The Finest

KPBS Public Media
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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.

  1. 'Nature-deficit disorder' and the surprising science of paying attention outdoors

    1 day ago

    'Nature-deficit disorder' and the surprising science of paying attention outdoors

    Twenty years after coining "nature-deficit disorder," author Richard Louv is still asking a simple question: What happens when we lose our connection to nature? On a hike through Volcan Mountain Preserve near Julian, Richard shares why he believes "deep noticing" is one of the most important practices we can reclaim in an increasingly screen-centered world. From mountain lion scat and buzzing bees to the latest research on attention, imagination and our senses, he explains how slowing down outdoors changes the way we experience the world. This episode also revisits how Richard's ideas have shaped a generation of parents and kids, and what those early efforts to get children outside look like years later. Guests: Richard Louv, author of "Lost Child in the Woods" and "Noticing"Oliver Evans, student and Julia's son Sources: Exercising is good for the brain but exercising outside is potentially better (Katherine Boere, Kelsey Lloyd, Gordon Binsted & Olave E. Krigolson, Scientific Reports, 2023)Humans could have as many as 33 senses (Barry Smith, The Conversation, 2025)

    26 min
  2. A Costco tattoo, a rotisserie chicken and a community

    25 Jun

    A Costco tattoo, a rotisserie chicken and a community

    What can a warehouse store tell us about community? At UC San Diego, the Costco Club has become one of the campus’ most recognizable student organizations, bringing people together through shopping trips, a rotisserie chicken tradition and a shared appreciation of Costco. As graduating club president Jacob Hoang prepares for his final Costco run in the role, we examine the company’s surprising history, its roots in San Diego and the loyalty it inspires among customers. From retail innovation to college friendships, this episode looks at how a wholesale warehouse became the center of an unlikely community and what that says about the people who gather around it. We join the students on a Costco run, moving from samples to snacks — and even an unexpected sauna along the way. Guests: Jacob Hoang, outgoing UCSD Costco Club presidentMolly Fischer, staff writer at The New Yorker Sources: Can the Golden Age of Costco Last? (Molly Fischer, The New Yorker, 2025)How Costco Hacked the American Shopping Psyche (Ben Ryder Howe, The New York Times, 2024)Top 100 Retailers 2025 List (National Retail Federation)Costco's New CEO Started Out As A Forklift Driver Making $3 An Hour (Danielle Harling, Delish, 2024)Did Costco Founder Say 'I Will Kill You' to CEO Who Wanted To Raise Hot Dog Prices? (Alex Kasprak, Snopes, 2021)Say no to the changing corporate culture at Costco (Costco Teamsters Union)Costco to raise hourly pay for most US store workers to over $30 (Reuters, 2025)Welcome to Costco, I Love You: Idiocracy 10 Years Later (Clint Worthington, Consequence, 2016)Costco 2025 Annual ReportCostco CEO shares the job that ‘really developed my leadership skills’—even though he only did it for a year (Tom Huddleston Jr., CNBC, 2025) McDonald’s CEO History (Tyler Muse, History Oasis, 2025)Costco CEO Ron Vachris rose from forklift driver to the C-suite without a college degree: ‘Don’t chase a title’ is the career advice that got him there (Preston Fore, Fortune, 2026)Jim Sinegal (University of Portland)Costco Wholesale Corporation Annual Report On Form 10-K For The Fiscal Year Ended September 1, 2024

    28 min
  3. The songs we write when life doesn't come with answers

    11 Jun

    The songs we write when life doesn't come with answers

    At a live taping of KPBS' Sun Drenched Sounds music series, three San Diego artists share music and the stories behind it. Divina talks about building her own sound through live looping and production, and how a song she heard as a child helped shape her artistic path. James Spaite reflects on growing up in the church, wrestling with faith and channeling philosophy and psychology into his songwriting. Shua discusses gospel music, human connection and the dangers of waiting until you're "fixed" before fully participating in life. Recorded at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park, the performances and conversations reveal how artists from different musical backgrounds find common ground in questions of identity, belief, responsibility and what it means to keep growing. Guests: DivinaJames SpaiteShua

    26 min
  4. Mahjong is having a moment. What that says about how we connect

    4 Jun

    Mahjong is having a moment. What that says about how we connect

    Why is everyone suddenly playing mahjong? From neighborhood meetups to viral social media posts, interest in the game is growing fast. This episode explores mahjong's history, its roots in the Chinese diaspora and the ways families and communities have carried traditions across generations. Through a night of learning Filipino-style mahjong in San Diego, we look at how the game has become a way for people to make friends, connect with culture and spend time together away from their screens. Guests: James Gutierrez, No Ambition Tile Club co-founderNicole Wong, creator and founder of The Mahjong Project, author of "Mahjong: House Rules from Across the Asian Diaspora" Sources: History is repeating itself (Nicole Wong, The Mahjong Project, 2026)What the Surprising History of Mah-jongg Can Teach Us About America (Cady Lang, TIME, 2021)Mahjong, American Modernity, and Cultural Transnationalism (Annelise Marie Heinz, Stanford Digital Repository, 2015)Some Gen Z American can't stop 'Chinamaxxing' (Ashish Valentine, NPR, 2026)

    26 min
  5. The Pokémon economy: The real cost of catching 'em all

    21 May

    The Pokémon economy: The real cost of catching 'em all

    Pokémon started as something simple: trading cards on the playground, Game Boys passed around between friends and the dream of catching 'em all. Thirty years later, it's the highest-grossing media franchise in the world — and Pokémon cards have become big business. In this episode, collectors, card shop owners, Pokémon Go players and lifelong fans reflect on what Pokémon means to them and how the culture around it has changed. From crowded Pokémon Go meetups at parks to local card shops struggling with scalpers and rising prices, this episode looks at how scarcity and speculation transformed Pokémon cards into valuable commodities. Along the way is a bigger question: Can a franchise built on adventure, friendship and connection hold onto those values in a billion-dollar marketplace? Guests: Steven Chung, lifelong Pokémon fanCourtney Mifsud Intreglia, writerOliver Soufi, Pokémon MasterJake Federicks, manager at Supreme Card ShopJason Huggins, co-owner of  Tito Rick's Garage Sources: LIFE Pokémon: 30 Years (Courtney Mifsud Intreglia, LIFE, 2026)How Pokémon Conquered America (Courtney Mifsud Intreglia, TIME, 2024)How Pokémon became the biggest media franchise on Earth (Lucy Tobin, The Times, 2026)'Kids can't buy them anywhere': how Pokémon cards became a stock market for millennials (Daniella Lucas, The Guardian, 2025)

    33 min
  6. An electric streetcar network once crisscrossed San Diego. What if we got it back?

    14 May

    An electric streetcar network once crisscrossed San Diego. What if we got it back?

    Long before San Diego became defined by freeways, parking shortages and long commutes, electric streetcars connected the region's urban core to beaches, business districts and growing neighborhoods more than 100 years ago. In this episode, KPBS metro reporter Andrew Bowen talks with The Finest about how the streetcar system helped shape neighborhoods that remain some of the city's most walkable and desirable today. The conversation traces the rise and fall of the rail network, how San Diego became shaped around cars and the lasting impact those decisions still have on the way people move through the city. We also look at why conversations around public transit are shifting again and meet the people trying to bring the streetcar system back to life. Guests: Andrew Bowen, KPBS metro reporter and Freeway Exit hostEthan Elkind, Climate Program director at the Center for Law, Energy and the Environment at UC BerkeleyMichael Donovan, co-founder of Vibrant UptownMonica De La Cruz, car-free San Diegan Sources: The enduring legacy of San Diego's streetcars (Andrew Bowen, KPBS, 2026)Amid San Diego's high transportation costs, some manage to find relief (Andrew Bowen, KPBS, 2026)ASU study finds Americans' attitudes toward car-free living are changing (Delores Tropriano, ASU News, 2026)

    28 min
  7. The rise, fall and comeback of pro skateboarder Brandon Turner

    7 May

    The rise, fall and comeback of pro skateboarder Brandon Turner

    San Diego skateboarder Brandon Turner moved up quickly in the sport, moving from local skate spots to major sponsorships and world tours. From skateboarding prodigy to rock bottom, now he's redefining addiction recovery and constantly evolving his understanding of control, identity and success. Long Description/Show Notes: In the '90s, Brandon Turner was a skateboarding prodigy, landing major sponsorships and touring the world with big-name skate teams. What looked like momentum from the outside often meant constant motion, pressure and independence arriving long before most people reach adulthood. And he ended up in prison. In this episode, he revisits that period and the skateboarding culture around him during his rise, from the energy of the scene to the decisions he made as things moved quickly. Today, not only does he operate his own addiction recovery center — he's skating better than he ever has before. He reflects on the highs and the dark moments that followed and how those years shaped his sense of identity and his approach to responsibility and control.  " Skateboarding is just like life. It's not if you will fall, it's when you'll fall. But the more important thing of it is what you're going to do when you pick yourself back up," Brandon said. He also shares what it means to learn through experience, how to foster that evolution in other people — and how his perspective continues to shift. It's a conversation about growth, accountability and moving forward when life doesn't follow a straight path. Guests: Brandon Turner, professional skateboarder and founder of Westside Recovery Sources: Brandon Turner: The Prodigy Returns (Michael Burnett, Thrasher Magazine, 2020)Fulfill the Dream, Shorty's skate film (1998), Brandon Turner segmentGuilty, Shorty's skate film (2001), Brandon Turner segment90s Skate Prodigy Brandon Turner on Addiction and Recovery (Miss Rosen, Huck Magazine, 2023) The Second Coming of Brandon Turner (Jenkem Magazine, 2021)

    28 min
  8. Rugs, rituals and resilience: How artists are expanding the story of Iran beyond conflict

    23 Apr

    Rugs, rituals and resilience: How artists are expanding the story of Iran beyond conflict

    The Iran many Americans see is often defined by conflict. But for those who grew up there and those who carry its traditions abroad, the story is far more layered. Artist Maryam Bayat turns Persian rugs into immersive sculptures, drawing on memories of her childhood in Iran, from bustling cities to quiet forests. Writer Zohreh (Zoe) Ghahremani and illustrator Susie Ghahremani share how children's books can pass on culture and celebration. Anthropologist and artist Roxanne Varzi recalls navigating identity and misunderstanding while growing up between two countries, and how art helped reshape her perspective. From galleries to classrooms, these artists are expanding how Iran is understood. Their work centers everyday life, creative expression and cultural continuity beyond the headlines. Guests: Maryam Bayat, interdisciplinary artistRoxanne Varzi, professor of Anthropology and Film and Media Studies at the University of California IrvineZohreh Ghahremani, author Susie Ghahremani, illustrator  Sources: Iran hostage crisis (Britannica, 2026)President Delivers State of the Union Address (The White House President George W. Bush Archives, 2002)7 facts about Iranians in the U.S. (Dalia Fahmy and Jeffrey S. Passel, Pew Research Center,.2026 )Maryam Bayat: Unrolling Paradise (California Center for the Arts, Escondido, 2026)Persian rugs become a magical forest in artist Maryam Bayat's celebration of Iran (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2026)Secret of the famous Pazyryk carpet: Fermented wool is the answer (University of Erlangen-Nuremberg via ScienceDaily, 2021) The Textiles from Pazyryk A Study in the Transfer and Transformation of Artistic Motifs (Karen S. Rubinson, Expedition Magazine via Penn Museum, 1990)Uses of rugs and carpets (Murray L. Eiland, Britannica)Persia in rug and carpet (Murray L. Eiland, Britannica)Iranians Condemn Strike on a Top University (Erika Solomon and Sanam Mahoozi, The New York Times, 2026)Iran’s Schools and Hospitals in Ruins, Times Analysis Shows (Leanne Abraham, Aurelien Breeden, Bora Erden, Anushka Patil, Christiaan Triebert, Daniel Wood and Karen Yourish, 2026)Anthropology students present their research in poetry, plays and op‑eds in this course (The Conversation, 2024)Children's book by local mother-daughter duo honors Nowruz, the ancient Persian celebration of spring (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2026)Nowruz (Charles Preston, Britannica, 2026)'Everybody was wearing black.' How the Iranian diaspora is observing Nowruz amid war (Sarah Ventre, NPR, 2026)Iranian Americans mark Persian New Year with a mix of sadness and joy (Amy Taxin and Philip Marcelo, AP News, 2026)

    25 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    KPBS Public Media
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    48
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © KPBS Public Media
  • Show Website
    The Finest

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