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bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

Community & Social Impact Episodes

Stories of grassroots movements, nonprofits, and initiatives making the city more equitable and sustainable.
Feb. 15, 2025

99. Bexar County Seeks to Expand Mental Health Services—But Will the …

This week’s Last Word commentary examines the growing demand for mental health services in Bexar County—and whether the state will provide the funding needed to meet it. Bob Rivard unpacks the county’s plan to expand in-patient mental...

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Feb. 1, 2025

95. The Last Word - San Antonio City Council’s Failed Vote to Fund Ab…

This week’s Last Word commentary examines the San Antonio City Council’s failed vote on funding abortion travel, a decision that reflects both the city’s political divide and the larger struggle between state and local governance in Texas. Bob...

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Jan. 31, 2025

94. Will the Immigration Crackdown Impact San Antonio? A Legal Expert…

This week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown dives into one of the most pressing issues facing San Antonio: the future of immigration policy and how it will impact our community. We’re joined by Claudia Hernandez, an immigration attorney at...

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Jan. 25, 2025

93. The Last Word - The Gulf of Neighbors

This week’s Last Word commentary reflects on the enduring connections between Texas and Mexico through the Gulf of Mexico—a shared space of culture, trade, and history. As the relationship between these neighbors faces new challenges in the next...

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Jan. 24, 2025

92. Meet San Antonio’s New Family-Friendly Art Residency: Parts & Lab…

This week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown spotlights something new in San Antonio’s arts community: a residency program tailored to support artists who are also caregivers. We’re joined by Liz Stehl Kleberg & Meaghan Mitts, the founders...

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Jan. 3, 2025

87. VIA's Jeff Arndt Rides Off

This week’s guest is Jeff Arndt, who has served for 13 years as president and CEO of VIA Metropolitan Transit, San Antonio and Bexar County’s public bus system. Listen as Arndt discusses his career at VIA ahead of his retirement, …

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Oct. 18, 2024

76. Jessica Conrad on San Antonio's Housing Market

This week’s guest is Jessica Conrad, a San Antonio realtor, Air Force veteran, and now, the emcee of the semi-annual PechaKucha creative presentations, the latest edition of which was recently staged at the Carver Cultural Center. Listen as Jessica...

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Feb. 12, 2024

43. Humberto G. Garcia and the 'Mustang Miracle'

This week’s guest is Humberto G. Garcia, a San Antonio attorney, avid golfer, and author of "Mustang Miracle," a book chronicling the inspiring small-town Texas story of five Mexican-American caddies in segregated Del Rio who overcame seemingly...

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