, enabling rapid transformation for missions ranging from medical evacuations to VIP transport.

Bob sits down with Bianca Rhodes, CEO and president of Knight Aerospace, to examine her journey from the Rio Grande Valley to the helm of a company at the intersection of manufacturing, medicine, and aviation. The discussion traces the company’s evolution, how the...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we explore the unlikely journey of Tio Pelon’s Salsita, a San Antonio-made salsa brand found across Texas grocery shelves—and the story of the entrepreneur behind it. Bob sits down with Oscar Perez, architect-turned-founder of Tio Pelon, to examine how a borderlands upbringing, a family recipe, and a series of calculated risks transformed a backyard experiment into a recognizable name in local stores.

Bob and Oscar discuss:

• The personal, cultural, and economic factors that shaped Tio Pelon’s origins
• Navigating the legal, regulatory, and logistical hurdles of building a food busin...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the conversation turns to the Youth Orchestras of San Antonio (YOSA) at a pivotal moment in its history. As YOSA prepares for its 50th anniversary and the opening of its first permanent home, the discussion examines the organization’s impact on music education, city culture, and the future of classical music in San Antonio.

Bob is joined in the studio by YOSA Music Director Troy Peters, who reflects on his long tenure, the challenges faced by young musicians, and the broader arts ecosystem in the region. With Peters soon joining his wife, Anne, in...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, the focus shifts to homelessness in San Antonio—an issue that remains top-of-mind for both policymakers and residents, despite substantial public and private investment.

Bob welcomes Rhonda Mundhenk, who recently stepped into the role of CEO at the San Antonio shelter, Haven for Hope. They discuss the realities on the ground, the evolving demographics of homelessness, and how San Antonio’s approach compares to other major cities. The conversation explores what’s working, where resource gaps remain, and the impact of housing costs and healthcare policy on the most vulnerable.

They discus...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, a San Antonio local who has served 32 years on the federal bench. Known for his distinctive, often witty legal opinions, Judge Biery offers a candid look into the realities of the Western District of Texas—one of the nation’s largest and busiest federal court districts, encompassing everything from Austin to El Paso.

Bob Rivard and Judge Biery discuss the pressures facing the federal courts, the increasing case backlog driven by immigration issues, and the long-term impact of national politics on local judicial work...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we visit Clementine, a family-owned restaurant in Castle Hills that has quietly become a fixture for neighborhood dining and local sourcing in San Antonio. Bob Rivard sits down with Chef John Russ to discuss the realities of operating an ambitious independent restaurant outside of the city’s trendiest areas—and how decisions around location, size, and sustainability have shaped Clementine’s identity and resilience since opening in 2018.

They discuss:

• The challenges and opportunities of opening a restaurant in a modest strip center rather than downtown or at the Pearl

• How the te...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to local leadership and public service in San Antonio. Bob sits down with former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, now the Democratic frontrunner for Bexar County Judge, to discuss his new memoir, The Education of a Texas Public Servant, published by Trinity University Press.

The conversation delves into Nirenberg’s journey from jazz station manager to public servant, as well as the personal and professional experiences that have shaped his time in office. The episode explores how family, crisis, and San Antonio’s unique culture have influenced Nirenberg’s approa...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with registered dietitian Claudia Zapata to examine the challenges and opportunities facing San Antonio’s food culture and public health. A longtime advocate for healthier eating and community well-being, Claudia brings her experience as a columnist, former television host, and founder of the Diplomacy Diet to the discussion.

Bob and Claudia discuss the roots of San Antonio’s health issues, the realities of changing eating habits in a city known for its food traditions, and the small steps individuals and institutions can take to improve outcomes for residents of all...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with San Antonio Police Chief William  McManus as he approaches the end of his nearly 20-year tenure leading the San Antonio Police Department. With retirement on the horizon in September 2026, Chief McManus offers a candid reflection on two decades of service in a city that has grown and changed dramatically.

Bob Rivard guides a conversation that covers the evolving challenges facing law enforcement in San Antonio. From changes in public celebrations to the impact of state legislation on policing practices, Chief McManus discusses the complexities of running a department in o...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Charlie Amato and Gary Dudley, co-founders of SWBC, to mark the company's 50th anniversary. What began in 1976 with $1,500, a third partner in Dallas, and car trunks for offices has grown into one of San Antonio's largest and most diversified private companies, with 2,500 employees, operations in all 50 states, and a growing presence in Monterrey, Mexico.

They discuss:

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Ambassador Tony Garza, a Brownsville native who served as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico under President George W. Bush from 2002 to 2009 and now works as counsel and special advisor to the global law firm White & Case in Mexico City, to discuss the state of the U.S.-Mexico relationship at a moment of unusual tension and opportunity.

They discuss:

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Ashley Alvarado, CEO of Texas Public Radio, and Angie Mock, CEO of the San Antonio Report, to discuss a major development in San Antonio's local news landscape: the two organizations are merging. 

Effective July 1st, the San Antonio Report will donate its assets to Texas Public Radio, combining operations under one roof to strengthen independent, nonprofit journalism in San Antonio.

They discuss:

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with two guests at the podcast studio at Our Lady of the Lake University — a first for the show. Don Graham is the retired chairman and publisher of The Washington Post Company, whose family also owned Newsweek Magazine, where Bob worked as a war correspondent and later chief of correspondents in the 1990s. Dr. Abel Antonio Chávez is the 10th president of Our Lady of the Lake University, a position he has held since July 2022. A first-generation, first-in-family college graduate and son of immigrants, he went from Front Range Community Col...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Cory Ames tells the story of the Robert L.B. Tobin Land Bridge at Phil Hardberger Park — in a new format for the show. Rather than a traditional guest conversation, this episode is a narrated oral history, recorded in the field at the park itself, weaving together tape from a morning walk Cory took with former Mayor Phil Hardberger and natural resources manager Wendy Leonard.

Just a week or so before this episode was released, a bronze statue of Phil Hardberger was unveiled at the park that bears his name. He is 91 ye...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Cory Ames moderates a live panel from Creative Futures, a two-day summit in San Antonio bringing together creators, builders, entrepreneurs, and civic thinkers. This conversation focuses on green spaces in San Antonio — how we grow them, how we protect them, and how we creatively integrate nature into a city that is expanding fast.

Joining Cory are Brandon Ross, capital programs manager for San Antonio Parks and Recreation, where he has spent two decades overseeing the Howard Peak Greenway Trail System, now over 100 miles of connected trail and growing; Bob Webster, co-owner of Shades of...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Cory Ames moderates a live panel from Creative Futures, a two-day summit in San Antonio bringing together creators, builders, entrepreneurs, and civic thinkers. The conversation centers on what it looks like to build a creative life and creative career in San Antonio — and what the city still needs to get there.

Joining Cory are Lionel Sosa, founder of what became the largest Hispanic advertising agency in the United States, a consultant on multiple national presidential campaigns, and a portrait artist whose work has been exhibited at the Smithsonian and presidential libraries; Kathy Sosa, co...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, Bob Rivard sits down with Dr. Michelangelo Sabatino, director of UT San Antonio's School of Architecture and Planning and the Roland K. Bloomberg Endowed Professor in Architecture. Six months into his role, Sabatino is making the rounds — meeting architects, developers, civic leaders, and students — and bringing a historian's eye and a pedestrian's sensibility to one of the fastest-growing cities in the country.

They discuss:

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the fight over the Howard Solstice Transmission Line — a proposed 370-mile, 765kV power line that would connect CPS Energy's Howard Road Station in Bexar County to a new substation in Pecos County, cutting through some of the most ecologically sensitive terrain in Texas.

Host Bob Rivard welcomes Ted Flato, founding principal of Lake|Flato Architects and founder of the Headwaters Alliance, and Jada Jo Smith, owner of Orange Blossom Realty in Utopia and an elected official on the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District. Both are longtime Hill Country ranchers an...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the story behind ProsperOps, a cloud cost optimization startup with roots in San Antonio and Austin. Founded by a group of former Rackspace employees—known as “Rackers”—ProsperOps has quietly grown into a significant player in cloud services, culminating in its acquisition by Chicago-based Flexera earlier this year.

Host Bob Rivard welcomes founders Erik Carlin and Chris Cochran for an in-depth conversation about the company's unconventional journey. Operating as a remote-first team with no fixed address, ProsperOps leveraged early support from the local “Racker family,” worked with minimal overhead, and never sought outsi...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to Big Bend—one of the most remote and ecologically significant regions in Texas—amid renewed national debate over plans to build a border wall through Big Bend National Park, Big Bend Ranch State Park, and surrounding areas. The episode addresses the longstanding local opposition to the wall, the potential impacts on the natural landscape, and what the proposal could mean for communities and businesses in West Texas.

Bob is joined by Brewster County Judge Greg Henington, Tara Shackelford of Hidden Dagger Adventures, and Sam Stavanoha, owner of the Fren...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the state of homelessness in San Antonio—a topic that impacts every corner of the city and reflects larger challenges across Texas. Hosts Bob Rivard and Cory Ames are joined by Katie Wilson, president and CEO of Close to Home, the lead nonprofit coordinating citywide efforts to prevent and reduce homelessness.

Wilson shares her local perspective and expertise, detailing how funding, collaboration, and long-term planning shape San Antonio’s approach. Together, they explore why homelessness is increasingly a “housing problem,” how the mismatch between wages and housing costs is pushing more families...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the career and leadership journey of Lori Houston, former Assistant City Manager for San Antonio and now CEO of CE Group—a prominent event, public relations, and marketing organization with deep roots in the city.

Bob Rivard sits down with Lori Houston to discuss her transition from public service to private enterprise, the challenges and insights gained from overseeing some of San Antonio’s most consequential downtown projects, and her vision for CE Group’s future as the company enters a new chapter.

They explore:

• The evolution of San A...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the transformation of Mitchell Lake on San Antonio’s South Side—from decades as a city sewage dump to its current status as a 1,200-acre urban wildlife sanctuary and a critical stop along the Central Flyway for hundreds of migratory bird species.

Cory Ames is joined by Erin Magerl, Senior Education Coordinator at the Mitchell Lake Audubon Center, to detail the lake’s complicated history, its current ecological significance, and what its rebirth says about conservation in a rapidly growing city.

They discuss:

• The origins of Mitchell Lake as...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the realities behind CPS Energy’s record-setting proposed budget and the future of San Antonio’s energy infrastructure. As San Antonio and South Texas experience unprecedented growth, CPS Energy—the nation’s largest public energy utility—faces a host of challenges and opportunities in delivering reliable, affordable power to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses.

Bob Rivard sits down with Rudy Garza, President and CEO of CPS Energy, for a candid conversation about the implications of a 15% budget increase, delayed rate decisions, and how ongoing investments in transmission, generation, and renewables are shapin...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the pressing issue of San Antonio’s stray animal population and the role of affordable spay and neuter services in addressing it. With a 20% euthanasia rate at the city’s shelters and persistent challenges around pet overpopulation, animal welfare remains a critical public concern.

Host Bob Rivard is joined by Cathy Rosenthal, syndicated animal welfare columnist, and Vanessa Richey Said, chairwoman of the San Antonio Spay/Neuter Network. Together, they discuss how San Antonio compares to other major cities in animal welfare, the evolution of local policies and partnerships since the earl...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine Grassroots Carbon—a San Antonio-based company working at the intersection of ranching, environmental stewardship, and carbon markets. Founded in 2021 by Lew Moorman and Ed Byrne, Grassroots Carbon partners with ranchers across Texas and beyond to implement regenerative grazing practices that enhance soil health and facilitate carbon capture.

Bob Rivard sits down with Brad Tipper, CEO of Grassroots Carbon, to discuss the science behind soil carbon sequestration and how it’s increasingly recognized as a tool for corporate carbon offsetting. Together, they explore the business model that pays ranchers for measurable stewardship and...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the future of professional classical music in San Antonio in the wake of disruption, dissolution, and ongoing uncertainty for long-standing arts organizations. San Antonio native Paul Montalvo, a former firefighter who now leads The Orchestra San Antonio, discusses growing the organization from a $45,000 budget to a projected $2.4 million this year, and the unique model he believes can sustain orchestral music in the city where prior efforts have struggled.

Host Cory Ames sits down with Montalvo to address the realities facing professional musicians, asking whether San Antonio can support and sustain a...

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Cory Ames sits down with Jaci Randel, executive director of the Bexar Branches Alliance, to examine the ongoing decline of San Antonio’s urban tree canopy and the push to restore regional “tree equity.” Since 2000, Bexar County has lost 20% of its tree cover, while the state of Texas has lost nearly 25%. Achieving equitable canopy coverage across neighborhoods would require planting more than 1.5 million trees in San Antonio alone.

In this episode, they discuss the challenges facing urban forestry, the impacts of canopy loss on public health, local climate, and neighborhood resilience, as well a...