Today we’re talking about something that quietly shapes our daily lives in Fresno—our trees. From the ones lining our streets and shading our homes to the big, aging oaks that define entire neighborhoods, trees are one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of our city.
My guest today is Ian Ashby, a board-certified master arborist and consulting arborist based here in Fresno. Ian helps homeowners, cities, insurance companies, and even attorneys understand what’s actually happening with their trees—when they’re healthy, when they’re under stress, and when well-intentioned care can actually make things worse.
We talk about everything from hot pot restaurants and Ethiopian food to drought stress, pruning myths, urban canopy planning, soil compaction, mulching mistakes, and why Fresno’s trees so often suffer at the hands of bad trimming practices. If you’ve ever wondered why your tree looks sick, why topping is such a bad idea, or how Fresno could rethink its urban forest for a hotter future, this conversation is for you.
In this episode, we interview Steve Skibbie, photographer and downtown advocate. We talk about a lot of stuff, including the state of photography industry,...
Today, we have Blake Zante on the show. Blake is the executive director of the Kenneth L. Maddy Institute and has worked as a...
In this episode, we interview the Executive Director of Fresno Metro Ministry, Keith Bergthold. We talk about the history of development in Fresno, building...