“Few shows I've been to, like in East LA Boyle Heights, same thing. You have a taqueria right there. It could be somebody's tía or tío making food for the community. They're not charging, but, like, you know, people still show love.”
Continuing Punkast's guest-hosted conversations celebrating Indigenous creativity and looking ahead to Native American Heritage Month, Kristy Martinez, UCLA PhD candidate, musician, and archivist, speaks with Josh Andujo (Gabrielino Tongva), a community activist, cultural educator, skater, and participant in Southern California's punk, ska, goth, and emo scenes.
Growing up in Montebello, Josh developed connections to music through family members involved in punk, ska, lowrider, and other subcultures. Kristy and Josh discuss the San Gabriel Valley's Indigenous histories, its diverse musical communities, and the relationships between punk, skating, and cultural identity. From backyard shows and mosh pits to neighborhood gatherings where families prepare food and look after one another, Josh reflects on music as a space for belonging, mutual care, and community expression.
Their conversation also explores Josh's work with Tongva cultural education, land acknowledgments, youth mentorship, and environmental stewardship across the San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys. Through workshops, educational hikes, and community events, he helps young people understand the histories of the places they inhabit and their responsibilities toward the land. Kristy and Josh discuss Latinx and Indigenous participation in punk and ska, the importance of local scenes, and the ways music and skateboarding can support confidence, connection, and healing.
Looking toward future generations, Josh calls for greater inclusion of women, LGBTQ+ participants, and young musicians in punk communities. The conversation closes with reflections on the ongoing importance of cultural recognition, local organizing, and creating spaces where people can participate, learn, and care for one another.
About the guest
Josh Andujo is a Gabrielino Tongva cultural educator, community advocate, and Montebello native with deep roots in Los Angeles punk and ska. Through cultural workshops, land acknowledgments, outdoor education, and youth mentorship, he promotes recognition of Tongva histories and stewardship of the San Gabriel Valley and surrounding lands. His work connects Indigenous cultural preservation with music, skating, and community organizing.
Guest host and producer
Kristy Martinez is a UCLA PhD candidate in Musicology, vocalist, and archivist researching punk, emo, and subcultures in Southern California through music, ephemera, placemaking, and visual culture. Raised in the San Gabriel Valley, with family roots in Sonora, Mexico, she founded the DIY Indigenous Punx Archive, documenting Indigenous punk through flyers, photographs, videos, and band histories. The archive has been featured at the Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas and the Denver Art Museum.
Recorded October 2026.
Links + References
Instagram: Josh Andujo
Instagram: Indigenous Punks Archive
Credits
Punkast is hosted and produced by Jessica Schwartz.
Guest hosting, production, and audio editing: Kristy Martinez.
Transcript:
Theme Music:
Lady Bits, "Bitch-a-thon," Lady Bits.
Related:
Jessica Schwartz co-hosts the Punk Scholars Podcast.
About Punkast:
Punkast is a weekly podcast exploring punk in the historical present through critical conversations, inquiry, and collaboration.
Connect with Punkast:
Instagram: punkastucla
Email: punkastucla@gmail.com
Stay tapped in. New episodes every Friday.
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