Tahoe TAP

Ep. 52 - Anthony Cupaiuolo - Tahoe Backcountry Alliance

Welcome back to Tahoe TAP, your go-to podcast for all Things, Adventure & People in Lake Tahoe! Hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway are back with another fresh episode, packed with the latest news from around the Tahoe region and an inspiring deep dive into the Tahoe backcountry community.

This week, we’re thrilled to introduce you to Anthony Cupaiuolo, Executive Director of the Tahoe Backcountry Alliance. Anthony is a long-time South Tahoe local, seasoned splitboarder, and passionate advocate for human-powered winter recreation. As the voice for backcountry enthusiasts, he leads the charge on key issues affecting winter access and preservation in the Lake Tahoe area.

Beyond his work with Tahoe Backcountry Alliance, Anthony is also a talented photographer and filmmaker with First Tracks Productions. His projects often focus on public land stewardship and have supported organizations like the National Forest Foundation, Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association, and Tahoe Rim Trail Association.

Tune in to hear Anthony’s insights on advocacy, his love for the backcountry, and—of course—a little bit about his trail-famous pup, Emmie.

Ep. 51 - Tahoe Knight Monsters

Welcome back to The Tahoe TAP with your hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway! In this episode, we're diving into all things Tahoe with a fresh roundup of top news from around the region. Then, we shift gears to spotlight the Tahoe Knight Monsters, a brand-new minor league hockey team that just debuted to an impressive sold-out crowd of 4,025 fans.

Join us as we chat with Anthony Benge, Vice President of the Tahoe Knight Monsters, to get the inside scoop on the team’s vision and what makes them unique. Playing in the ECHL and based out of the Tahoe Blue Event Center in Stateline, Nevada, the Knight Monsters are inspired by a mix of local legend "Tahoe Tessie" and the Las Vegas Golden Knights. The team, co-owned by former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow and David Hodges of Hodges Management Group, has 33 more home games lined up for the 2024-2025 season, including a Halloween series this Thursday through the weekend.

Get ready to catch the latest on Tahoe’s newest sports sensation and stay tuned for all the local adventure, people, and happenings Tahoe has to offer!

Ep. 50 - ECO-CLEAN Solutions

Welcome back to The Tahoe TAP! Your hosts, Mike Peron and Rob Galloway, are here with another intriguing episode of Things, Adventure, and People, all Tahoe-related for your listening pleasure. The guests this show will be Co-Founders JB Harris & JT Chevallier from ECO-CLEAN Solutions which is revolutionizing beach clean ups via robots and was recently awarded the prestigious TRPA “Best in Basin” Award for Science & Innovation..

While volunteer beach cleanups are vital in Lake Tahoe, they often miss the litter buried beneath the sand. ECO-CLEAN Solutions proudly introduces BEBOT to Lake Tahoe – the first of its kind on the West Coast! This solar-powered, eco-friendly robot efficiently sifts the sand to remove hidden trash from beneath the sand before it gets into waterways.

Their mission is to revolutionize beach cleaning and environmental stewardship in lake, coastal & marina environments using innovative, eco-friendly technologies. They are tackling the most challenging beach litter, microplastics, and invasive aquatic weeds to preserve the beauty and ecological health of landmark destinations, promoting sustainable tourism practices in Lake Tahoe & beyond.

Tune in to learn how ECO-CLEAN Solutions is preserving Lake Tahoe’s natural beauty with cutting-edge technology, one sweep at a time!

Ep. 49 - Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education

Welcome back to Tahoe TAP with your hosts, Mike Peron and Rob Galloway! In this episode, we’re diving deep into all things Tahoe with our usual round-up of local news, followed by a special interview with Laura Brown and Amy Macosko from the Tahoe Truckee Excellence in Education Foundation.

Laura, the foundation’s Executive Director for over 20 years, is retiring, and Amy is stepping in as the interim director. Tune in to hear how this amazing organization, founded by concerned citizens, has grown from a grassroots effort to a powerhouse of local educational support, investing over $6.1 million into the Tahoe Truckee Unified School District (TTUSD). Last year alone, they donated $277,415, funding everything from STEAM supplies to social-emotional learning programs, impacting 4,000 students across 12 schools.

Get inspired by their story and learn how they’re shaping the future of education in Tahoe!

Ep. 48 - Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership

Tahoe TAP Podcast: Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership

Join hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway for another exciting episode of Things, Adventure, and People, where we dive deep into all things Tahoe! In this episode, we kick off with a local news roundup, covering the top stories from around the Tahoe region.

Then, we shift gears to focus on the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership, a vital bi-state collaboration formed in response to the 2007 Angora Fire. We’re joined by three special guests: Justin Broglio (PIO at North Tahoe PUD), Shelly Thomsen (Director of Public and Legislative Affairs at South Tahoe Public Utility District), and Kim Boyd (Director of Strategic Affairs at Tahoe City Public Utility District).

Together, they share how the partnership is working to upgrade the region’s outdated water infrastructure—originally designed for summer cabins—to better support firefighting efforts. This includes installing new fire hydrants, upsizing waterlines, and adding emergency generators and water storage tanks. Since 2009, the partnership has leveraged $20 million in federal funding to implement over $52 million in critical fire suppression projects, with an additional $120 million needed over the next five years to safeguard Tahoe’s communities from wildfire.

Enjoy this fascinating discussion on how Tahoe is preparing for the future and the ongoing efforts to protect this beautiful region.

Ep. 47 - Heather Segale - Tahoe Environmental Research Center - UC Davis

On this episode of Tahoe TAP, your hosts, Mike Peron and Rob Galloway bring you another fresh episode of "Things, Adventure, and People," all Tahoe-related for your listening pleasure.

The focus of this week’s show is getting to know Sustainability Superstar Heather Segale, the Education & Outreach Director at the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) located in Incline Village.

For over 15 years, Heather Segale has been fostering stewardship programs that spark interest in environmental science. From school-aged children to adults, Heather has been instrumental in establishing a culture of environmental awareness and cultivating a mindset of personal responsibility in the community.

Heather is responsible for providing both intellectual and administrative leadership in the education and outreach component of TERC’s mission. She manages the Tahoe Science Center in Incline Village and the Eriksson Education Center in Tahoe City. Additionally, she develops and maintains exhibits, coordinates education programming, pursues funding opportunities, and manages grants for education exhibits and programs. Heather also coordinates TERC's participation in regional outreach efforts and oversees the marketing plans for TERC's two science education centers.

Enjoy as we dive deeper into Heather’s incredible work and explore how she’s making a lasting impact on Tahoe’s environmental landscape!

Ep. 46 - Chief Sommers - North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District

On this episode of Tahoe TAP, hosts Mike Peron and Rob Galloway deliver local news and feature an in-depth interview with Ryan E. Sommers, Fire Chief of the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District. Chief Sommers' team is renowned for their excellence in preventing, preparing for, and responding to emergencies in the communities of Incline Village and Crystal Bay, Nevada.

 

Ryan E. Sommers was unanimously appointed to the position on September 21, 2016, becoming the seventh Chief since the district's founding in 1959. Sommers was born in Reno and raised in Incline Village, and began his career with the NLTFPD in 1991 as a seasonal volunteer firefighter. He has since worked his way up through the ranks, serving as a dispatcher in 1995, firefighter in 1997, Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, and Assistant Fire Chief before being named Chief.

Enjoy!

Ep. 45 - Chris McNamara - Outdoor Gear Lab

The highlight of today's show will be our in-depth interview with Lake Tahoe's Local Legend, Chris McNamara.

"Chris Mac" is a name synonymous with adventure and extreme sports. An El Capitan-addicted big wall climber, ex-wingsuit BASE jumper, author of ten books, and co-founder of several notable platforms including SuperTopo, OutdoorGearLab, and Ski Run Presents, McNamara’s accolades are extensive. He is also a TAMBA Hall of Famer, solidifying his status as a key figure in the outdoor adventure community.

As the Editor-in-Chief and co-founder of the GearLab websites, Chris has carved out a niche as a go-to expert in the outdoor gear world. His expertise extends beyond gear, as he has spent a significant portion of his life scaling some of the most challenging rock faces in the world. Climbing Magazine once calculated that three percent of Chris’s life has been spent on the face of Yosemite's El Capitan, a testament to his dedication and perhaps, as friends and family ponder, his sanity.

Chris has climbed El Capitan over 70 times and holds nine big wall speed climbing records. In 1998, he completed the first Girdle Traverse of El Capitan, an epic 75-pitch route that leaves many asking, "Why?" His prowess in aid climbing earned him a spot in Outside Magazine’s list of “the world’s finest aid climbers.” He is also the recipient of the American Alpine Club's prestigious Bates Award and the founder of the American Safe Climbing Association, a nonprofit organization that has replaced over 14,000 dangerous rock climbing anchor bolts.

In addition to his climbing achievements, Chris is the founder and lead author of the rock climbing guidebook publisher SuperTopo and a graduate of UC Berkeley.

Join us on this episode of Tahoe TAP as we dive deep into Chris McNamara’s extraordinary life, his adventures, and his contributions to the climbing and outdoor community. It’s an episode you won’t want to miss!

 

Ep. 44 - Shaggy - Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival

Your hosts, Mike Peron and Rob Galloway, are here to bring you another exciting episode of Things, Adventure, and People, all Tahoe-related, for your listening pleasure. The highlight of today's show is our exclusive interview with Grammy Award winner Shaggy, the headliner of the Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival happening from Saturday, August 3, through Sunday, August 4 at Palisades Tahoe.

Born Orville Richard Burrell and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, Shaggy is the only diamond-selling dancehall artist in music history, having sold more than 40 million album units to date. He has landed eight singles on the Billboard Hot 100 and seven albums on the Billboard 200. Shaggy is among the top three streamed reggae artists of all time on Spotify.

He has been nominated for seven Grammy Awards, winning twice for Best Reggae Album with "Boombastic" in 1996 and "44/876" with Sting in 2019. In 2007, he was awarded the Jamaican Order of Distinction with the rank of Commander. In 2022, he received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Brown University.

Listen below (or on Spotify, Apple, or Google podcasts) as we dive deeper into Shaggy’s illustrious career and his upcoming performance at the Lake Tahoe Reggae Festival.

Ep. 43 - Drew Bray - TAMBA (Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association)

This week's episode kicks off with a quick roundup of the top news from the Tahoe area, keeping it local and relevant for listeners. But the highlight of the show is an in-depth interview with Drew Bray, the Executive Director of the Tahoe Area Mountain Biking Association (TAMBA).

TAMBA, a volunteer-driven nonprofit organization founded in 1988, is dedicated to building, maintaining, and advocating for multi-use trails in Tahoe. The organization also focuses on educating all trail users and hosting fun community events. TAMBA's efforts ensure the maintenance of over 100 miles of trails each year, making it a cornerstone of the local outdoor community.

Drew Bray joined TAMBA as Executive Director in 2021, bringing with him a wealth of experience from a 30-year career in the ski industry. His impressive resume includes six years on the Lake Tahoe Federal Advisory Committee and serving as the Ski Industry Representative on the California Air Resources Board. Bray's passion for mountain biking began in the early 1990s, riding in Nevada's Pine Nut Mountains and Australia's Snowy Mountains, where he competed in the Australian Mountain Bike Nationals in 1991. Throughout his career, he has built courses, hosted mountain biking events, and continues to race and ride with friends and family.

In addition to his role at TAMBA, Bray is the Head Coach for the Alta Alpina NICA youth mountain bike team, where he leads the next generation of trail enthusiasts.

Tune in to this week's episode of Tahoe TAP to hear more about Drew Bray's journey, TAMBA's ongoing projects, and the exciting future of mountain biking in the Tahoe region.

For more episodes and updates, visit the Tahoe TAP website or follow them on social media.