PODCAST · society
Salinas Underground
by Salad Bytes Media
A podcast talking about Salinas. The social issues, the community events, the great restaurants and bars and anything about life in the Salad Bowl.
Episodes
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Cars, Crafts, and California Brews Festival
Orlando from the Cars, Crafts, and California Brews Festival joins us in the studio to talk about the first edition of the festival. It will be a whole day of celebrating the California lifestyle in the heart of Salinas. The festival will be on August 30, 2026, from 10 - 5 at the Salinas Sports...
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Protect Salinas Renters Update
This week, we get an update from Protect Salinas Renters about the rent stabilization ordinance. Over 10,000 signatures were gathered to get it on the ballot in front of Salinas voters. Xago, Jesus, and Jasmine sit down with Oz to talk about how we got here and the upcoming election. To learn…
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As Things Change Everything Stays the Same
The world is in a state of constant change, and Salinas is no different. In this episode, Oz talks about changes happening around town. Change is not always welcome, and we are seeing some of that in our local politics. Even though change is always happening, the past has a strange habit of...
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Luther McDaniels aka Lord Luther
Luther McDaniels moved to Salinas with his mom just after WWII. He soon made friends with three other guys who had gospel roots like him, and they formed the 4 Dueces. One day, Luther was invited by a friend to check on rabbit traps by the Salinas River. That led to a multi-decade music career…
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Brian Sheffield Director of The Elephant Man
Brian Sheffield is a writer, teacher, and all-around interesting person. His latest project has him directing the 1979 play The Elephant Man by Bernard Pomerance for Enchantrix Theatre. We sit in the studio and talk about life, French opinions about Americans, and, of course, his vision for the...
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SUP Independent November 31, 2025
It would seem like people camping out for chicken would be the most interesting story of the month, but a schoolyard spat between local politicians has Oz looking through his bookshelf looking for answers. He found it in an article written by Huey Newton in 1967.
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The Rumba Madre
The Rumba Madre is a band that needs to be experienced in person. David is the founder and creative leader who has gone all around the world learning and playing music. He talks with Oz about their new single "Vibaporú," which is now available to stream online. He talks about the inspiration…
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Baila Baila Dance Studio
Andrea Leon started Baila Baila Studio this year to get everybody in Monterey County on the dance floor and out of their comfort zone. Listen to her story of growth, from a shy, introverted person who disliked attention to leading dance classes with dozens of people. She teaches at the Links in...
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Ciclovia 2025
Ashley, Nancy, and Yari are three of the young Salinas residents who help put on the Ciclovia event coming up on October 12. This event closes off Alisal Street from Front Street to Sanborn Road to vehicles and lets pedestrians take over. Not only pedestrians but also people riding bikes,...
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SUP Independent: Church and State
Recently, some members of the city council asked for a financial request that turned out to be more controversial than they expected. They requested $100,000 for a Fourth of July event hosted by Compass Church that was open to the public. This raised questions not only about the amount going to…
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Prime Ag Land
Amazon is building a huge fulfillment center on the edge of town. With that comes thousands of new jobs, millions of tax dollars flowing into the city, and increased pressure on the infrastructure to keep things all running smoothly. Oz takes a deeper look into what this building actually is, how...
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Protect Salinas Renters
Salinas is one of the most expensive places to rent a home in the country. There is no simple solution to fix the issue, but last year, the city implemented a set of protections for renters to help keep them in their homes. This year, there was a shakeup in the city council, and one of the first...
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Liz and Media
This week, our guest is Liz, who created Liz and Media to showcase all the cool events that happen around the Monterey Bay. After you hear her story, you will know why we have kept doing this show for over 12 years now. She is the perfect example of having the grit and determination to achieve…
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Jesus Christ Superstar
Enchantrix Theatre is preparing to do its version of the hit rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar. We sit down with director Colin St. John and the long-haired man himself, Stephan Sams, to tell us about the production process. They found an empty warehouse in Castroville and turned it into a...
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Rent Control (Oz's Version)
Several new and old council members were elected last November, and they are already busy trying to make their mark on the city. Their current target is the rent stabilization ordinance passed last year to help the over-burdened renters in Salinas. What is rent stabilization, and how does it…
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Uli is Anything for Salinas
Uli grew up in Monterey County and is on a mission to find unique stories that will uplift and inspire others. He sits down with us to tell us his story of discovering his true self. That discovery was the seed that started his latest project idea.
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13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival
The 13th Annual Watsonville Film Festival was held earlier this month, and for the first time in its history, it screened films outside of Watsonville. In Salinas, they presented some films at Maya Cinema in Oldtown, most of which quickly sold out of tickets. We set up our equipment at XL...
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Sup Independent: Recalls, Warehouses, and Clubs
There was an update on the flailing effort to recall a city councilmember. That makes me wonder who is actually pushing for this and why a small group of companies is throwing a lot of money at it. Also, the Amazon warehouse on the edge of town is going up, and with it, some changes to the…
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Salasbucks
Salinas is fascinated with corporate chain businesses. It was recently announced that the city would soon have its 18th Starbucks, and looking at city planning documents, a 19th is already around the corner. With our local businesses struggling to stay open in this post-pandemic world, I question...
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Andrew Sandoval
Andrew Sandoval is a council member who came on the podcast to talk about both a political process and what it's like to be the target of that process. We discussed what it could mean for him and the constituents of District 5 and who is behind the effort. This episode is a way to hear about…
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Monterey International Pop Festival
Over three days in June of 1967, Monterey was the center of the music world and hosted a festival that would introduce the country to some of the most legendary acts of all time. It also kicked off the "Summer of Love" that welcomed thousands of people from around the country to the Bay Area, who...
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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...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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...
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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?
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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.
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Salinas Underground have?
Salinas Underground currently has 361 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Salinas Underground about?
A podcast talking about Salinas. The social issues, the community events, the great restaurants and bars and anything about life in the Salad Bowl.
How often does Salinas Underground release new episodes?
Salinas Underground publishes regularly with 361 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Salinas Underground?
You can listen to Salinas Underground on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Salinas Underground?
Salinas Underground is created and hosted by Salad Bytes Media.
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