San Diego is known as America’s Finest, but that distinction isn’t defined by city limits. We are a region of people, art and movements redefining our communities and expressions. The Finest is a podcast that highlights the emerging voices and dynamic forces driving change.
The Finest is a podcast that highlights the emerging voices and dynamic forces driving change. Through personal stories and critical perspectives, each episode brings forward the artists, advocates and ideas pushing boundaries in the region's cultural landscape and deepening our understanding of why we are America’s Finest.
San Diego is known as America's Finest, but that distinction isn't defined by city limits. We are a region of people, art and movements redefining our communities and expressions. The Finest is a podcast that highlights the emerging voices and dynamic forces driving change. Through personal stories and critical perspectives, each episode brings forward the artists, advocates and ideas pushing boundaries in the region's cultural landscape and deepening our understanding of why we are America's Finest.Dance or die — and the fight to be more than a headline Ahmad Joudeh once danced under the threat of ISIS in a Syrian refugee camp. Now he performs on world stages. He shares how survival became art, how he reclaimed his story and what it takes to live fully as a dancer.Scientists say we’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to understanding and mapping the plants around us. In this episode, we meet the everyday people using an app called iNaturalist to help discover, document and protect biodiversity — sometimes even ending up in scientific papers.Matcha is suddenly everywhere, from cafe menus to viral drinks on social media. But the powdered green tea has a much deeper story rooted in centuries-old tea traditions. In this episode, we explore the rise of matcha, the ritual of Japanese tea ceremony and why this ancient drink resonates with modern life.In a world dominated by streaming, Lou Curtiss' vast collection of music finds new life at Folk Arts Rare Records. We hear the stories of the musicians whose work he helped preserve and explore vinyl's unlikely survival in the '90s and 2000s, and why physical media is making a comeback.We’re sharing the first episode of One of Their Own, a KPBS true crime podcast hosted by KPBS reporter Katie Hyson. The series investigates the 2018 death of San Diego police officer Ciara Estrada — ruled a suicide by her own department — and the questions that remain. If you’re drawn to investigative reporting and deeply human storytelling, this one will stay with you.San Diego's indie-rock project Topeka Clementine blends storytelling, activism and sing-along energy into music that feels urgent and alive. Hear a special performance from KPBS' Sundrenched Sounds live music series and a post-show interview about going viral, constant touring and new work shaped by grief and hope. The art, the joy, the keeper: The hidden work behind Niki de Saint Phalle's beloved mosaic sculptures San Diego is filled with colorful, climbable sculptures by French artist Niki de Saint Phalle, from the Sun God at UC San Diego to Queen Califia’s Magical Circle. But behind these joyful giants is a quieter story: the refugee craftsman who became her right hand and still repairs her art decades after her death. It’s a story about friendship, legacy and the power of public art to change a life.Jessica Sanchez seemed born to be a star. At 10, she took the leap from singing in her local Filipino grocery store, Seafood City, in San Diego onto the very first season of"America's Got Talent" — at 16, onto"American Idol." But as quickly as she rose, everything began to unravel.Elizabeth"Ely" Rosales Aguilar, of Raíz Chocolate, runs a small-scale chocolate operation from her San Diego home, crafting rich Mexican chocolate bars and spiced drinking chocolates inspired by centuries-old recipes. California's cottage food laws helped her turn her passion into a thriving business rooted in cultural tradition.Risograph printing is having a revival, showing up in zines, art books and DIY print shops around the world. In this episode, we follow that resurgence from underground print scenes in Europe to Burn All Books in San Diego, where a community-run Riso studio has become a place for artists to experiment, collaborate and make work together.A special episode where a superfan takes our survey — plus your chance to win a Finest T-shirt We're dropping a special episode during our season break with one request: Help shape Season 2 of The Finest by taking our anonymous survey. Plus, KPBS Racial Justice and Social Equity Reporter Katie Hyson, a self-proclaimed The Finest superfan, takes the survey live on the show.Books can be life-changing for people who are incarcerated. When Cherish Burtson went to federal prison, books became her source of survival. Her story – and the volunteers fighting censorship to get books past prison walls – reveals how access to reading can mean survival, connection and hope.What determines which artists are remembered and which are forgotten? Alice Barnett was one of the nation's most celebrated composers in the early 20th century, yet her name nearly disappeared from history. San Diego musicologist Katina Mitchell uncovers Alice's life and music, while experts trace the unpredictable forces behind fame, memory and legacy.A San Diego writer hunts ghosts in Presidio Park, gets her palm read at psychic shops and drives out to the cults that dot San Diego County. This Halloween episode examines why the supernatural still grips so many of us, and what our hunger for"presence" reveals about faith, meaning and the search for truth.San Diego band Slacker talks about friendship, growing up and the inspiration behind their surprisingly intimate rock songs. Hear their special performance from KPBS and a post-show interview where they share the stories behind their music and upcoming debut album.At just over 25 years old, San Diego's Cameron Mofid became the youngest person to visit every country on Earth. From disguises in Yemen to close calls in Somalia and a last-minute dash into North Korea, his journey redefined adventure and taught him what travel can reveal about humanity. Bonus: Soup dumplings, hidden trails, enemies-to-lovers and a viral clip — reflections from The Finest The Finest team reflects on our season so far — the episodes that resonated most and what we're still thinking about months later. We also share our favorite things in San Diego right now, from soup dumplings to hidden trails. Plus, we call up one of our first guests to discuss a clip of our interview that went viral.Mabel’s Gone Fishing isn’t just a seafood spot in North Park — it’s a scratch kitchen and gathering place that earned a Michelin honor within its first year. Co-owner Chelsea Coleman shares the restaurant’s story, from family roots in baseball to building a dining space that feels distinctly San Diegan.In the 1970s and 1980s, KPBS turned fundraising into a weeklong TV event — auctioning items ranging from custom cars to doctor visits, with celebrities on stage and kids running bids. Decades later, those auctions remain central to one family's most powerful memories, and the excitement and community of live bidding is finding new life on today's digital marketplaces. Myth, post-truth and empathetic villains – from an ancient fantasy world to Kellyanne Conway: Live at the San Diego Book Festival Recorded live at the KPBS San Diego Book Festival, this episode features authors Emily Greenberg and Moses Ose Utomi as they discuss how their very different approaches — political satire and West African-inspired fantasy — converge to explore truth, myth and the power of shifting narratives in storytelling.Lucky's Breakfast was more than a diner — it was a community. After the passing of beloved owner Lucky Wong, his family and loyal customers-turned-friends reflect on the man whose generosity, humor and daily breakfasts brought North Park together, and whose name now graces the street where generations of San Diegans gathered.From Blink-182 to today's rising bands, San Diego's local music scene shows how place and timing can shape an artist's future and forge a lasting connection with fans. With Dan Ozzi, co-author of Mark Hoppus' new memoir, we explore strokes of luck and the beauty of a local live music scene that streaming can't replace.Inside Folk Arts Rare Records, a San Diego music landmarkKPBS Music Series brings 3 local artists to Balboa Park's Spreckels Organ PavilionThe story behind Slacker's "Velvet Worms" songIs Presidio Park the scariest place in San Diego at night?Sneak peek: Slacker's KPBS Music Series concertBefore release day: Julianna Zachariou performs "Dreamer, Dreamer"Topeka Clementine brings indie vibes to the KPBS Music SeriesSlacker rocks the KPBS Music Series pilotCrack of dawn birding and a rare eastern phoebe sightingThis San Diego songwriter's story stuck with Julia — her top The Finest episode pickHow the Tiny Desk Contest inspired this KPBS audio engineerHow Yolanda López reimagined the Virgin of Guadalupe — and changed art foreverCome with us to check out artist Mary Jhun's backyard studio in San Diego #shorts #artist #sandiegoWhat the Reader archive reveals about San Diego's pastThe surprising love story behind PARU Tea Painter Mary Jhun draws her girls on an Etch-A-SketchSew Loka's Claudia Rodríguez-Biezunski turned la Virgen de Guadalupe into streetwear. Here's howWhat is art? And why we're coming for the Mona LisaBalancing the grind and the dream: A musician's real talkWhy we're making this podcast and why it's for youWhat arts and culture means to the team behind The Finest Storytelling across worlds: Emily Greenberg and Moses Ose Utomi at the San Diego Book FestivalPlayingPlayingPlayingPlayingWhat's shaping our storytelling? The stories on The Finest tap into the pulse of San Diego's cultural scene, but the creativity doesn't stop when the mics turn off. Here's what's inspiring the team right now, from hidden gems to the latest ideas sparking our conversations. I recently found some old cyanotypes that my children made when they were small , and it reminded me of how strange, gorgeous and accessible the medium is . For local artists doing amazing cyanotype work, I particularly love the profound work of local Andrea Chung, as well as Annalise Neil and Oriana Poindexter. I continue to be inspired by our local wild spaces, and the Big Laguna Trail near Mt. Laguna Meadows is lovely and surprising this time of year. Lately, I've also been into making shrubs — elixirs made from fruit, vinegar and sugar — well-suited for a nighttime mocktail ritual. A recent fave is a blend of mandarin orange, rosemary and cardamom. Food inspires me, and after living in San Diego for a full year, I’ve established my main spots: Muri in North Park for coffee; Sourdough & Moore in OB for bread; Azucar right across the street for pastries; An’s Electric Repair for ice cream ; Fairplay in North Park for watching games; and Nunus in Hillcrest for late-night food — always the onion rings and patty melt for me. Julia turned me into a fan of the funky, bright artwork of the late Niki de Saint Phalle — whose sculptures you can see all over town — and I’ve loved exploring Barrio Logan and the work of local artists inside Bread & Salt, especially the Burn All Books newsstand. On the listening front, inspired by our episode on the increasingly consuming, spontaneity-sucking Spotify algorithm, I’ve been into a colossally large playlist slowly accumulated by musician Four Tet over a decade and filled with music from nearly every country, era and genre imaginable. In the evenings, I often run along the San Diego River near Robb Field, spotting shiny white gulls and long-necked egrets, while listening to the new season of Heavyweight, now firmly in my top 5 podcasts of all time. Recently, I've found a lot of inspiration from San Diego musicians at open mics around the city, especially at the Ould Sod in Normal Heights, where there is a concentration of songwriting talent I haven't seen anywhere else in the county. After the show, I find myself enjoying za'atar flatbread and shawarma fries from Sahara Market, just next door. Also on my list of go-to food spots are the newly opened Pepino in La Jolla for breakfast burritos and bowls, and Tribute Pizza in North Park. In the colder months, I've been spending a lot of time indoors consuming media; my bookshelves are starting to fill up with dusty sci-fi paperbacks and old art books for collaging, unearthed at used bookstores like The Book Tree and Verbatim Books. I’m currently deep into junk journaling: cutting, gluing and layering memories with no pressure to make the pages perfect. While that's my low-stakes creative outlet, my real ongoing epic is eating and drinking my way through every spot in the Convoy District. From hot pot feasts and bowls of noodles to chewy boba and soju adventures, it's all in the name of storytelling and maybe some overindulgent research.Stay inspired: Subscribe to the KPBS/Arts newsletter Get the latest arts and culture stories, exclusive interviews and must-see events delivered straight to your inbox. 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