County Conversations

Sacramento County

Sacramento County is proud to announce the launch of ”County Conversations: Sac County Podcast.” This monthly podcast series aims to provide listeners with an engaging and transparent look into the County’s operations, programs, and the individuals who lead them. With a commitment to showcasing the human side of County governance, ”County Conversations” will feature in-depth interviews with County leaders and discussions about various programs. Through these conversations, listeners will gain valuable insights into the County’s efforts to serve its residents effectively.

Episodes

  1. Public Defender Amanda Benson

    10/03/2025

    Public Defender Amanda Benson

    Join host Kim Nave as she talks with Sacramento County Public Defender, Amanda Benson, who explains the essential role of public defenders in upholding due process and safeguarding the integrity of the justice system by ensuring legal counsel for everyone, regardless of wealth. Benson emphasizes that public defenders are highly skilled and dedicated attorneys addressing the need to view clients as human beings often shaped by factors like poverty and mental illness, rather than just their charges.

    26 min
  2. County EMS Medical Director Dr. Gregory Kann

    04/28/2025

    County EMS Medical Director Dr. Gregory Kann

    Tune in to the latest episode of County Conversations and discover the groundbreaking work happening at Sacramento County Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Join host Kim Nava as she speaks with Dr. Gregory Kann, Medical Director for Sacramento County EMS, to learn about innovative initiatives revolutionizing emergency care in the region.  Dr. Kann discusses the agency's mission to provide world-class prehospital healthcare efficiently and effectively.

    12 min
  3. Animal Care Services with Annette Bedsworth (Repost)

    03/10/2025

    Animal Care Services with Annette Bedsworth (Repost)

    Ann​ette Bedsworth is the Director of Sacramento County's Animal Care Services. Annette began in her role as director in January 2022. Bedsworth has more than 30 years of public service, including more than 20 years in management and director level positions. Before she came to the County, Bedsworth served as the Executive Director for Animal Services for Stanislaus County since 2008.  In this conversation, Annette talks about the challenges the shelter faces in terms of operations and animal care; how members of the community can be involved in supporting the shelter through volunteering, fostering kittens or donating; and advice for anyone considering adopting a pet.

    21 min
  4. Child, Family and Adult Services with Shelby Boston

    03/07/2025

    Child, Family and Adult Services with Shelby Boston

    Kim Nava sits down with Shelby Boston, the director of the Department of Child, Family, and Adult Services (DCFAS). The interview covers Shelby's background and path to social work,  including her experiences growing up and her  accidental entry into the field, and then proceeds to a discussion of the different types of social workers within the department and the  challenges they face, especially regarding  under-resourcing and client autonomy.

    12 min
  5. Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Megan Sheffield and Dr. Gurleen Roberts from Public Health

    01/24/2025

    Dr. Olivia Kasirye, Megan Sheffield and Dr. Gurleen Roberts from Public Health

    Welcome to the Sacramento County Podcast Series with Kim Nava as your host.  Kim Nava interview with Sacramento County's Division of Public Health officials celebrating their recent national accreditation.  The discussion centers on the significance of this achievement, highlighting the rigorous process, involving years of work. The interview also  showcases the importance of teamwork,  community partnerships, and health equity within their various programs, such as  public health nursing, disease control, and health education.

    16 min
  6. Behavioral Health Division with Dr. Ryan Quist

    11/14/2024

    Behavioral Health Division with Dr. Ryan Quist

    In this episode of County Conversations, Kim Nava interviews Dr. Ryan Quist, director of the Sacramento County Behavioral Health Division. They discuss the differences between mental health and behavioral health, and the challenges and resources available to individuals experiencing mental health issues, particularly during the holiday season. Dr. Quist highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing stress, normalizing the need for support, and connecting with community resources like the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (988). The conversation also delves into the county's approach to addressing mental health needs, including new initiatives like Care Court and Prop 1. The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to prioritize their mental health, reach out for help when needed, and utilize available resources.

    19 min
  7. Department of Finance with Chad Rinde

    10/01/2024

    Department of Finance with Chad Rinde

    In this episode of County Conversations,  Kim Nava sits down with Chad Rinde, the Director of Finance for Sacramento County. Chad discusses the various responsibilities of the department, including internal support functions for accounting, public serving functions such as tax collection, utility billing, revenue recovery, and business licensing. He also explains how property taxes are assessed and collected, as well as the different payment options available for property taxes, including online payment.

    10 min
  8. Regional Parks with Liz Bellas

    07/22/2024

    Regional Parks with Liz Bellas

    Liz Bellas has been a parks professional for over 26 years. She was appointed as Director of Sacramento County Regional Parks in January 2019, and has served many roles within the Department, including recreation operations, master planning, budget and fiscal officer, and park management.    In this conversation, Liz talks about her biggest challenges in managing the County’s regional parks system, how she addresses them, as well as some exciting new projects in the works.

    11 min
  9. Homeless Services and Housing with Emily Halcon

    06/11/2024

    Homeless Services and Housing with Emily Halcon

    Emily Halcon is the Director of the Department of Homeless Services and Housing (DHSH) for Sacramento County. Emily serves as the central coordinator of the County’s policy and program development efforts to address homelessness with the goal of aligning and integrating County policies, programs, services and funding toward reducing the prevalence of homelessness in Sacramento County and its impact on communities, business districts, and people experiencing homelessness.  Prior to joining the County in 2021, Emily spent six years as the Homeless Services Manager for the City of Sacramento, overseeing policy and programs through the City to address homelessness. ​​​

    19 min
  10. County Sustainability Manager John Lundgren

    06/11/2024

    County Sustainability Manager John Lundgren

    Our ​County Conversation is with John Lundgren, Sustainability Manager for the County.  ​John Lundgren is the County Sustainability Manager in the Office of the County Executive. John was hired by Sacramento County in 1995 after obtaining his bachelor's degree in Range and Wildlands Science from U.C. Davis. Prior to his current assignment, he advanced in his County career through Code Enforcement, Animal Services, Environmental Review, and Long-Range Planning.​​ ​In this conversation, John talks about the community-wide sustainability measures the County has implemented, the challenges the County has faced in its efforts to become more environmentally friendly, and what listeners can do to support a greener environment.

    18 min
  11. Chief Probation Officer Marlon Yarber

    06/11/2024

    Chief Probation Officer Marlon Yarber

    Join in us as we welcome Marlon Yarber, Chief Probation Officer for Sacramento County in our inaugural podcast “County Conversations: Sac County Podcasts" series!  Marlon ​​Yarber was appointed Sacramento County Chief Probation Officer in October 2021. He began his career with Sacramento County Probation as Assistant Chief Probation Officer in December 2013. He provided oversight of Adult Operations between 2013 and 2018 and then transitioned to Juvenile Operations. Before joining Sacramento County, Yarber worked for Stanislaus and Yolo County Probation Departments, as well as the State of California - Board of Corrections. ​ In this conversation, Marlon gives us a glimpse behind the scenes of administering the County's Department of Probation, the myths vs. reality, the department's focus on rehabilitation, and an inspiring story about how he stays motivated in spite of challenges.

    15 min
  • 11 Episodes

About

Sacramento County is proud to announce the launch of ”County Conversations: Sac County Podcast.” This monthly podcast series aims to provide listeners with an engaging and transparent look into the County’s operations, programs, and the individuals who lead them. With a commitment to showcasing the human side of County governance, ”County Conversations” will feature in-depth interviews with County leaders and discussions about various programs. Through these conversations, listeners will gain valuable insights into the County’s efforts to serve its residents effectively.

Information

  • Creator
    Sacramento County
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    11
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    County Conversations