Thomas Sims is taking over a Napa High athletic program that’s in need of a serious culture change after a hazing scandal with the football team rocked the community to its core. He stops by to discuss his hopes for the department and how he views some of the things that come with developing today’s student-athletes. Later, an Associated Press investigation on student-on-student sexual assault provides a bigger-picture perspective on what might have occurred at Napa.

It’s been a while – for a number of reasons, which I touch on at the end of the episode in another edition of “Other Side of the Fence” – but, either way, I’m back. In this episode I recap BottleRock, the Napa Valley’s annual three-day music festival, with festival CEO Dave Graham and local musician Alec Lee.

After working through some of the polarizing stories that seized Napa in March, Napa Valley Register editor Sean Scully stops by to share his journey on the politics beat and what it’s like covering local and federal government. Later, wine reporter Henry Lutz helps answer the question if we can turn all the winter rainwater into wine. After sharing the story of the Pacific Union College men’s basketball team’s improbable run, I bring my column “Other Side of the Fence” to life with a few thoughts on the Raiders moving and the cold nature of the machine that controls the sports world.

Here’s to a happier and more light-hearted Episode 3.

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The pilot episode (do we call podcast premiere’s pilots?) of Napa Register Radio, hosted and created by Yousef Baig. 

After an introduction from Baig on what listeners can expect from Napa Register Radio, reporters Howard Yune and Maria Sestito visit the show to talk about the Napa High School hazing incident and what this story says about bullying and the desire to be accepted. 

Later, St. Helena Star editor Dave Stoneberg explains how the 10-year-old SHS/Napa Valley Vintners Tasting Panel came to be as well as some high-end cabernets worth trying. 

In sports, executive sports editor Marty James joins Baig for a discussion on the Napa Valley Unified School District’s decision to pursue a move from the Sac-Joaquin Section to the North Coast and what it says about the current state of Napa’s athletic programs.

LISTEN HERE

Stay tuned for episode 2.