Long Beach Business Podcast

A new coronavirus, COVID-19, has dominated the headlines in recent weeks. With new cases reported across the nation and in the state of California, we asked MemorialCare Chief Medical Officer Dr. James Leo what companies can do to minimize the risk to their business and prepare for the outbreak's broader impacts.

An unincorporated, working class community in Los Angeles County until 1968, Carson has long been overshadowed by its larger neighbors. Last year, the city hired its first female city manager, Sharon Landers, who came into the Long Beach Business Podcast studio to talk about her vision for the city, her experience working in diverse communities like Carson, and her plans to make the city more business-ready.

The Long Beach Business Journal, founded by George Economides in 1987, has been sold to Pacific Community Media, owner of the Long Beach Post. Long Beach Business Podcast host Alena Maschke sat down with the Journal's new publisher, David Sommers, to discuss what's in store for the publication moving forward.

Once struggling to attract shoppers and diners, Alamitos Bay is welcoming several new developments that could finally turn the tide on economic development in the area. The Long Beach Business Journal spoke to contributing writer Michael Gougis and San Pedro Fish Market Owner Michael Ungaro to learn more about the past, present and future of Alamitos Bay.

In this interview with the Long Beach Business Podcast, the newly-elected 1st District councilmember talks about her political ambitions, and what it's like to be both marginalized and a part of the establishment.

For the last episode of 2019, the Long Beach Business Podcast visited two of Long Beach's most well-known Christmas tree lots to talk competition, tree trends and family anecdotes.

All along the Anaheim Street corridor, new businesses are sprouting up. This is especially noticeable on the corridor's western portion, where historic homes eventually give way to industrial warehouses before the street meets the Los Angeles River. Here, new businesses have begun to fill once-vacant buildings and bring new offerings to the neighborhood. We met with The Hawk's Kyle Flavin and Long Beach Rising's Grayston Leonard to discuss the "renaissance" of Anaheim Street.

The number of seniors experiencing homelessness in Long Beach has increased by 20% since 2015. We spoke to Long Beach residents who have experienced homelessness in the later stage of their lives as well as the people providing services to this vulnerable population, to find out what's driving the trend and how it can be stopped.

A recent slew of severe and sometimes deadly lung injuries associated with vaping has led to bans on some or all vaporizers and e-cigarettes in cities and states across the nation. We spoke to 3rd District Councilmember Suzie Price, who has proposed a ban on flavored vaping products, as well as pulmonologist Dr. Fady Youssef and vape shop owner Nels Hansen to learn more about vaping and what can be done to keep the community safe.

With the state and federal governments at odds over emissions standards in California, the Long Beach Business Podcast is taking a look at efforts to reduce pollution caused by drayage trucks and asking the experts: what's next?