The Last Resort Podcast Finale

Over seven episodes, The Last Resort has explored Calexit’s founding story, if California could be returned to indigenous tribes, the roots of the Civil War, far-right activists in Shasta County, California, the state’s water rights and laws, and Mexico’s Zapatista movement—all culminating to where Calexit stands today.

 You might think that a podcast that documents an organized movement for California to succeed from the United States would be a dizzy narrative about hippies, tree huggers, and people on the fringes. You might roll your eyes and whisper, "California people," but the podcast doesn't judge. It explains and clarifies.

It's not. Instead, it's an insightful and compelling narrative about competing visions for the United States. This podcast is especially timely now, since earlier this year, the Texas Republican Party in June urged the Texas legislature to require a referendum on Texas succeeding from the union. Even Mississippi has made noise about leaving the union, but the state can find no one to say stop.

This documentary podcast series is hosted by activist and musician Xiuhtezcatl (phonetic spelling: shoo-TEZ-kaht), follows the rise, fall, and rebirth of Calexit: the campaign for Californian Independence.

The Last Resort was developed by Interval Presents, Warner Music Group’s (WMG) in-house podcast network, and produced by Awfully Nice. 

“What drew me to exploring the Calexit story was how it forced us to examine the things that fundamentally connect us while underscoring how we are more divided than ever as a country,” said Xiuhtezcatl, who was influenced from childhood by his Indigenous Mexican lineage and American upbringing to use his voice and his music to pursue social change. “Calexit is really just the entry point for a complex story about the many visions of the future that are competing to take root,” Xiuhtezcatl continued. “I’m excited about the opportunity to partner with Interval Presents on The Last Resort. I hope the show inspires conversation and thought around the issues and stories that are shaped by our history and that will determine our future.”

The finale episode features new interviews with Russian national Aleksandr Ionov, who was indicted this summer for spreading Russian propaganda and conspiring with U.S. political groups to act as agents for the Russian government. Louis J. Marinelli—a Calexit co-founder—is linked with Ionov, and some believe that Calexit is the “unidentified political group in Sacramento” Ionov is accused of directing.

It was definitely challenging at first. It took some time to settle into the role of being a narrator, of presenting a whole story that touched on many perspectives and ideologies that I didn't always align with, but were important to illustrate for the sake of the broader story. As an organizer and spokesperson, I'm used to having to really stand by what I say and speak from a place of lived experience.

In a recent interview, Xiuhtezcatl talked about his first hosting experience.

"In the end, I feel we struck a really good balance. I was lucky to have had a really supportive team that valued my perspective and incorporated it into their vision for the show. We all pushed each other outside of our comfort zones. Editing as we went and ensuring that the podcast was both showing the full picture, and still felt like it was in my voice kept me connected to the story we were telling. It's a pretty complex and dense idea the team wanted to go after. I'm really proud of how engaging it turned out. "

Tune into the finale as Xiuhtezcatl asks:

Is America becoming more divided than ever? What are the options to move forward and the repercussions if California secedes? 

Are we thinking about freedom and democracy all wrong, or heading to another civil war?

How do we change our mindset, not our border, to come together instead of split apart?

 So listen to The Last Resort. If California does secede, does that mean we'll need a passport to visit Napa Valley? Or have to give up almond milk?