Louis Lucas | Wine Pioneer, Valley Builder, and the Foundation of an Entire Industry

Some people plant grapes.
Some people build wineries.
And every once in a while, someone builds an entire region.

This episode is about foundation.

I sat down with Louis Lucas — a true pioneer of Santa Barbara County wine — for a conversation about how this valley went from almost nothing… to one of the most dynamic wine regions in the world.

Before the tasting rooms.
Before the weekend crowds.
Before wine country was even a thought…

There were about 80 acres of grapes in this county.

And then Louis Lucas showed up and planted 800.

This is not just a story about wine.
This is the origin story.

• 🌱 From 80 Acres to 800 Overnight
At a time when Santa Barbara County barely existed on the wine map, Louis helped expand vineyard plantings in a way that changed everything.

• 🍷 The Vineyard That Built Kendall-Jackson
The first bottles of Kendall-Jackson Chardonnay came from Louis’s vineyard — helping launch one of the most recognizable names in wine.

• 🚜 Raised a Farmer
From Delano, California, to a Croatian farming family, Louis learned the trade from his father — long before wine became the focus.

• 🇺🇸 Notre Dame to the Dirt
A journey through college, law school, and military service before returning home to build something real.

• 🌍 Learning from the Old World
Studying vineyards across Europe and bringing those lessons back to California — helping shape how grapes are grown here today.

• 🍇 Why Santa Barbara Is Different
One of the only places in the world where you can grow Burgundy, Rhône, and Bordeaux varietals within a short drive.

• ⚖️ The Hard Truth About the Grape Business
From $800/ton grapes in the 1970s to today’s tough economics, Louis shares what’s really happening in the industry.

• 🧪 A Lifetime of Experimentation
From canopy management to co-fermentation, Louis has spent decades pushing the boundaries of what’s possible.

• 🏆 Still Competing, Still Winning
Even after 50+ years, Louis is still producing award-winning wines and proving that experience matters.

This conversation is about grapes.
But it’s really about building something from nothing.

It’s about risk.
About timing.
About vision.

And about the kind of people who don’t wait for permission —
they just go do it.

Everything you see in the Santa Ynez Valley today…
all the wineries, all the vineyards, all the momentum…

It started with people like Louis Lucas.

This isn’t just history.

It’s the blueprint.

Casey Groves | Faith, Doubt, and Real Conversations About Church

Some people talk about faith.
Some people avoid it.
And some people wrestle with it—honestly.

This episode is about the wrestle.

I sat down with my friend Casey Groves for a conversation that didn’t start in a church—it started over coffee, years ago, with questions, hesitation, and a healthy amount of skepticism.

This isn’t a sermon.
It’s a real conversation.

• ☕ Friendship Before Faith
Six years of coffee, conversation, and trust—getting to know the person before the pastor.

• 🎸 From Iowa to California
A small-town kid, death metal, guitars, and a completely unexpected turn into ministry.

• 🧭 The Moment Everything Changed
Walking away from one path, stepping into the unknown, and discovering something bigger than a plan.

• ❓ Why People Stay Away from Church
Hurt, hypocrisy, perception—and the difference between God and the people who represent Him.

• 🏥 Courtroom vs. Hospital
Why church is often misunderstood—and what it’s actually supposed to be when it’s working.

• 🧠 Questions Over Answers
Why the best conversations don’t start with preaching—they start with asking the right questions.

• ❤️ Faith in a Comfortable World
What happens when people don’t feel the need for God—and what it takes to rediscover it.

• 🤝 Love One Another
The simplest idea. The hardest to live. The one that changes everything when it’s real.

This conversation is about doubt, trust, friendship, and what it looks like to go from keeping your distance… to walking through the door.

This isn’t about religion.
It’s about relationship.

Josh | Motorcycles, Risk, Freedom, and the Kind of Life You Have to Go Chase

Some people wait until life gives them permission.
Some people buy the motorcycle first.
And every once in a while, somebody decides to stop overthinking it, leave the nest, and find out who they really are out on the open road.

This episode is about freedom.

I sat down with my buddy Josh — aka “I Am Riding Places” — for a conversation about leaving behind a successful chapter, betting on himself, buying a 25-year-old Harley sight unseen in Florida, and riding it solo all the way back to California. Along the way, we got into motorcycles, Americana, fear, risk, purpose, documenting your life, and what happens when you stop asking “what if it goes wrong?” and start asking “what if it goes right?”

Josh spent the better part of a decade riding Harley-Davidsons across the country, documenting small-town America, family legacy, and small business. Then he stepped away from that chapter, gave himself no excuses, and started building something of his own — one mile, one camera roll, and one leap of faith at a time.

This one is about motorcycles.
But it is also about courage.

• 🛣️ Leaving the Nest
Josh talks about stepping away from a great run, knowing when a chapter is over, and taking ownership of what comes next.

• 🏍️ Buying the Bike and Going Anyway
A 25-year-old Harley. Facebook Marketplace. Sight unseen. Florida to California. Solo. Sometimes the best ideas sound a little insane at first.

• 🌎 What the Road Teaches You
From documenting small-town America to meeting people face-to-face, Josh explains what years on a motorcycle taught him about culture, family legacy, and human connection.

• 🔥 Why Risk Matters
No kids. No mortgage. No excuse not to go. This episode gets into the beauty of betting on yourself when life gives you a window to jump.

• 🧠 Underthink It
One of my favorite ideas from this whole conversation: sometimes the way forward is to stop manufacturing fear, quiet the noise, and just go do the thing.

• 🌵 Texas, Wind, Heat, and the Real Ride
Josh shares stories from the road — the wind, the miles, the sunburn, the old-school bike, the screw-down throttle, and the kind of trip that strips life back to basics.

• 📷 Documenting a Life Worth Remembering
Why carrying a camera matters, why the internet can still inspire good things, and why it is worth leaving behind proof that you really lived.

• ⚡ What If It Goes Right?
The whole episode circles around one big idea: fear kills more dreams than failure ever will, and sometimes the only thing left to do is grab the bars and go.

This conversation is about motorcycles.
But deeper than that, it is about becoming.

It is about the version of you at 8 years old.
The version of you at 80.
And whether both of them would be proud of the life you chose to live.

It is about shaking hands.
Making the leap.
Trusting the road.
And realizing the boogeyman is usually a lot smaller than you made him out to be.

This isn’t about playing it safe.

It’s about buying the bike.
Taking the trip.
And coming home changed.

You can find Josh here:
Instagram / YouTube: I Am Riding Places
Creative project: CR8CO.com

And if this one hits you in the chest a little bit, good.
Maybe it means it’s time to go do the thing you’ve been thinking about.