West Modesto podcast discusses all things local, promising ‘equity, kindness, and advocacy’

Jasmine Corena and Likhi Rivas may not have roots in Modesto, but their understanding of community dynamics has made them experts in the area, thanks to their roles as hosts of a podcast.

The two host “Vibin’ With West Modesto,” a radio show produced by the West Modesto Community Collaborative and the Modesto Peace/Life Center. It airs at 7 p.m. every other Wednesday on KCPB Radio 95.5 and on most podcast platforms, including Spotify, where the show has about 160 listeners.

Covering a wide range of topics, from housing disparities to participation in the civil grand jury, the show features guests such as Mayor Sue Zwahlen, Supervisor Terry Withrow and community leaders within the county.

“Community podcasts are a way to engage and inform our residents. Jasmine and Likhi are building trust with their audience by focusing on what matters to our community. I truly appreciate their efforts,” said Zwahlen.

“‘Vibin’ With West Modesto’ provides a different type of outreach to the community,” said Erica Inacio, Stanislaus County’s deputy executive officer, who also was a guest on the show. “It brings the personal touch to the individuals that provide some type of service in the community, regardless of the position they hold or the organization they work for. It truly is a conversation in an open space to share what drives us in being public servants.”

Corena and Rivas’s slogan, “Leading through equity, kindness and advocacy,” encapsulates the ethos driving their work.

The show has been around since November 2022 and recently celebrated its 30th episode milestone.

Corena, 25, who is originally from San Leandro, moved to Modesto seven years ago to study marketing at CSU Stanislaus. Her energy and marketing background brought her into the role of show co-host.

Rivas, 24, who is from South Central Los Angeles, joined last July after working on a project related to COVID-19 at the West Modesto Community Collaborative Center.

Every show starts with a song

Each episode kicks off with a simple yet engaging question for the guest: “What’s your vibe song?” This serves the dual purpose of easing guests into the conversation while setting the tone of the show with a laid-back vibe that helps deliver the information in a more relatable manner.

The show is funded through the California Endowment grant, which aims to promote community advocacy.

Since launching the show, Corena and Rivas have learned a lot about Modesto, including how the local government works and what the city and county can or cannot do.

They’ve also developed a better understanding of the sentiments within the west Modesto community, such as a sense of exclusion from downtown Modesto and perceived disconnect between the community and its elected representatives.

“We hope that allows the listeners to kind of see it from the other perspective because we’ve noticed working here that there’s this divide of information,” said Rivas. “We try to build that bridge to go over that divide and be like they’re also people that are just trying to do their job and sometimes like it is a little harder because there’s other requirements that they have to go through.”

Putting the episode together

The show’s home is in the Modesto Church of the Brethren, where recordings take place in person.

Ahead of each episode, virtual pre-interviews with guests outline the upcoming conversation.

Guests typically are scheduled in advance, but in the rare absence of a guest, episodes consist of a conversation between Corena and Rivas.

Jim Costello, the general manager at KCBP Community Radio, edits the episodes, which usually run about 30 minutes, occasionally split into two parts when conversations extend.

Topics for each episode are selected based on factors including the current time frame, such as observances like Mental Health Awareness Month, and discussions from the hosts’ Community Builders meetings among advocates aiming to identify and address challenges and opportunities in the area.

Connecting with the community

At farmers markets in Modesto and Turlock, where they often table, Rivas said people will recognize their voices or logo and approach them. They hear a lot of positive feedback from people who tune in their show.

Many guests have conveyed to them that Modesto is a media desert, and they aspire to remedy this gap. Their aim is to cast a more favorable light on west Modesto, combating negative stereotypes associated with the area.

In one episode, they discussed the misconception that the crime rate is high in west Modesto. Most crime is actually in north Modesto near Vintage Faire Mall, they learned.

“I think it comes from that stigma because they call it the ‘other side of the tracks,’” Rivas said.

The hosts hope to make episodes in Spanish in the future to serve the area’s large Spanish-speaking community.

One of their goals is to demystify elected officials and encourage people to ask questions of those in positions of power.

Rivas said they initially were nervous to interview people like the mayor but found the conversation wasn’t intimidating at all.

“At the end of the day, we just want to show that we all want the same thing: a better Modesto, a community that can come together and just do things for one another,” Corena said.