Pliny the Younger 2026: Vinnie Cilurzo on the Beer That Changed Craft Brewing

This Must Have Been the Place

After 34 episodes, we're signing off — for now. Our host, Allo Gilinsky, has landed an exciting full-time role with Fieldwork Brewing Company, and we couldn't be more proud. But Sonoma County has too many stories left to tell, too many people worth meeting, and too many glasses worth raising. So we'll leave it at this: never say never. In this final episode, Allo reflects on what Sonoma County means to him — from biking through Ives Park as a kid to discovering the Sofa Street Parade as a grown adult who finally understands what makes slow-paced places worth coming back to. He shares some of the people and moments from 34 episodes that stayed with him: the craft beer pioneers still laying pavement after 30 years, the artists and chefs and nonprofit leaders building something worth showing up for, and the community that made this podcast feel like home. We hope this show inspired you to get out and explore and helped build a deeper connection to our community. We hope you'll continue to engage with your neighbors and support all the wonderful happenings in our backyard. Support the arts. Try something new. Say hi to Allo at a Fieldwork event this summer. We loved every conversation, every story, and every guest who trusted us with their time. Thank you. Cheers to Sonoma County, and cheers to all of you who listened. Host:  Allo Gilinsky Executive Producer:  Sarah Hehman Spotify recognized This Must Be the Place in 2025 as a Most Shared, Talked About, and Instant Hit Show. Browse the full archive on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

Encore: Inside the Santa Rosa Symphony & the Future of Classical Music with Francesco Lecce-Chong

This episode originally aired on 11/9/25. Be sure to check out Santa Rosa Symphony's upcoming concert, Celebrate America! [https://www.srsymphony.org/event/celebrate-america/]on April 12, 2026 at the Green Music Center. Celebrate America in Music and Spirit with a family-friendly fun and inspiring concert honoring the 250th anniversary of the United States, featuring music that reflects the rich and varied voices of the American landscape. Featuring music from Copland, Scott Joplin, and Gershwin. Inside the Santa Rosa Symphony’s upcoming season — and how classical music can bring a community together. What role does a symphony play in a modern community? In this episode, Francesco Lecce-Chong, music director and conductor of the Santa Rosa Symphony, joins the show to preview the upcoming season and share his vision for making orchestral music accessible, engaging, and relevant. Francesco reflects on his journey to the podium, his approach to interpreting scores, and how he builds programming that reaches new audiences — from the Classical Series and Pops Series to the Family Concert Series. He also discusses the Symphony’s deep commitment to music education in Santa Rosa schools, including the First Symphony Project, and why early exposure to live orchestral music matters. The conversation explores how to get new listeners hooked on classical music, what Francesco still dreams of conducting, and why storytelling, passion, and thoughtful risk-taking are essential to keeping the art form alive. The episode closes with a clean, contemplative pairing from host Allo Gilinsky, the Craft Beer Concierge, featuring “Holy Hell” Helles Lager from Laughing Monk Brewing — a bright, easy-drinking German-style lager that mirrors the balance and clarity of a well-played symphony. 🎼 Perfect for classical music fans, local arts supporters, and anyone curious about live music in Sonoma County. Resources Mentioned * ⁠Santa Rosa Symphony⁠ [https://www.srsymphony.org/]: The orchestra led by Francesco Lecce Chong. * ⁠Family Concert Series⁠ [https://www.srsymphony.org/event/detective-snoopy/]: The Santa Rosa Symphony partners with the Charles M. Schulz Museum for a concert series aimed at introducing young people to classical music. * Maestro David Robertson: Conductor and mentor who provided valuable advice to Francesco. * ⁠"First Symphony Project"⁠ [https://www.srsymphony.org/education-community/community-engagement/first-symphony-project/]: A four-year initiative by Francesco to commission new symphonies for both the Eugene and Santa Rosa orchestras. * Mahler's Third Symphony: A significant upcoming performance mentioned by Francesco. * Richard Strauss's Rosenkavalier: An opera Francesco expressed interest in conducting. Featured Beer ⁠Laughing Monk Brewery⁠ [https://laughingmonk.com/], ⁠Holy Hell⁠ [https://www.laughingmonkshop.com/?item=4713#33]

Encore: How PEANUTS Keeps Evolving — and Still Connects Across Generations

This is a special encore presentation of Episode 6, originally aired on September 28, 2025. As PEANUTS marks its 75th anniversary, this episode goes inside how Charles M. Schulz’s work is preserved, extended, and reimagined — from museum archives to new stories for today’s audiences. As the PEANUTS comic strip celebrates its 75th anniversary, this episode goes behind the scenes of one of the most influential works in cartoon history. We go inside the enduring legacy of PEANUTS — from Charles M. Schulz’s creative process to how Snoopy and Charlie Brown still connect with new generations. Benjamin Clark, curator of the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center, joins the show to explore the lasting impact of Charles M. Schulz and why characters like Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the gang continue to resonate decades later. Benjamin shares insights into preserving Schulz’s work, discovering personal artifacts, and honoring both Schulz’s artistic vision and his humanity. The conversation then expands into the present day with Mary Valencia-Shyne, senior artist at the Schulz Studio, who discusses contemporary cartooning and what it takes to protect and extend the PEANUTS legacy. Mary offers a behind-the-scenes look at how new PEANUTS content is created — from product approvals to Apple TV+ projects like Camp Snoopy and One-of-a-Kind Marcie — while also sharing her journey as a modern cartoonist, educator, and graphic novelist. From classic comic strips to today’s digital platforms, this episode explores how PEANUTS continues to evolve while staying true to its roots. ✏️ Perfect for PEANUTS fans, artists, cartoon lovers, and anyone curious about creativity, legacy, and pop culture history. Featured Guests: Benjamin Clark, Curator at the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center ⁠Mary Valencia-Shyne⁠ [https://maryshyne.com/], senior artist at the Schulz Studio Resources Mentioned in this Episode: * ⁠Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center⁠ [http://schulzmuseum.org]: The central hub for all things “Peanuts,” located in Santa Rosa, California. Visitors can explore exhibitions, view original art, and learn about Schulz's life and work. * ⁠Peanuts Official Website: For character profiles, comic strip archives, and educational activities.⁠ * Rob Armstrong, Cartoonist * Broom-Hilda comic strip created by cartoonist Russell Myers * “Happiness is a Warm Puppy” Book * ⁠Warm Puppy Cafe⁠ [https://www.snoopyshomeice.com/the-warm-puppy-caf%C3%A9], the cafe where Charles Schulz spent every morning * Craig Schulz * Beetle Bailey Comic Strip * Pogo Comic Strip * Shuntaro Tanikawa * ⁠It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown⁠ [https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/its-the-great-pumpkin-charlie-brown/umc.cmc.1c5nvp802hos5t3u0umlukkwh] * ⁠A Charlie Brown Christmas⁠ [https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/a-charlie-brown-christmas/umc.cmc.mbxalimrwrtq72wj4h601pyf] * ⁠Charlie Brown's All-Stars!⁠ [https://tv.apple.com/us/episode/charlie-browns-all-stars/umc.cmc.77ugeikqxotdtntjswnrdibcx?showId=umc.cmc.63led2pm5a1w4wvabyn4xxxjp] * Lee Mendelson  * Bill Melendez * Vince Guaraldi * Apple TV+: A streaming service featuring new Peanuts content * You and Me on Repeat: A young adult graphic novel by Mary Valencia Shyne  * Center for Cartoon Studies: An educational institution where Mary studied * Webtoons: An online platform for digital comics * TikTok: A social media platform that Mary plans to use for her book sales  * Storygraph * Libraries: Mentioned as a key venue for discovering new graphic novels  * Penguin Random House: Mary's former employer in digital publishing  * Manga

Under The Lights: How Sonoma County’s Miles Levin Made a Feature Film to Change the Conversation on Epilepsy

Sonoma County filmmaker Miles Levin — writer, director, and executive producer of the new film Under The Lights joins us to discuss his feature. Miles is an award-winning filmmaker and public speaker living with epilepsy, and his film is doing something rare: using cinematic storytelling to fight the stigma surrounding one of the world's most common neurological conditions. What started as a short film in 2018 has grown into a decade-long movement, sending Miles across the country — and sparking fan art, handcrafted gifts, and tearful standing ovations along the way. Now, Under The Lights is making its homecoming as the closing night film at the Sonoma International Film Festival on Sunday, March 29th at 4:30 PM at the Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall. We talk with Miles about: * How growing up in Sonoma County shaped him as a filmmaker and why the region is an underrated filmmaking hub * What Under The Lights is really about — and why it refuses to be a PSA * Filming at iconic local spots like Santa Rosa High School, Coddingtown Mall, and a secret sound stage in Penngrove * Working with an all-star cast including Nick Offerman, Randall Park, Lake Bell, and Marin Hinkle * Running the most successful crowdfunding campaign in Seed & Spark history * His philosophy on epilepsy stigma: "Entertainment has been our greatest enemy — but it's also our only salvation." * What's next: a national screening tour, a theatrical run, and adapting the film into a stage play Whether you're a film lover, a member of the epilepsy community, a Sonoma County local, or someone who's ever felt like an outsider — this episode is for you. 📍 See It Live: Under The Lights screens at the Sonoma International Film Festival 🗓 Sunday, March 29th | 🕓 4:30 PM | 📍 Sonoma Veterans Memorial Hall 🔗 Links & Resources: * Website:https://www.underthelightsfilm.com/ [https://www.underthelightsfilm.com/] * Follow on social: @underthelightsfilm * Interested in hosting a screening? Reach out through the website. 🍺 Crack One Open Sonoma County has been hit with an unexpected March heatwave, so we're ditching the dark beer plans in favor of something more refreshing. This week's pick is By Her Bootstraps, a White IPA from Cuver Brewing brewed in collaboration with the Sonoma County chapter of the Pink Boots Society — a nonprofit dedicated to empowering women and non-binary individuals in the fermented beverage industry. Released in honor of International Women's Month, this gold medal winner at the California State Fair is a rare and wildly drinkable White IPA that bridges two worlds — bringing Belgian beer lovers into the world of hops, and hoppy beer lovers into the world of Belgian yeast. At 5.2% ABV, it's light, spicy, earthy, and built for sunshine and good company. Find it on draft or to-go at Cuver Brewing for a limited time only.

Pliny the Younger 2026: Vinnie Cilurzo on the Beer That Changed Craft Brewing

Craft beer fans, this one's for you. We sit down with Vinnie Cilurzo, co-owner and Director of Brewing Operations at Russian River Brewing Company, to talk about Pliny the Younger, Pliny the Elder, Blind Pig IPA, and the brewing philosophy behind one of America's most celebrated craft breweries. Pliny the Younger 2026 Release 📅 March 20 – April 2, 2026 📍 725 4th St, Santa Rosa, CA | 700 Mitchell Lane, Windsor, CA Vinnie and his wife Natalie Cilurzo built Russian River into a global craft beer destination. Each February, their Pliny the Younger release draws thousands of beer lovers from around the world — generating millions in economic impact for Sonoma County. In This Episode: * How Vinnie Cilurzo first fell in love with craft beer * The early craft beer scene and influences like Anchor Liberty Ale and Sierra Nevada Pale Ale * The origin story of Pliny the Elder and Pliny the Younger * The moment Pliny the Younger unexpectedly became the “best beer in the world” * How Russian River grew from struggling brewpub to global destination * The culture and community behind the famous Pliny line * Sustainability at scale: CO₂ capture, water reuse, and local agriculture * Why intentional growth—not rapid expansion—has guided Russian River’s success * The future of craft beer and why lagers may be the next big wave Key Takeaways from Vinnie: 🍺 Quality over growth Russian River has always prioritized beer quality and long-term sustainability over rapid expansion. 🌎 Beer as community The Pliny line isn’t just about beer—it’s about connection. People meet friends, families, and sometimes even future spouses while waiting in line. 🌿 Sustainability matters From capturing fermentation CO₂ to reusing brewery wastewater, Russian River continues to push environmental innovation in brewing. Lightning Round Highlights: Vinnie shares: * His first craft beer love: Anchor Liberty Ale * The most underrated beer style: Saison * A beer trend he hopes sticks: lagers and lower-ABV beers * His most surreal moment: seeing people lined up at 7AM in 2010 for Pliny the Younger Insider Tips for Pliny the Younger: Vinnie also shares a few tips if you're planning to attend: * Sunday of the first weekend can be surprisingly manageable * Dress in layers—Sonoma County mornings can be cold Bring a chair or games if you're planning to wait in line Don’t forget to explore the rest of the beer list beyond Pliny About the Brewery: Founded in 1997 and purchased by Vinnie and Natalie in 2003, Russian River Brewing Company has become one of the most influential breweries in the craft beer movement. Known for legendary beers like: * Pliny the Elder * Pliny the Younger * Blind Pig IPA The brewery continues to define West Coast craft beer. 🍺 Crack One Open Blind Pig IPA vs. Pliny the Elder — Which Russian River IPA Wins? After getting to chat with Vinnie Cilurzo ahead of the Pliny the Younger release, I’m inspired to return to two classics from Russian River Brewing Company. Pliny the Elder is still a masterclass in balance—an 8% double IPA that somehow drinks lighter and remains one of the most iconic beers in craft brewing. Blind Pig, at 6.5%, feels like a throwback to Vinnie’s roots—hoppy, aromatic, and incredibly drinkable. Revisiting it recently, I noticed it’s evolved a bit with the modern IPA world, softer and more aromatic than I remember. So I’ll turn it to you: Team Pliny or Team Pig? Leave a comment after listening and help settle the debate. Cheers! 🍻