Port of Entry

In January 12, 2010 a devastating earthquake hit Haiti that caused a massive exodus of Haitian nationals to look for a better future in other parts of the world. Elena and Petiane are two Haitian refugees who left their home country for South America to find work. They eventually made it to Tijuana as they set their sights on getting to the US, but after a turn of events they decided to make Tijuana their new home.
 
 @portofentrypod
 
 **************
 
 Port of Entry is back after a long hiatus and is excited to share a whole new set of stories with you, this time centered around food and migration. 
 
 This season we share several stories about how food has changed cities in the borderlands, including episodes on folks who have made Valle de Guadalupe, the famous wine region of northern Baja, their home. 
 
 Follow hosts Natali Gonzalez and Alan Lilienthal as they sit down with these fascinating people and share their personal and family stories. Listen in and join us!
 
 If you like this episode, show us some love @portofentrypod 
 
 **************
 
 From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org
 Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast
 Find us on Instagram
 or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod
 Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.
 If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected].
 Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at [email protected].
 “Port of Entry'' is written, produced and directed by Julio C. Ortiz Franco. Luca Vega is our Technical Producer and Sound Designer. 
 Alisa Barba is our editor. 
 Episodes are translated by Julio C. Ortiz Franco and Natali Gonzales. 
 Elma Gonzalez and M.G. Perez are our Spanish Editors. 
 Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is Director of Audio Programming and Operations and John Decker is the Director of Content Development.
 This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Hola Amigos!
 
 We are back after a long hiatus ready and super excited to share a whole new set of stories with you.
 
 This March 15 we kick off Season 4! And this season we will be showcasing stories of newcomers to the borderlands who have impacted the culinary Landscape of Baja. 
 
 We also have two important announcements we want to share with you.
 
 New team members join the Port of Entry family:
 Julio C. Ortiz Franco will be our new Producer/Editor and Luca Vega will take over as Technical Producer/Sound Designer. 
 
 Season 4 will be featuring Episodes in Spanish. Eso!
 
 We hope you enjoy what we have in store for you, so don't forget to tune in on March 15 through your favorite platforms. 
 
 Nos vemos pronto!

In this episode we profile a bilingual theater experience called The Frontera Project. It is a company of Mexican and US artists that use theater, music, movement and play to actively engage the audience in conversation about life along the US/Mexico Border. Their mission is to encourage audiences to recognize each other across differences and to spark a dialogue about what divides us and what we share. 
 
 Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change minds.

Thousands of people cross the U.S.-Mexico border every year to take a psychedelic known as ibogaine. But this isn’t for pleasure, this drug spins most people into a terrifying psychotic trip…but it’s a trip that may help some kick opiate addiction. We follow one man with an addiction issue as he takes this trip, and meet others that are trying to overcome their own drug habits. 
 
 Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change minds.

Cannabis advocates in Tijuana work with the legalized scene in California and get themselves ready for a future where adult-use cannabis is finally legal in Mexico. Not only are they working to get the laws changed in Mexico, they also have to find ways to change the perception of cannabis at the border, which has long been associated with Mexican drug cartels. 
 
 Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change minds.

Cannabis on the border is nothing new – for decades, weed moved north from Mexico into the U.S., an illegal trade that fueled drug cartels and drug violence. But with the legalization of recreational and medicinal cannabis in California and other U.S. states, all of that has changed. In Episode 1 of a new series from Port of Entry, we profile a Tijuana politician and activist who is pushing for legalization of cannabis in Baja California. Port of Entry is back, this time with a series of stories on how the border can change minds.

When COVID-19 rules prevented certain people from crossing the border, “Port of Entry” cohost Alan Lilienthal’s binational, bilingual band Tulengua got separated by the wall. How the partially closed border and the pandemic changed Alan and his bandmates Amari Jordan and Jimmy Mora forever. More about Tulengua here: https://www.tulengua.mx/ Today’s story is the final episode in our “Port of Entry” season focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into power. *** From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Find us on Instagram or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected].

Border artist Michelle Guerrero struggled with addiction for years, but a surprise pregnancy helped her straighten out her life. Eventually, she taught herself how to paint large-scale murals, in part, by painting murals on the actual border fence. These days, Michelle goes by Mr B Baby, and she travels the West Coast and Mexico, painting huge Mexican-inspired murals in a style that is her own. Now the artist just has to figure out how to balance being a single mother with her skyrocketing success. Today’s story continues our new season of "Port of Entry" focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into power. *** From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Find us on Instagram or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at [email protected]. “Port of Entry'' is written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content.

Big news: we have a new cohost! In our recurring “Tour Guide” bonus episodes, we ask transborder people to take us on a tour of a special place in the borderlands: a place that means a lot to them. Today, our new fronteriza cohost Natalie Gonzalez, along with our longtime fronterizo host Alan Lilienthal, take us on a tour of two of their favorite places in Tijuana and tell us more about their life on la línea. Today’s episode continues our new season of "Port of Entry" focused on crossborder artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers. *** From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Find us on Instagram or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at [email protected]. “Port of Entry'' is written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content.

Victor Lebowski, better known as the artist Tijuanauta, captures the beauty of the borderlands in his art. His detailed ink drawings are often a mishmash of U.S.-Mexico icons, like Star Wars and taco carts, or astronauts eating carne asada. But for a long time, Tijuanauta refused to sell his art or make art his day job. Instead, he hid behind the safety of his office job and cubicle for a decade. But Tijuanauta recently took the plunge. He became a full-time artist and had his first-ever art show in Tijuana over the summer. He’s gaining traction fast, but his biggest battle is inside his own brain. A mix of lifelong anxiety and self-doubt has long stopped Tijuanauta from being the artist he's destined to be. But he’s finally fighting back. Today’s story continues our new season of "Port of Entry" focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers. *** From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Find us on Instagram or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift.

Mexican musician Javier Bátiz could very likely have been world famous had he headed north of the border with his good friend and bandmate Carlos Santana back in the day. But instead, Javier went south to Mexico City, where he built a successful career in the country he loves. In a new episode of “Port of Entry,” we look into how Javier’s life, decisions and decades-long musical career have brought him internal peace and fulfillment he says is far more important to him than reaching the high-level fame his friend Carlos found. Today’s story continues our new season of "Port of Entry" focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers. *** From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Find us on Instagram or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at [email protected]. “Port of Entry'' is written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content.

You know what they say about one man’s trash becoming another’s treasure, right? At the border, the journey from trash to treasure often involves an actual trip from San Diego to Tijuana, where things like furniture, appliances and other used or discarded objects find a second life. But, of course, those objects don’t move themselves. The whole cross-border, second-hand world involves people like Seth Sullivan, aka “Art Pusher,” one of the best-known “pickers” in the borderlands. Seth is a fireball who’s been through a lot in his cross-border life. But his struggles have only fueled him to keep going and growing. Follow Art Pusher on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artpusher/ Today’s story kicks off a new season of "Port of Entry" focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers. *** From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.org Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast Find us on Instagram or at www.instagram.com/portofentrypod Support our show at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Feedback is a gift. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show. Email us at [email protected]. “Port of Entry'' is written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content. This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

From PRX and KPBS, "Port of Entry" is back with a new season on Oct. 13. We’re bringing you stories of border artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers.

Film director and animator Jorge Gutierrez grew up crossing the border between Tijuana and San Diego almost every day. That cross-border experience can be seen in the work Jorge does today. Jorge is the director of the animated movie, “The Book of Life.” He’s also one of the creators of the hit Nickelodeon show “El Tigre.” And he’s got several new projects coming out on Netflix soon. One of those projects is “Maya and the Three,” an animated series that will be released on Netflix in October. In today’s bonus episode, which is a recording of a YouTube Live event we had over the summer, we talk to the famed animator about his new show, how his cross-border life has impacted his work and more.

In this bonus episode, meet a woman who takes people’s pets from San Diego to Tijuana for more affordable veterinary care. It’s a story about the great lengths we’ll go to for our furry friends. Meet other Port of Entry listeners by joining our Transborder group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/755492908437157 More info about MexiVet Express: https://www.mexivetexpress.com/ From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. Keep these border stories coming by becoming a KPBS member today: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Port of Entry is hosted by Alan Lilienthal. This episode was written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morissette is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content. This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. Feedback is a gift. Give us yours by emailing [email protected] or calling/texting 619.452.0228‬

In a new “Port of Entry” bonus episode: One Baja chef’s pandemic story and the camera crew who followed it. Valle de Guadalupe has exploded over the last decade. It’s become a hugely popular wine and food destination for people from around the world. But when the pandemic hit, the flood of tourism to the culinary region just completely stopped at first, then slowly turned into a trickle. A new one-hour special on KPBS called “Ingrediente” tells the story of how Valle de Guadalupe chef Drew Deckman and his restaurant crew learned how to survive and even thrive through the ongoing pandemic. We talk to Deckman and the show’s producer, Jill Bond. From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. Keep these border stories coming by becoming a KPBS member today: https://www.kpbs.org/donate See the full “Ingrediente” special online: https://video.kpbs.org/ Learn more about Drew and his restaurant: https://www.deckmans.com/ Episode photo courtesy of filmmaker Jill Bond. Port of Entry is hosted by Alan Lilienthal. This episode was written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morissette is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content. This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people. Feedback is a gift. Give us yours by emailing [email protected] or calling/texting 619.452.0228‬

On August 18, 1971, First Lady Pat Nixon stood at the place at the southwestern most point of the U.S.-Mexico border and celebrated what was envisioned as "International Friendship Park.” That day, Nixon said, “I hope there won't be a fence too long here.” Flash forward 50 years, and the small barbed-wire fence that once demarcated the border has been replaced with two large fences, dozens of cameras, a watch tower and other security measures. In this special bonus episode produced as part of the park's 50th anniversary celebration, we talk to some of the people in Tijuana and San Diego who are working hard to keep Nixon’s vision of a fence-free binational park alive. Plus, we connect with someone who has a very personal connection with the place. From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. For a full schedule of Friendship Park anniversary events, visit www.friendshippark50.org Episode photo by Pedro Rios Historic clip of Pat Nixon at Friendship Park from the film "Too Long Here" by director Emily Packer Port of Entry is hosted by Alan Lilienthal. This episode was written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morissette is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content. This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

In this “Tour Guide” bonus episode, borderless artist Shinpei Takeda takes us on a tour of his exhibition, “Fantasia Moral” (“Moral Fantasy”), which is showing at the art museum in Tijuana, CECUT, through Aug. 8. “Port of Entry” is currently working on our next season, which will be released this fall. Until then, we hope you enjoy a few of these shorter bonus episodes in your feed. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Increasing numbers of asylum seekers are being allowed to enter the United States. But with the asylum system still severely curtailed, thousands remain stuck in dangerous conditions in Tijuana. KPBS reporter Max Rivlin-Nadler has been following the story for months. His reporting is featured in a new special report for the “KPBS Investigates” and “Port of Entry” podcasts. In the episode, Rivlin-Nadler follows the painfully long wait many asylum seekers have had to endure, simply for a chance at finding refuge in the U.S. It outlines America's critically damaged asylum system at the U.S. Mexico border by introducing you to the people on the ground, both the migrants living in the dangerous refugee camps in Tijuana and the activists and lawyers trying to help them. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Phil Beaumont, lead vocalist of the San Diego band, The Color Forty Nine, has been belting out tunes since he was a kid living in England back in the ’70s. After he landed in Southern California for high school and college, he eventually made his way south to Tijuana to see show after show at the legendary music venue Iguana’s. Over time, Phil found himself crossing the border a lot, spending hours writing poetry and lyrics at his favorite bar, Dandy Del Sur. In our recurring “Moved by Music” series, we tap into the ’70s rock records Phil and his brothers listened to as kids, and the punk, two-tone and dub reggae he caught on the John Peel show on BBC radio. Then we dive deep into Phil’s relationship with Tijuana over the years, and how his love of living in a border city led to The Color Forty Nine’s new collaboration with world-famous musician Rubén Albarrán of Café Tacvba and Tijuana artist Hugo Crosthwaite. July 30 - CDMX - Rey Vinilo (Showcase) July 31 - Queretaro - Jardin de Cervezas Hercules August 1 - San Miguel de Allende (TBC) August 3 - Guanajuato - Nandas August 5 Puebla - Foro Cultural Karuzo (TBC) August 7 - CDMX - Bajo Circuito thecolorfortynine.com IG: @thecolorfortynine Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

We continue our series on medical tourism at the border with a story about a plus-size model who’s proud of her big body, but has health issues that lead her to undergo weight-loss surgery in Tijuana, where it's more affordable. It’s a story about beauty and health and how a young woman is carving out her own corner of the world, creating a space where she fits in, no matter what size or shape or how she got there. Follow Tanzania on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanzania_akiaa/ Guess what? We've got a LIVE event coming up with "Book of Life" director Jorge R. Gutiérrez. RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/port-of-entry-live-the-book-of-life-director-jorge-r-gutierrez-registration-158498363873 Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show. Port of Entry is a production of KPBS public media and PRX. It's written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content. This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

A California couple tries one more time to have a baby by crossing the border and getting fertility treatment in Tijuana. It’s a story about the lengths you’ll go through when the future you envisioned is suddenly out of reach. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show. Port of Entry is a production of KPBS public media and PRX. It's written and produced by Kinsee Morlan. Emily Jankowski is the co-producer and director of sound design. Alisa Barba is our editor. Lisa Morrisette-Zapp is operations manager and John Decker is the interim associate general manager of content. This program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

We’re continuing our series on medical tourism at the border with a story about two women and their journeys to find more affordable insulin in Tijuana. It’s really a story about the fine line between life and death; the balancing act people with diabetes have to navigate every single day; and how crossing the line between the U.S. and Mexico can be a life raft. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod).

From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” is launching a new series on medical tourism at the border today. Up first: We follow a San Diego woman as she crosses the border for alternative cancer treatments in Tijuana. This isn’t an investigation into the efficacy of alternative cancer treatments. Instead, it’s a story about one woman’s cross-border experience and her own personal convictions. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Our local Latinx community has been hit hard by the pandemic; disproportionately hard. In today’s special episode, we share one border family’s battle with COVID-19. They explain how they’re using their story to help other Mexican-American families like theirs. It's a story about trust, and how living at the border can mean living in a place where trust sometimes requires translation. The Covarrubias family’s fundraiser is here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/29p0mkof1c Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

In these “Border Voices” bonus episodes, we feature shorter stories spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx or simply have something to say about how the U.S.-Mexico border has changed their lives. Today, meet Danya Gresham, an American expat who left behind her life in the U.S. so she could help take care of orphaned kids in Mexico. Connect with Danya here: https://www.buildtherefuge.com/ https://www.facebook.com/TheRefugeTJ Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

In these “Border Voices” bonus episodes, we feature shorter stories spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizo or simply have something to say about how the U.S.-Mexico border has changed their lives. Today, meet Jesse Daner and Pamela Figueroa, a cross-border couple who met through their love of learning languages. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Ramón Amezcua, better known as Bostich of Nortec Collective, is famous for blending the classic norteña sounds of Tijuana with electronic music. But making music and touring the world wasn’t always the plan for Ramon. He studied and practiced dentistry, and he thought he'd be filling cavities his whole life. Instead, he became one of the most influential pioneers of electronic music in Mexico. In our recurring “Moved by Music” series, we explore some of the futuristic synths and drum machines that set young Ramon’s imagination on fire back in the 70s, the synth pop he we was digging for at record stores in the 80s, and the artists that inspired him in the 90s when he was playing raves all across Mexico. Listen to Ramon’s projects on his family’s record label: www.milovat.org Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show

We wrap up our series of cross-border love stories with a woman who totally changed her life; dropping what she was doing so she could help take care of some of the border region’s most vulnerable kids instead. It’s a story about kids in need of love, and one woman’s work to turn her own personal pain into power and purpose. Connect with Corazon de Vida: www.corazondevida.org Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show

Our series on cross-border love stories continues. Today, two families separated by deportation share stories about how their love keeps them connected despite the border wall between them. Episode art by @Deportedartist: https://www.instagram.com/deportedartist Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show

Today on “Port of Entry,” we continue our series of cross-border love stories with a former Tijuana booster who grapples with his relationship with the city as it continues to suffer from record-breaking violence and other problems he can no longer ignore. *There is explicit language in this episode. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Today on “Port of Entry,” we launch a series of cross-border love stories. First up: How smart-phone applications are playing matchmaker for people on opposite sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Ebony Bailey is a filmmaker currently based in Mexico City. As an American with Mexican and African roots, she identifies as “Blaxican.” And she’s drawn to telling stories like her own — stories about the mixing of cultures and the beauty that comes from it. Ebony made a film about Black migrants in Tijuana, and we talk to her about that and more in this “Border Voices” bonus episode. Our “Border Voices” series features shorter episodes spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx or simply have a story to tell about their relationship with the U.S.-Mexico border. Watch Ebony’s films at https://www.ebonybailey.com/ Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Bienvendidos to our first-ever bonus episode. Our new “Border Voices” series will feature shorter episodes spotlighting people who identify as transborder, fronterizx or simply have a story to tell about their relationship with the U.S.-Mexico border. First up: Paulina Olvera Cáñez, founder of Espacio Migrante, a migrant shelter in Tijuana. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. Search “Port of Entry” in the gifts section to get our sling bag as a thank-you gift. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime with questions or comments about the show.

Latin music has deep connections to Africa. In our recurring “Moved by Music” series, we talk to border people about music from both sides of the border. Today, Afro-Mexican researcher Jorge Gonzalez takes us on a mini trip through the evolution of Latin music, helping trace some of its roots and influences back to West Africa. It’s like a playlist with a side of history lesson. Port of Entry Playlist https://open.spotify.com/playlist/36075g71vs22og6334SmAK?si=2IfdPH7MTbKnxjcWk6q9Cw Books: Music, Race, and Nation: Musica Tropical in Colombia by Peter Wade From Bomba to Hip-Hop: Puerto Rican Culture and Latino Identity by Juan Flores Rumba on the River: A History of the Popular Music of the Two Congos by Gary Stewart Caribbean Currents: Caribbean Music from Rumba to Reggae (Studies In Latin America & Car) (3rd Edition) by Peter Manuel (Author), Michael Largey (Author) LP Compilations w/ Liner Notes: Africa Boogaloo: Latinization Of West Africa Diablos Del Ritmo: The Colombian Melting Pot 1960-1985 (Part 1 & 2) Son Palenque: Afro-Colombian Sound Modernizers From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime.

A growing number of Black expats are now calling Mexico home. In a new episode, we talk to people who’ve left the U.S. to find some refuge from racism south of the border. From KPBS and PRX, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime.

Some people in San Diego and Tijuana can vote on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. In a new episode of “Port of Entry," we profile three of these binational citizens who can vote in elections in the U.S. and Mexico. And while you might think these folks all fall on the same side of the political fence when it comes to how they vote, actually these three are all surprisingly different. Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime.

This is “Port of Entry,” where we tell cross-border stories that connect us. From KPBS and PRX, our debut episode launches a series on race and politics with a story about how the Black Lives Matter movement is crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. It’s a story about the intersection of migrant rights and Black rights and introduces some of the people behind the Black Lives Matter movement in Tijuana. This episode would not exist without the help of Espacio Migrante: www.espaciomigrante.org Follow “Port of Entry” online at www.portofentrypod.org, or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcast) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/portofentrypod). Support our work at www.kpbs.org/donate. If your business or nonprofit wants to sponsor our show, email [email protected]. Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-452-0228‬ anytime.

"Only Here" is now "Port of Entry." From KPBS and PRX, "Port of Entry" brings you cross-border stories that connect us. If you were already a subscriber, the transition should be seamless for you. Just be sure to make a mental note of our new logo and name so you can find us when you need to. For the rest of you who haven’t become loyal listeners yet, you can subscribe at www.portofentrypod.org, on Apple podcasts or wherever you listen. And if you have any border stories you’d like to share, we’d love to hear them. Call or text anytime: (619) 452-0228‬.

This episode first aired in September 2019. Los Angeles is a giant when it comes to making movies. Here in San Diego and Tijuana, we’re stuck under the huge shadow of L.A. It’s hard to compete with Hollywood. But think about it: the border has good bones for eventually becoming a film mecca. It’s one, big, super diverse place that offers access to two really different backdrops. Plus, shooting a film in Mexico is a lot cheaper. And there’s not as much red tape when it comes to permits. Unfortunately, though, a lot of large-scale production companies only think about the border when they’re thinking about movies or TV shows about narcos and drugs. Lots of filmmakers only see the Mexico-U.S. border as a backdrop for stories about drug cartel violence. It’s become such a trope that “narco-fatigue” is a term now. Folks are exhausted by news and pop culture focused on the drug trade in Mexico. Yeah, it’s a huge issue here, but it’s just way over done. Locally, though, some filmmakers like Omar Lopex are using the border to their advantage, making movies that have nothing to do with narcos. And that trend is starting to pick up some steam thanks to efforts by local film groups that are working hard to boost filmmaking in our binational region. Today, a story about filming across borders. Only here will you find filmmakers in San Diego and Tijuana using the border as a valuable resource instead of a janky prop.

This episode first aired in April 2019. According to the federal government, about 90,000 people cross legally through the San Ysidro Port of Entry every single day. Among those daily crossers are the hundreds of students who live in Tijuana, but get their education in San Diego. The international trek to school is long and annoying. But it can also be traumatic. Today, a story about students who cross the international border for their education, and a teacher who’s trying to better understand them. Only here can you find students navigating one of the busiest border crossing in the world just to get to school.

We want to tell you about an exciting new season of KPBS Explore podcast, "Rad Scientist." Recent events involving the killing of unarmed Black people have brought discussions about racism to the forefront, including at scientific institutions. This season of KPBS Explore podcast "Rad Scientist" is centered on Black scientists, from graduate students to faculty to those who have left the ivory towers. They study bug microbiomes, autism, neural prosthetics and more. But they will also discuss how racism has impacted their scientific journey. First episode drops Sept. 2. Subscribe here: https://www.kpbs.org/podcasts/rad-scientist/

Meet a San Diego artist who dresses up as a “cleaning lady” to force a conversation about immigrant women. This episode first aired in June 2019. About the Show: “Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both separated and intertwined. Who's behind the show: Host Alan Lilienthal, producer Kinsee Morlan and sound designer Emily Jankowski Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/onlyherepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onlyherepodcast/ Support Us: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Give us Feedback: 619-452-0228‬ [email protected]

- This episode first aired in October of 2019. - Lowriders are big in Japan. These days, the customized, slow and low to the ground cars and bikes can be found almost anywhere. Lowriding is a culture created by Chicanos and exported all over the world. But at the border, the lowrider scene is a lifeline. For lots of people here, lowriders are much more than just a hobby. The culture that’s coalesced around lowriders on both sides of the border has offered some people here salvation. It’s given new meaning and purpose to peoples’ lives — from deportees in Tijuana to military veterans struggling with PTSD in San Diego. In this episode of "Only Here," a KPBS podcast about art, culture and life at the Western Hemisphere’s busiest border crossing, we bring you a story about lowriders as life rafts.

In this episode: A story about trash and dirt flowing from one side of the U.S.-Mexico border to the other, and two guys’ plan to stop it. This episode first aired in December of 2019. About the Show: “Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both separated and intertwined. Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/onlyherepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onlyherepodcast/ Support Us: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Give us Feedback: 619-452-0228‬ [email protected]

For years, Beto Soto had two secrets. And these weren’t small secrets. These were really big secrets. The kind that define who you are. Soto is openly gay now, but he didn’t come out of the closet until a few years ago. He's also been living without citizenship papers in the United States since his family brought him here when he was 6. He kept his undocumented status quiet until recently, too. In this episode from our archive, we talk to Soto about being gay and undocumented, and the photographic series he made about the experience. This episode first aired on March 20, 2019.

The perception that the U.S.-Mexico border’s been effectively sealed shut because of the pandemic is wrong. Lots of people are still crossing. Actually, the biggest, most dramatic change in who can’t cross right now; you’re not going to find those folks at the ports of entry. Instead, you have to look inside Tijuana’s migrant shelters, and at the refugees who can’t seek asylum in the U.S. right now and are instead stuck in border towns. So that's what we do today. We talk to a migrant stuck at the border, and a doctor trying to help. About the Show: “Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both separated and intertwined. Who's behind the show: Host Alan Lilienthal, producer Kinsee Morlan and sound designer Emily Jankowski Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/onlyherepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onlyherepodcast/ Support Us: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Give us Feedback: 619-452-0228‬ [email protected] Just a few of the nonprofits working with migrants in Tijuana: https://www.refugeehealthalliance.org/ https://alotrolado.org/ https://haitianbridge.org/ https://www.instagram.com/temploembajadoresdejesus/ https://www.facebook.com/EspacioMigranteOrg/

Everyone has songs they treasure — songs that evoke vivid memories and color different periods of our lives. Sometimes, music ends up shaping who we become. For Paola Villaseñor, better known as the influential border artist Panca, music from both sides of the border has been a lifelong companion whenever she’s painting. Sometimes, lyrics from songs or traces of the flow and melody of music can be found in her final works. Today, we’ve got a story about one of our border region’s most well-known artists, told through the lens of music. About the Show: “Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both separated and intertwined. Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/onlyherepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onlyherepodcast/ Support Us: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Give us Feedback: 619-452-0228‬ [email protected]

We caught up with Jenn Budd at Las Americas mall a few months before the pandemic hit. Jenn has become well known in the border activism world. Her criticisms of U.S. immigration policies and Customs and Border Protection are harsh, and very personal. Because Jenn; she used to be a Border Patrol agent herself. Today, a story about a big perspective shift at the border. It’s also a story about how some people have to hit rock bottom before they change. About the Show: “Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both separated and intertwined. Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/onlyherepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onlyherepodcast/ Support Us: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Give us Feedback: 619-452-0228‬ [email protected]

Today we're tracing the story of how Latin music became as popular as American pop music, all through the eyes of Isabela Raygoza. Isabela is a music journalist from Tijuana and San Diego whose career very closely paralleled the boom in Latin music that's happened over the past decade. Back in the day, when Latin stars wanted to cross over into pop music, they would have to start singing in English. Nowadays, you have music icons crossing over the other way: singing in Spanish. About the Show: “Only Here” is about the unexplored subcultures, creativity and struggles at the U.S.-Mexico border. The KPBS podcast tells personal stories from people whose lives are shaped by the tension reverberating around the wall. This is a show for border babies, urban explorers or those who wonder what happens when two cultures are both separated and intertwined. Follow Us: https://www.facebook.com/onlyherepodcast/ https://www.instagram.com/onlyherepodcast/ Support Us: https://www.kpbs.org/donate Give us Feedback: 619-452-0228‬ [email protected]