Athlete Catherine Breed is fearless as she aims to swim the 900- mile coast of California. She has endured jellyfish stings and whale poop to set records for the fastest swim and now she has set her sights on this audacious project titled “Swim California”. I caught up with her during one of her rest days in Monterey. As the Trump administration seeks to open California waters to oil drilling and deep sea mining, Breed wants us all to appreciate and protect this world-wide gem of a coastline.
Each year for the past five years, I have taught a podcasting course in Dingle,Ireland, in the far westernmost, rural part of the country. This year 35 UCSC students spent six weeks studying podcasting and writing there. Listen to the whimsical results of their assignment to create 7-minute pieces of audio fun.
On Nov. 3, voters across California will have an opportunity to weigh in on Proposition 44. The measure, if passed, would require federally qualified health centers, or FQHCs, to spend at least 90% of their annual revenue on expenses that advance the mission of the health centers. If the FQHCs fail to do so, they’ll face monetary penalties levied by the state. Proponents of the measure believe it will introduce a higher degree of accountability when it comes to delivering services to patients, while opponents say patient care is already front and center and the measure will overburden health c
Longtime Monterey and Santa Cruz County resident Kate Hitt calls her small poetry press Many Names Press, but she’s a woman who has worn many hats. After a long career in printing and graphic design, Kate got a job with benefits driving a school bus for Pajaro Valley Unified School District. It was physically hard work, but spiritually rewarding as she got to know the great variety of children and working people of this area. This year Kate published her first book, covering the experience in poetry, prose, photography, and watercolor. It’s a lovely and thoughtful view of life inside the bus a
In June, healthcare providers, elected leaders and community advocates gathered in Watsonville to celebrate the grand opening of Encompass Community Services’ new state-of-the art Sí Se Puede Behavioral Health Center. While Encompass has been providing support to those struggling with mental illness and substance use disorder at facilities in Watsonville for decades, this newly-renovated health center offers the nonprofit not only an opportunity to expand its footprint and increase the overall number of patients it is able to serve, but it also gives community members a safe, quality facility
Saime Matsu is an Associate Professor at the Defense Language Institute in Monterey, where she has taught the Turkish language for more than 20 years. Throughout her career, she has played a significant role in teaching the Turkish language while serving as a valuable cultural bridge between the United States and Turkey, fostering mutual understanding and strengthening educational and cultural ties between the two countries. She is this year’s Executive Director for the annual Turkish Arts & Culture Festival, taking place August 29-30 at Monterey’s Customs House Plaza. All are welcome to the 2
On this episode of Talk of the Bay, host Chris Krohn examines the growing surveillance state and its impact on privacy, civil liberties, and public safety. Guests Peter Gelblum of the ACLU, community activist Steve Pleich, and mayoral candidate and Get the Flock Out activist Ami Chen Mills discuss automated license plate readers (ALPRs), AI-powered surveillance, body cameras, Ring cameras, and the growing collection of personal data. The conversation explores Santa Cruz’s decision to cancel its Flock Safety contract, concerns about the misuse and security of surveillance data, and what local c
If you spend enough time walking the California coast you’re bound to eventually see some signs of whale activity — the signs are just gonna be really small; a tiny spout of white water, the breach of a dark blue figure that spins and slaps the waves as it tumbles into the sea. Don’t get me wrong, these images inspire real joy and awe in the hearts of those lucky enough to witness them, not matter how far away they are. But it’s people like my next guest who help us truly appreciate the raw beauty of these sea creatures by bringing the images up close and personal. Jodi Frediani is an award-wi
Host Omar Dieguez welcomes Ana Nallely Mendoza Hernández to Talk of the Bay/From the Streets. Ana is a first-generation college graduate, a single mother, and the proud daughter of migrant farm-working parents. Her life has been shaped by housing insecurity, mental health challenges, and the struggle of navigating systems that often leave working families behind. Ana overcame those hardships to earn degrees in Sociology, Latin American and Latino Studies, and Criminal Justice, and has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable individuals and families through compassionate, trauma-informed
For almost 50 years Hospice of Santa Cruz County has provided end-of-life care to patients and their families throughout the Central Coast region. That work, and its broad reach throughout the community, was publicly honored late last year by the Santa Cruz Area Chamber of Commerce, which awarded the nonprofit its 2025 Organization of the Year honors at its annual gala. As the chamber’s Executive Director Kristen Brown put it to the Sentinel, “For decades, Hospice of Santa Cruz County has walked alongside local families during some of life’s most difficult moments, offering care, comfort, and
Lizbeth Silva is the Program Manager at Watsonville Law Center, where she oversees community-based legal programs, outreach initiatives, and partnerships that expand access to justice for families across Santa Cruz, Monterey, and San Benito counties. Having lived most of her life in San Benito County, Lizbeth’s roots in the region and her family’s experience in local agriculture have shaped her commitment to serving working families and strengthening access to legal services. With more than 10 years of leadership experience in nonprofit and public service, she is passionate about building trus
Host Chris Krohn interviews actor, playwright, and director Michael Gene Sullivan of the San Francisco Mime Troupe. The interview centers on the San Francisco Mime Troupe’s upcoming performances of Wreckage, a musical tragicomedy written by and starring Sullivan, and a bit of history of his involvement with the Troupe. The Tony Award winning San Francisco Mime Troupe returns to Santa Cruz with Wreckage: A Musical Tragicomedy! Written by and starring Michael Gene Sullivan, this bold satire tackles working-class struggles, corporate greed, AI gone wrong, and political gaslighting. Catch this fre
Omar and Adela welcome Melita León, a proud Watsonville native and daughter of farmworker parents from Mexico. Melita is a Health Program Specialist with the California Department of Public Health and a lecturer in Ethnic Studies at San Francisco State University. Together we’ll explore the power of Ethnic Studies, Public Health, and why building healthier, more just communities starts with education, culture, and collective action.
Hosts Omar Dieguez and Adela welcome historian, author, artist, and retired Cabrillo College professor Dr. Enrique M. Buelna for an inspiring conversation about Chicano history, identity, and social justice. Dr. Buelna discusses his journey from the son of Mexican immigrants to becoming a leading scholar of Chicano studies, the importance of preserving overlooked histories, the political roots of the term “Chicano,” and the stories behind his acclaimed book, Chicano Communists and the Struggle for Social Justice. The conversation also explores his artwork, screenwriting projects, community act
Shira Cion is the Executive and Artistic Director of the renowned Bay Area women’s ensemble Kitka. Shira was born in Hartford, CT, to an Eastern European Jewish family known for its compulsive harmonizing habits. Active as a performer, producer, arts administrator, and cultural worker since her teens, Shira received her musical education in classical performance (oboe and English horn), and ethnomusicology from the Hartt School of Music, Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute, Wesleyan University, and Russia’s Moscow Conservatory. Her lifelong interests in traditional, contemporary, and wome
On KSQD’s Talk of the Bay, host Cheryl Williams in conversation with filmmaker Aaron Johnson about his short film Dark and Tender. The film explores the prejudices and stereotypes that Black men face and the ways those experiences can shape identity, relationships, and community. Community members are invited to attend a screening of Dark and Tender on Wednesday, July 15, hosted by Santa Cruz Black in collaboration with the Chronically Under Touched (CUT) Project. Founder Aaron Johnson will introduce the film and lead a question-and-answer session that is open to the public. After the screenin
Enjoy Andrew Schoneberg’s lively conversation with Alison Van Diggelen. She’s a journalist and interviewer for the BBC, PRX, and other public broadcasters. And she’s the author of a recent book entitled “The Love Project”. It’s based on her conversations with people from the Monterey area, sharing their stories of love, loss, resilience, and joy.
Host Omar Dieguez welcomes members of the Tri-County Doula collective in Watsonville. These women promote and provide culturally rooted, multilingual care for families through pregnancy, birth, and beyond.
Parades and parties had a strong showing across the nation this July 4. Some endured sweltering heat and humidity, but in Aptos, K-Squid enjoyed the fog, and the crowds, and hooped it up with the rest of the community for American’s 250 anniversary while Squid on the Street Suki Wessling swam through the happy attendees and captured our “time capsule” recording. _________________________________________________ Our thanks to the fabulous folks who made it shine: Gary Shapiro and his lady love, Robynn Smith, for supplying, and driving, their wonderfully vintage Ford F-150; Robynn and her friend
Omar Dieguez and Adela welcome Bobby Marchessault, Watsonville educator and Vice President of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers Committee on Political Education. The discussed important work being done in the PVUSD and some of the biggest issues facing schools today: transparency and accountability, as well as recent cuts to mental health services, counselors, and special education programs. An important conversation about the future of public education in the Pajaro Valley.
Saru Jayaraman (JD, Yale, MPP Harvard) is an academic at UC Berkeley and the President of One Fair Wage, which organizes to raise wages and end subminimum wages nationwide. She was named one of CNN’s “Top10 Visionary Women”, a White House Champion of Change in 2014, a James Beard Foundation Leadership Award winner (2015), the San Francisco Chronicle ‘Visionary of the Year’, and most recently an Irvine Foundation Leadership Award Winner. Saru authored Behind the Kitchen Door (2013, Cornell University Press), Forked: A New Standard for American Dining (2016, Oxford University Press), One Fair Wa
Omar Dieguez speaks with Mark Weller for an update on the campaign to eliminate the use of toxic pesticides near schools and communities on the central coast. Nine months after Omar’s hunger strike to raise awareness about this community health issue, what progress has been made, and what remains to be done?
If you’re interested in children’s education, quiz games, storytelling, or poetry, I’ll bet you’ll find this program facinating. My guest is Howard Schrager. He’s the owner of Lemon Tree Press, which publishes educational books for elementary school aged children which he writes. Howard was a Waldorf teacher for 29 years.
Omar Dieguez and Adela Naranjo sit down with Watsonville Film Festival (WFF) Executive Director Consuelo Alba and filmmaker Brenda Avila-Hanna to discuss the profound impact of storytelling, community healing, and art as resistance. The conversation highlights how the festival grew from a passionate, grassroots volunteer effort in 2012 into a vital year-round nonprofit ecosystem that centers underrepresented Latino, indigenous, and LGBTQ+ voices. From discussing the deep emotional truths of local documentaries like Libertad to celebrating major cultural milestones like screening the Sundance a
Omar Dieguez hosts a powerful and heartfelt conversation exploring the human connections between Gaza and the Central Coast. Many people see Gaza as a distant conflict, but for members of our own community, its impacts are deeply personal and immediate. This program brings together stories of loss, resilience, culture, and solidarity from people whose lives are directly connected to what is happening in Palestine. Guests are Rolla Alaydi, educator and author, who has lost 215 members of her extended family in Gaza, and Unhae Langis, organizer with the Central Coast Coalition for a Free Palesti
