The Finest

Pokémon started as something simple: trading cards on the playground, Game Boys passed around between friends and the dream of catching 'em all. Thirty years later, it's the highest-grossing media franchise in the world — and Pokémon cards have become big business.In this episode, collectors, card shop owners, Pokémon Go players and lifelong fans reflect on what Pokémon means to them and how the culture around it has changed. From crowded Pokémon Go meetups at parks to local card shops struggling with scalpers and rising prices, this episode looks at how scarcity and speculation transformed Pokémon cards into valuable commodities. Along the way is a bigger question: Can a franchise built on adventure, friendship and connection hold onto those values in a billion-dollar marketplace?Guests:Steven Chung, lifelong Pokémon fanCourtney Mifsud Intreglia, writerOliver Soufi, Pokémon MasterJake Federicks, manager at Supreme Card ShopJason Huggins, co-owner of Tito Rick's GarageSources:LIFE Pokémon: 30 Years (Courtney Mifsud Intreglia, LIFE, 2026)How Pokémon Conquered America (Courtney Mifsud Intreglia, TIME, 2024)How Pokémon became the biggest media franchise on Earth (Lucy Tobin, The Times, 2026)'Kids can't buy them anywhere': how Pokémon cards became a stock market for millennials (Daniella Lucas, The Guardian, 2025)

San Diego skateboarder Brandon Turner moved up quickly in the sport, moving from local skate spots to major sponsorships and world tours. From skateboarding prodigy to rock bottom, now he's redefining addiction recovery and constantly evolving his understanding of control, identity and success.Long Description/Show Notes:In the '90s, Brandon Turner was a skateboarding prodigy, landing major sponsorships and touring the world with big-name skate teams. What looked like momentum from the outside often meant constant motion, pressure and independence arriving long before most people reach adulthood. And he ended up in prison.In this episode, he revisits that period and the skateboarding culture around him during his rise, from the energy of the scene to the decisions he made as things moved quickly. Today, not only does he operate his own addiction recovery center — he's skating better than he ever has before. He reflects on the highs and the dark moments that followed and how those years shaped his sense of identity and his approach to responsibility and control. " Skateboarding is just like life. It's not if you will fall, it's when you'll fall. But the more important thing of it is what you're going to do when you pick yourself back up," Brandon said.He also shares what it means to learn through experience, how to foster that evolution in other people — and how his perspective continues to shift. It's a conversation about growth, accountability and moving forward when life doesn't follow a straight path.Guests:Brandon Turner, professional skateboarder and founder of Westside RecoverySources:Brandon Turner: The Prodigy Returns (Michael Burnett, Thrasher Magazine, 2020)Fulfill the Dream, Shorty's skate film (1998), Brandon Turner segmentGuilty, Shorty's skate film (2001), Brandon Turner segment90s Skate Prodigy Brandon Turner on Addiction and Recovery (Miss Rosen, Huck Magazine, 2023) The Second Coming of Brandon Turner (Jenkem Magazine, 2021)

In this rebroadcast from Season 1, we explore how the streaming era has changed music — not just for the people who make it, but also for us as listeners. For indie musicians like Julianna Zachariou, Spotify has made music more accessible than ever — but at a cost. With payouts that amount to less than a penny per stream, she's had to turn to crowdfunding and direct fan support to fund her projects. She opens up about the personal toll these struggles take and how she's found ways to stay true to her craft while facing these challenges."On my bad days, I wake up and think, 'I've already done the best I can do. This is the most people I'll ever reach, and I'm just sinking into anonymity,'" Julianna said, reflecting on an older song that has reached more than 5 million streams."But on my better days, I'm grateful for it. I recognize that it was a different time. Spotify's kind of a monster now. There's no room for 'if it's good enough, it'll find its way.' It's just not a thing right now. It's a trap to let metrics determine that you're doing something better or worse than you were in the past," she said.Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Dreamer, Dreamer" live at KPBS' studioIn this episode, we break down Spotify's business model, the economics of streaming and what it really takes to sustain a career without major-label backing. Julianna's story is a powerful reminder of the need for change in the industry and how we can all play a role in supporting the artists who enrich our lives.Guests:Julianna Zachariou, musicianLiz Pelly, journalist and author of "Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist"Julianna Zachariou Track List:"church st.""Subway Song""Hero of Your Heart""Dreamer, Dreamer"Watch: Julianna Zachariou performs "Becky" live at KPBS' studioJulianna Zachariou's musical influences:The CommodoresEarth Wind and FireTotoAlison KraussBonnie RaittThe BeatlesThe Rolling StonesLed ZeppelinThe WhoTaylor SwiftKelly Clarkson, "American Idol"Photos: See portraits of Julianna Zachariou and a few snaps of her and Josh Flowers making music togetherMentioned in this episode:Josh Flowers, songwriter and musical collaboratorThe D Train | NYC subway line that runs from the Bronx to BrooklynUnited Musicians and Allied Workers (UMAW) | A grassroots union fighting for fairness in music, from streaming transparency to artist pay equityH.R.7763 - Living Wage for Musicians Act of 2024 | 2024 bill introduced by Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Jamaal Bowman, backed by UMAW, pushing for a penny-per-stream payout to make streaming fairer for working artistsSoda Bar | North Park dive for intimate sets, rising indie acts and vibrant local energyPrevious GoFundMes: Help Fund Julianna's Next Record and Help Julianna Make MusicSources:"Simulating the emergence of superstar firms: The role of luck vs talent" (A.E. Biondo, A. Pluchino, R. Zanola, ScienceDirect, 2024)"Alan B. Krueger | Rockonomics: 7 Key Economic Lessons" (John Murray Books, 2019)"How Music Streaming Platforms Calculate Payouts Per Stream 2025" (Royalty Exchange, 2025)"The Spotify conspiracy theories about 'Espresso,' explained" (Rebecca Jennings, Vox, 2024)"Loud and Clear": 2024 Spotify Annual Music Economics Report (Spotify, 2025)"Tlaib Introduces Living Wage for Musicians Act" (Office of Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, March 2024)"Data Shows 90 Percent of Streams Go to the Top 1 Percent of Artists" (Emily Blake, Rolling Stone, Sept. 2020) "A Brief History of American Payola" (Kim Kelly, Vice, 2016)"Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of the Perfect Playlist" (Liz Pelly, Atria/One Signal Publishers, 2024)"The Ghosts in the Machine" (Liz Pelly, Harper's Magazine/book excerpt, 2025)

Ahmad Joudeh risked his life to dance, performing in a refugee camp while ISIS fighters targeted him. The act of defiance, captured on video, made him known worldwide. But fame came with a cost. He became a symbol he never wanted to be. In this episode, Ahmad tells the full story in his own words, from growing up stateless in Syria and navigating the complexities of identity to starting the camp's first dance studio, training with the Dutch National Ballet and taking control of his life amid media pressure. Now living in San Diego, Ahmad continues to perform, teach and create, building a career that reflects his heritage, artistic vision and personal freedom. He reflects on survival, resilience and what it means to dedicate your life to art, and to dance as a way of truly living.Guest:Ahmad Joudeh, dancerWatch Ahmad Joudeh's performances:Ahmad Joudeh dances at the Yarmouk camp (2016)"Dance or Die" (2018) documentary directed by Roozbeh KabolyAhmad Joudeh performs at the Eurovision Song Contest (2021)Ahmad Joudeh performs at the Fire Island Dance Festival (2023)"The Dancer" (2025) documentary directed by Lacey UhlemeyerAhmad Joudeh and Celyna Tran perform parts of the Nutcracker Arabian Dance (2025) Ahmad Joudeh performs an experimental dance improvisation of Sufi dance to Boléro de Ravel (2026)Sources:'The deepest circle of hell:' Terrified Yarmouk residents describe ISIS raid (Atika Shubert, Bharati Naik and Nick Thompson, CNN, 2015)Syrian Dancer Flying, Looking for Freedom (Landing in Amsterdam) (Nina Siegal, The New York Times, 2017)Yarmouk (unofficial camp*) (United Nations Relief and Works Agency - UNRWA)Sbeineh Camp (United Nations Relief and Works Agency - UNRWA)Generations of Palestinian Refugees Face Protracted Displacement and Dispossession (Nathan Citino, Ana Martín Gil and Kelsey P. Norman, Migration Policy Institute, 2023)Syria (Stateless Hub, 2024)What is the Arab Spring, and how did it start? (Al Jazeera, 2020)Syrian Civil War (Britannica, 2026)Syria's war: Ten years – and counting (Alia Chughtai, Al Jazeera, 2021)Dutch National BalletWorld Economic Forum - Ahmad JoudehGov. Gavin NewsomBallet Beyond Borders: Dance and diplomacy go online (Cory Walsh, The Missoulian, 2021)UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency - Ahmad JoudehPride Amsterdam - Ahmad JoudehWhat Dance Can Do - Ahmad JoudehAfter decades of brutal rule, Bashar al-Assad’s regime has been toppled. Here’s what you need to know (Rob Picheta and Helen Regan, CNN, 2024)About Saydnaya (Amnesty International)Golden State Ballet

Matcha has become a worldwide sensation. The bright green powdered tea now appears in lattes, smoothies, desserts and viral foods across social media feeds. Demand has surged so quickly that producers in Japan are struggling to keep up. But matcha's story didn't begin in a cafe. For centuries, the tea has been at the center of a carefully choreographed ritual known as the tea ceremony, a practice rooted in mindfulness, hospitality and attention to detail. In this episode, we explore how a drink with roots in centuries-old tea culture became a modern craze. Along the way, we meet a San Diego tea sensei who practices the ceremony and invites others to slow down long enough to experience matcha with care and intention. As matcha's popularity continues to grow, we ask a simple question: What gets lost — and what might be gained — when an old tradition becomes a global trend?Guests:Rie Morita, Japanese tea ceremony instructorRebecca Corbett, Japanese Studies Librarian and Senior Lecturer in History, University of Southern CaliforniaRobert Hellyer, historian and author of "Green with Milk and Sugar"Sources:Japanese Tea Ceremony Explained (Adam Sensei, Phd., Maikoya)The Matcha Problem (Ellen Cushing, The Atlantic, 2025)Shortages, Smoothies and Fraud: The Matcha Market Cracks Under Pressure (Pete Wells, The New York Times, 2025)How much for matcha? Prices for the popular powdered tea soar due to global demand (Dee-Ann Durbin, Associated Press, 2025)'Skyrocketing' demand for matcha raises fears of shortage in Japan (Justin McCurry, The Guardian, 2025)Matcha's popularity has skyrocketed, but it was initially met with skepticism in the West (Rebecca Corbett, PBS News, 2025)PARU Tea: How the viral matcha spot is transforming tea culture with love and purpose (Julia Dixon Evans and Anthony Wallace, KPBS, 2025)

Content note: This episode contains discussion of suicide and domestic abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.This episode is a special feed share from One of Their Own, a KPBS true crime podcast created and hosted by KPBS racial justice and social equity reporter Katie Hyson. In 2018, 25-year-old San Diego police officer Ciara Estrada was found dead in her apartment on New Year's Day. Her death was ruled a suicide by the San Diego Police Department — the same department she worked for. But nearly eight years later, her family still questions whether the investigation went far enough. In this first episode, you'll meet Ciara through the people who loved her most. From a viral video that once labeled her a "nice cop" to the deeply personal artifacts she left behind, the series begins by asking a simple but powerful question: Who was Ciara Estrada beyond the case file? The podcast explores police culture, domestic violence allegations within law enforcement and what happens when a department investigates one of its own. After listening, find the rest of One of Their Own wherever you get your podcasts.

The bold, joyful sculptures of Niki de Saint Phalle are woven into San Diego’s landscape, even if many people don’t know her name. In this episode, we explore the life and legacy of the artist behind Queen Califia’s Magical Circle, the Sun God at UC San Diego and the beloved Nikigator in Balboa Park. After decades of boundary-breaking art and personal hardship, Niki came to San Diego late in life and created monumental public works designed to be experienced up close, inviting touch, play and imagination. But this story also belongs to Lech Juretko, a Polish refugee and former wallpaper installer who became Niki’s longtime assistant. He helped build her massive mosaic sculptures piece by piece. More than 20 years after her death, he is still repairing cracked tiles and replacing missing stones, preserving artwork created for interaction and shared wonder. It’s a story about creative devotion, chosen family and the magic that happens when art leaves museum walls and becomes part of everyday life.Guests:Lech Juretko, founder and owner of Art Mosaic, longtime assistant of artist Niki de Saint PhalleJill Dawsey, PhD, senior curator at Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, co-author of "Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s" Sources:Niki de Saint Phalle: Public Works (Niki Charitable Art Foundation)Niki de Saint Phalle Garden Opens in Escondido (City of Escondido, 2003)Keeping up the legacy of Niki de Saint Phalle (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2023)Artist Niki de Saint Phalle's radical decade (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2022)The Darkness Behind Niki de Saint Phalle's Colorful Beauties (Eunice Lipton, Hyperallergic, 2015)"What Is Now Known Was Once Only Imagined: An (Auto)biography of Niki de Saint Phalle" (Nicole Rudick, Siglio Press, 2022)"Niki de Saint Phalle in the 1960s" (Jill Dawsey and Michelle White, Yale University Press, 2021)"Niki Who Tamed The Dragons" (Wojciech Delikta, Contemporary Lynx, 2020)New Realism (Center Pompidou, La Collection, Musee national d'art moderne, Pompidou Centre, Paris, 1987, and La Collection, Acquisitions, 1986-1996, Pompidou Centre, Paris, 1996)"My Terrific Mother" (Laura Gabriela, Tate Etc., Tate Modern, 2008)"Niki in the Garden" (Atlanta Botanical Garden, 2026)"Pop Gun Art: Niki de Saint Phalle and the Operatic Multiple" (Nichole L. Woods, Walker Art Center, Walker Living Collections Catalogue)"At MoMA PS1: Niki de Saint Phalle" (Lidija Haas, London Review of Books, 2021)Jean Tinguely, Playful Sculptor of Scrap Contraptions, Dies at 66 (New York Times, 1991)Niki de Saint Phalle: Le Cimetière de Montparnasse (Devon Whitehead, The Brooklyn Rail, 2018) Niki de Saint Phalle's lifelong dialogue between art and diseases (Henning Zeidler, Joint Bone Spine, National Library of Medicine, 2012)Niki de Saint Phalle, Sculptor, Is Dead at 71 (Ken Johnson, New York Times, 2002)Vandals break in, smash mirrors and more in Escondido sculpture garden (Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union Tribune, 2018)The Keeper of Niki de Saint Phalle's Menagerie (Mingei International Museum, 2019)"Nikigator, 2001" (Mingei International Museum, collections)

Elizabeth "Ely" Rosales Aguilar has built Raíz Chocolate from her San Diego home kitchen, turning a childhood love of chocolate into a small but thriving business. She carefully sources Mexican cacao and crafts silky bars and rich drinking chocolates, like champurrado, using recipes passed down for generations. Her work is precise and deliberate, highlighting skill, patience and artistry while remaining deeply rooted in tradition.From bean sourcing to finished bars, Ely keeps her process transparent and small-scale, with an emphasis on preserving natural flavors — a sharp contrast to mainstream chocolate production. The name Raíz, which means "source" or “root” in Spanish, reflects that commitment to honoring cacao’s origins and the heritage behind each recipe.California's home kitchen and cottage food laws allowed her to turn that passion into a legitimate career, offering an alternative to mass-produced chocolate. Her story blends resilience, entrepreneurship and cultural heritage, showing how craft, intention and tradition can transform a home kitchen into a business that delivers exceptional flavor while preserving the legacy of Mexican chocolate-making.Guests:Elizabeth "Ely" Rosales Aguilar, Raíz Chocolate founderSources:Home Kitchen Operations: Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) and Cottage Food Operations (CFO) (SanDiegoCounty.gov)California Cottage Food Operations (University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources) ​Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (California Department of Health)Restaurant Owner Demographics (National Restaurant Association)At-home businesses are growing. Women and people of color benefit the most (Chabeli Carrazana, The 19th, 2021)Almendra Blanca Bar - 70% Single-Origin, Finca Frida, México (Raíz Chocolate)Revival Cacao (Supplier for Raíz Chocolate)ILAB Cocoa Storyboard: Exposing Exploitation in Global Supply Chains (U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of International Labor Affairs)Mars Supply Chain Transparency (Mars) In Maya society, cacao use was for everyone, not just royals (Richard Kemeny, ScienceNews, 2022)Life, Death and Chocolate in Mesoamerica: The Aztecs and the Maya; Where did the Ritual Use of Cacao Originate? (Caroline Seawright, 2012)The Maya civilization used chocolate as money (Joshua Rapp Learn, Science, 2018)What is the chocolate and cocoa industry worth in Mexico? (Laura Islas, Merca 2.0, 2025)Mexico cocoa bean imports and exports (World Integrated Trade Solution)Cottage Foods and Home Kitchens: 2021 State Policy Trends (The Harvard Law School Food Law and Policy Clinic, 2022)

The Finest returns with a new season, exploring the people, art and movements redefining San Diego culture. From discovering new species in local preserves to reviving forgotten arts, crafting chocolate at home and forging unexpected connections, these stories celebrate ingenuity, resilience, and community. Premiering Jan. 15, new episodes drop weekly. Search The Finest wherever you get your podcasts.

For many people who are incarcerated, a single book can be life-changing – a rare source of freedom and connection in a system built on isolation. That was true for Cherish Burtson, who discovered during her time in federal prison that reading could be a source of survival. Books became her escape, her education and a starting point to rebuild her life. But getting books behind bars isn't easy. Across the United States, correctional systems routinely ban or reject thousands of titles each year, reflecting deeper struggles over punishment, control and compassion. According to PEN America, correctional facilities in all 50 states contribute to the nation's largest book ban, censoring more books than schools and libraries combined. This episode follows a group of San Diego volunteers working to get books past prison walls. It explores how the simple act of reading can restore a sense of humanity in even the harshest conditions — and what it says about who we are when we decide who gets to read.Guests:Cherish Burtson, substance use disorders counselor at Family Health Centers of San DiegoMoira Marquis, Freewrite project senior manager at PEN Americaterry vargas, Books Through Bars San Diego volunteerSources:United States Incarceration Profile (Prison Policy Initiative)Incarceration Trends (Vera, 2024)Women’s Pathways to Serious and Habitual Crime: A Person-Centered Analysis Incorporating Gender Responsive Factors (Tim Brennan, Markus Breitenbach, William Dieterich, Emily J. Salisbury and Patricia van Voorhis Notes, Criminal Justice and Behavior via Sage Journals, 2012)East Bay Federal Prison Plagued by Sex Abuse Scandal Will Close Permanently (KQED, 2024)Time-In-Cell: A 2021 Snapshot of Restrictive Housing based on a Nationwide Survey of U.S. Prison Systems (The Correctional Leaders Association & The Arthur Liman Center for Public Interest Law at Yale Law School, 2022)COVID-19 Timeline (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)Three State Prison Oversight During the COVID-19 Pandemic (John Howard Association of Illinois, the Correctional Association of New York and the Pennsylvania Prison Society, 2021)Groundwork Books Collective (Idealist)Over the Edge: Death in Grand Canyon (Michael P. Ghiglieri and Thomas M. Myers, 2001)Books Thru Bars 2024 Impact (Books Through Bars San Diego via Instagram, 2024)Books Thru Bars Your Donation at a Glance (Books Through Bars San Diego via Instagram, 2025)Local prison book program brings connection and humanity despite censorship (Julia Dixon Evans, KPBS, 2024)Literature Locked Up How Prison Book Restriction Policies Constitute the Nation’s Largest Book Ban (James Tager, PEN America, 2019)Reading Between the Bars: An In-Depth Look at Prison Censorship (Moira Marquis and Juliana Luna, PEN America, 2023)Disapproved Publications (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)Perfecting the Prison: United States, 1789-1865 (David J. Rothman, Oxford History of the Prison: The Practice of Punishment in Western Society via University of Minnesota Duluth, 1995)History of Eastern State Penitentiary (Eastern State)Deterrence and Incapacitation: A Quick Review of the Research (Laura Bennett and Felicity Rose, The Center for Just Journalism, 2025)Mass Incarceration: The Whole Pie 2025 (Wendy Sawyer and Peter Wagner, Prison Policy Initiative, 2025Custodial Sanctions and Reoffending: A Meta-Analytic Review (Damon M. Petrich, Travis C. Pratt, Cheryl Lero Jonson and Francis T. Cullen, University of Chicago Press Journals, 2021)Prison Banned Books Week: Books give incarcerated people access to the world, but tablets are often used to wall them off (Mike Wessler and Juliana Luna, Prison Policy Initiative, 2024)Books through Bars Stories from the Prison Books Movement (Dave "Mac" Marquis and Moira Marquis, University of Georgia, 2024)

"Dispatch From Paradise" writer Cora Lee went searching for ghosts in Presidio Park, but her exploration of San Diego's supernatural underbelly didn't stop there. She visited San Diego's many mysterious cults in person, meeting members and observing their practices, and explored a long-running family dynasty of fortune tellers that has sometimes drawn law enforcement and media attention. In this Halloween episode, we follow Cora through the city's paranormal scene, from haunted hillsides and psychic shops to the strange and sprawling world of alternative spiritual communities. Along the way, religious studies professor Joseph Laycock helps unpack why belief in ghosts, aliens and spirits persists and what our search for "presence" reveals about being human. It's part spooky story, part San Diego history and part philosophical journey into why some mysteries endure — and why, deep down, we might not want them to end. Guests:Cora Lee, journalist and writer of "Dispatch From Paradise" SubstackJoseph Laycock, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State UniversitySources:The Junipero Serra Museum (Bill Virden, The Journal of San Diego History via San Diego History Center, 1962)Sociopolitical Aspects of the 1775 Revolt at Mission San Diego de Alcala (Richard L. Carrico, The Journal of San Diego History via San Diego History Center, 1997)Rumor Has It (Cora Lee, Dispatch From Paradise Substack, 2024)Why are people starting to believe in UFOs again? (The Conversation, Joseph Laycock, 2016)Over a third of Americans believe in ghosts and U.F.O's (Ipsos, 2021)Supernatural Belief Is Not Modulated by Intuitive Thinking Style or Cognitive Inhibition (Miguel Farias, Valerie van Mulukom, Guy Kahane, Ute Kreplin, Anna Joyce, Pedro Soares, Lluis Oviedo, Mathilde Hernu, Karolina Rokita, Julian Savulescu and Riikka Möttönen, Scientific Reports, 2017)History and Presence (Robert A. Orsi, The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 2016)American Piety In The 21st Century (The Baylor Religion Survey, 2006)People of the Forest Orangutans (Mission Wildlife)Visionary Spiritual Experiences and Cognitive Aspects of Spiritual Transformation (David J. Hufford, The Global Spiral via Penn Medicine, 2008)Spirituality Among Americans (Becka A. Alper, Chip Rotolo, Patricia Tevington and Justin Nortey and Asta Kallo, Pew Research Center, 2023)Law of Three Stages (Encyclopedia Britannica)Family Business (Cora Lee, Dispatch From Paradise Substack, 2023)Gypsy Clan Facing Test as Psychics: Hearing will be held in San Diego today on difficult-to-prove 'theft by false pretense' charges against Marks family. The group has been active in county since the '40s. (Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times, 1995)ABC10 News San Diego Investigation into Marks Family (Juliette Var and Michael Gonzalez, 2009)How a Hoax by Two Sisters Helped Spark the Spiritualism Craze (Becky Little, History.com, 2022)Psychical research and the origins of American psychology (Andreas Sommer, History of the Human Sciences via National Library of Medicine, 2012)Star Gate Project: An Overview (CIA, 1993)2 arrested in 'fortune telling scheme' that duped victims out of $600,000, officials say (Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 2025)Three Spirit Mediums: A Case Study on Grief, Death, and Alternative Religious Traditions during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Natasha L. Mikles, 2023)Cult Classic (Cora Lee, Dispatch From Paradise Substack, 2025)Heaven's Gate cult members found dead (History.com, 2010)Unarius Academy of Science (Atlas Obscura)The Frenzy About the Weirdest Continent That Never Existed (Frank Jacobs, Atlas Obscura, 2024)The media's love affair with alleged sex criminal Sri Chinmoy (Edwin Lyngar, Salon, 2014)The Cults of California (Carey Mcwilliams, The Atlantic, 1946)Is it a cult, or a new religious movement? (Tina Rodia, Penn Today, 2019)Twelve Tribes 'child caning punishment' claims (BBC News, 2013)

San Diego's Cameron Mofid set out on an audacious quest: to break the record for being the youngest person to visit every country in the world. His journey took him to 195 nations, from peaceful capitals to conflict zones few dare to enter. Along the way, he faced moments of danger and discovery, including assuming a fake identity in Yemen to navigating a terrorist threat in Somalia and making a buzzer-beater, last-minute entry into North Korea.But for Cameron, the record was only part of the story. His travels became a powerful lesson in privilege, perspective and humanity — and inspired him to give back. He launched Humanity Effect, a nonprofit that has built multiple schools in Nigeria. In this episode, Cameron reflects on the risks he took and the barriers he overcame. He shares the truths he discovered about the world, explores what it means to connect across borders and why these lessons matter for all of us.Guest:Cameron Mofid, youngest person to travel to all 195 countries in the world, founder of Humanity EffectSources:Everyone Who Has Ever Been to Space (Clara Moskowitz and Zane Wolf, Scientific American, 2025)Ultimate Report on People Who Visited Every Country in the World (NomadMania, 2025)Three Spanish tourists killed in central Afghanistan gun attack 17 (Thomas Mackintosh, BBC News, 2024)Counter Terrorism Guide: Terrorist Groups, Al-Shabaab (Office of the Director of National Intelligence)Attitudes on an Interconnected World, International travel (Richard Wike, Janell Fetterolf, Moira Fagan and Sneha Gubbala, Pew Research Center, 2023)When in Rome ... Learn Why the Romans Do What They Do: How Multicultural Learning Experiences Facilitate Creativity (William W. Maddux, Hajo Adam and Adam D. Galinsky, Sage Journals, 2010)The Mental Benefits of Vacationing Somewhere New (Todd B. Kashdan, Harvard Business Review, 2018)A Meta-Analytic Test of Intergroup Contact Theory (Thomas F. Pettigrew and Linda R. Tropp, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2005)"Maybe we did not learn that much academically, but we learn more from experience" – Erasmus mobility and its potential for transformative learning (Cosmin I. Nada and Justyna Legutko, International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2022)Pack Your Bags and Travel: It's Good for You (Elizabeth A. Segal, Ph.D., Psychology Today 2022)Americans who have traveled internationally stand out in their views and knowledge of foreign affairs (Richard Wike and Janell Fetterolf, Pew Research Center, 2023)What is a Visit. Minimal Requirements according to NomadMania Rules (NomadMania, 2023)NomadMania Travel ListsWhat Is the Newest Country in the World? (Amy McKenna, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011)Venezuelan embassy run by opposition in US closes after Guaido ouster (Jennifer Hansler, CNN, 2023)The Taliban in Afghanistan (Lindsay Maizland, Council on Foreign Relations, 2025)North Korea halts foreign tourism weeks after reopening to Western visitors (Peter Guo, NBC News, 2025)Makoko: 'Venice of Lagos' (Olamide Udoma, Smart Cities Dive)Chime Community Spotlight: Kyrie Irving recognized for civic contributions (Tamara Jolee, NBA, 2023)North Korea holds first Pyongyang International Marathon since borders were sealed during COVID pandemic (Anhelina Shamlii, CBS News, 2025)10 Times America Helped Overthrow a Foreign Government (Becky Little, History.com, 2025)Hostile Acts U.S. Policy in Costa Rica in the 1980s (Martha Honey, 1994)