Stop & Talk

About Stop & Talk

Join Grant Oliphant and Crystal Page as they sit down to explore the vibrant and evolving landscape of San Diego County, through the lens of the Prebys Foundation's mission and vision. In Stop & Talk, Grant and Crystal engage in thought-provoking conversations with local leaders, changemakers, and community builders who are passionate about creating a more inclusive, purposeful, and opportunity-rich San Diego Each episode offers an inside look into the foundation's journey, discoveries, and partnerships while highlighting the work being done to cultivate belonging and drive positive change across the region. Whether it's amplifying the voices of upcoming leaders or fostering collaborative solutions to the region's most pressing challenges, Stop & Talk is your go-to space for inspiration and insight on what’s possible when people come together with intention and vision. Subscribe to get the latest engaging discussions that inspire action and celebrate the power of community.

Publisher

Grant Oliphant, Prebys Foundation, Crystal Page

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

6 Sept 2023

Latest episode

11 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

59 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Sept 2026

   Sparkle Barnes: Keeping the Door to Care Open

   Sparkle Barnes is President and CEO of Health Center Partners of Southern California and its Family of Companies, where she leads a network supporting community health centers across the region. Since joining the organization, she has held a series of leadership roles, including Chief Strategy Officer and President of CNECT. Under her leadership, Health Center Partners launched Next50: A Legacy of Impact, a Future of Innovation, a strategic plan focused on strengthening and evolving its work for the years ahead. Her connection to the work is also personal: growing up in a working-class family, she experienced firsthand what it meant when a family could not afford health insurance. In this episode: Our health shapes what we’re able to do with our lives: pursue a dream, care for our families, build a career, or simply show up for the people and places that matter to us. That belief is at the heart of Sparkle Barnes’ work as President and CEO of Health Center Partners, and it is why federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) matter so much. You may not know what an FQHC is, but there’s a good chance you or someone you know depends on one. Through Health Center Partners’ members alone, community health centers serve roughly 580,000 people in San Diego County. Rooted in the communities they serve, they connect primary care with behavioral health, oral health, and other supports that help people overcome barriers to getting and staying healthy. In this episode, Sparkle and Grant explore what makes that model so essential and what’s at stake as changes stemming from the H.R.1 bill could leave more people uninsured, and put health centers under immense financial strain. When access to primary care shrinks, the effects ripple outward: people delay care, get sicker, and put greater pressure on emergency rooms and the healthcare system we all rely on. Sparkle also shares how Health Center Partners is responding through collaboration, innovation, and better data, while keeping the focus on the people behind the numbers. As policy changes unfold, she remains resolute in their mission to help people have the health they need to pursue the lives they imagine for themselves and their families. Key Moments: [6:45] Why being rooted in community helps health centers meet people where they are in life [14:12] The surprising scale of federally qualified health centers nationally and in San Diego [22:07] What H.R. 1 and changes in health coverage could mean for patients and community health centers [27:19] Why investing in primary care is an investment in the entire healthcare system [36:20] How better data and patient stories can reveal the real impact of policy changes Terms Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) – Community-based health centers that provide comprehensive primary care and services such as behavioral and oral healthcare, including for patients who are uninsured. H.R. 1 –  Federal legislation enacted in 2025 that made major changes to Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California, along with other health and safety-net programs. Medi-Cal – California’s Medicaid program and an important source of health coverage for many Californians. Atlas – A Health Center Partners initiative, supported by Prebys, designed to track changes in healthcare access closer to real time while also capturing the experiences of patients behind the data. Resources Health Center Partners of Southern California (https://hcpsocal.org/) – A network supporting community health centers across San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial counties. H.R. 1 and Medi-Cal in California (https://www.chcf.org/resource/2026/06/01/medi-cal-h-r-1-era-resources-for-the-field/) – A California Health Care Foundation guide to how federal H.R. 1 changes could affect Medi-Cal coverage, patients, and California’s healthcare system. Credits: This is a production of the Prebys Foundation Hosted by Grant Oliphant Co-Hosted by Crystal Page Produced by Adam Greenfield, Tess Karesky, Edgar Ontiveros Medina, and Crystal Page Engineered by Adam Greenfield Production Coordination by Tess Karesky Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina The Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego’s own Mr. Lyrical Groove. Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPodcast.com Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team If you like this show, and we hope you do, the best way to support this show is to share, subscribe

2. 

   28 Aug 2026

   Mario Ordóñez-Calderón: The Ocean as a Place of Belonging

   Mario Ordóñez-Calderón is a Maya Indigenous leader, U.S. Navy veteran, surfer, and Founding Executive Director of Un Mar de Colores, an Indigenous-led nonprofit advancing ocean access, youth wellbeing, and coastal resilience. His work sits at the intersection of coastlines and culture, using environmental education, eco-therapy, and youth leadership to position the ocean as both a learning environment and a place of collective care. Mario also serves on the Environmental Justice Advisory Board of the California Ocean Protection Council and has helped bring Un Mar de Colores’ work into regional and international conversations about ocean health, climate resilience, and equitable coastal access. This Episode San Diego County is shaped by the ocean. But living near the coast doesn’t necessarily mean feeling connected to it. Mario Ordóñez-Calderón didn’t learn to surf until adulthood. Once he did, he recognized water as a throughline connecting his family’s roots in Yucatán, his own sense of identity, and a growing belief that young people deserve the opportunity to build their own relationship with the places around them. That belief is at the heart of Un Mar de Colores, where surfing becomes an invitation into something deeper: connection with water, place, and community. In this conversation, Mario and Grant explore what access really means when getting to the beach is only the beginning. Mario shares how his grandfather’s teachings shaped his understanding of reciprocity with nature; how young people and their families experience healing and confidence at the water’s edge; and why helping someone feel that “this is your shoreline too” can change their relationship with themselves and their community. They also get into the systems behind that work. Mario recounts helping advance legislation that reduced barriers for outdoor equity programs, then discovering that passing a law was only the first step. His experience working with lifeguards and public officials in Oceanside offers another lesson from the episode: meaningful access often depends on persistence, partnership, and people willing to rethink how public spaces work. Key Moments: [8:17] Why an invitation can change whether the shoreline feels accessible [9:42] Navigating the barriers that led to new outdoor access legislation [24:14] How Mario’s Indigenous Mayan heritage shapes his relationship with place [32:09] What healing through nature can look like for a child and their family [44:38] Why Mario is choosing depth, sustainability, and returning youth leaders over traditional ideas of scale Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Un Mar de Colores (https://www.mar-de-colores.org/) – Connecting youth with the ocean through surfing, environmental education, mentorship, and community AB 2939 (https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202320240ab2939) – California legislation that reduced permitting barriers for qualifying outdoor equity programs using public parks and beaches Outdoor Outreach (https://www.outdooroutreach.org/) – a San Diego based nonprofit that utilizes the outdoors to inspire youth to see possibility and opportunity in their lives. Healing Through Arts and Nature (https://www.prebysfdn.org/grants/healing-through-the-arts-and-nature-initiatives) – Supporting community-based approaches that use arts and nature to strengthen wellbeing Take Action: Invite Someone In – Sometimes access begins with simply letting someone know, “This is your shoreline too.” Reconnect With Place – Spend time with the natural spaces and waterways that shape your community. Look Beyond Physical Access – Consider the financial, cultural, and institutional barriers that can make public spaces feel distant. Make Room for Connection – Support experiences that allow young people and families to build their own relationship with nature, at their own pace. Credits: This is a production of the Prebys Foundation Hosted by Grant Oliphant Co-Hosted by Crystal Page Produced by Adam Greenfield, Tess Karesky, Edgar Ontiveros Medina, and Crystal Page Engineered by Adam Greenfield Production Coordination by Tess Karesky Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina The Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego’s own Mr. Lyrical Groove. 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3. 

   14 Aug 2026

   Alan Sorkin: The Power of Business Meets the Passion of Giving

   Alan Sorkin is a nonprofit leader, mentor-coach, entrepreneur, and member of the Prebys Foundation Board. He co-founded and served as volunteer CEO of San Diego Social Venture Partners, now Amplify Impact Partners, led the San Diego-Tijuana Bi-National Coalition to reduce substance abuse, and has advised more than 50 small businesses through Vistage Worldwide. Across his work, Alan helps leaders make better decisions, strengthen organizations, and achieve greater impact. This Episode: How do leaders turn hard-earned lessons into greater impact? Grant and Alan trace the experiences that shaped Alan’s philosophy of service, from his first childhood fundraising effort to launching businesses, founding nonprofit organizations, coaching CEOs, and helping guide the Prebys Foundation. They discuss why success can become a trap, how imposter syndrome affects even highly accomplished leaders, and why listening is one of the most important and overlooked leadership skills. Alan also reflects on the personal experience that drew him into the nonprofit sector and what he learned by bringing business and nonprofit leaders together. The conversation explores the difference between directing people and helping them find a shared vision, why organizations must keep adapting, and how philanthropy can move beyond generosity toward meaningful, lasting impact. Key Moments: [1:47] The childhood fundraising lesson that taught Alan about leverage [14:24] Imposter syndrome, anxiety, and the pressure leaders carry [24:40] Why effective leadership begins with listening [37:24] Helping the Prebys Foundation move from generosity toward impact [42:37] The shared foundations of businesses, nonprofits, and philanthropy Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Amplify Impact Partners (https://www.amplified.org/) – Formerly Social Venture Partners San Diego, Amplify connects experienced professionals with nonprofits seeking strategic guidance, capacity support, and stronger organizational sustainability. Vistage (https://vistage.com/) – A peer advisory and executive coaching organization where Alan has helped CEOs learn from one another, examine their blind spots, and become more effective leaders. Take Action: Listen Before You Lead – Understand what people care about before trying to create the vision or direct the solution. Make New Mistakes – Learn from the experience of others rather than repeating problems that have already been solved. Examine Your Success – Ask whether a successful model is still serving its purpose or preventing necessary change. Use More Than Money – Consider how your time, knowledge, relationships, and experience can strengthen organizations and leaders. Build a Shared North Star – Bring people together around a clear vision shaped by the voices and perspectives needed to achieve it. Credits: This is a production of the Prebys Foundation Hosted by Grant Oliphant Co-Hosted by Crystal Page Produced by Adam Greenfield, Tess Karesky, Edgar Ontiveros Medina, and Crystal Page Engineered by Adam Greenfield Production Coordination by Tess Karesky Video Production by Edgar Ontiveros Medina The Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego’s own Mr. Lyrical Groove. Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPodcast.com Special thanks to the Prebys Foundation Team If you like this show, and we hope you do, the best way to support this show is to share, subscribe

Who has been a guest on Stop & Talk

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Mark Cafferty
• Molly Puryear
• Katelyn Woodside
• Sparx honorable mention awardees

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 39 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

46

Social presence

94

YouTube

0

Engagement

32

Contact Stop & Talk

Guest appearances

Does not typically book guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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