Salinas Underground

In this episode, Oz's grand idea of the month is to start an amateur soccer team that would represent not only Salinas but all of Monterey County. A boy can dream.

Ever since we got serious about this show over 3 years ago our friends at XL Publichouse have been gracious enough to allow us to use a corner of the bar as our recording studio. As our show grows and matures into something we could not have dreamed of we want to continue improving the show any way we can. This episode was a major step in that direction in that it was recorded in an actual quiet studio location that we are putting together. I hope you enjoy the wild journey and if this is your first time to listen, welcome.

For this episode, we set up our equipment on a barrel at Alvarado Street Brewery and rolled it as close to the bar as we could. What followed was Oz imploring everyone to start their own podcast, a conversation about how Salinas is a city and it's going to have an edge and too many beers between two people.

We have talked about the great Mexican food that can be found all over Salinas several times on the podcast and this is another Mexican food episode, this time we focus on Mexican bakeries! Our friend wanted pan dulce instead of a birthday cake so we took it as a chance to explore some bakeries on the eastside. We ended up going to 8 places, most of which are within walking distance of each other and talk about our experience at every place.

Part of this episode was recorded at the Sessions Open Mic at the Press Club in Seaside. This was the one-year anniversary party for the open mic that is held once a month. We have been recording the open mic since the creator, Daniel Vorhies, started this open mic in Salinas several years ago. If you are a local artist, check this one out!!

The tagline for this podcast when we started it was, "Just a couple of twenty-something-year-olds talking about their city", but now that we are into our thirties and we refuse to update the line. We also talk about drug experiences and Oz once again tries to say something smart about a topic he knows nothing about.

In this episode, Oz wanted to avoid the distraction of Sunday Night Football on the big screen so he recorded the episode standing up, with his back to the screen. This led to the reveal of one of his alter egos: Charlemagne Da Oz, and he doesn't hold anything back. From local and national politics to his man crush on a young Robert Plant this dude tells it all.

This episode was recorded when we were very hungry and it kind of turned into the theme of the episode. First, Oz shows he un-cultured side when he talks about the amazement of seeing a mall food court with multiple Ramen shops then he talks about his need to cook another batch of pulled pork. We also talk about the El Grito festival that took place on Alisal which had a huge selection of delicious food. Food.

This is easily our most unique episode to date. We got a message from someone calling themselves the Cannery Row Claw who claimed to be a prolific serial killer working in Monterey. That got our interest so we responded which turned into the darkest, weirdest interviews we have done. We also talked to some private investigators that are planning an Escape Room in Monterey to help locate a lost friend who may be a victim of the Cannery Row Claw. This was an interesting one for sure.

This week, we are back at the XL Publichouse with another edition of the most sophisticated and educated conversations about Salinas. We talk about a hidden El Salvadorian in Oldtown and where to find it. Oz also attempts to discuss how modern society is so quick to give up personal information then get upset when that information is used to sell them things. A thing he likes to call Humanity 2.0.

This episode, we sit down with local homebrewer Huy Vu whose MiraCal Brewing is one of the most experimental home-brew operations in the county. The last time we had Huy on the show he brought us a Durian fruit beer that luckily tasted nothing like the famous smell of the fruit. This week we talk about his latest trip to his home country of Vietnam and how the American craft beer scene is influencing the Vietnamese style. He also tells us the secret to drinking all day in Vietnam. Spoiler alert, it's watering it down with ice!

Recently, the Salinas Police tried to revive a program that would put police officers in schools. After the high school district said no, they tried to go to one of the elementary school districts and got a similar response. Do police on campus make schools safer? In this episode, we discuss what that program might look like in Salinas.

Ever since Oz turned 30-years-old he talks about topics like he has a Masters level education on every topic. Turns out, he just likes the way his voice sounds when it leaves his mouth. This week the high alcohol IPA's made him think he is some political scientist.

This week Oz talks about his experience at the Gold Cup final and how his new life goal is to be carried into a sporting event. We also sit down with James from the XL Publichouse to talk about a new Oldtown revitalization project that is taking its next step towards completion.

This week, we talk about the California Rodeo and what we were doing for big week. Also, Oz thinks he's the Dr. Phil of Oldtown bars. 

In this episode, Oz tries to keep the beer under control after talking about the cops that were cleared of killing a 16 year old. So much for him trying to stay quiet about local politics.

For this Father's Day episode, we set up our equipment on a barrel at Alvarado Street Brewery and tried to look like we were having an intelligent conversation for an hour. Oz talks, again, about Salinas being a great soccer city and wanting to start an indoor soccer team then the story turns into reminiscing about drunk tank stories.  

In this episode, Oz is growing 6 chili plants and now he thinks he's going to change to world one chili plant at a time. We also talk about one of the advantages of the recent cannabis boom, cheap growing equipment!

This week, our guests are Lauryn and Adisa from Families of Color. They founded this group a couple of years ago after having trouble finding a bicycling group for their child that had other children that looked like him. It has now expanded into almost weekly events of different kinds that focus on families of color. This conversation was recorded outside the Steinbeck Center on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

This week we are guest free and back to our roots, talking about Salinas events! Oz almost manages to go through a whole episode without jumping on a soapbox about the government of Salinas, but we promise this is a short one.