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bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

Bob Rivard
San Antonio
Community Engagement
Education
Economic Development
Homelessness
Bexar County
Covid-19
Texas
Infrastructure
Geekdom
San Antonio, United States
Public Education
Immigration
Workforce Development
Corazón Ministries
Housing Affordability
Orchestra Of San Antonio
Climate Change
Entrepreneurship
Launch SA

The bigcitysmalltown podcast, hosted by Bob Rivard, is dedicated to telling the stories of San Antonians working to make the city a more sustainable, better educated, equitable and prosperous city. We want San Antonio to become a destination city for talented and creative people, and a city where young people born or raised here want to build their futures here. We embrace diversity, multicultural... more

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Latest Episodes

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we sit down with Chef Leo Davila, a San Antonio native whose personal journey has led him from childhood field trips downtown to running the kitchens at the historic St. Anthony Hotel. After gaining a following at his a... more

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the changing face of San Antonio’s startup scene through the lens of Geekdom, the well-known downtown tech hub entering a new phase. 

Cory Ames is joined by Charles Wooden, CEO of Geekdom, to discuss the org... more

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This week on bigcitysmalltown, filmmaker Ben Masters joins Cory Ames for an in-depth look at Texas’s rivers, conservation, and the stories behind Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers out in theaters, now. 

Set beside a Hill Country creek, the conversat... more

This week on bigcitysmalltown, we examine the newly redrawn Congressional District 35 and its implications for San Antonio, Bexar County, and surrounding rural communities. As political lines shift, so do the issues and challenges facing candidates a... more

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Recent Guests

Leo Davila
Chef leading Essencia and Anacacho at St. Anthony Hotel
St. Anthony Hotel, Essencia, Anacacho
Episode: 192. From 8 Tables to the St. Anthony: Chef Leo Davila on Bringing San Antonians Back Downtown to Eat
Charles Woodin
CEO of Geekdom since 2019
Geekdom
Episode: 191. San Antonio Joins MIT's REAP Program: Geekdom's Charles Woodin on Building a Startup Ecosystem That Stays
Ben Masters
Texas filmmaker famous for Unbranded, The River and the Wall, Deep in the Heart
Ben Masters Films / Texas wildlife conservation
Episode: 190. Filmmaker Ben Masters on Texas Rivers, What We've Lost, and What We Can Get Back
Johnny Garcia
Sheriff's Deputy running as Democratic candidate for Congressional District 35
Democratic candidate for Texas 35
Episode: 189. Barbacoa, Big Red, and Blue-Collar Votes: Johnny Garcia’s Vision for Texas’ 35th Congressional District
Duke Reiter
Distinguished architect, urban designer, educator, and founder of Ten Across
Ten Across; Arizona State University
Episode: 188. Duke Reiter on What Phoenix Can Teach San Antonio About Water, Heat, and Downtown Universities
Michelle Cuellar Everidge
President & CEO of the Witte Museum
Witte Museum
Episode: 187. The Witte Museum at 100: Michelle Cuellar Everidge on Creating "the Most Curious Texans Yet"
Israel Elizondo
Student, Team Leader of Team 210 Robotics at UTSA
UT San Antonio
Episode: 186. RoboRowdy: The Dorm-Room Robot That Won UT San Antonio a Global Engineering Title
Dyshana Torres
Student, member of Team 210 Robotics at UTSA
UT San Antonio
Episode: 186. RoboRowdy: The Dorm-Room Robot That Won UT San Antonio a Global Engineering Title
Robert Miggins
CEO and co-founder of Big Sun Solar
Big Sun Solar
Episode: 185. Solar Without a Roof: Big Sun Solar and CPS Energy's 50 Megawatt Community Solar Program

Hosts

Bob Rivard
Host of the show and Big City Small Town podcast; longtime San Antonio journalist and civic commentator
Cory Ames
Co-host and moderator; oversees interview flow and show structure

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 79 ratings
  • Helped me vote for mayor

    There are 27 candidates running for mayor. Thank goodness for this podcast and being able to listen to the top contenders in depth. I really appreciate having this locally focused podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Annie5111978
    United Statesa year ago
  • Always interesting and informative!

    I’ve been following Bob Rivard’s work since The Rivard Report. The detail and depth he brings to each story and episode is an expression of the passion he has for his work. I listen regularly, even to episodes that don’t seem initially all that interesting to me, because his work always inspires me to broaden my interests in, and to engage with, my community and beyond! Definitely worth a follow if you live, ever lived, and/or love San Antonio, Texas, or of well done and informative content!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    FranciscoG1
    United States3 years ago
  • San Antonio on tap!!!!

    If you live in San Antonio, this podcast is a must listen. Rivard’s cultivated perspective of our city, and network in San Antonio translates to an informative and thought provoking podcast. However most importantly Big City Small Town host conversations that should be heard and had all over San Antonio. Subscribe. Subscribe. Subscribe.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    cblank92
    United States3 years ago
  • Thanks!

    I have thoroughly enjoyed every episode. Keep up the good work.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Roy lover of music
    United States3 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Locally focused and informative with in-depth looks at San Antonio figures.
A must-listen for residents who want to understand city growth, governance, and local business.
Depth and detail from a host with strong community ties; great for San Antonio listeners.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

184. Laura Patiño on San Antonio's Heat Playbook — and Who Feels It First
Q: When do you imagine we'll see headlines about measurable progress from the Heat Playbook, such as reductions in heat impacts in specific neighborhoods?
Progress will be reported through an annual tracker and companion story maps, with updates on the status of actions, funding, and implementation, complemented by neighborhood-level data from UTSA partnerships; the goal is to publish clear headlines showing progress in heat relief and resilience.
185. Solar Without a Roof: Big Sun Solar and CPS Energy's 50 Megawatt Community Solar Program
Q: What are the trade-offs between community solar and rooftop solar in terms of resiliency?
Community solar does not provide home resiliency during grid outages; rooftop solar with storage can offer emergency power, whereas community solar delivers ongoing savings on the grid without local backup.
185. Solar Without a Roof: Big Sun Solar and CPS Energy's 50 Megawatt Community Solar Program
Q: How does the cost of community solar compare to rooftop solar today?
Community solar can be substantially cheaper per watt—around $2 per watt versus roughly $4 per watt for rooftop solar—leading to stronger paybacks even after tax credits, and offers insurance and maintenance handled by the program.
185. Solar Without a Roof: Big Sun Solar and CPS Energy's 50 Megawatt Community Solar Program
Q: How does the Big Sun Community Solar program work for renters and apartment dwellers?
Offsite solar panels are installed and CPS Energy credits are allocated to customers' bills for 20 years; customers can choose the level of offset, and credits can move with the customer if they relocate.
185. Solar Without a Roof: Big Sun Solar and CPS Energy's 50 Megawatt Community Solar Program
Q: What does the city's municipal on-site solar project look like when it's completed?
It will involve rooftop and carport installations across about 53 city buildings, offsetting around 13% of the city's power usage, and it has created significant local jobs for the area.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About bigcitysmalltown

What is bigcitysmalltown about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show concentrates on San Antonio's local economy, governance, culture, and civic life, featuring in-depth conversations with business leaders, policymakers, journalists, and city builders. Episodes frequently explore urban development, public policy, infrastructure, education, and community initiatives, often anchored by a San Antonio–centric perspective and a focus on practical impact for residents and local ecosystems. A notable strength is its ability to bring high-profile local figures and longtime stakeholders into sustained, story-driven discussions, giving listeners actionable context about how decisions shape the city's future. For potential listeners, expect thoughtful, locally grounded storytelling that connects politics, busi... more

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Which podcasts are similar to bigcitysmalltown?

These podcasts share a similar audience with bigcitysmalltown:

1. Beyond the Bite
2. ENside Politics
3. Texas Take
4. Interesting Times
5. The Ezra Klein Show

How many episodes of bigcitysmalltown are there?

bigcitysmalltown launched 4 years ago and published 193 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on bigcitysmalltown?

Recent guests on bigcitysmalltown include:

1. Leo Davila
2. Charles Woodin
3. Ben Masters
4. Johnny Garcia
5. Duke Reiter
6. Michelle Cuellar Everidge
7. Israel Elizondo
8. Dyshana Torres

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