bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

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bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

Bob Rivard

152 episodes

2 weeks ago

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our focus to the rapidly evolving corridor between San Antonio and Austin—a megaregion that is reshaping the future of Central Texas. Hosts Cory Ames and Bob Rivard are joined by former San Antonio mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Henry Cisneros, to discuss his and Bob's new book, which examines the unprecedented growth, challenges, and opportunities along this urban corridor. The conversation moves beyond headlines about popula...

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Society & Culture

News Commentary

All content for bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard is the property of Bob Rivard and is served directly from their servers with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our focus to the rapidly evolving corridor between San Antonio and Austin—a megaregion that is reshaping the future of Central Texas. Hosts Cory Ames and Bob Rivard are joined by former San Antonio mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Henry Cisneros, to discuss his and Bob's new book, which examines the unprecedented growth, challenges, and opportunities along this urban corridor. The conversation moves beyond headlines about popula...

Show more...

Society & Culture

News Commentary

Episodes (20/152)

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

151. 8.3 Million New Neighbors by 2050—Henry Cisneros and Bob Rivard on the Austin-San Antonio Megaregion

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our focus to the rapidly evolving corridor between San Antonio and Austin—a megaregion that is reshaping the future of Central Texas. Hosts Cory Ames and Bob Rivard are joined by former San Antonio mayor and U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Henry Cisneros, to discuss his and Bob's new book, which examines the unprecedented growth, challenges, and opportunities along this urban corridor. The conversation moves beyond headlines about popula...

2 weeks ago

49 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

150. The Rise of Jamaican Food in San Antonio (ft. The Jerk Shack)

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Chef Nicola Blaque, the force behind San Antonio’s only Michelin-recognized Jamaican restaurant, The Jerk Shack. Chef Nicola shares her journey from immigrating to the U.S. as a child, navigating life in New England, and serving in the Army through three tours, to eventually reclaiming and expressing her Jamaican heritage through food in San Antonio. Host Cory Ames joins Nicola in the restaurant to discuss how her identity, family, and military ...

3 weeks ago

33 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

149. How AlamoPROMISE Continues Expanding College Access for San Antonians

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the Alamo Promise program—a tuition-free initiative from the Alamo Colleges District aimed at lowering barriers to higher education for Bexar County high school graduates. The program, now entering its sixth year of enrollment, has set out to make college accessible to all students regardless of income, academic standing, or background. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Stephanie Vasquez, Chief Program Officer for Alamo Promise, to discuss the impact of th...

4 weeks ago

39 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

148. Krampus Is Coming to Town: Inside San Antonio’s Controversial Holiday Parade

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine one of San Antonio’s newest and most debated cultural gatherings: the Krampus Parade in King William. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Bob Crittenden, senior Scrum Manager at USAA and founder of San Antonio’s Krampus event, which drew approximately 10,000 participants and spectators in its inaugural year. Together, they discuss the origins of Krampus in Central European Alpine traditions, its transformation from private house visits to public festivals, a...

1 month ago

28 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

147. Meet the San Antonio Founder Taking On Dyslexia in Our Classrooms, Courts, and Clinics

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine dyslexia—one of the most common, yet frequently misunderstood learning challenges affecting up to one in five individuals. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Jasmin Dean, founder and CEO of Celebrate Dyslexia, a San Antonio nonprofit advocating for better diagnosis, intervention, and public understanding of dyslexia across schools, healthcare, and society. Drawing on both personal experience and current research, Jasmin Dean discusses the realities facing f...

1 month ago

43 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

146. Celebrating 45 Years of the San Antonio Botanical Garden — And the Vision CEO Katherine Trumble Is Leading

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the San Antonio Botanical Garden at a pivotal moment—its 45th anniversary year. Known as a living museum, the Garden has grown into a statewide leader in plant conservation and environmental education, serving hundreds of thousands of visitors annually while shaping the city’s approach to urban nature and sustainability. Cory Ames speaks with Katherine Trumble, President and CEO of the San Antonio Botanical Garden, about the Garden’s newly unveiled te...

1 month ago

29 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

145. Opportunity Home is Rebuilding Public Homes and Public Trust for its Centennial Vision

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s housing crisis and the challenges facing public housing as both federal support and affordability decline. Bob Rivard is joined by Michael Reyes, CEO and President of Opportunity Home—San Antonio’s housing authority—to discuss what’s at stake for the city’s most vulnerable residents and the future of local affordable housing. With an annual operating budget of $250 million and 600 employees, Opportunity Home provides housing assistance t...

1 month ago

47 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

144. Building the South Side — How JCB Is Bringing 1,500 Jobs to San Antonio

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine one of the most significant recent developments in San Antonio’s advanced manufacturing and economic landscape: the arrival of JCB Texas. British construction equipment manufacturer JCB broke ground on a new plant on the city’s south side in 2023—an investment that promises to bring 1,500 new jobs to the area and reshape the region’s industrial ecosystem. Bob Rivard sits down with David Carver, operations director for JCB Texas, to discuss the progres...

2 months ago

22 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

143. Holly Thaggard: The San Antonio Founder Behind Supergoop!’s Global Success

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we turn our attention to one of San Antonio’s most significant entrepreneurial success stories: Supergoop! and its founder, Holly Thaggard. From its origins here in Texas, Supergoop! has grown into an internationally recognized skincare company, known for its innovative approach to sun protection and public health. Host Bob Rivard sits down with Holly Thaggard to explore her journey from third grade teacher and professional harpist to award-winning entrepreneur ...

2 months ago

50 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

142. Judge Peter Sakai on How Prop A & B Could Revitalize San Antonio’s Eastside

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the critical decisions facing Bexar County voters and their impact on the future of San Antonio’s east side, the Spurs, and the Stock Show & Rodeo. Bob Rivard sits down with Bexar County Judge Peter Sakai to discuss what’s at stake in the upcoming countywide election, where voters will decide on two propositions affecting the Frost Bank Center, potential new development, and the future economic direction of the city. Judge Sakai shares his perspec...

2 months ago

29 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

141. Why San Antonio Isn’t Running Out of Water — A Conversation with SAWS CEO Robert Puente

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the present and future of San Antonio’s water supply—a topic at the center of new rate increase discussions and long-term regional planning. San Antonio has quietly become a national leader in water conservation, with steady water use despite decades of rapid population growth, distinguishing itself from many fast-growing Texas cities now facing water shortages. Host Cory Ames sits down with Robert Puente, CEO of the San Antonio Water System (SAWS), t...

2 months ago

49 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

140. The Food Bank is Harvesting Solutions to San Antonio’s Hunger

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the role of food sustainability and local agriculture at the San Antonio Food Bank—an organization best known for feeding more than 100,000 people each week, but less recognized as one of the city’s largest farming operations. Host Cory Ames sits down with Mitch Hagney, Director of Food Sustainability at the San Antonio Food Bank, to discuss how the Food Bank is rethinking traditional emergency food services through innovative farming practices and cl...

3 months ago

38 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

139. How San Antonio is Turning Construction Waste to Community Wealth

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s evolving approach to urban growth and resource management through the lens of the city’s deconstruction and circular economy initiatives. San Antonio stands out as the largest city in North America to adopt a deconstruction ordinance, shifting how older buildings are taken down and how building materials are valued, reused, and kept within the community. Cory Ames sits down with Stephanie Phillips, Senior Deconstruction & Circular Ec...

3 months ago

38 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

138. Alamo Angels: The Future of South Texas Startups

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the evolving landscape of angel investing and startup growth in San Antonio and South Texas. As the city’s early-stage innovation ecosystem matures, a new generation of founders and investors are shaping the region’s entrepreneurial identity. Host Bob Rivard sits down with Sebastian Garzon, managing partner of Alamo Angels, to discuss the group’s growth from a handful of local investors into a regional network with more than 140 members and $7 million...

3 months ago

36 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

137. Rediscovering San Antonio’s Forgotten Battle

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard speaks with Brandon Seale, a San Antonio-based energy entrepreneur and historian, about one of Texas’s most consequential yet least understood events: the 1813 Battle of Medina. Seale discusses his years-long efforts to locate the lost battlefield and the surprising discoveries that are reshaping the historical understanding of early Texas. Bob and Brandon trace how an executive leading cross-border energy projects became deeply invested in uncov...

3 months ago

42 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

136. San Antonio’s Aerospace Past Is Powering Its Future

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we revisit a pivotal chapter in San Antonio’s history: the closure of Kelly Air Force Base and its transformation into Port San Antonio, as the city prepares for the upcoming San Antonio Aviation and Aerospace Hall of Fame luncheon. Host Bob Rivard is joined by Christopher Mammen, executive director of the Dee Howard Foundation; Tullos Wells, long-time community leader and member of the Kelly closure transition committee; and Kathryn Bolish, program manager at t...

4 months ago

36 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

135. Planting Change in San Antonio through Community Gardens

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the work of Gardopia Gardens, a San Antonio nonprofit at the intersection of public health, food access, and neighborhood safety. Founded by Stephen Lucke, Gardopia uses urban gardening and education as a response to longstanding challenges in San Antonio’s food system and community health landscape. Cory Ames sits down with Lucke to trace his path from local student, collegiate athlete, and aspiring medical professional to nonprofit founder and envir...

4 months ago

50 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

134. The San Antonio Nonprofit Bringing Black Youth Back to Nature

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we focus on the intersection of community, identity, and the outdoors through the work of Black Outside, Inc. Founded and led by Alex Bailey, the San Antonio-based nonprofit is dedicated to reconnecting Black youth with nature—an effort rooted in generational healing, cultural history, and a reimagining of what belonging in outdoor spaces looks like. Cory Ames sits down with Bailey to discuss the evolution of Black Outside, its ties to family legacy, and the org...

4 months ago

43 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

133. How the Spurs Arena Could Change the San Antonio Rodeo

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the San Antonio Stock Show and Rodeo’s pivotal role in the city’s cultural and economic landscape and explore what may be its biggest transition yet. As plans for a new arena and significant east side redevelopment—known as Project Marvel—move forward, questions emerge about the future of the Stock Show, its historic partnership with the Spurs, and how proposed investments could reshape year-round activity in the area. Bob Rivard sits down with Cody D...

4 months ago

27 minutes

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

132. San Antonio's Youngest Councilmember on the Future of the City

This week on bigcitysmalltown, newly elected District 6 Councilman Ric Galvan joins host Cory Ames for an extended conversation about the close race that made him the youngest member of San Antonio’s City Council—and the immediate challenges facing the city as he steps into office. Galvan reflects on what motivated his campaign, how neighborhood involvement and grassroots support shaped his candidacy, and the razor-thin margin by which he won. With just over a month in post, he shares early i...

4 months ago

55 minutes