Fresnolandia is going on an indefinite haitus as hosts Danielle Bergstrom and Jordan Mattox transition to other projects for the time being. This is not goodbye for good, just for now. Fresnolandia has been a labor of love and podcasts will return to Fresnoland in the future. In the meantime, keep enjoying the incredible investigative work by the hardworking journalists at Fresnoland.
If you thoughts, questions, or concerns, please email Danielle Bergstrom at danielle@fresnoland.org
17 Feb 2026
Measure P and The Future of Art Funding in Fresno
In this episode of Fresnolandia, Danielle Bergstrom and Jordan Mattox sit down with Fresno City Councilmember Miguel Arias for a wide-ranging conversation about the controversy surrounding Measure P arts funding and the investigation into missing grant dollars. The discussion unpacks how the situation came to light, what safeguards were in place, and what happens next for Fresno’s arts community as the city grapples with questions of oversight, transparency, and trust.
Together, they explore the complicated balance between accountability and accessibility in public grantmaking, the role of nonprofits versus City Hall in administering arts funds, and the deeper tensions around who gets to define culture in a diverse city. The episode also looks ahead at how Fresno might rebuild confidence in the Measure P process, protect future funding, and ensure artists and organizations can continue their work despite uncertainty.
10 Feb 2026
Fresno Arts Council Fallout, Transparency Efforts at City Hall, and Fresno Truck Drivers in Limbo
This week on Fresnolandia, Danielle and Jordan dive into a wide-ranging “grab bag” episode after a week off, catching listeners up on some of the biggest stories shaping Fresno right now. Investigative reporter Omar Rashad joins the show to unpack the breaking news that an ex–Fresno Arts Council employee is under investigation for the alleged embezzlement of $1.5 million — a story that raises urgent questions about public trust, Measure P funding, and what comes next for local arts organizations that rely on those grants. The conversation looks at what we know, what we don’t know, and how the fallout could affect the city’s cultural ecosystem.
The episode also explores the impact of Omar’s recent investigation into city contracts, including how public attention helped push the Fresno City Council to close a controversial loophole and begin building a new transparency page for residents to better track spending. Then the team welcomes reporter Gisselle Medina to discuss a lawsuit involving immigrant commercial truck drivers whose licenses were threatened by a DMV system error — a story with real economic stakes for families and the Central Valley’s logistics industry.
Who has been a guest on Fresnolandia
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Giselle Medina
Omar Rashad
Paul Gilmore
Christine Barker
Laura Gromis
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
4.8 / 5
20 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
32 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 44 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
68
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
51
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