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.

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...

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...

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...

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!

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...

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...

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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...

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...

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. 

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.

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.

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...

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...

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...

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,...

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.

The Rudians have been together for less than 10 years, but they already have a whole career's worth of stories and experiences to tell. Recently they played at the Cali Roots Festival, where they jammed out on the legendary "Bowl" stage. Gio, Terrance, Anthony, and Neal are in the studio to tell us their experiences and how it felt to play at such a renowned venue in front of a hometown crowd. We also talk about a new member and new music in this great conversation.

Anthony Barrera and Jennah Montemayor host the 1st and the 15th Podcast. A show that interviews creative types and asks them about their journey in pursuing their art form. It is now on its third season and available anywhere you listen to podcasts. Even better, it is currently being recorded in our Salad Bytes Media studio. Oz also brings up some Salinas news, including the cruising ban being repealed and corporate coffeeshops popping up like lettuce in April. He also recites a poem that...

Even though Salinas is in California, it does not have the movie-making history of its bigger neighbor down south. Ivan Ramirez is a lifelong Salinas resident that thinks that by using his hometown as a backdrop, he can do something that seems impossible. He is trying to make a name for himself in a crowded industry by jumping off the deep end. His first film clocks in at just under 30 minutes, and it is both an ode to Salinas and a story of someone dealing with an existential crisis.