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  • 3 friends return to graffiti decades after a police sting shattered their world

    3 friends return to graffiti decades after a police sting shattered their world
    2025/07/10
    Isauro "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:Isauro "Junior" InocencioRon RecaidoRomali LicudanThe crew’s influences:"X-Men”"Robotech”NWAA Tribe Called QuestDe La SoulMentioned in this episode:Microsoft Word | A word processing program by Microsoft that replaced the typewriter, used to draft everything from essays to lettersThe Gulf War | A 1990–1991 conflict after Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait, marking a major U.S.-led military operation in the Middle EastParkour | A movement style focused on jumping, climbing and flipping through obstacles, often practiced in urban spacesGrommet | A slang term for a young or inexperienced kid, commonly used in surf and skate culture to describe up-and-coming ridersCIF Championships | High school sports championships governed by the California Interscholastic Federation, representing a pinnacle of athletic achievement for student athletes in the stateCyrus 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 plotIcarus | 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 ChargerCal 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 authenticityIlocano | A major Filipino ethnolinguistic group and languageAmpalaya | A bitter melon common in Filipino cooking and herbal medicineKamatis | The Tagalog word for tomato, a staple in Filipino dishesCalamansi | A small, sour citrus fruit used in Filipino marinades, dipping sauces and drinksSources:Skyline‑Paradise Hills Community Plan (City of San Diego Planning Department – City of San Diego)The Philippine-American War, 1899–1902 (U.S. Department of State)The Congressional Gold Medal Tribute to Filipino WWII Veterans (U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs)July 4, 1946: The Philippines Gained Independence from the United States (The National WWII Museum)Agreement amending the Military Bases Agreement of 14 March 1947 (U.S. Supreme Court E-Library)Navy to Stop Recruiting Filipino Nationals (Los Angeles Times, 1992)In Paradise Hills, a legendary art wall lives again (Kori Suzuki, KPBS, 2025)What Is Redlining? How Residential Segregation Shaped U.S. Cities (Jameelah Nasheed, Teen Vogue, 2021)Modern-Day Impacts of Historical Redlining on Schools (Giving Compass, 2022)Race and the War on Drugs (National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 2022)Despite the Recent Increase, Crime in San Diego Is Still Well Below Its 1990s Peak (Jesse Marx, Voice of San Diego, 2021)Low Crime Rates Reported In San Diego (KPBS, 2011)43 Years of Crime in the San Diego Region: 1980 Through 2022 (SANDAG, 2023)Gang Prevention: An Overview of Research and Programs (U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, 2010)Gang Involvement as a Means to Satisfy Basic Needs (New York University’s Applied Psychology Online Publication of Undergraduate Studies, 2016)"The Roots of Rap: 16 Bars on the 4 Pillars of Hip Hop" (Carole Boston Weatherford, Vanderbilt University Library)Hip-Hop: A Culture of Vision and Voice (The Kennedy Center)Hip-Hop’s Origin Story Is One of ...
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    37 分
  • A Kumeyaay comic book rewrites California's history and inspires a hopeful future

    A Kumeyaay comic book rewrites California's history and inspires a hopeful future
    2025/07/03
    The 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:Co-author of "Our Past, Present, and Future / Beyond Gaming" along with Michael Connolly Miskwish, Lorraine Orosco and Stanley Rodriguez, and illustrated by John SwoggerHistorian at the San Diego History CenterProfessor at San Diego State UniversityMentioned 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 casinosFisherman's Wharf | San Francisco waterfront near Alcatraz, where Native activists staged part of the 1969 occupation to demand Indigenous rights and recognitionTom-tom | A type of hand drum used across many Native American tribes in ceremonies, storytelling and musicEvent: 'Kumeyaay Visual Storytelling Project Exhibition'Sources:"​​First Catholic mission in California dedicated" (History.com, 2010)A History of American Indians in California: 1769-1848 (National Park Service)California Indians (Benjamin L. Madley, Oxford University Press, 2021)California's Long "War of Extermination" (John Briscoe, California State Library)California Indian History (Edward D. Castillo, California Native American Heritage Commission)"California's Little-Known Genocide" (Erin Blakemore, History.com, 2017)Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo (National Park Service)Kumeyaay Look to the Sky (Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians)"History and Memory: The Mission Indian Federation's Tools of Resistance" (Chris McCormack, California State University, Fullerton, 2019)"1969 Occupation of Alcatraz: How Native Americans took over former prison and ignited a movement" (Ken Miguel and Cornell Barnard, ABC7 News, 2021)Watch: The story of the 1969 Native occupation told through rare footage in "Escape to Alcatraz""The radical history of the Red Power movement's fight for Native American sovereignty" (Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, 2020)"Preserving Kumeyaay culture through higher education" (Jade Hindmon, Julianna Domingo and Brooke Ruth, KPBS, 2023)"Junípero Serra's brutal story in spotlight as pope prepares for canonisation" (Andrew Gumbel, The Guardian, 2015)Pope: Junipero Serra, a witness of the "Church which goes forth" (The Vatican Archive via YouTube, 2015)Pope Francis praises Junipero Serra during Mass in Washington (CNN via YouTube, 2016)The Jesuits and Native Communities (Alan Ziajka, Pierless Bridges, 2022)Eusebio Francisco Kino 1645-1711 (Kino Historical Society)"The conflict between the California Indian and white civilization" (Sherburne Friend Cook, University of California Press, 1976)"Native Americans Call For Rethink of Bering Strait Theory" (Cecily Hilleary, Voice of America, 2017)"Did humans cross the Bering Strait after the land bridge disappeared?" (Amanda Heidt, Live Science, 2023)"The 1st Americans were not who we thought they were" (Laura Geggel, Live Science, 2023)"Remarkable New Evidence for Human Activity in North America 130,000 Years Ago" (Brigit Katz, Smithsonian Magazine, 2017)FACT SHEET: President Biden Designates Avi Kwa Ame National Monument (National Archives, 2023)Gaming and Peon (Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians)"After council vote, Navajo is now the official language of the Navajo Nation" (Arlyssa D. Becenti Arizona Republic, 2025)"Kumeyaay community in Baja California seeks to preserve their language" (Natalie Gonzalez Rodriguez, KPBS, 2024)"As part of cultural revitalization, Kumeyaay community celebrates launch of 50 tule boats" (Lauren J. Mapp, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2023)Donovan Nation Singing Kumeyaay Bird Songs (Birdy Escalanti via YouTube, 2024)Saints Tekakwitha and Serra Hall (USD Student Media, 2019)St. Kateri Tekakwitha (Britannica)
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    32 分
  • Chasing 100 birds in 1 day in America's Birdiest County: Inside the birding boom

    Chasing 100 birds in 1 day in America's Birdiest County: Inside the birding boom
    2025/06/26
    San 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 tripIn 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 RouteAlong 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:Every bird has a story.Bird migration is mind-blowing.It opens up your ears — you'll start noticing sounds you never paid attention to.Bird behavior is entertaining and mesmerizing: bizarre, dramatic and constantly unfolding.Watch: Anthony's "A day in the life of a birder" video diaryGuests:Jen Hajj, San Diego Bird Festival coordinator for the San Diego Bird AllianceRick Grove, birder and wedding officiant "100 Birds or More" field trip participants and guides, including Dorothy Arnold, Samantha Richter, Mark Dayton and Jehudy CarballoBird species (in order of mention throughout the episode):Lilac-crowned amazon (Audubon)Tricolored blackbird (Audubon / All About Birds)Great-tailed grackle (Audubon / All About Birds)Yellow-rumped warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)Song sparrow (Audubon / All About Birds)Black phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)Phainopepla (Audubon / All About Birds)Neotropic cormorant (Audubon / All About Birds)Woodpecker (Audubon / All About Birds)Townsend's warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)Orange-crowned warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)Wilson's warbler (Audubon / All About Birds)Red-shouldered hawk (Audubon / All About Birds)Allen's hummingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)Black-crowned night heron (Audubon / All About Birds)California towhee (Audubon / All About Birds)Cooper's hawk (Audubon / All About Birds)California scrub-jay (Audubon / All About Birds)Oak titmouse (Audubon / All About Birds)Gadwall (Audubon / All About Birds)Western grebe (Audubon / All About Birds)Say's phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)Parakeet (Britannica)Cliff swallow (Audubon / All About Birds)Hooded oriole (Audubon / All About Birds)Eastern phoebe (Audubon / All About Birds)Common swift (Audubon / Birds of the World)Iceland gull (Audubon / All About Birds)Thick-billed kingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)Yellow-crowned night heron (Audubon / All About Birds)Little blue heron (Audubon / All About Birds)Reddish egret (Audubon / All About Birds)Tricolored heron (Audubon / All About Birds)Anna's hummingbird (Audubon / All About Birds)Lark sparrow (Audubon / All About Birds)American crow (Audubon / All About Birds)Common raven (Audubon / All About Birds)Clark's grebe (Audubon / All About Birds)Laughing falcon (Birds of the World)American coot (Audubon / All About Birds) Least sandpiper (Audubon / All About Birds)Whimbrel (Audubon / All About Birds)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 regionsMerlin 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 missMichael Jordan | NBA legend and six-time champion — his name's become shorthand for being the bestHonda 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 extraordinaryNancy Christensen | Local birder and one of California's top listersPokémon 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 DiegoTijuana River Estuary | Cross-border birding hotspot with incredible biodiversityShih Tzu | A toy breed whose name means "lion dog" — small but spiritedSources:Local Birding Resources (San Diego Bird Alliance)"Big year for two local birders as they set county ...
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    41 分
  • Tiny Desk local listening party: The Neighborhood Kids and Aleah Discavage

    Tiny Desk local listening party: The Neighborhood Kids and Aleah Discavage
    2025/06/12
    What 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:Aleah DiscavageVerde and Amon the MC of The Neighborhood KidsTiny Desk Concerts mentioned in this episode:Ruby IbarraLaura GibsonAdele Yo-Yo MaThe NationalT-PainMac MillerDua LipaAnderson .PaakFantastic NegritoNaia IzumiShua / Shua's NPR Top Shelf feature Aleah Discavage's influences:Taylor SwiftHozier Olivia Rodrigo ParamoreBriston MaroneyKrooked KingsThe Neighborhood Kids' influences:Martin Luther King Jr.Malcolm XImmortal TechniqueKRS-OneRage Against the MachineMentioned in this episode:South by Southwest (SXSW) | Annual festival and conference in Austin, Texas, focused on tech, film, music, education and cultureAuto-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 stardomVoice memos | Mobile recording feature that many musicians use to capture song ideas and drafts on the goRingo Starr | Drummer of The Beatles and solo artist, often cited by musicians as a musical influence and cultural iconKeds | 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 filmSources:"Ruby Ibarra: Tiny Desk Concert" (Elle Mannion, NPR, 2025)"Laura Gibson: Tiny Desk Concert" (Bob Boilen, NPR, 2008)"Tiny Desk Unit: A deeper history" (Michael Barron, BobBoilen.info, 2007)"The 'T-Pain Effect' Is About Way More Than Auto-Tune" (Bryan Parys, Berklee, 2020)"Oakland artist Fantastic Negrito wins yet another Grammy Award" (Jim Harrington, East Bay Times, 2021)"Naia Izumi Gets a Premium Wash in 'Soft Spoken' Video for Original Tracks" (Dean Brandt, Flood Magazine, 2019)"Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade, ending right to abortion upheld for decades" (Nina Totenberg and Sarah McCammon, NPR, 2022)
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    42 分
  • Worn, painted, reimagined: The power and complexity of Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Worn, painted, reimagined: The power and complexity of Our Lady of Guadalupe
    2025/06/05
    Our 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:Ariana Torres, assistant curator at Mingei International Museum Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski, fashion designer and owner of Sew LokaJeanette Rodriguez, PhD, Professor of Theology at Seattle UniversityJosue Baltezar, muralist and designerMentioned 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 StatesNorthridge earthquake | A 6.7-magnitude quake that struck Los Angeles in 1994, causing widespread damage and lasting traumaOur Lady of Guadalupe Church | Catholic church in Logan Heights that also runs an elementary schoolLas Maestras Center | UCSB-based organization uplifting Chicana, Latina and Indigenous feminisms through research and storytellingArianna Ystelle | Chicana photographer whose photo series in "Fashioning an Icon" captures 30 portraits taken across San Diego and TijuanaDiana 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:"Mexican Catholicism: Conquest, Faith, and Resistance" (Jessica Frankovich, Berkley Center for Religion, Peace & World Affairs, 2019)"Mexico's Independence Day marks the beginning of a decade-long revolution" (Heather Brady, National Geographic, 2018)"Pilgrimage and revolution: How Cesar Chavez married faith and ideology in landmark farmworkers' march" (Lloyd Daniel Barba, The Conversation, 2023)"Sew Loka creates 4 x Jackets for the San Diego International Airport" (Sew Loka, 2024)"Earth system impacts of the European arrival and Great Dying in the Americas after 1492" (Alexander Koch, Chris Brierley, Mark M. Maslin, Simon L. Lewis, Quaternary Science Reviews, 2019)"Fifth Sun: A New History of the Aztecs" (Camilla Townsend, Oxford University Press, 2019)"How smallpox devastated the Aztecs – and helped Spain conquer an American civilization 500 years ago" (Richard Gunderman, The Conversation via PBS News, 2019)Yolanda M. López: Works: 1975-1978 (UC San Diego MFA Thesis Exhibition Program, 1978)"Remembering Yolanda López, Chicana Artist And Activist From Barrio Logan" (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2021)"How painter Yolanda López gave the Virgin of Guadalupe a feminist tweak" (Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2022)"Is our Lady of Guadalupe inspired by the goddess Tonantzin?" (Mexico News Daily, 2023)"From Coatlicue to Guadalupe: The Image of the Great Mother in Mexico" (Patrizia Granziera, Studies in World Christianity, 2004Our Lady of Guadalupe Explained (Steubenville Press via The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington, 2013)
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    34 分
  • Bonus: The team behind The Finest talks arts and culture

    Bonus: The team behind The Finest talks arts and culture
    2025/05/29
    In 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 FilmreUnify Yoga | Ocean Beach studio Anthony attended, where a teacher once gave an artistic live singing performance during shavasanaShavasana | Also called corpse pose, the final stretch where you lie flat on your back to rest, reflect and resetThe Mona Lisa at The Lourve | Leonardo da Vinci's iconic 16th-century portrait, sealed behind glass in the world's most visited museum in ParisSan Diego's proximity to Mexico | Just 20 minutes from the border, with deep cultural, culinary and family ties to Tijuana and Baja CaliforniaSan 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 ArenaJROTC | 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 familiesConvoy District | Foodie haven in Kearny Mesa rooted in Asian American culture, with bustling plazas, family-run businesses and grocery staples like H-Mart and MitsuwaSources:"Martin Scorsese: I Said Marvel Movies Aren't Cinema. Let Me Explain." (Martin Scorsese, The New York Times, 2019)Quiz: Toddler Art or Modern Art? (Sporcle)"How Duchamp's Urinal Changed Art Forever" (Jon Mann, Artsy, 2017)"Mona Lisa: The theft that created a legend" (Sheena McKenzie, CNN, 2013)"PARU Tea: How the viral matcha spot is transforming tea culture with love and purpose" (Julia Dixon Evans and Anthony Wallace, KPBS, 2025)"Chargers leave San Diego: A timeline of 2017" (Annie Heilbrunn, The San Diego Union-Tribune, 2018)"Soccer a la Frontera" (Jacob Aere, KPBS, 2025)
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    26 分
  • San Diego's last alt-weekly stops the presses, but it's not giving up yet

    San Diego's last alt-weekly stops the presses, but it's not giving up yet
    2025/05/15
    For 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 ReaderScott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief of Voice of San DiegoJesse Munyoki, KPBS student assistant and host of KCR's DaCultureVoice of San Diego is a nonprofit news partner of KPBS in our Public Matters series.Alt-weekly reads: "Insomnia" by Ta-Nehisi Coates"A Pretty Good Chinese Restaurant" by Jonathan Gold"Fifty years of the Reader's best stories" by San Diego Reader authors"Tam Hoang, Coronado teacher, recounts his voyage to English" by Tam Hoang "Loma Portal and Midway District during WWII - a walking tour" by Margot Sheehan "Why Elizabeth Smart Became a Household Name" by Scott Lewis "San Diego Orchids & Onions winners, 20 years later" by Matthew Lickona "Marilyn Monroe will always be in Coronado" by Matthew Lickona"Trailblazing without a screen" by Julia Dixon Evans"'We're Gonna Make It': Bob Rabbit Transforms His Beats Into a Heroic Mission" by Anthony Wallace Matthew Lickona's reading list:"Up in the Old Hotel and Other Stories" by Joseph Mitchell"The Pump House Gang" by Tom Wolfe"On the Road" by Jack Kerouac"The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test" by Tom Wolfe"The White Album" by Joan DidionMentioned 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 findsLa Pensione Hotel | European-style boutique hotel in San Diego's Little ItalyBob Roth | Founder of the Chicago Reader, the influential alt-weekly he launched in 1971Rotten Tomatoes | Movie and TV review site launched in 1998 that distills critical consensus into one scoreGonzo Report | Recurring column in the San Diego Reader delivering boots-on-the-ground dispatches from San Diego's music scene and beyondBlockbuster | Video rental giant that ruled living rooms from its 1985 founding through the early 2000sErnie Grimm | Former managing editor of the San Diego Reader, recruited alongside Matthew Lickona by the paperKCR College Radio | Student-run San Diego State University station broadcasting indie, punk and campus voicesBurn All Books' Mail Mag | Subscription-based zine mailing packed with art, poetry and writing from BAB and friends, sent via postal mail each monthSubstack | Newsletter platform that gives writers a new way to publish and get paidThe 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 MonroeSources:"Are alt-weeklies dying or just moving online?" (Kristen Hare, Poynter, 2017)"No One's Sure What the New CityBeat Will Look Like" (Julia Dixon Evans, Voice of San Diego, 2019)"San Diego Reader ends print edition after 52 years" (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2025) "TV Guide Magazine is sold for the third time in less than 10 years to NTVB Media" (Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 2015)"Reader's Digest changes hands" (InPublishing, 2018)"Creative Destruction: Out With the Old, in With the New" (Carol M. Kopp, Investopedia, 2023)
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    34 分
  • When better sleep silences a painter's muse — now what?

    When better sleep silences a painter's muse — now what?
    2025/05/08
    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 styleNow, 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:Mary Jhun, artistWatch: Mary Jhun creates intricate Etch-A-Sketch drawing of her "girls" on classic toyMary Jhun's creative touchpoints:Cafe Ghibli playlist"Kiki's Delivery Service" " Manifesto of Surrealism" by André Breton Sigmund FreudCarl JungMentioned in this episode:Snow White | Disney fairytale princess known for her woodland friends, kindness and cottagecore charmStudio 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" figuresEtch-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 goneGames 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 ArrakisSources:Café Table with Absinthe (Van Gogh Museum Amsterdam)"F. Scott Fitzgerald's life was a study in destructive alcoholism" (Dr. Howard Markel, PBS News, 2017) Frida Kahlo & Diego Rivera | Romance & Heartbreak (Rise Art, 2019)Sleep apnea (Mayo Clinic)Early or premature menopause (Office on Women's Health)Surrealism and Dreams (MoMA)"Sleep technique used by Salvador Dalí really works" (Yasemin Saplakoglu, Live Science, 2021)"Sleep onset is a creative sweet spot" (Célia Lacaux, Thomas Andrillon, Céleste Bastoul, Yannis Idir, Alexandrine Fonteix-Galet, Isabelle Arnulf and Delphine Oudiette, Science Advances, 2021)"Targeted dream incubation at sleep onset increases post-sleep creative performance" (Adam Haar Horowitz, Kathleen Esfahany, Tomás Vega Gálvez, Pattie Maes and Robert Stickgold, Scientific Reports, 2023)"Relationship between Lucid Dreaming, Creativity and Dream Characteristics" (Nicolas Zink, International Journal of Dream Research, 2013)
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