Unpacked In Santa Cruz
"Unpacked in Santa Cruz" is a homegrown podcast hosted by Michael Howard that dives into the lives, stories, and salty moments of people who call this coastal community home—or have been shaped by it in some way. Whether it's a deep conversation with local surfers opening up about mental health, or a peek behind the curtain of someone who started a one-of-a-kind food spot right here in town, every episode brings something real.
You’ll hear from folks who found healing behind the lens, built businesses from scratch, or chased massive waves thanks to a lifetime spent around our local waters. These aren’t just interviews—they’re conversations that reflect the heart and soul of Santa Cruz. Raw, reflective, and rooted in community, Unpacked in Santa Cruz brings local voices to the surface.
Episodes
63 episodes
Episode 66: Chapter XV: The Problem of Love and Christianity and Keeping My Faith: A Soliloquy
A short hiatus turned into a clear-eyed look at what this show stands for: celebrating the normal, telling honest stories, and making love a verb. I open up about rescheduling interviews, moving house, and why I’m choosing to weave my own persp...
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43:54
Episode 65: Chris Balthasar: From Hollywood Sets To Hexavalent Chromium: A Life Rewritten By Santa Cruz, Service, and Resilience
The story starts with following Chris Balthasar from a Swiss-American childhood in Philadelphia and winds through Hollywood backlots, a B-movie alligator, and a surreal day in a Sonic the Hedgehog suit getting heckled by Tony Danza all day-then...
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1:02:24
Episode 64: Raffael Eboli: From Sao Paulo To Santa Cruz; Mercy, Trust, and Unity on the Mat
What happens when a kid from São Paulo lands in Santa Cruz and discovers a town where surfing, jiu-jitsu, and community can actually shape the way you live? We go deep with Rafael Eboli—longtime local, Cafe Brazil mainstay, and black belt profe...
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1:00:17
Episode 63: Claudio Franca: From Rio to Santa Cruz: How Jiu-Jitsu Built a Community of Mercy, Humility, and Embracing How to Lose
Mercy isn’t the word most people expect from a fighting art—but that’s exactly where we start. We sit down with Master Claudio Franca, who left Rio de Janeiro in the mid-90s with little more than a gi, a surfer’s heart, and a mission to plant B...
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1:05:44
Episode 62: Nathan Mendelsohn: Homegrown With Global Bonds
A shy kid from Live Oak skates to school, paddles out at Pleasure Point, and learns quickly that lineups have rules you won’t find on the beach signs. Then a jiu-jitsu academy opens behind his house, and everything changes. Nathan Mendelsohn’s ...
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1:26:32
Episode 61:Graseilah Coolidge :From a Life of Intelligence Work to Emotional Intelligence and the Pursuit of Peace-Why the Forest Matters More Than You Think
Aiming to stop conflict nearly broke us; learning to create peace brought us back. That’s the arc we explore with our guest, Graseilah Coolidge—born in Iowa, raised in Venezuela through coups and shutdowns, trained in nonproliferation, and recr...
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1:16:11
Episode 60: Matt Kuhn and Frank Schonig on Ted Lasso and What It Means To Be A Goldfish
What does it truly mean to coach youth sports in today's hyper-competitive world? In this candid conversation, host Michael "Coach Powers" Howard sits down with Little League coaches Matt Kuhn and Frank Schonig to unpack the beautiful mes...
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1:27:16
Episode 59: Neil Sprenkel Bubbles Inside of Bubbles and How To Get Beyond The Bubble
Ever wonder what it's like to grow up inside "a bubble within a bubble"? Neil Sprenkel takes us into the unique world of Capitola, California—where neighborhoods feel like sanctuaries and surf spots become territories with unwritten rules that ...
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1:41:33
Episode 58, Chapter XIIII: What Are You Waiting For? A Soliloquy
Have you ever looked in the mirror and suddenly realized you've been playing a role in your own life? After mysteriously disappearing for five months, I'm finally breaking the silence to share the profound revelation that stopped me in my track...
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34:04
Episode 56: Natalie Wegrich: The Journey From Childhood Dreams to Jewelry Entrepreneur
A quiet retail revolution is unfolding in Santa Cruz, and Natalie Wegrich of Toasted Jewelry stands at its forefront. From the mountains of Scotts Valley to the beaches of Pleasure Point, Natalie's entrepreneurial journey captures the essence o...
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1:03:23
Episode 55: Brady Muller: From Volleyball Courts to Racing Cars: One Man's Search for Peace in America's Most Beautiful Town
The beautiful, coastal paradise of Santa Cruz, California hides a complex reality beneath its postcard-perfect veneer. In this raw conversation, longtime local Brady Muller pulls back the curtain on what it truly means to call this tourist dest...
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1:39:33
Episode 54: Breaking the Silence: Men Talk Depression: Jack Akrop, Neal Kearney, Nick Borelli
What happens when four men from the Santa Cruz surf community strip away their tough exteriors and speak honestly about depression? This raw, powerful conversation breaks new ground as host Michael Howard and guests Jack Akrop, Neal Kearney, an...
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2:08:27
Episode 53: Cam Meyers; Bread & Belonging: A Chef's Journey Home
What happens when a chef decides to break away from the late-night restaurant grind and bring high-quality, seasonal food directly to the people? For Cam Meyers, it meant creating Melrose Cafe, a "parking lot restaurant" that's transforming the...
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1:06:23
Episode 52: Nick Borelli: Finding Peace Behind the Lens After Years in the Shadows
When Nick Borelli paddled out on his boogie board in 1980s Santa Cruz, he instantly became an outcast in a culture that prized standing on surfboards above all else. "If you boogie boarded, you were persona non grata," host Michael Howard expla...
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1:28:50
Episode 51: From Baseball to Big Waves: Jack Akrop's Evolution Into The Art of Life
When Jack Akrop paddles out at Mavericks or charges massive waves at Jaws, he's drawing on lessons learned from a lifetime spent in and around Santa Cruz waters. But his path to becoming a respected big wave surfer wasn't the typical grom-to-pr...
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1:21:52
Episode 50: Steve Schwinn: From 14 Schools to 1 Coastal Haven: A Furniture Man's Tale
When Steve Schwinn first visited Santa Cruz as a child, surfing at Four Mile Beach with his older brother, something clicked. Despite moving fourteen times throughout his youth—from Texas to the Netherlands to Minneapolis, through various Calif...
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1:00:52
Episode 49: Joe Schirmer: The Stakes Are Higher Than You Think: The Mission to Transform Our Food Systems
What does a competitive surfer from Santa Cruz's Midtown have to do with revolutionizing our food systems? Everything, as it turns out. In this riveting conversation, Joe Schirmer—owner of Dirty Girl Farms and lifelong Santa Cruz l...
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1:44:26
Episode 48: Moana: The Coffee House Connection: How Small Communities Shape Our Lives
What happens when you leave behind the only life you've known to rediscover yourself? Moana's journey from Los Angeles to the shores of Santa Cruz reveals how changing your environment can transform your understanding of who you are.Gro...
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1:03:36
Episode 47: Chris Yeh: Balancing Innovation and Humanity
Chris Yeh, our talented guest and coding virtuoso, shares his personal journey from the burgeoning computer science department at UCSC to becoming a notable figure in the tech world, all while maintaining his roots in the vibrant Santa Cruz com...
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1:11:15
Episode 46: Nick Mari, From Wyoming to Santa Cruz, With a Few Stops In Between: A Journey of Recovery, Introspection, and Empathy
What happens when a small-town Wyoming upbringing meets the vibrant chaos of Utah's EDM scene? Join me and my guest, Nick Mari, as we explore this intriguing intersection and uncover a journey marked by trials and triumphs. From adapting to con...
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1:34:20
Episode 45:Rueben Case-Gabbard, From a Soquel Childhood to Santa Cruz's Unique Spirit: A Story of Freedom and Empathy From The View On The Corner
What if the essence of a town could be captured in the stories of its people? Join us as we journey through the heart of Santa Cruz, California, with Rueben Case-Gabbard, the insightful manager of Verutti's Liquor Store. Born at the now-closed ...
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1:04:31
Episode 44: Brennan Howard, From Growing Up, To Building Community, And What It Might Mean To Be A Leader
Ever wondered how a child’s summer program could shape a future leader? In this episode, Michael Howard is joined by his son Brennan Howard, who shares his inspiring journey from a young participant in the Capitola Junior Lifeguards to becoming...
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54:59
Episode 43: Michael Chavez, From Ken's Top Notch Produce to Community Love: Harvesting More Than Just Fruit
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51:25
Episode 42: Caleb Howard and The Waves of Change: A Lifeguard's Journey Back Home
What motivates a lifeguard to return to the sandy shores after years of pursuing a career in clinical counseling? Join us as Caleb Howard shares his incredible journey back to Santa Cruz, where the pull of the ocean waves and the call of family...
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1:07:03
Episode 41: Paul Locatelli, From The Challenges of Being The OG Zoolander, to Triumphs: A Personal Odyssey
What would you do if you found yourself at a crossroads, questioning everything you once held dear? Join us for an intimate conversation with Paul Locatelli as he shares his transformative journey, from growing up in the vibrant community of Sa...
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56:56