The Finest

KPBS Public Media
  • 4.9 (32)
  • 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. Rugs, rituals and resilience: How artists are expanding the story of Iran beyond conflict

    APR 23

    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
  2. How streaming changed what we hear — and what musicians earn (May 2025)

    APR 16

    How streaming changed what we hear — and what musicians earn (May 2025)

    In this rebroadcast from Season 1, we explore  how the streaming era has changed music — not just for the people who make it, but also for us as listeners.  For indie musicians like Julianna Zachariou, Spotify has made music more accessible than ever — but at a cost. With payouts that amount to less than a penny per stream, she's had to turn to crowdfunding and direct fan support to fund her projects. She opens up about the personal toll these struggles take and how she's found ways to stay true to her craft while facing these challenges. "On my bad days, I wake up and think, 'I've already done the best I can do. This is the most people I'll ever reach, and I'm just sinking into anonymity,'" Julianna said, reflecting on an older song that has reached more than 5 million streams. "But on my better days, I'm grateful for it. I recognize that it was a different time. Spotify's kind of a monster now. There's no room for 'if it's good enough, it'll find its way.' It's just not a thing right now. It's a trap to let metrics determine that you're doing something better or worse than you were in the past," she said. Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Dreamer, Dreamer" live at KPBS' studio In this episode, we break down Spotify's business model, the economics of streaming and what it really takes to sustain a career without major-label backing. Julianna's story is a powerful reminder of the need for change in the industry and how we can all play a role in supporting the artists who enrich our lives. Guests: Julianna Zachariou, musicianLiz Pelly, journalist and author of "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist"Julianna Zachariou Track List: "church st.""Subway Song""Hero of Your Heart""Dreamer, Dreamer"Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Becky" live at KPBS' studio Julianna Zachariou's musical influences: The CommodoresEarth Wind and FireTotoAlison KraussBonnie RaittThe BeatlesThe Rolling StonesLed ZeppelinThe WhoTaylor SwiftKelly Clarkson, "American Idol"Photos: See portraits of Julianna Zachariou and a few snaps of her and Josh Flowers making music together Mentioned in this episode: Josh Flowers, songwriter and musical collaboratorThe D Train | NYC subway line that runs from the Bronx to BrooklynUnited Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) | A grassroots union fighting for fairness in music, from streaming transparency to artist pay equityH.R.7763 - Living Wage for Musicians Act of 2024 | 2024 bill introduced by Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Jamaal Bowman, backed by UMAW, pushing for a penny-per-stream payout to make streaming fairer for working artistsSoda Bar | North Park dive for intimate sets, rising indie acts and vibrant local energyPrevious GoFundMes: Help Fund Julianna's Next Record and Help Julianna Make MusicSources: "Simulating the emergence of superstar firms: The role of luck vs talent" (A.E. Biondo, A. Pluchino, R. Zanola, ScienceDirect, 2024)"Alan B. Krueger | Rockonomics: 7 Key Economic Lessons" (John Murray Books, 2019)"How Music Streaming Platforms Calculate Payouts Per Stream 2025" (Royalty Exchange, 2025)"The Spotify conspiracy theories about 'Espresso,' explained" (Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 2024)"Loud and Clear": 2024 Spotify Annual Music Economics Report (Spotify, 2025)"Tlaib Introduces Living Wage for Musicians Act" (Office of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, March 2024)"Data Shows 90 Percent of Streams Go to the Top 1 Percent of Artists" (Emily Blake, Rolling Stone, Sept. 2020) "A Brief History of American Payola" (Kim Kelly, Vice, 2016)"Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist" (Liz Pelly, Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024)"The Ghosts in the Machine" (Liz Pelly, Harper's Magazine/book excerpt, 2025)

    36 min
  3. Every object tells a story: The unseen craft of theatrical props

    APR 9

    Every object tells a story: The unseen craft of theatrical props

    What is a prop? For Deb Hatch, it's almost everything. After more than 40 years working in theater, including decades at La Jolla Playhouse, the longstanding prop supervisor has helped shape more than 100 productions, from early-stage premieres to Broadway hits like "Jersey Boys" and "The Outsiders." In this episode, we go behind the scenes to see how props do far more than fill space. They establish time and place, define character and keep performances running smoothly — often in ways audiences never notice. From sourcing everyday items to building custom pieces from scratch, Deb walks us through the hidden decisions that make a production feel real, and the problem-solving required when things go wrong on stage. Along the way, we explore a world most audiences never see, where even the smallest details can leave a lasting impression. As Deb prepares to retire, she reflects on a career built on detail, collaboration and the thrill of figuring things out. Because in live theater, every object matters. Guest: Deb Hatch, prop supervisor at La Jolla Playhouse

    26 min
  4. Dance or die — and the fight to be more than a headline

    APR 2

    Dance or die — and the fight to be more than a headline

    Ahmad Joudeh risked his life to dance, performing in a refugee camp while ISIS fighters targeted him. The act of defiance, captured on video, made him known worldwide. But fame came with a cost. He became a symbol he never wanted to be. In this episode, Ahmad tells the full story in his own words, from growing up stateless in Syria and navigating the complexities of identity to starting the camp's first dance studio, training with the Dutch National Ballet and taking control of his life amid media pressure. Now living in San Diego, Ahmad continues to perform, teach and create, building a career that reflects his heritage, artistic vision and personal freedom. He reflects on survival, resilience and what it means to dedicate your life to art, and to dance as a way of truly living. Guest: Ahmad Joudeh, dancer Watch Ahmad Joudeh's performances: Ahmad Joudeh dances at the Yarmouk camp (2016)"Dance or Die" (2018) documentary directed by Roozbeh KabolyAhmad Joudeh performs at the Eurovision Song Contest (2021)Ahmad Joudeh performs at the Fire Island Dance Festival (2023)"The Dancer" (2025) documentary directed by Lacey UhlemeyerAhmad Joudeh and Celyna Tran perform parts of the Nutcracker Arabian Dance (2025) Ahmad Joudeh performs an experimental dance improvisation of Sufi dance to Boléro de Ravel (2026) Sources: 'The deepest circle of hell:' Terrified Yarmouk residents describe ISIS raid (Atika Shubert, Bharati Naik and Nick Thompson, CNN, 2015)Syrian Dancer Flying, Looking for Freedom (Landing in Amsterdam) (Nina Siegal, The New York Times, 2017)Yarmouk (unofficial camp*) (United Nations Relief and Works Agency - UNRWA)Sbeineh Camp (United Nations Relief and Works Agency - UNRWA)Generations of Palestinian Refugees Face Protracted Displacement and Dispossession (Nathan Citino, Ana Martín Gil and Kelsey P. Norman, Migration Policy Institute, 2023)Syria (Stateless Hub, 2024)What is the Arab Spring, and how did it start? (Al Jazeera, 2020)Syrian Civil War (Britannica, 2026)Syria's war: Ten years – and counting (Alia Chughtai, Al Jazeera, 2021)Dutch National BalletWorld Economic Forum - Ahmad JoudehGov. Gavin NewsomBallet Beyond Borders: Dance and diplomacy go online (Cory Walsh, The Missoulian, 2021)UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency - Ahmad JoudehPride Amsterdam - Ahmad JoudehWhat Dance Can Do - Ahmad JoudehAfter decades of brutal rule, Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been toppled. Here’s what you need to know (Rob Picheta and Helen Regan, CNN, 2024)About Saydnaya (Amnesty International)Golden State Ballet

    33 min
  5. Scientists are still mapping plants. How the public is helping — with an app

    MAR 19

    Scientists are still mapping plants. How the public is helping — with an app

    What's growing in your backyard? In San Diego, one of America's most biodiverse regions, the answer is more complicated than you might think. It's home to roughly 3,000 plant species, with many still undocumented. This episode follows hikers, students and nature lovers using the free app iNaturalist to photograph plants and animals, contribute to a global biodiversity database and help scientists protect fragile ecosystems. Some discoveries are extraordinary, like seeing your name on a scientific paper after spotting a plant never recorded in the county before. We visit the San Diego Natural History Museum, head into a rare salt marsh along Mission Bay and join a community identification party to see how this grassroots effort is reshaping science in real time. Researchers and volunteers say this kind of "citizen science" is no longer a side project — it's essential. Because when it comes to protecting ecosystems, the first step is simple: knowing what's there.  Guests:  Jon Rebman, Ph.D., curator of botany at SDNHMBecky Escalante, citizen scientist spifferella on iNaturalist, dental assistantStephanie Crawford, citizen scientist aneclecticenthusiast on iNaturalistKellie Uyeda, executive director of UC San Diego's Natural Reserve System Clarissa Rodriguez, reserves director of UC San Diego's Natural Reserve System

    32 min
  6. The matcha boom: How a centuries-old tradition became a global craze

    MAR 12

    The matcha boom: How a centuries-old tradition became a global craze

    Matcha has become a worldwide sensation. The bright green powdered tea now appears in lattes, smoothies, desserts and viral foods across social media feeds. Demand has surged so quickly that producers in Japan are struggling to keep up. But matcha's story didn't begin in a cafe. For centuries, the tea has been at the center of a carefully choreographed ritual known as the tea ceremony, a practice rooted in mindfulness, hospitality and attention to detail. In this episode, we explore how a drink with roots in centuries-old tea culture became a modern craze. Along the way, we meet a San Diego tea sensei who practices the ceremony and invites others to slow down long enough to experience matcha with care and intention. As matcha's popularity continues to grow, we ask a simple question: What gets lost — and what might be gained — when an old tradition becomes a global trend? Guests: Rie Morita, Japanese tea ceremony instructorRebecca Corbett, Japanese Studies Librarian and Senior Lecturer in History, University of Southern CaliforniaRobert Hellyer, historian and author of "Green with Milk and Sugar" Sources: Japanese Tea Ceremony Explained (Adam Sensei, Phd., Maikoya)The Matcha Problem (Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 2025)Shortages, Smoothies and Fraud: The Matcha Market Cracks Under Pressure (Pete Wells, The New York Times, 2025)How much for matcha? Prices for the popular powdered tea soar due to global demand (Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press, 2025)'Skyrocketing' demand for matcha raises fears of shortage in Japan (Justin McCurry, The Guardian, 2025)Matcha's popularity has skyrocketed, but it was initially met with skepticism in the West (Rebecca Corbett, PBS News, 2025)PARU Tea: How the viral matcha spot is transforming tea culture with love and purpose (Julia Dixon Evans and Anthony Wallace, KPBS, 2025)

    28 min
  7. Unboxing hidden music history: Lou Curtiss' Whimsical Collection and vinyl's survival

    MAR 5

    Unboxing hidden music history: Lou Curtiss' Whimsical Collection and vinyl's survival

    Lou Curtiss dedicated his life to preserving forgotten music — and now his extraordinary personal collection is being shared with the community he nurtured for decades. At Folk Arts Rare Records, thousands of vinyl records, CDs, tapes and rare recordings are being unboxed, cataloged and placed on shelves for music lovers to explore and purchase. In this episode, we meet Brendan Boyle, who began shopping at Folk Arts as a teenager and now owns and runs the store. We dive into Lou's legacy, including his role in founding the San Diego Folk Festival, supporting local artists like Thomas Shaw and preserving recordings that might otherwise have vanished. Along the way, we explore how vinyl survived the '90s and 2000s and why physical media still matters in an age of streaming and digital fatigue. From obscure blues and folk records to legendary mixtapes, Lou's Whimsical Collection lives on, offering a tactile, personal and deeply human connection to the music that shapes culture.  Guests: Brendan Boyle, Folk Arts Rare Records ownerAndrew Mall, Associate Professor of Music at Northeastern University in Boston, Mass. Music heard in this episode: "Rock My Baby Back Home" by Thomas Shaw (1972)"Broke and Ain't Got a Dime" by Thomas Shaw (1972)"Martin Luther King" by Thomas Shaw (1972)Portuguese String Music (1908-1931) "George Collins" by Kathy & Carol (1965)"Sprig of Thyme" by Kathy & Carol (1965)"Atomic Cocktail" by Slim Gaillard (1945)"Frank Rhoads Round" by Slim Gaillard (1962)"Pick Poor Robin Clean" by Geeshie Wiley & Elvie Thomas (1931)"Set Your Chickens Free" by The Hub City Movers (1969) Mentioned in this episode: "Sinners""High Fidelity"Part Time LoverDocument Records Sources:  Thomas Shaw (Lou Curtiss, San Diego Troubadour, 2013) Material Drives on the World War II Home Front (National Park Service, 2024)Shellac to vinyl, how World War Two changed the record (Norfolk Record Office, 2020)How a 1927 Blues recording found its way into a 21st-century vampire film — and sparked a historical detective story (Document Records, 2025)Folk Arts Rare Records brings Lou Curtiss' music collection to the people (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2026)

    23 min
  8. Bonus: One of Their Own, a San Diego officer's death and the questions left behind

    FEB 26

    Bonus: One of Their Own, a San Diego officer's death and the questions left behind

    Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and domestic abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This episode is a special feed share from One of Their Own, a KPBS true crime podcast created and hosted by KPBS racial justice and social equity reporter Katie Hyson. In 2018, 25-year-old San Diego police officer Ciara Estrada was found dead in her apartment on New Year's Day. Her death was ruled a suicide by the San Diego Police Department — the same department she worked for. But nearly eight years later, her family still questions whether the investigation went far enough. In this first episode, you'll meet Ciara through the people who loved her most. From a viral video that once labeled her a "nice cop" to the deeply personal artifacts she left behind, the series begins by asking a simple but powerful question: Who was Ciara Estrada beyond the case file? The podcast explores police culture, domestic violence allegations within law enforcement and what happens when a department investigates one of its own. After listening, find the rest of One of Their Own wherever you get your podcasts.

    26 min
See All (41)

4.9
out of 5
32 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
    41
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © KPBS Public Media
  • Show Website
    The Finest

You Might Also Like