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Comstock's Talks

Connecting California's Capital Region businesses and professionals to the resources they need to succeed. Comstock's Talks is a product of Comstock's business magazine.
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Now displaying: Page 1
Mar 13, 2025

How do you lead diverse teams with differing opinions? Where do you find the confidence to make big career moves? Are women leaders expected to be nicer than men? Comstock's Women in Leadership honorees Cassandra Jennings and Yvonne Pire join us for a special episode recorded in the wine cellar at Mulvaney's B+L in Midtown Sacramento.

Get to know all of our 2025 Women in Leadership (and start thinking about who you want to nominate next year!)

Improve your business outcomes and career trajectory by keeping up with Comstock’s. Subscribe to the magazine today.

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Jan 22, 2025

Predicting the future is hard, but we still like to try. Comstock's contributor Steven Yoder breaks down his cover story "New Year, New Administration. What Can We Expect?" in which economists offer their insight on the next few years in the Capital Region. Which areas will see the most growth? Is it time to make the big moves or to play it safe? Find out in our latest episode. 

Read more from Steven Yoder here

Improve your business outcomes and career trajectory by keeping up with Comstock’s. Subscribe to the magazine today.

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

 

 

 

Oct 14, 2024

Journalist James Stout delves into his latest feature for Comstock's "What's Holding Up Valley Rail?" where he investigated delays in railway expansion throughout the Central Valley. We discuss the hurdles that are baked into the system, changing attitudes towards public transit and whether hopping on a train might be more commonplace in future America. 

James Stout's work focuses on conflict, migration and anti-fascism. He has written for National Geographic, Wall Street Journal, Esquire and more, and he produces his own podcast, "It Could Happen Here."

Improve your business outcomes and career trajectory by keeping up with Comstock’s. Subscribe to the magazine here

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Aug 7, 2024

Host and Assistant Editor Dakota Morlan is joined by Editor Judy Farah and Senior VP and Director of Business Development Clayton Blakley as we celebrate 35 years of Comstock's magazine, remember how we got here and muse about where we're headed. 

Read the digital edition of our anniversary issue here.

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Jun 28, 2024

Sacramento's performing arts powerhouse and Comstock's 2024 Young Professionals honoree Jacob Gutierrez-Montoya shares how he's found success in an elusive field, his vision for the Sac arts scene and why he (sometimes) works for free. 

Get to know Comstock's 2024 Young Professionals here

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Apr 22, 2024

Inventive minds have always looked to the skies for inspiration, but new imaging tools have unlocked a more intricate study of bird flight. In this episode, UC Davis faculty members Christina Harvey, an aerospace engineering expert, and Michelle Hawkins, director of the California Raptor Center, discuss a Defense Department-funded research project to inform future drone technologies.

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the featured story “Fly Like an Eagle” here

 

Mar 25, 2024

In this special episode, we get to know some of our 2024 Women in Leadership while exploring the Jacquelyn, a new bar, restaurant and private club venue in Sacramento. 

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read more about Comstock's Women in Leadership here

Feb 14, 2024

Nurse practitioner and founder of Destination Aesthetics Shawna Chrisman is on a mission to dispel the myths surrounding aesthetic treatments. In this episode, we discuss unusual patients, "the natural look," emerging technologies, how much is too much, looking younger in the workplace and why medical aesthetics aren't just for women anymore. 

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the featured story “The Evolution of Aesthetics” here

Dec 27, 2023

Jennifer T. Smilowitz, assistant professor of the cooperative extension in the Department of Nutrition at UC Davis, is a breast milk expert and devotee. In this episode we talk about the science, potential medical applications, cultural context, barriers to breastfeeding and why there is no true substitute for human breast milk.

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the featured story "Beyond the Bottle" here

To subscribe to Comstock's magazine, visit comstocksmag.com.

Oct 24, 2023

Father and daughter Jim Mayfield and Hannah de Bie of Sub Sea Systems discuss marine tourism, VR integration, Saudi Arabia's entertainment megaproject Qiddiya, the importance of ocean exploration and working with family. 

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read about Sub Sea and other unique family businesses here

To subscribe to Comstock's magazine, visit comstocksmag.com.

Sep 18, 2023

San Joaquin County Historical Museum's executive director and fifth generation Stocktonian Phillip Merlo speaks on the rich history, abundant opportunities and dogged optimism of the port city.

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the featured story "Manufacturing a New Vision for Stockton" here

To subscribe to Comstock's magazine, visit comstocksmag.com.

Aug 22, 2023

Fathom co-founder Eric Howard discusses generative AI tools, artistic value and how creatives can adapt to a changing industry. To read the article, visit comstocksmag.com

Hosted by Dakota Morlan

Produced by Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Jul 19, 2023

Comstock's Young Professionals Lauren Oto and Nathan Langley talk about mentors, working with AI and what it was like to be a "Rock Star" in this issue's spread

Host: Dakota Morlan

Producers: Dominic Tassinari and Dakota Morlan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0

 

 

Feb 17, 2023

Boutique marketing agencies in the Capital Region consider the medium to be just as important as the message itself. They recognize the demand for video on platforms like TikTok and YouTube as reflective of our need for human connection and a growing demand for more “unfiltered” content. 

Writer and reader: Robin Douglas

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/longreads/medium-message

 
Nov 29, 2022

Are you frequently labeled “a lot,” “difficult” or “loud” at work? Do managers often not know what to do with you? Do you accidentally alienate coworkers with your “a-lotness”? Do people look you in the eye and call you exhausting? Why not try: working from home?

Writer and reader: Melody White

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/working-home-extrovert

Sep 20, 2022

In a year of rising costs, farmers still have quality as an advantage. Still, farmers market vendors and shoppers are struggling to stretch their dollars.

Writer and reader: Kate Gonzales

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/inflation-hits-market-basket

Aug 5, 2022

Comstock's invited some of our Young Professionals honorees for happy hour at Canon Restaurant to talk mentorship and nonlinear career paths.

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Danna Sweidan, Johnny Flores and Vanessa Labi

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0

Read Latoya Jackson-Lainez's profile here and Amber Celmer's profile here



Jun 23, 2022

Capital Region music festivals attract tens of thousands of fans from nearby areas and from all around the country, shaping its identity and boosting the local economy.

Writer and reader: Steve Martarano

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Vanessa Labi and Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

Read the story here: (link)

 

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Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

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May 23, 2022

The pop-up model allows independent chefs to experiment with new concepts and creative menus without investing in overhead.

Writer and reader: Vanessa Labi

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Vanessa Labi

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/pop-ups-are-popping



Apr 18, 2022
As national and international tourism decreased during the pandemic, regional visitation saw a boost. We profile three small picturesque towns that got a big increase in visitors.

Writer and reader: Scott Thomas Anderson

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

Read the story here: (link)

Mar 25, 2022

Comstock’s magazine invited three of our 2022 Women in Leadership honorees to join us for a discussion on the ways women are shaping the future of the Capital Region. Listen in on our conversation with Preet Ahluwalia, the investment officer who graced our cover this year; Amber Hoiska, VP of Pac Shield Roof Services; and Lora Anguay, chief zero carbon officer of SMUD.

Host: Vanessa Labi, Jennifer Fergesen

Producer: Danna Sweidan 

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/women-leadership



Feb 16, 2022

Young restaurateurs in the Capital Region are rewriting the definition of authenticity.

Writer and reader: Jennifer Fergesen

Host: Vanessa Labi

Producer: Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0) (include links)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/new-fusion-food

Jan 31, 2022
After a once-in-a-century pandemic, what happens next? The Capital Region's economic experts weigh in.

Written and read by Jeff Wilser

Hosted by Jennifer Fergesen

Produced by Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/longreads/its-complicated

Dec 28, 2021

As remote work continues to be normalized within the technology industry, techies are migrating to the Sierra Nevada foothills of Northern California.

Written and read by Dakota Morlan

Hosted by Jennifer Fergesen

Produced by Danna Sweidan

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/longreads/final-frontiers

Oct 25, 2021

A dedication to the past allows some family restaurants in the Capital Region to survive through the decades, including El Novillero, Genova Bakery and Club Pheasant. 

Written and read by Judy Farah

Hosted by Jennifer Fergesen

Produced by Danna Sweidan 

Music: Time Out by Atch (CC BY 3.0)

Read the story here: https://www.comstocksmag.com/article/three-capital-region-restaurants-keep-it-family

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