New wave of journalism needs more collaboration | Brianna Vaccari
Release Date: 09/18/2024
Mulligans takes a swing at Visalia Downtown | Shane Moss
Paper Trail Podcast
In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, Paul Myers sits down with Shane Moss, owner of Mulligans Indoor Golf in downtown Visalia, to discuss his journey from 30-year ministry veteran to innovative business owner. Shane shares candid insights about: - The challenges of transitioning from Orange County to the Central Valley - How a simple idea for a three-simulator facility evolved into transforming the historic Main Street Theater - The struggles of securing investors as a former pastor pursuing a for-profit venture - Managing the chaos of opening month, including working 16-hour days and...
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It's not "just COS" it's C-O-S | Brent Calvin
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul sits down with Brent Calvin, President of College of the Sequoias, who offers a unique perspective on education and leadership in the Valley. As a Visalia native who returned home after running a successful engineering firm, Brent shares insights from his seven years leading COS and the institution's remarkable decade of growth. The conversation explores COS's ambitious vision for the future, including their groundbreaking partnership with Fresno State to bring more four-year degree programs to Tulare County. Brent discusses why personal investment in the community matters, illustrated...
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PT 513 | Election Night results...so far
Paper Trail Podcast
In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, hosts Paul Myers and Ryan Clark dive into the November 2024 election results across Fresno and Tulare counties. From tight congressional races like Jim Costa vs. Michael Maher, to local city council showdowns where just a handful of votes could determine the winner, the hosts break down what these results mean for Valley residents. Readers can follow the latest updates at and as votes continue to be counted through December 5th. The episode also features discussion about Visalia's cannabis business tax measure passing with over 70% approval,...
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The gnarly side of radio and relevance | Gnarly Charlie
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul sits down with Valley radio personality Gnarly Charlie, who recently joined KJUG's morning show. With over three decades of broadcasting experience, Charlie shares fascinating stories about his journey from sorting records at KKDJ to becoming one of the region's most recognizable voices. Charlie offers unique insights into how radio has evolved since the late 1980s, from the days of vinyl records and analog equipment to today's digital landscape. He discusses his approach to staying relevant in an era of streaming services and podcasts, emphasizing the importance of authentic local...
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PT 512 | Do the hard work of rehab
Paper Trail Podcast
In this episode of the Paper Trail Podcast, Paul Myers and Ryan Clark dive into the Tulare County Board of Supervisors' recent unanimous endorsement of Proposition 36. The hosts explore how this reform measure aims to strengthen drug and theft penalties while emphasizing rehabilitation in California. The conversation covers the key differences between Prop 36 and its predecessor Prop 47, discussing how the new legislation would create a "treatment mandated felonies" category and implement a three-strikes approach to drug possession. They examine District Attorney Tim Ward's perspective on why...
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Upholding the standards in story telling | Zach Green
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul sits down with Zach Green of to explore how he's built a thriving video production company in the Central Valley. From his early days managing house painting crews at 19 to now running a creative team producing content for major institutions, Zach shares valuable insights into growing a business while maintaining high creative standards. The conversation delves into Zach's systematic approach to training and documentation, which has allowed him to scale his operation while keeping quality consistent. He discusses fascinating projects his team has produced, including documentaries about...
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PT 511 | Valley voters want empathetic, flexible, disciplined leaders
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul and Ryan dive into the pressing concerns of Valley voters ahead of the 2024 election. Based on a by Mineral King Publishing, they'll explore top issues like homelessness, air quality, and education, sharing insightful quotes from local residents. From the traits voters seek in candidates to the push for civic education in schools, this episode offers a comprehensive look at the political pulse of the Valley. Whether you're a long-time resident or new to the area, tune in for valuable insights into the issues shaping our local political landscape.
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Telling stories is a hoot with Film Owl Productions | Travis Walters
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul is joined by Film Owl Productions owner, Travis Walters. Travis has spent time up and down the Golden State telling stories for businesses, advocates and educational organizations. From short documentaries to commercials, Travis has shot it all. Travis and Paul talk about the tenents of telling a good story, and the sizable budgets the compares to Valley filmmaking. To be honest, we should all agree that advertising agencies exist in a market that does little but insist upon itself. If you want to know more from Travis you can find him on instagram at and on his website...
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Helping hands make light work in the community | Lester Moon
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul is joined by Hand in the Community CEO Lester Moon. Lester founded the organization who puts all of their efforts into their mission of helping those in need. Hands in the Community maintains a database of volunteers over a diverse skillset and industries. When a community member needs their lawn mowed, a ramp installed, light bulbs replaced Hands in the Community reaches out to their database to see who is available to help. Paul and Lester talk about Hands in the Community vets the people who reach out for services, and why the list of those in need have begun to outpace the list...
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PT 510 | Catching up on candidate coverage
Paper Trail Podcast
Paul and Ryan are joined by Serena Bettis, who has been conducting dozens of candidate interviews at the congressional, assemby, county and city council level between Tulare and Fresno Counties. Obviously unable to go over each one, readers can find these interviews under the election tab at and . And here, Serena talks about the questions she asked, and a few of the interviews she conducted.
info_outlineCentral Valley Journalism Collaborative reporter Brianna Vaccari joins Paul on the podcast.
Brianna once worked for the predecessor papers to the Mid Valley Times, before moving onto larger network papers. Her last stop before the CVJC was the Fresno Bee where she covered the Fresno City Council for several years.
Paul and Brianna swap war stories, share their thoughts on news marketing, compare nonprofit news with online and for profit news, and more.
The CVJC news product, The Merced Focus can be found here.