Salinas Underground

A podcast talking about Salinas. The social issues, the community events, the great restaurants and bars and anything about life in the Salad Bowl.

James Mena 12/13/2024

James Mena James Mena is a very creative and motivated content creator from Salinas. You have probably seen him on your Explore page. If you haven't, you will soon. He is also a co-host on the Stay Low Podcast, the sports show of Salad Bytes Media. This week, we turned the mic around on him and asked him about how he started his content creation journey and what was next for him. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/34425310

New(Old) Day for Salinas 11/25/2024

New(Old) Day for Salinas The election has changed the makeup of the city council, with some new and old faces taking the lead in Salinas. They take over a city on the brink of a significant transformation. One of the largest Amazon warehouses in the world is going up on one edge of town. Across town on the Northside, houses are finally being built north of Boronda Rd. Also, after hearing that the Parade of Lights might not happen this year, the city came together and is back on. This year's edition will wind through Oldtown on Sunday, December 1. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/34130101

City Council District 3 Candidate Cary Swensen 11/02/2024

City Council District 3 Candidate Cary Swensen Cary Swensen is an educator who has ideas for making affordable housing more accessible to Salinas citizens. She plans to use her educational background and transparency to come up with unique solutions to problems for a city with a limited budget. She sits down with us to tell us those plans and what she has been hearing from the people of District 3. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/33758432

District 6 Councilmember Anthony Rocha 11/02/2024

District 6 Councilmember Anthony Rocha In 2020, Anthony Rocha was new to city politics, but he was not inexperienced. He is back this year to tell us why he thinks he deserves another four years on the city council. He talks about the projects he is proud of and his plans for a second term. District 6 will soon be surrounded by thousands of new houses and has some of the busiest roads in town. Listen to his plans for the future of his district. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/33753832

District 4 Councilmember Orlando Osornio 10/24/2024

District 4 Councilmember Orlando Osornio In 2020, Orlando Osornio was new to the local political scene. Four years later, he is running for re-election of the same position. He sits down to discuss his plan for another four years on the council. He also talks about what he least expected when he was first elected and the problems he hears from his constituents in District 4. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/33594187

Artist Alley Block Party 2 10/07/2024

Artist Alley Block Party 2 For several years, Artists Ink has been hosting a really cool event called "Artist Alley" during the monthly Art Walk in Oldtown Salinas. Long-time listeners of the show will also have heard some interviews we have done on location at the event itself. This event is much larger and is hosted at Sherwood Park. Dozens of local artists set up their work, bands are playing on the stages, and plenty of food vendors keep everyone's bellies full. It is a fun event that showcases how much local artistic talent we have. I ended up chatting with a Salinas-based writer named Ricardo Ibarra about his first book, "El Chico Infinito," trying to find other like-minded people in a small town and being a Mexican-born writer living in the United States. Most of the interview is in Spanish, so some of you might have to bust out Google Translate to understand it completely. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/33351637

SUP Independent: Election Season is Coming 09/07/2024

SUP Independent: Election Season is Coming Nobody wants to talk about it, and everyone seems to have the wrong opinion, but election season is back in Salinas. Also, several new businesses are coming to the mall that will attract customers of all ages. How can Oldtown compete with the millions of dollars being poured into the mall? /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/32951952

Renew SMP and Precise SMP 08/02/2024

Renew SMP and Precise SMP Sal Rodriguez and his cousin Gabriel Barboza are on a mission to change people's lives in a unique way. Listen to their story, which started out in the Salinas Valley and then led them all over the world, all while they gained new experiences. Enter Scalp micro pigmentation, and Gabriel saw a vision of his future. He became a certified SMP artist and started a shop in Southern California. He soon called Sal, who enrolled in classes and became certified himself. They have a great story that has a lot of chapters left to be written. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/32394997

First Gen Brewing 06/21/2024

First Gen Brewing After his first sip, Fabian Torres fell in love with craft beer. That love of drinking it soon became a hobby of brewing at home. The step after the hobby was starting his own brewery, which he did when he founded First Gen Brewing. He recently came back home to Salinas after spending some time in Kalamazoo, Michigan, gaining more knowledge about the brewing industry. We sat down at a table at one of his pop-up events featuring his beer and food from Chef Alex. I talk with Fabian, his brother, and a couple of the attendees of this fun event on a sunny afternoon in Salinas. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/31833812

Sergio Alejo 04/26/2024

Sergio Alejo Recently, the Salinas community lost a big pillar with the passing of Sergio Alejo, the owner of Stonies Taphouse. We were fortunate enough not only to know him personally, but back in 2020, we were able to get him into the studio so he could tell his story in his own words. This episode originally came out on January 10, 2020. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/30995308

SUP Independent 03/23/2024

SUP Independent Local journalism has been struggling for years now, and we have not escaped that issue here in Salinas. We certainly do not consider ourselves journalists, but we think it is important to talk about other issues happening in town that sometimes don't get the time they deserve. With that, we are introducing "SUP Independent" a once-a-month episode where we talk about the nuts and bolts of the city. From new businesses to sidewalk and road repair, this is all that stuff we don't talk about but is so important to the function of our city. In this episode, we discuss potential new restaurants opening in town and the revitalization of the old El Rey Theatre in OIdtown. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/30508218

Little Shop of Horrors @ Enchantrix Theatre 03/15/2024

Little Shop of Horrors @ Enchantrix Theatre Colin St. John is an old friend of the podcast and a veteran of the local theatre scene. He will be directing Enchantrix Theatre's rendition of the classic Little Shop of Horrors for the next four weekends. They are transforming a circus tent-esque space in Moss Landing into their version of Skid Row, including the famous hungry plant. This is a great chance to see an American classic. If you have never had the experience or if you have seen it before come watch it again so close to the ocean that you can hear the whales arguing outside. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/30383938

Ruby Esperanza 03/08/2024

Ruby Esperanza Ruby Esperanza started Sol Y Plumas after a career in social work as a way for people to get more out of their lives. Throughout her life, she has found herself in situations where she was able to help others. Sometimes, it was financial help, sometimes it was family help, and even other times, she was there to offer some spiritual help to those who needed it. She is a highly motivated individual who makes the most out of the 24 hours in a day. This conversation will have you wanting to go out for a hike or maybe start that business you have been thinking about. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/30286233

Salinas Valley Young Professionals 02/16/2024

Salinas Valley Young Professionals Jose Luis Barajas and Ruby Salazar are the President and Vice-President of the Salinas Valley Young Professionals, a group that empowers local young professionals by connecting them and educating them on what it takes to grow as a leader. They put on networking events all over the Salinas Valley to bring together people with similar ideas to help bring them to reality. If you are a young professional looking for like-minded people to hang out with and brainstorm, check out their next event! /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29981378

Salvador Sandoval 02/06/2024

Salvador Sandoval Sal, or Chava, is a local content creator that has tried more local coffee than most people in the 831. He took the social isolation of COVID and decided to go with an idea that had been kicking around his mind for a while, start a clothing brand. But what do you do when you have an idea that's bigger than your current budget? You hustle. That is where the idea for the one-sip coffee reviews came from. Two years later, he has added more shows and is covering more and more local events through Casa SBS Media. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29818863

The Annexation of Alisal and Virginia Rocca Barton 01/27/2024

The Annexation of Alisal and Virginia Rocca Barton The modern history of Alisal dates back to the first post office, which was built in 1866. It grew alongside Salinas until 1964, when the voters of Alisal joined their neighbors to the west and became East Salinas. This vote may not have passed were it not for the influential voice of a tough Italian lady named Virginia Rocca Barton. She came to Salinas as a 23-year-old teacher and transformed the Alisal School District into one of the most progressive in the state. This is the fascinating story of how two communities came together as one and how one person can make all the difference. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29671038

Lombriz 01/05/2024

Lombriz Some know him as Lombriz, others call him Werm, and others call him The Essence Music. We got him in the studio to talk about himself if you don't know who he is. If you want to see the artist at work you can find him every Wednesday evening at XL Publichouse hosting a weekly vinyl night. That event is one of the best places in the 831 to find and listen to rare music. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29352048

Rose aka DivineGoddess33 12/24/2023

Rose aka DivineGoddess33 Rose also known as DivineGoddess33 on TikTok does makeup tutorials, unboxing videos and so much more! She comes to the studio to tell us about her journey and how she went from the stage to making her own content to share with the world. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29215438

Mialana 12/15/2023

Mialana Mialana is a recording artist who first got a taste of the stage when her high school production of Grease needed another singer. Three years ago, she started writing and performing her own music. She writes from the heart, so many of her songs are more like journal entries that she shares with the world. She is a young singer with a lot of potential, and if you live in Salinas, you can probably see her live really soon. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29093213

Oreez 12/10/2023

Oreez The story of Oreez started in the 831 and then took him around the West Coast but he is back home and is in the studio to tell us his story. From discovering Hip Hop to jumping on stage for the first time at the last minute, these are only the early chapters of his story. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/29011778

Indie Basement One Year Anniversary 11/03/2023

Indie Basement One Year Anniversary For the last year, Indie Basement cinema has been a monthly showcase of local short films. It is a place where local filmmakers can screen their films in front of their hometown crowd for free. Once a month the basement of XL Public House is turned into a cozy cinema where you can relax and have some popcorn and a beer while watching locally made films. I sat down with the two filmmakers who were having their movies screened for the anniversary. Jesus Cruz (@jxcruz510) is a filmmaker from Newark who came down to show two of his films: "Peanut Butter and Zombie" and "La Cobija". Julie Ruiz (@julieruizcinema) is a young director from Salinas who screened a music video she directed as well as her short film "Louie's Scary Movies." Sergio (@the_essence_music) can be heard spinning records multiple times a month. He sat down with us to talk about his time watching Indie Basement grow. Joey (@sinistaselecta) is one of the two people along with Rob (@masa_831_), who came up with the idea, and it is their hard work that has made this into the great event that it has become. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/28504682

There is Blood in Your Salad 10/27/2023

There is Blood in Your Salad On September 7, 1963, the worst road accident in American history happened on a railroad crossing just outside of Chualar. This set off a battle for the 32 bodies of the victims that ended up uniting the Mexican community against the bracero program that had been giving low-wage workers to American farmers since WWII. It also helped unite a Mexican-American civil rights movement that had been divided between "urban" and "rural" Mexicans, setting off a larger struggle for the representation of all Mexicans in the United States. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/28438868

Gin Fragonard 10/13/2023

Gin Fragonard Gin Fragonard is a Monterey-based singer and all-around talented artist. She is releasing an album in several chapters that is an ode to the place she currently calls home. This was a fun conversation that covered a range of topics, from musical inspirations to French cows and ferret cults and her music. The first part of the album comes out on October 20, but make sure to follow her on social media so you can watch one of her live shows. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/28312121

Que Se Chinge Ron DeSantis 09/28/2023

Que Se Chinge Ron DeSantis The governor of Florida is paying a visit to Salinas to raise money from a group of people he says is ruining this country. That is just one of a mountain of reasons why this is a terrible idea. Oz has a couple of more on this episode. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/28164947

SEA.LVL 09/16/2023

SEA.LVL SEA.LVL are the tracksuit-wearing bad boys of instrumental R&B and they are in the studio to tell us all about the band! We also have the magician behind the tracksuits, Ari from Hella Dandy Apparel, on the mic. This fun conversation takes us from the bands origins to why we have a bunch of bananas on the desk and the reason for the tracksuits. You can catch them playing shows around the area or follow them on Spotify to get their new music as it comes out. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/28050810

Genevieve Armendariz 09/01/2023

Genevieve Armendariz Genevieve Armendariz is a lifelong Salinas resident who dreams about stars in more ways than one. She represents her home region as Miss Central Coast in the Miss California Organization. She is also the founder of the non-profit Women Are Limitless, which supports Monterey County girls and women pursuing careers in a male-dominated industry. She sits with us to discuss her journey in the Miss California pageant. We talk about housing insecurity, greek philosophy, beauty peagants, and so much more. You may want to have some tissues around when you listen to this episode because we get deep!! /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/27910116

Prancing Ponies Car Show 08/19/2023

Prancing Ponies Car Show The Prancing Ponies Women's Car Show is one of the largest gatherings of women car owners and it happens in the middle of car week in Downtown Carmel. We set up our equipment in a corner of Devendorf Park and got some really great interviews. First off we talk to the guys from SEA.LVL who brought the party on stage with their instrumental R&B sounds. We also talked to the founder of the whole event, Chanterria McGilbra, who first got the idea to gather other women who owned Ferraris when a group of high school girls could not believe the one that she was driving was actually owned by her. Finally, we interview Miss Ferrari, whose 2013 Ferrari California won the best exotic award. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/27794985

Caro Perez 07/22/2023

Caro Perez Caro Perez is a writer, performer, and all around great human being. She has turned a lifelong passion for storytelling and honed it into a unique style that will have you laughing at some of her harrowing life events. She sits down with us to tell us her story from crossing the border to working at a factory so she could buy her first camera and her escape into womanhood. There are not enough episodes to tell her complete story, but this is an excellent introduction to a great local writer and actor. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/27535962

Guayule Rubber Project 07/08/2023

Guayule Rubber Project During WWII, Japan controlled 90% of the world's rubber production, and the United States knew it needed to do something to protect itself in case the supply was cut off. On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan attacked the U.S., and the fear became a reality. With the country quickly using its reserves, the nation turned to an obscure desert plant called Guayule that had the potential to end our dependence on foreign rubber. Salinas was selected as the center of this massive undertaking, and overnight, millions of dollars and thousands of workers descended on the city. Then the war ended, and the project ended as quickly as it began. Plants and machines were destroyed, but the stories they made live on in the short but fascinating story of our city's history. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/27408426

El Kallpa 07/01/2023

El Kallpa El Kallpa's story starts in Lima, Peru. Somehow he found himself in Monterey County playing music that tells his story and soothes the soul. In this talk, we learn how he ended up here and why music is such an important part of his life. He has an amazing story with stops everywhere, starting in Miami. His current projects are Sensory Tribe and BarKings, which you can find on Spotify or any music app you use. After listening to this one, you'll want to pull out your record player. /episode/index/show/salinasundergroundpodcast/id/27340683

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