#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

#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

#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. 

#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

#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

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 at you.

In this final 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."

Take a listen. 

#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

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.

#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 World at 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. 

#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

#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