x

75% of people globally want unbiased news (Pew Research) but are concerned they're not getting that.

Get balanced coverage with Symby. See how stories are covered across diverse outlets and spot when one side covers a story the other skips.

PODCAST

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

The bigcitysmalltown podcast, hosted by Bob Rivard, is dedicated to telling the stories of San Antonians working to make the city a more sustainable, better educated, equitable and prosperous city. We want San Antonio to become a destination city for talented and creative people, and a city where young people born or raised here want to build their futures here. We embrace diversity, multiculturalism, and every individual’s right to realize their full potential without fear of oppression.Each

society & culture news commentary

All Episodes

56:46

120. Why San Antonio’s Future Starts with Early...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/05/02

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine San Antonio’s fourteen-year effort to build a more equitable early childhood education system—an undertaking rooted in the city’s fight against generational poverty. Host Bob Rivard traces the origins of Pre-K 4 SA, from its formation by a blue-ribbon task force under then-Mayor Julián Castro, to the launch of universal pre-K centers across the city, and its ongoing impact on young children and working families. Bob is joined by Peter J. Holt (chair o...

en-us

50:25

119. The Mayor’s Race: Rolando Pablos on Economic...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/21

We conclude our April series of conversations with San Antonio’s leading mayoral candidates as Bob sits down with Rolando Pablos—a businessman, attorney, and former republican Texas Secretary of State—to discuss his campaign, priorities, and vision for the city. Pablos shares his personal and professional background, shaped by his experience as an immigrant and his decades of public and private sector leadership. The conversation examines key issues facing San Antonio, including the city’s

en-us

51:02

118. The Mayor’s Race: Manny Pelaez on Ferocious...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/20

We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor. Bob is joined by District 8 City Councilman Manny Pelaez, an attorney with deep roots in both public service and economic development, as he seeks to become the next mayor of San Antonio. In a wide-ranging conversation, Pelaez shares his personal story as the son of Colombian immigrants and his longstanding commitment to issues of domestic violence and community service. The discussion covers his role in bringing

en-us

49:23

117. The Mayor’s Race: Gina Ortiz Jones on Public...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/19

We continue our series of interviews with leading candidates for San Antonio mayor ahead of the May 3 election. Bob welcomes Gina Ortiz Jones, an Air Force veteran and former Undersecretary of the Air Force under the Biden administration, for a wide-ranging conversation about her bid to lead the city. Ortiz Jones discusses her personal journey from growing up on the Far West Side to her national security work in Washington, and how those experiences have shaped her approach to local issues. The

en-us

45:26

116. The Mayor’s Race: Melissa Cabello Havrda on...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/18

In this bigcitysmalltown episode, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda shares her personal background growing up on the West Side, her legal and public service career, and her early influences—including time spent working under former mayors Ed Garza and Lila Cockrell. The conversation covers key challenges facing the city, from the crowded mayoral ballot and the influx of outside campaign money, to major development projects like Project Marvel. They discuss: The need for stronger candidate

en-us

46:35

115. The Mayor’s Race: Adriana Rocha Garcia on...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/14

In this episode, Bob continues our coverage of San Antonio’s crowded mayoral race with Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia of District 4. A professor of marketing at Our Lady of the Lake University and former president of the San Antonio Housing Trust, Rocha Garcia shares her journey from growing up on the city’s West and South Sides to her leadership on the city council. They discuss her priorities as a mayoral candidate—from continuing the city’s affordable housing push and evolving the Ready to

en-us

44:06

114. The Mayor’s Race: Beto Altamirano on...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/11

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we delve into San Antonio's dynamic political landscape as our city prepares for its first mayoral race without an incumbent in sixteen years. With Mayor Ron Nirenberg's term concluding, the upcoming election on May 3 stands as a significant moment in the city's history, marking both the end of an era and the beginning of potential change. Our guest, Beto Altamirano, is an entrepreneur and business owner known for creating San Antonio's 311 app, now vying for the

en-us

05:38

113. The Last Word - Tariffs Hit Home in San Antonio

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/05

This week’s Last Word delves into the ominous impact of President Trump’s tariffs on San Antonio and Texas. As the trade war with Canada and Mexico intensifies, the city braces for economic repercussions. Politicians have transformed tariffs into weapons of political retribution, overshadowing San Antonio’s success in advanced manufacturing and global trade. Bob examines the economic fallout as San Antonio faces potentially devastating tariffs, with goods and services inflating by up to 50%. The

en-us

37:18

112. San Antonio's Culinary Legacy: 25 Years of Biga...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/04/04

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we explore the vibrant culinary landscape of San Antonio, with a spotlight on one of the city's longstanding culinary institutions, Biga on the Banks. Celebrating its 25th anniversary at its iconic location on the Riverwalk, Biga on the Banks stands as a testament to culinary excellence and perseverance in a competitive industry. Bob sits down with Bruce Auden, renowned chef and driving force behind Biga, alongside his business partner Perny Shea, to discuss the

en-us

06:38

111. The Last Word - Leave the City Bond Elections...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/29

This week's Last Word dives into the ongoing battle between local and state government in Texas, focusing on San Antonio's fight to retain control over its financial future. With Republican lawmakers seeking to tighten their grip on predominantly Democratic cities, proposals like requiring a two-thirds majority for bond approvals loom large, threatening to stall essential capital projects. Bob unpacks the political motivations behind these legislative moves, the implications for San Antonio’s

en-us

48:09

110. San Antonio’s Model for Homelessness: Why Other...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/28

This week on bigcitysmalltown we delve into the evolving landscape of homelessness support and services in San Antonio. As Kim Jeffries, the CEO of Haven for Hope, prepares to depart her role to take on the establishment of a comprehensive homeless shelter in Las Vegas, she joins host Bob Rivard to reflect on her journey in the San Antonio nonprofit sector. Kim's tenure at Haven for Hope offers a unique lens into how the city has grown and adapted to meet the needs of its vulnerable communities. The

en-us

04:31

109. The Last Word - The City of San Antonio Can’t...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/22

This week’s Last Word addresses a pressing local decision San Antonio faces amidst national upheaval. With jobs at risk due to political chaos in Washington, city leaders are contemplating hiring displaced federal workers. While the intention is noble, the reality presents tough choices—maintain fiscal discipline or succumb to political theater by expanding the city payroll unsustainably. Bob analyzes the balance San Antonio must strike: the importance of fiscal restraint during economic

en-us

38:05

108. What It Takes to Host the Final Four—Inside San...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/21

This week on bigcitysmalltown, host Bob Rivard is joined by Elena Wells and Jenny Carnes from San Antonio Sports to discuss the upcoming 2025 NCAA Men's Final Four hosted in San Antonio. With the city on the brink of this prestigious event, what can residents and visitors expect? The conversation delves into the preparations for the Final Four, the events surrounding it, and its anticipated economic impact on San Antonio. As the city gears up for this major event, Bob, Jenny, and Elena offer

en-us

06:18

107. The Last Word - A Legal and Moral Crisis: Texas...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/15

This week’s Last Word examines Texas’ growing education funding crisis. Despite a record state budget surplus, public schools—especially in San Antonio—are being left behind. Lawmakers continue to prioritize political battles over solutions, and the result? Underfunded classrooms, underpaid teachers, and increasing pressure on local school districts to do more with less. Bob breaks down the legal and moral responsibility Texas has to fund its schools, the ongoing standoff in Austin, and what it

en-us

44:53

106. Tom Slick’s Legacy: The San Antonio Institution...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/14

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we delve into the unexpected legacy of Tom Slick and his enduring influence on San Antonio’s scientific community. Though known as an oil wildcatter, Slick’s curiosity and visionary investments laid the groundwork for significant advancements in neuroscience and consciousness research. Our focus is the Mind Science Foundation—a San Antonio-based institution exploring the mysteries of the human mind, largely unnoticed by the local community. Bob Rivard is joined by

en-us

02:38

105. The Last Word - Nonstop: San Antonio’s New...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/08

San Antonio has finally secured a long-awaited nonstop flight to Washington, D.C. But will it last? In this Last Word, Bob discusses the significance of the new direct route, why it took decades to become a reality, and what it will take to keep it. Tune in for insights on how air travel shapes San Antonio’s business, civic, and military connections. -- -- 📩 Subscribe to Bob’s Monday Newsletter 🎧 Don't miss the Last Word - You can find the full archive of Bob's commentaries on life and work in

en-us

42:30

104. Inside UTSA Honors College: A Different Kind of...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/07

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we take a deep dive into UTSA Honors College—one of the most unique and rapidly evolving honors programs in Texas. Unlike traditional programs, UTSA Honors College is built around real-world experience, preparing students for competitive careers, top graduate programs, and leadership roles. But what makes this program different? Bob sits down with Dr. Jill Fleuriet, Vice Provost for Honors Education at the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA), to explore the

en-us

03:29

103. The Last Word - The Texas Lottery Controversy:...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/03/01

This week’s Last Word examines the Texas Lottery—where billions are wagered each year, and the promise of funding public education continues to spark debate. Bob takes a deep dive into how the lottery works, who benefits most, and whether Texas taxpayers are getting a fair deal. For decades, state officials have promoted the lottery as a way to support Texas schools, but the reality is more complicated. Bob explores the actual impact on education funding, the financial burden placed on lower-income

en-us

44:00

102. The San Antonio Report at 13: Local News,...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/02/28

This week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown takes a deep dive into the state of local journalism and its future in San Antonio. As traditional news models struggle nationwide, nonprofit newsrooms like San Antonio Report are working to reshape how communities stay informed. But what does it take to sustain independent journalism in a rapidly changing media landscape? Bob sits down with San Antonio Report leadership to discuss the organization’s 13-year journey, the challenges of nonprofit news, and why

en-us

04:40

101. The Last Word - Bigcitysmalltown is Growing: 100...

bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard ·

2025/02/22

This week’s Last Word is a special one: bigcitysmalltown has hit 100 episodes. Host Bob Rivard reflects on this milestone, the journey so far, and what’s ahead for the podcast that tells the stories of the people shaping San Antonio’s future. From decades in journalism to launching bigcitysmalltown, Bob shares his perspective on how the media landscape has evolved, why local storytelling matters more than ever, and what’s next for the show as it continues to grow. With San Antonio at the heart of

en-us

141 results

Similar Podcasts

Voices of Life

APG Mannheim

Promo Estereo Podcast

Promo Estereo

Talking Timelines Podcast

Talkingtimelines

גיקונומי

ראם שרמן ודורון ניר

Drømmefanger

Drømmefanger