The Finest

KPBS Public Media
  • 4.9 (37)
  • Books
  • Updated Weekly

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. Jul 23

    Why everyone is reading romantasy (July 2025)

    We’re revisiting a classic episode from Season 1, reported from Comic-Con 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)

    Why everyone is reading romantasy (July 2025)

  2. Jul 16

    Finding your own form of protest: Koy Sun on art, resistance and slowing down

    How can we speak up in a way that feels authentic? How can we build something instead of just reacting?  Whether it's marching in the streets, advocating for our collective rights or making art, protest and resistance have always been a part of the American story. Recorded live during "KPBS Podcasts Live: The Art of Protest," sign painter and content creator Koy Sun doesn't simply offer a blueprint for protest. Instead, he shares how creativity, craftsmanship and community have become his own forms of resistance. From helping his parents' restaurant through social media to championing local artists and businesses, he explains why slowing down, making things by hand and investing in others are deeply intentional choices. He also talks about the decline of traditional sign painting, the pressure to create in an era of algorithms and AI, and why authenticity — not perfection — is what people connect with most.  Guests: Koy Sun, sign painter and content creator Mentioned in this episode: Forge Creative | The design firm behind Zohran Mamdani's 2025 New York City mayoral campaignKoy Sun's video about Mamdani's campaign design | " For me, being a sign painter means showing the world that there's power in hiring artists and doing things the slow, traditional way." Thai Test Kitchen | Koy Sun's parents' Thai restaurant in Sorrento ValleyLibélula Books & Co | An independent bookstore in Barrio Logan with a hand-painted sign by Koy SunMazikaa | A San Diego organization dedicated to celebrating and preserving Southwest Asian and North African (SWANA) music and culture

    Finding your own form of protest: Koy Sun on art, resistance and slowing down

  3. Jul 9

    Why Americans 'fear, loathe and deny' aging — and how one thrift store wants to change that

    Downsizing is rarely just about getting rid of stuff. It's about grief, family, identity and deciding what parts of a lifetime move into the next chapter. In this episode, we visit Next Step Treasures, where Rose Rugama guides older adults through those deeply personal decisions every day. From finding new homes for treasured possessions to helping people avoid scams and preserve their independence, her work goes far beyond running a business. Along the way, we hear from clients whose lives have been changed by her work. We also talk to anthropologist Yohko Tsuji, who explains why Americans often struggle to embrace aging. Together, their stories reveal how the objects we leave behind preserve our memories. They also show why growing older deserves more dignity than our culture often allows. Guests: Rose Rugama, owner of Next Step for Downsize Living and Next Step TreasuresCambria Martinez, writer and thrift shopperMia Rugama Kemp, Rose's daughter, who works at Next Step TreasuresLenny Brzezinski, Next Step clientYohko Tsuji, cultural anthropologist and Adjunct Professor of Anthropology at Cornell UniversityBrianna De Los Santos, worker at Next Step Treasures Sources: I'm Wearing Your Grandmother's Kitten Heels (Cambria Martinez, Substack, 2025)Older Population and Aging (United States Census Bureau)Study identifies countries and states with greatest age biases (Caroline Brooks, MSU Today, 2020)Scammers stole more than $3.4 billion from older Americans last year, an FBI report says (Alanna Durkin Richer, AP News, 2024)Home Equity Theft Scams—An Old Problem Takes on New Forms (Geoff Walsh and Sarah Bolling Mancini, National Consumer Law Center, 2026)CFPB Accuses Nation's Largest Reverse Mortgage Lender of Deceptive Marketing (Susan J. Wells, Investopedia, 2021)The Best Years of Your Life Are Probably Still Ahead (Angela Haupt, TIME, 2025)Everyday Ageism and Health (Preeti Malani, M.D., M.S., M.S.J., Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation University of Michigan, 2020)

    Why Americans 'fear, loathe and deny' aging — and how one thrift store wants to change that

  4. Jul 2

    '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)

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

  5. Jun 25

    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

    A Costco tattoo, a rotisserie chicken and a community

  6. Jun 11

    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

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

  7. Jun 4

    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)

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

  8. May 21

    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)

    The Pokémon economy: The real cost of catching 'em all
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4.9
out of 5
37 Ratings

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
    51
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © KPBS Public Media
  • Show Website
    The Finest