PODCAST · society
On Location - Coastside Edition
by Sophia Layne
How do we bring our world to a better place — not back to where we were, but forward, to somewhere better? This podcast is an experiment in building a better future – through enabling informed conversations, recognizing interconnections and an abundance mindset, and supporting smarter, more sustainable public investments. Drawing on my background in local and state-level public education policy as well as the global biomedical industry (and as a parent of two!), I aim to bring you real stories from remarkable people working to make a difference. Each episode is grounded in place and purpose, offering insight, inspiration, and maybe even a little entertainment—all with the hope of creating a world worth passing on.
Episodes
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Ballots and beers (Part 2 of 2) – a nonpartisan Coastside ballot explainer
Grab a beverage of your choice – beer, coffee, water, whatever – and join host Sophia Layne with special guests Lenny Mendonca and Margie Gater as they help you make sense of what’s on the voluminous ballots that have arrived in California’s San Mateo County Coastside mailboxes. In Part 1, they...
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Ballots and beers (Part 1 of 2) – a nonpartisan Coastside ballot explainer
Grab a beverage of your choice – beer, coffee, water, whatever – and join host Sophia Layne with special guests Lenny Mendonca and Margie Gater as they help you make sense of what’s on the voluminous ballots that have arrived in California’s San Mateo County Coastside mailboxes. In Part 1, they...
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Free to Learn - Bringing Community College Home to the Coast
Host Sophia Layne takes a walk through downtown Half Moon Bay with Lisa Petrides, starting at the new College of San Mateo Coastside campus at the corner of Mill and Purissima Streets, for a conversation about how free community college came to San Mateo County, the years of community partnership...
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Self-portrait as legacy – a poet, a painting, and the art of deep listening
In this second of a two-part series, Sophia chats with poet Monica Korde, whose collaborative installation with watercolor artist Hargun Maan is featured in a special exhibition at Kitsune Community Art Studio and Gallery in Half Moon Bay, California, through June 7, 2026. The installation is a...
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What we carry – legacy, identity, and community art
Host Sophia Layne steps inside a hidden artist's studio and gallery in Half Moon Bay, tucked behind a bike shop near California’s iconic Highway One. As Kitsune Studios hosts its third annual celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, they embark on a multi-media…
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Dream it, do it - teen robotics and the future of work
Host Sophia Layne heads to the inaugural FIRST Robotics California Northern State Championship for a front-row seat at one of the most energizing things happening on the Coastside — and possibly one of the most under the radar. This episode follows the Pumpkin Bots, Half Moon Bay's own teen...
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Open to all – the quiet revolution boosting literacy
Host Sophia Layne sits down with Susan Alvaro at the Half Moon Bay Library for a wide-ranging conversation about the inner workings of public education, the power of literacy, and the many ways community members can get involved locally. This episode weaves together a fascinating tour of how…
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Season's Greetings!
There’s been so much to get swept up in at the national level over the past year or so – though while ‘flooding the zone’ is not a new strategy, the tides are indeed starting to turn (if slowly…). While it’s the traditional season for holiday baking and elves on the shelves, perhaps our biggest...
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On location, in reflection – harvesting abundance to grow our future
Season One comes to a close not with a conclusion, but with an invitation. In this final episode, we reflect on a journey across Half Moon Bay, California—walking, talking, and listening to stories that reveal the interconnectedness of land, education, immigration, art, activism, and leadership....
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Listen again: No Kings – and an experiment in moving forward to a better place
With the second nationwide No Kings protest now ready to roll, this live recording and reflection from the first event, just a few months ago, reinvigorates us as to the power we have in speaking up and building community driven to make our country -- and the world -- a better place for all. In...
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The land we love – and the democracy we build
Host Sophia Layne walks the Half Moon Bay, CA, blufftops with Barbara Dye — community leader, land trust advocate, and two-time Peace Corps volunteer. Barbara shares her journey from preserving thousands of acres in Southern California to stewarding open space on the Coastside, reflecting on the...
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Shaping the shoreline – whales, sails, and tales
Host Sophia Layne chats with Virginia Chang-Kiraly, a member of both the San Mateo County Harbor District and Menlo Park Fire Protection District Boards, at Surfers Beach in Half Moon Bay, California, as whales spout just offshore and the hum of dredging and beach replenishment pipes fills the…
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Education for all – breaking barriers, building futures
Host Sophia Layne walks through Half Moon Bay with Hector Camacho, Executive Director of Equity, Social Justice, and Inclusion at the San Mateo County Office of Education. As they pass by local schools, their conversation turns to what equity really means, why belonging matters, and how…
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Brewing change – Proposition 50 and a pint
Over pints of beer on the patio at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company, host Sophia Layne sits down with co-founder Lenny Mendonca as he traces his journey from management consulting and statewide economic development, where he served as the governor’s chief economic advisor, to nonprofit…
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Everybody has a story – finding truth through poetry
Host Sophia Layne walks and talks with Antonio López, San Mateo County Poet Laureate and former Mayor of East Palo Alto, in a conversation spanning poetry to politics. Antonio reflects on growing up in an immigrant family, how verse became his way of telling truth, and what he’s learned leading…
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Rooted in community – nurturing the seeds of the Coastside Farmers Market
Host Sophia Layne talks with Erin Tormey, Director of the Coastside Farmers Market, about how the market began, the struggles and resistance she faced, and the global lessons of collaboration and resilience in farming. From global shifts in the floriculture industry to the rise of organic…
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Walking together – across borders into belonging
In this episode, host Sophia Layne joins Kique Bazán at the Saturday morning food distribution event of the local nonprofit Ayudando Latinos a Soñar (ALAS) in Half Moon Bay. Kique shares his journey from Peru to California’s San Mateo County Coastside, the formative experiences that inspired his...
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Zucchini muffins and human connection – a recipe for community and innovation
In this episode, host Sophia Layne visits Jayne Beatty at Miramar Farms near Half Moon Bay, where the conversation begins in Jane’s kitchen amid the smell of zucchini muffins baking in the oven and unfolds through a walk around her farm’s orchards and gardens. Jane shares how Miramar Farms offers…
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A knack for serendipity – and life on the farm
Guest: Erin Tormey, Director of the Coastside Farmers Market, and Proprietor of Farm Fatales of Irish Ridge Ranch Host: Sophia Layne Location: Irish Ridge, Half Moon Bay 🎧 Episode Summary: In this heartwarming and deeply insightful episode, we visit Irish Ridge with Erin Tormey—farmer, food...
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No Kings — and an experiment in moving forward to a better place
Summary In this episode, Sophia chats with folks at a recent public protest in Half Moon Bay, and in reflection, she shares some thoughts regarding the importance of civic engagement, emphasizing a need for accurate information, a shift from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, and advocating...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
How do we bring our world to a better place — not back to where we were, but forward, to somewhere better? This podcast is an experiment in building a better future – through enabling informed conversations, recognizing interconnections and an abundance mindset, and supporting smarter, more sustainable public investments. Drawing on my background in local and state-level public education policy as well as the global biomedical industry (and as a parent of two!), I aim to bring you real stories from remarkable people working to make a difference. Each episode is grounded in place and purpose, offering insight, inspiration, and maybe even a little entertainment—all with the hope of creating a world worth passing on.
HOSTED BY
Sophia Layne
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does On Location - Coastside Edition have?
On Location - Coastside Edition currently has 20 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is On Location - Coastside Edition about?
How do we bring our world to a better place — not back to where we were, but forward, to somewhere better? This podcast is an experiment in building a better future – through enabling informed conversations, recognizing interconnections and an abundance mindset, and supporting smarter, more...
How often does On Location - Coastside Edition release new episodes?
On Location - Coastside Edition has 20 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to On Location - Coastside Edition?
You can listen to On Location - Coastside Edition on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts On Location - Coastside Edition?
On Location - Coastside Edition is created and hosted by Sophia Layne.
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