The Finesthttps://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/thefinest/San Diego earns its title as America’s Finest City through the people, art and movements redefining the region’s cultural identity. The Finest is a podcast that highlights the emerging voices and dynamic forces reshaping community and expression. Through personal stories and critical perspectives, each episode brings forward the artists, advocates and ideas driving change and pushing boundaries in the region’s cultural landscape. New episodes premiere Thursdays.en-usStreamGuys RecastKPBS Public MediaKPBS Public MediaWhat makes San Diego America’s Finest City? It’s the people, art and movements redefining the region’s cultural identity. The Finest is a podcast that highlights the emerging voices and dynamic forces reshaping community and expression.falseepisodicKPBS Public Mediapodcasts@kpbs.orghttps://kpbs-rss.streamguys1.com/kpbs_podcasts/the_finest/20250529144019-TheFinest-NPR-3000x3000.jpgThe Finesthttps://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/thefinest/Culture,art,San,DiegoEvery object tells a story: The unseen craft of theatrical propsWhat is a prop?


For Deb Hatch, it's almost everything. After more than 40 years working in theater, including decades at La Jolla Playhouse, the longstanding prop supervisor has helped shape more than 100 productions, from early-stage premieres to Broadway hits like "Jersey Boys" and "The Outsiders."

In this episode, we go behind the scenes to see how props do far more than fill space. They establish time and place, define character and keep performances running smoothly — often in ways audiences never notice. From sourcing everyday items to building custom pieces from scratch, Deb walks us through the hidden decisions that make a production feel real, and the problem-solving required when things go wrong on stage. Along the way, we explore a world most audiences never see, where even the smallest details can leave a lasting impression.

As Deb prepares to retire, she reflects on a career built on detail, collaboration and the thrill of figuring things out. Because in live theater, every object matters.


Guest:

Deb Hatch, prop supervisor at La Jolla Playhouse

]]>eb2f0d40-33b4-11f1-a775-2d747b18496dWhat is a prop?


For Deb Hatch, it's almost everything. After more than 40 years working in theater, including decades at La Jolla Playhouse, the longstanding prop supervisor has helped shape more than 100 productions, from early-stage premieres to Broadway hits like "Jersey Boys" and "The Outsiders."

In this episode, we go behind the scenes to see how props do far more than fill space. They establish time and place, define character and keep performances running smoothly — often in ways audiences never notice. From sourcing everyday items to building custom pieces from scratch, Deb walks us through the hidden decisions that make a production feel real, and the problem-solving required when things go wrong on stage. Along the way, we explore a world most audiences never see, where even the smallest details can leave a lasting impression.

As Deb prepares to retire, she reflects on a career built on detail, collaboration and the thrill of figuring things out. Because in live theater, every object matters.


Guest:

Deb Hatch, prop supervisor at La Jolla Playhouse

]]>full00:25:36Thu, 09 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700Dance or die — and the fight to be more than a headlineAhmad Joudeh risked his life to dance, performing in a refugee camp while ISIS fighters targeted him. The act of defiance, captured on video, made him known worldwide. But fame came with a cost. He became a symbol he never wanted to be. In this episode, Ahmad tells the full story in his own words, from growing up stateless in Syria and navigating the complexities of identity to starting the camp's first dance studio, training with the Dutch National Ballet and taking control of his life amid media pressure. Now living in San Diego, Ahmad continues to perform, teach and create, building a career that reflects his heritage, artistic vision and personal freedom. He reflects on survival, resilience and what it means to dedicate your life to art, and to dance as a way of truly living.


Guest:


Watch Ahmad Joudeh's performances:


Sources:

]]>0e7a1610-2e11-11f1-a1b2-f31131511c9dAhmad Joudeh risked his life to dance, performing in a refugee camp while ISIS fighters targeted him. The act of defiance, captured on video, made him known worldwide. But fame came with a cost. He became a symbol he never wanted to be. In this episode, Ahmad tells the full story in his own words, from growing up stateless in Syria and navigating the complexities of identity to starting the camp's first dance studio, training with the Dutch National Ballet and taking control of his life amid media pressure. Now living in San Diego, Ahmad continues to perform, teach and create, building a career that reflects his heritage, artistic vision and personal freedom. He reflects on survival, resilience and what it means to dedicate your life to art, and to dance as a way of truly living.


Guest:


Watch Ahmad Joudeh's performances:


Sources:

]]>https://cms.kpbs.org/cms/content/edit.jsp?typeId=b8089fbc-e097-3d30-b014-97a1ffc56056&id=0000019d-2c34-d7df-adff-bdf732370000full00:32:55Thu, 02 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0700Scientists are still mapping plants. How the public is helping — with an appWhat's growing in your backyard?


In San Diego, one of America's most biodiverse regions, the answer is more complicated than you might think. It's home to roughly 3,000 plant species, with many still undocumented.


This episode follows hikers, students and nature lovers using the free app iNaturalist to photograph plants and animals, contribute to a global biodiversity database and help scientists protect fragile ecosystems. Some discoveries are extraordinary, like seeing your name on a scientific paper after spotting a plant never recorded in the county before.


We visit the San Diego Natural History Museum, head into a rare salt marsh along Mission Bay and join a community identification party to see how this grassroots effort is reshaping science in real time.


Researchers and volunteers say this kind of "citizen science" is no longer a side project — it's essential. Because when it comes to protecting ecosystems, the first step is simple: knowing what's there. 



Guests:

]]>10d667c0-23d1-11f1-a45d-252d4fcf8b3bWhat's growing in your backyard?


In San Diego, one of America's most biodiverse regions, the answer is more complicated than you might think. It's home to roughly 3,000 plant species, with many still undocumented.


This episode follows hikers, students and nature lovers using the free app iNaturalist to photograph plants and animals, contribute to a global biodiversity database and help scientists protect fragile ecosystems. Some discoveries are extraordinary, like seeing your name on a scientific paper after spotting a plant never recorded in the county before.


We visit the San Diego Natural History Museum, head into a rare salt marsh along Mission Bay and join a community identification party to see how this grassroots effort is reshaping science in real time.


Researchers and volunteers say this kind of "citizen science" is no longer a side project — it's essential. Because when it comes to protecting ecosystems, the first step is simple: knowing what's there.



Guests:

]]>full00:31:48Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:22:00 -0700The matcha boom: How a centuries-old tradition became a global crazeMatcha has become a worldwide sensation. The bright green powdered tea now appears in lattes, smoothies, desserts and viral foods across social media feeds. Demand has surged so quickly that producers in Japan are struggling to keep up. But matcha's story didn't begin in a cafe. For centuries, the tea has been at the center of a carefully choreographed ritual known as the tea ceremony, a practice rooted in mindfulness, hospitality and attention to detail. In this episode, we explore how a drink with roots in centuries-old tea culture became a modern craze. Along the way, we meet a San Diego tea sensei who practices the ceremony and invites others to slow down long enough to experience matcha with care and intention. As matcha's popularity continues to grow, we ask a simple question: What gets lost — and what might be gained — when an old tradition becomes a global trend?


Guests:




Sources:

]]>ec00e740-1da8-11f1-b4b5-650179b2abcdMatcha has become a worldwide sensation. The bright green powdered tea now appears in lattes, smoothies, desserts and viral foods across social media feeds. Demand has surged so quickly that producers in Japan are struggling to keep up. But matcha's story didn't begin in a cafe. For centuries, the tea has been at the center of a carefully choreographed ritual known as the tea ceremony, a practice rooted in mindfulness, hospitality and attention to detail. In this episode, we explore how a drink with roots in centuries-old tea culture became a modern craze. Along the way, we meet a San Diego tea sensei who practices the ceremony and invites others to slow down long enough to experience matcha with care and intention. As matcha's popularity continues to grow, we ask a simple question: What gets lost — and what might be gained — when an old tradition becomes a global trend?


Guests:




Sources:

]]>full00:28:23Thu, 12 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0700Unboxing hidden music history: Lou Curtiss' Whimsical Collection and vinyl's survivalLou Curtiss dedicated his life to preserving forgotten music — and now his extraordinary personal collection is being shared with the community he nurtured for decades. At Folk Arts Rare Records, thousands of vinyl records, CDs, tapes and rare recordings are being unboxed, cataloged and placed on shelves for music lovers to explore and purchase. In this episode, we meet Brendan Boyle, who began shopping at Folk Arts as a teenager and now owns and runs the store. We dive into Lou's legacy, including his role in founding the San Diego Folk Festival, supporting local artists like Thomas Shaw and preserving recordings that might otherwise have vanished. Along the way, we explore how vinyl survived the '90s and 2000s and why physical media still matters in an age of streaming and digital fatigue. From obscure blues and folk records to legendary mixtapes, Lou's Whimsical Collection lives on, offering a tactile, personal and deeply human connection to the music that shapes culture. 


Guests:

  • Brendan Boyle, Folk Arts Rare Records owner
  • Andrew Mall, Associate Professor of Music at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.


Music heard in this episode:


Mentioned in this episode:


Sources: 

]]>9d42ba30-182e-11f1-b481-5dc53a57c727Lou Curtiss dedicated his life to preserving forgotten music — and now his extraordinary personal collection is being shared with the community he nurtured for decades. At Folk Arts Rare Records, thousands of vinyl records, CDs, tapes and rare recordings are being unboxed, cataloged and placed on shelves for music lovers to explore and purchase. In this episode, we meet Brendan Boyle, who began shopping at Folk Arts as a teenager and now owns and runs the store. We dive into Lou's legacy, including his role in founding the San Diego Folk Festival, supporting local artists like Thomas Shaw and preserving recordings that might otherwise have vanished. Along the way, we explore how vinyl survived the '90s and 2000s and why physical media still matters in an age of streaming and digital fatigue. From obscure blues and folk records to legendary mixtapes, Lou's Whimsical Collection lives on, offering a tactile, personal and deeply human connection to the music that shapes culture.


Guests:

  • Brendan Boyle, Folk Arts Rare Records owner
  • Andrew Mall, Associate Professor of Music at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass.


Music heard in this episode:


Mentioned in this episode:


Sources:

]]>full00:23:01Thu, 05 Mar 2026 05:00:00 -0800Bonus: One of Their Own, a San Diego officer's death and the questions left behindContent note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and domestic abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.


This episode is a special feed share from One of Their Own, a KPBS true crime podcast created and hosted by KPBS racial justice and social equity reporter Katie Hyson. In 2018, 25-year-old San Diego police officer Ciara Estrada was found dead in her apartment on New Year's Day. Her death was ruled a suicide by the San Diego Police Department — the same department she worked for. But nearly eight years later, her family still questions whether the investigation went far enough. In this first episode, you'll meet Ciara through the people who loved her most. From a viral video that once labeled her a "nice cop" to the deeply personal artifacts she left behind, the series begins by asking a simple but powerful question: Who was Ciara Estrada beyond the case file? The podcast explores police culture, domestic violence allegations within law enforcement and what happens when a department investigates one of its own. After listening, find the rest of One of Their Own wherever you get your podcasts.

]]>ea8062d0-129c-11f1-9c3e-efc2c8040891Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and domestic abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.


This episode is a special feed share from One of Their Own, a KPBS true crime podcast created and hosted by KPBS racial justice and social equity reporter Katie Hyson. In 2018, 25-year-old San Diego police officer Ciara Estrada was found dead in her apartment on New Year's Day. Her death was ruled a suicide by the San Diego Police Department — the same department she worked for. But nearly eight years later, her family still questions whether the investigation went far enough. In this first episode, you'll meet Ciara through the people who loved her most. From a viral video that once labeled her a "nice cop" to the deeply personal artifacts she left behind, the series begins by asking a simple but powerful question: Who was Ciara Estrada beyond the case file? The podcast explores police culture, domestic violence allegations within law enforcement and what happens when a department investigates one of its own. After listening, find the rest of One of Their Own wherever you get your podcasts.

]]>full00:26:09Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800Topeka Clementine performs live at KPBS and talks cooking, art, viral moments and music as actionSan Diego's Topeka Clementine brought the KPBS patio to life with a performance as part of the Sundrenched Sounds live music series — spontaneous, communal and emotionally charged. Blending sharp storytelling with sing-along moments and unexpected humor, the set moved seamlessly between intimate confession and collective call to action. We sat down afterward with Kai Simovich, the musician behind Topeka Clementine, to talk about the project's remarkable output and what it really means to go viral. Named after a street corner in Oceanside tied to grassroots mutual aid, Topeka Clementine channels community care directly into the music.


Kai shares how recent personal loss reshaped their songwriting, including the creation of "Feed the Trees," a meditation on grief, inheritance and how life carries forward. Through relentless creativity, collective energy and performance, Topeka Clementine's music insists on hope, even in heavy times.


Guest:


Mentioned in this episode:

]]>c8ebda30-0d19-11f1-b04e-a59eaf8f190eSan Diego's Topeka Clementine brought the KPBS patio to life with a performance as part of the Sundrenched Sounds live music series — spontaneous, communal and emotionally charged. Blending sharp storytelling with sing-along moments and unexpected humor, the set moved seamlessly between intimate confession and collective call to action. We sat down afterward with Kai Simovich, the musician behind Topeka Clementine, to talk about the project's remarkable output and what it really means to go viral. Named after a street corner in Oceanside tied to grassroots mutual aid, Topeka Clementine channels community care directly into the music.


Kai shares how recent personal loss reshaped their songwriting, including the creation of "Feed the Trees," a meditation on grief, inheritance and how life carries forward. Through relentless creativity, collective energy and performance, Topeka Clementine's music insists on hope, even in heavy times.


Guest:


Mentioned in this episode:

]]>full00:20:34Thu, 19 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800The art, the joy, the keeper: The hidden work behind Niki de Saint Phalle's beloved mosaic sculpturesThe bold, joyful sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle are woven into San Diego’s landscape, even if many people don’t know her name. In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of the artist behind Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, the Sun God at UC San Diego and the beloved Nikigator in Balboa Park. After decades of boundary-breaking art and personal hardship, Niki came to San Diego late in life and created monumental public works designed to be experienced up close, inviting touch, play and imagination. But this story also belongs to Lech Juretko, a Polish refugee and former wallpaper installer who became Niki’s longtime assistant. He helped build her massive mosaic sculptures piece by piece. 


More than 20 years after her death, he is still repairing cracked tiles and replacing missing stones, preserving artwork created for interaction and shared wonder. It’s a story about creative devotion, chosen family and the magic that happens when art leaves museum walls and becomes part of everyday life.



Guests:

  • Lech Juretko, founder and owner of Art Mosaic, longtime assistant of artist Niki de Saint Phalle
  • Jill Dawsey, PhD, senior curator at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, co-author of "Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s" 


Sources:

"Nikigator, 2001" (Mingei International Museum, collections)

]]>1ebb9600-07ab-11f1-b444-03e582b8557eThe bold, joyful sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle are woven into San Diego’s landscape, even if many people don’t know her name. In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of the artist behind Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, the Sun God at UC San Diego and the beloved Nikigator in Balboa Park. After decades of boundary-breaking art and personal hardship, Niki came to San Diego late in life and created monumental public works designed to be experienced up close, inviting touch, play and imagination. But this story also belongs to Lech Juretko, a Polish refugee and former wallpaper installer who became Niki’s longtime assistant. He helped build her massive mosaic sculptures piece by piece.


More than 20 years after her death, he is still repairing cracked tiles and replacing missing stones, preserving artwork created for interaction and shared wonder. It’s a story about creative devotion, chosen family and the magic that happens when art leaves museum walls and becomes part of everyday life.



Guests:

  • Lech Juretko, founder and owner of Art Mosaic, longtime assistant of artist Niki de Saint Phalle
  • Jill Dawsey, PhD, senior curator at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, co-author of "Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s"


Sources:

"Nikigator, 2001" (Mingei International Museum, collections)

]]>full00:30:40Thu, 12 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800From Seafood City to stardom: How Jessica Sanchez returned to 'America's Got Talent' 20 years laterJessica Sanchez grew up in the South Bay, the daughter of Filipino and Mexican American parents. Her mother says she started singing as soon as she could talk. By age 10, Jessica was performing all over San Diego's South Bay, including her local Seafood City grocery store, before taking the national stage on the very first season of "America's Got Talent." By 16, she became the runner-up on "American Idol." She quickly became a hometown icon — someone people here were cheering for.  Jessica was molded into a musical prodigy.

But as quickly as she rose, the pressure and expectations began to weigh on her. 


She questioned her place in the music industry and withdrew from the spotlight. What brought her home to San Diego? And what gave her the strength to return to the national stage, nearly two decades later?


Guests:


Sources:



]]>4b4c3e70-0228-11f1-8f80-99c40122ef78Jessica Sanchez grew up in the South Bay, the daughter of Filipino and Mexican American parents. Her mother says she started singing as soon as she could talk. By age 10, Jessica was performing all over San Diego's South Bay, including her local Seafood City grocery store, before taking the national stage on the very first season of "America's Got Talent." By 16, she became the runner-up on "American Idol." She quickly became a hometown icon — someone people here were cheering for.  Jessica was molded into a musical prodigy.

But as quickly as she rose, the pressure and expectations began to weigh on her.


She questioned her place in the music industry and withdrew from the spotlight. What brought her home to San Diego? And what gave her the strength to return to the national stage, nearly two decades later?


Guests:


Sources:



]]>full00:28:51Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 -0800'Made in a Home Kitchen': Raíz Chocolate turns Mexican tradition into a microenterpriseElizabeth "Ely" Rosales Aguilar has built Raíz Chocolate from her San Diego home kitchen, turning a childhood love of chocolate into a small but thriving business. She carefully sources Mexican cacao and crafts silky bars and rich drinking chocolates, like champurrado, using recipes passed down for generations. Her work is precise and deliberate, highlighting skill, patience and artistry while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.


From bean sourcing to finished bars, Ely keeps her process transparent and small-scale, with an emphasis on preserving natural flavors — a sharp contrast to mainstream chocolate production. The name Raíz, which means "source" or “root” in Spanish, reflects that commitment to honoring cacao’s origins and the heritage behind each recipe.


California's home kitchen and cottage food laws allowed her to turn that passion into a legitimate career, offering an alternative to mass-produced chocolate. Her story blends resilience, entrepreneurship and cultural heritage, showing how craft, intention and tradition can transform a home kitchen into a business that delivers exceptional flavor while preserving the legacy of Mexican chocolate-making.



Guests:


Sources:

]]>b2c42540-f730-11f0-b824-b9d0f40b2b89Elizabeth "Ely" Rosales Aguilar has built Raíz Chocolate from her San Diego home kitchen, turning a childhood love of chocolate into a small but thriving business. She carefully sources Mexican cacao and crafts silky bars and rich drinking chocolates, like champurrado, using recipes passed down for generations. Her work is precise and deliberate, highlighting skill, patience and artistry while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.


From bean sourcing to finished bars, Ely keeps her process transparent and small-scale, with an emphasis on preserving natural flavors — a sharp contrast to mainstream chocolate production. The name Raíz, which means "source" or “root” in Spanish, reflects that commitment to honoring cacao’s origins and the heritage behind each recipe.


California's home kitchen and cottage food laws allowed her to turn that passion into a legitimate career, offering an alternative to mass-produced chocolate. Her story blends resilience, entrepreneurship and cultural heritage, showing how craft, intention and tradition can transform a home kitchen into a business that delivers exceptional flavor while preserving the legacy of Mexican chocolate-making.



Guests:


Sources:

]]>full00:30:08Thu, 22 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800Risograph revival: How a forgotten printer built a global DIY art movementRisograph printing was built for efficiency — a fast, economical way to make thousands of identical copies for offices, churches and schools. It was never meant to be expressive or personal. After newer technology pushed the machine into obsolescence, artists began discovering risography — drawn to its unpredictability, physicality and limits. From a squatted bank in the Netherlands to DIY print spaces across Europe and the U.S., Risograph printing became a tool for people working outside traditional art and publishing systems.


In San Diego, that lineage comes into focus at Burn All Books — a space that is part shop, part press and part gathering place. There, Risograph printing isn't just about what gets made, but how: through shared labor, in-person collaboration and a commitment to keeping artists connected in an increasingly expensive and isolating city.


"You need a network of people who want to help you. That's something cobbled together very slowly over a long period of time. I just feel like so much of our success, to me, has felt like a combination of flukes and really wonderful favors and opportunities," said Manda Bernal, who cofounded Burn All Books with her husband Nick.



Guests:

  • Manda and Nick Bernal, Burn All Books founders
  •  Kevin Huynh, artist 
  • Paloma, Jill, Phillip, Noelle, Tia, Galia and the crew at Burn All Books
  • Jan Dirk de Wilde, Knust co-founder
  • George Wietor, Issue Press founder


Sources:

]]>9a7fbe30-f197-11f0-ad58-41e7762f75bcRisograph printing was built for efficiency — a fast, economical way to make thousands of identical copies for offices, churches and schools. It was never meant to be expressive or personal. After newer technology pushed the machine into obsolescence, artists began discovering risography — drawn to its unpredictability, physicality and limits. From a squatted bank in the Netherlands to DIY print spaces across Europe and the U.S., Risograph printing became a tool for people working outside traditional art and publishing systems.


In San Diego, that lineage comes into focus at Burn All Books — a space that is part shop, part press and part gathering place. There, Risograph printing isn't just about what gets made, but how: through shared labor, in-person collaboration and a commitment to keeping artists connected in an increasingly expensive and isolating city.


"You need a network of people who want to help you. That's something cobbled together very slowly over a long period of time. I just feel like so much of our success, to me, has felt like a combination of flukes and really wonderful favors and opportunities," said Manda Bernal, who cofounded Burn All Books with her husband Nick.



Guests:

  • Manda and Nick Bernal, Burn All Books founders
  •  Kevin Huynh, artist
  • Paloma, Jill, Phillip, Noelle, Tia, Galia and the crew at Burn All Books
  • Jan Dirk de Wilde, Knust co-founder
  • George Wietor, Issue Press founder


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/risograph-revival-how-a-forgotten-printer-built-a-global-diy-art-movementfull00:36:34Thu, 15 Jan 2026 05:00:00 -0800The Finest: New season, new storiesThe Finest returns with a new season, exploring the people, art and movements redefining San Diego culture. From discovering new species in local preserves to reviving forgotten arts, crafting chocolate at home and forging unexpected connections, these stories celebrate ingenuity, resilience, and community. Premiering Jan. 15, new episodes drop weekly. Search The Finest wherever you get your podcasts.0941cb60-edaa-11f0-a8d9-1fcba5dfde62full00:02:04Fri, 09 Jan 2026 14:30:00 -0800A special episode where a superfan takes our survey — plus your chance to win a Finest T-shirtWe’re dropping a special minisode during our season break with one request: Help shape Season 2 of The Finest by taking our anonymous survey at KPBS.org/TheFinestSurvey. Your feedback helps guide what stories we cover next — and it enters you in a raffle to win an exclusive The Finest T-shirt. We’ll draw winners before the Season 2 premiere on Jan. 15. Plus, KPBS Racial Justice and Social Equity Reporter Katie Hyson, a self-proclaimed The Finest fan, takes the survey live on the show.

]]>3a216930-d62e-11f0-8c7e-c15fd0d39972We’re dropping a special minisode during our season break with one request: Help shape Season 2 of The Finest by taking our anonymous survey at KPBS.org/TheFinestSurvey. Your feedback helps guide what stories we cover next — and it enters you in a raffle to win an exclusive The Finest T-shirt. We’ll draw winners before the Season 2 premiere on Jan. 15. Plus, KPBS Racial Justice and Social Equity Reporter Katie Hyson, a self-proclaimed The Finest fan, takes the survey live on the show.

]]>full00:11:08Thu, 11 Dec 2025 05:00:00 -0800The nation's largest book ban: Inside the fight to read in America's prisonsFor many people who are incarcerated, a single book can be life-changing – a rare source of freedom and connection in a system built on isolation. That was true for Cherish Burtson, who discovered during her time in federal prison that reading could be a source of survival. Books became her escape, her education and a starting point to rebuild her life. But getting books behind bars isn't easy. Across the United States, correctional systems routinely ban or reject thousands of titles each year, reflecting deeper struggles over punishment, control and compassion. According to PEN America,  correctional facilities in all 50 states contribute to the nation's largest book ban, censoring more books than schools and libraries combined. This episode follows a group of San Diego volunteers working to get books past prison walls. It explores how the simple act of reading can restore a sense of humanity in even the harshest conditions — and what it says about who we are when we decide who gets to read.


Guests:


Sources:

]]>2a984210-babf-11f0-b527-03e39fa18f3cFor many people who are incarcerated, a single book can be life-changing – a rare source of freedom and connection in a system built on isolation. That was true for Cherish Burtson, who discovered during her time in federal prison that reading could be a source of survival. Books became her escape, her education and a starting point to rebuild her life. But getting books behind bars isn't easy. Across the United States, correctional systems routinely ban or reject thousands of titles each year, reflecting deeper struggles over punishment, control and compassion. According to PEN America,  correctional facilities in all 50 states contribute to the nation's largest book ban, censoring more books than schools and libraries combined. This episode follows a group of San Diego volunteers working to get books past prison walls. It explores how the simple act of reading can restore a sense of humanity in even the harshest conditions — and what it says about who we are when we decide who gets to read.


Guests:


Sources:

]]>full00:36:56Thu, 06 Nov 2025 05:00:00 -0800The lost composer: Alice Barnett and the paradox of fame and memoryAlice Barnett's music once echoed across America — her songs were performed on national radio, reviewed in major newspapers and sung in concert halls from New York to Los Angeles. But over time, her name slipped from memory. In this episode, San Diego musician and researcher Katina Mitchell brings Alice's story back into focus, tracing her journey from a gifted young composer in Illinois to an internationally recognized artist who made her home in San Diego. Through archival letters, fragile sheet music and rare recordings, Katina reconstructs a life devoted to music and performs pieces that haven't been widely heard in decades. With insight from cultural scholars, we look at how fame fades, why some artists are remembered while others vanish and what it takes to restore a legacy. The result is both a rediscovery of a remarkable composer and a reflection on the delicate ways art outlasts the people who create it.


Guests:

  • Katina Mitchell, musician, teacher and musicologist
  • César A. Hidalgo, professor at Toulouse School of Economics and director of the Center for Collective Learning, Corvinus University of Budapest
  • Swapnil Rai, associate professor in the Department of Film, Television and Media, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Tina Zarpour, vice president of community engagement, education and collections, San Diego History Center



Sources:

]]>650fa8a0-b532-11f0-9752-a10ac8ab614eAlice Barnett's music once echoed across America — her songs were performed on national radio, reviewed in major newspapers and sung in concert halls from New York to Los Angeles. But over time, her name slipped from memory. In this episode, San Diego musician and researcher Katina Mitchell brings Alice's story back into focus, tracing her journey from a gifted young composer in Illinois to an internationally recognized artist who made her home in San Diego. Through archival letters, fragile sheet music and rare recordings, Katina reconstructs a life devoted to music and performs pieces that haven't been widely heard in decades. With insight from cultural scholars, we look at how fame fades, why some artists are remembered while others vanish and what it takes to restore a legacy. The result is both a rediscovery of a remarkable composer and a reflection on the delicate ways art outlasts the people who create it.


Guests:

  • Katina Mitchell, musician, teacher and musicologist
  • César A. Hidalgo, professor at Toulouse School of Economics and director of the Center for Collective Learning, Corvinus University of Budapest
  • Swapnil Rai, associate professor in the Department of Film, Television and Media, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
  • Tina Zarpour, vice president of community engagement, education and collections, San Diego History Center



Sources:

]]>full00:39:39Thu, 30 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700The science of the supernatural: Psychics, cults and why we believe"Dispatch From Paradise" writer Cora Lee went searching for ghosts in Presidio Park, but her exploration of San Diego's supernatural underbelly didn't stop there. She visited San Diego's many mysterious cults in person, meeting members and observing their practices, and explored a long-running family dynasty of fortune tellers that has sometimes drawn law enforcement and media attention. In this Halloween episode, we follow Cora through the city's paranormal scene, from haunted hillsides and psychic shops to the strange and sprawling world of alternative spiritual communities. Along the way, religious studies professor Joseph Laycock helps unpack why belief in ghosts, aliens and spirits persists and what our search for "presence" reveals about being human. It's part spooky story, part San Diego history and part philosophical journey into why some mysteries endure — and why, deep down, we might not want them to end.


Guests:

  • Cora Lee, journalist and writer of "Dispatch From Paradise" Substack
  • Joseph Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University

Sources:



]]>ca367590-afa6-11f0-8963-d9219d6322b1"Dispatch From Paradise" writer Cora Lee went searching for ghosts in Presidio Park, but her exploration of San Diego's supernatural underbelly didn't stop there. She visited San Diego's many mysterious cults in person, meeting members and observing their practices, and explored a long-running family dynasty of fortune tellers that has sometimes drawn law enforcement and media attention. In this Halloween episode, we follow Cora through the city's paranormal scene, from haunted hillsides and psychic shops to the strange and sprawling world of alternative spiritual communities. Along the way, religious studies professor Joseph Laycock helps unpack why belief in ghosts, aliens and spirits persists and what our search for "presence" reveals about being human. It's part spooky story, part San Diego history and part philosophical journey into why some mysteries endure — and why, deep down, we might not want them to end.


Guests:

  • Cora Lee, journalist and writer of "Dispatch From Paradise" Substack
  • Joseph Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University

Sources:



]]>full00:32:19Thu, 23 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700Big guitars, bigger feelings: Slacker's San Diego story of growing pains and friendshipSan Diego's rising rock trio Slacker helped launch the pilot phase of the new KPBS Music Series with a live performance — loud, joyful and a little chaotic in the best way, but played with real precision and skill. Dressed in button-down shirts and ties, the band tore through their songs on the KPBS patio as the lunchtime crowd cheered. We sat down with the band right after their set to talk about where their music comes from — the friendships (and burritos) that built it and the feelings behind their biggest songs. They also share how they recorded their debut album in a legendary San Diego studio using a bass guitar once played by one of the city's most famous bands. It's a story about finding connection, growing together and turning shared experiences into music that feels personal, powerful and magical.


Guests:

Slacker: Jp Houle (singer/guitar), Avery Nelson (bass guitar/backup vocals) and Sam Hockaday (drums)


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Velvet worms | Ancient invertebrates with soft, velvety skin and tiny limbs that shoot slime to catch prey
  • Jimmy Page | Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist known for his influence on generations of rock musicians
  • Big Fish Recording Studio | Encinitas recording studio where Blink-182 made their 1997 breakthrough album "Dude Ranch"
  • Skyler Deci | San Diego producer and engineer who recorded and mixed Slacker's debut album


Sources:

]]>2232c540-aa22-11f0-86ea-457a811998e5San Diego's rising rock trio Slacker helped launch the pilot phase of the new KPBS Music Series with a live performance — loud, joyful and a little chaotic in the best way, but played with real precision and skill. Dressed in button-down shirts and ties, the band tore through their songs on the KPBS patio as the lunchtime crowd cheered. We sat down with the band right after their set to talk about where their music comes from — the friendships (and burritos) that built it and the feelings behind their biggest songs. They also share how they recorded their debut album in a legendary San Diego studio using a bass guitar once played by one of the city's most famous bands. It's a story about finding connection, growing together and turning shared experiences into music that feels personal, powerful and magical.


Guests:

Slacker: Jp Houle (singer/guitar), Avery Nelson (bass guitar/backup vocals) and Sam Hockaday (drums)


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Velvet worms | Ancient invertebrates with soft, velvety skin and tiny limbs that shoot slime to catch prey
  • Jimmy Page | Legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist known for his influence on generations of rock musicians
  • Big Fish Recording Studio | Encinitas recording studio where Blink-182 made their 1997 breakthrough album "Dude Ranch"
  • Skyler Deci | San Diego producer and engineer who recorded and mixed Slacker's debut album


Sources:

]]>full00:22:59Thu, 16 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700By 25, one San Diegan visited every country on Earth — here's what he foundSan Diego's Cameron Mofid set out on an audacious quest: to break the record for being the youngest person to visit every country in the world. His journey took him to 195 nations, from peaceful capitals to conflict zones few dare to enter. Along the way, he faced moments of danger and discovery, including assuming a fake identity in Yemen to navigating a terrorist threat in Somalia and making a buzzer-beater, last-minute entry into North Korea.

But for Cameron, the record was only part of the story. His travels became a powerful lesson in privilege, perspective and humanity — and inspired him to give back. He launched Humanity Effect, a nonprofit that has built multiple schools in Nigeria. In this episode, Cameron reflects on the risks he took and the barriers he overcame. He shares the truths he discovered about the world, explores what it means to connect across borders and why these lessons matter for all of us.

Guest:

Sources:

]]>d77ca0f0-a4a7-11f0-bc17-d9491a7cc4f1San Diego's Cameron Mofid set out on an audacious quest: to break the record for being the youngest person to visit every country in the world. His journey took him to 195 nations, from peaceful capitals to conflict zones few dare to enter. Along the way, he faced moments of danger and discovery, including assuming a fake identity in Yemen to navigating a terrorist threat in Somalia and making a buzzer-beater, last-minute entry into North Korea.

But for Cameron, the record was only part of the story. His travels became a powerful lesson in privilege, perspective and humanity — and inspired him to give back. He launched Humanity Effect, a nonprofit that has built multiple schools in Nigeria. In this episode, Cameron reflects on the risks he took and the barriers he overcame. He shares the truths he discovered about the world, explores what it means to connect across borders and why these lessons matter for all of us.

Guest:

Sources:

]]>full00:33:05Thu, 09 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0700Bonus: Soup dumplings, hidden trails, enemies-to-lovers and a viral clip — reflections from The FinestFor our 20th episode, The Finest team reflects on our season so far — the episodes that made the biggest impact, what still lingers with us months later and a taste of the gems left on the cutting-room floor. From Our Lady of Guadalupe to birding and romantasy books, we revisit comments from fans (and critics) and how these stories continue to resonate. Julia and Anthony also share a quick list of our favorite things in San Diego right now, from soup dumplings to hidden trails. Plus, we call up one of our first guests, indie musician Julianna Zachariou, to reflect on her experience over the past six months after a clip of our interview went viral on social media. What does it mean when a million people hear a piece of your story?


" I had never had anything with that much reach. It felt necessary and helpful, and a lot of people found it to be helpful," Julianna said. "I also wish that the thing that had taken off was something I had made and not how much I had made off of a thing that I had made." 


In this episode, we dig deeper into some of the stories we've shared recently, explore how listeners have reacted and take a behind-the-scenes look with The Finest crew.


Guests:


Our current favorite San Diego things:


The Finest episodes discussed:



Mentioned in this episode:

  • KPBS reel | For indie musicians like Julianna Zachariou, Spotify has made music more accessible than ever — but at a cost
  • Spotify's Terms of Use | Recently updated artist agreement terms outlining how music on the platform can be used to train AI models
  • "Dreamer, Dreamer" | New single by Julianna Zachariou, first debuted on an episode of The Finest
  • Dramione | A Harry Potter sub-fandom imagining an "enemies-to-lovers" relationship between Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger
  • Jeanette Rodriguez, PhD, Professor of Theology at Seattle University
  • "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" | Memoir by Amy Tan exploring her obsession with birding and sketching
  • eBird | Popular birding app for logging sightings, finding locations and tracking regional trends
  • Merlin Bird ID | Go-to app for birders to identify species by photo or sound, powered by Cornell Lab experts

Sources:

]]>ca221910-99aa-11f0-b3ce-97fa1b13dd67For our 20th episode, The Finest team reflects on our season so far — the episodes that made the biggest impact, what still lingers with us months later and a taste of the gems left on the cutting-room floor. From Our Lady of Guadalupe to birding and romantasy books, we revisit comments from fans (and critics) and how these stories continue to resonate. Julia and Anthony also share a quick list of our favorite things in San Diego right now, from soup dumplings to hidden trails. Plus, we call up one of our first guests, indie musician Julianna Zachariou, to reflect on her experience over the past six months after a clip of our interview went viral on social media. What does it mean when a million people hear a piece of your story?


" I had never had anything with that much reach. It felt necessary and helpful, and a lot of people found it to be helpful," Julianna said. "I also wish that the thing that had taken off was something I had made and not how much I had made off of a thing that I had made."


In this episode, we dig deeper into some of the stories we've shared recently, explore how listeners have reacted and take a behind-the-scenes look with The Finest crew.


Guests:


Our current favorite San Diego things:


The Finest episodes discussed:



Mentioned in this episode:

  • KPBS reel | For indie musicians like Julianna Zachariou, Spotify has made music more accessible than ever — but at a cost
  • Spotify's Terms of Use | Recently updated artist agreement terms outlining how music on the platform can be used to train AI models
  • "Dreamer, Dreamer" | New single by Julianna Zachariou, first debuted on an episode of The Finest
  • Dramione | A Harry Potter sub-fandom imagining an "enemies-to-lovers" relationship between Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger
  • Jeanette Rodriguez, PhD, Professor of Theology at Seattle University
  • "The Backyard Bird Chronicles" | Memoir by Amy Tan exploring her obsession with birding and sketching
  • eBird | Popular birding app for logging sightings, finding locations and tracking regional trends
  • Merlin Bird ID | Go-to app for birders to identify species by photo or sound, powered by Cornell Lab experts

Sources:

]]>full00:31:57Thu, 25 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0700More than a menu: How Mabel's Gone Fishing became a San Diego gathering placeMabel’s Gone Fishing is more than a seafood restaurant in North Park — it’s a Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree that quickly became part of the neighborhood’s cultural fabric. We meet owner Chelsea Coleman, whose family history includes longtime Padres announcer Jerry Coleman and a KPBS love story. Together with her team, she has built a space that blends local ingredients, Spanish and Portuguese flavors and community-driven art into an experience rooted in San Diego. From honoring family traditions of scratch cooking to curating the Fishbowl gallery next door, Mabel’s shows how food, art and neighborhood spirit can come together to create something remarkable.

Guests:

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Jerry Coleman | Chelsea Coleman's dad, longtime Padres broadcaster and former manager
  • Tony Gwynn | Hall of Fame outfielder, "Mr. Padre" and one of the greatest hitters in baseball history
  • Brucy Bochy | Former Padres manager who went on to win three World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants
  • The Linkery | A pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in North Park that closed in 2014
  • Chaparral | A native Southern California plant community that shapes San Diego's landscape and ecology 
  • Bread & Salt | Contemporary art gallery in Logan Heights housed in a former bread factory
  • Scott Grewe | Culinary Director at Mabel's Gone Fishing 
  • David Leon | Chef at Michelin-starred Lilo in Carlsbad
  • Fauna | Modern Baja cuisine restaurant in Valle de Guadalupe, named Best in Mexico by Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023
  • Shane Volberding | San Diego commercial fisherman, educator and advocate for local, sustainable seafood

San Diego's Michelin-honored restaurants:

  1. Addison, Carmel Valley | Contemporary | 3 Stars
  2. Atelier Manna, Encinitas | Californian | Bib Gourmand
  3. Callie, East Village | Mediterranean | Bib Gourmand
  4. Cesarina, Point Loma | Italian | Bib Gourmand
  5. Ciccia Osteria, Barrio Logan | Italian | Bib Gourmand
  6. Cucina Urbana, Bankers Hill | Italian | Bib Gourmand
  7. Dija Mara, Oceanside | Indonesian | Bib Gourmand
  8. Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad | French | Star
  9. Lilo, Carlsbad | Californian | Star
  10. LOLA 55, East Village | Mexican | Bib Gourmand
  11. Mabel's Gone Fishing, North Park | Seafood | Bib Gourmand
  12. Morning Glory, Little Italy | American | Bib Gourmand
  13. Soichi, University Heights | Japanese | Star
  14. Valle, Oceanside | Mexican | Star

Sources: 

]]>40e70120-941c-11f0-8c63-eb9e3601eb54Mabel’s Gone Fishing is more than a seafood restaurant in North Park — it’s a Michelin Bib Gourmand honoree that quickly became part of the neighborhood’s cultural fabric. We meet owner Chelsea Coleman, whose family history includes longtime Padres announcer Jerry Coleman and a KPBS love story. Together with her team, she has built a space that blends local ingredients, Spanish and Portuguese flavors and community-driven art into an experience rooted in San Diego. From honoring family traditions of scratch cooking to curating the Fishbowl gallery next door, Mabel’s shows how food, art and neighborhood spirit can come together to create something remarkable.

Guests:

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Jerry Coleman | Chelsea Coleman's dad, longtime Padres broadcaster and former manager
  • Tony Gwynn | Hall of Fame outfielder, "Mr. Padre" and one of the greatest hitters in baseball history
  • Brucy Bochy | Former Padres manager who went on to win three World Series championships with the San Francisco Giants
  • The Linkery | A pioneering farm-to-table restaurant in North Park that closed in 2014
  • Chaparral | A native Southern California plant community that shapes San Diego's landscape and ecology
  • Bread & Salt | Contemporary art gallery in Logan Heights housed in a former bread factory
  • Scott Grewe | Culinary Director at Mabel's Gone Fishing
  • David Leon | Chef at Michelin-starred Lilo in Carlsbad
  • Fauna | Modern Baja cuisine restaurant in Valle de Guadalupe, named Best in Mexico by Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants in 2023
  • Shane Volberding | San Diego commercial fisherman, educator and advocate for local, sustainable seafood

San Diego's Michelin-honored restaurants:

  1. Addison, Carmel Valley | Contemporary | 3 Stars
  2. Atelier Manna, Encinitas | Californian | Bib Gourmand
  3. Callie, East Village | Mediterranean | Bib Gourmand
  4. Cesarina, Point Loma | Italian | Bib Gourmand
  5. Ciccia Osteria, Barrio Logan | Italian | Bib Gourmand
  6. Cucina Urbana, Bankers Hill | Italian | Bib Gourmand
  7. Dija Mara, Oceanside | Indonesian | Bib Gourmand
  8. Jeune et Jolie, Carlsbad | French | Star
  9. Lilo, Carlsbad | Californian | Star
  10. LOLA 55, East Village | Mexican | Bib Gourmand
  11. Mabel's Gone Fishing, North Park | Seafood | Bib Gourmand
  12. Morning Glory, Little Italy | American | Bib Gourmand
  13. Soichi, University Heights | Japanese | Star
  14. Valle, Oceanside | Mexican | Star

Sources:

]]>full00:25:41Thu, 18 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0700From TV auctions to social media bidding: How the live shopping thrill lives onWhat happens when a TV station pauses its regular programming to auction off everything from kitchen utensils and European vacations to toilet seats and rare art — with guests like Big Bird and Dick Van Dyke dropping by? In San Diego, those broadcasts became unforgettable. This episode dives into the history of the KPBS auction — a weeklong fundraising marathon that energized the community for more than a decade. We hear from longtime KPBS figures Tom Karlo and Ken Kramer, revisit archival footage and meet McKenna Hartman, whose father, Paul, guest-hosted auctions in San Diego and at other PBS stations, and still lights up recalling them, even as he faces dementia. The auctions weren't just about bargains. They built community, launched careers and left behind lasting memories. Now, live auctions are remerging on platforms like Whatnot. San Diego jewelry seller Angela McDuffie shows how the exciting bidding experience — and the connections it creates — remain as alive as ever.


Guests:

  • Tom Karlo, KPBS general manager emeritus, 2009-2020
  • Ken Kramer, creator and host of "Ken Kramer's About San Diego"
  • McKenna Hartman, daughter of Paul E. Hartman, retired PBS and NPR on-air personality
  • Angela McDuffie, owner of Baron's Armoire, a San Diego vintage and antique business specializing in jewelry and trinkets


Mentioned in this episode:

  • KPBS: 65 Years in San Diego 
  • Tucker Carlson, television commentator and political analyst 
  • Carol Burnett, comedian and star of "The Carol Burnett Show"
  • Jerry Coleman, San Diego Padres broadcaster and Hall of Fame second baseman
  • Dick Van Dyke, Emmy-winning actor known for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Mary Poppins"
  • David Ogden Stiers, actor best known for "M*A*S*H"
  • Whatnot, an online platform for independent livestreamed auctions launched in 2019
  • Cameo jewelry, antique carved or engraved gems, often featuring a raised depiction of a face or bust in relief on a pendant or brooch
  • Cloisonné, a jewelry and decorative art style where metal outlines are filled with colorful enamel, creating bright, detailed designs
  • Fidget spinner, handheld toy that spins between the fingers, popular in the late 2010s as a fad and a stress reliever
  • "Outwitted" poem by Edwin Markham

"He drew a circle that shut me out–

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle and took him in!"


Sources:

]]>e1d9f5c0-8ea7-11f0-a797-f7198ba66afcWhat happens when a TV station pauses its regular programming to auction off everything from kitchen utensils and European vacations to toilet seats and rare art — with guests like Big Bird and Dick Van Dyke dropping by? In San Diego, those broadcasts became unforgettable. This episode dives into the history of the KPBS auction — a weeklong fundraising marathon that energized the community for more than a decade. We hear from longtime KPBS figures Tom Karlo and Ken Kramer, revisit archival footage and meet McKenna Hartman, whose father, Paul, guest-hosted auctions in San Diego and at other PBS stations, and still lights up recalling them, even as he faces dementia. The auctions weren't just about bargains. They built community, launched careers and left behind lasting memories. Now, live auctions are remerging on platforms like Whatnot. San Diego jewelry seller Angela McDuffie shows how the exciting bidding experience — and the connections it creates — remain as alive as ever.


Guests:

  • Tom Karlo, KPBS general manager emeritus, 2009-2020
  • Ken Kramer, creator and host of "Ken Kramer's About San Diego"
  • McKenna Hartman, daughter of Paul E. Hartman, retired PBS and NPR on-air personality
  • Angela McDuffie, owner of Baron's Armoire, a San Diego vintage and antique business specializing in jewelry and trinkets


Mentioned in this episode:

  • KPBS: 65 Years in San Diego
  • Tucker Carlson, television commentator and political analyst
  • Carol Burnett, comedian and star of "The Carol Burnett Show"
  • Jerry Coleman, San Diego Padres broadcaster and Hall of Fame second baseman
  • Dick Van Dyke, Emmy-winning actor known for "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and "Mary Poppins"
  • David Ogden Stiers, actor best known for "M*A*S*H"
  • Whatnot, an online platform for independent livestreamed auctions launched in 2019
  • Cameo jewelry, antique carved or engraved gems, often featuring a raised depiction of a face or bust in relief on a pendant or brooch
  • Cloisonné, a jewelry and decorative art style where metal outlines are filled with colorful enamel, creating bright, detailed designs
  • Fidget spinner, handheld toy that spins between the fingers, popular in the late 2010s as a fad and a stress reliever
  • "Outwitted" poem by Edwin Markham

"He drew a circle that shut me out–

Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.

But love and I had the wit to win:

We drew a circle and took him in!"


Sources:

]]>full00:32:46Thu, 11 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0700Myth, post-truth and empathetic villains – from an ancient fantasy world to Kellyanne Conway: Live at the San Diego Book FestivalIn this episode, recorded live at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival, authors Emily Greenberg ("Alternative Facts") and Moses Ose Utomi ("Forever Desert" trilogy) delve into storytelling across genres. Greenberg's politically charged, experimental fiction and Utomi's fantasy, rooted in West African mythology, may appear vastly different, but both investigate how societies — real and imagined — navigate truth, lies and the narratives that guide culture.


Each book in Utomi's trilogy is separated by 500 years, showing how events in his world become distorted and mythologized over time. Greenberg's short stories feature characters drawn from our real world today, bringing readers inside the mind of Kellyanne Conway and exploring formative moments in the childhood of George W. Bush.


The authors' conversation reveals where their unique voices intersect, highlighting how imagination shapes understanding of identity, history and the forces that influence perception.



Guests:


Sources:

]]>e8816960-83a0-11f0-b4db-a3b95609c941In this episode, recorded live at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival, authors Emily Greenberg ("Alternative Facts") and Moses Ose Utomi ("Forever Desert" trilogy) delve into storytelling across genres. Greenberg's politically charged, experimental fiction and Utomi's fantasy, rooted in West African mythology, may appear vastly different, but both investigate how societies — real and imagined — navigate truth, lies and the narratives that guide culture.


Each book in Utomi's trilogy is separated by 500 years, showing how events in his world become distorted and mythologized over time. Greenberg's short stories feature characters drawn from our real world today, bringing readers inside the mind of Kellyanne Conway and exploring formative moments in the childhood of George W. Bush.


The authors' conversation reveals where their unique voices intersect, highlighting how imagination shapes understanding of identity, history and the forces that influence perception.



Guests:


Sources:

]]>full00:33:24Thu, 28 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0700The story of Lucky Wong and his legendary one-man diner in San DiegoIn 1975, Lucky's Breakfast, also known as Lucky's Golden Phenix, opened in North Park with a few U-shaped booths, a short-order griddle and a man named Lucky Wong at the helm. Well into his 80s, Lucky worked as a one-man show: He took every order from memory, cooked and served every plate and made every customer feel like family.


"Everybody thought they were special to him," said Ruth Kramer, a longtime patron. "I don't know how he did it, but you knew he cared about you."


The no-frills diner outlasted neighborhood changes, the pandemic and even a viral TikTok surge that brought lines down the block. When Lucky closed his doors in 2024 and later passed away, the loss was felt far beyond San Diego. 


" I felt like a family member had passed and it was sad," said Jerry Rickett of Corbin, Kentucky, who visited every other year.


In his honor, the city renamed the block of Grim Avenue where the diner stood "Lucky Lane." Through stories from family, regulars and friends, this episode remembers the man who poured the coffee, cracked the eggs — and the jokes — and quietly built a community, one breakfast at a time.


Guests:


Sources:

]]>cfdffec0-7e99-11f0-b198-3771cda45113In 1975, Lucky's Breakfast, also known as Lucky's Golden Phenix, opened in North Park with a few U-shaped booths, a short-order griddle and a man named Lucky Wong at the helm. Well into his 80s, Lucky worked as a one-man show: He took every order from memory, cooked and served every plate and made every customer feel like family.


"Everybody thought they were special to him," said Ruth Kramer, a longtime patron. "I don't know how he did it, but you knew he cared about you."


The no-frills diner outlasted neighborhood changes, the pandemic and even a viral TikTok surge that brought lines down the block. When Lucky closed his doors in 2024 and later passed away, the loss was felt far beyond San Diego.


" I felt like a family member had passed and it was sad," said Jerry Rickett of Corbin, Kentucky, who visited every other year.


In his honor, the city renamed the block of Grim Avenue where the diner stood "Lucky Lane." Through stories from family, regulars and friends, this episode remembers the man who poured the coffee, cracked the eggs — and the jokes — and quietly built a community, one breakfast at a time.


Guests:


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/the-story-of-lucky-wong-and-his-legendary-one-man-diner-in-san-diegofull00:34:05Thu, 21 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0700Blink-182, lucky breaks and the power of placeBlink-182 is the biggest band to ever come out of San Diego. But their path — from the dungeon of the original SOMA to global stardom — was shaped by a lot more than just talent. With music journalist Dan Ozzi, co-author of bassist Mark Hoppus' new memoir, "Fahrenheit 182," we revisit the band's early years and the lucky breaks that helped launch them, from skate videos to a last-minute drummer switch.


"There was kind of a Blink-182-shaped hole in pop culture at that time that they just came at the right place, right time and filled," Ozzi said.


We also check in with emerging local acts at the North Park Music Fest, where bands like Peach Cooler are building community through live shows. Their stories spark bigger questions about selling out, staying local and what gets lost in an industry driven by algorithms and infinite playlists. In contrast, local music still offers something deeper: a sense of presence, a shared culture and the kind of connection that streaming can't replicate.


Guests:


Music heard in this episode:


Dan Ozzi's writings:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Blink-182 | San Diego pop-punk band made up of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker, whose catchy hooks and irreverent humor made them one of the most famous bands in the world, selling millions of albums and influencing generations of musicians
  • North Park Music Fest | Annual outdoor festival in San Diego's North Park neighborhood featuring local bands, food and craft beer
  • SOMA | San Diego concert venue that has hosted punk, metal and alternative bands since the early 1990s
  • Sombrero | Mexican food chain in San Diego County, famously referenced in Blink-182's song "Josie"
  • Enola Gay | U.S. Army Air Forces B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, marking a turning point in World War II and the beginning of the nuclear age
  • NOFX | California punk band formed in the 1980s, recognized for fast tempos and political lyrics
  • Green Day | Grammy-winning punk band from Northern California whose breakthrough album, "Dookie" (1994), brought punk to mainstream audiences
  • Pennywise | Los Angeles punk band known for its energetic live shows and socially conscious lyrics
  • Jawbreaker | San Francisco punk and emo band influential in shaping the 1990s underground scene
  • Against Me! | Florida punk band led by Laura Jane Grace, known for its raw sound, political themes and later groundbreaking exploration of gender identity in punk rock
  • Rick DeVoe | Longtime manager of Blink-182 and other action sports–associated bands, with deep ties to surf and skate culture
  • Petco Park and the San Diego Padres | The Padres' home stadium, where Blink-182 songs are regularly played during games
  • Tony Hawk | A professional skateboarder from San Diego County whose career and lifestyle helped define modern skate culture, from competitions and video games to a global brand built around skateboarding
  • Skate and surf brands | Labels like Airwalk, Volcom and Billabong that became staples of 1990s skateboarding and surfing style, often linked with punk rock culture


Sources:

]]>52f9a890-7323-11f0-9ffb-d1d6d899e74cBlink-182 is the biggest band to ever come out of San Diego. But their path — from the dungeon of the original SOMA to global stardom — was shaped by a lot more than just talent. With music journalist Dan Ozzi, co-author of bassist Mark Hoppus' new memoir, "Fahrenheit 182," we revisit the band's early years and the lucky breaks that helped launch them, from skate videos to a last-minute drummer switch.


"There was kind of a Blink-182-shaped hole in pop culture at that time that they just came at the right place, right time and filled," Ozzi said.


We also check in with emerging local acts at the North Park Music Fest, where bands like Peach Cooler are building community through live shows. Their stories spark bigger questions about selling out, staying local and what gets lost in an industry driven by algorithms and infinite playlists. In contrast, local music still offers something deeper: a sense of presence, a shared culture and the kind of connection that streaming can't replicate.


Guests:


Music heard in this episode:


Dan Ozzi's writings:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Blink-182 | San Diego pop-punk band made up of Mark Hoppus, Tom DeLonge and Travis Barker, whose catchy hooks and irreverent humor made them one of the most famous bands in the world, selling millions of albums and influencing generations of musicians
  • North Park Music Fest | Annual outdoor festival in San Diego's North Park neighborhood featuring local bands, food and craft beer
  • SOMA | San Diego concert venue that has hosted punk, metal and alternative bands since the early 1990s
  • Sombrero | Mexican food chain in San Diego County, famously referenced in Blink-182's song "Josie"
  • Enola Gay | U.S. Army Air Forces B-29 bomber that dropped the atomic bomb on Hiroshima on Aug. 6, 1945, marking a turning point in World War II and the beginning of the nuclear age
  • NOFX | California punk band formed in the 1980s, recognized for fast tempos and political lyrics
  • Green Day | Grammy-winning punk band from Northern California whose breakthrough album, "Dookie" (1994), brought punk to mainstream audiences
  • Pennywise | Los Angeles punk band known for its energetic live shows and socially conscious lyrics
  • Jawbreaker | San Francisco punk and emo band influential in shaping the 1990s underground scene
  • Against Me! | Florida punk band led by Laura Jane Grace, known for its raw sound, political themes and later groundbreaking exploration of gender identity in punk rock
  • Rick DeVoe | Longtime manager of Blink-182 and other action sports–associated bands, with deep ties to surf and skate culture
  • Petco Park and the San Diego Padres | The Padres' home stadium, where Blink-182 songs are regularly played during games
  • Tony Hawk | A professional skateboarder from San Diego County whose career and lifestyle helped define modern skate culture, from competitions and video games to a global brand built around skateboarding
  • Skate and surf brands | Labels like Airwalk, Volcom and Billabong that became staples of 1990s skateboarding and surfing style, often linked with punk rock culture


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/blink-182-lucky-breaks-and-the-power-of-placefull00:30:11Thu, 07 Aug 2025 05:00:00 -0700Romantasy rising: How a dismissed book genre became a publishing powerhouseRomantasy has become one of the fastest-growing book genres in publishing — a blend of epic love stories and magical stakes that's capturing the imaginations of readers. Once dismissed as unserious or overly indulgent, the genre is now being embraced by a new wave of fans, thanks in part to #BookTok, viral buzz and social commentary that touches on real-world issues through fantastical stories. 


On this episode of The Finest, we explore romantasy's rise, with roots in fan fiction, online communities and personal storytelling. We talk with San Diego authors, booksellers and fans, and hear from a professor who studies popular romance and romantasy fiction to understand what makes the genre so powerful — and why it's resonating so deeply across the culture. 


"This idea that romance trivializes is not new," says Netta Baker, an advanced instructor of English at Virginia Tech. "All the way back in the 18th century, Ann Radcliffe novels were thought to stir improper passions in young women."


We also take you inside Comic-Con 2025, where romantasy panels drew some of the longest lines of the weekend, and unpack the genre's biggest misconceptions — that it's unserious, overly steamy or somehow not "real" fantasy. What we found instead was a powerful form of storytelling — one that reflects the real world, often giving women power and agency they don't always feel in daily life, and bringing thousands of people back to books.


Romantasy might just surprise you.


Guests:

  • Netta Baker, Advanced Instructor of English at Virginia Tech
  • Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling fantasy author of the "Belladonna" series
  • Kaylie Smith, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling dark fantasy romance author of the "Wicked Games" series
  • Comic-Con 2025 attendees we met during romantasy panels and signings, including Autumn Mitchell and Julia


Books mentioned in this episode:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Brandon Sanderson | Bestselling fantasy author whose influence helped shift perceptions around genre fiction
  • Anne Radcliffe | 18th century gothic novelist whose work sparked early moral panic about women reading romance
  • Harlequins | Mass-market paperback romances, known for being inexpensive, widely available and foundational to how romance has been consumed and critiqued 
  • Fabio Lanzoni | Male model who became the iconic face of steamy romance covers in the '80s and '90s


Sources:

]]>240b1cd0-6d9e-11f0-94c3-2f30c4881d8aRomantasy has become one of the fastest-growing book genres in publishing — a blend of epic love stories and magical stakes that's capturing the imaginations of readers. Once dismissed as unserious or overly indulgent, the genre is now being embraced by a new wave of fans, thanks in part to #BookTok, viral buzz and social commentary that touches on real-world issues through fantastical stories.


On this episode of The Finest, we explore romantasy's rise, with roots in fan fiction, online communities and personal storytelling. We talk with San Diego authors, booksellers and fans, and hear from a professor who studies popular romance and romantasy fiction to understand what makes the genre so powerful — and why it's resonating so deeply across the culture.


"This idea that romance trivializes is not new," says Netta Baker, an advanced instructor of English at Virginia Tech. "All the way back in the 18th century, Ann Radcliffe novels were thought to stir improper passions in young women."


We also take you inside Comic-Con 2025, where romantasy panels drew some of the longest lines of the weekend, and unpack the genre's biggest misconceptions — that it's unserious, overly steamy or somehow not "real" fantasy. What we found instead was a powerful form of storytelling — one that reflects the real world, often giving women power and agency they don't always feel in daily life, and bringing thousands of people back to books.


Romantasy might just surprise you.


Guests:

  • Netta Baker, Advanced Instructor of English at Virginia Tech
  • Adalyn Grace, #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling fantasy author of the "Belladonna" series
  • Kaylie Smith, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling dark fantasy romance author of the "Wicked Games" series
  • Comic-Con 2025 attendees we met during romantasy panels and signings, including Autumn Mitchell and Julia


Books mentioned in this episode:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Brandon Sanderson | Bestselling fantasy author whose influence helped shift perceptions around genre fiction
  • Anne Radcliffe | 18th century gothic novelist whose work sparked early moral panic about women reading romance
  • Harlequins | Mass-market paperback romances, known for being inexpensive, widely available and foundational to how romance has been consumed and critiqued
  • Fabio Lanzoni | Male model who became the iconic face of steamy romance covers in the '80s and '90s


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/romantasy-rising-how-a-dismissed-book-genre-became-a-publishing-powerhousefull00:36:28Thu, 31 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0700Bonus: Nortec Collective at 25 — a Port of Entry story69e68b30-681a-11f0-a0a2-cd78d52e0d06full00:29:48Thu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -07003 friends return to graffiti decades after a police sting shattered their worldIsauro "Junior" Inocencio, Ron Recaido and Romali Licudan grew up as second-generation Filipino Americans in Southeast San Diego during the 1990s. As violence intensified in their community, they found inspiration in comics, hip-hop and murals. They formed a crew to create large-scale, permission-granted graffiti on a neighborhood wall. Their goal was to express themselves and offer something positive to those around them. But national policing efforts blurred the line between art and crime, and the group came under surveillance. Though only one of them was arrested, all three were affected by the fallout.


Years later, they return to the same wall — not to rewrite the past, but to reconnect, repaint and reflect on the power of claiming space through art.


"In graffiti, the basis of it is putting your name up. But a lot of people don't realize that graffiti can also be used — or it should be used — as a message board, to inspire," Romali said. "And it's also like, we can show the younger generation what they could do with graffiti and what they can do with their art."


We first learned about this story from our colleague KPBS reporter Kori Suzuki. Check out his original reporting here.


Guests:


The crew’s influences:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Microsoft Word | A word processing program by Microsoft that replaced the typewriter, used to draft everything from essays to letters
  • The Gulf War | A 1990–1991 conflict after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, marking a major U.S.-led military operation in the Middle East
  • Parkour | A movement style focused on jumping, climbing and flipping through obstacles, often practiced in urban spaces
  • Grommet | A slang term for a young or inexperienced kid, commonly used in surf and skate culture to describe up-and-coming riders
  • CIF Championships | High school sports championships governed by the California Interscholastic Federation, representing a pinnacle of athletic achievement for student athletes in the state
  • Cyrus from "The Warriors” | A charismatic gang leader from the 1979 cult classic film, known for his iconic line "Can you dig it?” and for sparking a citywide gang truce in the film’s plot
  • Icarus | A figure from Greek mythology whose wings melted when he flew too close to the sun, often used as a metaphor for overambition or hubris
  • "Star Wars” trap | A reference to the iconic line "It’s a trap!” from "Return of the Jedi,” famously shouted by Admiral Ackbar, often used to signal a sudden ambush or betrayal
  • "The Dukes of Hazzard” | A 1980s American TV show centered on two Southern cousins known for car chases, stunts and the General Lee — a Dodge Charger
  • Cal Arts | Short for California Institute of the Arts, a renowned private arts school in Valencia, Calif., known for producing top talent in animation, visual arts and performance
  • "The Art of Living Consciously” | A 1997 self-help book by psychologist Nathaniel Branden that explores how self-awareness and mindfulness contribute to personal growth and authenticity
  • Ilocano | A major Filipino ethnolinguistic group and language
  • Ampalaya | A bitter melon common in Filipino cooking and herbal medicine
  • Kamatis | The Tagalog word for tomato, a staple in Filipino dishes
  • Calamansi | A small, sour citrus fruit used in Filipino marinades, dipping sauces and drinks


Sources:

]]>769c69b0-5d24-11f0-b551-b7743b508ecaIsauro "Junior" Inocencio, Ron Recaido and Romali Licudan grew up as second-generation Filipino Americans in Southeast San Diego during the 1990s. As violence intensified in their community, they found inspiration in comics, hip-hop and murals. They formed a crew to create large-scale, permission-granted graffiti on a neighborhood wall. Their goal was to express themselves and offer something positive to those around them. But national policing efforts blurred the line between art and crime, and the group came under surveillance. Though only one of them was arrested, all three were affected by the fallout.


Years later, they return to the same wall — not to rewrite the past, but to reconnect, repaint and reflect on the power of claiming space through art.


"In graffiti, the basis of it is putting your name up. But a lot of people don't realize that graffiti can also be used — or it should be used — as a message board, to inspire," Romali said. "And it's also like, we can show the younger generation what they could do with graffiti and what they can do with their art."


We first learned about this story from our colleague KPBS reporter Kori Suzuki. Check out his original reporting here.


Guests:


The crew’s influences:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Microsoft Word | A word processing program by Microsoft that replaced the typewriter, used to draft everything from essays to letters
  • The Gulf War | A 1990–1991 conflict after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, marking a major U.S.-led military operation in the Middle East
  • Parkour | A movement style focused on jumping, climbing and flipping through obstacles, often practiced in urban spaces
  • Grommet | A slang term for a young or inexperienced kid, commonly used in surf and skate culture to describe up-and-coming riders
  • CIF Championships | High school sports championships governed by the California Interscholastic Federation, representing a pinnacle of athletic achievement for student athletes in the state
  • Cyrus from "The Warriors” | A charismatic gang leader from the 1979 cult classic film, known for his iconic line "Can you dig it?” and for sparking a citywide gang truce in the film’s plot
  • Icarus | A figure from Greek mythology whose wings melted when he flew too close to the sun, often used as a metaphor for overambition or hubris
  • "Star Wars” trap | A reference to the iconic line "It’s a trap!” from "Return of the Jedi,” famously shouted by Admiral Ackbar, often used to signal a sudden ambush or betrayal
  • "The Dukes of Hazzard” | A 1980s American TV show centered on two Southern cousins known for car chases, stunts and the General Lee — a Dodge Charger
  • Cal Arts | Short for California Institute of the Arts, a renowned private arts school in Valencia, Calif., known for producing top talent in animation, visual arts and performance
  • "The Art of Living Consciously” | A 1997 self-help book by psychologist Nathaniel Branden that explores how self-awareness and mindfulness contribute to personal growth and authenticity
  • Ilocano | A major Filipino ethnolinguistic group and language
  • Ampalaya | A bitter melon common in Filipino cooking and herbal medicine
  • Kamatis | The Tagalog word for tomato, a staple in Filipino dishes
  • Calamansi | A small, sour citrus fruit used in Filipino marinades, dipping sauces and drinks


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/3-friends-return-to-graffiti-decades-after-a-police-sting-shattered-their-worldfull00:36:46Thu, 10 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0700A Kumeyaay comic book rewrites California's history and inspires a hopeful futureThe Kumeyaay have long told stories through rock art, vivid images carved into stone that preserved culture, memory and meaning. Today, that tradition continues in a new comic book created by Kumeyaay educators and historians to challenge the erasure of Indigenous history in California classrooms. Co-written by SDSU professor Ethan Banegas, a member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the book brings Kumeyaay life — from ancestral knowledge to colonization and resistance — into a format designed for students and teachers.


Photos: Peek inside the comic book, plus a handful of images from Ethan Banegas


" Oftentimes history is written as: We are victims, we are passive. And what I like about this page, in general, is this is us creating and fighting for our own future. So I think that's why this comic is a real game changer for people like me growing up in today's world," Banegas said. "You just know these things are true, but you don't have any way or material to support it. They have this comic now to go to bat for 'em."


Blending community memory, academic research and lived experience, the comic is both a resource and a tool of reclamation. It replaces silence with story, and invisibility with truth.


Download the comic book ↗ 


Guest:

Ethan Banegas:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Barona Band of Mission Indians | A federally recognized Kumeyaay tribe located in San Diego County, known for preserving language, culture and history while running one of the region's most well-established tribal casinos
  • Fisherman's Wharf | San Francisco waterfront near Alcatraz, where Native activists staged part of the 1969 occupation to demand Indigenous rights and recognition
  • Tom-tom | A type of hand drum used across many Native American tribes in ceremonies, storytelling and music


Event: 'Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project Exhibition'


Sources:


Watch: The story of the 1969 Native occupation told through rare footage in "Escape to Alcatraz"



]]>535b92c0-5780-11f0-927b-2527cd7407aaThe Kumeyaay have long told stories through rock art, vivid images carved into stone that preserved culture, memory and meaning. Today, that tradition continues in a new comic book created by Kumeyaay educators and historians to challenge the erasure of Indigenous history in California classrooms. Co-written by SDSU professor Ethan Banegas, a member of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, the book brings Kumeyaay life — from ancestral knowledge to colonization and resistance — into a format designed for students and teachers.


Photos: Peek inside the comic book, plus a handful of images from Ethan Banegas


" Oftentimes history is written as: We are victims, we are passive. And what I like about this page, in general, is this is us creating and fighting for our own future. So I think that's why this comic is a real game changer for people like me growing up in today's world," Banegas said. "You just know these things are true, but you don't have any way or material to support it. They have this comic now to go to bat for 'em."


Blending community memory, academic research and lived experience, the comic is both a resource and a tool of reclamation. It replaces silence with story, and invisibility with truth.


Download the comic book ↗


Guest:

Ethan Banegas:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Barona Band of Mission Indians | A federally recognized Kumeyaay tribe located in San Diego County, known for preserving language, culture and history while running one of the region's most well-established tribal casinos
  • Fisherman's Wharf | San Francisco waterfront near Alcatraz, where Native activists staged part of the 1969 occupation to demand Indigenous rights and recognition
  • Tom-tom | A type of hand drum used across many Native American tribes in ceremonies, storytelling and music


Event: 'Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project Exhibition'


Sources:


Watch: The story of the 1969 Native occupation told through rare footage in "Escape to Alcatraz"



]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/a-kumeyaay-comic-book-rewrites-californias-history-and-inspires-a-hopeful-futurefull00:31:41Thu, 03 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0700Chasing 100 birds in 1 day in America's Birdiest County: Inside the birding boomSan Diego is one of the most biodiverse birding regions in North America, with more than 500 recorded species — and its annual Bird Festival draws crowds from around the country. One of its most popular (and ambitious) events is the "100 or More" challenge: a daylong sprint to identify at least 100 different birds.


Photos: Meet the birds (and the birders) from the "100 Birds or More" field trip


In this episode, producer Anthony Wallace follows the action across scenic lakes, rugged foothills, city reservoirs and coastal wetlands to see how this classic hobby has taken on new energy.


Map: San Diego 100+ Birding Route


Along the way, we meet passionate birders — both seasoned listers and recent enthusiasts — learn many mind-blowing bird facts and explore how birds inspire everything from healing to obsession to joy.


Anthony's top 4 reasons to love birding:

  1. Every bird has a story.
  2. Bird migration is mind-blowing.
  3. It opens up your ears — you'll start noticing sounds you never paid attention to.
  4. Bird behavior is entertaining and mesmerizing: bizarre, dramatic and constantly unfolding.


Watch: Anthony's "A day in the life of a birder" video diary


Guests:


Bird species (in order of mention throughout the episode):

  1. Lilac-crowned amazon (Audubon)
  2. Tricolored blackbird (Audubon / All About Birds)
  3. Great-tailed grackle (Audubon / All About Birds)
  4. Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  5. Song sparrow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  6. Black phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  7. Phainopepla (Audubon / All About Birds)
  8. Neotropic cormorant (Audubon / All About Birds)
  9. Woodpecker (Audubon / All About Birds)
  10. Townsend's warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  11. Orange-crowned warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  12. Wilson's warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  13. Red-shouldered hawk (Audubon / All About Birds)
  14. Allen's hummingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)

  16. Black-crowned night heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  17. California towhee (Audubon / All About Birds)
  18. Cooper's hawk (Audubon / All About Birds)
  19. California scrub-jay (Audubon / All About Birds)
  20. Oak titmouse (Audubon / All About Birds)
  21. Gadwall (Audubon / All About Birds)
  22. Western grebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  23. Say's phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  24. Parakeet (Britannica)
  25. Cliff swallow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  26. Hooded oriole (Audubon / All About Birds)
  27. Eastern phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  28. Common swift (Audubon / Birds of the World)
  29. Iceland gull (Audubon / All About Birds)
  30. Thick-billed kingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)
  31. Yellow-crowned night heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  32. Little blue heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  33. Reddish egret (Audubon / All About Birds)
  34. Tricolored heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  35. Anna's hummingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)
  36. Lark sparrow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  37. American crow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  38. Common raven (Audubon / All About Birds)
  39. Clark's grebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  40. Laughing falcon (Birds of the World)
  41. American coot (Audubon / All About Birds) 
  42. Least sandpiper (Audubon / All About Birds)
  43. Whimbrel (Audubon / All About Birds)
  44. Elegant tern (Audubon / All About Birds)


Birding terms to know:

  • Listers - Birders who keep track of every species they've seen.
  • Big Year - A challenge to spot as many bird species as possible in a single year.
  • Vagrants - Birds spotted outside the regions where they're typically found.
  • Rushing - A synchronized mating dance where birds like Western or Clark's grebes run side by side across the water's surface.


Also mentioned in this episode:

  • eBird | One of the top birding apps to log sightings, find birding locations and track trends across regions
  • Merlin Bird ID | Go-to app for birders to identify species by photo or sound, powered by Cornell Lab experts
  • "The Residence" | Netflix murder mystery where the detective uses birding skills to spot clues others miss
  • Michael Jordan | NBA legend and six-time champion — his name's become shorthand for being the best
  • Honda Accord and Ford Mustang | One's an everyday car, the other a head-turner — a way to explain the gap between something common and something extraordinary
  • Nancy Christensen | Local birder and one of California's top listers
  • Pokémon Go | Popular mobile game that gets players outside to collect virtual creatures — similar to how birders track species
  • "The Big Year" | 2011 comedy starring Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and Jack Black as birders racing across North America to spot the most species in a calendar year — the movie's big year record is 750 species and you could get over halfway there just in San Diego
  • Tijuana River Estuary | Cross-border birding hotspot with incredible biodiversity
  • Shih Tzu | A toy breed whose name means "lion dog" — small but spirited


Sources:


]]>966d08a0-520d-11f0-a33f-97936bb2e4dbSan Diego is one of the most biodiverse birding regions in North America, with more than 500 recorded species — and its annual Bird Festival draws crowds from around the country. One of its most popular (and ambitious) events is the "100 or More" challenge: a daylong sprint to identify at least 100 different birds.


Photos: Meet the birds (and the birders) from the "100 Birds or More" field trip


In this episode, producer Anthony Wallace follows the action across scenic lakes, rugged foothills, city reservoirs and coastal wetlands to see how this classic hobby has taken on new energy.


Map: San Diego 100+ Birding Route


Along the way, we meet passionate birders — both seasoned listers and recent enthusiasts — learn many mind-blowing bird facts and explore how birds inspire everything from healing to obsession to joy.


Anthony's top 4 reasons to love birding:

  1. Every bird has a story.
  2. Bird migration is mind-blowing.
  3. It opens up your ears — you'll start noticing sounds you never paid attention to.
  4. Bird behavior is entertaining and mesmerizing: bizarre, dramatic and constantly unfolding.


Watch: Anthony's "A day in the life of a birder" video diary


Guests:


Bird species (in order of mention throughout the episode):

  1. Lilac-crowned amazon (Audubon)
  2. Tricolored blackbird (Audubon / All About Birds)
  3. Great-tailed grackle (Audubon / All About Birds)
  4. Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  5. Song sparrow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  6. Black phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  7. Phainopepla (Audubon / All About Birds)
  8. Neotropic cormorant (Audubon / All About Birds)
  9. Woodpecker (Audubon / All About Birds)
  10. Townsend's warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  11. Orange-crowned warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  12. Wilson's warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)
  13. Red-shouldered hawk (Audubon / All About Birds)
  14. Allen's hummingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)

  16. Black-crowned night heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  17. California towhee (Audubon / All About Birds)
  18. Cooper's hawk (Audubon / All About Birds)
  19. California scrub-jay (Audubon / All About Birds)
  20. Oak titmouse (Audubon / All About Birds)
  21. Gadwall (Audubon / All About Birds)
  22. Western grebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  23. Say's phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  24. Parakeet (Britannica)
  25. Cliff swallow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  26. Hooded oriole (Audubon / All About Birds)
  27. Eastern phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  28. Common swift (Audubon / Birds of the World)
  29. Iceland gull (Audubon / All About Birds)
  30. Thick-billed kingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)
  31. Yellow-crowned night heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  32. Little blue heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  33. Reddish egret (Audubon / All About Birds)
  34. Tricolored heron (Audubon / All About Birds)
  35. Anna's hummingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)
  36. Lark sparrow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  37. American crow (Audubon / All About Birds)
  38. Common raven (Audubon / All About Birds)
  39. Clark's grebe (Audubon / All About Birds)
  40. Laughing falcon (Birds of the World)
  41. American coot (Audubon / All About Birds)
  42. Least sandpiper (Audubon / All About Birds)
  43. Whimbrel (Audubon / All About Birds)
  44. Elegant tern (Audubon / All About Birds)


Birding terms to know:

  • Listers - Birders who keep track of every species they've seen.
  • Big Year - A challenge to spot as many bird species as possible in a single year.
  • Vagrants - Birds spotted outside the regions where they're typically found.
  • Rushing - A synchronized mating dance where birds like Western or Clark's grebes run side by side across the water's surface.


Also mentioned in this episode:

  • eBird | One of the top birding apps to log sightings, find birding locations and track trends across regions
  • Merlin Bird ID | Go-to app for birders to identify species by photo or sound, powered by Cornell Lab experts
  • "The Residence" | Netflix murder mystery where the detective uses birding skills to spot clues others miss
  • Michael Jordan | NBA legend and six-time champion — his name's become shorthand for being the best
  • Honda Accord and Ford Mustang | One's an everyday car, the other a head-turner — a way to explain the gap between something common and something extraordinary
  • Nancy Christensen | Local birder and one of California's top listers
  • Pokémon Go | Popular mobile game that gets players outside to collect virtual creatures — similar to how birders track species
  • "The Big Year" | 2011 comedy starring Owen Wilson, Steve Martin and Jack Black as birders racing across North America to spot the most species in a calendar year — the movie's big year record is 750 species and you could get over halfway there just in San Diego
  • Tijuana River Estuary | Cross-border birding hotspot with incredible biodiversity
  • Shih Tzu | A toy breed whose name means "lion dog" — small but spirited


Sources:


]]>full00:41:15Thu, 26 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0700Tiny Desk local listening party: The Neighborhood Kids and Aleah DiscavageWhat started as a low-key folk set behind a desk in a newsroom has become one of music's most iconic stages. This year, NPR's Tiny Desk Contest drew a record-breaking nearly 7,500 entries. Among them were 75 hopefuls from San Diego, all dreaming of a breakthrough moment.


In this episode, we spotlight two rising artists who stood out for their originality and emotional depth: Aleah Discavage, whose raw, autobiographical ballad is rooted in personal healing, and The Neighborhood Kids, who turned protest and passion into a high-voltage performance.


Watch: Aleah Discavage's NPR Tiny Desk Contest entry "runaways"


Watch: The Neighborhood Kids' NPR Tiny Desk Contest entry "BIDDI BOMB x HUSH"


Plus, we'll unpack the fascinating origin story of Tiny Desk, explore why this unconventional contest continues to resonate with artists and fans alike and hear what drives these musicians to keep creating — even when the stage is small and the odds are long.


Guests:


Tiny Desk Concerts mentioned in this episode:


Aleah Discavage's influences:


The Neighborhood Kids' influences:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • South by Southwest (SXSW) | Annual festival and conference in Austin, Texas, focused on tech, film, music, education and culture
  • Auto-tune | Common term for pitch-correction software used to fix or stylize vocals in music production
  • "American Idol" | Reality TV singing competition that began in 2002 and popularized the rise of unknown singers to music stardom
  • Voice memos | Mobile recording feature that many musicians use to capture song ideas and drafts on the go
  • Ringo Starr | Drummer of The Beatles and solo artist, often cited by musicians as a musical influence and cultural icon
  • Keds | American shoe brand known for its simple canvas sneakers
  • "Shrek 2" | 2004 animated sequel starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, following Shrek as he meets Fiona's royal parents
  • "Beavis and Butt-Head" | 1990s MTV animated series starring two dim-witted teenage metalheads known for crude humor, social satire and music video commentary; later revived for new seasons and a 2022 film


Sources:

]]>cf642570-470b-11f0-b5b4-8deb50bc7eecWhat started as a low-key folk set behind a desk in a newsroom has become one of music's most iconic stages. This year, NPR's Tiny Desk Contest drew a record-breaking nearly 7,500 entries. Among them were 75 hopefuls from San Diego, all dreaming of a breakthrough moment.


In this episode, we spotlight two rising artists who stood out for their originality and emotional depth: Aleah Discavage, whose raw, autobiographical ballad is rooted in personal healing, and The Neighborhood Kids, who turned protest and passion into a high-voltage performance.


Watch: Aleah Discavage's NPR Tiny Desk Contest entry "runaways"


Watch: The Neighborhood Kids' NPR Tiny Desk Contest entry "BIDDI BOMB x HUSH"


Plus, we'll unpack the fascinating origin story of Tiny Desk, explore why this unconventional contest continues to resonate with artists and fans alike and hear what drives these musicians to keep creating — even when the stage is small and the odds are long.


Guests:


Tiny Desk Concerts mentioned in this episode:


Aleah Discavage's influences:


The Neighborhood Kids' influences:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • South by Southwest (SXSW) | Annual festival and conference in Austin, Texas, focused on tech, film, music, education and culture
  • Auto-tune | Common term for pitch-correction software used to fix or stylize vocals in music production
  • "American Idol" | Reality TV singing competition that began in 2002 and popularized the rise of unknown singers to music stardom
  • Voice memos | Mobile recording feature that many musicians use to capture song ideas and drafts on the go
  • Ringo Starr | Drummer of The Beatles and solo artist, often cited by musicians as a musical influence and cultural icon
  • Keds | American shoe brand known for its simple canvas sneakers
  • "Shrek 2" | 2004 animated sequel starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy and Cameron Diaz, following Shrek as he meets Fiona's royal parents
  • "Beavis and Butt-Head" | 1990s MTV animated series starring two dim-witted teenage metalheads known for crude humor, social satire and music video commentary; later revived for new seasons and a 2022 film


Sources:

]]>full00:42:07Thu, 12 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0700Worn, painted, reimagined: The power and complexity of Our Lady of GuadalupeOur Lady of Guadalupe is everywhere in art, memory and protest. She's instantly recognizable — hands in prayer, floral dress, starry mantle — but she represents much more than religious devotion. Her 500-year history weaves through colonial violence, activism, survival and cultural adaptation. Today, she remains a powerful symbol, embraced across generations, communities and identities.


"She's pervasive everywhere. She hangs on cars, people tattoo her on their bodies, and artists in particular have expanded that image. They might not look at her in religious terms, but they definitely look at her culturally," said Jeanette Rodriguez, a professor of theology at Seattle University.


This episode explores the evolving meaning of her image through the lens of artists and scholars. Mingei International Museum curator Ariana Torres reflects on the contradictions that give Guadalupe lasting relevance. Theologian Jeanette Rodriguez offers a decolonial interpretation of her origin. Designer Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski draws on family and heritage to bring la Virgen into contemporary fashion. And muralist Josue Baltezar shares how he honored the connection between the Virgin and an Indigenous earth deity.


Photos: See the artistry up close from Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski's jacket to moments from our visit to the Mingei


"I think that she's kind of been reclaimed since the beginning. I think reclamation is really what has built her. She's been reclaimed to be against Spain, to be the symbol of Mexican identity. And then she's been reclaimed to, I think, in a way, reject even a broader Mexican nationalist identity — to be like, this is a very personal symbol to me and it has nothing to do with maybe even just being Mexican," Torres said. "And I think it's really interesting how she has been reclaimed as a feminist figure with a lot of people."


Across borders and belief systems, Guadalupe's image lives on — reshaped by those who continue to find meaning in her presence.


Guests:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Yolanda López | Chicana artist and activist known for reimagining Our Lady of Guadalupe as a symbol of empowerment
  • "Fashioning an Icon: Virgin of Guadalupe Imagery in Textile Design" | Exhibition exploring the Virgin of Guadalupe's influence on textile design and fashion currently on view at Mingei International Museum 
  • Nahuatl | Indigenous language of the Aztecs, still spoken today in parts of Mexico and the United States
  • Northridge earthquake | A 6.7-magnitude quake that struck Los Angeles in 1994, causing widespread damage and lasting trauma
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Church | Catholic church in Logan Heights that also runs an elementary school
  • Las Maestras Center | UCSB-based organization uplifting Chicana, Latina and Indigenous feminisms through research and storytelling
  • Arianna Ystelle | Chicana photographer whose photo series in "Fashioning an Icon" captures 30 portraits taken across San Diego and Tijuana
  • Diana Benavídez | Binational artist from the San Diego-Tijuana border region known for piñata art that blends pop culture and social commentary, including "Even Guadalupe Needs a Break," featured in "Fashioning an Icon"


Sources:

]]>4a5aa9e0-4188-11f0-9120-537dc94607c5Our Lady of Guadalupe is everywhere in art, memory and protest. She's instantly recognizable — hands in prayer, floral dress, starry mantle — but she represents much more than religious devotion. Her 500-year history weaves through colonial violence, activism, survival and cultural adaptation. Today, she remains a powerful symbol, embraced across generations, communities and identities.


"She's pervasive everywhere. She hangs on cars, people tattoo her on their bodies, and artists in particular have expanded that image. They might not look at her in religious terms, but they definitely look at her culturally," said Jeanette Rodriguez, a professor of theology at Seattle University.


This episode explores the evolving meaning of her image through the lens of artists and scholars. Mingei International Museum curator Ariana Torres reflects on the contradictions that give Guadalupe lasting relevance. Theologian Jeanette Rodriguez offers a decolonial interpretation of her origin. Designer Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski draws on family and heritage to bring la Virgen into contemporary fashion. And muralist Josue Baltezar shares how he honored the connection between the Virgin and an Indigenous earth deity.


Photos: See the artistry up close from Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski's jacket to moments from our visit to the Mingei


"I think that she's kind of been reclaimed since the beginning. I think reclamation is really what has built her. She's been reclaimed to be against Spain, to be the symbol of Mexican identity. And then she's been reclaimed to, I think, in a way, reject even a broader Mexican nationalist identity — to be like, this is a very personal symbol to me and it has nothing to do with maybe even just being Mexican," Torres said. "And I think it's really interesting how she has been reclaimed as a feminist figure with a lot of people."


Across borders and belief systems, Guadalupe's image lives on — reshaped by those who continue to find meaning in her presence.


Guests:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Yolanda López | Chicana artist and activist known for reimagining Our Lady of Guadalupe as a symbol of empowerment
  • "Fashioning an Icon: Virgin of Guadalupe Imagery in Textile Design" | Exhibition exploring the Virgin of Guadalupe's influence on textile design and fashion currently on view at Mingei International Museum
  • Nahuatl | Indigenous language of the Aztecs, still spoken today in parts of Mexico and the United States
  • Northridge earthquake | A 6.7-magnitude quake that struck Los Angeles in 1994, causing widespread damage and lasting trauma
  • Our Lady of Guadalupe Church | Catholic church in Logan Heights that also runs an elementary school
  • Las Maestras Center | UCSB-based organization uplifting Chicana, Latina and Indigenous feminisms through research and storytelling
  • Arianna Ystelle | Chicana photographer whose photo series in "Fashioning an Icon" captures 30 portraits taken across San Diego and Tijuana
  • Diana Benavídez | Binational artist from the San Diego-Tijuana border region known for piñata art that blends pop culture and social commentary, including "Even Guadalupe Needs a Break," featured in "Fashioning an Icon"


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/worn-painted-reimagined-the-power-and-complexity-of-our-lady-of-guadalupefull00:33:44Thu, 05 Jun 2025 05:00:00 -0700Bonus: The team behind The Finest talks arts and cultureIn this first-ever bonus episode of The Finest, we're flipping things around. Host Julia Dixon Evans sits down with producer Anthony Wallace and editor Chrissy Nguyen in a casual conversation recorded at the SDSU theater next to KPBS. We unpack big questions (what is art?), share our hottest takes (sorry, Mona Lisa) and talk about how the show comes together each week. You'll hear how each of us brings a unique perspective to the show, why relatability is our storytelling secret weapon and what keeps us inspired. Expect thoughtful moments, surprising opinions and the kind of banter that comes from real collaboration.


Prefer to watch? This episode is on video too.


Mentioned in this episode:

  • SDSU Main Stage Theatre | San Diego State University's main performance venue, home to student-led plays, musicals and showcases from the School of Theatre, Television and Film
  • reUnify Yoga | Ocean Beach studio Anthony attended, where a teacher once gave an artistic live singing performance during shavasana
  • Shavasana | Also called corpse pose, the final stretch where you lie flat on your back to rest, reflect and reset
  • The Mona Lisa at The Lourve | Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 16th-century portrait, sealed behind glass in the world's most visited museum in Paris
  • San Diego's proximity to Mexico | Just 20 minutes from the border, with deep cultural, culinary and family ties to Tijuana and Baja California
  • San Diego sports teams | Padres (MLB) at Petco Park, Wave FC (NWSL) and San Diego FC (MLS) at Snapdragon Stadium, and the Gulls (AHL) at Pechanga Arena
  • JROTC | High school program combining military structure with leadership training, public service and civic education; San Diego has one of the largest cadet programs in the U.S.
  • G.I. Film Festival | Annual San Diego film fest spotlighting stories by and about service members, veterans and military families
  • Convoy District | Foodie haven in Kearny Mesa rooted in Asian American culture, with bustling plazas, family-run businesses and grocery staples like H-Mart and Mitsuwa


Sources:






]]>28b0bde0-3bfc-11f0-a886-99df47802782In this first-ever bonus episode of The Finest, we're flipping things around. Host Julia Dixon Evans sits down with producer Anthony Wallace and editor Chrissy Nguyen in a casual conversation recorded at the SDSU theater next to KPBS. We unpack big questions (what is art?), share our hottest takes (sorry, Mona Lisa) and talk about how the show comes together each week. You'll hear how each of us brings a unique perspective to the show, why relatability is our storytelling secret weapon and what keeps us inspired. Expect thoughtful moments, surprising opinions and the kind of banter that comes from real collaboration.


Prefer to watch? This episode is on video too.


Mentioned in this episode:

  • SDSU Main Stage Theatre | San Diego State University's main performance venue, home to student-led plays, musicals and showcases from the School of Theatre, Television and Film
  • reUnify Yoga | Ocean Beach studio Anthony attended, where a teacher once gave an artistic live singing performance during shavasana
  • Shavasana | Also called corpse pose, the final stretch where you lie flat on your back to rest, reflect and reset
  • The Mona Lisa at The Lourve | Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 16th-century portrait, sealed behind glass in the world's most visited museum in Paris
  • San Diego's proximity to Mexico | Just 20 minutes from the border, with deep cultural, culinary and family ties to Tijuana and Baja California
  • San Diego sports teams | Padres (MLB) at Petco Park, Wave FC (NWSL) and San Diego FC (MLS) at Snapdragon Stadium, and the Gulls (AHL) at Pechanga Arena
  • JROTC | High school program combining military structure with leadership training, public service and civic education; San Diego has one of the largest cadet programs in the U.S.
  • G.I. Film Festival | Annual San Diego film fest spotlighting stories by and about service members, veterans and military families
  • Convoy District | Foodie haven in Kearny Mesa rooted in Asian American culture, with bustling plazas, family-run businesses and grocery staples like H-Mart and Mitsuwa


Sources:






]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/bonus-the-team-behind-the-finest-talks-arts-and-culturefull00:25:37Thu, 29 May 2025 05:00:00 -0700San Diego's last alt-weekly stops the presses, but it's not giving up yetFor decades, alt-weeklies like the San Diego Reader were a city's rebellious voice, digging into local politics, covering underground arts and publishing stories no one else would. But their survival depended on classified ads and print advertising, both of which were decimated by Craigslist and the rise of digital media. Now, one by one, these once-essential papers are vanishing. As the Reader ends its print run, we look at what their disappearance means for local journalism.


"They were irreverent. They were conversational. They had a point of view, but they also had a way of looking at the news of the day from a different angle because they knew they had to be different," said Scott Lewis of Voice of San Diego. Lewis began his career writing for an alt-weekly in Salt Lake City, Utah.


Photos: A final glimpse inside the now-closed San Diego Reader office


"And so I think it's demise as a print product — as something that was available, especially the music stuff — it's a bummer to think that these major cities are now going to continue, maybe forever, without that staple of the coffee shops. That thing you could pick up to look at what's coming up, just to have. Print products were the original mobile, right? That's what you could carry with you — and now it's gone."


Guests:

  • Matthew Lickona, owner and editor in chief of San Diego Reader 
  • Jim Holman, founder of San Diego Reader
  • Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief of Voice of San Diego
  • Jesse Munyoki, KPBS student assistant and host of KCR's DaCulture

Voice of San Diego is a nonprofit news partner of KPBS in our Public Matters series.


Alt-weekly reads: 


Matthew Lickona's reading list:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Craigslist | Online classifieds site launched in 1995, with a San Diego edition added in 2000, known for its no-frills design and endless odd finds
  • La Pensione Hotel | European-style boutique hotel in San Diego's Little Italy
  • Bob Roth | Founder of the Chicago Reader, the influential alt-weekly he launched in 1971
  • Rotten Tomatoes | Movie and TV review site launched in 1998 that distills critical consensus into one score
  • Gonzo Report | Recurring column in the San Diego Reader delivering boots-on-the-ground dispatches from San Diego's music scene and beyond
  • Blockbuster | Video rental giant that ruled living rooms from its 1985 founding through the early 2000s
  • Ernie Grimm | Former managing editor of the San Diego Reader, recruited alongside Matthew Lickona by the paper
  • KCR College Radio | Student-run San Diego State University station broadcasting indie, punk and campus voices
  • Burn All Books' Mail Mag | Subscription-based zine mailing packed with art, poetry and writing from BAB and friends, sent via postal mail each month
  • Substack | Newsletter platform that gives writers a new way to publish and get paid
  • The New Yorker | Esteemed magazine known for longform journalism, fiction, and sharp cultural commentary.
  • The Atlantic | Influential publication offering in-depth reporting and essays on politics, culture, and American life.
  • Hotel del Coronado | Iconic beachfront hotel known for its ghost lore, Victorian design and as the filming location for 1959's "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe


Sources:


]]>adc247a0-30f8-11f0-a3de-3b50894c8d95For decades, alt-weeklies like the San Diego Reader were a city's rebellious voice, digging into local politics, covering underground arts and publishing stories no one else would. But their survival depended on classified ads and print advertising, both of which were decimated by Craigslist and the rise of digital media. Now, one by one, these once-essential papers are vanishing. As the Reader ends its print run, we look at what their disappearance means for local journalism.


"They were irreverent. They were conversational. They had a point of view, but they also had a way of looking at the news of the day from a different angle because they knew they had to be different," said Scott Lewis of Voice of San Diego. Lewis began his career writing for an alt-weekly in Salt Lake City, Utah.


Photos: A final glimpse inside the now-closed San Diego Reader office


"And so I think it's demise as a print product — as something that was available, especially the music stuff — it's a bummer to think that these major cities are now going to continue, maybe forever, without that staple of the coffee shops. That thing you could pick up to look at what's coming up, just to have. Print products were the original mobile, right? That's what you could carry with you — and now it's gone."


Guests:

  • Matthew Lickona, owner and editor in chief of San Diego Reader
  • Jim Holman, founder of San Diego Reader
  • Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief of Voice of San Diego
  • Jesse Munyoki, KPBS student assistant and host of KCR's DaCulture

Voice of San Diego is a nonprofit news partner of KPBS in our Public Matters series.


Alt-weekly reads:


Matthew Lickona's reading list:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Craigslist | Online classifieds site launched in 1995, with a San Diego edition added in 2000, known for its no-frills design and endless odd finds
  • La Pensione Hotel | European-style boutique hotel in San Diego's Little Italy
  • Bob Roth | Founder of the Chicago Reader, the influential alt-weekly he launched in 1971
  • Rotten Tomatoes | Movie and TV review site launched in 1998 that distills critical consensus into one score
  • Gonzo Report | Recurring column in the San Diego Reader delivering boots-on-the-ground dispatches from San Diego's music scene and beyond
  • Blockbuster | Video rental giant that ruled living rooms from its 1985 founding through the early 2000s
  • Ernie Grimm | Former managing editor of the San Diego Reader, recruited alongside Matthew Lickona by the paper
  • KCR College Radio | Student-run San Diego State University station broadcasting indie, punk and campus voices
  • Burn All Books' Mail Mag | Subscription-based zine mailing packed with art, poetry and writing from BAB and friends, sent via postal mail each month
  • Substack | Newsletter platform that gives writers a new way to publish and get paid
  • The New Yorker | Esteemed magazine known for longform journalism, fiction, and sharp cultural commentary.
  • The Atlantic | Influential publication offering in-depth reporting and essays on politics, culture, and American life.
  • Hotel del Coronado | Iconic beachfront hotel known for its ghost lore, Victorian design and as the filming location for 1959's "Some Like It Hot" starring Marilyn Monroe


Sources:


]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/san-diegos-last-alt-weekly-stops-the-presses-but-its-not-giving-up-yetfull00:34:19Thu, 15 May 2025 05:00:00 -0700When better sleep silences a painter's muse — now what?For most of her adult life, artist Mary Jhun has drawn inspiration from a distinct muse: fractured silhouettes of girls, embellished with surreal details. Her paintings have been a way to process trauma, loneliness and despair, while also serving as a fascinating feedback loop into and out of her vivid dream life. She experiences the "girls" in dreams as she paints them, using these visions as fuel for future works.


But when she started using a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea, her dreams vanished overnight.


"What do we choose? Do we choose the thing that kind of ignites our creativity or our health? And I feel like a lot of artists go through that all the time, no matter what the topic is," Mary said.


Photos: A glimpse into Mary Jhun's studio and signature style


Now, in a new solo exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art, Mary has found her way back — to both her girls and her dreams — by incorporating surreal CPAP machinery into her paintings and tricking her body to dream again. Yet a question lingers: What toll does creativity take on our physical, emotional and relational health?


Guest:


Watch: Mary Jhun creates intricate Etch-A-Sketch drawing of her "girls" on classic toy


Mary Jhun's creative touchpoints:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Snow White | Disney fairytale princess known for her woodland friends, kindness and cottagecore charm
  • Studio Ghibli | Beloved Japanese animation studio behind dreamy, detailed films like "Totoro" and "Spirited Away"
  • "In Losing Sleep, I Painted" | Mary Jhun's 2025 exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art exploring the tension between health and creativity through her signature "girls" figures
  • Etch-A-Sketch | Red-framed drawing toy repurposed by Mary Jhun as a surprising tool for emotional expression
  •  "Nothing Lasts Forever" | 2022 gallery show centered on impermanence, featuring 20 Etch-A-Sketch works by Mary Jhun created in a one week and sold with the reminder: once it's gone, it's gone
  • Games of Berkeley | Longtime Bay Area shop packed with puzzles, strategy games, novelties and nostalgic treasures
  • "Dune" | Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic of sand, prophecy and power set on the desert planet of Arrakis


Sources:

]]>2d8579c0-2c19-11f0-9e21-ad87443d9962For most of her adult life, artist Mary Jhun has drawn inspiration from a distinct muse: fractured silhouettes of girls, embellished with surreal details. Her paintings have been a way to process trauma, loneliness and despair, while also serving as a fascinating feedback loop into and out of her vivid dream life. She experiences the "girls" in dreams as she paints them, using these visions as fuel for future works.


But when she started using a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea, her dreams vanished overnight.


"What do we choose? Do we choose the thing that kind of ignites our creativity or our health? And I feel like a lot of artists go through that all the time, no matter what the topic is," Mary said.


Photos: A glimpse into Mary Jhun's studio and signature style


Now, in a new solo exhibition at the Oceanside Museum of Art, Mary has found her way back — to both her girls and her dreams — by incorporating surreal CPAP machinery into her paintings and tricking her body to dream again. Yet a question lingers: What toll does creativity take on our physical, emotional and relational health?


Guest:


Watch: Mary Jhun creates intricate Etch-A-Sketch drawing of her "girls" on classic toy


Mary Jhun's creative touchpoints:


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Snow White | Disney fairytale princess known for her woodland friends, kindness and cottagecore charm
  • Studio Ghibli | Beloved Japanese animation studio behind dreamy, detailed films like "Totoro" and "Spirited Away"
  • "In Losing Sleep, I Painted" | Mary Jhun's 2025 exhibit at the Oceanside Museum of Art exploring the tension between health and creativity through her signature "girls" figures
  • Etch-A-Sketch | Red-framed drawing toy repurposed by Mary Jhun as a surprising tool for emotional expression
  •  "Nothing Lasts Forever" | 2022 gallery show centered on impermanence, featuring 20 Etch-A-Sketch works by Mary Jhun created in a one week and sold with the reminder: once it's gone, it's gone
  • Games of Berkeley | Longtime Bay Area shop packed with puzzles, strategy games, novelties and nostalgic treasures
  • "Dune" | Frank Herbert's sci-fi epic of sand, prophecy and power set on the desert planet of Arrakis


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/when-better-sleep-silences-a-painters-muse-now-whatfull00:26:15Thu, 08 May 2025 05:00:00 -0700Spotify is changing, so one indie artist is advocating for fairness in a stream-heavy worldFor indie musicians like Julianna Zachariou, Spotify has made music more accessible than ever — but at a cost. With payouts that amount to less than a penny per stream, she's had to turn to crowdfunding and direct fan support to fund her projects. She opens up about the personal toll these struggles take and how she's found ways to stay true to her craft while facing these challenges.


"On my bad days, I wake up and think, 'I've already done the best I can do. This is the most people I'll ever reach, and I'm just sinking into anonymity,'" Julianna said, reflecting on an older song that has reached more than 5 million streams.


"But on my better days, I'm grateful for it. I recognize that it was a different time. Spotify's kind of a monster now. There's no room for 'if it's good enough, it'll find its way.' It's just not a thing right now. It's a trap to let metrics determine that you're doing something better or worse than you were in the past," she said.


Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Dreamer, Dreamer" live at KPBS' studio


In this episode, we break down Spotify's business model, the economics of streaming and what it really takes to sustain a career without major-label backing. Julianna's story is a powerful reminder of the need for change in the industry and how we can all play a role in supporting the artists who enrich our lives.


Guests:


Julianna Zachariou Track List:


Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Becky" live at KPBS' studio


Julianna Zachariou's musical influences:


Photos: See portraits of Julianna Zachariou and a few snaps of her and Josh Flowers making music together


Mentioned in this episode:


Sources:






]]>35668b60-25d8-11f0-9fc6-5b83f8f4ee34For indie musicians like Julianna Zachariou, Spotify has made music more accessible than ever — but at a cost. With payouts that amount to less than a penny per stream, she's had to turn to crowdfunding and direct fan support to fund her projects. She opens up about the personal toll these struggles take and how she's found ways to stay true to her craft while facing these challenges.


"On my bad days, I wake up and think, 'I've already done the best I can do. This is the most people I'll ever reach, and I'm just sinking into anonymity,'" Julianna said, reflecting on an older song that has reached more than 5 million streams.


"But on my better days, I'm grateful for it. I recognize that it was a different time. Spotify's kind of a monster now. There's no room for 'if it's good enough, it'll find its way.' It's just not a thing right now. It's a trap to let metrics determine that you're doing something better or worse than you were in the past," she said.


Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Dreamer, Dreamer" live at KPBS' studio


In this episode, we break down Spotify's business model, the economics of streaming and what it really takes to sustain a career without major-label backing. Julianna's story is a powerful reminder of the need for change in the industry and how we can all play a role in supporting the artists who enrich our lives.


Guests:


Julianna Zachariou Track List:


Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Becky" live at KPBS' studio


Julianna Zachariou's musical influences:


Photos: See portraits of Julianna Zachariou and a few snaps of her and Josh Flowers making music together


Mentioned in this episode:


Sources:






]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/spotify-is-changing-so-one-indie-artist-is-advocating-for-fairness-in-a-stream-heavy-worldfulltrue00:35:44Thu, 01 May 2025 05:00:00 -0700San Diego's poets laureate on being a 'government artist' and knocking poetry off its pedestalWhat does it mean to be a "government artist" in San Diego?


Outgoing Poet Laureate Jason Magabo Perez shares the lessons he's learned from his two-year term, where he brought the city's neighborhoods to life through his vivid poetry. As Paola Capó-García takes on the mantle, she talks about her plans to bring a fresh perspective to the role and expand poetry's reach.


"I think that poetry has a way of winning anyone over if you're showing them that a poem can look and feel and sound like anything, that there's humor in poetry, that decoding a poem can feel like a game that you do with friends. And how one line or one word can have infinite meanings," Capó-García said.


In this conversation, both poets dive into how they demystify poetry for students and the public, and how they can connect and uplift San Diego's diverse communities through verse.


Guests:

  • Paola Capó-García, San Diego poet laureate (2025-27), Professional Learning Coordinator at High Tech High Graduate School of Education
  • Jason Magabo Perez, San Diego poet laureate emeritus (2023-24), Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University San Marcos
  • David Tomas Martinez, writer


Watch: David Tomas Martinez shares a poem from his second collection, "Post Traumatic Hood Disorder"


Poems read in this episode:


Yellow

Paola Capó-García


When I was young I thought the soul was a body part

To the right of my heart and in between the pre-breasts

this soul-thing would nest—and then one day it fell out?—

No It stuck around too long

and made a house of my insides The walls were

yellow which I now know is the color of hunger and

that's why I crave baby chicks and gold There

was so much furniture shoved inside of me and even if

the décor was mid-century, the style was mortal My

memory is hungry She wanted me to paint my face

every morning Makeup could enhance better

make use of this face But then my dog licked the second

face off clean That is my favorite movie


From "CLAP FOR ME THAT'S NOT ME" (Rescue Press, 2018).


Found Fragment on Ambition

David Tomas Martinez


v.

if a hood is a sense of place

& a sense of place is identity

then identity is a hood & adult

hood is being insecure in any

hood a hood scares the whitest

folks why folks scared to stop

in the hood & why folks stop

wearing a hood & call it white

nationalism if i tried i would

fail to pass if i failed i would

try to pass when can i retire my

bowl stop needing to beg for my

person hood you see academically

my ghetto pass was revoked please

sir can you direct me to the window

to turn in my man card where

can i apply to enter the whiteness

protection program ive lost

my found identity is a hood

a hood is a sense of place

a place places a hood hood in us


From "Post Traumatic Hood Disorder" (Sarabande Books, 2018).


We Draft Work Songs for the City

Jason Magabo Perez


Here is a parable,

a prayer, perhaps,

for those unmapped;


Here are new students

considering new lives,

new interrogations, new

footnotes, but no new

friendships, no news. None.


Still, the problem of loans.

Still, the problem of rent.

Still, the problem of property.


This alley off University is

a gallery of abandoned mattresses

Stacked against limp wire fencing that

leans against wood panels that

shade the driveway where the

unmapped fall asleep.


Ancestral spirits are

no less spectacle than

principled remembrance:


The craft of this tissue

we often call ourselves.


From "I ask about what falls away" (Kaya Press, 2024).


Mobility

Paola Capó-García


I keep finding people living in my house mouths I've never seen expressions through paint chips and light fixtures     ‎I keep coming back to this place I label "house" because my plane tickets are designed to get me here and the bed has been made in the shape of an invitation


I learned to ride a bike on Wednesday and felt new     I always resisted I didn't know how to balance on pavement or glitter     I didn't know why that would be required of me     this bike does not know the road to my house


Website says woman in tight dress slips on butter for twenty minutes, calls it art      well what would you call that?     an accident?      It seems really lovely to me      how the butter would go in and out of her pores as if it's always been trying to get back to that place


From "CLAP FOR ME THAT'S NOT ME" (Rescue Press, 2018).


Jason and Paola's literary influences:


Poems Paola often shares with her students:


Photos: San Diego’s poets laureate, captured between words and worlds


Mentioned in this episode:

  • San Diego Poetry Futures | Poetry initiative from Jason Magabo Perez that brings people together through workshops, collabs and community verse
  •  Love Hoops NYC | New York City-based basketball collective hosting open runs, skills sessions and events that build community on and off the court
  • Ada Limón, United States poet laureate
  • Lee Herrick, California poet laureate


Sources:

]]>2236f460-1acc-11f0-9e75-577b484d5522What does it mean to be a "government artist" in San Diego?


Outgoing Poet Laureate Jason Magabo Perez shares the lessons he's learned from his two-year term, where he brought the city's neighborhoods to life through his vivid poetry. As Paola Capó-García takes on the mantle, she talks about her plans to bring a fresh perspective to the role and expand poetry's reach.


"I think that poetry has a way of winning anyone over if you're showing them that a poem can look and feel and sound like anything, that there's humor in poetry, that decoding a poem can feel like a game that you do with friends. And how one line or one word can have infinite meanings," Capó-García said.


In this conversation, both poets dive into how they demystify poetry for students and the public, and how they can connect and uplift San Diego's diverse communities through verse.


Guests:

  • Paola Capó-García, San Diego poet laureate (2025-27), Professional Learning Coordinator at High Tech High Graduate School of Education
  • Jason Magabo Perez, San Diego poet laureate emeritus (2023-24), Associate Professor of Ethnic Studies at California State University San Marcos
  • David Tomas Martinez, writer


Watch: David Tomas Martinez shares a poem from his second collection, "Post Traumatic Hood Disorder"


Poems read in this episode:


Yellow

Paola Capó-García


When I was young I thought the soul was a body part

To the right of my heart and in between the pre-breasts

this soul-thing would nest—and then one day it fell out?—

No It stuck around too long

and made a house of my insides The walls were

yellow which I now know is the color of hunger and

that's why I crave baby chicks and gold There

was so much furniture shoved inside of me and even if

the décor was mid-century, the style was mortal My

memory is hungry She wanted me to paint my face

every morning Makeup could enhance better

make use of this face But then my dog licked the second

face off clean That is my favorite movie


From "CLAP FOR ME THAT'S NOT ME" (Rescue Press, 2018).


Found Fragment on Ambition

David Tomas Martinez


v.

if a hood is a sense of place

& a sense of place is identity

then identity is a hood & adult

hood is being insecure in any

hood a hood scares the whitest

folks why folks scared to stop

in the hood & why folks stop

wearing a hood & call it white

nationalism if i tried i would

fail to pass if i failed i would

try to pass when can i retire my

bowl stop needing to beg for my

person hood you see academically

my ghetto pass was revoked please

sir can you direct me to the window

to turn in my man card where

can i apply to enter the whiteness

protection program ive lost

my found identity is a hood

a hood is a sense of place

a place places a hood hood in us


From "Post Traumatic Hood Disorder" (Sarabande Books, 2018).


We Draft Work Songs for the City

Jason Magabo Perez


Here is a parable,

a prayer, perhaps,

for those unmapped;


Here are new students

considering new lives,

new interrogations, new

footnotes, but no new

friendships, no news. None.


Still, the problem of loans.

Still, the problem of rent.

Still, the problem of property.


This alley off University is

a gallery of abandoned mattresses

Stacked against limp wire fencing that

leans against wood panels that

shade the driveway where the

unmapped fall asleep.


Ancestral spirits are

no less spectacle than

principled remembrance:


The craft of this tissue

we often call ourselves.


From "I ask about what falls away" (Kaya Press, 2024).


Mobility

Paola Capó-García


I keep finding people living in my house mouths I've never seen expressions through paint chips and light fixtures ‎I keep coming back to this place I label "house" because my plane tickets are designed to get me here and the bed has been made in the shape of an invitation


I learned to ride a bike on Wednesday and felt new I always resisted I didn't know how to balance on pavement or glitter I didn't know why that would be required of me this bike does not know the road to my house


Website says woman in tight dress slips on butter for twenty minutes, calls it art well what would you call that? an accident? It seems really lovely to me how the butter would go in and out of her pores as if it's always been trying to get back to that place


From "CLAP FOR ME THAT'S NOT ME" (Rescue Press, 2018).


Jason and Paola's literary influences:


Poems Paola often shares with her students:


Photos: San Diego’s poets laureate, captured between words and worlds


Mentioned in this episode:

  • San Diego Poetry Futures | Poetry initiative from Jason Magabo Perez that brings people together through workshops, collabs and community verse
  •  Love Hoops NYC | New York City-based basketball collective hosting open runs, skills sessions and events that build community on and off the court
  • Ada Limón, United States poet laureate
  • Lee Herrick, California poet laureate


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/san-diegos-poets-laureate-on-being-a-government-artist-and-knocking-poetry-off-its-pedestalfull00:35:20Thu, 17 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0700Making it in music: How do you create a local music scene in a 'superstar economy'?San Diego's music scene is full of talent, but making a living off your art? That's a different story.


Shua, a Southeast San Diego artist with over a million Spotify streams, has lived both extremes: signing a record deal and later facing near homelessness. In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of his career, what it means to be an independent musician today and why fan support is more crucial than ever.


Watch: Shua performs his song "Broken" live at KPBS' studio


We also break down the brutal reality of the modern music industry, where the biggest stars are increasingly taking home the bulk of the earnings while local and indie artists fight to stay afloat. And we explore why local music matters, what we lose when artists can't afford to make their art.


" I think art, if you're willing, can cut through the noise and say to someone, 'See me. Hear me,'" Shua said.


Whether you're an artist, a music lover or just curious about how the industry really works, this episode offers a perspective you won't forget.


Guests:


Photos: See snapshots of Shua 


Shua Track List:


Shua's musical influences:

  • Fred Hammond
  • The Winans
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Bill Withers
  • "The Jungle Book" Original Soundtrack
  • Beethoven
  • Coldplay


Watch: Shua performs "Lucid Girl" with The Sacred Souls on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Soda Bar | North Park dive for intimate sets, rising indie acts and vibrant local energy
  • San Diego Zoo | World famous Balboa Park destination for animal lovers, families and curious minds
  • Petco Park | Home to the Padres — and a downtown hub for major concerts and local shows
  • Snapdragon Stadium | Mission Valley venue where Wave FC and San Diego FC play, and top music festivals take the stage


Sources:

]]>eb131740-154c-11f0-b1c0-df73e8344fcfSan Diego's music scene is full of talent, but making a living off your art? That's a different story.


Shua, a Southeast San Diego artist with over a million Spotify streams, has lived both extremes: signing a record deal and later facing near homelessness. In this episode, he shares the highs and lows of his career, what it means to be an independent musician today and why fan support is more crucial than ever.


Watch: Shua performs his song "Broken" live at KPBS' studio


We also break down the brutal reality of the modern music industry, where the biggest stars are increasingly taking home the bulk of the earnings while local and indie artists fight to stay afloat. And we explore why local music matters, what we lose when artists can't afford to make their art.


" I think art, if you're willing, can cut through the noise and say to someone, 'See me. Hear me,'" Shua said.


Whether you're an artist, a music lover or just curious about how the industry really works, this episode offers a perspective you won't forget.


Guests:


Photos: See snapshots of Shua


Shua Track List:


Shua's musical influences:

  • Fred Hammond
  • The Winans
  • Stevie Wonder
  • Bill Withers
  • "The Jungle Book" Original Soundtrack
  • Beethoven
  • Coldplay


Watch: Shua performs "Lucid Girl" with The Sacred Souls on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"


Mentioned in this episode:

  • Soda Bar | North Park dive for intimate sets, rising indie acts and vibrant local energy
  • San Diego Zoo | World famous Balboa Park destination for animal lovers, families and curious minds
  • Petco Park | Home to the Padres — and a downtown hub for major concerts and local shows
  • Snapdragon Stadium | Mission Valley venue where Wave FC and San Diego FC play, and top music festivals take the stage


Sources:

]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/shua-making-it-in-music-how-do-you-create-a-local-music-scene-in-a-superstar-economyfull00:35:26Thu, 10 Apr 2025 05:00:00 -0700PARU Tea: How the viral matcha spot is transforming tea culture with love and purposeWhat happens when a viral tea brand moves beyond the café model? For Amy Truong and Lani Gobaleza, it meant embracing a deeper purpose — blending sustainability, mindfulness and tradition. PARU Tea has evolved from a trendy matcha destination into a space dedicated to single origin, custom loose-leaf tea and tea experiences.


But their journey is more than just a business pivot, it's a love story rooted in shared passion and bold choices. In this episode, we dive into how this couple is redefining tea culture in San Diego, proving that slowing down can be just as revolutionary as going viral.


" It really goes into the principle of Japanese tea ceremony. 'Ichigo ichie' is one chance, one meeting. You always want to be your present self because you never know what tomorrow might bring. Everything at this moment counts," Amy said.


Guests:

  • Amy Troung, PARU Tea founder
  • Lani Gobaleza, PARU Tea co-founder/marketing & partnerships


Teas sampled during our conversation:

  • PARU's matcha is freshly milled in their La Jolla shop from shade-grown tencha leaves.
  • Hanadoki ("flowering season" in Japanese) is PARU's original blend of cherry blossoms, sencha (sun-grown green tea) and rose petals.
  • Blue Chamomile, PARU's first signature blend, combines organic chamomile flowers and butterfly pea flower grown in Thailand.


Photos: A look behind the scenes at PARU’s journey, space and tea culture.


Mentioned in this episode:

  • PARU Tea | La Jolla tea shop specializing in loose-leaf tea and matcha sourced from small farms around the world
  • An's Dry Cleaning | North Park gelato shop featuring Sandals, a gelato made with PARU's Blue Chamomile tea
  • Bica | Normal Heights coffee shop serving drinks made with PARU tea
  • Hatsuzakura | University Heights Japanese café offering PARU loose-leaf teas and milk teas steeped with PARU blends
]]>0f34c960-0fe7-11f0-ba70-2314c67526bfWhat happens when a viral tea brand moves beyond the café model? For Amy Truong and Lani Gobaleza, it meant embracing a deeper purpose — blending sustainability, mindfulness and tradition. PARU Tea has evolved from a trendy matcha destination into a space dedicated to single origin, custom loose-leaf tea and tea experiences.


But their journey is more than just a business pivot, it's a love story rooted in shared passion and bold choices. In this episode, we dive into how this couple is redefining tea culture in San Diego, proving that slowing down can be just as revolutionary as going viral.


" It really goes into the principle of Japanese tea ceremony. 'Ichigo ichie' is one chance, one meeting. You always want to be your present self because you never know what tomorrow might bring. Everything at this moment counts," Amy said.


Guests:

  • Amy Troung, PARU Tea founder
  • Lani Gobaleza, PARU Tea co-founder/marketing & partnerships


Teas sampled during our conversation:

  • PARU's matcha is freshly milled in their La Jolla shop from shade-grown tencha leaves.
  • Hanadoki ("flowering season" in Japanese) is PARU's original blend of cherry blossoms, sencha (sun-grown green tea) and rose petals.
  • Blue Chamomile, PARU's first signature blend, combines organic chamomile flowers and butterfly pea flower grown in Thailand.


Photos: A look behind the scenes at PARU’s journey, space and tea culture.


Mentioned in this episode:

  • PARU Tea | La Jolla tea shop specializing in loose-leaf tea and matcha sourced from small farms around the world
  • An's Dry Cleaning | North Park gelato shop featuring Sandals, a gelato made with PARU's Blue Chamomile tea
  • Bica | Normal Heights coffee shop serving drinks made with PARU tea
  • Hatsuzakura | University Heights Japanese café offering PARU loose-leaf teas and milk teas steeped with PARU blends
]]>https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/the-finest/paru-tea-how-the-viral-matcha-spot-is-transforming-tea-culture-with-love-and-purposefull00:32:01Thu, 03 Apr 2025 02:00:00 -0700The Finest - TrailerSan Diego's creative scene is thriving in unexpected ways. Musicians are crowdfunding their careers. Tea culture is evolving. A painter's lost dreams spark a bold new vision. The city's last alt-weekly falls, but its rebellious spirit fights on. And in a rare conversation, the city's outgoing and incoming poets laureate dig into the power of words. The Finest brings you the artists, advocates and disruptors redefining culture in San Diego. Premiering Thursday, April 3.970672c0-035b-11f0-be6f-af2ce383bb38full00:02:51Mon, 17 Mar 2025 10:32:00 -0700