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

Gardening is one of the most practical ways to reconnect with the land we live on—and in a place like Fresno, where climate, water, and ecology are constant topics of conversation, it can also be a civic act. In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Linda Furnas, President of the Fresno County University of California Master Gardener Advisory Board and a member of the Board of the Master Gardener Association of Fresno County, to explore what it means to garden responsibly in the Central Valley.

Linda explains what distinguishes a Master Gardener from a typical backyard enthusiast: certification through the University of California Cooperative Extension and a commitment to sharing science-based, environmentally responsible gardening knowledge with the community. From answering questions on the Master Gardener helpline to organizing community classes and managing demonstration gardens like the Garden of the Sun, the program blends education, environmental stewardship, applied science, and volunteer service.

The conversation ranges widely—from soil health and composting to pollinator gardens, lawn culture in Fresno, and the philosophy of how much control we should exercise over our landscapes. Linda also weighs in during a rapid-fire “overrated vs. underrated” segment, tackling topics like front lawns, heirloom vegetables, rain barrels, artificial turf, and more.

Along the way, Jordan and Linda discuss how gardens shape a city’s identity, why green space matters for Fresno’s future, and how small decisions in our yards can affect water use, biodiversity, and the overall health of our community.

If you’ve ever wondered how to start gardening in Fresno—or how to do it better—this episode offers practical insights from someone helping lead one of the region’s most important gardening education programs.

Fresno Master Gardeners Website

Books:

The Blind Assassin Margaret Atwood

The Sunset Western Garden Book Editors of Sunset Magazine

The Antidote: A Novel Karen Russell

On this episode of Fresno’s Best, Jordan Mattox sits down with Tai Chi instructor Francisco E. Alvarez to explore the discipline, philosophy, and lineage behind one of Fresno’s longstanding martial arts communities.

Inspired as a child by Bruce Lee’s appearance in The Green Hornet, Francisco began training in different martial arts, building a foundation of discipline that eventually led him toward the internal arts. In 1995, he began formal study at the Tai Chi Center of Fresno, later apprenticing and becoming an instructor. Today, he serves as President of the nonprofit and senior instructor, teaching the 37-movement Yang-style form of Professor Cheng Man-ch’ing with a commitment to preserving its integrity and lineage.

In this conversation, Jordan and Francisco discuss the difference between external and internal martial arts, the philosophy embedded within Tai Chi practice, and how traditional forms continue to shape modern lives here in Fresno. This episode is about patience, mastery, community, and the quiet power of long-term discipline.

Tai Chi Fresno Website

Books Recommended:

Tao Te Ching Lao Tzu

T'ai Chi The Supreme Ultimate Excercise for Health, Sport and Self-Defense Cheng Man-ch'ing

Today we’re talking about something that quietly shapes our daily lives in Fresno—our trees. From the ones lining our streets and shading our homes to the big, aging oaks that define entire neighborhoods, trees are one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of our city.

My guest today is Ian Ashby, a board-certified master arborist and consulting arborist based here in Fresno. Ian helps homeowners, cities, insurance companies, and even attorneys understand what’s actually happening with their trees—when they’re healthy, when they’re under stress, and when well-intentioned care can actually make things worse.

We talk about everything from hot pot restaurants and Ethiopian food to drought stress, pruning myths, urban canopy planning, soil compaction, mulching mistakes, and why Fresno’s trees so often suffer at the hands of bad trimming practices. If you’ve ever wondered why your tree looks sick, why topping is such a bad idea, or how Fresno could rethink its urban forest for a hotter future, this conversation is for you.

What does it really take to build community in Fresno — and why does alcohol sit at the center of so many of our public spaces?

On this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Evan, entrepreneur and founder of Grizzly Fest, to talk about food, festivals, sobriety, and the hidden structures that shape life in the city. Evan shares why The Mad Duck remains his go-to Fresno restaurant.

The conversation digs deep into the rise and fall of Grizzly Fest, the politics of noise complaints, downtown development, and why Fresno struggles to support long-term cultural projects. From there, the episode pivots to Evan’s current work with Grand Rising, a daytime, sober community event that blends music, movement, wellness, and social connection — and challenges the idea that alcohol is necessary for people to gather.

Along the way, Jordan and Evan explore:

• Why younger generations are drinking less — and what that means for restaurants and events

• The economics of alcohol, mocktails, and sober nightlife

• Weed culture, potency, and the shift from “event” use to everyday ambient use

• Overrated vs. underrated

• Why Fresno may be leaving money — and cultural energy — on the table by making events so hard to produce

The episode closes with a look ahead to the next Grand Rising event and a reflection on what Fresno could become if it invested more seriously in public life, creativity, and inclusive community spaces.

What does “recovery” actually mean — and why does it matter so much for how we live, move, and age?

In this episode of Fresno’s Best, host Jordan Mattox sits down with Paris Gaines and Dr. Chris Telesmanic, Doctor of Physical Therapy, from Recover Lab — a Fresno-based recovery and wellness studio focused on personalized, evidence-informed approaches to healing and longevity.

The conversation explores the difference between active and passive recovery, why modern medicine often struggles to individualize care, and how modalities like assisted stretching, infrared saunas, cold plunges, red light therapy, and mobility work fit into a broader picture of health. Dr. Telesmanic breaks down what’s actually happening in the body during inflammation, soreness, and recovery — and why blunting symptoms without understanding them can sometimes do more harm than good.

Jordan also presses on bigger questions: youth sports specialization, injury prevention, flexibility, longevity, and how Fresno schools and communities could better support health through movement and education. Along the way, the group dives into cold plunge science, sauna benefits, sleep, diet, and the psychology of discomfort — plus a rapid-fire “overrated vs. underrated” segment covering everything from hot yoga and sensory deprivation tanks to Fresno pizza and NFL running backs.

This episode is a thoughtful, grounded look at recovery not as a luxury, but as a foundation for a longer, healthier, and more functional life — right here in Fresno.

Recover Lab Website