Central Coast Voices

CenCal Health, serving more than 220,000 Medi-Cal members in San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties, recently launched Central Coast Coverage. The member navigation hub helps members understand Medi-Cal renewal and eligibility changes by providing education and support with submitting forms and necessary information on time. Dr. Van Do-Reynoso, Chief Health Equity Officer at CenCal Health, and Dr. Lisa Brabo, CEO of Family Service Agency, join host Lata Murti to discuss this new and important online resource.Listen Thursdays from 1-2 P.M. on KCBX

Paso Robles has more residents over 65 than the statewide and national averages. The Senior Center, established in 2002, provides vital services for many. In June 2026, the city awarded oversight of operations of the Paso Robles Senior Center to CAPSLO. Host Kris Kington Barker talks with Lawren Ramos, Community Services Program Director for CAPSLO, and Laura DeLoye, Paso Robles Senior Center Manager, about what CAPSLO is doing to guide this transition, and it's hope for the future.Listen Thursdays from 1-2 P.M. On KCBX

October is National Arts and Humanities Month, and this year’s theme is “Stories Unite Us." Host Bettina Swigger will talk with SLO Museum of Art Executive Director Leann Standish about the Museum's plans for expansion and their arts education efforts. Then Roberto de Leon, Advanced English Teacher at Laguna Middle School, will share stories about how young people's lives can be transformed by creativity. Finally, Missy Reitner-Cameron, artist and founder of The Bunker, will talk about the importance of making space for art and artists and her creative journey.

Executive Director Esmeralda Garcia and a member of Corazón del Pueblo Cultural and Creative Arts Center of the Santa Maria Valley join host Lata Murti to talk about the organization, its recent and upcoming projects, and what Latine/x Heritage Month means to Latine/x and Indigenous Mixteco youth at this moment.Listen Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. On KCBX

Join host Dr. Mario Espinoza-Kulick for a conversation about the 2026 Central Coast Bioneers Conference and the local leaders working to create more environmentally sustainable and socially just communities. Guests will discuss how this year’s conference is centered around innovative approaches to environmental conservation, including the role of Legal Observers in protecting the right to protest, and how local action can respond to some of today’s most pressing environmental and social challenges.We invite you to listen, learn and participate with your calls Thursdays from 1-2 p. m. on KCBX

Cal Poly Arts Director Molly Clark and Programming and Development Manager Coralee Wagenhurst join host Lata Murti to talk about the season's upcoming performances, including Ballet Folklorico de Mexico and musicals Beetlejuice and SIX.

Mark Greenburg, Executive Director of End of Life Choice California, will join host Kris Kington Barker to discuss the nonprofit and the services it offers related to legal end-of-life choices in California. They will explore why these choices matter and how individuals can communicate their personal preferences effectively. Additionally, volunteer Gia Sandell will participate in the discussion to share her personal story about medical aid in dying.Listen to Central Coast Voices Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. on KCBX

Today on this Best of Central Coast Voices, host Fred Munroe will be talking with the folks from the Family Care Network. Join Fred as we learn more about the role of the Family Care Network and it’s work supporting the efforts of parents within our community .Listen Thursday from 1-2pm on KCBX and on the KCBX App.

Abe Lincoln recently moved from board chair to Executive Director for Hospice SLO. He joins host Kris Kington Barker to talk about how the first hospice in San Luis Obispo, created as a non-medical volunteer hospice, has continued to serve the community since 1977, when the modern healthcare landscape has made it incredibly difficult for purely grassroots, donation-funded models to survive by providing unconditional emotional support free of the restrictions, time limits, and financial demands of the corporate medical system. Hospice SLO is now one of only 14 non-medical volunteer hospices still providing services in the U.S. today.Listen Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. on KCBX

Joining us this week on Central Coast Voices are staff and clients from Positive Ride. This is one of the most community connected groups, working to make outdoor adventure accessible to everyone. Positive Ride was founded on the belief that everyone deserves the chance to explore outdoor adventures and enjoy recreational activities without limitations. Their primary goal is to provide outdoor adventures that are accessible for all. We will talk with their co-founder, and active clients of Positive Ride, and learn how this small non-profit organization has found ways to open and expand outdoor activities to wheelchair bound Central Coast residents and visitors.Listen Live Thursdays from 1-2 p.m. on KCBX

Dr. Mario Espinoza-Kulick speaks with volunteers from the Surfrider Foundation San Luis Obispo Chapter about what beach cleanups reveal about the health of our coastline. we will explore how community volunteers, local businesses, public agencies, and residents all play a role in protecting the Central Coast’s beaches.Listen live and call in Thursdays from 1-2p.m. on KCBX

On Tuesday, July 28, Guadalupe’s City Council unanimously voted to end renovations to the city’s historical Royal Theatre. Mira Beyeler-Ramierez, Vice President of The Guadalupe Visual and Performing Arts Collective, and Stephanie Krouse, Guadalupe resident, artist, and co-owner of the Yellow House Arts Academy and The Red Barn, join host Lata Murti to discuss the city’s decision and what it means for arts, culture, and the Guadalupe community.Listen live Thursdays from 1:00-2:00 p.m. on KCBX, KCBX.ORG and on the KCBX App.

Representatives from Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley join host Lata Murti to discuss a new Navigation Center for youth, opening in August. Listen and join the conversation Thursday at 1pm on KCBX

Host Kris Kington Barker and Sherrill Wayland, Senior Partner of Special Initiatives and Partnerships at SAGE, dedicated to improving the lives of LGBTQ+ older adults discuss the unique set of aging challenges faced by this underserved community.Join the conversation live Thursdays at 1 on KCBX.

Host Fred Munroe's guest is Sarah Mason, founder of Infinite Music, exposing young people to a variety of musical genres.Listen live Thursdays from 1-2pm on KCBX

Join Dr. Mario Espinoza-Kulick as he speaks with Dr. Sally Hawkins of Westmont College about a new $2.4 million teacher residency grant developed in partnership with Santa Barbara Unified School District. They will discuss how this initiative aims to reduce financial barriers, support multilingual and first-generation teacher candidates, and build a more representative educator workforce for Central Coast students.Listen live Thursdays from 1-2 pm on KCBX.

The City of Santa Maria's Japanese Community Center opened June 8, 2026 with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Learn about the history and people who made it happen in this July 24, 2025 episode of Central Coast Voices with host Lata Murti and her guests, Jo Anne Nishino Spencer, President of the Santa Maria Japanese Community Center, and Wes Koyama, Santa Maria Japanese Community Center Vice-President.Listen live Thursdays from 1-2pm on KCBX

Kris Kington Barker speaks with Thalia DeWolf, RN, CHPN, Nursing Education and Hospice Outreach Coordinator for the Academy of Aid in Dying Medicine and co-author of Advances in Aid-in-Dying Clinical Care. They will explore what California has learned from ten years of data, including clinical outcomes, changes driven by that experience and more. You are invited to visit aadm.org for more information about the Academy of Aid in Dying Medicine.Listen live Thursdays from 1-2pm on KCBX

This week on Central Coast Voices, we’re tackling a major national issue with local expertise. In a critical election year, understanding congressional redistricting and the voting process is more important than ever. Host Fred Munroe talks with Cal Poly Political Science Professor Michael Latner, who will break down the last two years of shifts surrounding the Voting Rights Act and the 14th Amendment—and what they mean for the preservation of our republic.Be part of the conversation Thursdays from 1-2pm on KCBX

In this best of presentation, Kris Kington Barker talks with Jamie Metzger, Director of Grief Support and Education for Hospice SLO County. Loss, especially the death of a loved one, is among life's greatest stressors. It can affect us in physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioral, social, spiritual, and practical ways. Kris and Jamie will discuss different types of grief, researcher findings that can be helpful to people who are grieving, and tips for how to provide support for the bereaved.Hear the conversation Thursday from 1-2pm on KCBX