bigcitysmalltown with Bob Rivard

The bigcitysmalltown podcast, hosted by Bob Rivard, is dedicated to telling the stories of San Antonians working to make the city a more sustainable, better educated, equitable and prosperous city. We want San Antonio to become a destination city for talented and creative people, and a city where young people born or raised here want to build their futures here. We embrace diversity, multiculturalism, and every individual’s right to realize their full potential without fear of oppression. Each Friday, bigcitysmalltown will offer listeners a new podcast release, a timely, focused look in one of the fastest growing cities in the United States that serves as the economic, cultural and regional capital of South Texas.

101. The Last Word - Bigcitysmalltown is Growing: 100 Episodes & What’s Next 02/22/2025

100. The Future of UTSA with President Taylor Eighmy: Merger, Expansion, & Big Plans for San Antonio 02/21/2025

99. The Last Word - Bexar County Seeks to Expand Mental Health Services—But Will the State Step Up? 02/15/2025

98. Public School Funding in Texas: What San Antonio’s Business Leaders Want Lawmakers to Fix 02/14/2025

97. The Last Word - Will Texas Be Ready for the Next Disaster? The Fight Over FEMA 02/08/2025

96. How a Baggage Handler Became One of San Antonio’s Most Iconic Artists 02/07/2025

96. How a Baggage Handler Became One of San Antonio’s Most Iconic Artists This week’s episode of bigcitysmalltown takes a look at the humor, storytelling, and resilience behind one of San Antonio’s most recognizable public artists: Gary Sweeney. We’re joined by Gary Sweeney, a visual artist known for his bold, text-based public art, wit-infused commentary, and unconventional career path. From working as a baggage handler at an airline to creating public art installations across San Antonio, Denver, and beyond, Sweeney’s work blends humor with sharp social observations. With a career that spans decades—and a few rejected public art proposals along the way—Gary shares his thoughts on what makes public art work, the balance between humor and meaning, and why he kept his airline job for 35 years even while building a name as an artist. Listen as we explore how art, place, and storytelling collide, what public art reveals about a city’s character, and why San Antonio continues to be a hub for creative voices like Sweeney’s. -- -- -- -- RECOMMENDED NEXT EPISODE ▶ – In this episode of bigcitysmalltown, we explore how San Antonio is rethinking support for artists with a groundbreaking new residency program designed for those who are also caregivers. We’re joined by Liz Stehl Kleberg and Meaghan Mitts, the founders of Parts & Labor Residency, a nonprofit in Southtown San Antonio that provides mid-career artists with the time, space, and childcare support they need to balance family life and creative work. What does it take to make the arts more inclusive and sustainable? How does caregiving shape creative careers? And why is San Antonio leading the way with this new model? Tune in to learn how this program is reshaping artist residencies and building a more supportive arts community. -- -- CONNECT 📸 🔗 🎥 SPONSORS 🙌 THANK YOU ⭐ Leave a review on Apple Podcasts ⭐ Rate us on Spotify /episode/index/show/c125aa9d-7851-4e42-9d76-79f6c6879e2a/id/35181685