Santa Barbara, CA –”It was incredible to be part of a packed house at Validation Ale — new faces, familiar faces, and a whole lot of community spirit as we celebrated the launch of our podcast,” remarks Rob Gross, podcast host. The Santa Barbara Effect celebrated its highly anticipated podcast launch last night at Validation Ale. The event brought together a dynamic mix of entrepreneurs, innovators, and community members, marking a significant moment for Santa Barbara.
The Santa Barbara Effect podcast aims to capture and share the unique stories of locals who are shaping the city’s future. Hosted by Josh Narva and Rob Gross, the podcast is a platform for insightful conversations about innovation, culture, and community spirit in Santa Barbara.
“The Santa Barbara community has given so much to my family and I… It’s great to be a part of something that’s giving back, and highlighting some of the people, businesses, and history that make this such a special place. The energy at the launch event was palpable and inspiring,” reflects Narva.
The first episode, featuring Peter and Debbie Moore, owners of Santa Barbara Sky FC, is now available on all major podcast directories, like Spotify or Apple Podcasts. In this episode, Peter and Debbie share their journey as club owners and their vision for fostering soccer culture in the community.
Guests at the launch event enjoyed craft beverages, local cuisine, and engaging conversations while listening to the smooth tunes of The Konrad Kono Trio. The atmosphere was filled with excitement as attendees connected with like-minded individuals passionate about entrepreneurship and Santa Barbara’s cultural identity.
Founder & Managing Partner of Santa Barbara Venture Partners, Dan Engel, said of the launch party, “What a great Santa Barbara event. I saw a couple of local business legends who only come out to an event, it seems, about every 20 years. “The Santa Barbara Effect” message was in full force tonight. I planned to stay an hour, but couldn’t get myself to leave. A special crowd no doubt.”
Local legends at the event included John MacFarlane, one of the four founders of Sonos and software.com, and the less elusive Bond Fitness founder, Jenny Schatzle, who are both featured in upcoming episodes of the podcast. The evening’s featured musician is also one of our local greats; Konrad Kono is a master pianist and has been dedicated to instilling his passion for music in Santa Barbara schools for the last 30 years.
Not only was this event a celebration of the podcast, but in the spirit of community and giving back, it was also a fundraiser for Santa Barbara Sky FC’s nonprofit arm, Fundación Cielo, and UCSB Athletics’ Gaucho Fund. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors who supported this event, as well as Brian Deignan at Validation Ale for donating a portion of the evening’s proceeds, the launch party was a resounding success in both celebration and support of local initiatives.
A Word from Our Foundational Partners
“The launch event and The Santa Barbara Effect podcast are a beautiful representation of bringing together and celebrating this special community. Thank you for inviting us to participate and highlighting the role of UCSB athletics as a platform for service and community connection. I have such admiration for the podcast telling the stories of our connected, service-oriented and extraordinary community. I look forward to listening to them all!” – Kelly Barsky, The Arnhold Director of Athletics at UCSB
“There are so many things that make Santa Barbara unique. One of those being the number of small thriving businesses here in town and how we rally as a community to support each other. The Santa Barbara Effect event at Validation Ale last night was a perfect example of this type of comradery. As I looked around the event last night, I was also noticing the number of female small business leaders – and I felt very proud to be part of that! Santa Barbara SKY FC was grateful to be included!” – Sheralyn Baltes, Chief Operating Officer of Santa Barbara Sky FC
The event was made possible with the generous support of the our sponsors:
- Meghan Webley, Peak Hygiene a Dental Hygiene Spa
- Gavin Plant, Employee Benefits Advisor at Risk Strategies
- Ryan Emmons, Founder of Waiakea
- Brian Deignan, Owner of Validation Ale
- Jenny Schatzle and Stephen Stowe, Bond Fitness Founders
- Whitney Armentrout Real Estate
- Vanessa Royle, Co-Founder of Tilden
- Gavin and Lindsey Garrison, Millenia Creative Productions
“Santa Barbara always shines when the community comes together and this launch event was no different. I’m incredibly proud to have been able to support this amazing project and look forward to watching it continue to grow!” – Gavin Planet, Risk Management // Event Sponsor
“We’re proud to support this incredible event and be part of a community that shares our values of innovation, collaboration, and excellence. It’s an exciting opportunity to connect with passionate individuals and contribute to something truly impactful.” – Meghan Webley, Owner at Peak Hygiene // Event Sponsor
For more information about The Santa Barbara Effect podcast and upcoming episodes, visit www.thesbeffect.com or follow on Instagram @thesantabarbaraeffect or YouTube @thesbeffect
About The Santa Barbara Effect
The Santa Barbara Effect is a podcast dedicated to celebrating the entrepreneurial spirit, cultural richness, and unique stories of the Santa Barbara community. Each episode features conversations with local innovators, business leaders, and community members who are making a difference.
Media Contact:
Rachel D.
[email protected] / theSBeffect.com
