Central Coast Pulse

Hosted by americanrivierabank

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Central Coast Pulse, the podcast of American Riviera Bank, invites prominent members of our community to share their knowledge on important regional issues. Leaders from the commercial, non-profit and public health and safety sectors discuss issues our community is facing now and give their forecast as to how the future will look.

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35 recent

June 3, 2026Episode 118 min

The Price of Paradise

There's a reason why they call California's Central Coast the American Riviera. It's natural beauty is breathtaking. But living in this paradise comes at a high price. The Central Coast is facing a workforce housing crisis. Join ARB's Brian Donovan for a conversation with Linda Braunschweiger, CEO of the Housing Trust Fund of Ventura County, Danielle Borja, President and CEO of the Greater Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce, and Gagan Pawar, MD, MBA, CEO of Clinicas del Camino Real, for a conversation about the impact of the the workforce housing crisis on the wellbeing of our community.

March 17, 2025Episode 3538 min

Insurance on the Central Coast: Insights from Local Experts

At American Riviera Bank, we're committed to providing our community with valuable financial insights that go beyond traditional banking. In our latest Regional Pulse podcast episode, we delve into a topic that's crucial for every Central Coast resident: insurance preparedness. Hosted by our Chief Financial Officer, Michelle Martinich, this episode features local insurance experts Kait Hamilton and Kelly Wiser. Their combined experience and deep roots in our community make them ideal guides for navigating the complex world of insurance in our unique coastal region.

August 27, 2024Episode 3439 min

Innovations in Housing on the Central Coast Part II: Adaptive Reuse and Collaboration

In our latest podcast episode, we had an enlightening conversation with Rob Fredericks, CEO of the Santa Barbara Housing Authority. Rob shared innovative approaches to affordable housing, including adaptive reuse and employer-sponsored housing. Learn how these initiatives are making a difference on the Central Coast.

August 1, 2024Episode 3313 min

The CrowdStrike Incident: Critical Lessons Learned

Join Laurel Sykes, Chief Risk Officer for the bank, and Paul Abramson, Chief Technology Officer, as they delve into the recent CrowdStrike incident that caused system outages and significant impacts across industries and the globe. Discover the lessons learned, the impact on different organizations, and the strategies to prevent similar problems in the future.

June 13, 2024Episode 3227 min

Innovations in Housing on the Central Coast with Scott Collins of HASLO

Listen as we delve into the heart of our local community's most significant issues: housing development and affordable housing. We will discuss the challenges and triumphs, the untold stories behind revitalizing downtown buildings, strategic partnerships, and the incredible work Scott Collins and team from Housing Authority of San Luis Obispo are doing to preserve and create low-income housing opportunities in our communities. This critical discussion also highlights the middle-income down payment assistance program now available; click here for more information and to see if you qualify for this $50,000 grant.

April 24, 2024Episode 3117 min

How AI is Transforming Business on the Central Coast with Phil Carpenter

In the 30th episode of the Regional Pulse podcast, the discussion with Phil Carpenter, Chief Marketing Officer at Alice Technologies, shed light on the transformative power of AI in various industries on the Central Coast.

March 27, 2024Episode 3017 min

How AI is Transforming Businesses on the Central Coast

Join us for an in-depth exploration of the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence on businesses and industries with our guest Max Drucker, CEO of Carpe Data of Santa Barbara. Discover how AI is influencing the future of work, particularly in the insurance sector, and gain insights into the evolving landscape where data science and regulatory environments intersect.

October 30, 2023Episode 2921 min

Technology on the Central Coast Part 2

In the second installment of our two-part series on Technology on the Central Coast, our Chief Risk Officer, Laurel Sykes, engages in a conversation with Randy Berg from Transphorm and Paul Abramson, our Chief Technology Officer. They delve into the challenges faced by the industry and explore innovative solutions to tackle the pressing issue of workforce development. Additionally, they uncover exciting prospects for individuals seeking a career in technology on the Central Coast.

August 29, 2023Episode 2821 min

Technology on the Central Cost with Randy Berg of Transphorm, Part 1

In this episode, we invite you to listen and learn more about the thriving technology industry on the Central Coast of California. Our Chief Risk Officer, Laurel Sykes, sits down with Randy Berg of Transphorm to discuss this unique network of innovation in our own backyard and how our community's younger population could benefit from programs and new job titles that are now available. Stay tuned next month for Part 2 in the series, where we will also discuss industry challenges, including some creative new ideas to address the critical need for workforce development.

November 22, 2022Episode 2732 min

Workforce Housing on the Central Coast: the Missing Middle

Lori Murray, Senior Vice President and Residential Lending Manager at American Riviera Bank, discusses the workforce housing situation on the Central Coast with Jon Standring of the Coastal Housing Coalition, including the "Missing Middle," accessory dwelling units (ADU), and the roadblocks they are facing. As president at Beachside Partners, Jon Standring focuses on acquisitions, development and disposition of commercial and residential real estate throughout the South Coast. Since 2008, he has successfully negotiated and closed hundreds of real estate transactions and completed more than $300 million in real estate sales throughout California over the last decade. Jon is an active member in the Santa Barbara community, currently serving as President of the Santa Barbara Young Professionals Club Foundation and President for the Coastal Housing Coalition.