Episodes

What happens when one of SLO’s most iconic restaurants changes hands quietly, without fanfare, but with deep emotion and mutual respect? On this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Phil Lang, the founder and original owner of Bon Temps, and George Parsons, the new owner stepping into some very seasoned shoes alongside his wife. In this candid, heartfelt conversation, Phil opens up about what it really felt like to let go of the restaurant he built from scratch, what made him say yes...

Up+Adam is proud to partner with the City of San Luis Obispo for Restaurant Month 2026, highlighting the chefs, storytellers, and flavor-makers who are feeding the Central Coast in more ways than one. Today, we sit down with one of the most passionate, purpose-driven restaurateurs in town: Kiko Pomalaza, owner of Kiko Peruvian Restaurant & Pisco Bar. What started as a dream in a rundown café space at the Mission Mall has become one of the most soulful, unforgettable dining experiences in San Lu...

When a local business you love is suddenly in transition, the headlines don’t always tell the whole story. In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with Feben Teffera, co-owner of Ebony, the beloved Ethiopian restaurant in downtown San Luis Obispo that’s been a cultural and culinary anchor for the community. With Ebony now looking for a new home, Feben joins the show to talk about what’s really happening behind the scenes. She opens up about the emotions of this moment, what she wants the com...

What happens when a 25-year-old journalist says yes to a war zone... before he even knows where it is on the map? In this gripping episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with NewsNation correspondent Robert Sherman, author of Lessons From the Front, a raw, unflinching book that takes us inside the emotional realities of covering war in Ukraine and the Middle East. But this isn’t your typical war reporter memoir. Robert doesn’t pretend to have the answers. He invites you into his questions. ...

Adam Montiel connects with actor, playwright, and director Ronnie Marmo, the powerhouse behind the critically acclaimed one-man show I’m Not a Comedian... I’m Lenny Bruce. Touring the country and now coming to the Clark Center in Arroyo Grande, the show brings the infamous comic and cultural disruptor Lenny Bruce back to life with sharpness, heart, and unflinching honesty. Directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna, Ronnie’s performance dives deep into Lenny’s court battles, his biting satire, ...

In a town like San Luis Obispo, where pizza spots are on every block and every menu claims to be the best, one name keeps rising to the top: My Friend Mike’s. In this episode, Adam sits down with owner Mike Radakovich, the low-key craftsman behind one of SLO’s most beloved wood-fired pizza joints. They talk about how My Friend Mike’s got its name, why his menu reads more like a love letter than a checklist, and what it takes to stand out in a town already full of great pies. Mike opens up about...

What if the biggest threat to your well-being at work isn’t the workload but your boss? In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam sits down with Dr. Laura Hambley Lovett — an award-winning organizational psychologist, author, and workplace culture expert — for a raw and revealing conversation on how to identify, survive, and escape toxic leadership. Dr. Laura’s latest book, I Wish I’d Quit Sooner: Practical Strategies for Navigating and Escaping a Toxic Boss, isn’t just eye-opening. It’s a lifeline. To...

On today’s episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with actor and performer Casey Biggs for a conversation that’s equal parts hilarious, heartfelt, and filled with stardust. Known for his iconic role as Damar on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Casey shares stories from the set, the stage, and his life off the screen. From acting alongside legends to living part-time in Europe with his wife, author and chef Bridget Binns, Casey brings depth and insight to every story. The two talk about the fragi...

SLO RESTAURANT MONTH IS HERE If you’ve ever had that smoky crispy melt-in-your-mouth tri-tip from Old San Luis BBQ, you know exactly why Matt Pearce is in a league of his own. On this episode of Up+Adam, Matt joins Adam Montiel to talk about how he traded civil engineering for fire and flavor, building one of the Central Coast’s most beloved barbecue brands from the ground up. From his catering roots to a growing BBQ empire with three locations, Matt shares the origin story behind Old SLO, the ...

In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Dr. Ian K. Smith, number one New York Times bestselling author, physician, and nationally recognized health expert, to talk about what it really takes to lose the most stubborn weight... and more importantly, what you gain in the process. Dr. Ian’s new book, The Last 15: Say Goodbye to Those Most Stubborn Pounds, is not just another quick-fix diet. It is a seven-week metabolic reset rooted in science, strategy, and sustainability. And even...

Greenland is in the headlines—military talks, rare earth minerals, foreign influence—and on today’s episode of up+adam, we’re going way beyond the headlines. Adam sits down with award-winning journalist Kenneth R. Rosen, whose new book polar war: submarines, spies, and the struggle for power in a melting arctic is already being called one of the most urgent reads of the year. rosen spent years reporting from the frontlines of the arctic—embedded with coast guards, scientists, navy seals, and ev...

On the one-year anniversary of the Palisades Fire, Up+Adam marks the moment with a conversation that burns deep. Jacob Soboroff is a New York Times bestselling author, an award-winning journalist, and a familiar face on MSNBC and NBC News. But when the deadliest wildfire in LA history came for his childhood neighborhood, he didn’t just report the story. He lived it. His new book, Firestorm: The Great Los Angeles Fires & America's New Age of Disaster, is part memoir, part frontline reporting, an...

See all SLO Restaurant Month participants What do you get when you mix Detroit-style deep dish, a scholar with an Oxford mind, and a passion for community? You get Ben Arona, owner of Benny’s Pizza Social Club in downtown San Luis Obispo. In this episode, Adam sits down with Ben to talk about how Benny’s evolved from a one-man underground kitchen hustle to one of the most beloved pizza joints on the Central Coast. We dig into the vibe, the dough, and the deep love Ben has for the old-school so...

On today’s episode of Up+Adam, we sit down with Samantha Payette, the powerhouse Director of Operations for the Blue Mango Restaurant Group, the team behind SLO favorites like Novo, Luna Red, and Robin’s in Cambria. But Sam isn’t just keeping restaurants humming. She’s also helping lead the charge on civic culture and community engagement through her role on the City of San Luis Obispo’s Promotions Coordinating Committee, where she’s been instrumental in bringing SLO Restaurant Month to life. A...

Ready to send 2025 out in style? On this episode of Up+Adam, we’re counting down the most exciting ways to ring in the New Year right here on the Central Coast. From family-friendly fireworks to funk-fueled dance floors and intimate live shows, there’s something for every vibe—and we’ve got the inside scoop. Adam welcomes Ryan Orr, Entertainment Director for SLO Brew Rock, and Dan Curcio of Moonshiner Collective for a high-energy conversation on what makes a great NYE party, how their teams are...

Ringing in the New Year does not have to mean staying out late or forgetting the night entirely. In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with the creative team behind the Opera SLO New Year’s Eve Super Gala to talk about a different kind of celebration. One rooted in live music, community, and that feeling you only get when a full orchestra hits the room and you realize you are part of something shared. At the center of it all is conductor and Opera San Luis Obispo General Director B...

Today’s Up+Adam is one of the most meaningful episodes we do all year. This is Breaking & Entering Christmas. Each holiday season, we quietly and anonymously select one local family who has been carrying more than their share, and we show up. Not with pity. With people. With dignity. With a community that decides to say yes. This episode centers on the family selected this year, chosen from weeks of heartfelt nominations. The letter that nominated them is shared exactly as it was written, wit...

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS Up+Adam’s Breaking & Entering will air tomorrow 12/23! In this episode of Up+Adam, we sit down with Pastor Juan and Major Nancy from The Salvation Army San Luis Obispo Corps, a ministry rooted in faith and service dedicated to meeting the needs of individuals and families across the Central Coast through programs like food distribution, utility assistance, shelter support, and year-round commun...

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS In this heart-opening holiday episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with veteran television host and producer Tommy Habeeb, the creator and star of the nationally syndicated series To the Rescue. Airing on over 200 stations across the country, the show follows real-life animal rescues and the incredible people behind them—first responders, shelter workers, and families who open their hearts...

UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS Today’s Guest: Hollywood star Hunter Doohan! Hunter Doohan is on fire. From his breakout role in Netflix’s Wednesday to haunting performances in Your Honor and Daredevil: Born Again, Hunter is proving he’s not just rising. He’s redefining what it means to show up in this industry with depth, drive, and zero fear of the dark. In this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Hunter to tal...

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS FAMILY HERE JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS ******** Listen to Up+Adam with Adam Montiel:Official Website: adammontiel.com Apple Podcasts: Up+Adam on Apple Podcasts Spotify: Up+Adam on Spotify iHeartRadio: Up+Adam on iHeartRadio YouTube Music: Up+Adam on YouTube...

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS Steve Rossi | Christmas at the Ranch, Family Legacy, and Making Holiday Magic in Wine Country DESCRIPTION: What happens when you mix 14,000 acres of ranchland, a few snow machines, and a guy with big holiday vision? You get Christmas at the Ranch. Today’s guest is the man behind i...

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS B&E FREE WINE-COUNTRY XMAS MARKET THIS SUNDAY UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS It’s more than a pop-up. It’s a handcrafted movement rooted in the heart of San Luis Obispo. On this episode of Up+Adam, Adam Montiel sits down with Sadie Moss and Kerry Long, the creative forces behind SLOcally Made, a seasonal artisan...

JINGLE JAM TICKETS HERE - DOZEN LOCAL ARTISTS PLAY XMAS MUSIC FOR A GREAT CAUSE, OUR BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS B&E FREE WINE-COUNTRY XMAS MARKET THIS SUNDAY UNCLE BANANA CHILDREN'S BOOK - CHRISTMAS LESSONS - PROCEEDS BENEFITTING BREAKING & ENTERING CHRISTMAS This holiday season, a brand-new event is bringing that signature SLO CAL spirit to Paso in a way only the Central Coast can. In this episode, Adam is joined by Meghan Ball of Vinlumia and Rob Tredway of McPrice Myers, who also co-found...