#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

#92: 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.

Now, it might not seem like an obvious place to connect with Latino and LGBT communities in L.A., but you might be surprised! When HTLA producer Victoria Alejandro took our host Brian De Los Santos to the theater's ¡Fiesta! puppet show, they were delighted by what they discovered. 

Bob Baker himself created ¡Fiesta! 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 continues to make an impact on audiences young and old across L.A. 

Guests: Daisy Hernandez, stage manager at Bob Baker Marionette Theater and co-director of ¡Fiesta!, and Karina 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

#5: 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 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