This week, we tackle a listener question about how important brand identity is before opening your first shop. The conversation breaks down what “brand” really means and how it’s not just logos or design, but the promise you make to your guests and how you deliver on it. We emphasize that while visuals can evolve, the essentials of flow, hospitality, and guest connection matter far more than the color of your walls or the font on your cups.Ultimately, your brand starts with your values and how

Just in time for Halloween, Wanda Norris visits In Focus today to share a remarkable story about her black cat, Sweet Pea's, survival.

This week we reflect on what it really means to invest in your team—beyond payroll, bonuses, or budgets. From traveling for competitions to origin trips and team dinners, we talk about how creating experiences, connection, and shared memories pays dividends that can’t be measured on a spreadsheet. Investing in people isn’t just money out; it’s energy in, the kind that builds culture, loyalty, and long-term impact.At its core, this episode is about the ripple effect of care. When you show people

This week we look back on nine years of Cat & Cloud. From our earliest days roasting out of borrowed spaces to opening our first café on Portola, we reflect on what it took to build something from nothing—loans, late nights, quirky beginnings, and the people who believed in us along the way. It’s equal parts nostalgia and gratitude, a chance to appreciate how far we’ve come while remembering the scrappy energy that got us started.At the heart of it, this conversation is about growth and evolution

Trump threated to send National Guard troops to San Francisco last week.  Organizers in the city say they won’t take it lying down.  In this episode, we hear from Bay Rising’s Jane Martin. Bay Rising is a regional coalition of grassroots organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area that works to build political power among working-class communities and communities of color.__ Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on

In this episode, we sit down with Sam Grant, Head of Sales for the Americas at Hemro Group — the company behind Mahlkönig, Ditting, Anfim, and Hey Café — to talk about how technology and craft coexist in modern coffee. We trace Sam’s path from retail to coffee equipment sales, exploring what he’s learned from connecting baristas, roasters, and engineers around the world. At its heart, this conversation isn’t just about grinders — it’s about growth, adaptation, and learning from people who approach

Your Wednesday just got better. A Fairfax County cat came home after being missing for fifteen years (microchips work, people!), a local dad is now renovating the elementary school he once attended as a kid, River-Sea Chocolates opened a new shop in Reston so you don't have to drive to Chantilly anymore, and the Meridian Mustangs field hockey team won their third overtime game in seven days to advance to the regional finals.This is what you miss when you just check the regular news. Good

Crafting A Class – Working to take our coffee education to the next level by Cat & Cloud

Colter Nuanez is joined by Rajiem Seabrook for a wide-ranging conversation covering everything from Montana prep football to Griz and Cat basketball — both men’s and women’s. The guys also break down the latest in the NFL and react to the shocking news surrounding Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and others arrested by the FBI in a massive gambling probe.

“The Land of the Aged: Seven Outcasts Find Their Kingdom”An old dog, cast aside by the master he served faithfully, sets out to find “the land of the aged—where troubles don’t disturb you and thanklessness does not deface the deeds of man.” Along the road he gathers a fellowship of the discarded: an old bull, a ram, a donkey, a cat, a cock, and a goose. Seven creatures deemed useless by those they once served, now bound together by shared fate and quiet dignity.When they stumble upon a house full of

On today’s Palestine Post, we speak with Sarah Leah Whitson, Executive Director of DAWN, an organization promoting human rights and democracy in the Middle East and North Africa. She previously led Human Rights Watch’s MENA division and is a prominent advocate, writer, and commentator on regional justice and accountability. — Subscribe to this podcast: https://plinkhq.com/i/1637968343?to=page Get in touch: lawanddisorder@kpfa.org Follow us on

Join us as we venture into the heart of the Appalachian Mountains to explore two enduring regional legends: the Wampus Cat and the Snallygaster. From folklore origins and reported sightings to cultural significance and possible explanations, we peel back the myths and examine how the creatures have woven themselves into local identity. Whether you're a skeptic or a believer, this episode offers a balanced look at the lore, the storytelling traditions, and the communities that keep these legen...

This week we’re hanging out with Kevin and Dulce, owners of Bevel Coffee. We get into their journey of owning a coffee company. How it came from a negative business experience that over time and hard work has grown into an opportunity that fosters life in a community.Ultimately their story shines a light on the power of connections, and what’s possible by showing up and asking questions. They are rad people doing great things! Check it out. 🔖 Chapters – 02:42 Hey Hello 04:30 The Story of Bevel

This week we talk about fame—how it shapes perception in both pop culture and coffee. From the awkwardness of Will Smith trying to rap again to Hacienda Esmeralda’s Geisha selling for record prices at Best of Panama, we dig into how notoriety creates visibility, drives value, and raises the ceiling for everyone.Fame isn’t always comfortable, but it opens doors. Whether it’s an actor or a coffee producer, once you’re known, you change the market around you. Instead of resenting that spotlight, the

When two podcasts collide, the conversation gets wild — and that’s exactly what happened when Mike Abrams of The Wrong Cat Died joined me for this crossover episode with actor Ian Knauer. We cover Ian’s journey through Broadway, the West End, regional theater, and even his time performing on Disney Cruise Line. Along the way, Ian shares the perseverance it took to finally land Cats after years of auditioning, what it was like stepping into the role of Jafar at sea, and how those experiences shaped

This week we talk about the idea of “plussing the show.” The practice of constantly reinvesting in your space so it feels alive, intentional, and cared for. From small design updates to preventative maintenance, we dig into how these choices impact not just the look of a café but also the energy of the team and the experience of every guest who walks in. At its core, the conversation is about showing your guests and team members that you’re paying attention. Cleanliness, organization, and little

TTO-233 Fergielisous, August Burns Red, Poutine, Howard Dean Ick, DnD, John’s High Standards in Woman, Asian Cat Woman, Local Bars, Dork Gamer Girl, Loft Apartments, Camping, Burning Man, Iowa Regional Burm,Black an Tan Guinness Lager, Irish Carbomb, Skull DNA Human Million years old, China Scientist, Lord of the Rings, The Shire New Zealand, Bike Ride, Shire Map, Paint me like one of your Tiger Girls, Dart, Diariaera Fart, CornHusker Hype Pretalk, Bugaboo, Mrs Degee, Metro College, Human Relations,

Daisy and Friends Outside Our Window is a rhyming story for toddlers and pre-kindergarteners about the changing seasons. It's written from inside the house window looking out, as seen by Daisy the cat, and her three dog friends, Smokie, Rocky, and H-Dee.What do the friends see, when the colorful seasons change from winter to spring, and summer to fall?A portion of the proceeds from the Daisy and Friends book series benefits three charities: Kitty Angels, a no-kill cat shelter in Coventry,

Barstool Big Cat joins to discuss the Bears loss and if he has bounced back from his Monday night emotions. Plus, a trip inside Waddle's World and Florida or Ohio.

In this episode, we sit down with Nick Terzulli, VP of R&D at Fellow. Nick shares how his curiosity and persistence pulled him deeper into coffee culture—as a barista and a tinkerer, and eventually as the engineer behind Fellow’s iconic product, including the new Espresso Series 1.We dig into how engineering and coffee intersect, from the mysteries of burr geometry to challenges in espresso machine stability. At the heart of Nick’s story is a lesson in following passion over paycheck, learning by