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Christina Bagaglio Slentz is Associate Director for Creation Care for the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Learn about how her diocese prioritizes climate action here.In this episode, we often refer to Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si' and the ways that faith communities are living out its stated goals. We also discuss the theme “seeds of peace and hope,” the official theme for the 2025 ecumenical Season of Creation.Many thanks to Christina for sharing her wisdom in this conversation!Christina SlentzTRANSCRIPTChristina Slentz I think this really can help us understand the way that the cry of the Earth, these environmental climate extremes, or the variability that we're experiencing, leads to greater exposure—but how one community can face that exposure and adapt or bounce back fairly quickly and another may not really have that capacity.Debra Rienstra Welcome to the Refugia Podcast. I'm your host, Professor Debra Rienstra. Refugia are habitats in nature where life endures in times of crisis. We're exploring the concept of refugia as a metaphor, discovering how people of faith can become people of refugia: nurturing life-giving spaces in the earth, in our human cultural systems, and in our spiritual communities, even in this time of severe disturbance. This season, we're paying special attention to churches and Christian communities who have figured out how to address the climate crisis together as an essential aspect of their discipleship.Today, I'm talking with Dr. Christina Bagaglio Slentz, Associate Director for Creation Care at the Catholic Diocese of San Diego. Christina has a background in sociology, with a PhD in international studies and global affairs. She's also a Navy veteran. Today, she serves a diocese of 97 parishes, helping to guide and empower people in their creation care work. The Diocese of San Diego is a microcosm of diverse biomes and diverse people, and it's a fascinating example of refugia, because as a diocese, they are doing all the things. Christina and I talk about Laudato si', solar energy, economics, eco spirituality, environmental justice advocacy, the centrality of the Eucharist, and the mutuality between caring for neighbor and caring for the Earth. Let's get to it.Debra Rienstra Christina, thank you so much for being with me today. I really appreciate talking to you.Christina Slentz Thank you, Debra, for having me. I'm really excited to be here.Debra Rienstra So I am eager to hear more about the Diocese of San Diego, because it seems that you have been very intentional and thoughtful and ambitious about your creation care agenda, and we're going to get into the details of that in just a minute, but I want to start with you. So tell us your hero origin story. How did you get into faith-based environmental work and into your current position?Christina Slentz Well, to be honest, I never saw it coming in many ways. I was working in the global affairs area, looking at sources of conflict and cooperation and how political economy intersects with those dynamics, and that was my academic area of focus. And at the same time, I've always been a catechist in the Catholic church since the 90s, and my church life was pretty comfortable, I would say, and active. But I didn't really see those two things coming together until Laudato si', the encyclical written by Pope Francis on the care of our common home, was released in 2015, and this really started to bring more overlap between these two areas in my life. And I would say, increasingly, then there was a lot of interplay between those focus areas for me. And eventually this position became available in the Diocese of San Diego, and a friend mentioned it to me, and I thought that is actually the perfect vocation for me. And I really feel like I understood it to be a vocation, not just a job.Debra Rienstra Yeah, I think I can relate to everything you just said. I think we came to this work from different areas of specialty, but yeah, like you, I feel like we've had these mid-career shifts where suddenly our area of specialty—in my case, literature and creative writing—has become energized by—in your case, Laudato si', in my case, other documents as well as Laudato si',—and we've sort of taken this fascinating and yeah, I would agree, vocational, turn. So let's talk a little bit more about Laudato si'. I imagine our listeners know at least a little bit about it. It's been so enormously influential. It's such an amazing landmark document. Could you talk a little bit about how you've seen Laudato si' diffuse through the Catholic Church, especially the American Catholic Church?Christina Slentz Yes, I think, to be honest, it has had a complicated journey with the Catholic community here in the United States. Very much like the issue of climate change in the global community, the United States has struggled with these dynamics—I think the way that they involve our economics and some of our very strong ideology about economic freedom and what that means to people. And so I think it's fair to say that while Laudato si' was very warmly received around the world, it has struggled in the United States as a whole, and that includes the American Catholic community. That said, there have been—like your description of refugia suggests——there have been these pockets, though, where I think that particular dynamics existed, and there was fertile ground for seeds to be planted. And the Diocese of San Diego is one of them. The Diocese of—the Archdiocese of Atlanta was another. There are a couple around the country, and I do think some footholds were created. In addition, one of the things that is particularly interesting about the encyclical Laudato si'—and an encyclical is just a document that a pope writes and then circulates, right, this is where the word encyclical comes from—circulates around until everyone's had a chance to read it. We can imagine in medieval times, you know, how this must have been a challenge. And I think that, you know, this challenge exists, but Father Emmett Farrell is the founder of this ministry in my diocese, and Father Emmett just celebrated his 60th anniversary of his ordination, and Father Emmett will say he has never seen an encyclical translate to action the way that Laudato si' has. And in particular, there is a Vatican online platform called the Laudato si' Action Platform, where Catholics—either parishes, schools, orders of sisters or religious—can get on this platform and learn about the dynamics that we face. They can see how our values are distilled into seven goals, and then they can reflect on their behavior, using this tool to sort of measure where they are, and then write a plan of action and upload it and share it with each other. And Father Emmett really celebrates how amazing it is that, you know, that we're going to lean into technology and use it for the good.Debra Rienstra Oh, awesome. There's so many things I want to follow up on in that answer. And I want to begin by just thanking you for being honest about pushback to Laudato si' in the US. And I want to go back to that in just a second, if it's okay. And then I want to thank you for the way you've thought about, you know, some of these dioceses like the mighty San Diego and the mighty Atlanta as sort of refugia spaces. And we'll come back to that again too, I really hope, and I want to hear some more details about your particular diocese. Why do you think there has been pushback in the American Catholic Church? You mentioned economic reasons, and you know, Pope Francis and Pope Leo now have both been very pointed in their critique of climate denial, of greed, of exploitation, injustice, war, economic systems that many Americans have sort of held as almost sacrosanct. So what are you noticing in Catholic conversations about that critique? Why are people resisting the critique and why are people saying, “No, that's right”—what are the motivations behind each of those responses?Christina Slentz So, you know, we could probably talk about this all day.Debra Rienstra Probably, yeah.Christina Slentz Because economic peace, I think, is really difficult to think about. You know, if we take the United Kingdom, for example, it's a country very much like the United States. So many of our you know, American culture and tradition and customs come out of that early launching that we experienced from, you know, Great Britain. And yet, as the topic of climate change came forward, Margaret Thatcher, who was, you know, a real compatriot of President Ronald Reagan at the time, she really took the scientific approach in thinking about climate change, and this set them on a path that's really different from the path that we experienced. And certainly, oil is a big factor in our economy. And I think it can be a real challenge for people to weigh the goods, you know, because we have to be honest, there are goods in both sides of these dynamics. When we understand the gravity, though, of climate change, if we're allowed to really get into those dynamics without the noise that has been kind of confronting that potential, then I think we can see that the good outweighs, you know, those alternative goods associated with continuing in the fossil fuel realm. But this is why we talk about a just transition, right? I think that many people who are hearing this noise, right, they don't understand that Pope Francis and others, you know, is really arguing for a just transition, and that would seek to care for the people that are going to be affected by whatever change in economic policy might make.Debra Rienstra Yeah, and more and more, those economic changes are actually positive in favor of transition in ways that they weren't even 5-10 years ago.Christina Slentz Yeah, I think it's amazing. We actually had some good momentum going until recently.Debra Rienstra Yeah, you know, I would love to get us all talking about a just and joyful transition, because it's more and more possible. And maybe we'll come back to that a little bit later too, when we talk about ecological spirituality. But let's go back to these places within the American Catholic Church, even, that are saying, “Oh yes, Laudato si', yes, let's go.” And San Diego diocese is one of those places. You had an action plan already in 2019. I think it's impressive that a diocese could get a plan together in four years. So good job. Knowing how long everything takes in church settings. So just give us a list of your accomplishments. What have you been up to since 2019? What are the kinds of things you've dipped your toes into?Christina Slentz Sure, and to be fair, I want to give some good credit to some others. You know, the Archdiocese of Atlanta had created their creation care action plan. This gave us some really good kind of framework to think about when we created ours. And there was a team that preceded me. They were all volunteers, very multidisciplinary in their backgrounds, everything from theologians to medical doctors who had worked with indigenous communities, you know, theologians, missionaries, energy engineers, and they really pulled this together early on. And this plan I now recognize as what climate action planners might refer to as an aspirational plan. It's all the things you could do in our area, and it serves as a really good resource for our parishes and schools as they think about what they might do in their Laudato si' action platform plans, and those are yearly plans that are really targeted on what we're going to do. So, you know, one of the things that they did early on was really push to solarize. And you know, we do have the great fortune of, one: climate here in San Diego, right? You know, we're sort of famous for that. And then you know, two: the other thing is that, you know, it was very normative to be shifting to solar, and continues to be an economic choice that is not really as politicized here as much as it might be elsewhere. And then the third thing was this is, you know, the magic number three is to have a bishop that is supportive. And so Cardinal McElroy—now Cardinal McElroy, then Bishop McElroy—really promoted this solarization. And at this point we have about 54% of our parishes solarized. And when I think now, you know, the Paris Climate Agreement says we want to have about half of our carbon emissions reduced by 2030 then you know, we're sitting at about half. Our building where I'm located is called our pastoral center. Some Catholic communities call it their chancery. And our solar array here provides over 80% of our electricity to the building. Our local utility is about half renewable energy, a little bit more. So with that in mind, you know, our electricity here to our building is a little over 90% coming from renewable energy, and this lets us have seven electric vehicle charging stations in the parking lot so I can go to work and charge my car at the same time.Debra Rienstra Lovely.Christina Slentz So that was one big thing. I would say our other really big kind of landmark action that also was largely driven by Cardinal McElroy, was to divest of fossil fuels. And, you know, this is a real challenging thing to accomplish. We set a goal of no more than 5% of, you know, the earnings of both direct and indirect investment to be coming from fossil fuel. And after a year, we evaluated how we were doing, and we were actually hitting—not we, you know, the financial folks doing this—were hitting less than 3%. So, you know, we said, “Okay, I think we can say that this was successful, and we're still here.” So that was really exciting, and we didn't do it to be virtue signaling. Just, you know, for some of your listeners may not know, but the USCCB, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, has a document that directs socially responsible investment for all areas. And so this is just one more area of socially responsible investment that the Diocese of San Diego has embraced.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So we've got money, we've got energy. How many parishes would you say are on board with this, doing yearly goals, selecting from the menu of fun ideas—what percentage of your parishes would you say are involved?Christina Slentz So I gotta, Debra, that's a little bit of a good question. I think, you know, we did just describe two very top-down approaches. And one of the things that our group, you know, when I came on board in 2022, we decided is, you know, we really wanted to push that grassroots. And so we see parishes demonstrating a range of behaviors, and I was initially surprised, but they actually behave a lot like countries around the world. And so, you know, you think, oh, that's going to be different. But, you know, you can also have three children, and they all behave differently, and you know, sometimes that's surprising as well, when they have the same parents. And so one of the things that I have really tried to do was offer more events that are here at the diocesan level. We have 97 parishes, and then we have—so sometimes we'll see individuals that are really on board, and they come from a parish where, at the parish level, not a lot is happening. Sometimes we have individuals that are participating, and they are doing a ton at their parish and succeeding. And then we have parishes where the pastor is leading the charge. And then on top of that, I would say there are parishes where they have solar and they have drought-resistant landscaping, and they have LEED silver certified buildings that, you know, are very environmentally friendly. And yet, you know, at the parishioner level, you know, not as much activity happening. So it is an array of activities. I would say probably half have had some kind of interaction with us, or have had parishioners or students participate in our programs. But you know, we reflect the American Catholic community, which reflects the broader American society as well. So there are places where we struggle, and then there are places where we see a lot of action and shining.Debra Rienstra Yeah, sure. And I really appreciate that. And I think listeners can relate to that range of involvement too. Maybe they are in any one of those categories or some other category themselves. And you know, as you say, it's the modeling of— even if it's a minority, it's the modeling and the enthusiasm and the even implicit sort of educating of others that can make this work spread too. So I want to list the seven goals of the Laudato si' action platform, because I think they're really, really great and helpful to people who are not in the Catholic Church, but in other aspects of the church, you might find these goals useful too. So here are the goals: response to the cry of the Earth, response to the cry of the poor, ecological economics, adoption of sustainable lifestyles, ecological education, ecological spirituality, community resilience and empowerment. So I want to start with the first three. We've talked a little bit about economics and how dicey that can be, but I wonder if you could describe how you see the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor as basically the same cry, as Pope Francis said in Laudato si'. How do you see that, especially in your region?Christina Slentz Yeah, so thank you. I think these two are kind of the crown jewels, right? And they sum up what we see happening very well. I think that the other goals are valuable because they sort of pull out the dynamics that we really understand as informing those two big—response to the cry of the Earth and cry of the poor. So as someone who was looking at this through the lens of being a social scientist, I found these two goals to really sum it up well, because it is not just the exposure to the environment that causes our concern for these dynamics. It's the exposure as well as the sensitivity of that population. And then this helps us understand also, maybe some vulnerability that that population might have. So for example, we had significant flooding about a year and a half ago in January, the month of January, and the same rain fell on a parish in the southern part of the Diocese, close to our Mexican border, in an area that is, you know, less wealthy, probably demonstrates some socio economic features that we would associate with marginalized communities. And then it also fell on a parish in Coronado, California. And some people might recognize the Hotel Del Coronado as an iconic location. It's a beautiful community. There's a lot of wealth. There's a lot of human capital as well. You know, very highly educated group, and so the buildings at two of two parishes in each of these locations were completely flooded. But, you know, the parish in Coronado was up on its feet within a week. And of course, they had repairs that had to be done, but they were able to get a hold of those folks, get them in, pay the bills, get it all done. And the parish on the south side had catastrophic flooding to its school, and the school was a total loss.Debra Rienstra Oh, wow.Christina Slentz So I think this really can help us understand the way that the cry of the Earth, these environmental climate extremes, or the variability that we're experiencing, leads to greater exposure, but how one community can face that exposure and adapt or bounce back fairly quickly, and another may not really have that capacity. And so you can't really pull them apart, because just measuring precipitation doesn't always give you the whole story.Debra Rienstra That's a very, very helpful answer to that. And I sometimes hear in religious circles, you know, “Well, we have to worry about other people, why should we worry about owls or whatever?” And the answer is: well, because what happens in nature affects people. So this is about loving your neighbor. Even if you're not convinced by the idea that we love the Earth for its own sake because it's beloved of God, we still have to love our neighbor. And this is a neighbor issue as well. So thank you. That was very helpful as an explanation.Christina Slentz One of my favorite kind of messages is, you know, having been a student of globalization, you know, I think that we live in a globalized world. You can't put that toothpaste back in the tube, right? Maybe there are some things we can do and that can be helpful, but the bottom line is, our actions have ripple effects, and so no matter what we do, we are going to have these impacts on people far beyond those we know and love on a day to day basis. And when we care for the Earth, we mitigate those effects on people all around the world, and so our caring for creation really is just love of neighbor at global scale.Debra Rienstra Ah, lovely. Yeah, so it works both ways. If you love neighbor, you love the Earth. If you love the Earth, you love your neighbor.Christina Slentz That's right.Debra RienstraHi, it's me, Debra. If you are enjoying this podcast episode, go ahead and subscribe on your preferred podcast platform. If you have a minute, leave a review. Good reviews help more listeners discover this podcast. To keep up with all the Refugia news, I invite you to subscribe to the Refugia newsletter on Substack. This is my fortnightly newsletter for people of faith who care about the climate crisis and want to go deeper. Every two weeks, I feature climate news, deeper dives, refugia sightings and much more. Join our community at refugianewsletter.substack.com. For even more goodies, including transcripts and show notes for this podcast, check out my website at debrarienstra.com. D-E-B-R-A-R-I-E-N-S-T-R-A dot com. Thanks so much for listening. We're glad you're part of this community. And now back to the interview.Debra Rienstra Let's think about some of those more personal goals. I don't know, maybe they're not just personal, because everything is systemic too. But I want to talk about that sustainable lifestyle goal, adoption of sustainable lifestyle. So what does that mean, and how are people doing that in San Diego?Christina Slentz So I have a really amazing parish, St. Thomas More, and they have created a community garden that not only functions as a place for their parish to gather and work together, it also is open to the public, so it has an evangelical capacity as well. And they also collect recyclable cans and bottles and then take those to a facility where they can be paid for that recycling work, and then they take the money, and then they put it into this garden that allows them to gather and have a mission and have evangelical outreach. So I think of this as such a wonderful circular kind of example that is, you know, feeding them in many ways. You know, they have this sense of community. They have this sense of common, shared mission. They have a good relationship with the neighborhood around them, people that may be of different faiths or of no faith at all. And then they're also in good relationship with Mother Earth, and doing what they can to, you know, practice this sort of sustainability, or also a little bit like circular economics, I guess I would say as well. And I think one of the things that the Catholic Church is emphasizing is synodality, and our synodality really calls us to be community, to have a shared mission and really inviting participatory action. So in my building here, where we sort of have the headquarters, you know, we also have gone to compostables for all of our events, and we try to minimize any kind of single use plastics. But, you know, there's that dreaded moment at the end where everybody has to go to the three, you know, receptacles. Everyone panics, especially if I'm near them, and I feel terribly, you know, like, should I step away? Should I give them a moment to give them help? Is that overreach? And so, you know, but we all fumble through together, and that's where I've kind of said, like, “Look, it's not easy for me either. Like, God forbid I put the wrong thing in the wrong can, right?” So I think that there's this way where we all are coming together to sort of take on this work. And, you know, we're not going to be perfect, but, you know, I think that it does foster community when we take this on, and then also recognizing how, you know, now we are living with greater simplicity, and we are impacting the Earth, you know, to a lesser extent.Debra Rienstra Yeah, nothing bonds people like pulling weeds together, or standing over the recycle bins going, “Hmm.” It's okay. We don't have to indulge in recycling guilt, you know, just do your best. So I want to move on to ecological spirituality. I love that phrase. It's not one you hear everywhere. And I wanted to remind listeners that San Diego Diocese is the most biodiverse diocese in the US. Maybe we wouldn't have expected that, but you've kind of got everything there. So I want to talk about ecological spirituality in the context of that actual place. I love the sentiment you quoted from Laudato si' in an article you wrote recently. It was an idea from Pope Francis that in the beauties and wonders of the Earth, we experience God's friendship with us. And so I wanted to ask you how you're helping people in your parishes reconnect to the Earth where you are, and thus, and this is how you put it, “revive something of our true selves.”Christina Slentz Yeah, one of my favorite pieces in Laudato si': Pope Francis alludes to having a place in childhood where we felt a sense of awe and wonder. And I think that that awe and wonder allows us to get back to childhood in some ways, before there was a lot of noise before there was all the different distractions. And I think that that true self is also a little freer to connect to God. I think sometimes about little children and baby Jesus, you know, and that sort of immediate connection that's not really complicated, you know, it's just comfortable. Or feeling the love of God like being a child sitting on the lap of your mom or your dad. And so encouraging people, or providing opportunities for this return to that place of awe and wonder, I think is really important. I think that at the heart of our inability to care for creation is this estrangement from our Creator. So we won't care for something if we don't love it. And in this way, ecological spirituality may be step one in all of this, right? So I think we are really lucky, being here. As I mentioned, our climate is beautiful. It is a beautiful place. We have everything from the ocean to mountains to desert, and many people who live here do really connect with the geography and the beauty of where we are, and so inviting them to take a moment to just pause and think about those places. Think about their senses as they move through the memory of that space, I think is really important before we start any of the other conversations. And so I try to do that, and then we share about it. And I have yet to find somebody that says, “Oh, I just didn't have a place.” Everybody has a place. And many people will say, “I really struggled, because I love this place, and I love that place,” you know. And so it is really great to hear. And I think people really come out of an exercise like that with this new sense of common ground as well. And I think that is so important, right? Because if you ask people like, “Raise your hand, who hates trees?” No one's gonna do it, right? Don't even think anyone does. Or “Raise your hand if you like to litter.” No one's going to say, like, “Oh yeah, I really love throwing things out my window.” And so there is a lot more common ground. And I think that eco spirituality invites us to find out how much we have in common, and actually how much we all yearn for that place of connectedness.Debra Rienstra Oh, yeah. I've noticed, you know, people have so many different feelings that motivate what they might do in a faith and climate space, and there's anger, there's fear, a lot of anxiety. But the trick, I think, is to get to the center, which is love. And the quickest way to do that, maybe, is to find that early love, or a love that's developed over many, even generations, in a particular place, if you're lucky, and you're rooted in some way. I feel like we also, as people of faith, haven't made enough of a case that being closer to the creation is, in fact, a pathway to God. And I see that in a lot of the writings that you have too. It's a way of understanding God better. It's a way of allowing God to speak to us that we sometimes underestimate, I think. There's other ways, of course, but it's one that we tend to underestimate. It is a way to deeper spirituality. So getting people to be in touch with that, it sounds like you've you've worked on that a little bit.Christina Slentz We're very lucky. The Franciscan tradition is pretty rich and present here. The Franciscan School of Theology is located here at the University of San Diego.Debra Rienstra There we go.Christina Slentz I have several secular Franciscans on my team, and a few Franciscan friars. And you know, that's very much at the heart of St. Francis and St. Claire's tradition. St. Bonaventure, who is a Franciscan, actually calls nature, or the environment, the created world, like another book. It's another gospel that tells us something about God's plan.Debra Rienstra Yeah, yeah. So I wanted to quote from Pope Leo's message for the World Day of Prayer for the Care of Creation, which was September one. And I found his message so encouraging, and especially this particular paragraph, it's along the line of seeds here. He writes, “In Christ, we too are seeds, and indeed seeds of peace and hope. The prophet Isaiah tells us that the Spirit of God can make an arid and parched desert into a garden, a place of rest and serenity. In his words, a spirit from on high will be poured out on us, and the wilderness will become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. The work of righteousness will be peace, and the work of righteousness quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwellings and in quiet resting places.” So we have this beautiful vision and the sense of vocation of who we are and who our communities are as seeds of peace and hope. So it seems like you experience that in the San Diego Diocese. Are there some particular examples that have been really meaningful and important to you, where you see that “seeds of hope” metaphor being played out?Christina Slentz Yeah, I would point to two areas that I would offer up as good examples. One is a parish that is located in what's called Barrio Logan. It is an ecologically marginalized community. The highways literally forced the school to be moved when they put the highway in right down the middle of the community. And that's the I-5. So it runs all the way from Canada to Mexico. Big highway. In addition, the Coronado Bridge connects to the highway right there. The Navy base is there, and the Port of San Diego all intersects there. So their air quality is really degraded, and it's a socio-economically poor area. It is also a predominantly Hispanic community there. But the Jesuit pastor there, Father Scott Santa Rosa, is a very good community organizer. He led the parish when they were confronted by another warehouse that was going to be added at the port. And the proposal by the company violated the Port Authority's standards, but they were seeking a waiver, and Father Scott brought in the Environmental Health Coalition. He brought in a theologian from University of San Diego. He invited the youth to present on Laudato si' to the adults and really empowered the community, which is that seventh goal of Laudato si', it's very connected to environmental justice. And then they learned, they grew, they came to an understanding that this was not acceptable, and that they wanted to be a voice for their community. They—we traveled. I was very fortunate to kind of engage with them in this process.And we traveled to the Port Authority building the night before the Port Authority was going to make their decision on this, whether or not to grant this waiver. And we said a rosary, which consists of five sets of 10 Hail Marys, roughly. And between each set, somebody spoke and gave their witness. And one of the women stood up and said, “I never thought I would speak publicly in my whole life. I can't believe I'm here. I can't believe I'm speaking, but I found my voice because of this issue.” And I thought, even if we lose, that's such an amazing win that people felt connected to their environment. They understood that they have a voice. They understood their own dignity and the dignity of their community, and felt that it was worth standing up for. And the next day we went, there was demonstration and public witnessing and praying, and then they went in and spoke at the actual hearing. And the first thing that the chairman of the board said, in response to everyone's comments was, “Well, I'm a Catholic, and we have three priests that were here today.” And you know, how many times does a public official make a statement of faith? You know, I thought, “Okay, win number two!” And you know, I'll just go ahead and cut to the chase. And they turned down the company that wanted to put the warehouse in and said, “You know, we just don't think that you've convinced the local community that the benefits of this would be worth it.” And it was amazing.And so that place, they continue to also tend to the care of migrants. They have begun the work of accompanying migrants that are going for their court appointed hearings for their asylum process. And you know, those are not outcomes that are generally favorable, but they are just going and being present with them and, you know, we are on the border. We understand how some of these environmental impacts do entangle with human mobility. And so, you know, there's a lot that this community, that is really one of our poorest communities in San Diego, has brought to the wider San Diego Diocese as more parishes and local Catholics are now mimicking what they have done and joining in this mission, and so they've been an incredible source—this tiny little parish in a poor part of the Diocese with terrible environmental impacts, has actually been a place where things have blossomed and grown, and they actually do have an amazing garden as well.Debra Rienstra Wow, that's an incredible story, and exactly a story of empowerment and resilience, as you suggested, and a story of how low-resource people are not necessarily low-resource people. They have other kinds of resources that may not be visible to the outside, but that can be very powerful, and especially when one of those is faith. It was such a great example of people motivated not only by their, you know, sort of survival, but their faith to do this work. Yeah, wonderful.Christina Slentz I think they understand the impact, right? So if you can shut your windows and turn on your air conditioning, maybe you don't get it.Debra Rienstra Yeah, right. So what would you say are your biggest obstacles and your biggest joys in your work right now?Christina Slentz I think the biggest obstacle is coming up against Catholics and/or Christians, or really any person of faith. But I think this may be especially true to Catholics and Christians who think that our social actions have to be an “either/or” choice, and they resist a “yes/and” mentality, and so they put different issues in competition with each other, right? And, you know, sometimes they think about Cain and Abel, right? This sort of jealousy or comparison can be a real problem. Instead of saying, “Okay, maybe we don't fit in a neat box, but as Catholics, you know, we have to do all the things.” And that kind of privileging one issue or another issue makes us vulnerable to those who would seek division and competition. And I think that when we look at God, you know, God loves all of it, right? God is love, and so there isn't that discrimination in the example of our Creator, and I would, of course, we aren't perfect, you know, but we should aspire to that same kind of comprehensive love.Debra Rienstra Yeah, and we do it together. We don't all have to do every last one of the things. We do it together. What about joys? What are your greatest joys right now in your work?Christina Slentz I think that coming together is really a joy. When I first started this work, I felt like a unicorn. I could either be the only person of faith in an environmental group, or I could be the only environmentalist in a faith group. And so it just was a feeling of being awkward all the time. And I do think that just in the three years that I've been in this position, I am seeing momentum build. I think ecumenicalism is super helpful in this regard. And I think that increasingly people are finding each other, and they are starting to get a little bit of a wake up call. I think it is unfortunate that people in the United States have had to experience some significant catastrophes and human loss and impact before they start to awaken to the issue of climate change or environmental degradation. I think plastics are really a pretty significant issue as well, but I think that more and more, people seem to be coming around to it, and whenever we celebrate together, that gives me joy.Debra Rienstra Yeah, I agree. I'm seeing it happening too, and it keeps me going. It keeps me going to connect with people like you, and every door I open, there's more people of faith doing amazing work, and we are building that mycelial network. And it's pretty great. So what is your favorite gift of the Catholic Church, a gift of wisdom on creation care that you wish everyone would receive?Christina Slentz I am not sure I would say that this is my favorite. But maybe I think that it is very important, is that, you know, in the Catholic community, communion, Eucharist, is really, you know, the summit for Catholics, that each week, at a minimum, we are going to celebrate this liturgy. We break open the Word, and then we celebrate the Eucharist. And one of the things I, you know, find very compelling is the fact that Jesus celebrates at the Last Supper with bread and wine. Jesus didn't get grapes and, you know, a piece of meat, to celebrate that these were both chosen items that were not just created by God, but they involved, as we say, in our celebration, the work of human hands. And so this really represents this call to co-creation, I think. And if that is something that you know, is really at the heart of Catholicism, this, you know, summit of our faith to celebrate the Eucharist—in that, we are called to co-create. And so this tells us something about how we are meant to exist in relationship with the Creator. You know, God reveals God's self to us in the beauty of this creation or in the gift of the Eucharist, and then, in turn, we are called to respond to that love. Otherwise the revelation isn't complete, so our response is to care for creation or to receive the Eucharist, and then go and serve as God has called us to serve. So maybe, maybe this is something that we can offer up.Debra Rienstra So beautifully said, and the intimacy of eating, you know, taking the material, the fruit of the earth and the work of human hands, into ourselves, responding by the Spirit, that intimacy, that physicality, there's a reason that that is the central ritual.Christina Slentz And you know, if I could give you one last image connected to that—because then we become the tabernacle, right? And we think about Noah and the ark, right? And how, you know, creation is destroyed, but the ark holds this refugia right and until it's time for this moment of reconciliation and forgiveness and then renewed flourishing. And you may or may not have heard this story, but when the LA fires raged in Pacific Palisades in January of 2025 the fires swept across the parish and school called Corpus Christi Parish, and it is the home parish of brother James Lockman, one of my dear, dear volunteers. And there was a firefighter who went back to look at the ruins that evening, and he was Catholic, and he came across the tabernacle from the church, and it was the only thing that survived. And when they opened it up, it was pristine on the inside and undamaged. And that Sunday, they took it to St. Monica's Parish, which is one of the very animated creation care parishes in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, and they celebrated Mass there because Corpus Christi did not have a parish right to celebrate in that weekend. And I think about that tabernacle as being, you know—it's to reflect that Ark of the Covenant, right, Ark of Noah, the Ark of the Covenant. And then we have the tabernacle now, and that space of refuge that was preserved, you know. And then, of course, when we take the Eucharist into ourselves, we become that tabernacle. We're walking tabernacles, right? So we are also, then, places of refuge and where we know that God is with us and we can go and serve.Debra Rienstra Christina, it has been such a joy to talk to you. Thank you for your wisdom, for your inspiration, for the way that you deploy your expertise in such compassionate and far reaching ways. It's just been a pleasure. Thank you.Christina Slentz Oh, thank you so much for having me. I really enjoyed talking today with you, Debra.Debra Rienstra Thanks for joining us. For show notes and full transcripts, please visit debrarienstra.com and click on the Refugia Podcast tab. This season of the Refugia Podcast is produced with generous funding from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. Colin Hoogerwerf is our awesome audio producer. Thanks to Ron Rienstra for content consultation as well as technical and travel support. Till next time, be well. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit refugianewsletter.substack.com

Please remember to rate and review our podcast!Check out your YouTube channel @comadresycomics  CHISME DE LA SEMANA:  Barrio Logan location of Border X Brewery permanently closed.  ON MY RADAR:  Ignition Press releases Murder Podcast. W: Jeremy Hahn A: Mike Tisserand. First issue out Sept. 10th! ignitionpress.com @ignitionpressBOOK REVIEW:  Lucha Forever (available for free on Hoopla) W: John Aviña A: Mozart Eros C: Julio Santos L: Spacely X www.avinacomics.com @avinacomicsGuillermo Diaz is a struggling actor and father. Having moved his family from Mexico to Chicago, Guillermo is unable to provide the life he promised. Suddenly the role of a life time becomes available but with it an alien invasion and powers beyond his imagination.www.comickerpress.com  www.avinacomics.com www.hoopla.com EN LA LIBRERIA:  HOW TO TOUCH GRASS is a comics anthology about connection, isolation, and accessibility, all through the lens of the goofy command to "touch grass," balancing humor with sincerity. http://kck.st/47bkVJN How to Touch Grass published by Power & Magic Press, an indie comics publisher in Portland, OR. Their mission is the creative and economic empowerment of queer creators, BIPOC creators, and creators at the intersections. The driving force behind P&M Press is Joamette Gil, a queer Afro-Cuban cartoonist, and editor of all the award-winning(-and-nominated) titles at P&MP. To learn more, visit us at powerandmagicpress.com.- JUNTOS Y FUERTES:  Comics Plus Home - Comics Plus® — Powered by LibraryPass™SALUDOS:  In The Lab Podcast by Mark C. Dudley on YouTube In The Lab Ep1: With Christie Shinn on BullyingFollow us on socials @comadresycomicsVisit our website comadresycomics.comProduced by Comadres y Comics Podcast

Claudia Rodriguez-Biezunski is the founder of Sew Loka, a community-driven textile art studio in San Diego's Barrio Logan. A self-taught artist and entrepreneur, Claudia transforms reclaimed fabrics into vibrant, one-of-a-kind pieces that weave together personal history, cultural identity, and environmental consciousness. From collaborating with pro sports teams like the San Diego Wave and San Diego FC to teaching teens how to upcycle thrifted finds, her work proves that sewing is alive and thriving. This Episode: How can a needle and thread become a force for cultural preservation, sustainability, and self-expression? In this lively conversation, Claudia shares how her father's denim business planted the seeds for her creative path, why she's committed to slow fashion over fast trends, and how Sew Loka has grown into a hub for artistry and connection. She talks about the meditative rhythm of sewing, the power of “grandma crafts” to calm the mind and inspire the next generation, and the importance of reclaiming erased histories through art. Along the way, Claudia reveals why each piece she makes carries a narrative—from honoring her Chicana heritage to advocating for our planet—and how she's building community one stitch at a time. Plus, check out the extraordinary pieces Claudia shared in the video recording.Key Moments: [3:35] Why denim is both a family legacy and an environmental challenge [12:25] Sewing as an art form for storytelling and expression[18:58] Fast fashion vs. slow fashion, and the joy of customizing[27:33] The meditative effects of sewing[35:31] Art as resilience in challenging timesResources Mentioned in This Episode: Sew Loka – Community-based textile art studio in Barrio Logan Skills Pay Bills Podcast – Claudia's podcast that focuses on local makers and creators Arts: A Reason to Survive –  A nonprofit offering arts programs for youth, including Sew Loka sewing classes SDFC's Playmakers Program – An initiative that seeks to identify and showcase the talent of San Diego creatives who are contributing to the culture, substance, and flow of our community  Take Action: Mend & Upcycle – Try repairing or customizing a piece you already own to extend its life. Support Slow Fashion – Seek out and invest in makers who prioritize sustainability and originality. Host a Creative Gathering – Build connection by making art with others, whether it's sewing, crafting, or something else. Preserve Cultural Stories – Use your craft to honor and document the traditions that shaped you. Share Skills – Teach someone a “grandma craft” and help pass on sustainable, creative practices. Credits:This is a production of the Prebys FoundationHosted by Grant OliphantCo-Hosted by Crystal PageCo-produced by Crystal Page and Adam GreenfieldEngineered by Adam GreenfieldProduction Coordination by Tess KareskyVideo Production by Edgar Ontiveros MedinaThe Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego's own Mr. Lyrical Groove.Download episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPod​cast​.orgSpecial thanks to the Prebys Foundation TeamIf you like this show, and we hope you do, the best way to support this show is to share, subscribe

Send us a textMovie Manny returns with exciting news about directing a new short film "Legends Never Die," starring his wife, Claudia from Sew Loka and shot in their Barrio Logan sewing studio. Discover how a simple clothing patch can be transformed into a beautiful cinematic experience! Manny also gives exclusive updates on upcoming Sew Loka collaborations with SDFC, Uniqlo, San Diego Wave, and more. He also shares the raw journey of balancing small business growth with creative aspirations and using filmmaking to cope and push through crazy times. Whether you're into clothing, film, or entrepreneurship, hopefully this episode will remind you to stop overthinking and just "make the thing." https://sewloka.com/Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Bi-national artist Paola Villaseñor, known as Panca, is from Chula Vista and has spent over half her life in Tijuana. After her mother's death in 2005, she moved to Tijuana, where she found inspiration in the city's creativity, nightlife, affordability, and danger. Her art reflects themes of feminism and humanity's decay. "With art, you work with your heart, and it can become dark when you expose your vulnerability, but it's also pure. Art has been my therapy, my burden, and my savior." Panca's career took off with her solo show, “I Am the Architect of My Own Misfortune,” at Bread & Salt in 2020, accompanied by her first book, “Los Perdidos.” Her mural "Respect the Paleteros," featuring a distressed and melting ice cream cone, has become an icon in San Diego's Barrio Logan neighborhood.This episode mentions the Slow Baja Winter Expedition, Benchmark Maps Baja Road and Recreation Atlas, and the Pee Sport Bottle.Follow Panca on InstagramSupport the Slow Baja PodcastSubscribe to our YouTube ChannelBuy Baja Bound Insurance

Send us a textPaul Chevallier @toofbush visits the @sewloka sewing studio in #barriologan to discuss #sewing #socialmedia #slowfashion shooting #videos creating #clothing and surviving in #sandiego Recorded on 5/12/25 by @moviemannysd in Barrio Logan, San Diego, CA - 12:30pm PST To learn more about Paul and @pleasetoofbush please visit Paul's website: https://www.toofbush.comTo learn more about Claudia and @sewloka please visit Claudia's website: https://sewloka.com@sewloka @toofbush @skillspaybillstv @moviemannysdSkills Pay Bills TV #107 feat Paul Chevallier @toofbush #sewloka #sewing #sandiego #toofbush https://sewloka.com/Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Fog dense advisory  causes ground stop at San Diego International Airport, cancelling and delaying many flights. A San Diego Sate student hurt in the New Orleans New Year's Day attack is going to survive according to her family friends. The man accused of starting a fire at Incahoots in Mission Valley is expected in court today. The popular Barrio Logan restaurant "Las Cuatro Milpas" has been temporarily shut down by county health officials due to health code violations. Nearly 100 San Diego County homeowners are suing a Chula Vista contractor, accusing the company of accepting millions of dollars to build ADU's and then disappearing. Monster Trucks returns to Snapdragon Stadium this weekend.

Placas of Barrio Logan kicks it with the boys to talk about the upcoming Viva La Raza Fest. Thanks for kicking it! --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-kick-it-podcast/support

Emo Brown Media Presents:Local Love. The Interviews. Our weekly series where we sit down and highlight a member(s) of our Community. This week I sit down with District 80 Assemblymember David Alvarez… We learn about the Barrio Logan natives rise in the Political ranks & how he got there. We tap into Family, Education & Future Goals…It was a privilege to sot down with David & learn his story! Take a Seat. Relax and Enjoy.#EmoBrownEmpire #EmoBrown #ThePodcast

San Diego police are searching for a suspect responsible for a deadly shooting in Barrio Logan. Cal Fire says now is the time to prepare for wildfires as temperatures cool down this week. Simone Biles and other members of the U.S. Gymnastics team are now touring across the country, with the tour kicking off here in San Diego. Here's NBC 7's Marianne Kushi with the top stories of the day.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BANG! @southernvangard radio Ep405! Back from summer break, Vangardians, and it feels so good! This Tuesday marked the release of EDDIE MEEKS and DJ POCKET's “TOXIC MASCULINITY” on all steaming platforms. Pocket dropped in to the lab and we got the nitty gritty on the album, played a few joints from it and also got into a bunch of heat that dropped in the past month. It's good to have that ole feelin' back, we THAAAAANK YAAA and YOU WAAAAALCOME!!!!! #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard // southernvangard.com // @southernvangard on all platforms #hiphop #undergroundhiphop #boombap Recorded live July 23, 2024 @ Dirty Blanket Studios, Marietta, GA southernvangard.com @southernvangard on all platforms #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard twitter/IG: @southernvangard @jondoeatl @cappuccinomeeks Pre Game Beats - Kyo Itachi Talk Break Inst. - "Barrio Logan" - BhramaBull "Southern Vangard Theme" - Bobby Homack & The Southern Vangard All-Stars "Still Sharp" - Eddie Meeks & DJ Pocket "Era Of The Beasts" - Kount Fif ft. Copywrite, Double A.B. & Bobby J From Rockaway "Surgery" - Freeway & Jake One ft. Symba "Big Harlem (Tell Me)" - Camron "Play Clothes" - Nappy Roots "Party In Detroit" - Bizarre x Foul Mouth "Too Grown" - Eddie Meeks & DJ Pocket ft. Yamin Semali & E. Smitty Talk Break Inst. - "Insomnia" - BhramaBull "'94 Nas" - Jamil Honesty ft. Jay Royale (prod. JR Swiftz) "Isiah Thomas" - Dillon & Batsauce "Fortunate" - Common & Pete Rock "Ain't From Me" - The Musalini ft. Ice Lord (prod. Jose Cienfuegos) "Wild Cowboys Revenge" - Sadat X & DJ Muggs ft.. Rahiem Supreme "Ron Harper" - GhostDave ft. Ma$i Mac "Citrus Wahoo" - Action Bronson ft. Meyhem Lauren Talk Break Inst. - "Stash House" BhramaBull "The Land" - Blu & Evidence "Booger Sugar" - Daniel Son & Futurewave ft. Al.Divino "Parquet" - Pounds "Music And Pain" - GhostDave ft.. Act & G4 Jag "Never Should Have Loved H.E.R." - Eddie Meeks & DJ Pocket (prod. Tone Beatz) "Smoking Mirrors" - Ransom & MadeinTYO "'91 RZA" - Teeg Austin "I'm A Man" - Eddie Meeks & DJ Pocket ft. Wise Intelligent & Blu "Crystals And Keys" - Freeway & Jake One ft. Scholito "She Major" - Eddie Meeks & DJ Pocket Talk Break Inst. - "Ridgeline" - BhramaBull "Be Better" - Eddie Meeks & DJ Pocket

Residents of Barrio Logan have been fighting for cleaner air for decades. Learn more at https://www.yaleclimateconnections.org/ 

President Joe Biden signed an executive order closing asylum to migrants entering the country illegally and critics on both sides of the political divide are unhappy. In other news, many California college students are leaving nearly $300 of monthly grocery help on the table. Plus, Barrio Logan is well known for its vibrant arts and culture scene, and now there's a new addition to further honor the Latino community, a Piñata Art Fest.

In this episode, Stop & Talk host Grant Oliphant talks with Ramel Wallace, a multifaceted artist, activist, and community builder deeply embedded in the San Diego creative scene. Ramel's journey, rooted in hip-hop storytelling and community engagement, provides a unique lens into the city's history, culture, and social dynamics.Ramel discusses his viral "We're San Diegans" video series, which humorously and poignantly captures the essence of San Diego life, touching on local pride, cultural diversity, the city's social issues, and of course, tacos. He also shares his perspective on the significant yet often overlooked impact of redlining and gentrification, which he is exploring through his Far South/Border North campaign.The conversation delves into Ramel's role as the host of Creative Mornings San Diego, his dedication to fostering creativity and care, and his commitment to cultural preservation through initiatives like "The Last Black Man in Barrio Logan." Through his work, Ramel emphasizes the importance of intimate community connections and the powerful role of creativity in addressing societal issues.Tune in to hear how Ramel's artistry and activism are shaping San Diego's future, how creativity and care are intertwined, and discover the profound ways in which art can be a catalyst for social change.  Credits:This is a production of the Prebys Foundation.Hosted by Grant OliphantCo-Hosted by Crystal PageCo-produced by Crystal Page and Adam GreenfieldEngineered by Adam GreenfieldProduction Assistance by Tess KareskyThe Stop & Talk Theme song was created by San Diego's own Mr. Lyrical Groove.Recorded at the Voice of San Diego Podcast StudioDownload episodes at your favorite podcatcher or visit us at StopAndTalkPodcast.orgIf you like this show, and we hope you do, the best way to support this show is to share, subscribe, and review our podcast. Thank you for your support, ideas, and listening.

The beach near Oceanside Pier is back open, days after a fire caused a water contact closure. The new San Diego Police Department's chief will be confirmed today. Roscoe's is moving forward with opening a new location at Barrio Logan. Here's NBC 7's Marianne Kushi with the top stories of the day.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BANG! @southernvangard radio Ep397! We're back from Spring Break with a vengeance, Vangardians. Doe and Meeks kick things off with a 10 song set, and also brought two, count ‘em TWO, WORLD EXCLUSIVES courtesy of MATICULOUS, HUS KINGPIN, BHRAMABULL, REEK OSAMA & BIG TWINS. We also announced the date for Episode 400, so mark ya little calendars - MAY 5, 2024 - yep, you read it right…EPISODE 400 on CINCO DE MAYO now known as CINCO DOECINO! It doesn't get any more poetic and it doesn't get any more YOU WAAAAALCOME!!!!! #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard // southernvangard.com // @southernvangard on all platforms #hiphop #undergroundhiphop #boombap -------------------- Recorded live April 10, 2024 @ Dirty Blanket Studios, Marietta, GA southernvangard.com @southernvangard on all platforms #SmithsonianGrade #WeAreTheGard twitter/IG: @southernvangard @jondoeatl @cappuccinomeeks -------------------- Pre-Game Beats - Thee Sacred Souls / Magic In Threes Talk Break Inst. - "Muff Shuffle" - The Doppelgangaz "Foot Clan Party" - Mickey Diamond "Uptown Fly Sh*t" - Termanology ft. Lord Sko & Nim K. "Say You Love Me" - Cookin Soul & The Musalini ft. Hus Kingpin & Reuben Vincent "Legend Has It" - Tha God Fahim "In Living Color" - Blu & Shafiq Husayn ft. Skye Louise "Chess Not Checkers" - Q-Unique, DJ Presto One & Jake Palumbo "The Grimy Life" - Supreme Cerebral & Swab ft. Big Twin "Halal Food" - FastLife, Madhattan & Wino Willy "Justified" - Waterr & The Standouts "Higher Self" - Roc Marciano ft. T.F & Flee Lord (prod. The Alchemist) Talk Break Inst. - "Harem Uptown" - The Doppelgangaz "The Servicemen" - Real Bad Man & Lukah "Cartoon Car Tunes" - Mickey Diamond "Roll Call" - GUTTR (Havoc, RJ Payne, Ras Kass) ft. Method Man, Fame & Sway "Mav x Mooch x Times" - DJ Muggs & Mooch ft. M.A.V. & Times Change "Terrance Trent d'Arby" - Sankofa "Tyson" - Ekundayo "Around The Planet" - Apathy Talk Break Inst. - "Stupid Idiot" - The Doppelgangaz "The Expanse" - maticulous ft. Hus Kingpin ** WORLD EXCLUSIVE ** "Barrio Logan" - Bhrmabull ft. Reek Osama x Big Twins ** WORLD EXCLUSIVE ** "Malandro" - Reek Osama X Hus Kingpin "Curbside Service" - Jalen Frazier And Foul Mouth "Sammy On Balco" - Waterr & The Standouts ft. Chubs "Twin Turbos" - Money Mogly ft. Starz Coleman "Measuring Stick" - Marv Won ft. Fatt Father & Elzhi Talk Break Inst. - "Up Good" - The Doppelgangaz

How does the FRIENDS theme song go? But, I'll be there for you, when the rain starts to pour. I'll be there for you, like I've been there before. I'll be there for you, cause you're there for me too. Today, my longtime friend of over twenty years, Ernesto, joins me. We both have our share of trials and triumphs, we've only touched the surface on this episode but we touched on the depth of what friendship is and I give my "flowers" to him. I share how he was there for me and played a part in helping me navigate a big season of my life. Ernesto shares some of his life, some dark mental places he's been in, and went on to share how we can be there for others - family or friends. It is often said, we can't pick who our family is but we can pick who our friends are.  I am so thankful for my friends. There are moments and seasons where we've been active in each other's lives to help one another out of them, or simply been a form of encouragement.  Pick your friends wisely and always be that good friend in return.   Make sure you checkout Ernesto's spot Barrio Dog  at Petco Park, Barrio Logan, and his new spot in San Antonio!  You can follow their IG accounts for San Diego  and San Antonio   Be sure to follow me at With Priscilla  on IG and please share, follow, and give us stars so the podcast can be shared and heard.   Have a blessed day!          

Our HHH guest this week, the legendary Trey Foshee of George's at the Cove, has been in San Diego's restaurants for a long time. Actually, scratch that. He's been in one kitchen during the entire 27 years he's lived, cooked, and managed here, and that's in La Jolla at George's (and its related establishments). In an age where people hop around faster than you can post about a new job on Instagram, there's something to be said for digging in your heels and perfecting your craft, and, in turn, turning out a generation of decorated chefs whose careers started in your kitchen. That's exactly what Foshee has done. This year brings the 40th anniversary of the George's empire, one of the longest-running and consistently most delicious in town. We asked Foshee to come on the pod to talk about changes to the restaurant scene and its menus over time, what he's learned in the last few years during which he stepped out of the kitchen for the first time and into management, what working with his daughter is like, and to talk about the anniversary celebrations at the restaurant. About those celebrations, they are decidedly stacked with world-class talent, all of which began in Foshee's George's kitchen once-upon-a-time. Beginning in January, visiting chefs who once worked there will cook special supper club–style dinners on specific Wednesdays, with two seatings each night. Connor McVey, who went on to work in the Wolfgang Puck Universe; pastry chef Christine Rivera, who was at California Modern for a long time and helped open Sandpiper and now is the executive chef of The Bishop's School; barkeeps Stephen Kurpinsky and Sam Peters, who helmed the Georges-centric cocktail book Neighborhoods of San Diego; and Christopher Costa of Michelin three-star Meadowood are among the notable guest chefs. Foshee also dishes on his not-so-secret but still effective weapon (and that of chefs around the county): Chino Farm. “Coming to San Diego,” he says of his move to town over two decades ago, “[Chino Farm] was a really big part of it. I won't say it's the reason we came here, but it was a really big fringe benefit. It's one of the reasons why we looked at North County to settle down in, because it's on my way to work. I can just stop off at the farm, and having them in your backyard is just a really special thing.” We also get into some news: Las Ahumaderas, the famous adobada taco spot in Tijuana, opened in Chula Vista; so did Butcher's Plate in National City's Market on 8th; Ambrely Ouimette told us she pulled out of her partnership with Hasekura, the omakase-only spot that will be opening in Barrio Logan above Fish Guts. She says she's got “a full sushi restaurant” and no space, and is looking for takers…same with Hasekura, which now needs a chef; Downtown Chula Vista is hosting their annual Taste of Third event on March 21; and Oceanside's Northern Pine Brewing Co. opened an Idaho-inspired restaurant by the same name with a former Dija Mara chef at its helm.

First up, Johnson speaks with San Diego–based Alana Quintana Albertson about her latest novel, Kiss Me, Mi Amor. Albertson discusses how the Golden State's diverse settings provide endless inspiration for her many romance novels. “I really use setting as a character, and I was contrasting La Jolla and Barrio Logan and different communities,” says Albertson. Albertson also shares a few sneak peaks of her upcoming works and names some of her top San Diego County spots for coffee, tacos, and books.  Next, Johnson is joined by Melissa Broder, author of the mystical desert tale Death Valley. The Los Angeles author and poet recounts how a traumatic personal experience in the California desert inspired her latest novel. “I was just going to Zabriskie Point where nobody—it's a very touristy area—nobody ever gets lost there. I got completely lost and did everything you're not supposed to do,” Broder recalls.  She tops off the conversation by sharing her favorite local boutiques, restaurants, and hiking trails.   Lastly, Johnson talks with South Lake Tahoe–based memoirist and poet Suzanne Roberts. The Almost Somewhere author recounts her experience hiking the John Muir Trail: “Those 28 days taught me that there is more than one view of nature, that nature is a place where we should be connecting and not conquering.” The experienced outdoorswoman also builds an itinerary for both a laid-back and action-packed winter weekend in her hometown.

Claudia @sewloka sits down with Ainara Calahorra, creator of MuXu Creations @muxu.creations Claudia and Ainara met each other in 2021, right around the same time that Ainara left her career as a psychologist to follow her passion for sewing, creating and being a full time sewist/business owner. Ainara is originally from Spain, and she is influenced by the strong women in her family and her entrepreneur grandfather who reinvented himself several times until the end. Ainara owns a San Diego slow fashion clothing company called MuXu Creations.From the MuXu Creations website:At MuXu Creations, we rescue fabrics: gorgeous swatches, deadstock rolls of fabric, scraps, or vintage pieces from ending in landfills and transform them into one-of-a-kind pieces that tell a story. We hand cut and sew from start to finish, to give you garments that last longer because of the attention to detail and care we put in every stitch. We even started printing our original watercolors in some garments as wearable art. Those who wear a MuXu Creations piece are making a strong statement about their mindset: sustainability with style, uniqueness, and quality to come back to enjoy the particularity of each product.Thank you for continuing to support Skills Pay Bills, Sew Loka and Slow Fashion, we appreciate you!!!@sewloka@skillspaybillstv@muxu.creationsSew Loka website: https://sewloka.com/shopSew Loka Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sewloka/?hl=enMuXu Creations website: https://www.muxucreations.com/shopMuXu Creations IG: https://www.instagram.com/muxu.creations/ https://sewloka.com/Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

On this week's Happy Half Hour podcast… Pablo Becker named his new restaurant Fish Guts. That's the kind of humor and gall you need to make it in life. It's gonna make me like you. It helps that he's using the 90 percent local seafood, the best damn things pulled off the boats a few blocks from his Barrio Logan fish sandwich-and-taco shop. “It's crazy to me that you have the best seafood in the world right over there,” he says, pointing out of the SDM podcast studio window at the bay. “And 80-something percent of restaurants here import their fish.” I bite his sandwich. Tell him it reminds me of a Filet-O-Fish if a Filet-O-Fish used fresh local rock fish and brioche buns and the best ingredients from local farms. And if the Filet-O-Fish, all due respect, was twenty or thirty times better. It's a fantastic sandwich, beer-battered and slathered in a just-spicy-enough Mexican tartar sauce (seared serranos, Mexican herbs). “My restaurant is like 500-square-feet,” he says. “It's me, a plancha, and a deep fryer.” That tiny space is Pablo's comfort zone. After it all fell apart, this kind of heads-down cooking is where he found his groove again. A San Diego native (his parents moved here from Mexico City), Pablo had been part of the opening team on Isla inside Vegas' then-newly redesigned Treasure Island. It was widely hailed as one of the best Mexican restaurants in the state. He learned restaurant operations and cooking under his famous chef cousins, Patricio and Richard Sandoval. Richard is one of the most revered Mexican chefs in the world, with 60-plus restaurants flung across the globe. In 2007, Pablo opened one of central San Diego's first upscale, CIA-style Mexican restaurants, El Vitral. It was terrible timing, signing his lease at the top of the market when the economy was going nuts, and just months before that same economy took a floundering dive into a deep recession. “After it closed, I was going through some stuff,” he says. “My cousin called me and said, ‘We're opening a restaurant in Chicago, why don't you come out for a while?' I said, ‘Nah man I'm good.' And he said, ‘No, your dad already bought you a plane ticket you're coming next week.'” Pablo went, figured he'd stay a month, brush the dirt off. He'd eat in their restaurant. He started bugging the cooks—nearly all first-generation Mexican-Americans—to let him cut a few things, tinker on the line. He told his cousin he was ready to get back in the game. His cousin pointed to one of the multiple restaurants they were opening, figured Pablo could run one of them. Be the boss. He was an operator, had all the skills. “No, I want to be a line cook,” Pablo told him. And for five years, a very good restaurateur just cooked. “I learned more about my Mexican culture and roots from those guys in the kitchen than I had learned all my life,” he says. “It was the best five years of my life.” Last year, he came home to San Diego. He opened Fish Guts—a simple, honest fish sandwich and taco shop in Barrio Logan from a guy with a hell of a pedigree. His mom occasionally comes down and helps out. Walk in, and you'll probably see Pablo in that tiny space—his plancha, his fryer, his prep nook—just like the space he had as a line cook in Chicago, the space that brought him back.

State funding has been secured for San Diego's homeless outreach programs. In other news, we look at how a community garden in City Heights is healing a patch of land and the people who tend it. Plus, a street in Barrio Logan will be renamed Saturday after the neighborhood's priest Father Brown, who died in 2020.

A migrant aid center in San Ysidro may have to shut down because of a lack of funding. Then, the battle over a biodiesel factory in Barrio Logan that is pitting industry against neighbors. Plus, California State University student workers have been given state approval to vote to unionize.

This week, one of the most controversial plans in local politics was quashed. The San Diego Association of Governments board voted to remove the driving fee from all future plans. The fee was devised as a funding source to supplement gas tax revenue as hybrid and electric cars became more popular. And it was a driving deterrent to help the region meet its emission targets. But now that idea is dead. Not coincidentally, Hasan Ikhrata is leaving SANDAG as executive director soon. In this episode we review how it happened, the political implications and what's next for SANDAG. Plus: College rankings explained. Blowout in Barrio Logan over police. Politifest is nigh! Get your tickets at politifest.org See Andrea, Scott and Jakob's newsletters at vosd.org/newslettersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the death toll in Maui keeps climbing, San Diego is coming together with donations to help them out. A marine has been charged with sexual assault of a minor, after a 14-year old girl was found in the barracks at Camp Pendleton. A new family shelter is now open in Barrio Logan, where families can get supportive services. Chula Vista's Lemon Festival returns for a 26th year. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The boys recap their busy weekend in Barrio Logan and in Vista! Make sure to leave a like, comment, share, and subscribe. Thanks for kicking it! This episode is sponsored by: @natalies.fashion_ @streetknowledge_hydraulics2 @women_workout_wear @gdfunkster @fullmetalburgers @thedraftoceanside @caliblunt --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-kick-it-podcast/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-kick-it-podcast/support

Jason and Brett talk to author Javier Fuentes (Countries of Origin) about the fears surrounding immigration, mysteries of young love, joy in a perfect dessert, and the places we find home. Gays Reading is excited to shout out queer-owned independent bookstore Libélula Books & Co in the Barrio Logan neighborhood in San Diego, CA.  “Libélula is a home for love of language and radical sh*t!” You can learn more about them HERE and purchase your copy of Countries of Origin from them HERE. Javier Fuentes is a Spanish American writer, a 2018 Lambda Literary Fellow, who earned an MFA in Fiction from Columbia University where he was a teaching fellow. Born in Barcelona, he lives in New York.**BOOKS!** Check out the list of books discussed on each episode on our Bookshop page:https://bookshop.org/shop/gaysreading | By purchasing books through this Bookshop link, you can support both Gays Reading and an independent bookstore of your choice!Join our Patreon for exclusive bonus content! Purchase your Gays Reading podcast Merch! Follow us on Instagram @gaysreading | @bretts.book.stack | @jasonblitmanWhat are you reading? Send us an email or a voice memo at gaysreading@gmail.com

We are back with another Metiche Monday! Everyone's here with their weekly updates Shamps, CeCe, Lexy, BJ and Casas... Also popping in this week is Tony from Corazon de Torta giving us the 411 on his new tennis club! Also stopping by is Michael Jimenez from Chula Vista Watersports and KAYAK Cafe letting us know what is going down down on the CV waterfront. After the break Milo from Por Vida stops by and let us know what's going on with his new location in Barrio Logan! Enjoy! Don't forget to join our Emo Brown Social Club by signing up for our Patreon at… https://www.patreon.com/EmoBrownSocia... Rate, Review, Subscribe on the following platforms… YouTube for ALL the Videos

Claudia @sewloka sits down with Dani @thisgirlhugtrees (5/29/23) for episode #82 of Skills Pay Bills TV @skillpaybillstv recorded live inside the Sew Loka sewing studio. 2113 Logan Avenue, Suite B, San Diego, CA 92113.Dani @thisgirlhugstrees is an embroidery artist living in San Diego. She creates original art and hosts other local artists at Studio IX @studioixsandiego in Barrio Logan. Claudia and Dani talk about what it's like to curate art shows and create for a living. They also talk about cats, clitoris art, and hugging trees. Thank you for continuing to watch our video thing, we appreciate you!  https://sewloka.com/Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

Claudia @sewloka sits down with renowned anonymous artist EYEGATO @_eyegato_ EYEGATO currently resides in San Diego and shares an art gallery/retail studio space with his partner, DANI @thisgirlhugstrees called STUDIO IX @studioixsandiego located in historic Barrio Logan.In this episode, Sew Loka & Eyegato discuss DIY art, 10 years of EYEGATO, curating art shows, Studio IX, being anonymous, and creating cool art for yourself  thank you for continuing to watch/listen to our SKILLS PAY BILLS podcast , we appreciate you!!Filmed & recorded on location at Sew Loka 2113 LOGAN AVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92113Recorded Monday May 22nd at 6:30pm PSTwww.sewloka.comwww.studioixsd.bigcartel.com@skillspaybillstv@walktheblocksd  https://sewloka.com/Thank you for continuing to support Sew Loka and Skills Pay Bills, we appreciate you!

#12: Claudia Biezunski-Rodriguez, Mexican-American fashion designer, comes on the podcast to discuss how she navigated her childhood, the beginning stages of starting her business Sew Loka, what brown identity means to her, and the community of Barrio Logan. She also discusses her sustainability practices (they plan to be 100% sustainable by this summer) and why it's important in the fashion industry. Claudia opened her sewing studio in 2013. Her mission is to break down barriers, blur societal norms, and proudly welcome BIPOC and undeserved communities through affordable, edgy, and handmade clothing, while remaining sustainable. Claudia is dedicated to working with the community & volunteering, seen through her mantra "Community Over Competition." She also most recently taught a sewing class at Nike; teaching them the art of sewing while prioritizing sustainability. You can find Claudia in Barrio Logan, San Diego along with other entrepreneurs and artists.CONNECT BELOW:follow Sew Loka herecheck out her site hereCONNECT with HAN:follow Han herefollow HOW I SEE IT the pod herefollow Han's TIK TOK here check out Han's blog here

The theme of episode 3 is art. We get a definition from painter/sculptor Jean Cornwell Wheat (https://jeanwheat.wordpress.com/about/) then I visit a fashion house in Barrio Logan (https://sewloka.com/) and L.A.'s Open Mike Eagle (https://open.spotify.com/artist/5CuU6SRJjbbZL926nSGGxX?si=SKcnMIVBRGSQkbHPW705yA) gives us the history of art rap. Music: https://www.instagram.com/gene_flo/ Episode artwork: https://www.liquidsketchstudio.com/ Show credits: Parker Edison (Host), Chris Reyes (Head Editor), Angela Rogan (Writer), Prof Robert A. Saunders (Geo-Political Consultant), Adrian Villalobos (Media Production Specialist), Lisa Jane Morrisette (Director of Audio Programming and Operations) and John Decker (Senior Director of Content Development)

Gerardo is the owner of Provecho Coffee Co. based here in San Diego, CA. This was such a fun conversation that is filled with his journey into coffee, and how he feels that the universe kept pulling him back to coffee every time he tried to step away. He has humble beginnings with Provecho, starting as catering company, then moving solely to coffee pop ups, and to now opening his first coffee cart in Bread & Salt, a local art gallery in Barrio Logan. My man G is on the rise, get familiar! Enjoy!  Need Caffeine & GREEN?  3072 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego, CA, 92104  www.caffeineandgreenroasting.com 

Since the rise of the Chicano Movement in the late 60s, Chicano artists have used a variety of mediums to express historical counter-narratives, encourage political activism, and educate communities. Fifty-three years ago on April 22, 1970, in San Diego, California the residents of Logan Heights, alongside a coalition comprised of hundreds of students, community activists, Brown Berets, and Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán (MEChA) collectively staged a successful 12-day people's land takeover to thwart the construction of a California Highway Patrol substation on land where the city of San Diego had promised to build a public park for barrio residents. Thanks in part to the protest, the city of San Diego agreed to acquire the site from the state and develop it into a park for the Chicano community. In 2023, Chicano Park is widely regarded as a monument to the self-determination and self-empowerment of Chicano people in the U.S. The concrete pillars that uphold the Coronado Bridge that once sliced and divided the community are now adorned with the iconic murals that have made Chicano Park an anchor for the community's strong Chicano identity and its revolutionary spirit and history. Although while Chicano Park has grown and expanded alongside the neighborhood and received a National Historic Landmark designation from the U.S. Department of the Interior in 2017, the park and its illustrious collection of intricate murals continued to lack an official space dedicated to documentation and preservation of its history until Chicano Park opened the Chicano Park Museum and Cultural Center (CPMCC) last Fall. Unsurprisingly, Chicano artists have continued this legacy of Chicanismo into today's contemporary artistic and political movements—taking the moment to express political autonomy, cultural solidarity, and pride in being of Indigenous descent. Lucas Cruz, Chairman of the Chicano Park Steering Committee joins Step Off! Radio to discuss the Chicano Park Museum & Cultural Center, the struggle to make the museum a reality, and what the museums means to the residents of Barrio Logan and Logan Heights.

In the wake of the recent mass shootings in the state, San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott talks about gun violence restraining orders or red flag laws. In other news, a new report finds pesticide use is expected to increase and become more hazardous as the climate warms. Plus, we have details on a restaurant in Barrio Logan that's run by culinary students learning the industry.

This cafe is one of the better places in San Diego to eat clean, sure. It's also parents' love for their daughter. This damn good salad—loaded with all kinds of greens and seeds and micronutrients in various natural forms—was all for her. Every parent knows the feeling. When your kid is sick or hurt, you will do the wildest things you never thought you'd do, uproot your life, quit jobs, take four extra jobs, do whatever it takes to help them regain their health. Parakeet Cafe is what Carol Roizen could do. When she and her husband Jonathan Goldwasser found out their then-young daughter Michelle had tumors on her spine, Carol uprooted their lives and dedicated everything she was to creating the healthiest food she could possibly get her daughter to eat. And it turned into a healthy breakfast/lunch concept that started in La Jolla, then Little Italy, and now they're about to open four more locations across Southern California (Carlsbad, Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Newport). For wellness month at SDM, we invited Carol and and Jonathan into the SDM offices to tell their family's story. The whole month, we're focusing on people in the food and drink scene who are making food and drink that's focused on health. Check out the January issue here; maybe even subscribe–we send the beautiful glossy mag to your house every month. Like a real magazine. It's wild. In the news, Heritage Barbecue is opening this week in Oceanside—a massive house of slow-cookery from pitmaster Danny Castillo and his wife, who started their good-meat cue spot in San Juan Capistrano as a pop-up in 2017 and it went bonkers; they were a finalist on Food Network's Great Food Truck Race and now Lia's Lumpia has set down permanent roots in Barrio Logan; the owners of Local Tap House in Oceanside have opened a modern west-coast take on the east coast classic: the Jewish deli (pastrami everywhere!); and we get more details on Bivouac Ciderworks' big expansion, as they plan the Bivouac Adventure Lodge next door in North Park. For “Two People, Fifty Bucks,” Carol points to one of the greatest sushi restaurants in San Diego, the one that started it all—Sushi Ota in P.B.; David (surprise surprise!) finds yet another soup that he can't live without—the birria udon with brisket at El Barbecue; and I was reminded this week of a San Diego classic that's perfect for rainy weather soul sads: the polenta plate at Cucina Urbana. Our next podcast, we'll talk with one of San Diego's young farmers who's been supplying San Diego's first three-star Michelin restaurant with the raw materials for that kind of greatness: Spencer Rudolph of Sage Hill Ranch Gardens.

Get to know David Favela on his own terms on his own turf—in the beer garden of Border X Brewing in Barrio Logan, San Diego. In this extended interview, the Chicano CEO and brewery owner shares his backstory in the technology industry, his hot takes on culture and sustainable development, and why his community needs a Chicano 2.0. Plus, meet Yanel de Angel, managing director of Perkins&Will's Boston studio and the genius behind ResilientSEE, a collaborative initiative to restore and sustain communities throughout her first home, Puerto Rico.Click here for the show notes.

Join Us As We Go Over Moments of The Week with: Algo Bien ✅ Chale ✅ Ya Wëi ✅ AND a special visit from the owners of Por Vida Cafe in Barrio Logan and Sherman, Carolina Santana & Milo Lorenzana. Caro and Milo will join us to answer your questions on this week's Question of the Week!!! Want to catch us LIVE next time? Check out: https://metichemonday.com Follow us on YouTube for ALL the Videos

In the "Today in San Diego" podcast one man is dead in Barrio Logan after his truck was struck by a Trolley, a homicide investigation underway in Oceanside after a man was shot and killed and two men arrested in Mission Valley after police find them in possession of 50,000 counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A North County family helps a Russian relative escape the war against Ukraine. In other news, Barrio Logan residents may be getting relief from pungent odors coming from a biofuels plant on Newton Avenue. Plus, property owners in North Park this year approved a new tax on themselves to fund extra cleanups, landscaping and other improvements on streets and storefronts.

The warm weather is long gone, but hosts Eunice and Erika are still nerding out about Border X Brewing and Barrio Logan in San Diego. In this episode, they ask how we put numbers on the success of thriving communities and businesses. For David Favela, the answer lies in the spatial and soulful statistics. To help understand this story, Eunice and Erika reflect on the importance of “mixing up” how we gather, analyze, and talk about data.Click here for the show notes.

Maritza Garcia is an activist with the Environmental Health Coalition, who grew up in Logan Heights and now fights for cleaner air in her neighborhood. She's also an artist who makes crochet clothing and sculptures and she's a new mom! In this conversation, she shares what it was like to grow up in Barrio Logan and Logan Heights, where soot piles up on surfaces and children experience asthma at a high rates. We also talked about the life-giving nature of art, and how life has changed since becoming a parent.

San Diego County reports the first flu death of 2022, amid an intense wave of RSV cases sweeping the nation. Law Enforcement team up on Halloween weekend safety. A win for Barrio Logan, new steps to combat smell from a local biodiesel plant. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rady Children's Hospital Warns of Long Wait Times at ER, Sheena Says Expect More Perfect Weather, People in Barrio Logan are Asking "What's That Smell?" Powerball Jackpot Now at $800 Million See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Continuing the conversation with David Favela of Border X Brewing in San Diego's Barrio Logan, Eunice and Erika confront the hard truths about zoning, revitalization, and community engagement. Then David offers his strategy for gente-fication, a more human approach to community development that requires both perspiration and perseverance.Click here for the show notes.

In the "Today in San Diego" podcast, in Barrio Logan an investigation is underway, after a man was found dead and another found with a gunshot wound to the head, a new bill banning homeless encampments where children are often present, could soon become law, and it may be the start of the Fall Season, but NBC 7's Brooke Martell tells us why you might want to hold off on the warm layers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

San Diego is the first in the nation to deploy a new technology to test the safety of our ocean water. And Imperial Beach and Coronado are grappling with the results.  The tests use a new method to count the amount of bacteria found in the gut of warm-blooded mammals, including humans (e.g., feces). The word poop is funny, obviously, but this is deadly serious for local beach cities — which may not only face economic hardship from having their beaches closed, but the test results suggest beachgoers could get seriously sick. This week, we discuss the rollout of these new tests and a lot of confusion that followed. Plus: A viral interview with a local school leader. A new documentary about Barrio Logan's pollution struggles. Get the newsletter for this show at vosd.org/pod See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.