There’s something uniquely powerful about sitting down face to face, sharing a conversation and simply listening to one and another.

In those moments, we don’t just exchange stories, we build understanding, deepen relationships and strengthen the culture that makes our community so special. That’s been the goal of the Santa Clarita Voices podcast from the very beginning. Since launching the series, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with captivating guests, to dive into the stories, experiences and initiatives shaping our lives in Santa Clarita.

As we gear up for an exciting fifth episode, make sure you take the time to go back and listen to the conversations we’ve had so far. In our first episode, I sat down with former Mayor Cameron Smyth to reflect on his years in public service, from the State Assembly to the Santa Clarita City Council, and had a great conversation about how far our city has come. Plus, we shared some unique stories and moments we won’t forget, remember the McRib girl?

Our second episode took on one of the most pressing issues in our community, homelessness. I sat down with Captain Justin Diez from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and Chris Najarro, Executive Director of Bridge to Home, to talk about the realities of homelessness in Santa Clarita, the resources available and the collaborative efforts underway to provide lasting solutions.

For our third episode, I spoke with Jerrid McKenna, the city’s Director of Neighborhood Services, about Santa Clarita’s outstanding upgrades to our city facilities and park sites. We covered everything from maintaining 38 parks to exciting developments like the opening of the Haskell Bike Park. One of the biggest projects on the horizon is the transfer of William S. Hart Park, which will bring new responsibilities, historic structures and even a barnyard full of animals under the city’s care.

In episode four, I sat down with Kristi Hobrecker, our Director of Human Resources and Library Services, to talk about career opportunities with the city. We shared valuable insights on what it takes to stand out as a candidate, what not to do in an interview and what it’s like to be part of the team that keeps Santa Clarita running smoothly.

Now, looking ahead to episode five, I’m excited to welcome Janine Prado, Director of Recreation and Community Services and Manager Lance O’Keefe to the podcast. If you’ve ever wondered how the city develops its recreation programs, how our community centers benefit residents or what’s coming next, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

All episodes of Santa Clarita Voices are available with video on Spotify and the city’s YouTube Channel, as well as in audio format on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today.

Ken Striplin is the City Manager for the City of Santa Clarita and can be reached at kstriplin@santaclarita.gov.