For S2: E10, I sit down with Dr. Briana (“Brie”) Iatarola to discuss her research on La Libertad, El Salvador and Trestles in San Clemente, California.  In the first half of the interview, Brie and I chat about the historical transformation of El Salvador into an internationally recognized “wavetopia” in the wake of the bloody 12-year conflict, which ended in 1992.

For the second half, we  discuss the impacts of sea level rise at Trestles since 2016 and the environmental challenges that coastal communities including San Clemente and San Diego face, highlighting collaborative community resilience strategies as possible solutions.

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Dr. Iatarola holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the Department of Communication and a master’s degree in Latin American Studies from Center for Iberian and Latin American Studies at U.C. San Diego.

She currently teaches for Seventh College’s Synthesis Program at U.C. San Diego, and is an invited instructor for a class about the History of Television for the Television, Film, and New Media Critical Studies Program at San Diego State University.

Dissertation abstract (2018): ‘Saved Forever?’: An Eco-Ethnography of Trestles’ Surfscape 

Master’s abstract (2011): “Beyond the waves: economic and cultural effects of the global surf industry in El Tunco, El Salvador” 

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Artwork by Nacer Ahmadi: IG @nacerfilez

Production by TwistedLogix and Morrisound Studios

Banner photo credit: Luis Cruz

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