These are cross-border stories that connect us. Border people often inhabit this in-between place. From KPBS and California Humanities, “Port of Entry” tells personal stories from this place — stories of love, hope, struggle, and survival from border crossers, fronterizxs, and other people whose lives are shaped around the wall. Rooted in San Diego and Tijuana, we are a transborder podcast for transborder people. We live life on la linea.
Have you checked out our podcast in Spanish? If so, Take our survey.
¿Hás escuchado nuestro podcast en Español? Participa en nuestra encuesta.
Port of Entry
These are cross-border stories that connect us. Border people often inhabit this in-between place. From KPBS, Port of Entry tells personal stories from this place — stories of love, hope, struggle and survival from border crossers, fronterizxs and other people whose lives are shaped by the wall. Rooted in San Diego and Tijuana, we are a transborder podcast for transborder people. We live life on la línea.
Have you checked out our podcast in Spanish? If so, take our
survey.
¿Has escuchado nuestro podcast en español? Participa en nuestra
encuesta.
Port of Entry is hosted by Alan Lilienthal and Natalie Gonzalez
Episodes
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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.
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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 the 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. -
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, she 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. -
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. -
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 characters 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 stayed inside a cubicle for a decade. But recently, Tijuanauta took the plunge. He became a full-time artist and had his first-ever art show in Tijuana over the summer. The artist is 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. -
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 1960s. 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. -
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. Today’s story kicks off a new season of "Port of Entry" focused on artists and musicians who’ve turned pain into superpowers. Follow Art Pusher on Instagram. *** “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.
Español
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El equipo de Port of Entry sigue a Emilio Montiel, un cantante, actor y productor de cine de 71 años. Lo acompañamos en el set de sus últimas películas y descubrimos que hay mucho más en sus producciones directas a YouTube de lo que se ve a simple vista, recordándonos el valor de creer en tus sueños. -
Itamar “Ita” Lilienthal es un bio diseñador y arquitecto emergente que está desarrollando alternativas sustentables a materiales convencionales que contaminan. Él cree haber encontrado algo especial. -
Nos sentamos con Gustavo Solís, reportero de frontera de KPBS, y Cassandra López, Directora de Litigación de Al Otro Lado, para reflexionar sobre los cambios más significativos en la política de inmigración y cómo han impactado en la región fronteriza. -
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(Nos tomaremos una pequeña pausa con los episodios en español) -
En el episodio de hoy concluimos la historia de Chama, una exiliada venezolana que llegó a EE.UU. via Tijuana. Exploramos su camino hacia Estados Unidos, el esfuerzo titánico que hizo por hacerlo de forma legal y, a pesar de toda su persistencia, cómo el sistema terminó fallándole. -
En el episodio de hoy conversamos con Chama, una exiliada venezolana que llegó a EE.UU. via Tijuana. Chama comparte la odisea que fue salir de Venezuela y establecerse en Tijuana mientras buscaba una manera para reunir a su familia con su esposo en California. -
En el episodio de hoy seguimos a Laura Pavón, una integrante del equipo en uno de los albergues más activos de Tijuana, la Casa del Migrante. Laura comparte su trayectoria hacia Tijuana y habla sobre los momentos decisivos que la motivaron a querer ayudar a los migrantes a encontrar un nuevo hogar. -
El nuevo podcast de KPBS que fue producido por jóvenes , "Voices del Valle", retrata historias de la adolescencia procedentes del Valle Imperial. El equipo de Port of Entry desempeñó un pequeño papel en el desarrollo de este proyecto. El episodio de hoy profundiza en la naturaleza de esa colaboración y mentoría que jugó un papel en darle vida a ‘Voices del Valle’. -
Qué onda friends! En el episodio de hoy, concluimos nuestra serie de fronterizas que la están rompiendo en el cine y los medios con nada menos que con la tijuanense Paulina Casmur, ganadora de 19 premios Emmy. Nos sentamos a conversar sobre su impacto en el sector de noticias, los desafíos que ha enfrentado como mujer y fronteriza, cómo ha abierto camino para que las historias fronterizas sean reconocidos en los Emmy como categoría propia y su proyecto el Sin Spoilers podcast. Ah, y también está la historia de como fue el blanco Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de los USA. ¡Definitivamente no querrás perderte este episodio! ¡Nos vemos pronto! *Nota del Productor: Desde que el episodio se publicó, Paulina recibió su decimooctavo y decimonoveno premio Emmy. Su gran total alcanza los 19 reconocimientos. -
Qué onda friends ¡Este episodio es solo conmigo, Natalie! Hoy quiero compartir contigo el impacto que el cine ha tenido en mi vida.Y además, tuve el enorme gusto de sentarme a platicar con tres cineastas increíbles: Marla Arreola, Marinthia Gutierrez y Nicolasa Ruiz, cuyas vidas también han sido profundamente transformadas por el cine. El trabajo de estas tres mujeres talentosas llegó nada menos que al prestigioso Festival de Cine de Cannes. Juntas, hablamos sobre sus trayectorias, los retos que han enfrentado y cómo están abriendo nuevos caminos en la industria del cine, la televisión… y más allá. ¡No te lo puedes perder! -
¡Qué onda, friends! En el episodio de hoy, nos sentamos con Pepe Mogt y Ramon Amezcua, miembros fundadores de Nortec Collective. Reflexionan sobre haber alcanzado 25 años de carrera profesional, cómo lograron definir su sonido y el legado que han forjado en la ciudad de Tijuana. No se lo pierdan! Por cierto! Aquí les dejamos el episodio de Ramón de Port of Entry de hace algunos años! Videos del Concierto: José Ramírez / Osvaldo Valencia
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What Our Listeners Are Saying
"I love the podcast. I have lived my whole life near the border. I have pride and joy in being part of the region. Being also fluent in Spanish I listen to all the episodes twice now. First in Spanish and then again in English to make sure I didn’t miss anything."
- Claire Borja, San Diego, Calif.
"Keep up the fascinating work you do."
- Sally Husch Dean, Encinitas, Calif.
"Me encanta qué hay una comunidad de transfronterizos que compartimos los mismos problemas y felicidades."
- Diana Silero
"I’m a border person (from Matamoros) now living in North Carolina. Love hearing your stories que me conectan a la vida fronteriza."
- Ada V., Asheville, N.C.
"Amo este podcast! Gracias por su esfuerzo y trabajo."
- Tori Luna, San Diego, Calif. and Tijuana
"I love hearing you talk about them places I know and love en ambos lados! Also I have had the occasions to visit some of the places you feature, parts of Tijuana I might never have considered without you."
- Rachel R., Chula Vista, Calif.
"I love it, me hace sentir conectada con mi region de origen y escuchar mi acento y las historias que están evolucionando."
- Eva A., Tijuana
"I absolutely love this podcast. As someone who work on the border, and with those living and attempting to cross the border, I love learning more about the diversity of culture and people and food!"
- Maria Kelly Horsley, San Diego, Calif.
"Gracias por contar cosas lindas de la frontera."
- Jason López, San Luis Río Colorado, Mexico and Yuma, Ariz.
Meet the Port of Entry Team
Co-host
Alan is a musician and the co-host of Port of Entry, a KPBS podcast about cross-border culture and the people who shape it. He was born in Mexico City, grew up in San Diego, learned a lot in New York and now splits his time between Tijuana, San Diego and Los Angeles. Alan is a member of tulengua, a bilingual hip-hop supergroup with members from both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. His life’s mission is to melt borders and celebrate our shared humanity through art.
Co-host & Producer
Telling stories — whether through a microphone on Port of Entry or on stage as a theater actress — is what drives Natalie. It inspires her to move constantly between the two worlds that define this border region: Tijuana and San Diego. She explores the voices, experiences and creativity of this community, bringing them to life for audiences on both sides of the border and in both languages: English and Spanish.
Audio Engineer & Sound Designer
Adrian is a technical producer and sound designer for KPBS. He is the lead sound designer for Port of Entry and assists with various other KPBS productions through audio editing, recording and mixing. When he is not producing or playing shows with his band, Velvet Dinner Party, Adrian explores the culinary and cultural richness of his hometown of San Diego and the adjacent areas of Tijuana and Baja California.
Producer & Editor
Julio, a UC Berkeley philosophy graduate, is a writer, producer, filmmaker and educator from the San Diego–Tijuana border. At KPBS, he serves as the producer and lead writer of Port of Entry, focusing on border life. His past projects include “While We Wait,” “Ruta 40” and “Cocineras.” He co-owns and partners with local creators on multimedia projects and serves as media director for Transfronterizo Futures, supporting transborder students. Passionate about all things Baja, he mentors youth in Tijuana and South Bay San Diego.
Editor
Chrissy leads the KPBS Arts & Culture team, overseeing multimedia coverage across digital, audio and video platforms. She manages the KPBS podcasts Port of Entry and The Finest, as well as the weekly arts newsletter. Before joining KPBS, she served as executive editor of Entertainment and Culture at Yahoo, experience she now brings to her work supporting San Diego’s creative communities and cross-border storytelling.