Nosara Podcasts with Rich Burnam

A conversation with Emily Kwok; A 3x BJJ World Champion, Mom, Wife, Coach, Student, Entrepreneur and aspiring Surfer

Emily Kwok is an amazing human being. Not only is she a 3x World Champion in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu in multiple categories, she is a mother of 2 (soon to be 3), wife, coach, co-owns a highly successful BJJ Academy, and is studying advanced learning processes and their implementation across all walks of life.

Although today it seems Emily is the epitome or living definition of success, this was not always the case… As you will hear in this episode, her growth into who she is now was initiated by overcoming and transitioning significant challenges and obstacles into opportunities.

Oh yeah, she’s also in the process of learning how to surf which is a consistent theme we go back to in the conversation… The manner in which she processes new information, challenges, and failure, all as part of the growth experience is exciting to see.

I’m truly enjoying watching her NOT be good at something and seeing what measures she is taking to improve at this foreign activity… It is not every day someone of her caliber is willing to admit she ‘sucks at something’ but works at it right in front of you. Hopefully you feel the same way and incorporate her approach to something in your life; whatever it may be.

She holds very little back in this conversation and I strongly recommend making time to watch and or listen to this one… It is a very special episode and I’m honored Emily chose my podcast to share such personal insights.

I want to thank Gerry Hurtado, Emily’s awesome husband, for everything he does to help the Nosara kids and my family. This is a good man in most every sense and I hope to spend more time with him in the future. Also I want to thank my daughter, Kaiya, for editing the video and audio portions on this podcast. It something she will remember forever.

 

A wide ranging conversation with Andres Gonzalez; A local attorney deeply committed to Nosara

Andres Gonzalez has deep roots in Nosara. His family arrived here in the 80’s and Nosara made such an impression on he him he chose to start and raise his family here while building his legal practice. Currently, he owns and operates IBL Consultores and the Nosara Beach Hostel. However, his focus remains on being a good husband and father to his 2 kids while helping shape Nosara into the place he feels it should be.

Although he is on a temporary hiatus from the many committees he normally is serving on… He still remains involved in community activities and is a vocal proponent on many of Nosara’s pressing issues.

In this episode of the Nosara Podcast he discusses with Rich a plethora of community issues including Nosara in the ‘old days,’ the difference between Nosara buyers 10 years ago to today, the current building regulations debate and the zoning plan time frame, the recently closed beach pathways, what anyone buying real estate in Nosara should be aware of, Andres cracks some jokes at Rich’s expense, he shares his opinion of the 3 types of people in Nosara today are, his Nosara dislikes, his favorite restaurants plus a great deal more.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

Take 2; Nosara Civic Association President Ethel ‘Kuki’ Araya and Vice President Nice Alterman share the new Temporary Building Regulations being announced by Nicoya Municipality this week

What an adventure living in Nosara often proves to be… Ever since the proposed new building regulations were announced this past May my life has been a bit of a blur. However, a big step towards clarity seems to be happening this week. The updates to the new building regulations proposed by the Nicoya Municipality are formally being announced this week in Nosara.

Fortunately, Nosara Civic Association leaders Ethel ‘Kuki’ Araya and Nice Alterman stopped by my Nosara Podcast to announce the updates which are being announced Thursday and Friday at formal meetings hosted by Nicoya Municipality representatives.

To be clear: There is still time to voice concerns and this proposal is not formally enacted. However, many of the key points have been adjusted and the NCA leadership very much is of the opinion the vast majority of the Nosara populace is in support of the new proposal. They are asking everyone who supports the new regulations to email the Nicoya Municipality (email provided in the episode) to voice their support of the new regulations and to attend at least one of the formal meetings if they can.

No matter whether you agree or disagree, there is still time to be heard. Please give this episode a listen and carefully decide where you may stand on each key point. Height, light, percentage of use, and size restrictions plus more are all addressed in this conversation. I hope you will make your voice heard and take advantage of this opportunity!

Important updates to Nosara’s temporary building regulations

Listen in as the Nosara Civic Association leadership previews upcoming changes to Nicoya Municipality’s proposal.

President Ethel ‘Kuki’ Araya and Vice President Nice Alterman of the Nosara Civic Association appeared on the Nosara Podcast recently to share the adjustments and updates to the temporary building regulations being announced Thursday, July 11th and Friday, July 12th by the Nicoya Municipality. In addition, they requested a call to action in the form of an email from everyone who supports these new regulations.

This brief discussion explains adjustments to the height restrictions, percentage of use, minimum lot size, lighting requirements, plus more details regarding septic systems and a ‘grandfathering’ in clause for projects already underway in addition to specifics for properties on hills facing the ocean, plus more.

Nicoya representatives are coming to Nosara to officially announce the updates and to provide further details at the following locations and times:

Thursday – 10am Escuela Serapio Lopez (Spanish) and 2pm Kitson Libray (English)

Friday – 10am Santa Marta Salón and 2pm Esperanza Escuela

For those unaware, in May of 2019 the Nicoya Municipality announced new, proposed temporary building regulations for the Nosara area. These regulations initially created a stir within the community with a wide range of opinions and emotions surfacing. Over the past several weeks Nicoya representatives have been meeting with residents and concerned citizens and fielding emails from around the world. The purpose of this weeks meetings are to announce and explain the updated version of the proposed temporary building restrictions.

Click HERE for a complete overview and timeline of events since the announcement of the new regulations. Included are video podcasts with the Nosara Civic Association leadership, with Jeffrey Grosshandler providing a differing opinion and sharing insights, video of the Nicoya Municipality representatives explaining the initial proposal both in English and in Spanish.

This is an abbreviated version of the discussion with Kuki and Nice. Soon the full episode will be published on www.richburnam.com.

Nosara Escape; A fun, new activity in Nosara. Here’s the story behind founders Max and Mael

Nosara Escape is something I initially didn’t understand. Maybe I’ve been living here in the Nosara jungle too long because I didn’t even know escape rooms existed, nor what they were.

We have one here in Nosara now though and the short version is they are super fun. In Nosara there is little to do between 10am and 3pm and my opinion is this is the perfect activity for a family, group, or even a couple of friends to check out.

I was impressed hearing the amount research and time these two entrepreneurs have put into their business and hearing their past history and what led them into this new venture.

They have some expansions coming in the near future as well as additional projects. My favorite part of this podcast is towards the middle and the end… The guys really open up about their successes and failures, Nosara likes and dislikes, their favorite restaurants and much more.

I hope you enjoy this episode and recommend giving Nosara Escape a visit!

 

A Conversation With Alice Olson; A Legendary Nosara Figure

Have you ever heard the name Alice Olson? If you haven’t, then I recommend you taking a moment to find out why I’m making such a big deal about what she means to Nosara’s community.

There are few people, if any, who have done more to coordinate helping Nosara as a whole than Alice. She, along with her husband Mike, founded Friends of Nosara. FON opened up avenues for tax deductible contributions from US citizens in addition to coordinating Nosara’s community organizations, donors and volunteers in a manner which continues to this day.

In this podcast Alice shares her journey to Nosara, what living in Nosara 20+ years ago was like, how FON started and where it is at today, her opinions about many of our current issues including the highly controversial temporary zoning plan, why she left Guiones for Pelada, then why she left Pelada for a little known neighborhood behind Arenales and Nosara town which she and Mike live in to this day and why they are thrilled about it.

Also, if you see Alice out and about please take a moment to say ‘thanks’ to her and Mike for everything they’ve done to shape Nosara. Her influence on the town we enjoy now and the organizations which do so very much to help is strong and for this we should be grateful.

Click HERE to visit the FON website and check the organizations FON supports.

 

 

A conversation with Greg Gordon from CR Surf Travel Company

For over 20 years Greg Gordon has utilized CR Surf Travel Company to help surfers maximize their precious vacation time on their Costa Rican surf adventures. His weekly newsletters including surf reports and community updates share what’s going on both on the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.

In this podcast we discuss the pros and cons of most every surf community and and wave in CR, crowds and how to avoid them, surf etiquette, surf schools, adventure traveling and Greg explains how surf tourism is different and which communities in CR are doing good and not so good environmentally speaking.

I remember first seeing Greg’s surf report back in 1999 and I’ve been a fan ever since. So it was nice to have him in for a discussion and to talk all things Costa Rica.

Click HERE to visit Greg’s website and check out a great deal of information about CR.

 

 

Bobbi Johnson; Nosara’s Godmother (Part 1)

Bobbi Johnson is arguably the most well known Nosara expat of all time and she is the most requested guest for the Nosara Podcast. She’s lived in Nosara for 30+ years and pretty much dedicated her life to this place.

She is caring, controversial, blunt, sarcastic, and hilarious (once you get to know her a little bit). She’s not scared to take a stand and is comfortable adding to her already impressive list of enemies when it is for a greater good. Yet at the same time, Bobbi is quick to grab a beer and crack jokes and share stories on a regular basis with her plethora of friends who live in or visit Nosara regularly.

In this podcast episode I sit down with Bobbi to explore her Nosara adventure from 1989 up to today. As you will hear, she’s seen a ton of change over the years and been the driving force on a myriad of issues.

So it is no surprise we discuss all kinds of subjects… In fact, we covered so much ground in our discussion we are breaking this conversation up into separate episodes.

Some of the more interesting parts for me from Part 1 of the discussion are: Nosara’s early years, the 1994 zoning plan mishap, how NON family oriented Nosara used to be then transitioned into the family friendly atmosphere of today, weird animal stories, and shopping and transportation over the years. Her last statement as Part 1 ends gives me chills every time I hear it.

Bobbi is one of those people who is a force of nature unto herself and doesn’t ask for attention. She is a doer, and when most people are still contemplating getting involved she is already there with her hands dirty (as exemplified every Thursday morning at the recycling center).

I want to thank my daughter Kaiya for her hard work editing these episodes and my wife Aimee for allowing us to work far too much making them happen.

Many thanks to everyone who took photos over the years. Most all photos courtesy of Bobbi’s social media.

Eric Kurzbard

Eric and I are friends and we are complete opposites. I’m a workaholic family man who is probably a bit too serious… While Eric is carving an artist’s lifestyle, bouncing around the globe riding waves and selling abstract art to pay his bills with a long term goal of making it ‘big’ with his ice cream for dogs product named ‘ARF’ he feels dogs will call by name. Oh yeah, he plans to sell 20 paintings in one night for $250,000 each and relocate to Ostional.

*I’m rarely lost for words… But if you want to see Eric break me, then make it to 47:45.

 

A different perspective on Nosara’s zoning proposals; A talk with Jeff Grosshandler

The one thing I can say about Jeff Grosshandler is he will tell you how he feels. He and I disagree about many things, but I certainly respect his willingness to speak up. He is one of the rare individuals willing to go ‘toe to toe’ with anyone, anytime, no matter whether his views are considered popular or not. He likes details and wants to clearly understand where people are getting their evidence from.

Ever since the initial temporary zoning proposal came forth from the Nosara Civic Association, Grosshandler has adamantly objected to it’s contents in private and public discussions, email threads, and even during town meetings.

In this podcast episode Jeff is willing to go on record with some of his thoughts pertaining to Nosara’s temporary zoning plan and offer suggestions as to what he feels is reasonable.

Not everyone is going to like or agree with Jeff’s suggestions… To his credit, he admits he doesn’t have all of the answers and consistently maintains throughout this episode there should be more time allowed and effort put forth prior to enacting new restrictions.

We hope you benefit from and appreciate hearing a different perspective about this extremely important piece of legislation pertaining to Nosara’s future.