Author Archives: Claudia Shambaugh

The Voice of an Iranian-American Woman

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Our guest for the full hour is Sudi Farokhnia, a local Risk and Audit professional and Co-founder of Iranian American Democrats of California. Speaking in her capacity as an activist, she has a full roster to cover today including: Iranian American political organizing in general; The Middle Eastern Northern African Inclusion Act, California AB 2763; the Temporary Family Visitation Act, HR 5155; and The Allyship Act, HR 6865; all this going into Ramadan and Nowruz. As spring has sprung, civics keeps up on this show.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Kiosk, “Vada Bebar,” Triple Distilled – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Farokhnia3-12-24.mp3

Ask A Voter Listens to Citizens on This Supah Tuesday

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Welcome all to the CA Primary 2024 edition of “Ask A Voter,” continuing the tradition of asking guests to tell their voting story. Think Story Corps walking around the polling place. Today, on Super Tuesday our roster of voters include: Alex Denysov, Ukrainian-American actor, filmmaker, musician and songwriter based on Los Angeles (minute 1:48); Shawn Khalifa, UCI sociology major soon to complete his BA in UCI’s Underground Scholars program (minute 17:00); Paa-Kwesi Heto, international political economist, security analyst affiliated with both UCI and Soka University of America (25:12); Elizabeth Martin, retired Orange County attorney and contributor to Orange County Communities Organized for Responsible Development’s citizenship fair (minute 35:19) and finally KUCI radio trainee Matt Sereno (minute 44:33).

Music credits: Fanfare for the Common Man, Leonard Bernstein, conducting NY Philharmonic; DakhaBraka, “Carpathian Rap,” – single; Matt Haimowitz, “Star Spangled Banner,” single; Charlie Haden Liberation Music Orchestra, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” Not in Our Name – album; Agustín Uribu, “Fiesta en Ticara,” Santa Fe – album. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/AAV3-5-24.mp3

Paa-Kwesi Heto had more to say, on the heels of the news about the U. S. Supreme Court rendering its decision about Donald Trump’s eligibility to appear on the Colorado primary ballot. http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/Paa-KwesiPod2Mar5-24.m

Meet CA State Senate 37th Dist Candidate Crystal Miles AND League of Women Voters’ Civics Toolkits

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We are 1 week away from CA Primary Election Day, March 5th. On today’s roster is our last candidate: Crystal Miles, Villa Park City Council member, running as a Republican in the CA State Senate 37th District. Other candidates either did not reply, were unavailable for interview, have appeared in past election cycles, or are not actively campaigning.

In today’s second segment (approx. minute 27:15), we do one better with a heady discussion of civics. Taking that up is Linda Bytof, retired judge and currently the Chair of Youth Outreach Committee with the League of Women Voters, Alameda CA; and a member on the Alameda Co Office of Education Civics Advisory Committee.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Nestor Torres, “Solar,” Dance of the Phoenix – album; Mc Coy Tyner Trio, ” Happy Days,” Infinity – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/MilesBytofPOD2-27-24.mp3

NOTE: Calling all “Ask A Voter” guests to reach the host to appear on the CA Primary show next week. We still have openings. As with election show, we want to hear your election story: about your first time you registered and why are you voting today.

Meet OC Board of Ed Area 3 Candidate Nancy Watkins AND CA 47th Congressional Dist. Candidate Max Ukropina

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As our primary coverage continues, our first guest is Dr. Nancy Watkins, education professional and OC Board of Education candidate running for trustee in Area 3. This area includes: Fullerton, Brea, Placentia, Yorba Linda, Orange, Foothill Ranch, Villa Park, central and North Irvine, Portola Hills, Anaheim Hills, portions of Lake Forest and Tustin. This is 3 of 5 trustee races that are on the CA Primary ballot. In the second segment (approx. minute 32:59) is financial technology entrepreneur Max Ukropina, who is running as a Republican in CA 47th Congressional District. This district includes: Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport, and Seal Beach, and portions of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Woods.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Vincent Herring/Bobby Watson/Gary Bartz, “Folklore,” Bird at 100 – album; Isaiah J. Thompson, “1,000 Rainbows,” Plays the Music of Buddy Montgomery.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/WatkinsUkropina2-20-24.mp3

Meet CA Senate Dist. 37 Candidates: Alex Mohajer and Guy Selleck

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We are 3 weeks out from CA Primary Election Day, March 5th. Our vote-by-mail ballots are delivered; on Feb. 24th select vote centers will open, 25 with a drive through ballot drop off. The Registrar of Voters office will be open for the entire voting period. Information is available at: https://www.ocvote.gov/VIG . AAL continues coverage of the primary; on today’s roster are 2 State Senator candidates running in the 37th District: First is Alex Mohajer, Democrat and LA County Civil Service Advocate/Employee Relations Representative. In the second segment (approx. minute 28:40) is Guy Selleck, Republican and founder/CEO/principal of BuildersMax Inc. and G.E.M. Investment Properties.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Miki Yamamoto, ”Suite 1 Brain,” Human Dust Suite – album; and Bela Fleck “Rhapsody in Bluegrass,” single.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/MohajerSelleck2-13-24.mp3

Meet State Sen. Josh Newman AND Meet CA 47th Cong. Dist. Candidate Joanna Weiss

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Yesterday vote-by-mail ballot mailing began, California! Feb. 20th is last day to register to vote, Feb. 24th select vote centers (183) open, including 37 open for 11 days, 146 open for 4 days and 25 with a drive through ballot drop off. The OC Registrar of Voters office will be open for the entire voting period. Information available at: https://www.ocvote.gov/VIG . In the service of that effort is AAL’s coverage of the primary. We start with State Senator Josh Newman (D-29), who is running for reelection in the newly mapped 37th State Senate District, which includes: Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Woods, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Modjeska, Newport Beach, North Tustin, Orange, Santa Ana, Silverado, Tustin, and Villa Park.

In the second segment (approx. minute 30:05), we hear from CA 47th Congressional District candidate Joanna Weiss. This district includes: Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, Irvine, Newport, and Seal Beach, and portions of Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, and Laguna Woods.

NOTE: Useful analyses of the intersection of transportation, affordable housing stock, and commutes are available at: https://www.niskanencenter.org/sprawl-can-be-good-actually-expand-the-metropolitan-commute-zone-to-grow-housing-supply/ and https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=646d928c-fea3-4d90-90ef-98fd783ca2e4.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Weather Report, “Birdland,” Heavy Weather – album; The Lyman Woodard Organization, “Belle_Isle_Daze,” Saturday Night Special – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/NewmanWeiss2-6-24.mp3

Meet David Min, Candidate for CA 47th Cong. Dist. AND Rethinking Carceral Institutions

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Today we begin coverage of the CA primary, a mere 5 weeks away. Community radio has an additional responsibility in this coverage as we all note the dwindling coverage of the OC politics in the area newspaper the L.A. Times. We first hear from CA State Senator Dave Min, one of the several candidates I’ll be interviewing, who are running in the CA 47th Congressional District, in the seat vacated by incumbent Congresswoman Katie Porter. In the second segment (approx. minute 31:30), is Shawn Khalifa who’ll be graduating this spring from the UC system’s UCI’s Underground Scholars program for felons from the carceral system and sends them off to thriving lives. The extended portion of his interview is posted on this same day.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Gustavo Dudamel conducting Simón Bolivar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela – Arturo Márquez, “Conga del Fuego,” Discoveries – album; John Beasley & Monk’estra, “Work,” John Beasley presents Monk’estra vol. 2 – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/MinKhalifa1-30-24.mp3

Shawn Khalifa had a whole lot more to say about his transition to academia and the world beyond. Have a listen.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/KhalifaPod21-30-24.mp3

The State of Nursing Home Care in the U.S.

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Dr. Dana Mukamel, economist and UCI professor of medicine, will talk about her findings in the Health Services Research journal published Dec 2023, in collaboration with Heather Ladd, Debra Saliba, and Tamara Konextzka; all of who whom have found that not just adding staff, but specialized training and a more stable labor will improve outcomes in American nursing home care, including dementia care. One of the resources that she particularly found useful for listeners to reference is the Quality Care Compare resource: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-safety-standards/certification-compliance/five-star-quality-rating-system.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; #17 Wilhelm Peterson-Berger composer, “Gratulation,” Nordic Piano Favorites – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/MukamelPod1-23-24.mp3

Applying to Schools in the Post-Dobbs Era; Girls Just Wanna Have Health

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Today our guests for the full hour are three young women applying to colleges and universities in what we’re referring to as the post “Dobbs” era, where abortion and reproductive healthcare are highly restricted if not effectively banned in seventeen states. Offering their personal reflections, choices, and experiences as higher education applicants in this moment are: University High School senior Camryn Cummings, applying to undergraduate programs; and UCI alumna Kimberly Martinez and UCI undergraduate Kalisse Ajlouny, both of whom are applying for advanced degrees.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Miki Yamanaka, “March,” 29 seconds in, Human Dust Suite – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/CummingsAjlounyMartinez1-16-24.mp3

World Affairs Council of OC AND Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet

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Today our guests cover the world in two different ways, two different constructs. We start with Richard Downie, President and CEO of the World Affairs Council of Orange County, talking about the forums and mentoring that his local chapter offers the community. He surveys some highlights and moves into what they’ve got planned for 2024. In the second segment (approx. minute 30:00) Alonzo King Co-Founder, Artistic Director and Choreographer of LINES Ballet, raises the fundamentals of life and creativity, in advance of his San Francisco company performing Jan 20th, 7:30 p..m., at Segerstrom Hall. Details about the performance are available at: https://www.scfta.org/shows-events.

Music credits: Chimora, “Africano Americano,” Sounds of Africa – album; Aaron Lington Quartet performing Robert Nelson’s Concerto for Baritone Saxophone and Orchestra, “III allegro,” Secondary Impressions – album; Wayne Shorter Quartet, “Zero Gravity,” Beyond the Sound Barrier – album.

http://www.kuci.org/podcastfiles/984/DownieKing1-9-24.mp3