Episodios

  • Blink-182, lucky breaks and the power of place

    Blink-182, lucky breaks and the power of place
    Aug 7 2025
    Blink-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:Dan Ozzi, music journalist and bestselling authorPeach Cooler, indie pop band from San DiegoMusic heard in this episode:Blink-182 - "Fentoozler" (live at SOMA in San Diego, Oct. 7, 1994)Blink-182 - "Dammit" (live from "The Mark, Tom, and Travis Show" live album, 1999)Blink-182 - "Josie" (1997)Blink-182 - "Carousel" (live from Chicago, 2001)Blink-182 - "Lemmings" (1996 version, which appeared in "Good Times")Taylor Steele's "Good Times" (1996 surf movie that included "Lemmings")The Aquabats - "Super Rad" (1997)Travis Barker - "Violence" drum solo (live from MUSINK Festival in Costa Mesa, 2018)Blink-182 - "I Miss You" (live from Pepsi Smash concert series, 2004)Jawbreaker - "Accident Prone" (1995)Blink-182 - "All the Small Things" (live from Petco Park in San Diego, 2024)Blink-182 - "Feeling This" (2004)Peach Cooler - "Falling Forward" (Live at Capricorn Studios, 2025)Dan Ozzi's writings:"Fahrenheit-182: A Memoir" | A 2025 memoir by Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus, co-written with Dan Ozzi, blending personal stories, band history and reflections on life after cancer"Sellout: The Major-Label Feeding Frenzy That Swept Punk, Emo, and Hardcore" | A 2021 nonfiction book by Dan Ozzi chronicling the major-label debuts of punk and emo bands between 1994 and 2007"Tranny: Confessions of Punk Rock's Most Infamous Anarchist Sellout" | Laura Jane Grace's 2016 memoir about gender transition, punk rock life and the rise of her band Against Me!VICE | A media company that began as a punk magazine in the 1990s and expanded into digital journalism, video and documentariesMentioned 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 musiciansNorth Park Music Fest | Annual outdoor festival in San Diego's North Park neighborhood featuring local bands, food and craft beerSOMA | San Diego concert venue that has hosted punk, metal and alternative bands since the early 1990sSombrero | 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 ageNOFX | California punk band formed in the 1980s, recognized for fast tempos and political lyricsGreen Day | Grammy-winning punk band from Northern California whose breakthrough album, "Dookie" (1994), brought punk to mainstream audiencesPennywise | Los Angeles punk band known for its energetic live shows and socially conscious lyricsJawbreaker | San Francisco punk and emo band influential in shaping the 1990s underground sceneAgainst 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 rockRick DeVoe | Longtime manager of Blink-182 and other action sports–associated bands, with deep ties to surf and skate culturePetco Park and the San Diego Padres | The Padres' home stadium, where Blink-182 songs are regularly played during gamesTony 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 skateboardingSkate and surf brands | Labels like Airwalk, Volcom and Billabong that became staples of 1990s skateboarding and surfing style, often linked with punk rock cultureSources:Blink-182: A Timeline of the Band's History (Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 2023)100 Greatest Drummers of All Time (Christopher R. Weingarten, Jon Dolan, Matt Diehl, Ken Micallef, David Ma, Gareth Dylan Smith, Oliver Wang, Jason Heller, Jordan Runtagh, Hank Shteamer, Steve Smith, Brittany Spanos, Kory Grow, Rob Kemp, Keith Harris, Richard Gehr, Jon Wiederhorn, Maura Johnston, and Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2016...
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    30 m
  • Romantasy rising: How a dismissed book genre became a publishing powerhouse

    Romantasy rising: How a dismissed book genre became a publishing powerhouse
    Jul 31 2025
    Romantasy 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 TechAdalyn Grace, #1 New York Times and internationally bestselling fantasy author of the "Belladonna" seriesKaylie Smith, #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling dark fantasy romance author of the "Wicked Games" seriesComic-Con 2025 attendees we met during romantasy panels and signings, including Autumn Mitchell and JuliaBooks mentioned in this episode:"Flame and Thorns" by Marion Blackwood"A Court of Thorns and Roses" by Sarah J. Maas"Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yarros"Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas"Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer"A Curse Carved in Bone" by Danielle L. Jensen"Fifty Shades of Grey" by E.L. James"Belladonna" by Adalyn Grace"Phantasma" by Kaylie Smith"A Hunger Like No Other" by Kresley Cole"Game of Thrones" by George R.R. MartinMentioned in this episode:Brandon Sanderson | Bestselling fantasy author whose influence helped shift perceptions around genre fictionAnne Radcliffe | 18th century gothic novelist whose work sparked early moral panic about women reading romanceHarlequins | 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 '90sSources:What Is Romantasy, Anyway? (M. K. Lobb, Writer's Digest, 2024)Print Book Sales Fell 2.6% in 2023 (Jim Milliot, Publishing Weekly, 2024)Print Book Sales Saw a Small Sales Increase in 2024 (Jim Milliot, Publishing Weekly, 2025)These were the bestselling books of 2024. (Emily Temple, Lit Hub, 2025)Romantasy and BookTok driving a huge rise in science fiction and fantasy sales (Ella Creamer, The Guardian, 2025)How Dragons, Magic and Steamy Sex Took Over the Book World (Jeffrey A. Trachtenberg, Ellen Gamerman and Isabella Simonetti, The Wall Street Journal, 2024)The Power of BookTok: Why TikTok's Book Community Is Driving a New Era In Publishing (TikTok via Forbes, 2025)Erotica and Pornographby: A Clear and Present Difference (Gloria Steinem, Ms. magazine, 1978)Dragons and Sex Are Now a $610 Million Business Sweeping Publishing (Ella Ceron, Bloomberg, 2024)Federal Data on Reading for Pleasure: All Signs Show a Slump (Sunil Iyengar, National Endowment for the Arts, 2024)What Helps Stress, Your Mood and Brain Health? Books (Ari Cofer, Right as Rain by UW Medicine, 2024)Does reading fiction make us better people? (Claudia Hammond, BBC, 2019)
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    36 m
  • Bonus: Nortec Collective at 25 — a Port of Entry story

    Bonus: Nortec Collective at 25 — a Port of Entry story
    Jul 24 2025
    Port of Entry is a KPBS podcast that tells cross-border stories that connect us — from people whose lives are shaped by the border itself. The show is fascinating and fun, always taking listeners to new places and introducing them to incredible people and stories from both San Diego and Tijuana.In this bonus episode, we're sharing a recent installment of Port of Entry that the whole Finest team loved. But first, we talk with co-host Alan Lilienthal about the show, his favorite episode, his connection to Tijuana's Nortec Collective and how a region can shape — and be shaped by — its music. Then, in the full Port of Entry episode, we hear from Nortec founders Pepe Mogt and Ramon Amezcua as they celebrate 25 years of creating a groundbreaking border sound that blends traditional norteño music with electronic beats. From Las Pulgas to international stages, the Grammy-nominated collective has helped redefine what Tijuana represents — both to the world and to the people who live there. Learn more about Port of Entry here.
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    30 m
  • 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
    Jul 10 2025
    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 m
  • 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
    Jul 3 2025
    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 m
  • 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
    Jun 26 2025
    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 m
  • Tiny Desk local listening party: The Neighborhood Kids and Aleah Discavage

    Tiny Desk local listening party: The Neighborhood Kids and Aleah Discavage
    Jun 12 2025
    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 m
  • Worn, painted, reimagined: The power and complexity of Our Lady of Guadalupe

    Worn, painted, reimagined: The power and complexity of Our Lady of Guadalupe
    Jun 5 2025
    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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