Port of Entry

The Planetary Scale, part 4: Slowing the flow, redux

We're in the midst of an environmental crisis, and our urban lifestyles often clash with the natural systems that support us — especially when it comes to how we manage our waste.Stopping the flow of cross-border pollution can feel like a Sisyphean task. With every effort to tackle it, more trash seems to appear. That's why addressing the pollution crisis at the border takes a multifaceted approach. It involves many different types of interventions — from trash barriers to hillside reforestation to trash collection and repurposing efforts.In this fourth and final installment of The Planetary Scale, we talk with four fronterizos who have been at the forefront of efforts to mitigate this issue and check back in with old friends from six years ago. If you have checked our past installments of this series, here are links to Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.This episode is dedicated to the loving memory of Steven WrightGuests:Waylon Matson of 4walls InternationalOscar Romo of AlterTerraJorge Ibañez of Las Hormiguitas NurseryAdela Bonilla of La Casa de las BotellasYou don't want to miss this episode.Nos vemos pronto!About Season 6Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of our border region. This time around, we are spotlighting Shapers and Visionaries of borderlands. Stories of People who are impacting the region and in some cases the world with their work and research. From urbanism to architecture to education and politics and to art and robotics!Listen in and join us!Social media and contactFrom KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcastInstagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypodSupport 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 corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.CreditsHosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie GonzálezWriter/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz FrancoTechnical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian VillalobosEditor: Chrissy Nguyen & Elma González Lima BrandãoEpisodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortiz FrancoDirector of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa MorrisetteThis program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

The Planetary Scale, part 3: Ita’s quest for the holy grail

We're in the midst of an environmental crisis, and our urban lifestyles often clash with the natural systems that support us — especially when it comes to the materials we use to build. That was the focus of the first two episodes of this “Planetary Scale” series, Part 1 and Part 2.In this third installment, we follow Itamar “Ita” Lilienthal, an emerging biodesigner and architect who is developing sustainable material alternatives. He believes he may have found a promising biomaterial that could help reduce our environmental impact.We’ll follow along as Ita leads a workshop where he demonstrates this material and trades insights with another like-minded inventor making waves in the world of biodegradable plastics: Dr. Stephen Mayfield of Algenesis LabsAnd if Ita’s last name sounds familiar, it’s because he’s Alan’s younger brother.You don't want to miss this episode.Nos vemos pronto!About Season 6Port of entry has a fresh new season for you with more rich stories of our border region. This time around, we are spotlighting Shapers and Visionaries of borderlands. Stories of People who are impacting the region and in some cases the world with their work and research. From urbanism to architecture to education and politics and to art and robotics!Listen in and join us!Social media and contactFrom KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcastInstagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypodSupport 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 corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.CreditsHosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie GonzálezWriter/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz FrancoTechnical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian VillalobosEditor: Chrissy Nguyen & Elma González Lima BrandãoEpisodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz FrancoDirector of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa MorrisetteThis program is made possible, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

Bonus Episode: Day of the Dead Special - A friend reconnects with her roots

In this special Día de Muertos bonus episode, Natalie invites KPBS web producer Leslie Gonzalez to explore Tijuana’s famous Mercado Hidalgo and discover the stunning altar that’s built each year to honor the market’s founding partners who have passed away.But there’s a twist: Leslie has never actually visited Tijuana. Her parents always warned her that it was too dangerous. Now, this trip becomes a personal journey of discovery, connection, and celebration that goes far beyond the border itself. It immerses her in the colors, flavors, and traditions of Día de Muertos.Social media and contactFrom KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcastInstagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypodSupport 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 corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.CreditsHosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie GonzálezWriter/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz FrancoTechnical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian VillalobosEditor: Chrissy NguyenEpisodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz FrancoDirector of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette-Zapp

Bonus Episode: Halloween Special - The (True Crime) Case of Juan Soldado

Like many cities, Tijuana is rich with folklore and eerie legends. One such tale is the story of Juan Castillo Morales, also known as Juan Soldado, the unofficial patron saint of migrants.In 1938, Castillo Morales, a military private stationed in Tijuana, was convicted of the rape and murder of 8-year-old Olga Camacho, a girl who lived near the military barracks. However, many believe he was wrongfully accused.According to local folklore, his spirit still wanders the old cemetery in downtown Tijuana, where some claim to have heard him proclaiming his innocence, among other supernatural occurrences.We delve deep into this folktale to uncover the truth behind the legend — the historical context, the people involved and the story of how he became known as the patron saint of migrants.To help distinguish fact from fiction, we spoke with Fernando Escobedo, a historian from Tijuana who has extensively researched the city's past. His work sheds new light on this enigmatic case through the testimony of Fausto Matus, a possible witness to the crime.Don’t miss this episode, where we unravel the mystery surrounding this iconic legend from Tijuana.Sources:“Religiosidad Popular en Tijuana, el culto de Juan Soldado” by Gabriel Rivera and Jose Saldaña“Juan Soldado: Rapist, Murderer, Martyr, Saint” by Paul J. VanderwoodFernando Escobedo books, articles and contributionsCaesar. La ensalada más famosa del mundo. World’s Famous Salad; 100 años.Thirty-Something Things You didn't know about Tijuana.About Streets: Perspectives on Urbanism, Architecture, and PlacemakingSocial media and contactFrom KPBS, “Port of Entry” tells cross-border stories that connect us. More stories at www.portofentrypod.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/portofentrypodcastInstagram: www.instagram.com/portofentrypodSupport 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 corporatesupport@kpbs.org.Text or call the "Port of Entry" team at 619-500-3197 anytime with questions or comments about the show or email us at podcasts@kpbs.org.CreditsHosts: Alan Lilienthal and Natalie GonzálezWriter/Producer: Julio C. Ortiz FrancoTechnical Producer/Sound Designer: Adrian VillalobosEditor: Chrissy NguyenEpisodes translated by: Natalie González and Julio C. Ortíz FrancoDirector of Audio Programming and Operations: Lisa Morrisette-Zapp

Un breve mensaje para nuestros auditorio en Español

A partir de este mensaje el equipo de Port of Entry se tomará una pausa en la producción de sus episodios en español.Peeeerooo es solo pausa temporal……Los episodios en español estarán de regreso a principios de 2026, mientras que nuestros episodios en inglés continuarán lanzándose regularmente.Recientemente, KPBS tomó la decisión de trasladar el equipo de Port of Entry del departamento de programación de audio, donde ha operado desde sus inicios, al departamento de noticias y contenido, con el objetivo de integrar el programa con otras iniciativas de KPBS.En los próximos meses, el equipo se adaptará a esta nueva estructura organizativa y participará en sesiones especiales de capacitación en podcasting. Estas sesiones están diseñadas para potenciar la creatividad y consistencia del programa, garantizando así la excelente calidad que lo caracteriza. Así, el equipo aplicará y perfeccionará estos aprendizajes inicialmente en los episodios en inglés, antes de volver a producir versiones bilingües de cada episodio. KPBS se enorgullece del trabajo realizado por el equipo de Port of Entry durante los últimos siete años y espera continuar compartiendo historias de las personas que viven en nuestra vibrante región transfronteriza.