J.T. the L.A. Storyteller

In our 68th episode, we chat with Kenny Uong, a Junior undergraduate student studying Metro and Urban Planning at Cal State Northridge, and one of the most recognizable figures for the urban planning community in Los Angeles today. Kenny and I discuss the roots of his passion for all things Metro, the importance of bus-onlyContinue reading EPISODE 68 – METRO’S NEXTGEN WITH KENNY UONG →

In our 67th episode, we chat with Hugo Soto-Martinez. Hugo recently announced his candidacy for the office of the 13th Council District at L.A. City Hall. In this interview, he describes his background as the son of two immigrants who worked as street vendors through South Central Los Angeles, his experience organizing with domestic andContinue reading EPISODE 67 – HUGO SOTO-MARTINEZ FOR CD-13 →

In our 66th episode, we chat with Eunisses Hernandez, the co-founder and executive director of La Defensa, a community-based organization dedicated to decarcerating the largest jail population in the U.S, that is, the L.A. County Jail. Eunisses and I delve into her upbringing in Highland Park, as well as how the Great Recession informs herContinue reading EPISODE 66 – EUNISSES HERNANDEZ, LA DEFENSA AND MEASURE J →

For those who search for and find their podcasts on Spotify, our first official trailer is now live! J.T.

Listen to barber and entrepreneur, Sergio Morales, describe his journey from work as a security guard in downtown Los Angeles for the BID (Business Improvement District), to opening up his own barbershop in Cypress Park, Los Angeles. Sergio also describes a new certification he just got for scalp micro-pigmentation. To get in touch with himContinue reading J.T. EXCLUSIVE: SERGIO MORALES ON FOUNDING HIS OWN BARBERSHOP IN CYPRESS PARK →

In our 65th episode, we chat with Nicole Santa Cruz (@nicolesantacruz), formerly of the Los Angeles Times, and now a reporter for underserved communities in the Southwest with ProPublica (@propublica). Nicole and I discuss none other than the LAT’s Homicide Report, for which she spent over eight years tracking homicides in L.A. County, attempting toContinue reading EPISODE 65 – THE HOMICIDE REPORT WITH NICOLE SANTA CRUZ →

In our 64th episode, we chat with the legendary “Cisco,” of the CBS graffiti crew in Los Angeles. Stefano Bloch is an L.A. native and the author of Going All City: Struggle and Survival in L.A.’s Graffiti Subculture. He is also a professor of cultural geography at the University of Arizona! An excellent discussion forContinue reading EPISODE 64 – CISCO, CBS CREW ON GOING ALL CITY →

In our 63rd episode, the tables are turned, as Sarah Syed, of the American Planning Association’s L.A. chapter interviews J.T. about growing up in Los Angeles and how it informs his current storytelling for Black and immigrant communities. Among other things, we discuss how homelessness in Los Angeles stems from planned investment against neighborhoods ofContinue reading EPISODE 63 – IF YOU’RE A PLANNER IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD →

In our 62nd episode, we link up with fellow writer, educator and community advocate, Nicole Banister, who is based in Cape Town, South Africa. Among other things, Nicole is the Founder and Commissioner of My Basketball Team, a new storytelling platform committed to demystifying and normalizing intimacy with sex positive stories submitted by people from allContinue reading EPISODE 62 – NICOLE BANISTER MAKES MY BASKETBALL TEAM IN CAPE TOWN →

In our 61st episode, we’re joined by LAUSD teacher, Nicole Gerron. Nicole and I talk about LAUSD’s progress in returning to the old routine over the last five weeks of the semester with students, as well as the district’s preparations for a full reopening in the Fall. We also touch on LAUSD’s food program forContinue reading EPISODE 61 – SOCIAL STUDIES WITH NICOLE GERRON →