PODCAST · news
Greater LA
by KCRW
Host Steve Chiotakis connects you to the people and places of Southern California.
Episodes
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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 explains why comedy is tougher than dramatic acting.…
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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 word scenes of LA. Punk rocker Keith Morris...
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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 resulted from the 1994 Northridge…
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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 begins on Jan. 17 at the Pasadena...
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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 offer warm welcomes and help to passengers. The Autry...
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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” is a new book about how LA is developing alternatives to getting...
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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 author. His latest novella, “The Reservoir,” is set in the early days…
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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 of color. And they don’t just use phone cameras....
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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 the animal a “public safety threat.” But locals and officials aren’t...
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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, so rock legend Alice Cooper spent $27,000 to buy an “O” to honor his friend Groucho Marx....
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‘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 adds a twist to the play. Vendors at DTLA’s Piñata District say people from as…
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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 arts fighters. A similar law has been in place for boxers since the early...
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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 locations, and labor researcher Saba Waheed says…
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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 affairs shares the company’s future plans.
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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 23 show at Disney…
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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. “Poster Child” is a new book that looks at his...
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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 your local thrift store, upcycle an imperfect...
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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 decrease stigma, highlight ableism, and create a more…
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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 fair on December 10 for its Re/Sound Festival. A new...
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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 safe haven for those in recovery. From a zookeeper he met on Twitter to...
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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 UCLA’s Alex Hall believes LA can still be turned into one of the…
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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 while hanging out with CSN&Y in the 1960s, and he’s sharing it all in...
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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 Poundstone has been making people laugh for over 40 years through her…
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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, and social studies curriculums. Los...
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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, and the implications of widespread data scraping....
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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, and writing songs for SZA's album “SOS.” He talks about collaborating...
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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 weekend is a perfect time to hike around…
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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 on a walk around the grounds to get some sights and sounds. UCLA...
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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 super good-looking men in LA. But that’s not the whole story.…
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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 instruments for LAUSD students for six decades....
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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 negotiations. A new exhibit at LACMA is displaying more than...
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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, LA Skins Fest has been offering a…
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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 smoldering a week after it ignited. Schools and parks are closed due to...
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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 hate — one of our most complex emotions — by way of...
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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.
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‘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 largest stained glass window. It’s chronicled in the...
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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 images detailing Nahua civilization from the Indigenous perspective....
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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 book called The Doors: Unhinged Jim Morrison’s Legacy Goes on Trial. Amateur...
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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 Forever Cemetery highlights decades of his queer, fetish,...
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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 in the country, and urban legend claims that it wouldn’t exist without a...
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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 Beyond Baroque Gallery in Venice features photography, poetry and a…
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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. This year’s theme, Hecho con Amor, celebrates the diversity of Latin...
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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 is holding a “Spooky Critter…
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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 police. Some community…
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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 Niño weather patterns will bring heavy...
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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 and...
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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 launch music programs at schools...
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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 chi classes, and more....
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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 Dodgers’ were eliminated in the first round, again. Along Beach...
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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 dying man. It’s also a finalist...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Host Steve Chiotakis connects you to the people and places of Southern California.
HOSTED BY
KCRW
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Greater LA have?
Greater LA currently has 921 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Greater LA about?
Host Steve Chiotakis connects you to the people and places of Southern California.
How often does Greater LA release new episodes?
Greater LA releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 921 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Greater LA?
You can listen to Greater LA on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Greater LA?
Greater LA is created and hosted by KCRW.
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