Greater LA

By KCRW

Local

What's Greater LA about?

Host Steve Chiotakis connects you to the people and places of Southern California.

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Greater LA episodes:

01.12.2024
How has LA homelessness changed in over 8 years?
KCRW’s departing reporter Anna Scott talks about the gains and setbacks in housing and homelessness — after eight years covering the beat. Zach Galifianakis talks about the nonprofit Comedy Gives Back , reflects on his own Hollywood career, and...
01.10.2024
Angelenos are crowding clown shows — ‘an act of counterculture’
When you hear the word “clown,” you probably picture a hacky kid’s entertainer. Well, a group of super-talented LA-based performers are trying to change that. The Broad’s “LA Intersections” is an upcoming festival-style exhibit of the music and spoken...
01.09.2024
Sale of Skid Row grocery store aims to bring racial healing
A convenience store in Skid Row is changing hands from the community-oriented Korean American family that runs it — to a Black-led nonprofit. “Existencia,” a new work by the experimental performance troupe Diavolo, explores the chaos and community that...
01.09.2024
Finding love and beauty at Mosaic Tile House in Venice
Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran have transformed their Venice home into The Mosaic Tile House, a living artistic tapestry reflecting their love story. Kate Berlant wants audiences to know that her semi-autobiographical show, “KATE,” is theater, not stand-up. It...
01.05.2024
Will ‘Ambassadors’ help LA metro riders feel safer?
Food journalist Mona Holmes discusses how the LA restaurant scene fared in 2023 and anticipates dining trends for the new year. In response to complaints about customer service and mass transit safety, Metro is hiring hundreds of people to...
01.04.2024
Forget Hinge and Tinder? LA singles try ‘Love Isn’t Blind’
At an East Hollywood bar, a once-a-month comedy show features four men competing for the heart of a bachelorette, as the host whips out jokes and games. “Renewing the Dream: The Mobility Revolution and the Future of Los Angeles”...
01.03.2024
Once-quiet landslide zone is starting to move. SoCal residents are worried
Last winter’s rains accelerated a slow landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes, leading to cracked homes and trail damage at a popular reserve. What will El Niño do? David Duchovny isn’t just an actor — he’s a musician, director and...
12.28.2023
Helpers replay special: Miracle Messages, Las Fotos, Underdog Community
For people experiencing homelessness, it can be tough to stay in touch with friends and family. The nonprofit Miracle Messages aims to make it easier. Las Fotos Project teaches photography to young women and gender expansive youth from communities...
12.27.2023
Animals replay special: Shrimp farming, bear boom, cats on hikes
TransparentSea Farm in Downey produces nearly 1 million shrimp a year. That’s great for some of LA’s top seafood restaurants, but how do the prawns feel? In sleepy Sierra Madre, an uptick in bears has spurred the city to declare...
12.26.2023
Replay: Looking back on 100 years of Tinseltown’s Hollywood Sign
This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Hollywood Sign. It’s been at the center of scandals, PR stunts, and more during its time perched up on Mount Lee. In 1978, the Hollywood Sign was in a sad state,...
12.22.2023
‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’: Failed film is hit theater show
Year after year, a Fullerton theater sells out a camped-up comedy about Santa Claus on Mars. The stage show is based on a 1964 B-movie. At least 15 productions of “A Christmas Carol” exist in SoCal, and each theater...
12.21.2023
LA Breakfast Club: ‘Everybody is on the same level,’ regardless of background
Since 1925, members of the Los Angeles Breakfast Club have been meeting bright and early to sing songs, solve puzzles, and eat ham and eggs. In 2024, a new California law will establish a retirement fund for mixed martial...
12.20.2023
For many LA Latinos, making tamales is core to the holidays
An affordable housing developer got $114 million from Gov. Newsom’s Homekey program. Now, with little to show for it, legal and financial problems are mounting . Federal labor regulators are looking to forcibly reopen six Los Angeles area Starbucks...
12.19.2023
Driverless cars: Is it safe to be a passenger?
Since October, the robotaxi company Waymo has been offering driverless rides in Los Angeles. Greater LA’s Steve Chotakis tried one out for himself. KCRW also looks at safety concerns of these vehicles, and Waymo’s head of city policy and government...
12.15.2023
Fake snow, ice rinks: Which LA areas are creating a white Christmas?
LA aficionados Patt Morrison and Fritz Coleman discuss where and how Angelenos can experience winter holiday charm despite the temperate weather. Musician Arturo Sandoval discusses what makes a Christmas song “swing,” his relationship with Dizzy Gillespie, and his December...
12.14.2023
Diamond Bakery, Jewish LA institution, closes after 7 decades
The Fairfax District’s Diamond Bakery, iconic to generations of Jewish Angelenos, closed this month after 77 years. Its recipes will live on. David Edward Byrd designed some of the most iconic psychedelic concert posters during the 1960s and 70s....
12.13.2023
Sustainable ideas for Christmas gifts, decoration, and food
As people look for eco-friendly solutions to non-recyclable wrapping paper, furoshiki, the Japanese art of wrapping packages in cloth, is becoming more widely adopted. Gifts for loved ones don’t have to be expensive or brand new. Consider buying from...
12.12.2023
CARE Court: Who is it for, how does it work?
Governor Gavin Newsom’s CARE Court, a new mental health program, opened in LA on December 1 to uncertainty, conflicting concerns, and high hopes. This fall, a new major is available at UCLA’s campus: Disability Studies. The aim is to...
12.08.2023
LA kids grow climate optimism through composting
A composting program at The Wesley School helps the planet, with an added benefit: teaching kids to be hopeful about participating in climate action. The nonprofit Street Symphony will turn Skid Row into a music festival and community resource...
12.07.2023
Cal State faculty strike for ‘dignified wages,’ mental health services
The one-day Cal State LA faculty strike is the third of four planned statewide this week. Sunset’s bright purple Cafe Tropical, which shut down suddenly last week, was known for its excellent Cuban food and its role as a...
12.06.2023
San Gabriel Mountains: Volunteers aim to reverse tourism-driven pollution
The San Gabriel Mountains are the largest open public space in Los Angeles, but some of the range’s most popular spots are covered in piles of trash. SoCal is experiencing more droughts, wildfires, and rising sea levels — but...
12.05.2023
Amid Gaza war, LA restaurateurs hope to bring unity through food
In a town like LA that takes its food scene seriously, local chefs say coming together and breaking bread has taken on new meaning as the war in Gaza continues. Musician and photographer Henry Diltz captured rock history magic...
12.01.2023
Volunteering on Skid Row — and across LA — during all seasons
Want to contribute on Skid Row? Missions need your help, and not just in December. The Mutual Aid LA Network provides a central hub where Angelenos looking to help can find the best volunteer opportunity for them. Paula...
11.30.2023
Less religious, more diverse: Today’s homeschooling movement
Homeschooling has long been common for religious families and those with aversions to public school, but the pandemic seems to have widened its appeal. A new law asks California schools to incorporate media literacy lessons into English, math, science,...
11.28.2023
TikTok’s ‘grocery goblin’ offers a guide to food stores in LA
Vanessa Anderson says grocery stores are “anthropological treasure troves” — which is why she’s trying to visit every single one in LA. Curator Anuradha Vikram talks about AI’s integration into labor and art, what the tech means for creativity,...
11.28.2023
Meet a modern-day falconer, one of a few hundred in California
Urban falconer Adam Baz has carved out an interesting career for himself and his four birds of prey in a city with a lot of pigeons and crows to chase. Rob Bisel has earned eight Grammy nominations for engineering, producing,...
11.22.2023
LA bakers sprint to meet Thanksgiving pie demands
Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest times of year for professional pie bakers. The hours are long and the payoff is big. We’ve all got family holiday traditions. Three KCRW listeners share their favorite unusual Thanksgiving celebrations. This holiday...
11.22.2023
Bees, spiders, ants: Harvesting big ideas from tiny creatures
Honeybees have long been the face of the “Save the Bees” campaign, but according to bee researchers at UC Irvine, they aren’t the only bees who need help. Zach Phillips, the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden’s “Bug Guy,” takes KCRW...
11.20.2023
Chinese American artist shares lifelong effort to unravel ‘cultural amnesia’
Larry Li was inspired to create “ Ask Your Ma About ‘89 ” after learning a harrowing story about how the Tiananmen Square protests affected his family. Free drinks, female attention, and fabulous parties are some of the upsides for...
11.16.2023
LA makes progress toward renewable energy goal
By 2035, LADWP plans to provide all power without coal or gas — just hydroelectric, geothermal, hydrogen, solar, and wind. They also vow no harm to low-income ratepayers. One workshop in Downtown LA has been tuning, restringing, and repairing broken...
11.16.2023
For below-the-line workers, when will work pick up?
Now that both the SAG and WGA strikes are over, how are below-the-line workers in Hollywood faring? Following big wins for SAG-AFTRA and WGA, members of IATSE — the union representing below-the-line workers — are preparing for their own...
11.14.2023
Book club spent 28 years reading ‘Finnegans Wake,’ they’re still confused
A book club that started at a Venice library in the 1990s spent almost three decades reading “Finnegans Wake.” Singer Engelbert Humperdinck’s new documentary premieres tonight in Hollywood, focusing on his career spanning more than 70 years. For 17 years,...
11.13.2023
Relief is on the way: LA Metro adds bathrooms, you'll need a phone
Metro is doubling the number of public bathrooms on train lines from three to six. Despite the urgent need, some commuters are complaining that they require a phone to use. The fire in Tustin’s WWII Navy blimp hangar is still...
11.09.2023
End of LA’s bail system draws applause and critiques
Weeks after the end of cash bail for non-violent and non-serious crimes, reformers and LA Superior Court say the system is working. But the change has its critics. For the past year, researchers at UCLA have been working to understand...
11.08.2023
Actor John Stamos on his most important role: dad
After 118 days, the Screen Actors Guild negotiators have unanimously approved an agreement with the studios. In “If You Would Have Told Me,” John Stamos talks about his Orange County childhood, Hollywood career, and fame's ups and downs.
11.07.2023
‘Ustedes no están detenidos’: LA groups welcome migrants from Texas
Since July, the state of Texas has sent nearly 1,000 asylum seekers to Los Angeles by bus. Local faith-based and non-religious groups are welcoming them. In 2016, Highland Park’s Judson Studios took on a years-long effort to create the world’s...
11.06.2023
Still no contract for Medieval Times union. What's taking so long?
Almost a year after forming a union, performers at Medieval Times have been unable to win a contract. Such delays are common — new unions can go years without progress. The Florentine Codex contains over 2,500 pages of text and...
11.02.2023
Electric v. gas cars: Strong opinions fuel CA drivers
One in four cars sold in California is now electric. EV drivers say switching saves money and the planet. Gas drivers are worried about running out of power. John Densmore, known as the Doors’ drummer, is out with a new...
11.01.2023
Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Life amid death is on full display
Hollywood Forever Cemetery is home to dozens of feral cats, peacocks, turtles, and fowl that provide visitors with an “antidote to death.” Where did they all come from? Rick Castro has been photographing since 1986. A new show at Hollywood...
10.31.2023
Celebrate Halloween with a real-life mummy, cursed park, and full-time witch
Elmer McCurdy had a troubled life and died in a shoot-out. His body got embalmed, became part of a traveling crime museum, then was bought by an amusement ride operator. LA’s Griffith Park is one of the largest urban parks...
10.30.2023
Vine to cafeteria line: Inside SoCal’s growing farm-to-school movement
California is investing millions to change the way kids eat at school. Learn how one SoCal program is turning kids on to fresh produce, one watermelon at a time. The Where Has All The (affordable) Housing Gone? exhibit at the...
10.26.2023
Thousands of Angelenos could see their rent jump 7% in 2024
Rent-stabilized tenants in LA could see an increase in February as high as 7%. Landlords say it’s necessary to keep up with expenses. The Museum of Latin American Art hosts its annual Día De Los Muertos festival on Oct. 29....
10.25.2023
How to have peaceful interfaith dialogue amid Israel-Hamas conflict
NewGround promotes relations and dialogue between Jews and Muslims in Los Angeles. The group calls itself “a convener.” running trainings and classes promoting interfaith engagement. LA is in the height of spooky (and spider) season, so the Nature Nexus Institute...
10.24.2023
Actors’ Gang: Decades later, punk rockers are still making theater accessible
The Actors’ Gang’s new show, “Methusalem,” is directed by Brent Hinkley. He and fellow co-founder Tim Robbins discuss the show and the group’s legacy. Measure J requires LA County to allocate funds to incarceration alternatives and community/youth programs, instead of...
10.23.2023
Will El Niño bring more rain this year? Either way, be prepared
Each week on KCRW’s The Anti-Dread Climate Podcast, hosts Caleigh Wells and Candice Dickens-Russel answer a listener’s environmental question and give advice on how they can help the planet. As SoCal looks to fall and winter, scientist predictions say El...
10.19.2023
Burbank’s ‘horror row’ celebrates Halloween year-round
Spine-tingling thrills, oddities, and costumes. A handful of small businesses in Burbank are keeping things scary beyond Halloween. The three co-directors of the 1980 parody film “Airplane!” recount their careers’ humble origins and the movie’s “endearing” comedy legacy. LA-based engineering...
10.18.2023
Absent LAUSD kids are trickling back to class. Thank attendance counselors
LAUSD student absences soared during the pandemic. Slowly, in large part due to school attendance counselors’ tireless work, kids are returning to class. Tom Morello, a political activist and Rage Against the Machine guitarist, is partnering with a nonprofit to...
10.17.2023
Aetna Street encampment residents say ‘Inside Safe’ hasn't worked as promised
The Aetna Street Collective came together three years ago to advocate for a tight-knit unhoused community facing harassment and street sweeps. Scribble , a Highland Park-based nonprofit, launched on Oct. 3 to provide affordable therapy, music shows, game nights, tai...
10.16.2023
Child-free and loving it: Meet these LA women
Three women in LA share their reasons to forgo parenting: more freedom, more travel, and more time to focus on their careers and passions. What’s up with the Dodgers? Despite winning 100 games during the regular season, again, the...
10.12.2023
Who gets priority for affordable housing? Mayor Bass has new rules
Unhoused Angelenos in temporary shelters will get priority for many city-funded affordable housing units — under policy shift enacted by Mayor Karen Bass. UCLA Professor Justin Torres’ new novel, Blackouts, is a “socratic dialogue” between an unnamed narrator and a...

What's Greater LA about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Greater LA episodes:

How has LA homelessness changed in over 8 years?

Angelenos are crowding clown shows — ‘an act of counterculture’

Sale of Skid Row grocery store aims to bring racial healing

Finding love and beauty at Mosaic Tile House in Venice

Will ‘Ambassadors’ help LA metro riders feel safer?

Forget Hinge and Tinder? LA singles try ‘Love Isn’t Blind’

Once-quiet landslide zone is starting to move. SoCal residents are worried

Helpers replay special: Miracle Messages, Las Fotos, Underdog Community

Animals replay special: Shrimp farming, bear boom, cats on hikes

Replay: Looking back on 100 years of Tinseltown’s Hollywood Sign

‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians’: Failed film is hit theater show

LA Breakfast Club: ‘Everybody is on the same level,’ regardless of background

For many LA Latinos, making tamales is core to the holidays

Driverless cars: Is it safe to be a passenger?

Fake snow, ice rinks: Which LA areas are creating a white Christmas?

Diamond Bakery, Jewish LA institution, closes after 7 decades

Sustainable ideas for Christmas gifts, decoration, and food

CARE Court: Who is it for, how does it work?

LA kids grow climate optimism through composting

Cal State faculty strike for ‘dignified wages,’ mental health services

San Gabriel Mountains: Volunteers aim to reverse tourism-driven pollution

Amid Gaza war, LA restaurateurs hope to bring unity through food

Volunteering on Skid Row — and across LA — during all seasons

Less religious, more diverse: Today’s homeschooling movement

TikTok’s ‘grocery goblin’ offers a guide to food stores in LA

Meet a modern-day falconer, one of a few hundred in California

LA bakers sprint to meet Thanksgiving pie demands

Bees, spiders, ants: Harvesting big ideas from tiny creatures

Chinese American artist shares lifelong effort to unravel ‘cultural amnesia’

LA makes progress toward renewable energy goal

For below-the-line workers, when will work pick up?

Book club spent 28 years reading ‘Finnegans Wake,’ they’re still confused

Relief is on the way: LA Metro adds bathrooms, you'll need a phone

End of LA’s bail system draws applause and critiques

Actor John Stamos on his most important role: dad

‘Ustedes no están detenidos’: LA groups welcome migrants from Texas

Still no contract for Medieval Times union. What's taking so long?

Electric v. gas cars: Strong opinions fuel CA drivers

Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Life amid death is on full display

Celebrate Halloween with a real-life mummy, cursed park, and full-time witch

Vine to cafeteria line: Inside SoCal’s growing farm-to-school movement

Thousands of Angelenos could see their rent jump 7% in 2024

How to have peaceful interfaith dialogue amid Israel-Hamas conflict

Actors’ Gang: Decades later, punk rockers are still making theater accessible

Will El Niño bring more rain this year? Either way, be prepared

Burbank’s ‘horror row’ celebrates Halloween year-round

Absent LAUSD kids are trickling back to class. Thank attendance counselors

Aetna Street encampment residents say ‘Inside Safe’ hasn't worked as promised

Child-free and loving it: Meet these LA women

Who gets priority for affordable housing? Mayor Bass has new rules