Salinas Underground

In this episode our guests are George and Rene from MILPA. They are a group from Salinas that is cultivating the next crop of leaders. Milpa is a Mesoamerican system of farming that uses complementary plants to reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides. Taking inspiration from that system, MILPA is taking a multi-faceted approach to teaching the younger generation and creating leaders that understand the complex problems of our modern world. 

This Saturday May 7th is the First annual Steinbeck Home Brew Fest. 3 beer gardens will be spread out over the 100 block of Main St featuring beers from over 30 home brewers. A lot of your neighbors are secret chemists and brewmasters and this will be a great chance to try some of their creations. Jessica McKillip comes on the show to give us all the details you need to have a great time at this event. The Steinbeck festival will also be going on at the same time and at 2pm their will be a "race of thrones" down the 200 block of Main St. Those are home-made outhouses that are sprinted down the course and the one the holds together longer usually wins. 

This our most unique topic and one of the most informative interviews we have done. Our guest is Debbie Ramos and she taught us about a subject we had heard of but knew very little about. The End of Life Options Act goes into effect in June in California and while death is a difficult topic for a lot of people we must deal with the reality and plan accordingly. We hope you can gain something from listening to this episode and if you know someone that might be interested in the information presented, share it with them.

In this episode Oz and Cujo talk about the events coming up in the next several weeks in Salinas. Oz also introduces the Salinas city anthem which most people will recognize as the theme from the Benny Hill Show. He also compares it with the show Parks and Recreation and laments that sometimes the real thing is more ridiculous than the Hollywood creation.

In this episode our guest is one of the members of the band Cujo is in. Warcorpse is a groove-metal band from Watsonville that has been around for almost 10 years now. We talk about their latest show they played here in Salinas and also, what its like to open for Metalachi in Santa Cruz. We also talk about their new EP and listen to a track. Oz also talks about how exciting Wrestlemania still is after all these years.

In this episode Oz turns the podcast into a swap meet. When he finally closes up shop we play a segment we recorded last month at the open mic held at the Press Club in Seaside. This Friday April 1st is the next edition of the open mic, so come out and sing a song or drink a beer. 

In this episode our guest is Nicole from Hermitage Brewing in San Jose. We talk about the history of their brewery and its sister restaurant the Tied House. We also discuss how someone from the Silicon Valley tech industry ended up in craft brewing. Nicole was at the Public House for the weekly pint night and we thank her for taking the time to chat with us for a bit.

In this episode of Road Trip with Rob and Edwin the guys head out to El Zacatecano on East Alisal. This restaurant is a real hidden gem in Salinas, a place many have driven by for years without realizing the treasures that await inside this modest establishment. 

In this episode our guest is Salinas based hip-hop artist Longo. He is opening up for hip-hop legend KRS-One in Santa Cruz this week so we had him come on and talk about his expectations. We also discuss the struggle local hip-hop artists have booking shows in Salinas and who influenced his style on the mic. You can learn more about Longo and his music on the following links: https://soundcloud.com/longomusic https://www.facebook.com/LonGo-864728390267314/

This episode has a sensational title, but the conversation was rarely dramatic. In this episode our guest is Lili Muñoz, who is a long-time friend of Oz and a graduate of CSUMB. Lili's capstone at CSUMB was titled "Whiteness in Contemporary American Media" and talks about the inequalities and misrepresentations minorities still deal with when portrayed in the media. A heavy topic that should have been explored in great detail. Unfortunately the mild Salinas weather, and a couple of adult beverages, led the conversation from terrible first dates to K-Pop. Truly a unique episode that you must indulge in.

This episode was recorded at the Press Club in Seaside. They are hosting a monthly open mic every first Friday of the month so we went to check out the first one of the year. We talk to a girl named Amy who is in a Bluegrass band but played some music she described as string punk. We also talk to Daniel Vorhies, the man responsible for the event, about the struggle to get the show going and what he expects in the future.

In this special, shorter episode we introduce a new segment to the podcast called "Road Trip". In this segment our friend Rob will visit restaurants in Salinas and around the county and share his dining experience. We hope to introduce you to some new dining options or let you re-live an old favorite. We will be releasing these both on their own and as part of the regular show so make sure you subscribe to never miss and episode.

In this episode our guest is Joey Espinoza, a medical marijuana advocate that is helping guide Salinas implement rules for medical marijuana dispensaries. We discuss what the new regulations mean for Salinas and how they are unique from other parts of the state. This conversation is full of first hand information and a great way to quickly learn about the upcoming changes, including a city-wide vote that will finalize the whole process.

In this episode our guest is Zach from Strawberry Girls. They area Salinas based rock trio that is about to embark on their second national tour. We talk about the origins of the band and their plans for the future. We also discuss the Salinas music scene that usually has to leave the city to find a venue to play. We also talk about our favorite new topic, the great food we have here in Salinas. Zach also describes his favorite dish in town that you can find at Pica Fresh in downtown Salinas.

In this episode of Salinas Underground we welcome back Mike PZ. The last time Mike was on the show we described him as the busiest musician in Salinas. It looks like he has maintained that pace as he talks about the four projects he is currently working on along with weekly shows and a full-time job. Oz also talks about his magical experience at Salinas City BBQ and then we get into a discussion of what ingredients the "official" Salinas salad would have. 

In this episode we discuss the coming expansion and renovation at Northridge Mall. The whole place is set for a $40 million makeover that will see a new building added to the current facility. We also discuss El Canto Del Colibri, a documentary about LGBT people coming out to their immigrant fathers. Oz's kindergarten teacher made a point to go to the Public House to deliver some posters about the film which will be screened for free on Friday at Maya Cinemas.

In this episode we welcome our friend Rachel Duchak aka Central Coast Foodie. Rachel runs a website that covers the food scene on the Central Coast from Santa Cruz to Santa Barbara. We sit down with a pizza and bruschetta from Giorgios at 201 Main, a couple of hot dogs from Dubbers, and a delicious variety of treats from Blue Aces Bake Shoppe.

In this episode Oz and Cujo discuss the recent city ordinance that allows for 3 medical marijuana dispensaries and commercial cultivation in Salinas. It is a sudden and weird shift in city that is usually a politically conservative town. Oz also wonders about the Weekly's apparent loathing of this change. 

It is a new year and we have a new episode for all of you! In this episode we discuss an e-mail that nearly moved us to tears. We started this podcast with two goals: change how people view Salinas and possibly give one of the talented youths from this city a chance to showcase those talents in college. Well, after reading this e-mail it looks like one of those goals might be closer to reality than we ever thought.

In this episode we talk about The Letters Home returning to the Public House and downtown Salinas. These guys showed up randomly on their way to a gig in San Francisco and ended up becoming an unofficial house band. We also get into Salinas's most interesting council-member and his upcoming appearance in front of a judge to face some very serious charges. Also, Oz talks about his discovery of grinding his own black pepper with peppercorn from Gold Leaf.