J.T. the L.A. Storyteller

In our 60th episode, we’re joined by fellow L.A. writer and podcaster, Scott Frazier. Scott chats with us about none other than origins of the L.A. Podcast, the media landscape in Los Angeles today, upcoming elections for the city in 2022, whether he plans to run for the office of Council District 13, and more.Continue reading EPISODE 60 – SCOTT FRAZIER, LA PODCAST →

In our 59th episode, we have the privilege of speaking with Robert Chlala (@robertchlala), a final-year PHD candidate at USC’s Sociology department and graduate researcher at the college’s Program for Environmental and Regional Equity. Robert Chlala (shuh-ley-la) is a queer migrant, a Nichiren Buddhist, and a cannabis equity organizer from Los Angeles. We discuss Robert’sContinue reading EPISODE 59 – ROBERT CHLALA ON CANNABIS EQUITY IN L.A. →

In our 58th episode, we are honored to chat with Karen “Kiwi” Burch, as well as her sister Cheryl McDonald. The sisters tell us about their respective careers in education through and beyond Los Angeles, their parents’ profound influence on their education, and the diverse student population of Belmont high school as early as 1963.Continue reading EPISODE 58 – BELMONT HIGH SCHOOL IN THE 1960s →

Are you subscribed yet? Episode 5, titled “Locked Out! California’s Affordable Housing Crisis,” is based on a May 2000 report of the same name by the California Budget Project. We discuss sharp changes in California’s housing construction from the 1970s through the 1990s, as well as how the 2008 recession continues to impact the GoldenContinue reading EPISODE 5 – THE CALIFORNIA READER FROM PATREON THIS WEEKEND →

In our 57th episode, we hear from Roderick D. Hall (@RoderickDHall1), formerly with Abundant Housing L.A. and now at Pacific Urbanism, a research firm for community planners in Los Angeles. Listeners will remember Roderick from the Fight for Housing, our third panel for Making Our Neighborhood: Redlining, Gentrification and Housing in East Hollywood. For ourContinue reading EPISODE 57 – RODERICK HALL ON L.A. AS THE CITY OF THE FUTURE →

In our 56th episode, the LIVE recording of Samanta Helou-Hernandez and I’s special talk for Grand Park’s L.A. Voices, an annual festival celebrating L.A.’s prolific arts and culture scene with the city’s talent. Samanta and I interview each other to discuss “behind-the-scenes” notes for Making Our Neighborhood: Redlining, Gentrification and Housing in East Hollywood, includingContinue reading EPISODE 56 – GRAND PARK’S L.A. VOICES WITH SAMANTA HELOU-HERNANDEZ →

In our 55th episode, we chat with David de la Cruz, of the Koreatown area, on none other than Los Youngs going back to school this week, at least where David teaches at Young Oak Kim Academy. David completed his undergraduate degree at Cal State University, Los Angeles, and is now a first-year teacher forContinue reading EPISODE 55 – DAVID DE LA CRUZ ON LAUSD’S RETURN TO SCHOOL THIS SPRING →

In our 54th episode, we welcome Wendy Gomez, originally of the Silver Lake and East Hollywood area, to the pod! Wendy completed her undergrad studies at Dickinson College through the Posse Foundation, and is now studying domestic policy at none other than Princeton university. We talk about Wendy’s coming up through Los Angeles via schoolsContinue reading EPISODE 54 – WENDY GOMEZ, PRINCETON SCHOOL OF PUBLIC AND INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS →

In our 53rd episode, Lucine Poturyan, born and raised in East Hollywood and now an official District Representative of the East Hollywood Neighborhood Council, joins us for a galvanizing conversation. Lucine speaks with us about her time as a student at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, why she decided to run for a seat on theContinue reading EPISODE 53 – LUCINE POTURYAN, LITTLE ARMENIA, EAST HOLLYWOOD →

For our 52nd episode, we chat with Saba Waheed (@sabawaa) and Veena Hamparur (@ammalmani) of the UCLA Labor Center (@uclalabor) in MacArthur Park about Re:Work Radio (@rework_radio), a one-of-a-kind podcast and storytelling program by Saba and Veena centered on workers and worker’s rights in Los Angeles. Our talk is especially relevant for students and otherContinue reading EPISODE 52 – RE:WORK RADIO, UCLA LABOR CENTER →