How To LA: Recent Episodes
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How to L.A. aims to drop a little knowledge about ALL the things that affect the people of Los Angeles, whether that’s something that makes our city great (tacos!) or something that we need to work on, like the alarming number of traffic collisions. We serve the curious Angeleno who wants to better connect with our city, discover the new, navigate the confusing and even drive some change along the way.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
This week on This Old House Radio Hour—what does it mean to rebuild not just homes, but entire communities?
Sunset Magazine editor-in-chief Hugh Garvey joins us to discuss the magazine’s special issue devoted to the rebuilding of Altadena and Pacific Palisades in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires. Sunset, a voice in California architecture for over 125 years, has assembled an extraordinary coalition of architects, planners, artists, and historians. Together, they offer not just a plan, but a call to action—for fire-resilient homes, culturally grounded design, and a West that can weather what’s coming.
Then we travel from the hills of Los Angeles to the streets of Tulsa, where Danny Boy O’Connor—from House of Pain—takes us inside his remarkable second act. After bottoming out, he bought a run-down house for $15,000... and it just happened to be the house from The Outsiders. What followed was a full restoration, a pilgrimage, and a new life. We take a tour of the Outsiders Museum and meet the community that made it possible.
Later, Cheap Old Houses is back—Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein spotlight a dreamy 1870s Victorian in Fredonia, Kentucky and an off-the-grid cabin on federal forest land in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, both for under $100,000.
Plus, another round of House Rules, our listener-powered game that tests your home renovation know-how. And in The Simple Fix, we show you how to find a stud in your baseboard—without breaking the wall.
And as always, we’re taking your calls. Got a house problem, project hurdle, or just need a little advice? Call us at (877) 864-7460.
All that and more, coming up on This Old House Radio Hour.
Hey there! After 317 new episodes, the How to LA team is turning the page. We won't be producing weekly episodes anymore, but you'll hear our reporting on LAist 89.3 FM, on our website and on social media. Before we exited the party, we wanted to hang out with our homies, comadres and contributors one last time.
Thank you for lettings us in your homes, speakers and communities. Follow along at LAist.com/newsletters and Instagram.
Guests:
Gab Chabrán, LAist food editor
Cato Hernández, LAist reporter
Joshua Letona, LAist social media producer
Erin Stone, LAist reporter
Antonia Cereijido, LAist Studios host
Monica Bushman, LAist Studios producer
Victoria Alejandro, LAist Studios producer
317: LAX tends to be a place that Angelenos avoid if they can help it, but today we're taking you there to check out a very cool, but not very well-known museum. It's one of 64 museums that are featured in a new book titled, “Also On View: Unique and Unexpected Museums of Greater Los Angeles.” Guests: author Todd Lerew; Jean-Christophe Dagohoy Dick, president of the Flight Path Museum
Marqueece Harris-Dawson is now one of the most powerful leaders in the city, as the new Los Angeles City Council President. He stepped into the position in September, two years after the council tape scandal shocked the city and the nation. Harris-Dawson speaks with Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido about the ongoing fallout from the scandal that could affect L.A.’s redistricting process, and he gets real about his top priority for the city, the L.A. 2028 Olympics, and the U.S. presidential election.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join
314:
L.A.'s musical vibes are a mix of cultures -- stop on any street corner and you'll hear 80s radio hits, rock en Español, contemporary pop, or reggaeton blast from all sorts of cars over the roar of traffic.
Join us for this episode, where we explore the history of remixing Spanish sounds and cultures to create radio hits, and talk with Girl Ultra, a contemporary artist who's touring songs in Spanglish that are just as inspired by Britney Spears as they are by Mexico City.
Guests: Mariana de Miguel, aka Girl Ultra; Professor Nathian Shae Rodriguez
315: It’s Halloween! So we’re bringing you a slightly spooky episode today. Actually, whether you think it’s spooky really depends on how you feel about cemeteries —and Hollywood Forever Cemetery isn’t just any cemetery. Today, the Hollywood Forever is probably best known as the site of Cinespia’s popular outdoor movie screenings, which have been going on for more than 20 years, but the history of the cemetery itself goes back much further.
GUEST: Karie Bible, Hollywood Forever’s official tour guide
Bringing one back from last year! Keep up with the How to LA team via our Saturday night newsletter. Sign up here.
#173: Marigolds – or cempasúchi as the Aztecs named them – have long been the flower of choice for Dia De Los Muertos celebrations. This time of year, you've probably seen these bright, orange flowers all around your local flower shops, farmers markets and grocery stores. But traditionally, they're used in the making of ofrendas, the alters set up to honor those who have died for the day of the day.
To learn more about the meaning behind these beautiful, symbolic flower, HTLA heads over to Boyle Heights to speak to the owner of LatinX With Plants.
Guest: Andi Xoch, artist and founder of LatinX With Plants
Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do has resigned and agreed to plead guilty for a conspiracy to steal millions of dollars in COVID relief funds meant to feed needy seniors. Do’s criminal charges and plea agreement follow anLAist investigation and federal probe. The U.S. Attorney called Do’s conspiracy “Robin Hood in reverse.” Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido speaks with LAist Correspondent Nick Gerda about LAist’s investigation and its impact.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join
314:
Actor and comedian Marval Rex’s first solo show, “REXODUS: Out Of The Closet Into The Tribe,” draws on his experiences with religion, identity, gender — and this city.
We had him on the show to really get into the state of transmasculine community in L.A. and how he's navigated 10 years of creating art and his exploration in acting and performance.
We'll also hear from friend of the pod, journalist and author of “We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film,” Tre'vell Anderson to get the scoop on what's going on with transmasculine roles in Hollywood today.
Don't forget to sign up for the HTLA newsletter here: https://laist.com/newsletters
And you can read Brian De Los Santos' LAist story here: https://laist.com/news/rexodus-marval-rex-transmasculine-actor-to-create-his-own-show-los-angeles
Guests: Marval Rex, Tre'vell Anderson
313: We are back today with LAist’s Gab Chabrán for another episode of Cheap Fast Eats. This time, we’re taking you to West Hollywood. First up was Super Rad Sub Shop to sample some super tasty sandwiches that combine East Coast tradition with West Coast flavors. Later on, we got a taste of the midwest at Dtown Pizzeria, which serves up Detroit-style pies with lots of unique options (just don’t try to order a single slice). And finally, we topped everything off with some smoothies at Kale Me Crazy.
Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón is locked in a tough reelection battle this November against Nathan Hochman. In candid, in-depth interviews with LAist Correspondent Frank Stoltze, Hochman and Gascón make the case for their differing approaches to running the country’s largest prosecutor’s office and differing views on criminal justice reform.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join
312:
We know summer is over, but hot dogs are an L.A. staple year round! We all know those bacon wrapped street dogs after a concert...
In this episode, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is joined by LAist food editor Gab Chabrán as we dig into the history of hot dogs in L.A, and the unexpected flavors that shape this city's most famous dogs. And since it's a food story, you know we're leaving the studio for a hot dog field trip. Stay tuned as we check out the world famous Oki-dog.
For more, read Gab's story for LAist here.
And check out our newsletter signups here.
George Gascón faces backlash from inside his own D.A.’s office and from the public. He’s become a national scapegoat for right-wing media. LAist Correspondent Frank Stoltze explores how Gascón’s policies have played out for people imprisoned, like Jose Santana, and families of victims. And Frank speaks to recalled San Francisco D.A. Chesa Boudin about his experience and whether the November election could be a referendum on not only Gascón, but also the national progressive DA movement.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join
We're working on fresh episodes, so we're bringing you an oldie, but goodie from earlier this year! Dig in and enjoy!:
You know this podcast LOVES our food episodes, so we're teaming up with someone who loves LA's food scene as much as we do: Alex Cottrell, better known as LA Try Guy. In this new segment, Down To Feast, Brian and Alex show each other their favorite meal in the neighborhood. This first one is in Westchester, so next time you're going to LAX (or next time you're in the need of some ridiculously delicious Jamaican food) you've got some solid recommendations to choose from.
Best Chicken Sausage Sammich (Brian): The Coffee Company
Best Oxtail (Alex): Hungry Joes
Music in this episode composed by: Austin Cross, Cortex, Dexter Thomas, Makoto Matsushita, Moon Mullins, The Sweet Enoughs
George Gascón is unlike many prosecutors. His background and sweeping criminal justice policy reforms as Los Angeles District Attorney have made him a polarizing national figure. LAist Correspondent Frank Stoltze speaks with Gascón about his journey from hard-nosed LAPD cop to one of the most progressive prosecutors in the country and reports on the rebellion inside Gascón’s own DA’s office that began brewing within hours of him taking office.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join
311: The 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games have wrapped, and right now in the sports world (or at least here in the U.S.) a lot of the focus is shifting to the start of football season. But today on How To LA, we’re focusing on the increased attention that women’s sports have seen in recent years, and how that's playing out in L.A. Helping us do that are some Angel City ultra fans, the club's co-founder and president, some long-time Sparks fans, and Sparks players Azurá Stevens and Dearica Hamby.
Voters elected Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón in 2020 on his promises to undo decades of mass incarceration, tackle what many viewed as excessive prison sentences, and to generally create a fairer system. LAist Civics & Democracy Correspondent Frank Stoltze explores the criminal justice system Gascón set out to change. He examines decades-old practices and the impact on the people imprisoned through the case of Jose Santana. Santana ended up being sentenced to 22 years in adult prison for robbing two kids of their cellphones when he was 15.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join
Hey there! We’re bringing you another episode of How to LA as part of LAist climate solutions week.
Today’s episode is from 2023. It features our former associate editor and one of my favorite journalists, Aaricka Washington. She took me on a hike in Silver Lake, and we foraged for plants! And yes we did get audio of us tasting some of them. Hope you enjoy the exploration of our urban environment.
(And be sure to check out more stories at LAist.com!)
Here at LAist, it’s Climate Solutions week, and we’re focusing on the future of food. How food and agricultural systems are tackling climate pollution and adapting to a changing planet. And why Southern California is at the center of how climate change impacts the food we eat, grow, and sell.
So today on How to LA, we’re bringing you a throwback episode from 2022. It was one of our first episodes, and it focused on produce from a Compton farm. You’ll get to hear how the founders of Alma Backyard Farms set up a community service that engages local residents and employs formerly incarcerated people — all in the name of good food.
Guests:
Erika Cuellar and Richard Garcia, co-founders of Alma Farms
310:
Today, we're meeting up with one of our favorite L.A. based influencers, Drew Tillman!
Drew's known online for his date ideas in different pockets of this wonderful city, and in this episode, he's joining the How To LA team to take host Brian De Los Santos on a walking date around WeHo. We make the most of a beautiful Sunday by exploring spaces with delicious food and a strong community focus. Listen in to learn how to get curious about your city, and to hear some special spots in WeHo get a shoutout.
Don't forget to check out LAist on Instagram and TikTok too, for a video component to this episode!
Guest: Drew Tillman
309: Today we are back with our summer series about places to explore and discover in Los Angeles. We’ve done parks, museums, road trip, and this time we are talking about happy hour!
The neighborhood spots featured include: Big Bar in Los Feliz, The Raymond 1886 in Pasadena, and Chulita in West Adams.
In honor of the American Cinematheque's "Friend of the Fest" program, we're rerunning their feature from our mini-series, Revival House! Victoria Alejandro is one of the podcasters invited to present a film this year. This Sunday, 8/25 at the Egyptian Theater, she'll be introducing the 80s classic "To Live and Die in L.A." You can find tickets here: https://www.americancinematheque.com/now-showing/laist-presents-to-live-and-die-in-l-a-8-25-24/
Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, screening 1500 movies a year in three iconic theaters across Los Angeles, the American Cinematheque has a movie for everybody, every night of the week. In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro jumps into the history of these movie theaters and this programming group to shine a light on a little L.A. moviegoing history and spotlight the future of the American Cinematheque in this city.
Check out our deep dive into the Egyptian Theatre's history and reopening here: https://omny.fm/shows/howtola/revival-house-the-egyptian-theater-redux
Guests: Professor and historian Ross Melnick, American Cinematheque artistic director Grant Moninger, Programmers Imani Davis and Cindy Flores, Senior Film Programmer Chris Lemaire
308:
It's like, totally wild that we haven't talked about the "Valley girl" accent yet. This week on How To LA, the team hits the streets to ask Angelenos about the origin of the accent...turns out, no one's really sure where it comes from. Except LAist reporter Caitlin Hernandez, who did a deep dive on the history of the iconic Valley sound. They join us to give the 411. It's like, so awesome, right?
Read Caitlin's LAist story here: https://laist.com/news/la-history/los-angeles-valley-girl-accent-socal-california-english
Guests: Caitlin Hernandez, man on the street interviews from Max, Calvin, and Monse on Wilshire.
307: Today we're heading out with LAist's Gab Chabrán to test some tasty cool drinks in L.A. — that's "cool" as in temperature, but also meaning something a little unique.
We stopped for boba (and other tasty tea and coffee drinks) at Hey Hey on Sunset, sampled fermented Mexican drinks (tepache and pulque) at Mírate in Los Feliz, and finally tried out kava nectar (new to both me and Gab) at Kavahana in Santa Monica.
306: We're publishing this on a Friday and you know what that means: we all scream for... (waiting for you to say it.)
LAist food editor and Cheap Fast Eats co-conspirator Gab Chábran and HTLA host Brian De Los Santos host Culinary Connections: Ice Cream Social. It was a chat with owners from three Southern California ice cream eateries: Kinrose in Pasadena, Tocumbo Ice Cream in Anaheim, and 626 Hospitality Group in Arcadia.
305:
What's the deal with the new mural on Western Avenue? A man holding a flowerpot crawling out of the sky?
That's performance artist Pope L., inviting folks into the new, permanent home of the non-profit formerly known as LAX Art. They've rebranded as The Brick, and their new brick and mortar gallery and exhibition space is formally opening in September.
How To LA host Brian de los Santos spoke with artistic director Hamza Walker, and artists in the 3B Collective, to get the scoop on what this space means for contemporary art in L.A.
For more on the artists mentioned:
Pope L.: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N7OnQkch7s
3B Collective: https://www.craftcontemporary.org/exhibitions/highway-hypnosis/
Guests: Hamza Walker, the 3B collective
304: Today, we’re bringing you a deep dive into house music and how a music equipment lending library called Feminist Synth Lab is lowering the barriers to entry for people interested in DJing and making electronic music in L.A.
This episode was reported by How To LA intern Veronica Daniel.
303: We're continuing our summer series of places to explore - and this time we're heading to Miracle Mile and following the sweet sounds of jazz down Wilshire and onto the LACMA campus.
As LA's county museum, LACMA is exploring all sorts of ways to make sure the public feels welcome, from free membership for teens, free admission for LA County residents, and free jazz nights in the summers. You might even run into a friend, or see someone like artist Judy Baca working in the galleries. We ducked inside to get the scoop and see some art in the AC. And later, we shout out our other favorite museums around the city.
Read more on Judy Baca and LACMA on LAist here.
Guest: Chelo Montoya, assistant VP of public programs at LACMA
302: Today we're talking about run clubs and how they foster community in L.A. Our associate editor (and our special resident marathon runner) Aaricka Washington looked into running clubs that were founded by Black, Asian and Latino people, the ways that they're offering inclusive, safe spaces for Angelenos, and why they've been growing more popular.
301: We're continuing our summer series of places to explore - and this time we're stepping out of the studio and into the wild. Evan's taking Brian on a tour of a park that meant a lot to him as a kid - and we're meeting the organization that acts as its steward: TreePeople.
You've probably heard of them before - they do everything from trail restoration work to planting shade trees, just about everywhere in Southern California. But this is their home base, and when they're not reforesting swaths of the Angeles National Forest you can find them in the heart of LA at the top of Coldwater Canyon.
Guest: Alex Miller, director of communications for TreePeople
Music in this episode composed by: Austin Cross, Imaginary Softwoods, Jerimiah Chiu & Marta Sofia Honer, Josiah Steinbrick, M. Sage, Mort Garson, Nicklas Nygren, Patricia Wolf, Wilson Tanner
300: Three hundred episodes y'all! Can you think of a better way to celebrate than with the movable feast that is Cheap Fast Eats? I'll wait...
No? Okay. Well buckle in and get ready to chow down as LAist's food editor Gab Chabran takes Brian to our first location OUTSIDE of LA County... From breakfast burritos to baklava and everything in between. This is Cheap Fast Eats, Fountain Valley.
Restaurants featured: Artisan - 7 Leaves & Crema Bakery, Naugles, Ikram Grill
299:
VCRs are buzzing again in the city...that's right! Watching a movie on VHS is back! But in 2024, with streaming and Blu-Ray, why watch something on tape? HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro spoke with VHS vendors, collectors, and other tape aficionados around the city (including filmmaker Vera Drew of "The People's Joker") to understand the subculture, the community, and let YOU know why tapes are back, baby!
Guests: Filmmaker Vera Drew, head of Altered Innocence Frank Jaffe, Michelle Halac and Alex Gootter of Hollywood Entertainment, Erik Varho and Jessica Gonzales from Whammy!, Eliana Oropeza from Aztec Pickers, Jackie Forsythe from AMIA
This is our final installment of LA On The Margins, stories produced by students at USC. In this episode, we meet a reggae artist who is trying to make it in this beautiful, complicated city... and supporting his art by driving for Uber.
Through reporter Yundie Li, we learn about his struggle with balancing the "city of the gig worker" with the "city of creativity."
We're back with another installment of LA On The Margins, a collection of stories produced by students at USC. This time, reporter Sophie Sullivan takes us to the largest jail in LA County — a jail considered by many to be uninhabitable, and which, in 2021, was ordered closed by L.A. County Supervisors due to "inhumane conditions." But the jail still stands today.
In this episode, we hear from families whose loved ones died while in custody of the jail and who now seek answers as to why.
A warning - this episode contains mentions of suicide and includes strong language.
This story was co-published and supported by the journalism non-profit the Economic Hardship Reporting Project.
298: Did you know that we are in the middle of kitten season? It's a super busy time for shelter workers, cat rescues, and the many Angelenos who volunteer their time to help save cats.
Today we are talking about those folks and what’s being done in L.A. and OC to try to improve the lives of free-roaming cats in Southern California. According to L.A.'s Department of Animal Services, there’s about 960,000 of them in the city of L.A. alone.
Read more at LAist: ‘Kitten season’ sounds cute, but it’s one of the toughest times for LA’s cat crusaders
297: Looking to escape the heat this summer? Well, look no further than LA's biggest swimming pool. We've got the team here with Brian in LAist's Studio B to share our favorite coastal recommendations, whether you're looking for a place to have quiet picnic or you're learning to tandem surf with your dog.
All summer we'll have more recommendations for more ways to spend your weekend, so keep an ear out!
296:
Flavors From Afar is a caterer and soon to be restaurant in East Hollywood. As part of the nonprofit TIYAA Foundation, Flavors From Afar also hosts a culinary training program for folks from all over the globe who are new to this city. Consisting of migrants and refugees resettling in L.A. and looking for work, it's an 8 week training program designed to teach aspiring chefs everything from knife skills to applying for licenses. Associate editor Aaricka Washington checked out a class and is on HTLA to tell host Brian De Los Santos all about it.
Check out their website for culinary sessions, catering and the Global Dinner Series here: https://www.flavorsfromafar.co/
And if you're curious, the next culinary session course for new participants will begin August 6th.
141: Ok - no more Cheap Fast Eats... But we've still got a great holiday treat for y'all. Maybe something to do this weekend to beat the heat? Today, we're revisiting the time Brian and Evan went down the LA River in a kayak.
Original episode description below:
Whitewater kayaking might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture the L.A. River. Too much concrete, right? Not enough water? Well, think again. Kayaking the L.A. River officially became legal in 2011 when the EPA declared it a "navigable waterway." And turns out... it's pretty fun!
Join How to LA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Evan Jacoby as they paddle down a 2-mile stretch of river that does NOT have a concrete bottom and passes through the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve.
Guests: Gary Golding, guide with LA River Expeditions & survivalist; Dennis Mabasa, COO of Friends of the LA River
There's a lot of local stewards of the river who are working to make sure that parts of it can be enjoyed by all of us Angelenos as well as the birds and resident critters. If you want to keep up to date on all the things going on with the river, make sure to follow FOLAR on social media or check out their website at folar.org
Also, you check out more info on the river on LAist.com/HowToLA.
LA was rocked on March 4 when Dave Fink, a golf influencer, posted a viral video on Instagram detailing how brokers - largely using a Korean messenger app- were snatching up prime time tees at Los Angeles’ public golf courses and reselling them. Here’s how an unlikely crew of golf enthusiasts’ fight to keep golf in L.A. accessible and affordable is paying off. Host Antonia Cereijido reports.
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Listen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/reimagining-democracy or wherever you get your podcasts
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations.
It's co-hosted by Larry Mantle, host of LAist 89.3’s AirTalk, the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California, and his son Desmond Mantle. Even though Desmond is in law school pursuing a different career, he shares his dad’s fascination with the world and drive to understand why things are the way they are.
Diving into topics like gender dynamics, mental health, religion and sex, Larry and Desmond will discuss shifting societal values, the life experiences that have shaped their perspectives and stories that neither of them have shared before... gaining a new understanding of the world, and each other, in each episode.
Passing the Mantle premieres July 8th.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
BONUS: The Tournament of Cheeseburgers is over! And we have your winner. Read alll about it here: https://laist.com/news/food/drumroll-please-we-announce-the-winner-of-the-laist-tournament-of-cheeseburgers
This pop up joint along with some of the runner ups will be at Smorgasburg at The Row in DTLA this Sunday! Make sure to check out the free event and enjoy some excellent food.
RSVP here: https://laist.com/events/tournament-of-cheeseburgers-at-smorgasburg-la
To honor this delicious moment we are sharing again a great live event I co-hosted with LAist food editor Gab Chabrán earlier this year, featuring the one and only winner of the Tournament of Cheeseburgers and other amazing burger entrepreneurs and chefs LA.
Watch the event here: https://laist.com/events/culinary-connections-hamburger-fry
284: Happy 4th of July! It's the last day of our holiday Cheap Fast Eats marathon. Whether you're hosting the BBQ for your family and friends - OR you're just kicking it solo - if you're anything like us, the summer is all about FOOD. So kick back and enjoy some fireworks, or protect your dog from the big spooky boom booms, and do it while noshing on some of the best food L.A. has to offer.
Original episode description below:
Gab. Brian. Food. You know the drill — Cheap Fast Eats is back! This time, LAist food editor Gab Chabrán is taking HTLA host Brian De Los Santos to some of the best spots west of Sepulveda Blvd in the 818.
A century ago Wheat and Lemon were the undisputed kings of LA's San Fernando Valley, a spill of land that existed almost exclusively to be farmed. But in the 1950's, as a post-war Los Angeles was flirting ever so closely with car-culture, the first strip malls of suburbia were born.
Today we know these strip malls as the humble homes of the best food the Valley has to offer. Join us to hear about Gab's favorites - and check out his full guide on LAist.com.
Restaurants visited: Cupid's Hot Dogs, Ay Papa Que Rico, New York Chicken & Gyro
Music in this episode composed by: E Ro 3, Troye Sivan, Herb Ellis, Dexter Thomas, Slumberville, The ModArchive, Makoto Matsushita, Austin Cross
239: Today we're continuing our holiday marathon of Cheap Fast Eats! Whether you're hosting the BBQ for your family and friends - OR you're just kicking it solo - if you're anything like us, the summer is all about FOOD. So kick back and enjoy some fireworks, or protect your dog from the big spooky boom booms, and do it while noshing on some of the best food L.A. has to offer.
Original episode description below:
Cheap Fast Eats is back! Did you miss us? It's our monthly segment featuring LAist food editor Gab Chabrán and all his favorite spots to grab a quick and inexpensive meal throughout L.A. This time we're in Boyle Heights - the true East Side, for those who know.
Come along as we eat our way through some rainy day comfort food.
Restaurants featured in this episode: Pioneer Chicken, Brooklyn Ave Pizza, Mariscos Jalisco
For Gab's full list of Cheap Fast Eats in Boyle Heights, check out his article on LAist.com:
https://laist.com/brief/news/food/cheap-fast-eats-chow-down-in-historic-boyle-heights-for-10
193: What better way to celebrate the summer's favorite holiday than a marathon of Cheap Fast Eats! Whether you're hosting the BBQ for your family and friends - OR you're just kicking it solo - if you're anything like us, the summer is all about FOOD. So kick back and enjoy some fireworks, or protect your dog from the big spooky boom booms, and do it while noshing on some of the best food L.A. has to offer.
Original description below:
It's Cheap Fast Eats time again, and that means LAist food editor Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos. Mid City is close to EVERYTHING...Museum Row, Park La Brea, Fairfax, West Hollywood. It's a good place to know some gems to get some cheap grubs.
Locations: Qi Steam Kitchen, Del Mar Ostioneria, Burger She Wrote
134: The great thing about Los Angeles is that you can do the urban thing – go to museums, clubs, concerts and eat at good restaurants – and you can get out in nature whenever you want... or need.
There are ton a beautiful parks, sunset spots and hiking trails right in the middle of the city. Or if you are feeling more adventurous, you can venture out to farther flung places across the county.
Last fall we asked our listeners for their favorite places to get outdoors and we turned it into an episode. This summer, we did it again. Here are some of their suggestions. Enjoy – and get outside!
Carol Kwang Park was 12 years old, working as a cashier at her family’s gas station in Compton, California, when the 1992 LA Uprising forever changed her life. Her mom was at the gas station that day and Carol was unsure if she’d even make it home. At the time, she didn’t understand why tensions came to a head in Los Angeles, following the acquittal of the officers who beat Rodney King. She also never understood why her mother insisted on keeping the business going, especially after the Uprising. As an adult, a personal crisis prompts Carol to finally start processing that event and her place in history.
Content Warning: This episode contains racial slurs and discusses police brutality.
How can I support? Inheriting is entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of the show, go to LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to donate.
295: Don't get us wrong, we LOVE Los Angeles... but sometimes we just gotta get out. You know the feeling? Well, if you're looking for some inspiration for some summer day-trips, about 3 hours or less away from the city, we got you covered.
Check out the recs from the team... and from some of you!
Today we have another story from LA On The Margins, the collection of stories produced by students at USC where every episode we profile an Angeleno struggling in some way to make it in this city.
This time, a transition home that aims to help those who’ve struggled with their mental health and/or a history of addiction.
For years, LA county has funded programs to address cycles of incarceration and homelessness that often affect those suffering from mental illness and substance abuse. People would go from one institution —say a jail — right into another, usually with few results.
Reporter Kira Brenner takes us somewhere different: a place that mixed counselors, therapists, and enrichment opportunities – like art classes – into something that would feel more like a home.
Take a listen.
The Paris Olympics kicks off Friday, starting the countdown until the games come to Los Angeles in 2028. During the 2028 games, the L.A. Memorial Coliseum will again host the track and field and Para Athletics events, making it the only stadium in history to host these competitions for three different Olympic Games. To celebrate this milestone, we want to revisit the Coliseum’s history and replay this episode from 2023…during the stadium's centennial year!
#147: The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is one of several L.A. landmarks hitting the century mark this year, and we thought it’d be fun to take a look back on them as we celebrate our one-year anniversary of How To LA this September.
We explored The Biltmore Hotel downtown (if you haven’t listened to that episode already) and we’ll be featuring the story behind the Hollywood sign pretty soon.
When it comes to the L.A. Coliseum (the "memorial" in the full name refers to the fact that the stadium is a memorial to the Americans who served in WWI) there’s no denying that it has a rich history. For example, it played a role in the desegregation of the NFL, and it will soon be the first location to ever host three Olympic Games. But the stadium's history goes way beyond sports.
Guests:
- Frank Guridy, Professor of History and African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University, and author of the forthcoming book, "The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play"
- William Deverell, Historian at USC and Director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West
- Marina Fote, Assistant to the General Manager, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The performances from Wattstax in this episode are Carla Thomas singing "Pick Up the Pieces" and The Bar-Kays performing "Son of Shaft/Feel It"
Today we're bringing you another installment of LA on the Margins. This is a collection of pieces produced by students at USC, which profile people in our community as they work through the many challenges we face in our city.
Along South L.A.’s Figueroa Corridor, activists have been calling for the closure of motels they say are complicit in sex trafficking and drug dealing. A campaign called “Free The Land,” run by the nonprofit Community Coalition, seeks to shut these businesses down and convert the buildings for other uses, like housing for L.A.’s unhoused population.
Erick Treviño meets the people behind the campaign, and learns how their own experiences growing up on the corridor have shaped their activism.
For more information, check out Community Coalition.
294: We're back with another installment of our How To Not Be Lonely In LA series.
Today, we're talking about volunteering your time to a cause, and how doing so can make you feel a lot less alone.
Call it selfish, but doing some community service is a really great way to create connections, broaden your perspective of life, and ultimately give you a greater sense of belonging.
Producer Megan Botel is at Growing Hope Gardens in Santa Monica to get her hands dirty in some soil and talk about the benefits of volunteering.
Guests: Carolyn Day, founder and executive director of Growing Hope Gardens; Eleu Navarro, garden and farm team coordinator; Cat Moore, director of belonging at USC.
Some places to volunteer around the city:
Part 4:
Host Antonia Cereijido speaks with negotiations expert Victoria Medvec about how to make the best possible deal. Medvec also helps identify ways the Colorado River water rights representatives could still change tactics and reach an agreement before time runs out.
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Listen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/reimagining-democracy or wherever you get your podcasts
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
293: Social Calendar is back! This time with comedian and tv writer Chris Estrada. He's the co-creator and star of Hulu's This Fool, and today he's sharing his favorite memories of serial killers in parks and giving some recs on how to best spend your weekend in LA.
Join HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and guest co-host Antonia Cerejido for some LA history, documentary recommendations, and some ideas to spruce up your summer nights.
We are back with another installment of LA on the Margins — USC student produced profiles of people in our community who are working through the many challenges life in the city can throw you. Today: Hunger.
About 30% of households in LA County are food insecure. Reporter Nova Blanco Rio explores this shocking statistic through intimate snapshots of his time volunteering with food distribution organization Seeds of Hope.
For more information about Seeds Of Hope and how you can help, or be helped, head to https://www.seedsofhopela.org/ or call 213-482-2040 (Ext. 234)
292: Juneteenth marks the day federal troops showed up in Galveston, Texas in 1865 – two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed – to tell enslaved Black people that slavery was over.
The first Juneteenth celebration was held in Texas the following year, and then the celebrations spread.
Here in L.A., the Leonard family is credited with bringing the tradition from the Lone Star State to Leimert Park.
Ariyana Leonard and AyEsha Leonard McLaughlin are the daughters of Jonathan Leonard, one of the founders of the Juneteenth celebrations in the neighborhood.
How To LA associate editor Aaricka Washington also joins today's episode to talk about Juneteenth events going on this year in L.A.
Over the next few weeks, HTLA is bringing you a series of stories produced by journalism students at USC: L.A. On The Margins. The series profiles Angelenos who have struggled with things like mental health, food insecurity and homelessness.
In this first episode, reporter Liv Kelleher follows the journey of a young performer as he tries to “make it” in Hollywood — with a nearby Panera Bread as his office, a Planet Fitness as his shower and his car as his only home base.
291: Back in 2014, leaked audio of L.A. Clippers owner Donald Sterling making racist comments caused a firestorm. There were calls for him to step down, for Clippers players to boycott their own games, and for the league to do something. Fairly quickly, the NBA did. But the story didn’t end there.
In 2019, a podcast series from ESPN’s 30 for 30 called The Sterling Affairs explored how the whole saga went down with interviews with Clippers players, former coach Doc Rivers, and Shelly Sterling, Donald's wife. Now there’s a new series called “Clipped” from FX and Hulu that’s based on the podcast. "Clipped" writer/producer Rembert Browne (who also covered the story back in 2014 for Grantland) joined How To LA to talk about the significance of what went down a decade ago, and what it was like to turn the story into a TV series.
Part 3: JB Hamby and the other lead negotiators on the Colorado River have to come up with a long term solution to manage the river in the face of climate change. Will they reach a deal before it’s too late?
LAist correspondent Emily Guerin examines how JB's position on water has dramatically evolved since he first won office a few years ago. She brings us back to the current water negotiations as the conflict between the Upper and Lower Basins becomes very public, and JB struggles to convince Imperial Valley farmers that they need to cut back.
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
290: Today we're doing one of our favorite thing on HTLA: exploting – and eating – LA's rich food scene.
Every heard of Black tacos? Or as some people refer to them: Black people tacos?
Well, they're a thing, especially in LA, and they are delicious. Think traditional soul food spices and braised meats with all the Mexican fixins' that Angelenos love.
We love our tacos here in LA, and today we're exploring the origins and evolutions of the Black taco. And we eat at Sky's Gourmet Tacos.
Guests: Veronica Daniel, LAist Studios intern, Deborah Freeman, food anthrologist and food editor for Style Weekly, Barbara Burrell, owner of Sky's Gourmet Tacos
Places to grab a Black taco in LA:
Ms. Ruby’s Bakery
- 404 E Manchester Blvd # 1320, Inglewood, CA 90301
Taco Pete’s (has been serving the South L.A. community for more than 50 years)
- 12007 South Central Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90059 (the historic location)
- 3272 West Slauson Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90043
Alta Adams (try their jerk-spiced grilled plantain tacos for brunch)
- 5359 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90016
All Flavor No Grease Food Truck
- 8600 South Western Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90047 on Manchester near Ralph’s.
My 2 Cents
- 5583 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90019
289:
"The deadly weed with its roots in hell" is here on Hollywood Boulevard! A new production of the musical "Reefer Madness," based on the cult classic 1936 black and white film, has opened in Los Angeles at the Whitley Theater.
In this episode, HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro talks with host Brian De Los Santos about some Hollywood history, and brings us a chat with actress and producer Kristen Bell.
You can check out HTLA's earlier story on Hollywood history here: https://laist.com/brief/news/how-to-la/htla-up-close-and-personal-with-the-hollywood-sign
Guest: Actress and producer Kristen Bell
288: Today, we're meeting up again with one of our favorite L.A. history lovers, Etan Rosenbloom (of Etan Does LA), to check out a special Los Angeles landmark. Hollyhock House, designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1921, is located within Barnsdall Art Park in East Hollywood. It's the only UNESCO World Heritage site in the city of L.A.
Part 2: JB Hamby is the dealmaker from California, and at 28 years old, he’s the youngest and least experienced among the representatives from the seven states involved with the Colorado River water negotiations. LAist correspondent Emily Guerin explores the beginnings of Hamby’s understanding of water growing up in the Imperial Valley, a desert farming area in California.
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
98: Today we're celebrating pride by revisiting our deep into the history of Queer LA. Our LA Explained reporter, Caitlin Hernández, took us back in time to explain how West Hollywood became recognized as a mecca for LA's gay community. It was part of their research for the LAist series, Queer LA, where Caitlin's highlighting the joy, culture, and history of queerness in this city.
You can find more of their reporting at laist.com/QueerLA
Music in this episode composed by: Rae Bourbon, Austin Cross, Kylie Minogue, Masayoshi Takanaka, Fats Waller, Woo.
Archival audio courtesy of the Library of Congress.
287: Join us behind the scenes at Studio B, HTLA's home base here at LAist Studios. Today we're talking about what it takes to make our show possible... Because here's the thing: we love making this show, but we can only do it with your support.
To give you a little inspiration, Brian's putting HTLA's producers in the hotseat and asking them to share their favorite moments working on the show.
How To LA — and ALL the other news content and podcasts from LAist — is Pubic Media. That means we only get funded if you, dear listener, decide to fund us.
We want to keep bringing you stories for LA, by LA. Please help us do the work you love by becoming a member at LAist.com/joinHTLA.
Thank you so much, and we'll see you with some architectural history tomorrow!
~team HTLA
286: It's pride month, and today we're looking at how that's showing up in the classroom.
In this episode, host Brian De Los Santos speaks with LAist reporters Caitlin Hernandez and Mariana Dale about what this school year was like for LGBTQ+ teachers in SoCal. In districts big and small, from struggle to joy, Hernandez and Dale heard it all, and they're here to share what they found with us.
You can find their digital story on LAist's website here: https://laist.com/news/education/lausd-lgbtq-los-angeles-county-chino-antelope-valley-teacher-student-support
Guests: LAist reporters Caitlin Hernandez and Mariana Dale
285: Today, we’re bringing you my conversation with NPR’s Emily Kwong, the host of a new LAist Studios podcast called “Inheriting.” It’s about Asian American and Pacific Islander families, and explores how a single event in history can ripple through generations.
This is How To LA, the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. I want to share with you another podcast from LAist Studios that I think you’ll really want to listen to: Imperfect Paradise: The Gen Z Water Dealmaker.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Sunday.
The Colorado River is in the midst of one of the worst water crises in recorded history. Climate change and overuse are taking a significant toll. Seven states, including California, must compromise and reach a solution to prevent the river from collapsing.
In late 2023, the tensions were running high between the major players in the water world as they convened at the annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas. LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin was there, seeking to learn as much as she can about the people with the most power on the river.
For more, visit https://LAist.com/ImperfectParadise
Support
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
284: Gab. Brian. Food. You know the drill — Cheap Fast Eats is back! This time, LAist food editor Gab Chabrán is taking HTLA host Brian De Los Santos to some of the best spots west of Sepulveda Blvd in the 818.
A century ago Wheat and Lemon were the undisputed kings of LA's San Fernando Valley, a spill of land that existed almost exclusively to be farmed. But in the 1950's, as a post-war Los Angeles was flirting ever so closely with car-culture, the first strip malls of suburbia were born.
Today we know these strip malls as the humble homes of the best food the Valley has to offer. Join us to hear about Gab's favorites - and check out his full guide on LAist.com.
Restaurants visited: Cupid's Hot Dogs, Ay Papa Que Rico, New York Chicken & Gyro
Music in this episode composed by: E Ro 3, Troye Sivan, Herb Ellis, Dexter Thomas, Slumberville, The ModArchive, Makoto Matsushita, Austin Cross
283: WeHo Pride is THIS Weekend! The three-day event celebrating everything LGBTQ will feature drag artists, gay pop icons, and lots and lots of glitter. To get a head start on the festivities, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos sits down with OUTLOUD festival founder Jeff Consoletti, and pop artist VINCINT, to talk about Pride at West Hollywood, and about what it means to be a queer icon.
128: Happy Memorial Day! The team is off - but we still have a treat for you. (Get it? Because conchas are so sweet?) Ok. Jokes aside, we're replaying this episode because it was recently nominated for a James Beard award, and the team is really excited about that.
But here's the thing... We can't make episodes like this without your help. If you value our flavor of journalism, please donate to keep us going strong.
LAist.com/joinHTLA
This episode originally published on July 7, 2023. Original description below.
Everyone loves a fresh concha – that warm, doughy center with the crunchy cookie shell on the top could send any Angeleno's heart a'flutter. Today, Brian's taking LAist food editor Gab Chabran on a concha crawl. We're exploring the history of this famous Mexican treat, and checking out Brian & Gab's favorite spots across LA.
For more sweet-breaded goodness, check out Gab's article over on LAist.com
Panaderias visited: Panaderia Coatzingo in South LA, Vallarta, y Gusto Bread in Long Beach.
Got a favorite we didn't mention? Send us a DM! instagram.com/LAistofficial
Music in this episode composed by: Aaron Copland, Austin Cross, Haruomi Hosono, Radio Jarocho, Quetzal, Masayoshi Takanaka, The ModArchive, Dexter Thomas, Woo, Yeahman
282: Today we’re putting a spotlight on journalists at Southern California colleges who’ve been covering protests on their campuses. Protesters have been calling for an end to Israeli attacks on Gaza and for their schools to divest from companies tied to Israel and weapons manufacturing.
We heard from students at USC, UC Riverside, CSU Long Beach, and UC Irvine about what this time has been like for them, juggling their roles as journalists and college students.
Check out the story on LAist: What's It Like To Cover Your Own Campus Protest? Here's What Student Journalists Told Us
281: Revival House says goodbye for now with a look at one of the biggest programming groups in town, the American Cinematheque.
Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, screening 1500 movies a year in three iconic theaters across Los Angeles, the American Cinematheque has a movie for everybody, every night of the week. In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro jumps into the history of these movie theaters and this programming group to shine a light on a little L.A. moviegoing history and spotlight the future of the American Cinematheque in this city.
Check out our deep dive into the Egyptian Theatre's history and reopening here: https://omny.fm/shows/howtola/revival-house-the-egyptian-theater-redux
Guests: Professor and historian Ross Melnick, American Cinematheque artistic director Grant Moninger, Programmers Imani Davis and Cindy Flores, Senior Film Programmer Chris Lemaire
280: We’re back with our series on How NOT To Be Lonely in LA.
Today we explore the connection between religion…or lack thereof…and loneliness.
For decades, Americans relied on church and religious institutions for a sense of built in community. But with more and more people disaffiliating from organized religion recently – particularly since the 90s – we haven't seemed to find a replacement for the community and sanctity that religious spaces can offer.
Today, producer Megan Botel speaks to USC professor of religion Diane Winston about what has been lost on a personal and community level in the decline of religiosity. She also explores the Pico Union Project, a non-denominational church in LA that may be one form of a solution.
Guests: Diane Winston, professor of media and religion at USC; Craig Taubman, founder and artistic director of the Pico Union Project; Ross Chait, talent booker at the Pico Union Project.
279: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Janice Llamoca, an audio producer and host. You might have heard her work on Latino USA, Vice AND she was the host of the amazing LAist Studios podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Hollywood Bowl: check out Maestro of the Movies with John Williams
- Pro Tip! Get a shuttle pass and BYOB (wine and beer only)
- Theodore Payne Foundation: learn about native plants, take a garden tour, buy some plants, take a workshop!
- Check our your neighborhood bars that give the true down home vibe!
- In West Adams (Brian's hood), check out Chulita, Johnnys, Delicious Pizza and Alta
- Gold Room and Bar Flores in Echo Park
- Or Bar in WeHo
- Hot Dog at El Cid in Silver Lake
278: Today we have an update to a story we brought you back in November of last year (#191: 'It's Really Hot Out Here.' What LAUSD Is Doing To Cool Down Schools). LAist Associate Editor Aaricka Washington brings us up to speed on efforts to increase the amount of green space on school campuses in Los Angeles.
277: Jacqueline Valenzuela is a 26-year-old interdisciplinary artist and lowrider car club co-founder who often features women in the lowrider community in her art. We met up with her at the Kolor Studio, the studio/auto body shop where she works with her fiancé in the City of Industry.
Japanese American Incarceration. The Third World Liberation Front. The 1992 Los Angeles Uprising. What you think you know isn’t always the full story. Inheriting is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families that explores how the past is personal. Hosted by NPR’s Emily Kwong, we go deep with families on how their most personal, private moments are part of history.
How can I support? Inheriting is entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of Inheriting, donate at LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to help us make Season 2.
276: Merrick Morton is one of the first people to document Chicano gang culture in L.A. He also photographed women in prison, Latinas at kickbacks, and people on death row. Almost all of his photos capture something that you might not expect: a tenderness, a realness.
We meet up with Merrick at the Eastern Projects gallery in Chinatown, where an exhibit of his work titled "Un-Rehearsed" is on display,to talk about his art and how he started photographing these communities.
If you want to see some examples of his work, check out this article on LAist.com.
Or - come see the free show in person! It's running until May 18th.
275: Go back to the movies with us!
It's heating up in the city, so Revival House continues with a classic of spring and summertime in L.A. — a film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Run by Cinespia, you can picnic and catch a revival film on the iconic grassy knoll. What keeps people coming back year after year? What's the history of it all? Listen along to find out.
Learn more about the cemetery tour here: https://www.cemeterytour.com/
Find more about Cinespia here: https://cinespia.org/
Guests: Cemetery tour guide Karie Bible, Cinespia founder John Wyatt.
*#223: Announcing The Tournament Of Cheeseburgers! Vote for your favorite burger in LA at this link: https://laist.typeform.com/to/Eq4UczlJ?typeform-source=www.google.com#campaign=xxxxx
The top three burgers will be crowned at a special Smorgasburg event at The Row in DTLA on July 7.
Here are the details: https://laist.com/events/tournament-of-cheeseburgers-at-smorgasburg-la*
To get us in the burger mood, we're revisiting our episode about the first cheeseburger... which was, probably, right here in LA. This episode originally aired on July 6, 2023.
The cheeseburger turns 100 this year - we're pretty, anyway. (There's a few conflicting dates here) But more convincing is its birth place: Pasadena, California. That's where The Rite Stop first slapped some cheese on a patty - and it's also where Cheeseburger Week is celebrated every year. And this year's Cheeseburger Week is extra special, since it's recognized as the cheeseburger's centennial!
We're learning all about it with Hadley Meares, over cheeseburgers and fries at Paasadena's famous Pie 'N Burger.
Make sure you check out her article for more: https://laist.com/news/food/pasadena-claims-to-be-the-home-of-the-cheeseburger-but-theres-beef
Guests: L.A. historian Hadley Meares and Rob Osborn, son of Michael Osborn, owner of Pie N' Burger.
274: L.A. is often called the street vending capital of the country, and for good reason. Our street food has so much diversity, whether it's served out of a truck or a puesto. And it's not just food — people sell sunglasses, clothes, groceries... It can a great hustle for people who want to be their own boss, but it's also a LOT of work.
To get a sense of what's involved, we're hanging out with some street vendors in mid city. Plus, we're talking with LAist correspondent Leslie Berestein Rojas to get up to speed on the latest news and legislation for vendors.
Featured Vendor: Daniel Martinez, co-owner of Tacos 5 y 10 on Hauser & Apple, just north of Adams Blvd in West Adams / Mid City.
273: Leslie Liao is an L.A.-based stand-up comedian, actress and writer who went from working at Netflix (in the HR department) to now being on Netflix.
For a long time she was juggling both her corporate job and stand up, but she went full time with comedy this year. She was featured in the streamer’s series called "Verified Stand-Up," she’s been on "The Tonight Show," and she’ll be performing in the Netflix is a Joke Fest starting this Thursday (May 2) in L.A.
A lot of Leslie’s comedy focuses on dating in L.A., and what it was like growing up in a predominantly white suburb of Orange County as a Chinese American. She sat down with How To LA at The Hollywood Improv to talk about how she got started, what it’s like being a working comedian in L.A., and even shared some dating tips too.
272: We're back with another episode in our How Not To Be Lonely in L.A. series.
Brian is out but, today, How To LA producer Megan Botel takes over the mic and explores these questions: What does it mean to connect to yourself, and why is it important for warding off feelings of loneliness? How do you do it? And in a group setting?
One way is to do the things you loved as a kid and connect with that "inner child." For Megan, that was ballet, so we are checking out Studio A, a funky little dance studio tucked behind the Hyperion Arts Building in Silver Lake.
Guests: Cati Jean, dance instructor and choreographer at Studio A; Cat Moore, director of belonging at USC, dance student.
For more on the importance of moving in sync with others while connecting to oneself, read her LAist article here: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/in-a-social-funk-pickleball-dance-and-other-physical-group-activities-could-be-a-solution
271: We love LA over here, but perhaps no one is a bigger fan of our city than Evan Lovett, the guy behind the LA history and discovery show: "L.A. in a Minute!"
Today, How to LA host Brian De Los Santos sits down with Evan to talk about how he stumbled into his career as a content creator, what truly makes L.A. special AND some of his favorite spots around town that really reflect the city's flavor.
Guest: Evan Lovett, host of "L.A. in a Minute"
PLEASE NOTE: Evan Lovett has previously worked as a paid influencer for LAist to expand the reach of our voter and gift guides, and other civic engagement work.
270: Today, we’re coming to you once again from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where we had the chance to speak with some local authors about their work. In this episode: Michael Arceneaux, the New York Times-bestselling author of “I Can’t Date Jesus,” “I Don’t Want To Die Poor,” and his latest book, “I Finally Bought Some Jordans"; and Amy Price, former general manager of the Cecil Hotel in downtown L.A., and author of "Behind the Door: The Dark Truths and Untold Stories of the Cecil Hotel."
269: Today, we’re coming to you from the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, where we had the chance to speak with some dope local authors about their work, about Los Angeles, and how it all connects for them. In this episode, my conversation with Héctor Tobar, the Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and novelist.
268:
HTLA is checking out some more movie history with a spotlight on the world tour, The Art of the Benshi, coming to L.A. on April 19-21. In this episode, HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro comes on to chat Japanese silent cinema and L.A. history with host Brian De Los Santos.
Benshi were the narrators of Japan's silent film era. These artists introduced films and also provided live narration, portraying characters, and articulating the on-screen action, filling theaters and enthralling audiences. Including in L.A.
It's an art form with roots in this city that a lot of people don't know about, so join us as we dive in with lead benshi Ichiro Kataoka and professor of Japanese literature at UCLA Michael Emmerich!
You can find tickets and more information online at https://artofthebenshi.org/
And check out our LAist article here.
Guests: HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro, UCLA professor of Japanese literature and tour organizer Michael Emmerich, lead benshi Ichiro Kataoka
267: This is our second episode exploring downtown L.A. — part of our series on L.A. neighborhoods. Last time (episode #266), we covered some of the history of the area, and the ups and downs it's experienced over the years.
Today, we’re looking at its present and possible future, largely through Oliver Alpuche's story.
Oliver has lived in downtown L.A. for 16 years and he's a sort of ambassador to the neighborhood. He's also the founder of DTLA Proud and founder of the new, soon-to-be-open gay bar KISO in downtown's historic core.
266: It’s been a minute since we explored a L.A. neighborhood on How To LA. We’ve been to Little Tokyo, West Adams and Sylmar before. Now, we’re in downtown.
But we’re not going to try to boil down the entire area in one episode.
Today, we’re going to get into the history of the ups and downs the area has seen over the years, and learn a lot from a walking tour of downtown put on by the Los Angeles Conservancy (led by docent Robin Holding).
Stay tuned for episode two, where we’ll focus on one Angeleno’s experience of present-day DTLA — living there and opening a new bar in the historic core.
(This episode was engineered by Hasmik Poghosyan and Donald Paz.)
265: It's time for another Food Fridays! And that means Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos to grub on our favorite food: PIZZA.
LA is going through what many artisans are calling a pizza renaissance right now. Hundreds of gourmet pizzerias have popped up around L.A. in recent years, taking advantage of the abundance of fresh produce in the region and marrying uniquely SoCal flavors and influences.
HTLA sets out to capture that unique L.A. flavor!
Still hungry? Well - Gab's got even more places to check out in this month's edition of Cheap Fast Eats.
Locations: LaSorted's, Quarantine Pizza Co, Apollonia's.
Guest: LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán
264:
Go back to the movies with us!
We're still profiling LA's repertory theaters in Revival House cause there are SO MANY to check out! In this episode, we explore a cool space with some deep, messy history.
Fashion label Brain Dead has taken over a site that some would consider....a little cursed. Originally opened in the 1940s as The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax, the venue was home to premieres and parties. Until a theft and murder shut the theater down.
In the 2000s, it was taken over by Cinefamily, which programmed in that space until allegations of abuse came to light in 2017.
But today, Brain Dead Studios is keeping the lights on for nerds, artists, and skate punks in Los Angeles -- aiming to create an eclectic community space to inspire creatives and show good movies. Take a listen as we explain the history and present of this theater.
Guests: Professor and historian Ross Melnick, Brain Dead founder Kyle Ng
263: When it comes to historical design, Los Angeles doesn't top a lot of people's lists. Compared to a San Francisco or New York, L.A. can feel a lot... newer. But we do have those cities beat in one category: our streetlights.
Los Angeles has the most examples of historical designs of any city in the country.
So today we're going on a Streetlight Safari... and we're doing it with India Mandelkern, author of the new book, Electric Moons: A Social History of Street Lighting in Los Angeles.
Check out the book here for a field guide to LA's streetlights.
Or follow India on instagram where she posts pictures of her favorites throughout the city.
Part 4: Half a year after Star Garden reopens as a union club, the dancers are still negotiating a contract. LAist producer Emma Alabaster brings you the latest. Plus, some of the dancers have set their sights on a different dream: a worker-owned cooperative strip club.
Here are some resources that informed our reporting:
- LA Co-op Lab
- U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
- 2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report
- Yes, A Stripper Podcast
For more resources
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
262: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about new and interesting happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and TV and podcast host Dexter Thomas
Here’s what each person pitched:
- André 3000's flute album (or better yet, catching a live performance)
- In the market for a flute of your own? Hit up Guillermo Martinez (like André 3000 did)
- Getting work done on the LA Metro (or your favorite library)
- Relaxing at a Korean spa (Spots mentioned: Olympic Spa, Crystal Spa)
- Checking out Dexter's lo-fi album
Let us know what’s on your social calendar and drop us a note. We’d love to read your suggestions on the podcast: howtola@scpr.org
261:
Despite being a hub for all things film, Los Angeles doesn't have what could be described as a major film festival. But starting tomorrow, the brand new Los Angeles Festival of Movies is bringing festival highlights and world premieres to three independent venues around the city. Forget the cost of a pass, airfare and lodging in a town like Sundance -- folks in L.A. can attend screenings for just $20 a ticket.
Today we're chatting with festival founders Sarah Winshall and Micah Gottlieb about what the festival will entail and what it means to them to screen great independent films in L.A.
You can find tickets and more information about the festival on their website here.
And don't worry, we're keeping the movies going and we'll be back next week with another episode of Revival House.
Guests: LA Festival of Movies founders Sarah Winshall and Micah Gottlieb
260: Tens of thousands of Vietnamese immigrants rely on nail salons as an economic powerhouse: a an attractive option that lets them work hard and express their creativity, all without needing to learn English. But worker pay can sometimes dip below minimum wage, depending on individual manicurists' client lists.
This wouldn't be a legal problem if the manicurists were classified as "Gig Workers," and until recently that's exactly what most salons did. But advocates for salon workers – and even industry advisors representing employers – say that manicurists do not meet the criteriato be classified that way. Instead they should be hourly employees, and receive benefits like sick pay, vacation days, and at least a minimum wage.
LAist's Asian American Communities reporter Josie Huang shares her reporting with us at the salon near work. To learn more about her report, check out her article on LAist.com
Part 3: The Star Garden Topless Dive Bar reopens as a union strip club, but the fight doesn’t end there. What happens after the victory? LAist Producer Emma Alabaster has the story.
Here are some resources that informed our reporting:
- Working It: Sex Workers on the Work of Sex (In particular, the essay "White Supremacy in Organizing" by Domino Rey)
- Yes, A Stripper Podcast
- Unequal Desires: Race and Erotic Capital in the Stripping Industry by Siobhan Brooks
- Tits and Sass: Service Journalism by and for Sex Workers
Click here for more resources
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
259:
Are you ready to get dancing, Los Angeles?
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, yes, that iconic New York dance company, will be hitting the Music Center's stage here in Los Angeles. But this is more than just a tour. It's a homecoming.
In this episode, host Brian De Los Santos talks with HTLA's associate editor Aaricka Washington about her experience taking a community dance class with the company, and how it felt to be at the opening night of the Alvin Ailey company's 4 year L.A. residency. Join us as we get into Ailey's L.A. history and give you a rundown of what to expect at next season's shows.
Read Aaricka's piece on the Alvin Ailey residency here.
258: Los Angeles is spending nearly $4 million to clean up and fence off the Oceanwide Towers after the three abandoned buildings were covered with graffiti. Some people are glad to see the graffiti go, but others say they like what the murals represent, arguing that their removal is a bad use of tax dollars.
Meanwhile, LAist reporting shows the company who owns the Oceanwide towers has been linked to bribery and money laundering investigations. With all this drama on our mind, we wanted to talk with someone with deep knowledge of LA's graffiti writing scene.
We meet up with Red Ortiz, a graffiti writer turned barber and film director. He'll tell us how painting illegal murals changed his life, and why he thinks graffiti is so important to LA's culture.
If you want to share your hot take, write to us at howtola(at)scpr.org
Music in this episode composed by Dexter Thomas
257: Today, we’re saying goodbye to a space with a storied legacy in this city – the Conga Room. The Latin nightclub opened in 1998, and brought in artists ranging from Celia Cruz and Tito Puente to Maluma and Bad Bunny.
The club’s star studded list of investors included Jennifer Lopez, Sheila E., comedian Paul Rodriguez, and actor Jimmy Smits.
This week, the Conga Room is closing its doors.
The legacy of the club will live on through a non-profit called Conga Kids, a program bringing music and dance of the African diaspora to classrooms across L.A.
But it is still the end of an era.
One of the Conga Room’s original investors, Jimmy Smits, talked with me about the club’s legacy.
Music featured in this episode:
- Celia Cruz - Que Le Den Candela
- Bad Bunny - Soy Peor
- Prince Royce - Adicto
- Jennifer Lopez - Una Noche Más
- Wisin & Yandel - Recordar
- Tito Puente - Ran Kan Kan
256: Today we’re gunna get moving!
In our next installment of our series on How Not To Be Lonely in LA, we’re covering all the ways moving in synchrony together promotes closeness. Really, it’s just an excellent way to make friends.
Luckily in LA, there are unlimited amounts of classes, courses, leagues and clubs one can join based on your particular interests. Whether it’s a dance class, sports league or a mixed martial arts training, there’s literally something for everyone.
How To LA producer Megan Botel discovers why moving in what’s called "behavioral synchrony" is so good for connection, and learns about how one really popular activity in L.A. is bringing people together.
Guests: Sana Kim Davis, marketing director at Santa Monica Pickleball Center; Jamie Krems, assistant professor of psychology at UCLA; Micah Mumper, Longbeach resident and pickleball fan
255:
We're back with another episode of Revival House, but this time we're not heading to a 100 year old theater...
The David Geffen and Ted Mann theaters at the Academy Museum of Motion Arts and Pictures are a new addition to L.A's revival programming. In this episode, we explore what the theaters, which only opened in 2021, have to offer our city's moviegoing landscape. And hopefully, we demystify what seeing a movie here is actually like! (Did you know that tickets are only $10? And no, they don't just show Oscar winners.)
In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro sits in the red velvet seats of the David Geffen theater with Academy Museum Director of Programming, K.J. Relth-Miller, to talk community access, screening trends, and the power of movie theaters.
If you're curious about the Academy Museum, you can check out our other LAist Studios series, The Academy Museum Podcast here.
Guests: Academy Museum Director of Programming K.J. Relth-Miller
254: The National Register of Historic Places is the federal government’s official list of locations it considers worthy of preservation. There are more than 98,000 places on the register, and about 600 of them are in L.A. County.
Angeleno Etan Rosenbloom is on a quest to visit them all. Since 2021, he's visted more than 200 spots in L.A., and he chronicles his journeys on his website and social media accounts, all titled "Etan Does LA."
We recently asked Etan to show us something on the National Register that we might not know about already, and when we said Pasadena, one of his first thoughts was: bungalow courts.
Today on How To LA, we're dropping Part 2 of the latest Imperfect Paradise series Strippers Union. It's one of the hottest stories from last year's hot labor summer that features a North Hollywood strip club and its dancers' fight to unionize.
Part 2: When the Star Garden strippers go public with their union campaign, they get pushback from the club’s management and a group they didn’t anticipate - other strippers. LAist Producer Emma Alabaster reports.
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
253: Revival House is breaking format for this episode, and we’re saying goodbye to a historic first-run movie theater.
The Highland Theatre in Highland Park was one of the only movie theaters in Northeast LA. A designated historic cultural monument, the exterior will remain intact, but its future is uncertain.
In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro chats with host Brian De Los Santos about community memories, the history of the theater, and what might be next…
Links we mentioned in this episode:
Eastsider LA
Los Angeles Theatres
Guests: Highland Park Independent Film Festival co-founder and executive director, Marita De La Torre; historian and film professor Ross Melnick, and local employee Denise Hernandez
252: The rain is, we hope, behind us. Although it could bring us another big wildflower bloom like last year.
We all might know the popular – and overcrowded – spots to see the blooms, like Anza Borrego Desert State Park and Antelope Valley. But today, the How To LA team comes together to offer its take on best hikes to see wildflowers, and maybe even a waterfall.
P.S. Please use these tips wisely! Do not step on, or pick, the flowers, stay on the path and leave nothing but footprints behind. Be a good steward of the land!
How To LA Team recs:
Evan Jacoby, producer:
- The Backbone Trail, Santa Monica Mountains. Start at Mishe Mokwa Trailhead
Megan Botel, producer:
- Zuma Canyon Trail, short and sweet
- Zuma Canyon Loop Trail, long and hard
- Lily’s Malibu, amazing Mexican grub
Jens Campbell, production coordinator:
- Claremont Wilderness Park (includes info about the Claremont Loop & Thompson Creek Trail)
- Whittier Narrows
- Frank G. Bonelli Park
Megan Larson, executive producer:
- The Grato Trail, park at Circle X Ranch
- Escondido Falls
- Use Seek app with kids!
For an expert take, listen to the Theodor Payne Foundation's wildflower hotline: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theodore-payne-foundation-wild-flower-hotline/id1676116861
#243: We're bringing you an encore presentation of our interview with composer Kris Bowers about the documentary short he co-directed called "The Last Repair Shop." The film won an Oscar this past Sunday. This episode originally aired on February 27, 2024.
Today we’re talking to pianist, film composer and LAUSD alumnus Kris Bowers. Bowers has composed the scores for films like "Green Book," "King Richard" and "The Color Purple," and streaming series like "Dear White People" and "Bridgerton."
But that LAUSD part of his resume is very relevant to one of his latest projects.
It’s a short documentary that Bowers co-directed (along with Ben Proudfoot) called “The Last Repair Shop." It's all about the technicians who work in a repair shop downtown, fixing and tuning the more than 100,000 instruments the district provides to students, free of charge.
In addition to an Oscar nod, the film has also inspired a $15 million capital campaign — to raise funds for the repair shop and for a student apprenticeship program.
#90: We're bringing back an episode from last wildflower season to kick off this one! Last year was a very wet winter, and this one was no different. This episode original aired on April 14, 2023.
Happy wildflower season! Have you seen all the wildflowers popping up around the city and beyond lately? Our very wet winter has paid off, and SoCal's spectacular array of wildflowers is our reward. Today, botanist Evan Meyer tells us all about SoCal's special bloom.
California is one of the few places in the world that experiences this explosion of color beginning each spring. Learn how the state's Mediterranean climate produces our unique wildflower seasons and – most importantly – how to responsibly enjoy the blooms without disturbing the delicate ecosystem.
Guest: Evan Meyer, executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation
Today on How To LA, we're dropping Part 1 of the latest Imperfect Paradise series Strippers Union. It's one of the hottest stories from last year's hot labor summer that features a North Hollywood strip club and its dancers' fight to unionize.
Part 1: In 2023, North Hollywood’s Star Garden reopened as the only unionized strip club in the U.S. LAist Producer Emma Alabaster tells us the behind-the-scenes story of the workplace conditions that pushed the dancers into action.
CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes sensitive content about sexual assault.
For sexual assault and harassment support and resources, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673, which is a service of RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network).
For more, visit https://LAist.com/ImperfectParadise
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/donate
Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
251: You know this podcast LOVES our food episodes, so we're teaming up with someone who loves LA's food scene as much as we do: Alex Cottrell, better known as LA Try Guy. In this new segment, Down To Feast, Brian and Alex show each other their favorite meal in the neighborhood. This first one is in Westchester, so next time you're going to LAX (or next time you're in the need of some ridiculously delicious Jamaican food) you've got some solid recommendations to choose from.
Best Chicken Sausage Sammich (Brian): The Coffee Company
Best Oxtail (Alex): Hungry Joes
Music in this episode composed by: Austin Cross, Cortex, Dexter Thomas, Makoto Matsushita, Moon Mullins, The Sweet Enoughs
250:
As we continue our series "Revival House," How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to the South Bay of LA. We're checking out the Gardena Cinema, which pivoted to revival screenings relatively recently.
The theater has been owned by the Kim family since 1976, and is now a non-profit run by Judy Kim and a team of 40 volunteers. Kim has saved the cinema from closures a handful of times now, and has also built up an incredible community of folks dedicated to keeping the cinema running.
Join us as we explore this theater's past and future.
Guests: Theater owner Judy Kim and volunteers Adela Tobon, Bill DeFrance, Cifen, and Conor Holt.
249: Who needs Central Park when we have Griffith? Griffith Park is smack in the middle of LA - but did you know it's also central to LA's development as a city? The 4,200 acre park has a LOT of history, from 1960's social & political movements, to Spanish colony-era land deals, to Tongva villages.
Today we're walking along the park's historic Ferndell trail with LA Explained reporter, Caitlin Hernandez, to learn more about what makes this place so special.
248: The primary is on, L.A.! You can still fill out your ballot and drop it off or go in person to a voting center until 8pm. And to check out where the closest one to you is go to LAVote.net.
Now we all know turnout for local elections is not great in L.A., even if there’s a presidential candidate on the ballot. But why? And why should you participate? (One big reason: some races – including any with only two candidates – will be decided in today's election)
Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer for Civics and Democracy at LAist, walks us through these questions and has all the info you need for voting today.
247: The March primary is tomorrow, folks!
But don't worry, we got you.
LAist has a Voter Game Plan — it's super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot. It also includes shortcuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like homelessness and the climate emergency.
Today, we're talking about another one: public safety.
Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
246: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Frank Shyong, LA Times columnist who writes about the diaspora, culture, politics. AND he shares great food content on his social channels with some of the most interesting spots to grub in LA.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Wiz at The Pantages in Hollywood until March 3. Or catch "Chicago" next.
- Late-night coffee shops in Koreatown! Make staying up late cool again.
- Cafe Mak
- Awesome Coffee
- TPO Coffee
- About Time Cafe
- Gardening! Take advantage of the rain, and it almost being spring
245
Neon! Mullets! Video stores! Relive the 80s with us...
As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to Eagle Rock to check out Vidiots. The iconic video store opened in Santa Monica in the 80s, and closed its doors in 2017. But, Vidiots reopened last year in the historic Eagle theater. And yes, all of its 60,000 DVDs made the move too.
Vidiots has made renting a movie cool again – and you can check out any DVD in their massive catalog for just $3.
And, the renovated theater will be hosting screenings as part of the new Los Angeles Festival of Movies this coming April.
Check out the past and present of Vidiots and the Eagle theater with us.
Guests: Executive director Maggie Mckay, founding member and filmmaker Noah Segan, programmer Saila Reyes, and film professor and theater historian Ross Melnick.
244: For the next installment of our series on How to Not Be Lonely in LA, we're honing in on one demographic: Men.
In all the conversations we’ve been having with people about loneliness and human connection...be it with experts or every day Angelenos …this theme kept coming up:
In a nation in the midst of a loneliness epidemic, A LOT of people are lonely. But men, typically, are the loneliest.
Today, How To LA producer Megan Botel speaks to experts in the male experience to unpack the reasons why men tend to be lonelier than women, the importance of male friendships, and how men can create meaningful connections.
Guests: Richard Reeves, writer, professor and president of the American Institute for Boys and Men; Shannon Carpenter, author of the book The Ultimate Stay-At-Home Dad.
If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the 988 website for online chat.
243: Today we’re talking to pianist, film composer and LAUSD alumnus Kris Bowers. Bowers has composed the scores for films like "Green Book," "King Richard" and "The Color Purple," and streaming series like "Dear White People" and "Bridgerton."
But that LAUSD part of his resume is very relevant to one of his latest projects.
It’s a short documentary that Bowers co-directed (along with Ben Proudfoot) called “The Last Repair Shop." It's all about the technicians who work in a repair shop downtown, fixing and tuning the more than 100,000 instruments the district provides to students, free of charge.
In addition to an Oscar nod, the film has also inspired a $15 million capital campaign — to raise funds for the repair shop and for a student apprenticeship program.
242: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — that's fast!
But don't worry, we got you.
LAist has a new Voter Game Plan. It's a super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot and it includes short cuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like homelessness and the climate emergency.
Today, we're talking about another one: affordable housing.
Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
Happy Friday, y'all! W're taking a sick day, but we didn't want to leave you without something fun for the weekend. So we're bringing you a recording of an awesome event last month at the Crawford: Queer Joy with Caitlin Hernandez. It's an hour of live music and Q&A with the artists. And if you wanna catch the next event in person, make sure to sign up for alerts at LAist.com/events
181: Revival House – our weekly love letter to vintage and indie theaters across LA – will be back next week. Today, we're revisiting the episode from last fall that inspired the series, profiling the recently reopened Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.
Original episode description below.
The historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood officially reopened its doors after a three-year closure and extensive renovation. It's sale to Netflix in 2020 drew some criticism but moviegoers so far have been enthusiastic about it being able to sit in its seats once again to watch a film.
The theater has a long history in Los Angeles. When Sid Grauman first opened it in 1922 it helped establish Hollywood as a destination and the city as a place for the movies.
How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro caught a movie herself at the Egyptian and joined host Brian De Los Santos to talk about the significance of it opening back up.
Additional Guests: Ross Melnick, theater historian who teaches film and media at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Grant Moninger, Artistic Director at the American Cinematheque
241: California universities are supposed to provide abortion medication to students who are need of it, thanks to a law that went into effect early in 2023. But a lot of students don't know this as many of these campuses fail to mention it.
In their latest reporting, LAist senior health reporter Jackie Fortiér and higher education correspondent Adolfo Guzman-Lopez recently put the spotlight on this issue and how students are trying to fill the silence.
Guest: LAist senior health reporter Jackie Fortiér
Read Jackie and Adolfo's reporting here:
California Universities Are Required To Offer Students Abortion Pills. A Lot Just Don't Mention It
Where California Universities Go Quiet On Abortion, Students Fill In The Silence
240: For the next installment of our finding community series, we're talking music!
Writer's 'Round LA is a Nashville-style, singer-songwriter showcase and hang for artists and non-artists alike. Think a 60s or 70s era Laurel Canyon open mic night. Good vibes all around.
Today, producer Megan Botel explores how people are creating strong connections and building community through groups like Writer's 'Round LA.
Guests: Greg Gilman, singer, songwriter for Greg in Good Company and founder of Writer's 'Round LA; Kat Hamilton, curator for Writer's 'Round LA and singer-songwriter.
Here are the musicians you heard in the episode, check them out!
Leah Ashton, listen to her latest album here.
Erica Dawson (who has a show coming up).
Dylan Kanner, who played the open mic. Check out his dreamy music.
Greg In Good Company, check out their new single, "Home."
239: Cheap Fast Eats is back! Did you miss us? It's our monthly segment featuring LAist food editor Gab Chabrán and all his favorite spots to grab a quick and inexpensive meal throughout L.A. This time we're in Boyle Heights - the true East Side, for those who know.
Come along as we eat our way through some rainy day comfort food.
Restaurants featured in this episode: Pioneer Chicken, Brooklyn Ave Pizza, Mariscos Jalisco
For Gab's full list of Cheap Fast Eats in Boyle Heights, check out his article on LAist.com:
https://laist.com/brief/news/food/cheap-fast-eats-chow-down-in-historic-boyle-heights-for-10
238: As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to The New Beverly Cinema over in Fairfax, where movies are always on film.
The theater, owned by Quentin Tarantino, has a long history as complex as LA's. Join us as we explore the building's history and discover what makes it a special place to catch a double feature today.
Guests: Theater and operations manager Jules McLean, projectionist Danielle Wakin, and film professor and theater historian Ross Melnick.
237: Today we’re talking about Lunar New Year and how it’s celebrated in this city — from the 125th anniversary of the Golden Dragon Parade to a student-run lion dance team at UCLA.
Guests:
- Jenny Lin, board member of the Chinese American Museum
- ACA Lion Dance team coordinators: Kristine Ly, Laura Kubiatko and Samuel Lu
- Alexis Wong, former ACA Lion Dance team coordinator
- Scarlett Yen, event manager of the Golden Dragon Parade, Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles
Upcoming Lunar New Year events:
- Golden Dragon Parade, Saturday February 17th
- Alhambra Lunar New Year Festival, Sunday February 18th
- Spring Fest at the Chinese American Museum, March 2nd
*Editor's note: This episode has been updated with a clarification about the origins of the Golden Dragon Parade in L.A.
236: Sick of dating apps? It's almost Valentine's Day, so How To LA is mixing things up...and going speed dating!
It's part of series we are running with every Tuesday, over the next 4 weeks, that examines feelings of loneliness in this town and how people are dealing with it by making new connections in the city.
Given this time of year, we are going with romantic connections. In a city that's perceived as being very hard to date in, speed dating is gaining in popularity, especially among Gen Z.
How To LA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel went to two speed dating events – one for straight folks and one for LGBTQ folks – to check out how this whole thing works and give you some tips!
They also speak to dating and relationship expert Damona Hoffman for some advice.
Guests: Damona Hoffman, certified dating and relationship coach and author of "F The Fairytale"; Andrea Ramirez, founder of The Next Fun Thing (Love In LA); David Greenberg, chief operating officer of The Next Fun Thing (Love In LA)
235: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — just a month away!
But don't worry, we got you.
LAist has a new Voter Game Plan. It's a super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot and it includes short cuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like criminal justice, homelessness and affordable housing.
Today, we're talking about the climate emergency.
Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
234: Wanna catch a late show with us?
As we continue our series "Revival House," How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro is taking us to a midnight movie at the historic Nuart Theatre.
The Nuart Theatre's art deco marquee lights up Santa Monica and Sawtelle — so head west with us to a screening of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and discover cult cinema past and present.
Guests: Austin Fresh and Nina Minnelli, performers in the Nuart's "Rocky Horror" shadow cast; longtime, retired Nuart film programmer Mark Valen; president of Landmark Theatres Kevin Holloway; and theater historian Ross Melnick.
233: Independent movie theaters are having a moment. Many just turned — or are turning — 100 years old and several have reopened after extensive remodels.
This matters because movie history is LOS ANGELES history. Some of these older venues can tell us a lot about the early days of Hollywood and this city. But what’s cool is that they continue to create spaces for community, to come together and watch a film on the big screen.
So today we’re kicking off a new 10-part series we’re calling Revival House. We are going to take you inside these spaces — the vintage spots and some newer ones — to explore their past and their present…and help you connect with some indie theaters in YOUR neighborhoods.
Our guide is How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro. our Los Feliz girly who loves to explore entertainment and the arts in LA.
In this episode, she talks about she wants to put the spotlight on all these places, from The Vista to The Nuart to Braindead Studios, housed in The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax
Read her love letter to LA's indie theaters: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/revival-house-movies-hollywood-essay
Guests: How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro with tape from film theater historian Ross Melnick and programmer for The New Beverly Cinema, Jules McLean, plus moviegoers from all over L.A.
232: Here is the last installment in our series of places in LA that help establish a neighborhood's rhythm. This time we head to Str33t Records and talk to owner Angelle Laigo.
Guest: Str33t Records founder Angelle Laigo
Music from this episode:
What’s His Name - Joey Quinones, Thee Sinseers
Running Away - Thee Sacred Souls
Pacific Ave - Pearl & The Oysters
Hippy Provider - The Intelligence
Dreameater - Healing Gems
Descenda - yungatita
I Could Never Hurt You Girl - Ralfi Pagan
I Want You Back - Don Julian & The Larks
PLASTIC OFF THE SOFA - Beyonce
I Wish You Love (Part 1) - Joe Bataan
Ex-Factor - Lauryn Hill
Atomic Dog - George Clinton
231: Simply put, a lot of people are lonely in L.A. It’s a huge city, and whether you’re a transplant or a homegrown Angeleno, people all over this town are trying to find their place, and their people.
Every Tuesday, over the next 5 weeks, How to LA producer Megan Botel explores these feelings of loneliness – which has recently been declared a nationwide epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General – and how some Angelenos are dealing with it by creating communities and finding new connections in the city.
To kick it off part one, we speak to loneliness expert Cat Moore to understand and, in many ways, re-define our understanding of how loneliness is experienced. We'll also cover specific ways to begin building community.
Guest: Cat Moore, Director of Belonging at the University of Southern California
If you are struggling with your mental health, please reach out for help and check out these resources.
230: It’s an election year folks and Los Angeles has a primary coming up March 5th — just a month away!
There are candidates running for L.A .City Council, the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, and L.A.’s District Attorney. And there are also local and statewide measures on the ballot that you should get familiar with.
We realize it's a LOT but don't trip — we got you.
LAist has a new Voter Game Plan, up today. It's a super helpful voter guide with information on what’s on the ballot and it includes short cuts broken down by issues that really matter to Angelenos — like public safety, the climate emergency and affordable housing.
Today, we're talking about a big one: homelessness.
Guest:
- Brianna Lee, Engagement Producer of Civics & Democracy for LAist
229: Did you miss our event celebrating 100 years of cheeseburgers in Pasadena? Well - don't feel TOO bad - we got the recording right here for you. Check it out!
And make sure to keep an eye on our events page so you don't ever miss another evening of food and fun with the LAist crew at the Crawford.
Laist.com/events
Guests: Historian Hadley Meares dishes about the Pasadena past of the cheeseburger followed by Alicia Lopez of Hangaburs, Jimmy Han of Love Hour, and Jairo Bogarin of Hamburgers Nice who all talk to How to LA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist Food Editor Gab Chabrán about their passion for smashed patties, burger history, and more!
228 - We're continuing our exploration of music in L.A. Today, we head to San Fernando to check out the sounds of punk, cumbia, boogie and rock at the musical hub The Midnight Hour Records. It's part two of a three-part series. You can check them all out in the feed.
Guest: Sergio Amalfitano, owner The Midnight Hour
Read more here: The Midnight Hour Records Shop Is A Love Letter To Northeast Valley Kids
Music in this episode:
Rhythm Song (Live) - Ritchie Valens
Come On, Let’s Go - Ritchie Valens
La Bamba - Ritchie Valens
Leave it Alone - Cosmic Joke
Dream A Little Dream - The Perez Bros.
Blame It On The Boogie - The Jacksons
Me Vale - Maná
Para Elisa - Los Destellos
Truly Truly Yours - The Perez Bros.
West Coast Poplock - Ronnie Hudson
Lower - Mal Form
Shattered - Fatal Wounds
Number One - God’s Hate
Grid Walker - Greenwitch
Kamikaze - Cosmic Joke
Butterfly Effect - Tough Front
7th - Jason Ayala
Pools of Water - Tough Front
227: Today, we’re once again enlisting some local independent booksellers to help us understand L.A. better. This time we headed to Tía Chucha's Centro Cultural & Bookstore in Sylmar, Octavia's Bookshelf in Pasadena, Vroman's Bookstore in Pasadena and Reparations Club near West Adams.
Books mentioned:
- "Ask the Dust" by John Fante
- "Mercurochrome: New Poems" by Wanda Coleman
- "Always Running" by Luis J. Rodriguez
- "Kindred" by Octavia Butler
- "Parable of the Sower" by Octavia Butler
- "The Lost Cause" by Cory Doctorow
- "KAOS Theory: The Afrokosmic Ark of Ben Caldwell" by Robeson Taj Frazier with Ben Caldwell
- "There Goes the Neighborhood" by Jade Adia
- "The White Boy Shuffle" by Paul Beatty
- "South of Pico: African American Artists in Los Angeles in the 1960s and 1970s" by Kellie Jones
226: Today we're exploring the past and present music of our city — from West Adams to Leimert Park — through the lens of musical hubs High Fidelity Records and The World Stage. It's part of a three-part series.
Read more in LAist: In West Adams, High-Fidelity Record Store Serves The Historic Jazz Community
Guests: Ray Limon and Stanley Swinger, co-owners of High Fidelity Records in West Adams, and Dwight Trible, jazz singer and executive director of The World Stage in Leimert Park.
Music from this episode:
Tears of Sorrow and Rage - Young Jazz Giants
California Swing - Paul Howard’s Quality Serenaders
High School - The Brat
Straight Outta Compton - N.W.A
The Hillbillies - Kendrick Lamar, Baby Keem
With You - Terrace Martin
Just A Girl - No Doubt
Baby Love- The Supremes
My Funny Valentine - Miles Davis
Seize the Time - Elaine Brown,
Invisible - Ornette Coleman
Amnesia - Blu
Scar Tissue - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Love You Bad - Dinner Party
Passin’ Me By - The Pharcyde
PHASES - Vel Nine, NugLife
Lookin Out - Huey Briss, Josef Lamercier, Nikobeats
Gift of Life - Brainstory
Tabula Rasa - Earl Sweatshirt, Armand Hammer
Impressions - John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy
Justice - Pan Afrikan Peoples Arkestra
Remind Me - Patrice Rushen
At Last - Barbara Morrison
323 Go Crazy - Dom Kennedy
225: Today, what you need to know about the current state of COVID-19 in LA County, and a recent loosening of state guidelines around “isolation periods” — the length of time COVID positive people are advised to stay away from others.
Guest: LAist senior health reporter Jackie Fortiér
This is How To LA, the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. This week, we're featuring Imperfect Paradise: The Castle: Part 3.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday.
Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below.
Part 4: What’s the history behind the on and off-stage gender dynamics in Western magic? And what impact did the summer of 2020 have on the field of DEI? Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido explores these questions with magic historian Margaret Steele and Amber Johnson, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Chief of Staff of the Division for Equity and Inclusion at UC Berkeley.
For more, visit https://LAist.com/ImperfectParadise
224: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about the interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Matthew Brinkley, a licensed psychotherapist, doctor of psychology, relationship and queer life coach. His work empowers queer folks to embrace their identity and have vibrant relationships. You may have seen his work as co-host of the TV Show “Sissy That Psyche” which just finished its first season on the WOW presents plus network. You can find him giving advice on Insta or TikTok @Dr.Brinkley.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Sissy Stroll, monthly in West Hollywood
- Lover's Ball, February 8, 9pm-2am, DTLA
- Be a tourist, hike Runyon Canyon
- A day in the neighborhood: Eagle Rock!
- Go to Vidiot's to catch a film
- Grab a drink and play some pinball at Walt's
- Get an apertivo and some bites at Capri Club
223: The cheeseburger turns 100 this year - we're pretty, anyway. (There's a few conflicting dates here) But more convincing is its birth place: Pasadena, California. That's where The Rite Stop first slapped some cheese on a patty - and it's also where Cheeseburger Week is celebrated every year. And this year's Cheeseburger Week is extra special, since it's recognized as the cheeseburger's centennial!
We're learning all about it with Hadley Meares, over cheeseburgers and fries at Paasadena's famous Pie 'N Burger.
Make sure you check out her article for more: https://laist.com/news/food/pasadena-claims-to-be-the-home-of-the-cheeseburger-but-theres-beef
Guests: L.A. historian Hadley Meares and Rob Osborn, son of Michael Osborn, owner of Pie N' Burger.
222: LA actually has a pretty solid bus network. But how easy (and fast) is it to ride the bus in LA? Well - that definitely depends. With more than 100 routes traveling all over L.A. County, it can be a little intimating to figure out where to go but if you're looking to save a little green for your wallet AND the planet, it's worth trying out!
HTLA's Aaricka Washington recently rode her second-ever bus in LA, and she brought the team along with her for the ride. We go from Silver Lake to her home neighborhood of DTLA, and along the way we learn about what makes LA's bus network an imperfect jewel in the world of public transit, at least according to one regular user and self-described city explorer.
Guest: Eric Brightwell, neighborhood cartographer and avid bus-goer.
Need more of an explainer? Read Aaricka's step by step guide here: https://laist.com/brief/news/how-to-ride-the-bus-in-la
221: Today, we’re talking about the state of shelter pets in our region and what we can do to help cats and dogs — and even some other kinds of critters — in need.
Guest: Dia DuVernet, president and CEO of Pasadena Humane
This is How To LA, the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. This week, we're featuring Imperfect Paradise: The Castle: Part 3.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday.
Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below.
Part 3: Carly Usdin is at risk of getting kicked out of the Magic Castle. Plus, after 2020, the Magic Castle makes changes to address issues of inclusion, including setting up a Diversity and Inclusion Committee. LAist Senior Producer Natalie Chudnovsky explores how the Castle’s promises to do better pan out, several years later.
For more, visit https://LAist.com/ImperfectParadise
220: Back in 2020, when George Gascón was elected to serve as the top prosecutor in Los Angeles County, his win was considered a victory for the criminal justice movement. It was the height of the pandemic, and the racial reckoning that followed the police killing of George Floyd.
Gascón campaigned as a progressive alternative to incumbent Jackie Lacey, who local activists had criticized for years for her failure to prosecute police officers.
And he won.
But almost as soon as Gascón took office, he faced scrutiny for being “soft on crime," some from deputy D.A.’s within his own department, families of victims of violent crime, and from conservative news shows.
Now he’s up for reelection, and facing 11 challengers vying to be LA County’s next D.A.
They’re set to take the debate stage tonight (January 18th), so today we're digging into this race with LAist civics and democracy correspondent Frank Stoltze.
71: For the 30th anniversary of the deadly Northridge Earthquake, we are re-airing an episode about earthquake preparedness with a few updates.This episode originally aired on February 28, 2023.
L.A. could get get hit with a big earthquake any time within the next 30 years. Maybe even tomorrow. Preparing for such an event may seem overwhelming (or like the LAST thing on your to-do list) but we're here to show you it's not so hard to do (and might even be fun!). A trip to Smart & Final (or Costco or Wal-Mart) can set you up with what you need. Maybe REI for a few extras. Join How to LA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist science reporter Jacob Margolis on this survival shopping trip.
Guest: Jacob Margolis, LAist science reporter
For more about the earthquakes in our region, listen to The Big One: Your Survival Guide.
219:
Have you seen those Metro Micro vans around the city? Metro's pilot rideshare program has been offering $1 rides in eight zones around the city since 2020. This year, the fare may be rising.
In this episode, host Brian De Los Santos talks with LAist reporter Makenna Sievertson about the Metro Micro program and what she's been hearing from the public. We also hear from Metro about why they want to continue support to the Metro Micro. Public comment will be accepted until January 18th, with the Metro board set to vote on the fare on January 25th.
Read LAist's coverage here: https://laist.com/news/transportation/metro-micro-costing-more-the-transit-agency-wants-to-hear-your-thoughts
and learn more about the Metro Micro program here: https://micro.metro.net/
Thanks to artist Nat Center for sharing their thoughts on the program with How To LA.
Guests: LAist reporter Makenna Sievertson, Metro Operations Senior Executive Officer Joseph Forgiarini
218: Hey there How To LA listeners! Your host Brian De Los Santos here.
We are off today for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, but we're still bringing you a fun chat. It's one I had back in November as part of On Air Fest's Open House at dublab here in L.A.
It was a very cool, day-long immersive sound and storytelling event, free and open to the public, and Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and I were there to rep our LAist Studios podcasts.
I was excited to be joined by one of our wonderful past guests — photographer and homegrown artist Elon Schoenholz — for a live in-studio interview. You might remember him from episode #183. We took a dreamy drive around downtown L.A. with producer Victoria Alejandro and talked about how Elon captures L.A. in photographs, often taken from his car. But we started off the show with a taste of past How To LA episodes focused on L.A. neighborhoods.
This is How To LA, the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. This week, we're featuring Imperfect Paradise: The Castle: Part 2.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday.
Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below.
Part 2: Once inside the iconic members-only Magic Castle, queer hobbyist magician Carly Usdin starts to become disillusioned with the club. LAist Senior Producer Natalie Chudnovsky dives into how this comes to a head in 2020, when the Magic Castle faces allegations of racism and sexism.
For more, visit https://LAist.com/ImperfectParadise
217: Little Tokyo is losing legacy businesses, and the neighborhood gets a little less Japanese-American with each one. The latest to leave is iconic restaurant Suehiro Cafe - which opened in 1972. Second-generation owner Kenji Suzuki joins us to talk about his family's history with the restaurant, and what's next for them and for the rest of the Little Tokyo community.
Suehiro Cafe is now operating out of their new location at 400 Main St., a few blocks south of Little Tokyo.
Guests: Kenji & Tomoko Suzuki, owners of Suehiro Cafe; Mariko Lochridge, small business programs coordinator at Little Tokyo Service Center
Music in this episode composed by: cero, Dexter Thomas, Evan Jacoby, Frankie Reyes, Geir Sundstøl, 細野 晴臣, Ill Considered, カシオペア, K. Leimer, ランプ, Maston, Roedelius, 高橋 幸宏, Woo
216: As a society we’ve been talking about it a LOT in recent years. Some call it a crisis. And public officials have been taking up more initiatives to try to address this on a societal level.
In early December, a state-wide program launched in Los Angeles County aimed at helping those with severe and untreated mental illness: CARE Court. Last October it also opened in Orange County.
It allows family members, healthcare workers or first responders to petition a judge to step in with a proposed treatment plan for people who have struggled to get the help they need.
CARE Court has been championed by Governor Gavin Newsom and has its share of supporters. But it also has critics.
Guest: Robert Garrova, mental health reporter for LAist
215: How To LA is getting sciency! We're checking out 30,000 year old baby bison bones, extinct giant sloths and the jaws of American Lions.
L.A. might be more known its entertainment industry and beach weather. But the city is ALSO home to the only active urban fossil dig site in the world: La Brea Tar Pits.
These bubbling pools of asphalt coming out of the ground are the richest source of Ice Age fossils on earth.
Today, HTLA digs into the history of the Tar Pits and how it's continuing to serve the research community today with asst. curator Dr. Emily Lindsey.
Guests: Emily Lindsey, Associate Curator and Excavation Site Director, La Brea Tar Pits
214: Today we are gonna get into the idea of affordable housing – what it really means and where it came from.
If you’ve looked for a house or apartment in L.A. in recent years, you’re probably questioning if there is any affordable housing in the region. By some estimates, L.A. County has a shortage of half a million affordable homes.
There was a time when the government was a lot more involved in ensuring that housing was affordable for people. What happened?
Guest:
- L.A. Explained reporter Caitlin Hernández
This is How To LA, the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. I want to share with you another podcast from LAist Studios that I think you’ll really want to listen to: Imperfect Paradise: The Castle.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday.
Imperfect Paradise: The Castle takes us inside LA’s exclusive Magic Castle through the lens of a queer hobbyist magician, who pushed for more inclusion. Read and listen below.
In Part 1 of Imperfect Paradise: The Castle, LAist Senior Producer Natalie Chudnovsky tells the story of how Carly Usdin moved to Los Angeles and became obsessed with getting inside the iconic members-only club for magicians, the Magic Castle.
For more, visit https://LAist.com/ImperfectParadise
213: Did you know that here in Los Angeles we’ve got the largest urban oil field in the U.S.? The Inglewood Oil Field spans 1,000 acres and is largely overseen by Los Angeles County (and a portion by Culver City).
The oil field dates all the way back to 1924 when oil and natural gas resources were discovered there. But soon, the drilling could come to an end, following a milestone settlement that's part of a movement to phase out oil fields all over L.A.
Guest: LAist's climate emergency reporter Erin Stone
212: The past few years have been kind of a roller coaster when it comes to city politics in Los Angeles. Today, we’re talking about what could be in store for L.A. politics in 2024, and what you need to look out for this election year.
Guest: LAist Civics and Democracy correspondent Frank Stoltze
211: This year of the Dragon is bringing about a thousand new additions to California's legal system. Some of these bills are little things like amendments to existing laws, but some are the real deal.
2023's Hot Labor Summer left its mark and brought in several new workers protections. There's also new laws for everyone from parents to cannabis smokers to campers. So if you're a healthcare worker and a prospective parent who loves smoking weed in Sequoia - we got you covered.
We're diving into all of it with CalMatters reporter Alexei Koseff, who covers CA legislation.
210: The How to LA team is ringing in the New Year with a few good tidings and recommendations for starting 2024 off right! Enjoy.
209: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re trying something new and hanging out with friends and colleagues from L.A. who are checking out interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and Marty Preciado, an arts and culture executive who serves as commissioner for LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis and works to advance community strategies for The Ford, LA Phil, LA Opera and other organizations.
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- 100 Carats: Icons of the Gem Worldat the Natural History Museum
Currently on view (until April 2024) - The Great Wall of Los Angeles, by Judy Baca
- Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy
If you wanna tells us what you’re doing on your weekends, holler at us howtola@scpr.org
132: Continue our year-end roundup with us! Today, our episode about the 50th anniversary of hip hop.
Original episode description below:
Hip Hop officially turns 50 this weekend - Aug. 11th to be exact. As we all know by now, its roots are in New York. The west coast sound developed later but, when it finally hit, LA made Hip Hop its own.
It's the late 1970s, disco is dead and funk is hitting the clubs in LA. Alonzo "Lonzo" Williams is at the center of it all — DJing, producing and bringing acts at his club, Eve After Dark in Compton.
As a new genre borne out of funk and disco – hip hop – is taking over the East Coast, Williams wants to make sure his dance floor is packed. Run DMC performed there, the crowd went wild, and it clicked for him: bring hip hop into the L.A. club and music scene. He then started World Class Wreckin' Cru, and the West Coast hip hop sound took off.
How to LA speaks to Williams, known as the "Godfather" of West Coast hip hop, about the beginnings of the sound. We sat down with him in his Gardena studio, where many of the greatest hip hop hits were recorded.
#66: Continue our end-of-year wrap with some of our favorite episodes from 2023! Yesterday we played one of our longest productions - so today, fittingly, we feature one of our shortest. Last February, the team met up with some flower vendors to learn more about the sidewalk hustle that accompanies cupid's favorite holiday.
Original episode description below.
On certain holidays – like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day – flower vendors are out in force on the streets of LA, selling all sorts of goodies on corners, major boulevards or at the end of freeway off ramps. But what does it take to make that hustle happen? How did they get there? And do they make much money doing it? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and the team spent the day finding out.
#87, 89, & 93: Finish your year right by listening to our round up of our favorite HTLA stories this year. Up first is the DACA series, featuring host Brian De Los Santos's story of visiting his birth country of Mexico for the first time since he was 2 years old.
Original episode descriptions below.
#87: Brian is surprised by a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It’s his Advance Parole document. He can travel to Mexico – his country of birth – for the first time in 30 years. The days ahead become a sprint to prepare and make travel plans. He only has a month to return to the U.S., or he could lose DACA and be denied reentry.
"Finding Home con DACA" is a special three-part series from LAist Studios and How To LA. Part 1 follows Brian as he prepares for his journey and dives into the Advance Parole process – all the way through the moment he leaves LA. We'll continue with Brian into Mexico next Thursday in Part 2: "Hecho en Mexico."
Guest: Roberto Gonzales, a professor of sociology at University of Pennsylvania, who has testified before Congress on immigration policy.
Music from this episode composed by: Chris Schlarb, Dexter Thomas, Geir Sundstøl, Mamman Sani, Nicklas Nygren, Old Saw, and Yeahman
#89: How to LA host Brian De Los Santos arrived in the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 2. He found out as a teenager that he was undocumented. Then he got DACA -- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It let him get a driver’s license, get a work permit and helped him build a successful career as a journalist. But even with DACA, Brian wasn’t able to the leave the county to visit even visit family. That is, until he qualified for something called “Advance Parole.”
In part 2 of Finding Home con DACA, Brian finally sets foot in Mexico. His audio diary chronicles what it was like to feel at home, but also feel like an outsider, in the place where he was born.
Music from this episode composed by: Floating Points, Geir Sundstøl, Modarchive, Yeahman
#93: How to LA host Brian De Los Santos arrived in the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 2. He found out as a teenager that he was undocumented. Then he got DACA - deferred action childhood arrivals. He was able to get a driver’s license, qualify for in state college tuition and establish a path to a good career.
But even under DACA Brian wasn’t able to the leave the county... until he qualified for something called “Advance Parole,” earlier this year. It's a program that allows DACA recipients to travel outside the U.S under certain conditions. Brian had, maybe, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to his country of origin.
In part 3 of the 3-part series, Finding Home con DACA, Brian returns to Los Angeles. But his ideas of "home" have changed.
Music from this episode composed by: Geir Sundstøl, Modarchive, Natalia Lafourcade, Old Saw, Woo, Yeahman
208: This is the fourth and final episode in our multi-part series on volunteers who provide services for unhoused people throughout Los Angeles. In this debrief episode, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Evan Jacoby recap some of the big questions we've asked throughout the series, and bring a new question to many of our guests from the previous episodes: "What should the relationship be between mutual aid volunteers and government agencies?"
If you want to learn more about mutual aid in Los Angeles, check out Evan's reporting on LAist.com
Or, if you want to learn about mutual aid groups in your neighborhood and maybe join them, check out these resources:
Los Angeles:
- https://mutualaidla.org/get-involved/
- https://thepeoplesproject.la/get-aid/
National:
- https://www.mutualaidhub.org/
Guests: Aria Cataño, founder of WaterDrop LA; Ndindi Kitonga, founder of Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA); Councilmember Nithya Raman of Council District 4; Benjamin Henwood, PhD, professor of social policy and health at the University of Southern California
Music in this episode composed by: Dexter Thomas, Evan Jacoby, Ill Considered, Meitei, Nala Sinephro, Ricky Eat Acid
207: Last month, the 10 freeway was in critical condition after an arson fire burned more than 90 support columns of an overpass near Alameda Street. The repair job was surprisingly fast – taking less than two weeks. And now, for most of us, things seem back to normal. But the ripple effects for some businesses along that corridor are still being felt.
Guests:
- Chase White, owner of Recycled Movie Sets
- Alfredo Carlos, professor of labor studies at Cal State Dominguez Hills
206
Each part of L.A. has its own history — join How To LA's host Brian De Los Santos at The Broad's newest exhibition all about the city.
Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog) is an exhibition that opened at contemporary art museum The Broad last month. More than 60 artworks from 21 Los Angeles based artists about the city are on display.
In this episode, Brian speaks with Jennifer Vanegas Rocha and artist Patrick Martinez to really get a sense of how they see L.A. in the works on view.
Take a look at the works described in this episode here, and on LAist.com. You can see Desire, Knowledge, and Hope (with Smog) at The Broad until April 2024 with a free ticket from their website.
It’s all a part of an occasional HTLA series centering on artists, mostly painters and photographers, who tell the story of Los Angeles through their works. You can find our earlier episodes on the feed.
205: This is Part 3 of our multi-part series on volunteers who provide services for unhoused people throughout Los Angeles. Despite efforts from local government agencies to offer services to people, many people experiencing homelessness rely on volunteers to cover basic needs like water or overdose prevention.
Last week we asked, why isn't the government isn't putting its full weight behind things like fresh water access?
The answer was Housing. Interim housing - to be specific. Things like motels, tiny home villages... The idea is that it would be easier for people to access other services if they are at least inside and off the streets.
So today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Evan Jacoby are taking a closer look at that theory by visiting a motel in L.A. Mayor Karen Bass's "Inside Safe" program.
NOTE: This episode has been updated on December 21 to remove a potentially confusing line about the number of people who have received a housing voucher, which is distinct from the number of people who have received vouchers for an Inside Safe motel.
Guests: Nono, unhoused resident of an Inside Safe motel in Palms; Nick Gerda, LAist Unhoused Communities Reporter; LA Mayor Karen Bass; Councilmember Kevin de León of Council District 14; Councilmember Nithya Raman of Council District 4; Hawk, U.S. Veteran & Skid Row Resident
Music in this episode composed by: Chris Schlarb, Dexter Thomas, Evan Jacoby, Geir Sundstøl, Meitei, Ricky Eat Acid, Woo
204: You've probably seen jornaleros – or day laborers – as you drive to work. They might be looking for gigs outside of home improvement stores or moving services, or even a random donut shop.
There are estimates of 35,000 day laborers working in Los Angeles. The work they get hired to do often includes things like moving furniture, cleaning debris or helping with small construction projects. But sometimes the work can be dangerous and even illegal. Most have no idea what the work really is until they get the to the job site.
Today, How To LA host Brian De Los Santos speaks to LA Times reporter Brittny Mejia about the sometimes precarious tasks jornaleros do — and how going through a job center may protect them. Brittany recently published this story.
Guest: Brittny Mejia, Metro reporter at the Los Angeles Times
203: In 1993, the Orange County punk band Guttermouth asked Louis Posen, then a film student at Cal State Northridge, to help them put out an album. That marked the start of the independent music label Hopeless Records and its 30-year history of representing punk, ska, metal bands — and later, alternative musicians more broadly.
Some of the most well-known bands they've represented include Avenged Sevenfold, All Time Low, Taking Back Sunday, Yellowcard, Thrice and New Found Glory.
Now, in celebration of its 30 year anniversary, the label has put together an exhibit of memorabilia that's currently on display at the Valley Relics Museum in Van Nuys. From there, it'll travel on to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and then the new Punk Rock Museum in Las Vegas.
Guests: Louis Posen, Hopeless Records founder and president; Erin Choi, Hopeless Records employee; Carissa Leong, Loyola Marymount student and Hopeless Records fan; DE'WAYNE, musician and former Hopeless Records artist
Songs featured in this episode:
- "Hopeless" by Guttermouth
- "Eternal Rest" by Avenged Sevenfold
- "Die Out Here" by DE'WAYNE (ft. Poorstacy)
- "Just A Little" by Masego, DE'WAYNE
- "Better By Myself" by Hey Violet
- "Superpowers Enable Me To Blend In With Machinery" by Dillinger Four
- "Coffee Shop Soundtrack" by All Time Low
- "5,6,7,8" by LØLØ (ft. girlfriends)
- "Jet Song" by Schlong
- "Te Llevo Conmigo" by Destroy Boys
202: What started more than a 100 years ago as a true marketplace for produce, spices, pastries, deli meats and other specialty groceries… is now 40 stalls of LA’s best local restaurants.
Grand Central Market is a true sampling of LA’s diverse culinary scene that has gone through many iterations and evolutions since it opened.
Today, HTLA chats with Gab Chabrán about the rich history and evolution of this LA icon. And of course, Gab tells us where — and how — to eat there.
Guests: Gab Chabran, food editor at LAist; Tomas Martinez, owner of Tumbras a Tomas
Eateries we visited:
For the Win
Berlin Currywurst
Shiku Shiku
Broad Street Oyster
Fat & Flour
Saritas
Tomas Tacos
201: Last December, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass signed Executive Directive One (ED1), an order for city staff to approve applications for 100% affordable housing developments within 60 days, and to issue building permits within five days. Six months later, the rules to ED1 were quietly updated: projects would no longer be able to move forward in single-family neighborhoods.
Join us as host Brian De Los Santos chats with LAist housing reporter David Wagner to understand what that means for the future of affordable housing in L.A.
You can find more of David Wagner's reporting on ED1 here: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-housing-affordable-executive-directive-one-ed1-mayor-karen-bass-raman-blumenfield-yimby-lawsuit
Guest: LAist housing reporter David Wagner
200: This is Part 2 of a multipart series, exploring the kinds of services mutual aid groups are providing for our unhoused neighbors. Many people experiencing homelessness rely on volunteers for basic needs like water or overdose prevention.
The situation leaves many people we spoke to wondering: "Why is this work being done by volunteers?"
Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Evan Jacoby bring this question to our city leaders.
Guests: LA Mayor Karen Bass; Councilmember Kevin de León of Council District 14; Councilmember Nithya Raman of Council District 4; Hawk, U.S. Veteran & Skid Row Resident; Sade Kammen, Volunteer With WaterDrop LA; Nick Gerda, LAist Unhoused Communities Reporter
Music in this episode composed by: Dexter Thomas, Evan Jacoby, Floating Points, Ill Considered, Imaginary Softwoods, indiegamemusic.com, Nala Sinephro, Laurie Spiegal, Meitei, Ricky Eat Acid, Woo
199: Today, we’re enlisting some local booksellers to help us understand L.A. better.
Staffers from Skylight Books in Los Feliz, The Iliad Bookshop in North Hollywood, Book Soup in West Hollywood and Chevalier’s Books in Larchmont Village shared their favorite books about Los Angeles:
- "Amnesiascope" by Steve Erickson
- "The Dog Park" by Dennis Etchison
- "City of Quartz" by Mike Davis
- "Everything Now: Lessons from the City-State of Los Angeles" by Rosecrans Baldwin
- "The Library Book" by Susan Orlean
- "Writing Los Angeles: A Literary Anthology" edited by David Ulin
- "Dear Los Angeles: The City in Diaries and Letters, 1542 to 2018" edited by David Kipen
- "Ed Ruscha/ Now Then: A Retrospective" from MoMA Press
- "The Cobrasnake: Y2Ks Archive" by Mark Hunter
- "She" by Michelle Latiolais
- "Seventy-Two and One Half Miles Across Los Angeles" by Mark Ruwedel
- "Koreatown Dreaming: Stories and Portraits of Korean Immigrant Life" by Emanuel Hahn
Stay tuned for more picks from other local indie bookshops in the New Year!
198:
Each neighborhood of LA has its own history — meet a painter who brings her story to life in paint and glitter.
In the latest episode of How To LA, podcast host Brian De Los Santos and producer Victoria Alejandro visit the Flower District studio of Cambodian-American painter Tidawhitney Lek.
Lek's work is currently on display at the Hammer Museum, as part of their Made In LA show, and at the Long Beach Museum of Art. She let us in on her process of creating intimate, personal work that captures both her family's history and domestic spaces in LA.
Take a look at some of the works discussed in this episode on Tidawhitney's website and Instagram.
And check out the LAist post here:
It’s all a part of an occasional HTLA series centering on artists, mostly painters and photographers, who tell the story of Los Angeles through their works. You can find our earlier episodes on the feed.
Guest: Painter Tidawhitney Lek
197: Staying in L.A. for the holidays? Today, the How To LA team chats all about their favorite ways to enjoy the holidays in our fair city...while so many people are out of town! A little holiday-themed staycation if you will.
Guests: Megan Botel, producer for How To LA; Monica Bushman, producer for How To LA; Victoria Alejandro, producer for How To LA; Tony Morales, intern at LAist Studios; Aaricka Washington, associate editor for How To LA; Megan Larson, executive producer for How To LA
196: Trash on sidewalks, longer wait times for city services, and lots and lots of overtime for some L.A. workers. What connects it all? Job openings — a lot of them — for government jobs with the city and also the county.
LAist civics and democracy correspondent Frank Stoltze joins us to explain what's going on.
195: Unsheltered life in L.A. can be dangerous and even deadly — and there has been a massive increase in the death rate for unhoused people in the county over the last few years.
There is work being done by the mayor's office to get people off the street and into temporary housing. But the promise of services — whether in the form of housing, treatment for substance addiction, or mental health counseling — cannot help if people aren't alive in 6 months, a year — or 5 — to receive them.
While they wait, many unhoused people have come to rely on mutual aid volunteers to cover their immediate needs, from overdose prevention to fresh drinking water.
In part one of our 3-part series, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Evan Jacoby explore what these mutual aid groups actually do for our unhoused neighbors.
Guests: Ndindi Kitonga, founder Palms Unhoused Mutual Aid (PUMA); Jesse Goldshear, volunteer with PUMA and postdoc researcher studying public health at the University of California, San Diego; Aria Cataño, co-founder of WaterDrop LA; Sade Kammen, volunteer with WaterDrop LA and social worker in Skid Row
Music in this episode composed by: Chris Schlarb, Dexter Thomas, Evan Jacoby, Geir Sundstøl, K. Leimer, Nala Sinephro, Laurie Spiegal, Meitei, Ricky Eat Acid, Woo
194: Members of the Screen Actors Guild have now seen everything that is in tentative contract that union leadership negotiated with studios and streamers — and not everyone is happy with it.
The big sticking point? Artificial intelligence.
Some union members don’t think the A.I. protections worked out in the contract go far enough, and are encouraging a “no” vote on the deal.
For many in the industry, the chance that things could stall again is alarming. The writers and actors strike — combined — dragged on for 6 months, crippling a lot of people and businesses financially. And a lot of folks just want to get back to work.
The union vote on this contract is expected to wrap up tomorrow (Tuesday Dec. 5th) so we thought we’d check in on where things stand.
Guest: LAist reporter Robert Garrova
193: It's Cheap Fast Eats time again, and that means LAist food editor Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos. Mid City is close to EVERYTHING...Museum Row, Park La Brea, Fairfax, West Hollywood. It's a good place to know some gems to get some cheap grubs.
Locations: Qi Steam Kitchen, Del Mar Ostioneria, Burger She Wrote
Guest: LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán
192: Each neighborhood of LA has its own electricity — meet a painter who brings city blocks to life in oil paints.
In the latest episode of How To LA, podcast host Brian De Los Santos hears from producer Victoria Alejandro about Pasadena-based painter Justin N. Kim.
Kim showed us his studio as he was preparing to show his work at The Other Art Fair earlier this year, and let us in on his process of creating paintings of LA that also work as maps of the city. Take a look at some of the works discussed in this episode on his website: https://www.jnkim.org/#/maps/
Also here: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/documenting-la-in-oil-paints-block-by-block
It’s all a part of an occasional HTLA series centering on artists, mostly painters and photographers, who tell the story of Los Angeles through their works. You can find our earlier episode with photographer Elon Schoenholz here: https://omny.fm/shows/howtola/artists-see-la-photographer-elon-schoenholz
Guest: L.A. Painter Justin N. Kim
191: Today we're talking about heat and how it affects school kids – those in elementary, middle and high school to be specific — with LAist Associate Editor Aaricka Washington.
Read Aaricka's reporting: "It’s Been More Than A Year Since LAUSD Pledged To Green Schools. But There’s Still No Finalized Plan In Place"
190: It’s been almost a year since L.A. Mayor Karen Bass was sworn into office — and made a pledge to house 17,000 people experiencing homelessness. It was a big and bold promise. So we wondered: How's that going?
How To LA host Brian de Los Santos speaks with Brianna Lee, LAist engagement producer and reporter, and Nick Gerda, who covers unhoused communities in L.A. for LAist about their effort to track the mayor's promise.
Guests: Brianna Lee, engagement producer and reporter for LAist; Nick Gerda, unhoused communities reporter for LAist
189: When we say "L.A.," what are we talking about exactly? The city? The county? One of the 88 cites within the county? Or how about the unincorporated areas?
It's all pretty complicated. So how did it get to be like this? As it turns out, one of the answers is water.
LAist's LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernández joins us to help explain.
Check out Caitlin's reporting:
Do You Live In LA City, LA County Or Another City Altogether? Yeah, We’re Confused Too. Here Are Some Basics
134: Some of you might be out shopping today. Or just chilling after a big Thanksgiving meal.
But might we suggest you go for a walk? The great thing about Los Angeles is that you can do the urban thing – go to museums, clubs, concerts and eat at good restaurants – AND you can get out in nature whenever you want... or need.
Over the last year, we’ve asked listeners for some of their favorite places to hang out outdoors. Here are some of those suggestions:
- Greystone Mansion (Beverly Hills)
- Huntington Central Park (Huntington Beach)
- Sandstone Peak (Santa Monica Mountains)
- Ascot Hills Park (East LA)
- Baldwin Hills Scenic Overlook (Culver City)
- Beverly Gardens Park (Beverly Hills)
- Palos Verdes Beach (Rancho Palos Verdes)
- Wattles Garden Park (Hollywood)
188: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re trying something new and hanging out with friends and colleagues from L.A. who are checking out interesting, fun, new happenings in the city.
Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and LAist visual journalist Samanta Helou Hernandez
Here’s what each person pitched for YOUR social calendar:
- The Broad exhibition Desire, Knowledge and Hope (With Smog)
- Family Party: Diaspora Dialogues from producer Anita Herrera
- The John Waters exhibit Pope of Trash at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
If you wanna tells us what you’re doing on your weekends, holler at us howtola@scpr.org
187: Today were talking about one of our favorite subjects: food! And specifically, dinner party leftovers.
Some folks even say el recalentado — a gathering where folks eat leftovers — is the most fun part of a holiday celebration.
But the question remains: what to do with all that leftover food from Thanksgiving?
Associate food editor for LAist Gab Chabrán joins us yet again with some hot tips from some local chefs for tasty dishes like empanadas, crunchy turkey carnitas tortas and mulled wine sangria.
The Chefs: Theresa Montaño, Otoño; Elvia Huerta and Alex Garcia, Evil Cooks; Ryan Wong, Needle; Kristin Colazas Rodriguez, Colossus Bakery; Aaron Melendrez, Uptown Provisions
186: Erewhon is almost too L.A. not to be a parody. It's beautiful and organized and ridiculously expensive. Yet hoards of people shop there – and get the infamous Hailey Bieber smoothie – every day.
We speak to the LA-based New York Magazine writer Kerry Howley who recently published a story about the store's history and why its developed such cult following in this city. How to LA host Brian de Los Santos also takes hist first trip to Erewhon with producer Megan Botel to try the smoothies and dish about the store and its vibe.
Guest: Kerry Howley, features writer for New York Magazine
Check out Kerry's story here.
185: The rent freeze in Los Angeles is coming to an end, and residents in rent controlled apartments may find their rent going up by 4-6% after a recent city council vote. Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist housing reporter, David Wagner about why this rent hike is happening and what the long term effect may be on the city's residents and landlords.
Guest: David Wagner, LAist Housing Reporter
184: It's almost officially "the holidays" with Thanksgiving coming up. Now the holidays hit everyone differently … maybe you love them. Maybe you don’t. You might be missing family, or not at all.
However you feel, it’s nice to connect with folks and now we have an excuse to do it.
There are a lot of transplants in LA, and for whatever reason, a lot of people can't be with family for this holiday. Insert: FRIENDSGIVING!
Hear from the LAist crew over their own Friendsgiving party. We'll talk about connection, friendship and give you all sorts of tips and tricks to pull off your own Friendsgiving this year.
Guests: Gab Chabran, LAist's food editor; Jason Wells, managing editor of daily news at LAist; Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist; Chanelle Berlin Johnson, director of audience engagement at LAist; Nereida Moreno, digital equity reporter at LAist
183: If there’s one thing Los Angeles has, it’s character.
To really see the liveliness of the city, sometimes it takes an artist’s eye.
In the latest episode of How To LA, podcast host Brian De Los Santos hops in a car with homegrown photographer Elon Schoenholz to talk about how he sees the city and how the city shows up in his art.
It’s all a part of an occasional HTLA series centering on artists, mostly painters and photographers, who tell the story of Los Angeles through their works. Lately, for Schoenholz, that’s meant capturing the city from the seat of his car.
He recently published some of this work in a "zine" titled "LA at 5 mph." Join us on a dreamy drive with him through downtown with a camera...
Guest: L.A. Photographer Elon Schoenholz
#182: Update: The freeway is open
The 10 Freeway is shutdown for a few weeks due to fire damage. The closure has disrupted the commute of hundreds of thousands of daily commuters...but people are adjusting.
How To LA podcast host Brian De Los Santos traveled to the area near Alvarado where the freeway is closed to test the traffic flow himself and talk to folks who work around there and are feeling the impact. He also speaks to Marlon Boarnet, an urban planning professor at USC, about how the fix it plan may resemble the response to damage sustained in the 1994 Northridge earthquake, and what it means to communities more broadly to have a freeway, much less a broken one, cut through it.
Guest: Marlon Boarnet, Professor of Public Policy and Spatial Analysis at USC's Price School Of Public Policy and Director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium at USC.
181: The historic Egyptian Theater in Hollywood officially reopened its doors after a three-year closure and extensive renovation. It's sale to Netflix in 2020 drew some criticism but moviegoers so far have been enthusiastic about it being able to sit in its seats once again to watch a film.
The theater has a long history in Los Angeles. When Sid Grauman first opened it in 1922 it helped establish Hollywood as a destination and the city as a place for the movies.
How to LA producer Victoria Alejandro caught a movie herself at the Egyptian and joined host Brian De Los Santos to talk about the significance of it opening back up.
Additional Guests: Ross Melnick, theater historian who teaches film and media at the University of California at Santa Barbara, and Grant Moninger, Artistic Director at the American Cinematheque
180: Even if you are not a parent in the Los Angeles Unified School District, you are probably aware of its size and the challenges of managing a system of 14-hundred schools and 400,000 students from Sylmar to San Pedro, from Westwood to El Sereno.
In many respects it’s like managing a small country.
Now imagine having to configure EVERY classroom… EVERY year… for EVERY school based on an EXPECTATION that a certain number of students show up on the first day of school.
You’re hiring teachers and staff to support the students, balancing the number of kids in each class and juggling whole bunch of other stuff. Then at the start of the school year, some of these students don’t come. And everything needs to change.
Sounds like a logistical headache, right?
Well, it’s a process that continues to plague LAUSD every year. It's called "Norm Day" and we’ll get into how it works…what’s at stake …and what one school is doing about it.
Guest: Mariana Dale LAist K-12 Education Reporter
179: After 118 days, the longest strike in the history of the Screen Actors Guild is over. The strike officially ended at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday after the union and the group representing film and television studios reached a tentative agreement on a new contract on Wednesday.
There’s still a lot that isn’t known about the deal. And SAG members still need to vote on it. But regardless, its going to be a long road before things are back to normal, especially for those non-union Hollywood businesses that have been out of work.
LAist reporter Robert Garrova has been covering the Hollywood strikes since the Writers Guild first hit the picket line back in May and joined us to explain what's known so far about the deal.
And later in the episode we check back in with Pamela Elyea who co-owns the prop shop "History for Hire" in North Hollywood – and hear how she has managed with writers and actors on strike for so many months and why she is calling for a Business Interruption Fund.
Next Time You Watch A Film, Think About The Props
178: Fire and flood are ravaging Southern California like never before. Agencies like the Forest Service are allocating more and more resources towards fire management – but that leaves little time and money for trail rehabilitation. Enter volunteer groups like Lowelifes Respectable Citizen's Club. They work with the forest service to fill in the gaps, rebuilding trails destroyed in the Angeles National Forest.
HTLA Producer Evan Jacoby and LAist climate emergency reporter Erin Stone recently joined the Lowelifes on the Kenyon Devore trail on Mt. Wilson, to find out what it really takes to build our trails... and why groups of volunteers are the ones doing it.
For more information about the history of rehabbing these trails, and some great photos of the crew at work, check out Erin Stone's reporting on LAist.com:
The Forest Service Can’t Keep Up With What The Climate Crisis Is Doing To Our Trails. Volunteers Are Filling The Gap
How The Historic Mount Wilson Trail Is Being Rebuilt After Fire And Flood
177: The devastating Woolsey Fire in Malibu – deemed an "unstoppable monster" – was five years ago today.
The fire burned 97 thousand acres across the Santa Monica Mountains, killed three people and destroyed 1600 structures – a quarter of them were homes in the city of Malibu.
But what did we learn?
Today, HTLA speaks to LAist's science reporter Jacob Margolis about what happened, what we've learned...and what we haven't. Jacob also shares tips to keep you safe this fire season (which is happening now!).
Guest: Jacob Margolis, science reporter for LAist.
Jacob is also host of the Big Burn podcast, which dives into personal stories that illuminate the history of how we got here, why we keep screwing things up, and what we can do to survive and even thrive while the world burns. Take a listen here.
For more, check out Jacob's recent articles on wildfires:
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/this-la-home-was-built-to-be-fireproof-will-it-survive-the-next-major-blaze
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/big-tests-ahead-for-a-tiny-community-led-fire-department-in-bell-canyon
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/topanga-canyon-wildfire-risk
176: The small, industrial city of Vernon in Southeast L.A. is home to a number of rendering companies that process animal parts and other waste. The processing has led to complaints from residents who have reported a terrible smell that has irritated people’s eyes and throats.
A recent investigation by LAist reporter Julia Barajas including scores of interviews with longtime Southeast L.A. residents and workers – and data obtained through public records requests – shows that neighbors have complained for decades about adverse effects. One company, Baker Commodities, Inc. is now at the center of that fight.
Today, we speak to Julia about her investigation and the environmental issues that have long affected communities in Southeast L.A.
Guest: Julia Barajas, reporter for LAist
Read Julia's stories:
Companies That Recycle Animal Carcasses Must Post Signs Saying Where To Report Odors. Compliance Has Been Spotty
How Decades Of Environmental Woes Have Hurt, And Mobilized, Southeast LA
Companies That Recycle Animal Carcasses Must Post Signs Saying Where To Report Odors. Compliance Has Been Spotty
175: Today on How To LA, we’re talking about punk rock. Specifically, about the evolution of the backyard punk scene that sprouted up in East L.A. starting in the 1980s, and how backyard shows, rooted in Latino spaces in the city, influenced punk rock and made backyard gigs a thing in California.
Guest: Journalist and producer Stephanie Mendez, author of the recent SPIN magazine article, “Ode to East L.A. Punk and the Backyard Gigs We Inherited." She was also featured in a documentary called "Los Punks” about the scene.
- Javier Cabral’s coverage of the East L.A. punk scene for LA Weekly
- "Teenage Alcoholics: Punk Rock in East Los Angeles" by Jimmy Alvarado for Razorcake
- "East Los" documentary series by Vans
- Nothing Less Booking on Instagram
Music featured in this episode from:
- The Stains
- The Voids
- Corrupted Youth
- Union 13
- Underground Alliance (clip from "East Los" doc series)
Hey, L.A.! Here's a little heads up that TOMORROW How to LA will be streaming live from On Air Fest at the DubLab Collective. You can catch all the fun on Saturday starting at 2pm. If you want to join in person and meet me and Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido, the event is open to the public -- just RSVP. Our show is slated for 2:30pm PT.
How To LA at On-Air Fest RSVP
If you can't make and just want to listen, head over to DubLab.com and hit the "tune in" tab.
To get you excited for On-Air Fest, we are showcasing Imperfect Paradise: People vs. Karen: Part 1.
The story follows Sadie and Eddie Martinez, a Latino couple, were falsely accused of attempted kidnapping by a white mom-fluencer in Petaluma, California. LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin tells us about Sadie’s quest to hold her accuser accountable, amid the “Karen phenomenon” when multiple white women were caught in viral videos falsely accusing people of color of crimes.Take a Listen!
Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/donate
36: Daylight Savings is almost upon us, which means the sun is gonna start setting while most of us (including our team) are still working. I know, cue the seasonal depression music... But before that, let's catch some nice sunsets together, yeah? Today we're bringing back an oldie but a goodie - our episode about where to find LA's best sunsets.
Sunsets are one of those few things that most Angelenos -- most people in general -- can agree on. When the sun goes down, and the sky changes colors, blue to orange and pink… It always makes you stop and enjoy, even if it’s just for a moment. There's a lot of beautiful spots in LA to catch it, too. We asked our listeners for some of their favorite sunset moments and they gave us these stories. It's been a wild couple of weeks so consider this your moment of zen. Enjoy!
This episode was originally produced by Kyle Chang.
#28: One of the first things to know about Día de los Muertos is that is NOT the Mexican Halloween. Brian sits down with Ofelia Esparza to talk about the true significance of the tradition for some Angelenos. Esparza is kinda like LA's matriarch for Day of the Dead and is the go-to artist to build an ofrenda in this town – the alter built to remember loved ones who had died.
Guests: Ofelia Esparza, visual folk artist and teacher; Rossana Esparza Ahrens, artist and teacher
This episode originally aired on November 1, 2022.
174: We collected more ghost stories from Angelenos to share with you this Halloween! Join host Brian De Los Santos as we hear about hundred-year-old haunts LAist listeners submitted from all over Los Angeles County, from Long Beach to K-Town to Pasadena.
173: Marigolds – or cempasúchi as the Aztecs named them – have long been the flower of choice for Dia De Los Muertos celebrations. This time of year, you've probably seen these bright, orange flowers all around your local flower shops, farmers markets and grocery stores. But traditionally, they're used in the making of ofrendas, the alters set up to honor those who have died for the day of the day.
To learn more about the meaning behind these beautiful, symbolic flower, HTLA heads over to Boyle Heights to speak to the owner of LatinX With Plants.
Guest: Andi Xoch, artist and founder of LatinX With Plants
172: Día de los Muertos is right around the corner, and the traditional Mexican holiday has a LOT of representation in L.A. People gather with their families to celebrate the lives of loved ones who have passed away, and make altares y ofrendas with flowers, food, and other worldly comforts.
Today, LAist food editor Gab Chabrán is taking host Brian De Los Santos on a cultural exploration of the holiday: its special treats, flavors, and of course, history.
Check out Gab’s piece over on LAist.com for more!
Music in this episode composed by: Ben Prunty, Dexter Thomas, Haruomi Hosono, Moon Mullins, Pedro Infante, Quetzal, Yeahman
171: Back in August, we met up with film location scout and manager Rick Schuler in downtown L.A. for a guided tour of filming locations that were either meant to stand in for other places (like New York City or Italy) or to look like Los Angeles of the past or future. Today, we’re heading out with Rick again, east of downtown, in South Pasadena and Pasadena to talk about what their neighborhoods have to offer to film location scouts. The long story short: a wide variety of single-family homes that can stand in for the midwest, or the East Coast, or a nonspecific small town. The locations we visited were used in films like 'Halloween,' 'Back to the Future,' 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith,' and 'National Treasure.'
(Our thanks to Rick Schuler for heading out with us again, even while wearing a walking boot because of an injury. Get well soon, Rick!)
170: Today, we’re talking about mental health — the stigma that exists around it and the barriers to accessing care for everyone, but specifically in this episode, for people who are undocumented.
Guests: filmmaker Armando Ibañez, creator of the "Undocumented Tales" web series; Aimee Hilado, assistant professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice.
*This story includes references to suicide and self-harm: If you or someone you know is in crisis and needs immediate help, call or text the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or visit the 988 website for online chat.
Additional mental health resources:
- CalHOPE Connect
- Immigrants Rising: Mental Health Connector
Related LAist articles: * At LA Mission College, Spanish Speakers Find The Right Words To Improve Their Mental Health * To Help Others, Young Latino Angelenos Open Up About Their Darkest Moments
In honor of The Biltmore Hotel's 100th birthday this month, we are bringing back an episode that delves into its history. This story's got movie stars, dignitaries and a whole lot of ghosts...just in time for Halloween.
143: Today we’re exploring one of L.A.’s most historic landmarks: the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
It celebrates its 100th birthday in October, and since How to LA just turned one (!) we thought it'd be fitting to feature some of the most iconic spots in Los Angeles that are hitting the century mark (Others to come: the LA Memorial Coliseum and the Hollywood sign).
The Biltmore opened to the public in 1923 and it has such an interesting history, including becoming the place to be in prohibition-era Los Angeles, its role in the origins of the Academy Awards and its significance to the notorious Black Dahlia murder case. And that’s just the beginning.
Guest: Journalist Hadley Meares, who's written about The Biltmore's history for LAist
Brian talks to LAist reporter Caitlin Hernandez about stories of queer joy in the face of difficult news this year about anti-trans bills and other negative rhetoric about LGBTQ rights. We also take a trip to a queer Quinceñera event to find community and joy.
You can find a video of Caitlin's Queer LA Live event here: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/queer-la-live-los-angeles-events-lgbtq
Guests:
Caitlin Hernandez, LAist
Valentina, Drag Race Mexico
Salina Estitties, RuPaul's Drag Race Season 15
Ms. Benny, trans Latinx entertainer
This is How To LA – the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. We’re back with the 4th episode from Imperfect Paradise: Nury & The Secret Tapes – an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the biggest political scandal in recent Los Angeles history.
In the year since the L.A. City Council tape scandal, a lot has changed.
Efforts are underway to reform the redistricting process. Nury Martinez and Gil Cedillo are gone from the council. Only Kevin De León remains. Progressive shifts in the council are influencing its policies, and new elected members are working to forge a new way forward in L.A. This is the last episode of Nury & The Secret Tapes.
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Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
168: The news coming out of the Middle East over the past couple of weeks has been terrifying. There have been thousands of reported deaths in the region following Hamas’ attack on Israel, and Israel's retalitory attacks in Gaza.
It can be hard to keep up with the new headlines of the day or the stuff we see on social media. It’s…. a lot… and it's heartbreaking. We know a lot of people in L.A. are hurting over this. The Jewish community in L.A. is the second largest in the U.S. after New York… with more than half a million people. And there are nearly 95,000 people of Arab descent living here.
Overall, there is just a lot of trauma people are experiencing now in different ways. Today, How To LA speaks to clinical psychologist Dr. Rick Williamson about how to cope with this collective trauma.
Guest: Rick Williamson, clinical psychologist and executive director of the Emmada Institute of Behavioral Health and Wellness
If you live in California and are struggling with your mental health right now, you can call the state’s peer-run hotline for help at 1-800-845-6264.
167: Over a thousand bills were sitting on Governor Gavin Newsom’s desk, and he had until last Friday to sign them. Now the results are in: 890 new laws, and 156 potential ones that got vetoed.
A lot of these laws only involved minor tweaks to existing legislation, and some were things that only affect Sacramento, but some could have a big impact right here in L.A. — on issues like increased pay for healthcare and fast food workers, a path to more housing development, and increased abortion access.
There were also some things that could have been big, but didn’t get the governors stamp — like decriminalizing psychedelics.
Today, Alexei Koseff, a reporter with Cal Matters, helps us make sense of some of these new laws, and the Governor's reasoning behind some vetoes.
We are half way to Halloween — time to get spooked, L.A.! We dug into the audio archives and found a few scary tales that were once told to a colleague long ago... (ok, like 2018).
These stories span the decades and take us from Kagel Canyon to Koreatown to the L.A. Zoo. Oh, and you'll learn a little bit about the making of the Bradbury Building in Downtown LA. Enjoy!
166: Back in the late 1800s, California leaders got together to rewrite the state's constitution. It was proposed that all government documents should only be written in English and that official business only be spoken in English. That proposal was soon adopted, effectively banning Spanish for official use, despite promises made after the end of Mexican-American war to create space for the language. It's a decision that continued to affect California classrooms decades later. But one higher ed system in the state is taking steps to reverse it.
Host Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist's Adolfo Guzman-Lopez who recently wrote about this is in a two-part series.
Guest: Adolfo Guzman-Lopez, Higher Education Correspondent for LAist
You can find his story on LAist -- part 1 is here: https://laist.com/news/education/california-constitutional-convention-english-only-spanish-laccd
And here's part 2: https://laist.com/news/education/laccd-community-colleges-immigrant-experience-in-language-classes-spanish
This is How To LA – the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos.
To close out this week, we bring you the third episode from Imperfect Paradise: Nury & The Secret Tapes – an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the biggest political scandal in recent Los Angeles history.
In this episode, Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido presses former L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez to account for the racist, demeaning comments she made on the secret recording that rocked Los Angeles and led to her resignation.
Antonia also challenges Nury on the deep-seated issues of race and politics that Nury’s own words raised.
Here’s Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido – Nury and The Secret Tapes. Part 3.
CONTENT WARNING: Sensitive subject matter.
165: Pumpkin spiced lattes. Yoga pants. Uggs. Cozy blankets. Hot spiked cider...
Today, How To LA is getting real basic, real fast by celebrating a true basic girl's favorite season: fall AKA the spooky season.
Follow along as host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel channel their inner fall basic girls and map out a festive, thematic, spooky SZN LA day that we should ALL try out.
Our Best Basic Girl Fall Suggestions:
1. Starbuck's pumpkin spiced latte
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Superba pumpkin milk latte
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Mr. Bone's Pumpkin Patch
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Carved at Descanso Gardens
Spooky SZN bars:
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Beetle House LA (Hollywood)
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Potions & Poisons (Koreatown)
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The Cauldron (Buena Park)
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Lily Rose (DTLA)
164: Today, we're joined again by friend of the pod Antonia Cereijido, host of the LAist Studios podcast Imperfect Paradise, to talk about Part 3 of their latest series: “Nury & the Secret Tapes.”
It’s an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the L.A. City Council tape scandal that rocked Los Angeles, and became national news, a year ago.
On the secretly recorded tapes, then-L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez, council members Gil Cedillo, Kevin De León and labor leader Ron Herrera talk candidly, making racist and demeaning comments about colleagues, Black political power, Indigenous people, and even a councilman's child.
In the latest episode, Antonia presses Nury about the racist and hurtful things she said on the tapes.
Voices heard in this episode: Nury Martinez, former L.A. City Council President; L.A. City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson; Tanya K. Hernández, comparative race law expert at Fordham University School of Law; Manuel Pastor, professor of Sociology and American Studies & Ethnicity at USC.
#34: We're revisiting one of our favorite neighborhoods – deemed the best place to trick or treat in LA – in honor of Spooky Season. This episode first aired on November 15, 2022.
In our latest trip through one of LA's neighborhoods, we hook up with HTLA listener and reader Andrea Martinez Gonzalez to take a tour of Angelino Heights, one of the oldest areas in the city. It's got some of the coolest and most diverse architecture around from Victorians to Craftsmans but, like so many places in LA, this once middle class enclave has become extremely unaffordable. Come check it out with us. And if you'd like to tell us what neighborhood to visit next, let us know here.
Guest: Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, HTLA listener and Angeleno Heights resident
163: You know the saying...the rent is too damn high! No place is that truer than in L.A. In recent years there's been different measures happening in cities across the county to try and manage extreme rent hikes. It's a battle that goes back decades in the city of L.A., beginning with the onset of U.S. involvement in World War II. LAist's LA Explained Reporter Caitlin Hernández gets into the history with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos, and talks about where things stand today in L.A.
Guest: Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist.
This is How To LA – the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. We’re back with the 2nd episode from Imperfect Paradise: Nury & The Secret Tapes – an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the biggest political scandal in recent Los Angeles history.
To better understand the scandal and the painful issues of race and politics it raised,
in this episode, Imperfect Paradise’s host Antonia Cereijido explores:
How former council President Nury Martinez’s background influenced her political views and ambitions?
The tensions between what Nury represented before…and after the scandal.
Antonia also examines the divisions within the L.A. City Council in the months leading up to the secret-recorded meeting
Here’s Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido –Nury & The Secret Tapes: Part 2.
Go to Hellofresh.com/50imperfect and use code 50imperfect for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months!
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
162: Bowling, bento & burgers, oh my! That's right, it's time for another Cheap Fast Eats, and you know what that means... LAist food editor Gab Chabran is taking Brian on a culinary tour of delicious (and wallet-friendly) meals and snacks. This time they're in Gardena, and they're hitting up everything from Hawaiian diner-slash-bowling alleys to walk-through burger windows.
Restaurants visited: Gardena Bowl, Tokyo Central (Gindaco USA and Tenkatori USA) and Pitburger
161: I know it doesn’t really feel like it yet, but the colder months are coming. And sorry to say but that means more people getting sick – with colds, the flu, and COVID – in LA. That comes with spending more time indoors, and doing the whole holiday travel thing.
Already there’s been a bump in reported COVID cases, especially as people return to the office in person.
To get a sense of what to expect this fall, and find out all we need to know about the new COVID vaccine, we spoke to LAist senior health reporter Jackie Fortíer.
160: As we've told you, L.A. is the the epicenter of fast fashion in the US, but there's a lot of people here working to make the industry more sustainable. We'll talk about what sustainable fashion is, who is doing it and what is means for the garment district downtown.
Today, How To LA host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel head downtown to chat with Mary Price, founder of the sustainable fashion brand Ocean + Main, at her design studio. After working for larger fashion companies for decades, Mary started a small brand that makes its clothing hyper-locally, all within a few blocks in downtown’s Fashion District.
Guests: Mary Price, founder and creative director of Ocean + Main; Tracie Tung, assistant professor of fashion design and merchandising at Cal State Northridge
159: The Writers Guild of America strike came to an end last week. This week, members will vote to ratify the contract. That appears to be on course as — at first review — the deal seems to be a good one, with provisions on streaming residuals and limits on the use of AI. For a better understanding on where things go from here, How to LA brings back two writers we spoke to when the picketing began back in May.
Guests: WGA captain and writer Caroline Renard; TV writerRafael Agustin.
Here are some specific details of the contract: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/historic-writers-strike-ends
This is How To LA, the podcast that helps you navigate this city. I’m Brian De Los Santos. I want to share with you another podcast from LAist Studios that I think you’ll really want to listen to: Imperfect Paradise: Nury & The Secret Tapes.
For the next few weeks, we’ll be dropping episodes every Friday.
Nury & The Secret Tapes is an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the biggest political scandal in recent Los Angeles history – one year later.
The secret recording of then-LA City Council President Nury Martinez and three other Latino leaders making racist and derogatory remarks…exposed deep underlying issues of race and politics.
In the first episode, you’ll hear directly from the people most affected by the tapes.
CONTENT WARNING: There’s some strong language in this episode, including racist and derogatory remarks.
Here’s Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido – Nury and The Secret Tapes. Part 1
Go to Hellofresh.com/50imperfect and use code 50imperfect for 50% off plus 15% off the next 2 months!
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
158: Destination Crenshaw. It's the multimillion L.A. City project spearheaded by the non-profit of the same name. It aims to revitalize the historic Black community with new parks, more trees and millions of dollars infused into the area's arts and culture. But like with change in any neighborhood, there's the inevitable question of what else it will bring. Will it become overcrowded? Will it become to expensive to rent an apartment? Will its be residents ultimately be displaced?
To understand all that, we're zooming in on one of the first steps in the revitalization project: The Crenshaw Wall. Spray paint muralist Eric "King Cre8" Walker and his Rocking the Nation crew will soon put up a new mural along the 780-ft structure.
Today, How to LA's Aaricka Washington is taking Brian De Los Santos to see the current mural before they start the new one... painted in 2001 by the same group.
Guest: Eric "King Cre8" Walker, graffiti artist
For more, read Aaricka's story in LAist: https://laist.com/news/how-la-plans-to-revitalize-the-crenshaw-district-and-restore-its-famous-wall
157: It’s been almost one year since a secret recording of four powerful Latino leaders in Los Angeles leaked to the public, setting off one of the biggest political scandals in L.A. history.
Then-City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmembers Gil Cedillo and Kevin De León, and labor leader Ron Herrera were caught on tape making racist, demeaning comments about Indigenous people, Black Angelenos (including a city councilmember's child), and Black political power.
And it was all in the context of a strategy session about advancing Latino power in the city.
The tapes became national news, with many people — including President Joe Biden —calling for all the leaders to resign. Herrera and Martinez did. And now, for the first time since her resignation, we hear from Nury Martinez in an exclusive interview with LAist Studios.
Our colleagues on the 'Imperfect Paradise' podcast team, including host Antonia Cereijido, challenged Martinez to account for the racist, hurtful things she said in that conversation.
The team spoke with former and current councilmembers about their reaction to the tapes — including Mike Bonin who, along with his young Black son, was singled out in the conversation — and to scholars and indigenous rights activists about what the tapes revealed about long-simmering tensions within the city.
In today's episode 'How To LA,' Antonia talks with Brian about the making of the podcast.
156: The Los Angeles Public Library is 150!
LAPL has 72 branches throughout LA, and is one of the largest library systems in the country.
In honor or this special anniversary, How To LA producer Megan Botel is exploring Central Library in downtown LA. It's an architectural GEM of 538 thousand square feet and 89 miles of shelving. Learn about the history of Los Angeles Public Library, going back to its beginnings in 1872, as well as some of the most brilliant features of the Central Library building.
Guest: James Sherman, librarian of literature and fiction at Los Angeles Public Library.
Click here more information on use of equipment in the Octavia Lab.
155: Student loan payments resume next month. Host Brian De Los Santos talks to NPR's Cory Turner about what people need to know right now. Then, LAist reporter Julia Barajas tells us how we got to this point, where we have so much student loan debt in the US, and the role California plays in that.
You can find Cory's 12 key things borrowers need to know here: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/31/1196875027/student-loan-repayment-forgiveness
And here's Julia's deep dive explainer into loan history: https://laist.com/news/education/how-student-debt-grew-history-california
And if you need to figure out your loans, go ahead and head to: https://studentaid.gov/
#128: Want to finish your week strong with some delicious conchas? Well, we've got you covered. Today we're revisiting one of our favorite food segments: the search for LA's best concha. And keep your eye out for a special holiday concha episode in the coming weeks!
Everyone loves a fresh concha – that warm, doughy center with the crunchy cookie shell on the top could send any Angeleno's heart a'flutter. Today, Brian's taking LAist food editor Gab Chabran on a concha crawl. We're exploring the history of this famous Mexican treat, and checking out Brian & Gab's favorite spots across LA.
For more sweet-breaded goodness, check out Gab's article over on LAist.com
Panaderias visited: Panaderia Coatzingo in South LA, Vallarta, y Gusto Bread in Long Beach.
Got a favorite we didn't mention? Send us a DM! instagram.com/LAistofficial
Music in this episode composed by: Aaron Copland, Austin Cross, Haruomi Hosono, Radio Jarocho, Quetzal, Masayoshi Takanaka, The ModArchive, Dexter Thomas, Woo, Yeahman
154: We're returning to the LA River today, this time on foot, not by kayak.
Host Brian De Los Santos and HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro headed on over to Frogtown to hang out by the river and hear from two members of the Fifty-One Miles team. That's a project led by landscape architecture graduate students at USC who set out to walk all fifty one miles of the river over 6 days in early August. We'll hear how that was both a fun way to discover all the surprises the river holds, and how hanging out by the river can provide crucial research points for its future.
Guests: Hannah Michael Flynn, urban planning and landscape architecture graduate student; Nina Weithorn, ecologist, cartographer, and landscape architecture graduate student
Be sure to check out Fifty-One Miles online at https://fiftyonemiles.com/
And if you missed our kayaking adventure, you can listen to that here: https://omny.fm/shows/howtola/navigating-the-la-river-its-activist-history-in-a
153: The City Hall leaked tape incident last year, combined with several corruption scandals involving councilmembers in the past few years, have led to this moment: There’s now more momentum than ever behind some major reforms.
There are three main proposals that would significantly impact how the city is governed. They have to deal with redistricting, revamping the ethics commission and expanding the city council. BTW, did you know that the number of city council seats (15) hasn't changed in over 100 years, even though in the population of L.A. has grown sevenfold in that time?
Voters have to approve those changes, but there are some steps that have to happen before Angelenos will see them on their ballots.
Frank Stolze, LAist Civics and Democracy Correspondent, who recently co-wrote a guide to all this, joined us to explain.
152: This month, How To LA is putting the spotlight on LA landmarks that are turning 100 this year – all to celebrate our FIRST birthday.
Next up: The Hollywood Sign. Host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel take a hike up to the top of Mount Lee to the sign to speak with Jeff Zarrinnam of the Hollywood Sign Trust. Learn about the evolution of the iconic landmark since the original "Hollywoodland" sign was put up in 1923, and what it means as a cultural and industry icon for greater Los Angeles.
Guest: Jeff Zarrinnam, chairman of the Hollywood Sign Trust
The best Hollywood Sign Hike from Griffith Park up Mount Lee.
A shorter hike option to the Hollywood Sign.
151: Okay - the past couple days of clouds were a nice break from the hot weather. But love it or hate it... that L.A. heat is always just right around the corner. Controlling urban heat is a major issue: it touches everything from health, to the environment, to your wallet. And running the AC all day can cost a pretty penny, assuming you're not one of the 20% of Angelenos who live without AC.
This is where cool roofs come in. It's L.A.'s new-fangled solution that got its start a couple thousand years ago in the Mediterranean, and is now required by law for all new roofs in the city.
Join LAist climate reporter Erin Stone as she takes HTLA host Brian De Los Santos down to Watts. The neighborhood received a grant to install free cool roofs, AND solar, for local residents.
150: Rosh Hashanah begins at sundown on Friday, which means friends and friends will gather together for Shabbat.
It turns out that all around LA, every Friday, you can find a Shabbat dinner to attend – and you do not have to be Jewish. The non-profit OneTable that organizes these events says it's all about building community and practicing the long lost "art of gathering."
HTLA producer Megan Botel chats with folks from OneTable and attended a recent OneTable Shabbat dinner.
Guests: Dani Kohanzadeh, field director at OneTable; Elizabeth Grossman, Shabbat host through OneTable
149: As a Los Angeles-based film location scout/manager who’s been in the business for nearly 30 years, Rick Schuler has found lots of streets and buildings in downtown L.A. that can look like lots of other places.
Places like Chicago, San Francisco, New York, Italy and Colombia. And different time periods too — like 1960s-era L.A. (for the 2019 film "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood") and L.A. in the “near future” (for the 2013 film "Her").
Schuler’s other film credits include "Seven" (1995), "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" (2005), "A Star Is Born" (2018), and "Once Upon A Time In Hollywood" (2019). All of them were filmed, at least partially, in and around Los Angeles.
Maybe more than other cities, Schuler says, “L.A.’s very adaptable to pass as a lot of different places."
148: The Writers' and Actors' strikes continue to drag on with no deal in sight. It's starting to take its toll on these artists as its been months since many of them have made any income.
Reports of evictions and other hardships are starting to hit the headlines. But some help could be available for those who need a little extra financial help.
Guest: Keith McNutt. Executive Director, Western Region, Entertainment Community Fund (formerly known as the Actors Fund), which is helping creatives get through these tough times by giving out anywhere between $400, 000 to 700,000 in grants per week, plus other support.
147: The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is one of several L.A. landmarks hitting the century mark this year, and we thought it’d be fun to take a look back on them as we celebrate our one-year anniversary of How To LA this September.
We explored The Biltmore Hotel downtown (if you haven’t listened to that episode already) and we’ll be featuring the story behind the Hollywood sign pretty soon.
When it comes to the L.A. Coliseum (the "memorial" in the full name refers to the fact that the stadium is a memorial to the Americans who served in WWI) there’s no denying that it has a rich history. For example, it played a role in the desegregation of the NFL, and it will soon be the first location to ever host three Olympic Games. But the stadium's history goes way beyond sports.
Guests:
- Frank Guridy, Professor of History and African American and African Diaspora Studies at Columbia University, and author of the forthcoming book, "The Stadium: An American History of Politics, Protest, and Play"
- William Deverell, Historian at USC and Director of the Huntington-USC Institute on California and the West
- Marina Fote, Assistant to the General Manager, Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The performances from Wattstax in this episode are Carla Thomas singing "Pick Up the Pieces" and The Bar-Kays performing "Son of Shaft/Feel It."
#77: Brian's out today, so we're revisiting that time Evan took Meg on his bike route to work... and explored what it looks like to live Car-Free in Los Angeles. Please note, the Gold Line, as reference in this podcast, has been renamed the A Line.
Lots of Angelinos live without a car – and hundreds of thousands of people here don't use a car in their daily commute. But... it is definitely NOT the norm. HTLA Producer Evan Jacoby recently joined the car-less when he switched to a bike last fall.
Today, he's showing fellow producer Megan Botel his work commute. And they're talking with people across LA about how limiting their car use, or even going car-free, changed their lives for the better.
Guests: Journalist Ryan Fonseca and carless citizens Fabian Santiago, Sahian Huesca, & Andrew McLeod
146: Nothing screams L.A. Summer like a summer cookout. For our ongoing event series, Culinary Connections, we invited some of our favorite chefs from Cheap Fast Eats to talk about how cookout culture shapes L.A.'s food scene... and of course, their favorite things to cook.
If all this talk of free food, music, and awesome chefs makes you sorry you missed the event... Well, we missed you too! Make sure you catch the next one by heading over to LAist.com/events
Interviewers:Gab Chabran, LAist Food Editor; Brian De Los Santos, host of HTLA
Guests:
- SueEllen Mancini, owner, Sad Girl Creamery
- Janet Kang (she/her), co-owner, Pizza Baby
- Gustavo Chavez, owner, Carnitas El Artista
145: Now that you've recovered from Taylormania and the Beyhive hitting LA and SoFi Stadium, football season is HERE. The Rams AND the Chargers now share a stadium in Inglewood and the regular season games kick off September 10. We get the lowdown on everything you need to know to get ready for the season of pro football in LA even if you don't count yourself as a big fan.
Guest: Sports Illustrated writer Gilberto Manzano.
Just a heads up there is some explicit language used towards the end of this episode. Please be advised.
144: There have been MANY government scandals that have been exposed in our city.
Just in the last year: Former LA Councilmember Mark Ridley Thomas was just sentenced to 42 months in prison plus 30-thousand in fines for corruption. Councilmember Curren Price was charged with multiple counts of embezzlement, perjury and conflict of interest earlier this summer. And last fall leaked racist tapes exposed councilwoman Nury Martinez, forcing her to resign.
When corruption like this pops up - it sparks outrage. There are usually protests and officials are fired and sometimes arrested. It can all be super disheartening. So, what can we do? How do we ACTUALLY hold our local officials accountable? Today, we speak with LAist’s Civics and Democracy reporter Brianna Lee, who recently wrote a guide on how to do just that.
Guest: Brianna Lee, Civics and Democracy reporter for LAist
Read Brianna's guide on LAist here.
143: Today we’re exploring one of L.A.’s most historic landmarks: the Biltmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.
It celebrates its 100th birthday in October, and since How to LA just turned one (!) we thought it'd be fitting to feature some of the most iconic spots in Los Angeles that are hitting the century mark (Others to come: the LA Memorial Coliseum and the Hollywood sign).
The Biltmore opened to the public in 1923 and it has such an interesting history, including becoming the place to be in prohibition-era Los Angeles, its role in the origins of the Academy Awards and its significance to the notorious Black Dahlia murder case. And that’s just the beginning.
Guest: journalist Hadley Meares, who's written about The Biltmore's history for LAist
82: Happy Labor Day, Los Angeles. We hope you are able to enjoy the day off, but we realize many of you may have to work today. This holiday was created for the workers by the labor movement back in the late 19th century. So on this daywe are resurfacing a conversation we had earlier this year about the role of organized labor today. Because, if you haven’t noticed, there’s been a LOT of picketing in L.A. this summer.
Guests: Jonathan Harris, professor, Loyola Law School; Diana Reddy, assistant professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law (she was a doctoral fellow when we spoke to her in March)
142: We've talked a lot about Inglewood lately... and for good reason. The city is a booming scene for entertainment right now with SoFi, the Forum, the new Youtube Theater... not to mention, all the sports teams that call Inglewood home. Beyoncé is just the latest megastar to dominate the town with multiple concerts.
But with those changes come the good, the bad, and the ugly. And some people worry whether the new Inglewood will still have room for them.
So today, we hit the streets of Inglewood to talk to long-time resident AND mayor, James Butts, to get a better understanding of the city's trajectory.
Guest: Inglewood Mayor James T Butts, Jr.
Music in this episode composed by: D Smoke, Dexter Thomas, Evan, Mamman Sani, Modarchive, SiR
141: Whitewater kayaking might not be the first thing that comes to mind when you picture the L.A. River. Too much concrete, right? Not enough water? Well, think again. Kayaking the L.A. River officially became legal in 2011 when the EPA declared it a "navigable waterway." And turns out... it's pretty fun!
Join How to LA hostBrian De Los Santos and producer Evan Jacoby as they paddle down a 2-mile stretch of river that does NOT have a concrete bottom and passes through the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Preserve.
Guests:Gary Golding, guide with LA River Expeditions & survivalist; Dennis Mabasa, COO of Friends of the LA River
There's a lot of local stewards of the river who are working to make sure that parts of it can be enjoyed by all of us Angelenos as well as the birds and resident critters. If you want to keep up to date on all the things going on with the river, make sure to follow FOLAR on social media or check out their website at folar.org
Also, you check out more info on the river on LAist.com/HowToLA.
140: We're back with another segment of How I Got Started, the series where we bring you the stories of artists, community leaders, and all around cool people living and following their passions in LA.
Today, we're hanging out with Etienne Maurice. He’s an actor and filmmaker, a homegrown Angeleno, but he's also a community builder and a wellness leader. He's become widely known for is founding the group WalkGood LA. It’s a movement that's all about getting brown and Black folks outside and into their bodies.
WalkGood puts on yoga classes at Kenneth Hahn Park, hosts runs and walks in West Adams, hikes and other physical and mental health workshops — for free. The work is totally volunteer based.
The wellness space is soooo often seen as overwhelmingly white, so Etienne is working to make sure brown and Black folks connect with nature and wellness too.
It was born during a time of serious confusion and unrest. We were three months into the pandemic and George Floyd had just been murdered at the hands of police.
As Maurice tells us, he just wanted to create a space where people could breath. Take a listen to his story of how he –– and a movement –– got started.
Guest: Founder of WalkGood LA, Etienne Maurice
61: OK - with the summer heat back on our backs, it might be hard to remember that just a week ago we had a record-smashing storm. But all that rain had some of our listeners asking us... Where does all that rainwater go? Well the good news is, we did a whole episode answering that question this past winter. But the bad news is... a lot of that water still goes out to sea. But there's plans to try and change that. Take a listen.
Remember those intense storms in early January? L.A. County said it captured some 33 BILLION gallons of stormwater to use later and support about 800,000 households a year. It's an important step to help us get through the drought years.
But that awesome number is less than 20% of the total rain water. The other 80% washed right out to sea.
Today we're explaining why that is... and what the county is doing to improve. We're also checking out a success story in a neighborhood park in South LA, that might hold the answer to LA's water woes.
Guests: Erin Stone, LAist Climate Emergency reporter; Steve Frasher, public information officer for LA County Public Works; and Bruce Reznick, executive director of LA Waterkeeper
To learn more about this project, check out Erin's article: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/how-capturing-more-stormwater-can-also-make-city-parks-better
Today we’re bringing you a special episode from a live taping of On Point with Meghna Chakrabarti! Recently, the On Point team was here at our very own Crawford Family Forum to host a live event celebrating 50th years of hip hop. Stay TUNED to hear the special episode. We hope you enjoy it!
Guests: Tyree Boyd-Pates, historian and Associate Curator of Western History at Autry Museum of the American West; Damita Jo Freeman, original Soul Train dancer and author of the book "Are You That Girl On Soul Train?!"
You can also watch this live event here:
https://laist.com/events/on-point-live-with-meghna-chakrabarti
Check out all of LAist's upcoming live events here:
https://laist.com/events/laist-events
139: KCON is everything K. K-pop, K-drama, K-beauty, Korean food... The mega event drew about a hundred thousand attendees over the weekend, selling out the LA Convention Center for yet another year. And the HTLA team was there with Vivian Yoon, host of the LAist podcast K-pop Dreaming, and Pixar's Peter Sohn, to get a sense of what KCON means for Los Angeles... and how events like this bring much-needed visibility to the Korean American community.
Guests: Peter Sohn, director of Pixar's Elemental; Vivian Yoon, host of LAist's K-pop Dreaming; & Steve Chung, CEO of CJ ENM America.
Music in this episode composed by: ATEEZ, BTS, Floating Points, Lamp, Masayoshi Takanaka, Maston, modarchive.org, Moon Mullins
138: Recently, the weather talk in L.A. has been all about rain, thanks to Tropical Storm Hilary.
The storm, plus the wet winter we had, means that the threat of major fires is reduced in a lot of places. But it's not gone.
Earlier this month, the York Fire in the Mojave Desert burned more than 90 thousand acres, and did some major damage to the Joshua trees in the Mojave National Preserve. These trees are actually succulents and have been around for millions of years. They are native to our region and can only be found in the southwest.
Host Brian De Los Santos talks with science reporter Jacob Margolis about the Joshua trees' chances for bouncing back, and why wildfires are no longer rare in the Mojave Desert.
137: We spent all weekend bracing for our first tropical storm in decades. BUT
Hilary didn’t get as wild as expected — at least in some parts of the region.
So far there haven’t been any deaths or major injuries reported. But we did get a LOT of rain, about 7 inches in LA county.
Even though the disaster didn’t quite match our biggest fears - we got a chance to see what our city’s response would be to a major environmental catastrophe.
To get a better sense of it, we’re checking in with some of our reporters at LAist.
Guests: Jacob Margolis, science reporter for Laist; Erin Stone, climate emergency reporter for LAist; Nick Gerda, unhoused communities reporter for LAist
Until 1980, Barbie was always white. Mattel had made Black dolls before, but they were sidekicks to the brand’s main character with facial features that didn’t really distinguish them from the other dolls.
In this bonus episode of The Barbie Tapes, we’re bringing you the story of the first Black doll to have the name Barbie as told by WNYC Studios correspondent Tracie Hunte. Tracie speaks with Kitty Black Perkins, Mattel’s first Black designer who brought her own style and preferences to the task of creating the doll. We also hear from Lagueria Davis, director of Black Barbie: A Documentary, on what her research taught her about Mattel’s early efforts to be more representative.
Listen to more of “Notes From America with Kai Wright” from WNYC at www.notesfromamerica.org
This episode was produced by Alana Casanova-Burgess, mixed by Mike Kutchman of WNYC and hosted by Tracie Hunte, who you can follow on Twitter @traciehunte.
136: Cheap Fast Eats is back on the streets of LA, ever seeking the perfect on-the-go meal for under 10 bucks. This time, LAist's food editor Gab Chabran is taking Brian through the streets of Chinatown. They're checking out some modern hotspots, 30+ year old neighborhood staples, and of course... some excellent dim sum.
Restaurants featured: Angry Egret Dinette, Long's Family Bakery, & My Dung Sandwich Shop
Music in this episode composed by: E Ro 3, Austin Cross, Evan Jacoby, Maston, Moon Mullins, The Lonesome Paradise, Dexter Thomas
135: California likes to pride itself on being a place that’s ahead of the curve, and sets trends where other states, and even countries, might take some lessons. But when it comes to solutions to the homelessness crisis, could California could stand to learn something from Texas?
While the population of unhoused people in Texas has decreased by 28% since 2012, in California, during the same time period, our unhoused population grew by 43%. So, why the difference?
Guest: CalMatters homelessness reporter Marisa Kendall, who reported on the different approaches to homelessness in the two states.
*And a note, we recorded this interview before some news broke this week: LAist senior reporter Nick Gerda reports that the U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development has granted a waiver to the city of L.A. that will remove a proof of income paperwork requirement that has slowed Mayor Karen Bass’ ability to house people experiencing homelessness. The waiver is expected to fast track the housing process for hundreds of people looking to move from streets and shelters into longer-term housing. Read more about it here.
134: The great thing about Los Angeles is that you can do the urban thing – go to museums, clubs, concerts and eat at good restaurants – and you can get out in nature whenever you want... or need.
There are ton a beautiful parks, sunset spots and hiking trails right in the middle of the city. Or if you are feeling more adventurous, you can venture out to farther flung places across the county.
Last fall we asked our listeners for their favorite places to get outdoors and we turned it into an episode. This summer, we did it again. Here are some of their suggestions. Enjoy – and get outside!
133: We're staying on the hip hop beat in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the genre! (Check out our first episode on the origins of the West Coast sound with the Godfather of West Coast hip hop, Alonzo Williams).
Today, How To LA speaks to historian, hip hop fanatic, and expert on Black culture from the millennial vantage point: Tyree Boyd Pates. We dive deeper into the impact and evolution of west coast hip hop, the power of speaking truth to power with a beat, its roots in Black America and its spread to global pop domination.
Guest: Tyree Boyd Pates, history curator, professor, writer, and speaker on Black culture.
133: It's the late 1970s, disco is dead and funk is hitting the clubs in LA. Alonzo "Lonzo" Williams is at the center of it all — DJing, producing and bringing acts at his club, Eve After Dark in Compton.
As a new genre borne out of funk and disco – hip hop – is taking over the East Coast, Williams wants to make sure his dance floor is packed. Run DMC performed there, the crowd went wild, and it clicked for him: bring hip hop into the L.A. club and music scene. He then started World Class Wreckin' Cru, and the West Coast hip hop sound took off.
How to LA speaks to Williams, known as the "Godfather" of West Coast hip hop, about the beginnings of the sound. We sat down with him in his Gardena studio, where many of the greatest hip hop hits were recorded.
The double strike of SAG and WGA is rippling through the L.A. economy, affecting everyone from the creatives on the picket line to below-the-line workers to every business that all these folks rely on. From coffee shop owners to estheticians, we hear from a handful of people that have been impacted.
Guests:
Susanna Boney, art/construction department worker turned lifeguard trainee
Sharōn, Esthetician, From Head to Toe, Los Angeles
Pam Elyea, History For Hire
Ames Miyako, actor and Everybody trainer
Sean Casey, owner of the Lyric Hyperion
BONUS: From LAist Studios, LA Made: The Barbie Tapes.
In this episode, Ruth and Elliot Handler are gone, and the new Mattel team, led by a man who feared the volatility of the toy business, diversified the company and made a big gamble on electronics.It didn’t work. Fortunately, Barbie ends up in the sure hands of some trailblazing women executives, who could see that the culture was moving in a direction very compatible with Barbie’s persona. From the workforce to the workout, Barbie was a doll of her times.
Listen now at https://laist.com/podcasts/la-made
130: Taylor Swift is coming to LA for an unprecedented SIX nights at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood... and she's bringing about half a million fans with her.
That's a ton of people — andmoney — pouring into Inglewood, but it's also a ton of traffic, infrastructure headaches, and more. So today we're going to SoFi with one question: Is LA ready for Miss Swift?
If you are going to the Eras Concert, here's how LA Metro is trying to get you there: https://laist.com/brief/news/arts-and-entertainment/taylor-swift-fans-heres-how-to-get-to-sofi-stadium-by-metro
Guests: Inglewood Mayor James T Butts Jr. and Stephen Tu, Senior Director within the Service Development unit for LA Metro, Taylor Swift fans + Inglewood residents
129: Today's dual strike of WGA & SAG-AFTRA bears a striking similarity to the last time both unions joined on the picket lines: 1960. In both contract disputes, the main concern for writers and actors revolved around emerging technologies. Where today's union members are concerned about streaming residuals and AI, their forebears were concerned about their movies being rebroadcast on TV. The major studios may have changed but, in both cases, workers are saying they are not receiving their fair share of the profits.
So today we're checking in with LAist's favorite history journalist, Hadley Meares, to talk about what we can learn from past strikes, and how 1960's echoes can still be felt today.
Check out Hadley's article on LAist.com: https://laist.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/how-the-sag-strike-of-1960-foreshadowed-hollywoods-current-battle
Music in this episode composed by:Mort Garson, indiegamemusic.com, Maston, Moon Mullins, Macabre Plaza, Mamman Sanni, Dexter Thomas, Woo
From LAist Studios, LA Made: The Barbie Tapes
For Barbie, the cultural upheaval of the 60s and 70s incites one identity crisis after another as Mattel tries to make sure that their doll, who had revolutionized the toy industry, didn’t fall behind the times. By popular demand, Mattel creates Ken, and gradually adds new supporting players to Barbie’s world. In this episode, we investigate Ken's origin story, delve into the inner workings of Mattel, and hear how Barbie's inventor, Ruth Handler, was ousted from her own company.
Listen now at https://laist.com/podcasts/la-made
128: Everyone loves a fresh concha – that warm, doughy center with the crunchy cookie shell on the top could send any Angeleno's heart a'flutter. Today, Brian's taking LAist food editor Gab Chabran on a concha crawl. We're exploring the history of this famous Mexican treat, and checking out Brian & Gab's favorite spots across LA.
For more sweet-breaded goodness, check out Gab's article over on LAist.com
Panaderias visited: Panaderia Coatzingo in South LA, Vallarta, y Gusto Bread in Long Beach.
Got a favorite we didn't mention? Send us a DM! instagram.com/LAistofficial
Music in this episode composed by: Aaron Copland, Austin Cross, Haruomi Hosono, Radio Jarocho, Quetzal, Masayoshi Takanaka, The ModArchive, Dexter Thomas, Woo, Yeahman
127: Hollywood is at a standstill right now, with first screenwriters — and now actors — out on strike. SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents actors, is calling for a number of changes in their now stalled contract negotiations with the AMPTP, the organization that represents studios and streamers. They include inflation-based wage increases, protections against artificial intelligence, and a share in revenue for streaming content. Another contentious issue? Self-taped auditions, which became the norm during the pandemic.
The amount of time and resources actors are now expected to spend recording themselves for auditions is a big issue for many actors, including Sarah Ramos (Parenthood, The Bear), who spoke with us about why the practice has become "untenable." Ramos is also on SAG-AFTRA's negotiating committee.
- Read SAG-AFTRA’s summary of negotiation points, including on the self-tape issue
- And what the AMPTP has to say about the negotiations
126: It's summer! Time for all night, experimental ambient music gatherings....right???
Ambient music gatherings as a thing have been gaining popularity here in the LA area in the past few years. These immersive events combine elements of music, theater, dance, live visual art and poetry to create a really impactful experience meant to take you on a journey of sorts. And the roots of these events come from what’s known as “happenings” that trace back to 1960s loft parties in New York, and even further to traditional, meditative trance music from places like India and Morocco.
Today, HTLA producer Megan Botel takes you to a recent ambient music event called Tonalism at Descanso Gardens in Pasadena to tell you what this scene is all about.
Guests: Mark "Frosty" McNeil, co-founder of Dublab and Creative Producer of LA Phil; Hatt Merlino, producer at Dublab, Rachel Day, program director at Dublab
From LAist Studios, LA Made: The Barbie Tapes
When Barbie arrives on the toy scene in 1959, her celebrity is instantaneous, and not just because of her controversial appearance. Worldwide, Barbie is still the best-selling doll of all time. But Barbie has always been more than just a doll - she's a cultural touchstone. This episode kicks off the origin story of Barbie as told by her creators in their own words.
This podcast is supported by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
Listen now at https://laist.com/podcasts/la-made
125: Right now, we're undeniably living in a Barbie world. So, co-host of the LAist podcast "LA Made: The Barbie Tapes" Antonia Cereijido joins HTLA's Brian De Los Santos for a chat about Barbie's Los Angeles origin story. We also explore why Barbie continues to fascinate folks today, whether they like her or not.
124: If you’ve ever worked in a restaurant, or as a barista or bartender, you know that tips matter. But on the customer side, it’s gotten a lot more confusing in recent years. More and more businesses are asking for tips now, including fast food restaurants and online retailers — places that didn’t used to make that request. Why?
To answer that question, we turned to NPR's Stacey Vanek Smith, to talk about her reporting on this. She's co-host of NPR's The Indicator from Planet Money. She's also a correspondent for Planet Money, where she covers business and economics.
123: We're continuing our summer of discover neighborhood series, but this time with something new... and what better than our first episode in the 818? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is taking producer Evan Jacoby on a tour of his former home town of Sylmar - the northernmost neighborhood in LA City. Join the tour as they cruise around town, eat too much pasta, and learn about everything that makes Sylmar - and the valley - special.
BONUS: We’re excited to share an episode of NPR’s Code Switch that highlights Brian’s “Finding Home, Con DACA” series that we published earlier this year.
(You can check out those stories here on our feed.)
Brian spoke to host Lori Lizzaraga about his time in Mexico as a DACA recipient, how he embraced being pocho and all those feelings that come along with being undocumented in this country.
Links:
Is "home" still home after 30 years away?
#68: This week, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes for a little adventure-inspiration. Today we're going to Angelino Heights. So get outside with us and get ready to see all the food, culture and history LA's different neighborhoods have in store.
The How to LA team is checking out yet another neighborhood: Mid-City. Listener and TV producer Nisa Ahmad answered our call about what area of L.A. we should visit next and her love of this neighborhood lured us in. Officially, L.A.'s Mid-City region is bound by Pico and the 10 Freeway to the north and south, Crenshaw and Robertson to the east and west. Still, the EXACT area is a little squishy for some. Wherever it is, it's got a lot going on.
Join us as we learn about what makes this place special, from tree-lined streets to soul food eats...and get Nisa's tips on where to get some good pan dulce and hear some live jazz.
Guest: TV producer, and How to LA listener/reader, Nisa Ahmad
#34: This week, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes for a little adventure-inspiration. Today we're going to Angelino Heights. So get outside with us and get ready to see all the food, culture and history LA's different neighborhoods have in store.
In our latest trip through one of LA's neighborhoods, we hook up with HTLA listener and reader Andrea Martinez Gonzalez to take a tour of Angelino Heights, one of the oldest areas in the city. It's got some of the coolest and most diverse architecture around from Victorians to Craftsmans but, like so many places in LA, this once middle class enclave has become extremely unaffordable. Come check it out with us. And if you'd like to tell us what neighborhood to visit next, let us know here.
Guest: Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, HTLA listener and Angeleno Heights resident
#13: This week, we're revisiting some of our favorite episodes for a little adventure-inspiration. Today we're going to Little Tokyo. So get outside with us and get ready to see all the food, culture and history LA's different neighborhoods have in store.
How to LA is back at it, exploring the different neighborhoods that make up this beautiful city. Today we’re checking out Little Tokyo, where we’ll learn how its art, food, and community advocacy make it such a special place.
Guests:
Grant Sunoo, director of community building & engagement at Little Tokyo Service Center; Brian Kito, owner of Fugetsu-Do; Sharon Kamegai Cocita, director of development at Little Tokyo Service Center; and LAist reader Ryan Chu-Tachikawa
#1: Join us this week as we continue our Summer of Discover! We're revisiting some of our favorite episodes for a little adventure-inspiration. So get outside with us and get ready to see what some of LA's different neighborhoods have in store.
There's a lot you can learn by walking people's streets so How to L.A. will explore all the many neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Today, we start with West Adams, one of the oldest areas in LA. It also happens to be the neighborhood where HTLA host Brian De Los Santos grew up.
Guests:
Sandra Revolorio, West Adams thrift shop owner
Mario Luna, father and West Adams resident
122: NOTE: This podcast episode contains AI-generated content that is not true.The AI-generated section is clearly delineated, and experts join us to explain the legal and ethical implications.
Have you ever worried about being replaced? HTLA producer Evan Jacoby explores this question as it pertains to AI, and what kind of role it may one day have in journalism.
Guests: Eugene Volokh, professor of law and technology at the University of California, Los Angeles, and Alka Roy, founder of RI Labs & the Responsible Innovation Project.
For a detailed breakdown of exactly how our AI-generated content was made, check out our companion post over on LAist.com/HowToLA
#100: We're wrapping up our Holiday week roundup of Cheap Fast Eats with our 100 episode special - Silver Lake. This episode originally aired on May 12, 2023.
Silver Lake and hipsterdom may go hand in hand, but tucked between the murals, high-end shops and corporate chains, there are some stellar, chef-driven eats to be found at a bargain. The HTLA team is celebrating 100 episodes by eating their way down Sunset... joined yet again by LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán.
Check out his write-up to find his full list of neighborhood knock-outs: Cheap Fast Eats, Silver Lake Edition: Hong Kong-Style French Toast, 'Bomb AF' Mariscos Tacos, And — Of Course — Smash Burgers
Eateries featured: Bodega Park, Needle, Simón
Music in this episode composed by: Austin Cross, Dexter Thomas, E Ro 3, Hafo Safo, Modarchive
#81: Today continues our Holiday week roundup of Cheap Fast Eats faves. Hungry for more summer excitement? This time, we've got one geared to those night owls among you... K-Town, After Dark. This episode originally aired on March 23, 2023.
Cheap Fast Eats is back with it's first ever late-night extravaganza. And where else but Koreatown? The historic neighborhood features delicious foods from a variety of cultures, from Korean to Oaxacan, and everything in between. Join Gab Chabrán and Brian De Los Santos as they eat their way through LA's late-night neighborhood.
Featured Restaurants: Love Hour, Guelaguetza, and Two Hands Corn Dogs.
Check out Gab's full list of Koreatown's Cheap Fast Eats over on LAist.com:
https://laist.com/news/food/asian-american-pizza-the-beating-heart-of-oaxacalifornia-and-hot-cheeto-incrusted-corn-dogs-cheap-fast-eats-visits-koreatown-after-dark
#21: This holiday week, we're re-upping some episodes from our fave HTLA series - Cheap Fast Eats! So sit back and keep feeding your summer excitement with this next installment: Long Beach. This episode originally aired on October 13, 2022.
HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán are back at it, searching for delicious (and affordable) grub. This time, they're featuring Cheap Fast Eats in Long Beach.
Locations: A&J Seafood Shack, Appu’s Cafe, Hamburgers Nice
Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor at LAist.
It's summer, time to get excited about all our favorite food. This holiday week, we're re-upping some episodes from our fave HTLA series - Cheap Fast Eats! This episode originally aired on September 22, 2022.
6: Hungry and looking for some inexpensive grub? Come along with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán as they go in search of cheap, fast eats in communities all over LA County. First up: some old school eateries in Pasadena.
Locations: Burrito Express, Sandwiches By Connal, Roma Market
Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor at LAist.
We’re back with How I Got Started, the segment where we highlight artists, movers, and shakers here in Los Angeles. From arts and entertainment to advocacy — we’re talking to people who we think you should know about.
James Ford came out to LA to work in construction, and ended up starting his own fashion brand, even joining a Netflix competition show for up and coming designers. That’s a pretty wild trajectory, so we just had to ask…how’d he get started? Listen as HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets deep with James, as they dive deep into what clothing and fashion can mean…
Guest: James Ford, designer, Rowena Social Club
You can check out James’ brand, Rowena Social Club here: https://rowenasocialclub.com/
120: Inglewood might be known for L.A. staples like The Forum, SoFi Stadium, the HBO show Insecure and Randy's Donuts. But with an equally Black and Latino population, the real magic of this place comes from a confluence of cultures..and of course the food that's born from that. Today, the HTLA team is eating their way through some iconic and lesser-known spots in Inglewood, joined by LAist's food editor, Gab Chabran.
Check out Gab's write-up for a full list and more info on his favorite, curated Inglewood eats: BBQ Bagged Lunches, Whole Hog Carnitas Tacos, Curried Goat Mini Plates: Cheap Fast Eats Inglewood
Eateries featured: WINGS 2 GO, Caritas El Artisa, Country Style Jamaican Restaurant
119 The Los Angeles City Council has been through a lot of upheaval. In the past few years, there’s been corruption scandals, indictments, leaked tapes with racist language — all involving city leaders. The latest: Councilmember Curren Price has been charged with embezzlement of public funds, among other counts.
It's rattled his largely Latino district, which came out (mostly) in his defense recently. Unlike past corruption charges against sitting councilmembers, the council moved NOT to suspend him (yet) as the charges work their way through the court. But as the last of two Black councilmembers in L.A., his situation has a lot of observers wondering about the future of Black political power in this city.
Guests: LAist's Civics and Democracy Correspondent Frank Stoltze and Los Angeles Times columnist Erika D. Smith.
The sun is coming out y'all and the temps are rising. Come August it is going to be HOT in L.A. with some of the most severe heat in the San Fernando Valley. We explain what is happening with our weather and why certain parts of L.A. become almost unbearable.
Guest: LAist Science Reporter Jacob Margolis
Some additional news you can use:
Why Does It Get So Hot In Los Angeles?
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/why-does-it-get-so-hot-in-los-angeles
Tips To Protect Yourself In A Heat Wave
https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/extreme-heat-wave-is-on-its-way-and-expected-to-stay-through-labor-day-weekend
117: Before LA became the city of the car, we had one of the most robust public transit systems in the world. Well, that might not be coming back in the near future... But we DID just take a major step forward. LA's got some new train tracks, connecting the city from East to West and North to South through Metro's newly finished regional connector project.
Now you can get from Azusa to Long Beach, or East LA to Santa Monica, without a single transfer.
When the new tracks opened, the HTLA crew was there... not just to check out the new rails... But to race. From Boyle Heights, to the beach. One car, one train, who will win? Tune in to find out - and be sure to check out our piece on LAist.com for photos and more info about the connector.
116: Today, we dive deeper into the hurdles veterans face to secure housing in LA. Specifically, income limit restrictions, and how this leaves the most disabled veterans – those who need housing and services most – ineligible for most VA housing.
This is part two in a special two-part series about the veteran homelessness crisis in LA. We speak to Edward Sotello, a 70% disabled veteran who was unhoused for more than a decade until he recently secured housing in one of the West LA VA's new units.
We also revisit Josh Petit, a formerly unhoused veteran we met in part 1 of this series. (If you haven't listened, go back to yesterday's episode!)
Guests: Edward Sotello, formerly unhoused veteran who recently moved into an apartment on the West LA VA campus; Josh Petit, formerly unhoused veteran currently living in a tiny home on the West LA VA campus; Rob Reynolds, unhoused veteran advocate and formerly unhoused veteran; Nick Gerda, unhoused communities reporter for LAist
115: In May, 179 new apartments opened up for unhoused veterans at the West LA Veterans Affairs campus. Some veterans who have been stuck inside the VA system for years to were finally able to secure housing.
But the development is still years behind schedule and hundreds of units short, leaving roughy 4,000 veterans in L.A. County without a permanent place to live.
This is part one in a special two-part series about the veteran homelessness crisis in LA. Today, we explore how a long history riddled with bureaucracy and red tape within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and other government agencies have left thousands of veterans unhoused in LA -- a place once known as the "homeless veteran capital" of the county.
HTLA and our unhoused communities reporter, Nick Gerda, head to the West LA campus to talk to some unhoused -- and formerly unhoused -- veterans and advocates, as well as LA Mayor Karen Bass and VA officials, about the current state of affairs for vets in this city.
Guests: Josh Petit, formerly unhoused veteran currently living in a tiny home on the West LA VA campus; Rob Reynolds, unhoused veteran advocate and formerly unhoused veteran; Karen Bass, Mayor of LA, John Kuhn, Deputy Medical Director of the West LA VA
Ep. #114 Juneteenth — a shortening of June 19th — marks the day chattel slavery ended in the United States. On this day in 1865, nearly two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was issued, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to tell the last enslaved Black Americans they were free.
All throughout Los Angeles County, there are celebrations honoring this holiday. But one of the largest is in Leimert Park. A festival has been held there since 2018, with music, food, art, vendors and all sorts of activities, but the Juneteenth tradition in this community goes back decades.
Jonathan Leonard, a Texas transplant, is credited with starting it in 1949 by hosting a family barbeque in his backyard. The tradition took root that day in Leimert Park and, over the years, the party grew.
This year, some 50,000 people are expected to show up and celebrate Juneteenth in the neighborhood. It's no longer the simple picnic with barbeque, Red Soda and watermelon. Jazmine Sullivan is headlining! But Leonard's mission still drives it. Listen to this episode to learn about that history.
Guests: DJ QwessCoast, Juneteenth Leimert Park Festival organizer; Ariyana Leonard and AyEsha Leonard McLaughlin, Jonathan Leonard's daughters
Read more here: The Long Legacy Of Juneteenth In Leimert Park
#67: This episode originally aired on February 16, 2023.
When people think Los Angeles, they don't exactly think soul food. But this city actually has a rich (and delicious) soul food scene mostly in South LA. In this episode, we explore the origins of this epic cuisine, and how it plays a huge role in preserving Black history and culture. We visit South LA soul food staples Serving Spoon in Inglewood, and Mama's Chicken in Hyde Park.
Guests: Christopher Carter, food and racial justice professor and author of the Spirit of Soul Food; Karen "Mama" Whitman, owner of Mama's Chicken
#57: We're about halfway through the year (can you believe it?). So we're re-upping our new year's resolutions to find more zen. This episode first aired on January 24, 2023.
Whatever self improvement goals you've set for yourself this year, life is still stressful - work pressures, family commitments...not to mention natural disasters, political strife and world crises that you literally have no control over. Well, we want to offer a little respite. Los Angeles actually has a lot to offer in terms of quiet places to walk or meditate that could bring a little peace to a hectic day or week. We are not mental health experts so we are just making suggestions based on what we know we need from time to time to have a little zen in our lives. Host Brian De Los Santos checks out a few special places around the city that are accessible to anyone who is looking for a little calm, and gains a new understanding of the benefits of walking meditation.
Guests: Diana Winston, director of mindfulness education at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center; David Jaramillo, director of operations and customer care at The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
113: Foraging doesn't just mean hightailing it to the Santa Monica mountains and looking through brush and wood for mushrooms. There's a whole world of wild, and not-so-wild foods growing all around us — in our Urban Forest. Los Angeles has so much to offer, whether you're looking for citrus or loquats or edible flowers. But it's a LOT to learn all by yourself.
So today, HTLA newsletter writer Aaricka Washington is taking Brian De Los Santos on an edible tour of those famous Silverlake stairs... you know, the ones with the hearts on them? She was out there recently with a BIPOC foraging group to learn how to forage for the first time, and now she's sharing what she learned — and the community she gained — with Brian.
Be sure to check out Aaricka's newsletter for photos and more information about the group she went out with:
Want To Learn How To Forage? There's An Inclusive Workshop Right Here In LA
Music in this episode composed by: Austin Cross, Mort Garson, Naran Ratan, & Woo
112 On June 27, a special election will be held to choose the candidate who will replace former L.A. City Council President Nury Martinez.
You might remember that she resigned in the wake of a scandal last fall, having been caught making racist ands other ugly comments during a group conversation that was secretly recorded and made public.
Imelda Padilla and Marisa Alcaraz are both going after her seat in Council District 6, a 20-mile stretch of the city in the San Fernando Valley that includes neighborhoods like Sun Valley, Arleta, Van Nuys and Lake Balboa.
Padilla and Alcaraz were both raised in the area, with similar backgrounds, but they took different career paths. In this episode, we find out who these two are and why you should care about the outcome of this race, even if you don't live or vote in CD 6.
Guest: Frank Stoltze, LAist Civics & Democracy Correspondent
For more, read Frank's article:
The ‘Policy Nerd’ Vs. The Grassroots Organizer In LA City Council Race To Replace Nury Martinez
111: Gloom or Glisten? It’s both... If you listen. The plants are loving these extra cloudy skies, even if some of us are missing that LA sun. And here's the question: is this SAD-inducing set of storms even that unusual for June, or is this the normal we've forgotten during these last years of drought?
We've got LAist science reporter, Jacob Margolis, to explain all that and more. And for more info, check out his article unpacking June Gloom. Or if you're really in the mood to bundle up in your raincoat, he's got an article on this year's predicted El Niño, too.
110: River Garza creates fascinating art through the lens of his Tongva and Mexican heritage. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and River recently spoke at the Autry Museum of the American West, where River's work is currently showing. They spoke about how their cultural identities shape and inform how they show up in the world.
If you want to check out any future events, make sure to hit up our events page at LAist.com/events
109: It’s Pride Month, y’all! Throughout June, the LGBTQ+ community has a plethora of parties to choose from in Los Angeles. But, this Pride is finding people at a crossroads. It should be a time to celebrate and dance, but anti-LGBTQ+ headlines and legislation are also weighing heavy on queer hearts. This episode: a roundtable.
HTLA host Brian De Los Santos chats everything Pride related with three guests: Tre’vell Anderson, author of “We See Each Other: A Black Trans Journey Through TV and Film;” Kevin Al Perez from the nonprofit Somos Familia that puts on San Fernando Valley Pride; and Ricardo Sebastian, the executive director of OUTLOUD at WeHo Pride. And if you’re wondering where to look for Pride events this month, check out LAist’s guide by Caitlin Hernandez here.
108: It's no surprise that homeless is a top concern among Angelenos. The best-available info at this point says there are more than 69,000 people experiencing homeless in L.A. County – a 4% rise from the last time the survey was conducted in 2020.
In December, Mayor Karen Bass launched her signature program Inside Safe, which aims to give people living outdoors immediately housing in motels or hotels.
So far, the city has moved about 1200 people from encampments into housing under the program. But with tens of thousands still lacking permanent housing in LA, there’s still a long way to go.
Elected officials and local advocates have been trying to address the issues that lead to homelessness for years, but we’re still here…and many are wondering…how did we get here? How did LA end up with the largest unhoused population in the country? Who’s in charge of what? And how do people ACTUALLY get help?
To help make sense of it all, HTLA chats with LAist’s unhoused communities reporter Nick Gerda.
Guest: Nick Gerda, unhoused communities reporter for LAist
Wondering how you can help? Here are some tips from Nick's reporting on LAist:
Request homeless outreach services for a particular unhoused person: Contact LAHSA’s Homeless Outreach Portal. But it could take a few days for an outreach team to show up “due to high demand,” according to LAHSA.
Volunteer and donate to organizations serving unhoused people. Here’s LAHSA’s list of volunteer opportunities by region in L.A. County. And the city’s volunteer referral program: VolunteerLA. You can also volunteer for next year’s point-in-time count at TheyCountWillYou.org.
Support new affordable housing development in neighborhoods: The shortage of affordable housing is widely considered the main driver of the homelessness crisis. Developing more housing — especially affordable and permanent supportive homes — through faster city approvals and support from neighbors — is considered key to addressing the issue. If you want to help these efforts you can speak at public meetings.
Lease to voucher holders: Property owners can lease their vacant properties to people who have federal and local housing vouchers. L.A. County’s program to support landlords is called LeaseUp (more info available here).
For more, check out Nick’s guide to understanding homeless in LA.
107 In March the city of LA wrapped up its year-long guaranteed income program, Big: Leap. It's an acronym for Basic Income Guaranteed: L.A. Economic Assistance Pilot and it provided $1000 a month to 3,200 low-income families for a year, no strings attached.
It modeled itself after other guaranteed income pilot programs — sometimes called Universal Basic Income, or UBI — in cities like Stockton, Oakland and San Francisco. The idea of UBI is to provide extra income without any kind of work requirement or other conditions to, ideally, improve people’s lives.
Our producers followed five of its participants over the course of the year. In this episode we hear from two of them. Plus, Brian talks to an leading expert in guaranteed income programs about how Big: Leap worked and how, in general, such programs can benefit people.
Guests:
Juan Sernas and Amalia Mendez, Big: Leap participants; Ashley Davis, Big: Leap participant; L.A. City Councilmember Curren Price; and Natalie Foster, the president of the Economic Security Project, an organization that advocates for public programs that reduce income inequality.
39: We're ringing in Memorial Day Weekend by getting outside. This episode first aired on November 25, 2022.
On this podcast, we love to discover new places and things …and that includes checking out outdoor spaces in LA. We know how some of you love to hike and bike and just hang out in nature so we asked YOU to recommend your favorite spots to break away and enjoy the outdoors. We got some good suggestions, too. LISTEN!
106: We're back on our neighborhood grind! This time, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is hanging out with a Downey pro – AND fellow LAist Studios host – Erick Galindo. Erick is the host of Wild, now in its second season with a fictional rom com based on his life growing up in Downey.
Together he and Brian dive into the history of this gateway city... from its beginnings as an aerospace center to its more recent identity, according to some, as the "Mexican Beverly Hills" and explore what the city represents in greater South East LA.
Guest: Erick Galindo, host, Wild
105: You've probably seen those "We Buy Ugly Houses" signs all around LA...and the country. They're part of an elaborate advertising strategy for a pretty ugly business: Patriot Holdings. It's a franchise of the real estate investment company, HomeVestors of America.
A recent investigation by the non profit newsroom ProPublica found that a number of the company’s franchises ….including ones right here in LA…have taken advantage of people, oftentimes the elderly, to make a deal. Today, we chat with one of the reporters on the story should you – or your abuelita – ever have to deal with a house flipper.
Guest: Anjeanette Damon, reporter for ProPublica
For more, check out Anjeanette and her team's story here.
104: Gloria Molina was a trailblazing political figure and advocate for social justice. She made history as the first Latina to be elected to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, and she represented so much for the Latino community, and for Los Angeles as a whole. She spent her career fighting for environmental injustice in East LA, for women who underwent unauthorized sterilization at the county hospital, or to ensure the construction of the Gold Line for East LA.
But she was also an artist, a quilter… and the stitching group she founded in East LA has achieved international recognition.
She passed away earlier this week. Today, we remember Gloria at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes, which she helped found.
103: Rafael Agustín wears a whole lotta hats in Hollywood.
He's the CEO of the Latino Film Institute and oversees the Youth Cinema Project. He writes for TV and wrote a memoir, Illegally Yours, about growing up in L.A. and learning as a teenager that he was undocumented.
Rafael got into theater at community college and then UCLA, where he wrote a play with his friends that toured the U.S. Then he hit the big time: he landed a job on a sitcom, Jane the Virgin.
We talked to him about the writer's strike a few weeks ago (ep. 97) but he's got such an interesting story about how he got started in the biz, we had to bring him back.
How I Got Started is a regular segment on this podcast where we feature different Angelenos who are shaking things up and doing cool things in the city. Check out the other installments.
Guest: TV writer Rafael Augustín
102: The federal COVID-19 emergency officially ended last week, but California still has another 6 months of protections. So... What does that mean, and what happens next? And are we really ready for this emergency declaration to sunset?
To find out more, we're talking to LAist's senior health reporter, Jackie Fortier. She's got several guides on what all this means for you:
The Federal COVID Health Emergency Is Over. What Happens Now?
The Historic Federal COVID Health Emergency Is Over, But The Pandemic’s Effects Are Here To Stay
Where Things Stand With COVID-19 In LA And California
101: We've all heard everyone's hot takes in recent months about AI, ChatGPT and other developments in machine learning.
AI has also been a key point in negotiations between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. AND one of the many reasons writers have been on strike since the start of May.
But can AI really write the next critical hit?
Today, we explore what artificial intelligence really is, how technology like ChatGPT is changing the game and how this currently does -- and does NOT -- impact creative writing jobs.
Guests: Meredith Broussard, data journalism professor at New York University; Mike Ananny, associate professor of communication and journalism at University of Southern California
100: Silver Lake and hipsterdom may go hand in hand, but tucked between the murals, high-end shops and corporate chains, there are some stellar, chef-driven eats to be found at a bargain. The HTLA team is celebrating 100 episodes by eating their way down Sunset... joined yet again by LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán.
Check out his write-up to find his full list of neighborhood knock-outs: Cheap Fast Eats, Silver Lake Edition: Hong Kong-Style French Toast, 'Bomb AF' Mariscos Tacos, And — Of Course — Smash Burgers
Eateries featured: Bodega Park, Needle, Simón
Music in this episode composed by: Austin Cross, Dexter Thomas, E Ro 3, Hafo Safo, Modarchive
99: I’m sure you’ve noticed... fast fashion brands have become super popular over the past 30 years. Before fast fashion hit the market – beginning with Zara in the 70s and Forever 21 in the 80s – fashion brands produced clothes seasonally. Most Americans purchase new clothing only a few times a year. These days, Americans buy a new piece of clothing on average every five days. And in more recent years, a new cohort of companies have taken it to the next level.
Many may think fast fashion is being produced "overseas" (i.e. NOT here). But zip up, because today, we're exploring fast fashion's tight grip right here in Los Angeles, and the many destructive impacts of this industry.
Guests: Josie Huang, Asian American communities reporter for LAist; Nayantara Banerjee, industry researcher and strategist for Garment Worker Center; Tracie Tung, assistant professor in fashion design and merchandising at CSUN
98: Today we're diving deep into the history of Queer LA. Our LA Explained reporter, Caitlin Hernández, is taking us back in time to explain how West Hollywood became recognized as a mecca for LA's gay community. It's part of their research for the LAist series, Queer LA, where Caitlin's highlighting the joy, culture, and history of queerness in this city.
You can find more of their reporting at laist.com/QueerLA
Music in this episode composed by: Rae Bourbon, Austin Cross, Kylie Minogue, Masayoshi Takanaka, Fats Waller, Woo.
Archival audio courtesy of the Library of Congress.
97
"The writer's room is completely being decimated. It's no longer a big room with professional writers. Now it's mini rooms. It's like, you know, four to six people expected to do all the work that 10 to 12, 13 people used to do in the past." - TV writer Rafael Agustin
Being a Hollywood writer these days isn't quite what it used to be.
Writers say everything started to change with the rapid rise of streaming services: Netflix, Amazon, Apple…and ALL those limited series they are known for, like The Drop Out, Inventing Anna, The Queen's Gambit.
These days, folks find themselves writing a whole year worth of episodes in two months – and sometimes these projects aren’t even greenlit. There’s more work but fewer episode guarantees, and THAT equals less pay.
HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets the T from two TV storytellers.
Guests:
Rafael Agustin, TV writer and CEO of the Latino Film Institute
Caroline Renard, TV writer and Writers Guild Association captain
96: Hollywood writers are officially on strike. The Writers Guild of America failed to reach a deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on Monday night, forcing the walk out.
The two sides were negotiating over things like pay and residuals, which have decreased significantly with the onset of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon and Apple.
Today we’re gonna talk about why this is happening, and why it matters. Because when writers go on strike, a lot of different people feel it throughout L.A.
Guest: John Horn. host of Retake, the LAist Studios podcast all about Hollywood stories.
Read John's latest story here: TV And Movie Writers Strike Over 'Gig Economy' Conditions. What’s At Stake In The WGA Walkout
95: HTLA host Brian De Los Santos has been sharing his experiences living with DACA – and returning to Mexico for the first time ever – in our special series, Finding Home con DACA. If you haven't heard those yet, that'd be a good place to start.
The series was intended to be three episodes long... But, as is often the case with this kind of wide-scoped project, we found more threads to pull on as we were wrapping things up. One big loose end was the fact that so many immigrants who came to the United States don't end up staying. So, in today's postscript, we're doing just that.
Guest: Caroline Tracey, author of the New Yorker piece "Fighting For The Right to Come and Go"
(Update) #2: Despite all the rain and snow, LA still has its water restrictions in place from June of 2022. Angelenos have been a doing a pretty good job at conserving... But even though it might look like we're sitting on a major water surplus, all that rain and snow only covers our water needs for about a year.
So... what DO you do with a water surplus? Well, you save it.
Last fall, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist climate emergency reporter Erin Stone met up with a sustainability role model to get a handle on how it's done.
We're revisiting that scene, but we've got all the new numbers for you from our recent stormy winter.
Guest List: Erin Stone, Climate Emergency Reporter, LAist
Lynetta McElroy, Leimert Park resident and water conservationist
42: We're celebrating Earth Week by bringing you some of our favorite outdoor episodes. This episode first aired on December 1, 2022.
Southern California has more wild food than you might expect. There's a long history of foraging in and around Los Angeles. These foods have been everything from staples for indigenous communities, to delicacies for high-end chefs. (and, of course, food for critters!) Today, Jess Starwood is taking HTLA host Brian De Los Santos on a foraging hike. He tries his hand at mushroom hunting, acorn gathering, and berry plucking, to prepare some truly unique wild-food tacos.
Guest: Jess Starwood, professional forager & author of Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager's Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi
94: Are you all composting at home? Well, you should be, because we're now kind of required to by law! California’s landmark composting mandate went into effect in January of 2022. It states that all residents and businesses must separate “green waste” from other trash. To comply, LA developed a new composting program called “organics recycling,” but roll out has been complex, especially for multifamily residences.
Today, How To LA and LAist's climate emergency reporter, Erin Stone, go to Park La Brea apartments – the largest apartment complex on the West coast – to see how they're making composting happen for their renters.
Guests: Aryn Thomez, VP of property management at Park La Brea Apartments; Jessica Aldridge, director of sustainability at Athens Services; Erin Stone, climate emergency reporter for LAist.
Check out Erin's reporting on the roll out of the composting program.
And check out Athens Services guides on properly composting and recycling.
93: How to LA host Brian De Los Santos arrived in the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 2. He found out as a teenager that he was undocumented. Then he got DACA - deferred action childhood arrivals. He was able to get a driver’s license, qualify for in state college tuition and establish a path to a good career.
But even under DACA Brian wasn’t able to the leave the county... until he qualified for something called “Advance Parole,” earlier this year. It's a program that allows DACA recipients to travel outside the U.S under certain conditions. Brian had, maybe, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to his country of origin.
In part 3 of the 3-part series, Finding Home con DACA, Brian returns to Los Angeles. But his ideas of "home" have changed.
Music from this episode composed by: Geir Sundstøl, Modarchive, Natalia Lafourcade, Old Saw, Woo, Yeahman
The Bob Baker Marionette Theater is a legit L.A. institution. It opened in 1963 in Echo Park and, after the first building was sold to a real-estate developer, it reopened in Highland Park in 2019. The ¡Fiesta! show currently running now through June 25 goes way back too.
Bob Baker himself created it 50 years ago as a "love letter" to Latin America. It was, according to the theater's website, inspired by his neighbors in L.A. and his mostly Latino team of puppeteers.
The show recently got a much needed contemporary update from two new directors, Daisy Hernandez and Karina De La Cruz, who also happened to grow up going to the theater. They join How to LA host Brian De Los Santos to talk about what BBMT meant to them as kids and why the art of puppetry is still such a draw for them professionally.
The whole experience of seeing the show at BBMT was a special kind of magic for Brian who admits he was a little skeptical when our producer pitched this idea. You'll have to listen to the podcast to hear why it made such an impact.
Guests: Daisy Hernandez, stage manager at Bob Baker Marionette Theater and co-director of ¡Fiesta!, and Karian De La Cruz, puppeteer and co-director of ¡Fiesta!
91: There's all sorts of things we probably want to change about our neighborhoods. Maybe it's a desire for speed humps or public trash cans ...or fewer parties at the Airbnb down the street. Whatever it is, those issues probably can be addressed with the help of your neighborhood council - it's a volunteer group made up, most likely, of your neighbors.
There's roughly 99 of them in the city and the folks who serve on these councils can often be that direct link to your city councilmember and other L.A. government officials and organizations. Ideally, they can help get things done for your community.
And with voting is underway for the people who will serve on your neighborhood council, we want to give you the 4-1-1 on what they are all about. Listen to this episode and, if you want to know even more about YOUR neighborhood council, check out this link at empowerLA.org. You can find out which neighborhood council represents you and what kind of work they've been up to lately.
Guest: Brianna Lee, LAist engagement producer, Civics & Democracy.
To learn more, check out Brianna's stories:
Neighborhood Councils Are As Local As LA Government Gets. Here's How They Work – And How To Join One
How To Vote In Neighborhood Council Elections, Which Are Happening Right Now
90: Happy wildflower season! Have you seen all the wildflowers popping up around the city and beyond lately? One of the wettest winters on record has paid off, and SoCal's spectacular array of wildflowers is our reward. Today, botanist Evan Meyer tells us all about this season's special bloom, which, due to the rain, will continue for months to come in what is called a "constant" bloom.
California is one of the few places in the world that experiences this explosion of color beginning each spring. Learn how the state's Mediterranean climate produces our unique wildflower seasons and – most importantly – how to responsibly enjoy the blooms without disturbing the delicate ecosystem. We'll also tell you the best spots to see wildflowers this weekend.
Guest: Evan Meyer, executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation
90: Happy Wildflower Season! Have you noticed all the blooms around the city and beyond lately? One of the wettest winters on record has paid off...with a spectacular display of wildflowers across Southern California this spring. Today, we chat with botanist Evan Meyer about this season's breathtaking bloom, which due to the rain, will be a "constant" bloom lasting throughout the summer. Learn how California's climate produces our famous wildflower seasons and – most importantly – how to responsibly view wildflowers without disturbing the delicate ecosystem to ensure blooms for years to come. We'll also tell you the best spots to catch wildflowers for those of you going outside this weekend.
Guest: Evan Meyer, executive director of the Theodore Payne Foundation
89: How to LA host Brian De Los Santos arrived in the U.S. from Mexico at the age of 2. He found out as a teenager that he was undocumented. Then he got DACA -- Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. It let him get a driver’s license, get a work permit and helped him build a successful career as a journalist. But even with DACA, Brian wasn’t able to the leave the county to visit even visit family. That is, until he qualified for something called “Advance Parole.”
In part 2 of Finding Home con DACA, Brian finally sets foot in Mexico. His audio diary chronicles what it was like to feel at home, but also feel like an outsider, in the place where he was born.
Music from this episode composed by: Floating Points, Geir Sundstøl, Modarchive, Yeahman
88: Since 2019, several Black women have founded literary spaces in Los Angeles that hold more than just books; they offer places where people can gather and find community. There’s Salt Eaters in Inglewood, Reparations Club near West Adams, the Radical Hood Library — home to the No Name Book Club — near Jefferson Park. Last month Octavia’s Bookshelf opened in Pasadena, named for beloved science fiction author Octavia Butler. There's also Our Watts Bookshop, which is currently online with plans for a physical store in Watts later this year.
How to LA newsletter writer Aaricka Washington talked to the women behind these spaces and joined HTLA Brian De Los Santos to share what she learned.
Guest: Aaricka Washington, HTLA newsletter associate editor
To celebrate the sun shining and being outdoors, we want to bring you one of our first episodes, highlighting the real need for more trees and parks is Los Angeles. This episode first aired on September 7, 2022.
For its size, Los Angeles is lacking in parks and other green spaces compared to other major cities. Meet one man who is on a mission to make a difference in some of L.A.'s most underserved neighborhoods - one tree at a time.
Guest: Aaron Thomas, Director of Urban Forestry for the non-profit Northeast Trees.
BONUS: This week we're dropping an episode from California Love: K-Pop Dreaming.
There’s no better place to experience K-Pop fandom in all of its passion and glory than KCON. In the span of a decade, the annual fan convention has grown to a nationwide event drawing hundreds of thousands of fans. And just like many things K-Pop-related in the US – the extravaganza started right here in Southern California. Vivian and her childhood friends visit KCON held in downtown Los Angeles to witness the impact of the music firsthand.
(Originally published March 30, 2023)
Support K-pop Dreaming and other LAist Studios podcasts by donating now at LAist.com/join
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Dreaming
This episode is brought to you by your local Kia dealers. Visit kia.com to discover movement that inspires.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
87: Brian is surprised by a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It’s his Advance Parole document. He can travel to Mexico – his country of birth – for the first time in 30 years. The days ahead become a sprint to prepare and make travel plans. He only has a month to return to the U.S., or he could lose DACA and be denied reentry.
"Finding Home con DACA" is the first of a special three-part series from LAist Studios and How To L.A. In this episode, we follow Brian as he prepares for his journey and dives into the Advance Parole process -- all the way through the moment he leaves L.A. We'll continue with Brian into Mexico next Thursday in Part 2: "Hecho en Mexico."
Guest: Roberto Gonzales, a professor of sociology at University of Pennsylvania, who has testified before Congress on immigration policy.
Music from this episode composed by: Chris Schlarb, Dexter Thomas, Geir Sundstøl, Mamman Sani, Nicklas Nygren, Old Saw, and Yeahman
86: HTLA is exploring another neighborhood - this time Montecito Heights. You may be thinking, where the heck is that? (Don't feel bad, so were we!). It's a tiny town in Northeast L.A., just across from better-known Mount Washington, adjacent to the famous Debs Park.
We talk to the unofficial town mayor, Hans Maas, an 81-year-old fashion designer who makes clothing for Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams and other stars, who has been living there for more than 30 years. This hilly enclave is filled with eclectic characters like Hans: artists, painters, musicians and creatives looking for a little space away form the Hollywood scene (which is only 15 minutes away!).
But the best part about the town? Listener Debra Dysart says it's the peace and quiet. AND the panoramic views of downtown L.A. and the surrounding hills.
Join host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel as they explore what makes this place so special.
Guests: Debra Dysart, How To LA lister and Montecito Heights resident; Hans Maas, fashion designer and Montecito Heights resident
85: We’re back with another segment of How I Got Started, highlighting dope Angelenos in different fields. From the arts, to entertainment, to advocacy – we're talking to people who are doing cool things you should know about.
Gina Young wears a bunch of hats: theater director, musician, songwriter, DJ... But there’s a common thread in their work: they create community, and foster spaces that LA's queer folk are hungry for. Join HTLA host Brian De Los Santos as he talks to Gina about all the above and more.
You can find more of Gina's work on their website: https://www.ginayoung.com/sorority
BONUS: For many LA Latinx teens coming of age in the 2000s, flier parties and the party crew scene were an escape from the pressures from immigrant parents and the harsh realities of the world. From VICE and LAist Studios as part of the My Cultura Podcast Network, a series that explores what happens when your safe space isn’t always safe.
Hosted by Janice Llamoca.
Support Party Crews and other LAist Studios podcasts by donating now at LAist.com/join
84: COVID-era eviction protections for renters are set to expire on March 31. This time, there are no more extensions. What can renters and landlords expect? What ripple effects might this have on the county? How To L.A.'s host Brian De Los Santos speaks with LAist's David Wagner and Julia Barajas about the policies at play and who is most affected.
You can find more of David's and Julia's reporting on Laist.com:
https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-county-city-covid-19-pandemic-eviction-renter-tenant-protections-moratorium-housing-homelessness
And here is LAist's renters' guide that includes links to additional resources:
https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-county-city-eviction-guide
83: Homelessness will be a major challenge for whoever wins the special election to fill the seat once occupied by disgraced former L.A. City Council President, Nury Martinez. The area she used to represent, Council District 6, has the highest concentration of unhoused people in the San Fernando Valley. And in District 6, that means more than 500 people living in about 400 vans and RVs that line the streets of neighborhoods like Van Nuys and Sun Valley.
HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is walking and talking with LAist's Frank Stoltze, and some CD-6 residents, about the race and what that community needs the most from this next council representative.
(Note: After recording, another candidate entered the race as a write-in, bringing the total number of write-in candidates to four.)
Frank's story about the challenges facing District 6: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/people-living-in-rvs-and-vans-a-big-issue-in-special-election-to-replace-nury-martinez
The special election to fill Nury Martinez's seat is April 4. Find everything you need to know about the race and who is running: https://laist.com/news/politics/cd6-special-election-la-los-angeles-city-council-district-6
82: Last week, more than 60,000 workers and teachers in the nation's second largest school district went on strike.
It was led by SEIU Local 99 — members of the Service Employees International Union, representing about 30,000 essential workers in Los Angeles Unified. These are LAUSD's bus drivers, teachers’ aides, custodians food service workers among other essential school workers – and they're among the lowest paid workers in the district. The teacher's union joined in solidarity.
On Friday, after three days of striking, LAUSD reached a tentative labor deal with the district effectively meeting the workers’ demands for a 30% increase in salary and healthcare benefits for part-time employees. SEIU 99 union members will be able to vote on the agreement in-person and online throughout next week. The voting results will be announced on Saturday, April 8.
But it got us thinking, how effective are strikes anyway? What other tools do unions have to get their demands met? And how are they even organized?
Guests: Joshua Grunland, choir and music production teacher at Manuel Arts High School; Jonathan Harris, associate professor at Loyola Law School; Diana Reddy, doctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.
81: Cheap Fast Eats is back with it's first ever late-night extravaganza. And where else but Koreatown? The historic neighborhood features delicious foods from a variety of cultures, from Korean to Oaxacan, and everything in between. Join Gab Chabrán and Brian De Los Santos as they eat their way through LA's late-night neighborhood.
Featured Restaurants: Love Hour, Guelaguetza, and Two Hands Corn Dogs.
Check out Gab's full list of Koreatown's Cheap Fast Eats over on LAist.com:
80. For many Latino kids in the 2000s in L.A., the party crew scene was it. There were "underground" parties happening in places all over the SGV and Eastside neighborhoods that provided spaces to make friends, have fun and escape the pressures of immigrant parents and the harsh realities of the world. But there were risks. There were shootings and police raids. Many adults saw the scene as gang-adjacent and the media fueled negative stereotypes of kids who were out of control. One of the teens who got caught in that narrative was Emmery Muñoz, after she was murdered in 2006.
How to LA's Brian De Los Santos talks to Janice Llamoca, host of a new podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story, about growing up in L.A. during this time and what this scene meant for teens like her and Emmery.
Read more about it here: https://laist.com/news/emmery-munoz-strangled-homicide-party-crews-cold-case
Guest: Janice Llamoca, host of Party Crews: The Untold Story, from LAist Studios and Vice
How to LA is produced by a non-profit newsroom. Please support How To LA by donating now at LAist.com/joinHTLA
79: The winners of the 38th annual LA Marathon. were elite runners Stacy Ndiwa, with a time of 2 hours and 31 minutes, and Jemal Yimer with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds.
In total, about 20,000 people completed the race on Sunday, including our very own newsletter writer, Aaricka Washington, who ran that 26.2 miles in a little over 6 hours. It was the first time she's run a marathon and she says she'll do it again.
Today she's joining Brian De Los Santos for a look back at her training process, and how the running community she found in L.A. motivated her every step of the way.
If running a marathon is something you've been thinking about, read about the 10 Lessons she learned along the way and check out a list of local run clubs in L.A. here: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/ive-never-run-26-2-miles-before-but-this-sunday-i-will
Guests: Alrick “Butta” Augustine, founder of Keep It Run Hundred run club; Sharon McNary, reporter and long-time resident marathon expert for LAist.
78: L.A. is the music capital of the world. It's where all the big studios are, almost every famous musician lives here, there are major concerts every night of the week. BUT, with huge price tags for concerts these days (and soaring ticketing platform fees...) it can feel hard to find places to see live music that are actually accessible (i.e. free or cheap).
Today, HTLA producers Evan Jacoby and Megan Botel take you to a few spots around town where you can see live music without breaking the bank.
The Venice West is a restaurant, bar and music venue in Venice. Hear all genres of live music, Tuesday - Sunday nights. Check out the show calendar and buy tickets here.
The Smell is an all-ages punk venue in Downtown LA with shows most nights of the week. All shows are $5. Check show calendar here.
Industry Cafe and Jazz is an Ethiopian restaurant and Jazz lounge in Culver City. Open with live Jazz bands Wednesday - Sunday, sets at 6:30pm and 8pm.
77: Lots of Angelinos live without a car – and hundreds of thousands of people here don't use a car in their daily commute. But... it is definitely NOT the norm. HTLA Producer Evan Jacoby recently joined the car-less when he switched to a bike last fall.
Today, he's showing fellow producer Megan Botel his work commute. And they're talking with people across LA about how limiting their car use, or even going car-free, changed their lives for the better.
Guests: Fabian Santiago, Sahian Huesca, & Andrew McLeod
76: L.A. loves its lawns. And while a whole lotta you have transitioned to more drought-tolerant yards, there is still a lot of grass in front of most homes out there.
Statewide, about half of household water usage goes to outdoor landscaping. AND to stay looking nice and green….lawns require more irrigation than any other agricultural crop.
But how, in this desert climate of ours, did lush, green lawns become so popular? And how can we replace this water-guzzling crop with climate-appropriate alternatives?
LAist’s climate emergency reporter Erin Stone and producer Megan Botel head to the Los Angeles County Arboretum to find out.
Guest: Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum
Check out Erin's article for more on the history and future of lawns in LA.
The Oscars are Sunday and, as an L.A.-focused show, we gotta get into it somehow, right? Our friends with LAist Studios' Academy Museum pod are gonna help us out.
This episode looks back at the historic night in 2002 when Halle Berry became the first - and still only - Black woman to win the Academy Award for best actress.
The category has been one of the least diverse acting categories in the history of the ceremony. For this reason and others, Oscars Night 2002 holds particular historical significance.
Take a listen. If you like what you hear, you can catch more episodes here: https://laist.com/podcasts/the-academy-museum-podcast
75: LAX may feel like one of the more frustrating airports out there, but it really is the front door to this city. Yes, it's always jammed, always under construction... And getting out of there on a Sunday night can feel impossible. But today, we're gonna explore some of the things that make this airport an integral part of our home.
LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernandez is taking you to the airport with producer Evan Jacoby to check it all out, and talk to employees and passengers about the past, present and future of this international hub.
Check out Caitlin's article for more LAX history, and of course, TSA tips and tricks: https://laist.com/news/transportation/lax-explained-airport-travel-guide-los-angeles
74: At this point, we’re all well aware that climate change is an ever-growing threat to our lives and our environment. We’ve seen the mounting evidence over the years. All the scientific reports just seem be getting worse. The future — at times — looks grim.
All this can lead to a phenomenon called “climate doomism.” It’s the narrative that the damage to our environment has been done and, really, there is nothing we can do about it.
But this mindset is super problematic, and is making our environmental issues worse. So today, LAist’s climate emergency reporter Erin Stone hangs out with Isais Hernandez, a content creator known as Queer Brown Vegan, to chat about this negative outlook and how to fight against it.
Guest: Isais Hernandez, environmental educator and content creator for Queer Brown Vegan
Learn more about his work here: https://queerbrownvegan.com/
OTHER RESOURCES:
If you’re struggling with climate anxiety or want to learn how to fight climate doomism, check out The Climate Psychology Alliance.
To find opportunities to help fight the effects of climate change locally, Climate Resolve connects communities to come up with equitable solutions.
Get involved in local organizations like Pacoima Beautiful, which was founded in 1996 by five moms who were distraught about the pollution and trash in their community. Today, the environmental justice group continues to clean up neighborhoods all over the Northeast San Fernando Valley and beyond.
(Update) #25: Alright folks - Brian's out for a couple weeks on a trip of a lifetime. Check out the last episode in the feed if you want to hear all about it. Don't worry, we're gonna have two full weeks of fresh new episodes for y'all. But to kick the week off, we're revisiting an episode from last fall that is just as relevant now as it was then... With a new special election to replace Nury Martinez in City Council District 6.
To follow the election and the candidates, check out this article on LAist.com: https://laist.com/news/politics/la-city-council-district-6-special-election
The L.A. City Council has a LOT of power... But how do their decisions actually affect the lives of Angelenos? And how is it determined what areas of L.A. they control? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is looking for answers. He speaks with Caitlin Hernández, a reporter for LAist who's been been following the City Council and the fallout from the leaked tape scandal.
Also, don't forget -- there's an election happening. If you live in L.A. city, there are four council seats on the ballot.
Guests:
Caitlin Hernández, LA explained reporter for LAist
José Del Rio, political consultant active in the 2021 redistricting process.
This is Brian De Los Santos. We want to introduce you to a new podcast from our colleagues at LAist Studios: California Love - K-Pop Dreaming. It’s all about the rise of K-pop and its told through the lens of the Korean diaspora in LA, so we know you’ll love it. K-pop Dreaming is hosted by Vivian Yoon, a Korean American actress and writer. Take a listen.If you want more, take a listen to additional episodes here: https://laist.com/podcasts/california-love
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Dreaming
This episode is brought to you by your local Kia dealers. Visit kia.com
to discover movement that inspires.
This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
73: California is home to around 2 million undocumented people. And in Southern California, roughly 80,000 of them have DACA, Deferred Action Childhood Arrival. It allows people to get a work permit, to pay in-state tuition, and to get a drivers license. But there are a lot of freedoms it doesn't grant, like freely travelling outside the US.
HTLA host Brian De Los Santos has had DACA for about a decade. He recently got approved to do something big: he's going to Mexico for the first time since he was 2 years old, through a process called advance parole.
It's a travel permit that allows DACA recipients to leave the country and come back. However, the permit is issued with a very specific time window, and is only given for certain travel reasons.
And the big one: it doesn’t guarantee admission back into the country. But despite the stress, Brian's taking the opportunity to go Mexico and see family he hasn't seen since he was a toddler.
Today on How To LA, Brian's bringing in a couple of his friends and fellow DACA recipients to talk about all of his hopes and fears for the trip, and what it's like to live with DACA in the U.S., which is very much like living in limbo every day. We've got more of Brian's story over on LAist.com, so be sure to check that out:
As A DACA Beneficiary, I’ve Been Waiting For This Trip To Mexico All My Life
If you have DACA and want to apply for advance parole, it's very important that you with an immigration attorney. These organizations can help get you started:
CALIFORNIA MEXICO CENTER https://www.california-mexicocenter.org/cmdsummer2023/
CARECEN LA https://www.carecen-la.org/can_i_apply_for_advance_parole?locale=en
Guests:
Chris Farias, LAist social media producer; José Alonso Munoz, deputy communications manager for United We Dream, an immigrant youth-led support network
Music Credits This Week:
Chris Schlarb, The Mod Archive, Quetzal, Naran Ratan, Natalia Lafourcade, Austin Cross, Old Saw, & Anthony Barilla
72: There's nothing quite like al fresco dining on a warm L.A. day. Ever since the pandemic, we've got a ton of places to do that all around the city, thanks to some restaurant hustle and quick action from the city to turn parking spaces into outdoor dining areas. But now our beloved parking lot patios are at risk – IF a proposed city ordinance is passed. How To LA's Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist's Gab Chabran about what's at stake for restaurant owners and diners, and what can be done to preserve the outdoor dining we hold so dear in LA.
Guest: Gab Chabran, LAist associate editor, food
Read his story for more: LA Restaurants May End Outdoor Dining If Permit Fees Are Raised.
71: The devastating quake in Turkey was a stark reminded - yet again - that the Big One is coming. L.A. could get get hit with a similarly sized quake any time within the next 30 years. Maybe even tomorrow. Preparing for such an event may seem overwhelming (or like the LAST thing on your to-do list) but we're here to show you it's not so hard to do (and might even be fun!). A trip to Smart & Final (or Costco or Wal-Mart) can set you up with what you need. Maybe REI for a few extras. Join How to LA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist science reporter Jacob Margolis on this survival shopping trip.
Guest: Jacob Margolis, LAist science reporter
For more about the earthquakes in our region, listen to The Big One: Your Survival Guide.
70: L.A. is bracing itself for a serious cold front, with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal. There's gonna be hail, tons of rain, and even snow. The mountain ranges could get as much a 7 feet but it's expected to snow at much lower elevations than usual.
But don't worry - as the temperature drops, the HTLA team has you covered with a bunch of great take-out options to keep you feeling nice and cozy.
69: We're back with another edition of How I Got Started – the segment where L.A.'s movers and shakers join us to demystify exactly how they got to where they are in their field. This time, Brian De Los Santos is sitting down with a legit changemaker: Yolanda Davis-Overstreet. She's a mobility justice strategist responsible for getting crosswalks and bike lanes installed in her neighborhood of West Adams, and putting a big spotlight on road safety in L.A. – one the deadliest cities in the nation for pedestrians and cyclists.
She's also directed a new documentary, Biking While Black. It screened at the Pan African Film Festival this month and is an official selection of the Black Film Festival of New Orleans and the Seattle Black Film Festival, both taking place this spring.
To learn more about Biking While Black, check out the film's website here: https://www.bikingwhileblack.com/
68: The How to LA team is checking out yet another neighborhood: Mid-City. Listener and TV producer Nisa Ahmad answered our call about what area of L.A. we should visit next and her love of this neighborhood lured us in. Officially, L.A.'s Mid-City region is bound by Pico and the 10 Freeway to the north and south, Crenshaw and Robertson to the east and west. Still, the EXACT area is a little squishy for some. Wherever it is, it's got a lot going on.
Join us as we learn about what makes this place special, from tree-lined streets to soul food eats...and get Nisa's tips on where to get some good pan dulce and hear some live jazz.
Guest: TV producer, and How to LA listener/reader, Nisa Ahmad
67: When people think Los Angeles, they don't exactly think soul food. But this city actually has a rich (and delicious) soul food scene mostly in South LA. In this episode, we explore the origins of this epic cuisine, and how it plays a huge role in preserving Black history and culture. We visit South LA soul food staples Serving Spoon in Inglewood, and Mama's Chicken in Hyde Park.
Guests: Christopher Carter, food and racial justice professor and author of the Spirit of Soul Food; Karen "Mama" Whitman, owner of Mama's Chicken
66: O certain holidays – like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day – flower vendors are out in force on the streets of LA, selling all sorts of goodies on corners, major boulevards or at the end of freeway off ramps. But what does it take to make that hustle happen? How did they get there? And do they make much money doing it? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and the team spent the day finding out.
65 It's not easy to find love in the big city but it DOES happen. In this episode we hear from YOU, Angelenos who found love in LA -- love for their partner, love for their friends and, most of all, love for this wild and expansive place we call home. Take a listen.
64: It's HTLA's first live special! Brian De Los Santos is teaming up with LAist food editor Gab Chabran at the Crawford Family Forum to interview some of their favorite Cheap Fast Eats chefs from the downtown episode. They'll explore what it's like to run a kitchen in downtown LA, how they survived the pandemic, their favorite things to cook, and much more.
Don't miss the next live event! If you're signed up for our newsletter, you'll be the first to know where to buy your tickets. Check it out at LAist.com/HowToLA
Live Guests:
- Claudia and Laura Barrera, co-owners of Burrito Break
- Jennifer Feltham, co-owner of Sonoratown taco shop
- Moderna Cocina Libre owner Denice Mendez and chef Pablo Ricardo Vega
63: Ever wonder why certain things in LA work the way they do? Well, we've got you covered. This is our new segment, LA Explained, with Caitlin Hernández. They'll be joining us to answer YOUR questions about this city. Up first: How do LA's streets get their names?
Guests: Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist; Mark Tapio Kines, writer of LA Street Names.
Check out Mark's website: LAstreetnames.com
Also, take a look at Caitlin's article on LAist: Why Does LA Have So Many Roads With The Same Name?
62: If you’re like a LOT of California residents, you spent way too much on your natural gas bill for January. The price to heat your home has been kind of out of control… like three times what people typically pay each month. Governor Gavin Newsom is actually calling for an investigation into why it's been so high.
Now, the good news is the price spike is expected to fall for February. But prices are still WELL above what they were last year.
Today, we're explaining why gas prices went soaring in California. We'll also give you a few tips on how you can control the cold in your home.
Guests: William Boyd, professor at UCLA's Institute of Environment and Sustainability; Caitlin Hernández, reporter, L.A. Explained, LAist
To get more tips and tricks to protect your home from heat leakage, check out Caitlin's article:
Southern California Is Very Chilly (Again). Here’s How To Keep Heat From Leaking Out Of Your Home
And here's another one info from Caitlin on how to level out your gas bill:
Can’t Afford Another Mammoth Gas Bill? Averaging Your Yearly Bill Can Help You Smooth Out The Spikes
61: Remember those intense storms in early January? L.A. County said it captured some 33 BILLION gallons of stormwater to use later and support about 800,000 households a year. It's an important step to help us get through the drought years.
But that awesome number is less than 20% of the total rain water. The other 80% washed right out to sea.
Today we're explaining why that is... and what the county is doing to improve. We're also checking out a success story in a neighborhood park in South LA, that might hold the answer to LA's water woes.
Guests: Erin Stone, LAist Climate Emergency reporter; Steve Frasher, public information officer for LA County Public Works; and Bruce Reznick, executive director of LA Waterkeeper
To learn more about this project, check out Erin's article: https://laist.com/news/climate-environment/how-capturing-more-stormwater-can-also-make-city-parks-better
BONUS: Hey, How To LA listeners, this is Brian De Los Santos. We're doing something a little different and bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast Code Switch. My colleague Josie Huang is talking to one of their hosts about the mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, and what it says about the dark side of the Asian American dream. I hope you like it.
60: It's been a little more than a week since a shooter killed 11 people at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park. The grief and the sense of shattered security won’t go away easily – if ever – but the healing process has begun. At vigils and Lunar New Year Festivals, communities of the San Gabriel Valley came together to mourn those who died and to celebrate life. So we were there...to capture and understand this healing process from the community level.
59: The deadline for ending COVID-era eviction protections got pushed...and pushed again. Now the deadline is at the end of March. Unless, of course, L.A. County officials punt it one more time. There's been a lot of confusion out there about what's going on. Landlords are angry. Tenants are scared. Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist Housing Reporter David Wagner about how we got to this point, and what might happen next. If you are looking for some answers, we got some here. Plus, David has written a handy guide, including everything renters need to know about this process: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-county-city-eviction-guide
58: LAist Food Editor Gab Chabran and HTLA Host Brian De Los Santos are at it again, eating everything in sight that's good and cheap. This time they're hitting up Culver City - a city steeped in moviemaking history that is very much part of LA but with its own personality. It's kinda like where urban meets suburban, and where there is a lot of good grub.
Featured restaurants: Empanadas Place, Jasmine Market & Deli, Sexy Beans.
Check out Gab's full article here: https://laist.com/news/food/slurpable-asian-noodles-rustic-empanadas-and-sexy-beans-welcome-to-cheap-fast-eats-culver-city
57: New Year, New You, right? Whatever self improvement goals you've set for yourself this year, life is still stressful - work pressures, family commitments...not to mention natural disasters, political strife and world crises that you literally have no control over. Well, we want to offer a little respite. Los Angeles actually has a lot to offer in terms of quiet places to walk or meditate that could bring a little peace to a hectic day or week. We are not mental health experts so we are just making suggestions based on what we know we need from time to time to have a little zen in our lives. Host Brian De Los Santos checks out a few special places around the city that are accessible to anyone who is looking for a little calm, and gains a new understanding of the benefits of walking meditation.
Guests: Diana Winston, Director of Mindfulness Education at UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center; David Jaramillo, Director of Operations and Customer Care at The Movement of Spiritual Inner Awareness
Following the mass shooting in Monterey Park, a lot of focus has been placed on the mental health of people in the larger Asian American Pacific Islander community. The realization that the suspected shooter in this case -- and in another recent incident in Half Moon Bay -- was an older Asian man, a senior citizen, has brought about a closer examination of the generational divide in the AAPI community when it comes to one's mental health and a willingness to see help. How to LA host Brian De Los Santos explores that divide and what's being done to help elders in the AAPI get what they need in terms of services.
Guest:
Myron Dean Quon, Chief Executive Officer at Pacific Asian Counseling Services.
55: A mass shooting sent shockwaves through the Asian American community of Monterey Park on the eve of Lunar New Year. Ten people died, and more are still being treated for their injuries. The tragedy left residents wondering how such a horrible event could happen in an otherwise idyllic example of what an immigrant enclave can be.
Today on HTLA, we want to take some time to talk about the history and cultures of Monterey Park. We're asking experts and residents what this community means to them, and what it will take to move forward.
Guests: Josie Huang, Asian American communities reporter for LAist; Yong Chen, professor of history at University of California, Irvine
54: The City of Angels is made up of some pretty exciting people, from all sorts of backgrounds with all kinds of interests. This year, we're putting the spotlight on some folks we think you should know about... and demystifying how they got to where they are in life. From musicians and writers to changemakers and activists, we’re sitting down with some dope Angelenos and getting INTO it in our new segment, “How I Got Started.”
This first chat is with the fabulous Ashley Ray. She’s a stand-up comedian, podcast host, TV writer, and television critic. Find her on Twitter @theashleyray, or her website Theashleyray.com
53: We've had record rain in California since the start of the year, brought on by atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones. There's been massive flooding and at least 19 deaths in parts of the state. It's got people talking about whether this is just what normal is supposed to look like after years of drought, or if all these back-to-back storms really were some sort of natural abnormality. How much does this have to do with climate change, and can we expect this extreme weather more often from now on? How to LA host Brian De Los Santos gets some perspective from Alex Hall, a professor in the Atmospheric and Oceanic Scientist Department at UCLA.
For our first episode of 2023, HTLA is headed back to our roots: exploring LA's neighborhoods. This stop? Fairfax – one of the oldest AND newest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. From Canter's Deli and a handful of remaining Judaica stores, to RipNDip and Supreme, this is one of those neighborhoods that's got something for everyone. So join host Brian De Los Santos as HTLA listener Patrick Vukovich takes him on a tour of the district and its history.
Guest: Patrick Vukovich, television producer and LAist listener.
51: Kenneth Mejia made history this fall when he was elected as the first Asian American controller in L.A. He's young, 32. He has corgis, rides a scooter, and has been painted as a leftist. In other words, he comes off kinda cool...for an accountant. Mejia joins a couple of other political newbies who rode a progressive wave into office this year. But L.A. needs some work. How will he and some of the other new folks work with everyone else to get things done, and make some change?
Guests: Kenneth Mejia, LA City Controller; Frank Stoltze, LAist's Civics and Democracy Correspondent
50: For our 50th episode (and second to last before 2023!) HTLA host Brian De Los Santos reflects on the changes this year brought him. Then our crew at LAist and some of our listeners share their wildest moments of 2022.
49: WARNING: There are events discussed in this episode that might be upsetting for some.
It's Hanukkah, a time for Jewish people to come together with friends and family, light the menorah and exchange gifts. But this year feels a little more solemn. Hate crimes, and particularly antisemitic ones, are on the rise in LA County. The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles recently held its second annual Shine A Light event at Grand Park in Downtown LA. Mayor Karen Bass and other political officials joined jewish leaders to raise awareness of the rising rates of antisemitism and discuss how to fight against the hate. HTLA producer Megan Botel was there and interviewed one woman whose mother was killed during an attack on a synagogue in 2019.
Guests: Hannah Jacqueline Kaye, daughter of Lori Gilbert Kaye, who was killed at Chabad of Poway in San Diego; Randy Grossman, Lori Gilbert Kaye's sister; Jeffrey Abrams, L.A. regional director of the ADL
(Update) #23: He was known as the “Ghost Cat”. The “Brad Pitt” of Lions. The Old Man (in the cougar world). Any news of P-22 dominated the headlines, and his likeness inspired art all over the city.
LA's one and only lion king was euthanized on Dec. 17 after severe injuries, likely from impact with a car. He leaves a huge legacy, including a wildlife crossing that is currently being built that will allow LA's wildlife to better roam without risk.
Today we're revisiting the episode we published earlier in the year about the crossing.
The largest wildlife crossing in the WORLD will cross over 10 lanes of the 101 freeway - the deadliest road for mountain lions - to connect the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills. We revisit the episode with Miguel Ordenaña, the guy who first discovered P-22 using a motion-activated cameras. He and HTLA host Brian De Los Santos talk about what this crossing will mean for this city, and what it takes for projects like these to break ground.
Guest: Miguel Ordenaña, community science manager at the Natural History Museum.
48: Heads up L.A., this next episode is all fluff. Cause it's the holidays. And you know what that means? Time to get basic! This cozy time of year has that ability to bring the most basic parts out in all of us, right? Host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel define what it really means to be a basic girl and take you on an LA basic girl journey - holiday edition. Explore pumpkin spice lattes, the Original Farmers Market, peppermint bark, selfies with Santa, overpriced candles and a holiday pop up bar in the Arts District, complete with fake snow.
47: Overdose deaths are rising dramatically in LA. Almost 1300% in the last several years. Fentanyl is a major culprit. LA's Public Health Department, LAUSD, LAPD and the DA's office have started strategizing to figure out how to deal with this crisis... But there are groups out there who have been practicing harm reduction for years: distributing narcan or fentanyl test-strips, and teaching classes. Groups like T.A.C.O., a national non-profit started by 5 college students, who saw a deadly problem that didn't seem like it was being addressed.
Today we're taking a personal look at LA's fentanyl crisis, and some of the solutions that are currently saving lives.
Guests: Isabella Gianatiempo, co-founder & CEO of T.A.C.O. Inc; B, an L.A. college student who overdosed and survived, and requested that we not use their full name.
For educational resources about drug safety, check out Taco's website, and the CA Department of Public Health.
If you or someone you know experiences an overdose, call 9-1-1 immediately.
46: Since 2020, city and county leaders have promised to develop an unarmed mental health crisis response system amid demands for police reform. But two years later the pilot program announced by the city has yet to launch and the county's system is a patchwork of services for which there are enough trained people to do the work. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos checks in on how LA is doing on its promise to respond to mental health crises without law enforcement and what is needed for officials to deliver on a plan that works.
Guests: Robert Garrova, Mental Health Reporter for LAist; Ben Adam Climer, founder of C.R.I.S.I.S. Consulting, which has helped cities develop unarmed emergency response units
45: Cheap Fast Eats! You know what that means: Gab and Brian are together again, eating their way through downtown LA. For our 4th installment, we're checking out some secret alleyway breakfast burritos, a Japanese comfort food / plant store hybrid, and much more.
Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor for LAist
Check out Gab's article for his full list of restaurants.
44: CicLAvia is in its 12th year, closing down streets throughout LA county for folks to ride, skate, walk and just move their bodies without ANY cars. The event happens every other month or so. But even though most of the HTLA team were raised in the LA area (or have certainly lived here long enough!) none of us have ever done it. So here we go... to South LA with the whole team... let's go see what it's all about!
43: Food insecurity is increasing in L.A. – almost 300,000 more households report lacking consistent access to food this year than in 2021. Blame it on lingering pandemic effects and now inflation. Enter Jamiah Hargins. He's the founder of Crop Swap LA, which works with unused spaces in Los Angeles to create microfarms, typically in someone's front yard, to grow food to serve people in the surrounding neighborhood. How To LA host Brian De Los Santos stops by one microfarm in View Park to check out how this local food distribution system works.
Guests: LAist's Climate Emergency reporter Erin Stone; Jamiah Hargins, founder of Crop Swap LA
Southern California has more wild food than you might expect. There's a long history of foraging in and around Los Angeles. These foods have been everything from staples for indigenous communities, to delicacies for high-end chefs. (and, of course, food for critters!) Today, Jess Starwood is taking HTLA host Brian De Los Santos on a foraging hike. He tries his hand at mushroom hunting, acorn gathering, and berry plucking, to prepare some truly unique wild-food tacos.
Guest: Jess Starwood, professional forager & author of Mushroom Wanderland: A Forager's Guide to Finding, Identifying, and Using More Than 25 Wild Fungi
Every time the World Cup comes around, the watch parties go off in LA. Whether you are rooting for the USA, Mexico, Ecuador or Germany, you can find a bar, restaurant or even a home that will open its doors at pretty much any hour to welcome in fans to enjoy the game and likely eat and drink. This year's cup in Qatar is not without controversy but the game itself continues to bring Angelenos of different backgrounds together to revel in the play. On this episode, the HTLA team got up real early to watch Ecuador and Senegal play at an intimate spot in Hollywood, La Casita de Cancún Olé, and get a sense of what the whole experience means to Angelenos.
Guests: Margarita and Alejandro Platon, owners/ chef of La Casita; Ecuador fans Thalia Veintimilla and Manuel Ochoa
Approach almost anyone who lives in Los Angeles to talk about the state of the city and it's pretty much guaranteed they’ll tell you homelessness is where they want to see change. Mayor-elect Karen Bass says she'll tackle the issue the day she enters office and has pledged to house 15,000 people in year one and end encampments. But at this point, the homelessness issue is downright overwhelming. Where should she focus her energies? We sought out some local experts for their thoughts.
Guests: Gary Painter, director of the homelessness policy research institute; Theo Henderson, author, podcast host, homelessness advocate; Sebastian Arias, Pit Stop ambassador
On this podcast, we love to discover new places and things …and that includes checking out outdoor spaces in LA. We know how some of you love to hike and bike and just hang out in nature so we asked YOU to recommend your favorite spots to break away and enjoy the outdoors. We got some good suggestions, too. So on this day to #OptOutside, enjoy these fellow Angelenos' recs.
Ever feel a little weird celebrating thanksgiving? It's easy to want to love a holiday that celebrates food, but this one is tied up in some pretty mucky American history. In this bonus episode, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is sitting down with LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán. They're talking about why Gab never celebrated growing up... and what he plans to cook this year for his family – because even if you have complicated feelings about Thanksgiving, its still really nice to gather for a meal with the people you love.
For more, check out Gab's article here: https://laist.com/news/food/my-familys-un-thanksgiving-celebration
Guest: Gab chabrán, LAist food editor
It's Thanksgiving week, and today we're asking the question of what it means to be "American." It means something different to everyone. LAist's new series, "Being American," is exploring different meanings through reader essays submitted by Angelenos of all backgrounds. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is talking to LAist's Immigrant Communities Correspondent Leslie Berestein Rojas, who is overseeing the project.
Check out the series here: https://laist.com/news/essays/tell-us-your-american-story
Since the news hit most of us on Sunday morning, we've been thinking about the mass shooting in Colorado Springs. A gunman opened fire in an LGBTQ nightclub, killing at least 5 people and wounding several others, just 6 years after another shooting in another LGBTQ club in Orlando, Florida. These incidents have hit the queer community hard as many, especially Black and Brown LGBTQ folks, still struggle to find their place, even in liberal places like L.A. As we reflect on this moment, we bring back a portion of a conversation we had with sociology professor Anthony Ocampo, author of the book Brown and Gay in LA, and talk to Tre'vell Anderson, host of the podcast FANTI.
Sunsets are one of those few things that most Angelenos -- most people in general -- can agree on. When the sun goes down, and the sky changes colors, blue to orange and pink… It always makes you stop and enjoy, even if it’s just for a moment. There's a lot of beautiful spots in LA to catch it, too. We asked our listeners for some of their favorite sunset moments and they gave us these stories. It's been a wild couple of weeks so consider this your moment of zen. Enjoy!
Riding a bike isn't exactly the safest way to get around in Los Angeles. The city introduced two programs in 2015 that were supposed to change that: Vision Zero, and the Mobility Plan 2035. But while there have been some new bike lanes installed, the city has been dragging its feet on funding. At the current rate, the planned projects wouldn't be completed for another 200 years... and meanwhile, traffic collision deaths are 58% higher than when they launched these programs seven years ago.
So today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is checking out some of the bike lanes in the city. We'll find out what's working, and what more needs to be done.
Guests: Ryan Fonseca, transportation and mobility reporter; and Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, mobility justice advocate
Tired of refreshing your news feed for election results? Well, how about a quick adventure! In our latest trip through one of LA's neighborhoods, we hook up with HTLA listener and reader Andrea Martinez Gonzalez to take a tour of Angelino Heights, one of the oldest areas in the city. It's got some of the coolest and most diverse architecture around from Victorians to Craftsmans but, like so many places in LA, this once middle class enclave has become extremely unaffordable. Come check it out with us. And if you'd like to tell us what neighborhood to visit next, let us know here.
Guest: Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, HTLA listener and Angeleno Heights resident
It's Cheap Fast Eats time again, and that means Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos. Glendale has a large Armenian population, and their flavors can be found all over the city. Need a new burger spot? Maybe dumplings? Well, Brian and Gab are digging into it all.
Still hungry? Well - Gab's got even more places to check out in this month's edition of Cheap Fast Eats.
Locations: Front Yard Burger, Khinkali House, Zhengyalov Hatz
Guest: LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán
Alright LA. We may not see results for all races and issues for a few days, maybe even weeks. But regardless of who steps into the city's leadership roles – progressive or moderate – there are some big issues that they'll need to take on right away. Today we're hearing from voters about they want ... and we're talking to some experts about the best paths forward on some of our city's biggest issues.
Guests: Jody Armour, professor of law at the University of Southern California; Gary Painter, director of the homelessness policy research institute; Melissa Chinchilla, homelessness researcher at the University of California Los Angeles
Election Day is here! If there is any doubt about why you should go out and vote, we want you to listen to three people who not only vote but work hard to get their peers and other young folks engaged. Sure, they get jaded from time to time, but they are exercising their right and trying to make the change they want to see.
Guests: Clara Castronovo, UCLA student involved in a campaign that registers students to vote; Irene Rivera, senior policy advocate & organizer for the ACLU's Youth Liberty squad; and Catherine Estrada, political science student at UCLA
The race for L.A. Superior Court Judge might seem a little low profile... But did you know it draws the MOST questions from LA voters every election season? These judges weigh in on all sorts of cases from speeding tickets to murder. In other words, they're pretty important. If you're feeling like you need a little more info – don't worry. We got your back.
Guests:
Simona Grossi, professor at Loyola Law School, specializing in California civil procedure; Jerry Abeles, attorney and chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee
November 8th – aka the last day to cast your ballot – is fast approaching. But don't worry, we've got answers to some voter FAQs to help get you ready. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos digs into LAist's Voter Game Plan, which has information on pretty much everything that's on the ballot in LA County and LA City.
And stick around for a lighthouse walk on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.
Guests: Ariel Zirulnick, Senior Editor of Community Engagement; Lyn Watanabe, LA resident & longtime Palos Verdes devotee
One of the first things to know about Día de los Muertos is that is NOT the Mexican Halloween. Brian sits down with Ofelia Esparza to talk about the true significance of the tradition for some Angelenos. Esparza is kinda like LA's matriarch for Day of the Dead and is the go-to artist to build an ofrenda in this town -- the alter built to remember loved ones who had died.
Guests:
Ofelia Esparza, visual folk artist and teacher; Rossana Esparza Ahrens, artist and teacher
It's that time of year again so we just HAD to tell a few local ghost stories. We dug into the audio archives and found a few scary tales from L.A. that were once told to a colleague long ago... (ok, like 2018). These stories span the decades and take us from Kagel Canton to Koreatown to the L.A. Zoo. Oh, and you'll learn a little bit about the making of the Bradbury Building in Downtown LA. Enjoy!
NOTE: Since this podcast first aired, the Los Angeles Football Club, LAFC won the MLS Cup for the first time.
ORIGINAL TEXT: The Los Angeles Football Club, LAFC, is inching closer to the MLS Cup. The team faces Austin FC on Sunday in the Conference Finals. Though the LAFC is the second soccer team in this city, and it has only been playing since 2018, it has a DEDICATED fan base. These folks aren't just about soccer but about creating community at every game. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos explores the spirit behind the LAFC supporters groups.
Guests:
Jimmy Lopez,founding member of the LAFC's Independent Supporters Union, the 3252. Now he’s Manager of Brand and Community for LAFC
Julia Barajas, community engagement reporter, LAist
Antisemitic incidents have been on the rise in Los Angeles and surrounding counties for the last few years. Now, the artist formerly known as Kanye West is amplifying the hate by spewing antisemitic and racist comments in interviews and on social media. It's not a new thing for him but its reached a crescendo in recent weeks and has had significant ripple effects right here in our city.
HTLA producers Megan Botel and Evan Jacoby talk to Jewish community members about what is happening, how to make sense of it ...and how to move forward.
Guests: Diane Winston, professor of media and religion at the University of Southern California; Rabbi Noah Farkas, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles
The L.A. City Council has a LOT of power... But how do their decisions actually affect the lives of Angelenos? And how is it determined what areas of L.A. they control? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is looking for answers. He speaks with Caitlin Hernández, a reporter for LAist who's been been following the City Council and the fallout from the leaked tape scandal.
Also, don't forget -- there's an election happening. If you live in L.A. city, there are four council seats on the ballot.
Guests:
Caitlin Hernández, LA explained reporter for LAist
José Del Rio, political consultant active in the 2021 redistricting process.
In this bonus episode of HTLA we hang out in Boyle Heights in Council District 14, repped by embattled councilperson Kevin de León. We talk to community activist and Órale Boyle Heights podcast host Erick Huerta, about the community's reactions to this leaked taped scandal and the fact that de León says he will not resign his post.
Guest: Erick Huerta, media organizer for East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, & host of the podcast Órale Boyle Heights
As humans, we produce a LOT of trash and only recycle about a third of it. Some new changes to California's recycling laws could help boost recycling rates, which, you know, could be good for the planet. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets the 411 on those changes and gets a first hand look at how L.A. County recycles its garbage.
Guests:Susan Collins, president of the Container Recycling Institute
Habib Kharrat, solid waste operations manager, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
The largest wildlife crossing in the WORLD is being built right here in Los Angeles. It'll cross over 10 lanes of the 101 freeway - the deadliest road for mountain lions - to connect the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos meets up with Miguel Ordenaña, the guy who discovered one of LA's most famous mountain lions. They talk about what this crossing will mean for this city, and what it takes for projects like these to break ground.
Guest: Miguel Ordenaña, community science manager at the Natural History Museum.
Want to know more about the crossing? This article from LAist has got you covered:
The Earth Is Moving For The World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing
LA is voting on a new mayor for the first time since 2013. Congresswoman Karen Bass is running against real-estate developer Rick Caruso. Each have different plans they argue would help improve things around this city, like homelessness. But mayors in LA don't have the power that other big city mayors do. It begs the question, what can the next mayor of Los Angeles really do?
Guest: Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.
HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán are back at it, searching for delicious (and affordable) grub. This time, they're featuring Cheap Fast Eats in Long Beach.
Locations: A&J Seafood Shack, Appu’s Cafe, Hamburgers Nice
Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor at LAist.
I’m not a Dodger fan… at least, not yet. But I know so many of you are! So today on HTLA, we’re learning all about what makes these games so fun to watch… Plus, their incredible season this year, which is leading them into the playoffs.
Guests: A Martínez, host of NPR's Morning Edition & Up First; Bianca Ramirez, operations director for KPCC & LAist; and Donald Paz, engineer for KPCC & LAist and HTLA music composer
Leaked audio tapes from a Los Angeles City Council meeting contain racist remarks from the former council president, Nury Martinez. Many prominent L.A. politicians, including Sen. Alex Padilla, have called for everyone involved in the discussion to resign and take full responsibility for their actions. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos talks with community leaders and experts about the larger impact of this scandal and where this stems from.
Guests: Amir Whittaker, Senior Policy Counsel at the Southern California ACLU; Ange-Marie Hancock, gender studies professor at University of Southern California
Climbing is a great way to connect with nature, or even just let off steam with friends. But the sport has a reputation of being somewhat exclusive. Today, HTLA newsletter writer Aaricka Washington is back in the studio with Brian De Los Santos. They're talking about Brown Girls Climb, a group that aims to increase representation of women of color in climbing communities. Aaricka learns to climb with them at one of their monthly meet ups in L.A.
Guests: Aaricka Washington, HTLA newsletter writer; Jaya Kang, Indira Orozco, & Shalaka Gole, local chapter leaders for Brown Girls Climb
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department did something unusual last month. It launched a criminal investigation into L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, and others, and got a warrant to search her house. It was unusual because the LASD does not typically investigate other county agencies. California's Attorney General has since taken that investigation over but the actions by the LASD raised some alarms, especially since Sheriff Alex Villanueva is running for re-election in November. It's all sorts of complicated but HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets into it with this explainer on law enforcement in L.A.
Guest: LAist Civics and Democracy Correspondent Frank Stoltze
Street vending has been legal in L.A. for a few years now, but state health codes made it almost impossible for smaller vendors - especially food vendors - to get permitted. That process will become easier on January 1, 2023, thanks to a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and team get a behind the scenes look at how it all happened - the hard work that took place on the ground level - and what this change means for the vendors and for customers.
Guests:Juan Espinoza, lawyer with Public Counsel who works on their Community Development Project; Rosario Meléndez, street food vendor in Koreatown.
Drug use among teens is actually down but overdose deaths have spiked, doubling nationwide in 2020, largely due to the spread of counterfeit pills. In Los Angeles, a 15-year-old girl died after consuming a pill laced with fentanyl. In a surprise move, the Los Angeles Unified School District now says it will distribute Narcan, which reverses the effects of an opioid overdose, to junior and senior high schools. So, how did we get here? How to LA host Brian De Los Santos explores that question and how to talk to kids about this epidemic.
Guests:Joseph Friedman, UCLA researcher and author of a recent JAMA study on teen drug use and overdose deaths; Keegan Hamilton, who covers organized crime and the drug trade at VICE.
Correction: Alberto Carvalho’s name was mispronounced in an earlier version of this episode.
There are roughly eight thousand bus stops in Los Angeles but three-quarters of them don’t provide ANY kinda of shade from the sun. And with the inevitable schedule delays, you know Angelenos are sometimes waiting 45 minutes or more for their ride. This has long been recognized as a problem but now the L.A. City Council thinks they have a plan in place that'll make a difference. Will it? Plus, take a stroll through Ascot Hills with an LAist reader who explains why this place is her special place.
Guests: Ryan Fonseca, Associate Editor, Transportation and Mobility for LAist; Jessica Meaney, executive director of Investing in Place; Maria Patiño Gutierrez, LAist reader
How to LA is back at it, exploring the different neighborhoods that make up this beautiful city. Today we’re checking out Little Tokyo, where we’ll learn how its art, food, and community advocacy make it such a special place.
Guests:
Grant Sunoo, director of community building & engagement at Little Tokyo Service Center; Brian Kito, owner of Fugetsu-Do; Sharon Kamegai Cocita, director of development at Little Tokyo Service Center; and LAist reader Ryan Chu-Tachikawa
Los Angeles has a lot to offer when it comes to the outdoors. But here's the thing: if hiking or camping wasn't a part of your world growing up, it can feel a little intimidating to make the plunge. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is one of those Angelenos that didn't grow up exploring the outdoors... But that's all about to change at Debs Park, just east of the 110 near Montecito Heights.
Guest: Maricela (Marci) Rosales, Program Associate Director at the Conservation Lands Foundation
Black Market Flea is like a cross between an outdoor bazaar and a party. Sure, you can buy some cool vintage threads but it is definitely a lot more than a flea market and has become something of a community space for Black Angelenos. It's been going on once-a-month for a year now so the How To LA team went to check it out at the Beehive in South Central Los Angeles. More details are here.
Guest:
Aaricka Washington, Associate Editor, How to LA Newsletter
Growing up as a gay Filipino man in the 90s and 2000s with immigrant parents, Anthony Ocampo felt confused and alone. Now a professor and sociologist, he wrote a memoir exploring the challenges of discovering oneself in LA during that period. He joins HTLA host, Brian De Los Santos, to talk about what he's learned over the years – and, to give a preview of what's inside his new book: Brown and Gay in LA: The Lives of Immigrant Sons.
Guest:
Anthony Christian Ocampo, Professor of Sociology, Cal Poly Pomona
There are 1,900 monkeypox cases in Los Angeles County. Transmission rates are falling but this week the L.A. County Public Health Department confirmed the first death caused by the virus. Information about monkeypox is changing fast so host Brian De Los Santos checks in on the where things stand now -- and what people in high risk categories should know.
Guests:
Jackie Fortier, LAist Senior Health Reporter
Eric Pham, Palos Verdes resident
Janay Tate, Hollywood resident
Alma Backyard Farms in Compton is a lot of things to a lot of people. It grows fresh produce to sell to its neighbors, trains formerly incarcerated people to work the land, and teaches kids to garden and eat healthy meals. It brings the community together. During the dog days of summer, Brian De Los Santos and team went to see how it all works... and pick up some tomatoes.
Guests:
Erika Cuellar and Richard Garcia, co-founders of Alma Farms
Pacoima is one of the hottest neighborhoods in Los Angeles so some homegrown environmental activists are trying something new to mitigate the extreme heat: painting the pavement.
Guests:
Erin Stone, LAist Climate Emergency Reporter
Melanie Torres, Community Organizer with Pacoima Beautiful
Eliot Wall, General Manager for Street Bond-GAF
Hungry and looking for some inexpensive grub? Come along with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán as they go in search of cheap, fast eats in communities all over LA County. First up: some old school eateries in Pasadena.
For its size, Los Angeles is lacking in parks and other green spaces compared to other major cities. Meet one man who is on a mission to make a difference in some of L.A.'s most underserved neighborhoods - one tree at a time.
Guest: Aaron Thomas, Director of Urban Forestry for the non-profit Northeast Trees.
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
It's hot, Los Angles. We hear how people dealt. Plus, Chinatown is a food desert. The neighborhood is home to a lot of low income seniors and there is no local grocer that serves them. The new LA River Farmers' Market that opened up in nearby the LA State Historic Park hopes to fill some of the void.
LA Metro's long-awaited K Line will soon be ready to ride. Seven stops will open later this year, taking folks from Crenshaw to Inglewood and Westchester (sorry but that LAX stop will take a minute). We get the tea from residents and business owners who've been waiting on this train for a few years. Next stop: Mar Vista -- to go shopping at the farmer's market, one of more than 100 in the county.
California is in a drought -- again. L.A. has been facing water restrictions since June, and Angelenos have been a doing a pretty good job at conserving. The thing is, we gotta do more. It won't be easy, but we meet up with one long-time resident who shows us how it's possible.
Guest List: Erin Stone, Climate Emergency Reporter, LAist
Lynetta McElroy, Leimert Park resident and water conservationist
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
There's a lot you can learn by walking people's streets so How to L.A. will explore all the many neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Today, we start with West Adams, one of the oldest areas in LA. It also happens to be the neighborhood where HTLA host Brian De Los Santos grew up.
Guests:
Sandra Revolorio, West Adams thrift shop owner
Mario Luna, father and West Adams resident
Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
How to L.A. is the newest podcast from LAist Studios. Hosted by Brian De Los Santos, How to L.A. will show you how to make this city your own, in your own way... whether you’ve lived here a long time, or you just got here. We’re gonna explore LA’s neighborhoods… talk about food and how to get outdoors. We’ll also get into complex issues like homelessness, and gentrification. We’re gonna learn together what it means to be an Angeleno so you can better connect with this city, and with your neighbors!