In this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan Mattox sits down with Ariana Martinez-Lott—community organizer, District 7 city council candidate, and longtime advocate for neighborhood-driven change.

Ariana shares how her background in child development, her family’s immigrant experience, and her early exposure to disability through her brother shaped the way she understands systems, culture, and community. The conversation explores the tension between science and culture in public-facing work, and how organizers can better “translate” across those divides.

They dive deep into Fresno-specific issues, including:

• The unique challenges of representing District 7’s complex and fragmented geography

• A vision for Manchester Mall and the Blackstone corridor

• The role of Fresno City College as a community anchor

• Parks, Measure P, and the realities of implementation and accountability

• Transparency, media fragmentation, and civic engagement in Fresno

Jordan and Ariana also explore what makes an effective city council member—from project management to neighborhood-level civic engagement—and how the culture of City Hall could shift toward greater responsiveness and trust.

Plus, a lively Overrated vs. Underrated segment covering everything from protected bike lanes to faith-based organizing to burritos.

This episode is ultimately about what it looks like to move from frustration with systems to building new ones—starting one conversation, and one neighborhood, at a time.

Books:

Emergent Strategy: Shaping Change, Shaping Worlds adrienne maree brown

Homegoing Yaa Gyasi

One Hundred Years of Solitude Gabriel García Márquez

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan Mattox sits down with tennis coach Zach Ocegueda for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of tennis in Fresno and what it takes to grow as a player. Zach shares his coaching philosophy, emphasizing accessibility, repetition, and building confidence in athletes of all ages—arguing that anyone can become a great tennis player with the right mindset and practice.

The conversation explores key debates in youth sports, including specialization vs. multi-sport development, the role of mental toughness, and how to recognize and overcome performance plateaus. Zach also offers practical insights on equipment, training routines, and injury prevention, while highlighting Fresno’s underrated tennis scene and the importance of community courts like Roeding Park. The episode wraps with a fun “Overrated vs. Underrated” segment and a glimpse into Zach’s journey as a young coach finding his voice and leadership style on the court.

Fresno’s Best host Jordan Mattox sits down with Miguel Arámbula, executive director of the San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative, for a wide-ranging conversation about housing, entrepreneurship, and the future of downtown Fresno.

Miguel shares how his early experience rehabbing homes and working in community development led him into housing policy, and why he believes the Central Valley needs a stronger regional voice when competing for state housing resources. The conversation explores the complexity of housing—from land use regulations and financing to the cultural narratives around suburban development—and why increasing housing supply remains one of the most important factors in addressing affordability.

The second half of the episode turns to Miguel’s entrepreneurial projects in downtown Fresno. He discusses the origin story of Moses McQueen’s, a new bar he co-owns near the stadium and brewery district, and the long process of renovating a historic building and navigating the challenges of financing and development. Miguel also talks about launching a neighborhood farmers market in Tower District and why small, walkable gathering spaces are essential for vibrant communities.

San Joaquin Valley Housing Collaborative

Moses McQueens

Books:

The Master and His Emissary: The Divided Brain and the Making of the Western World Ian McGilchrist

On the Aesthetic Education of Man Friedrich Schiller