#76: L.A. loves its lawns. And while a whole lotta you have transitioned to more drought-tolerant yards, there is still a lot of grass in front of most homes out there. Statewide, about half of household water usage goes to outdoor landscaping. AND to stay looking nice and green….lawns require more irrigation than any other agricultural crop. But how, in this desert climate of ours, did lush, green lawns become so popular? And how can we replace this water-guzzling crop with climate-appropriate ...
Mar 14, 2023•17 min•Ep. 76
BONUS: The Oscars are Sunday and, as an L.A.-focused show, we gotta get into it somehow, right? Our friends with LAist Studios' Academy Museum pod are gonna help us out. This episode looks back at the historic night in 2002 when Halle Berry became the first - and still only - Black woman to win the Academy Award for best actress. The category has been one of the least diverse acting categories in the history of the ceremony. For this reason and others, Oscars Night 2002 holds particular historic...
Mar 10, 2023•34 min
#75: LAX may feel like one of the more frustrating airports out there, but it really is the front door to this city. Yes, it's always jammed, always under construction... And getting out of there on a Sunday night can feel impossible. But today, we're gonna explore some of the things that make this airport an integral part of our home. LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernandez is taking you to the airport with producer Evan Jacoby to check it all out, and talk to employees and passengers about the...
Mar 09, 2023•17 min•Ep. 75
#74: At this point, we’re all well aware that climate change is an ever-growing threat to our lives and our environment. We’ve seen the mounting evidence over the years. All the scientific reports just seem be getting worse. The future — at times — looks grim. All this can lead to a phenomenon called “climate doomism.” It’s the narrative that the damage to our environment has been done and, really, there is nothing we can do about it. But this mindset is super problematic, and is making our envi...
Mar 08, 2023•17 min•Ep. 74
(Update) #25: Alright folks - Brian's out for a couple weeks on a trip of a lifetime. Check out the last episode in the feed if you want to hear all about it. Don't worry, we're gonna have two full weeks of fresh new episodes for y'all. But to kick the week off, we're revisiting an episode from last fall that is just as relevant now as it was then... With a new special election to replace Nury Martinez in City Council District 6. To follow the election and the candidates, check out this article ...
Mar 07, 2023•11 min•Ep. 25
BONUS: Hey everyone, this is Brian De Los Santos. We want to introduce you to a new podcast from our colleagues at LAist Studios: California Love - K-Pop Dreaming. It’s all about the rise of K-pop and its told through the lens of the Korean diaspora in LA, so we know you’ll love it. K-pop Dreaming is hosted by Vivian Yoon, a Korean American actress and writer. Take a listen.If you want more, take a listen to additional episodes here: https://laist.com/podcasts/california-love This episode is spo...
Mar 03, 2023•18 min
#73: California is home to around 2 million undocumented people. And in Southern California, roughly 80,000 of them have DACA, Deferred Action Childhood Arrival (although some stats put that number higher). It allows people to get a work permit, to pay in-state tuition, and to get a drivers license. But there are a lot of freedoms it doesn't grant, like freely traveling outside the US. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos has had DACA for about a decade. He recently got approved to do something big: he...
Mar 02, 2023•33 min•Ep. 73
#72: There's nothing quite like al fresco dining on a warm L.A. day. Ever since the pandemic, we've got a ton of places to do that all around the city, thanks to some restaurant hustle and quick action from the city to turn parking spaces into outdoor dining areas. But now our beloved parking lot patios are at risk – IF a proposed city ordinance is passed. How To LA's Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist's Gab Chabran about what's at stake for restaurant owners and diners, and what can be done to ...
Mar 01, 2023•9 min•Ep. 72
#71: The devastating quake in Turkey was a stark reminded - yet again - that the Big One is coming. L.A. could get get hit with a similarly sized quake any time within the next 30 years. Maybe even tomorrow. Preparing for such an event may seem overwhelming (or like the LAST thing on your to-do list) but we're here to show you it's not so hard to do (and might even be fun!). A trip to Smart & Final (or Costco or Wal-Mart) can set you up with what you need. Maybe REI for a few extras. Join Ho...
Feb 28, 2023•16 min•Ep. 71
#70: L.A. is bracing itself for a serious cold front, with temperatures 10 to 20 degrees below normal. There's gonna be hail, tons of rain, and even snow. The mountain ranges could get as much a 7 feet but it's expected to snow at much lower elevations than usual. But don't worry - as the temperature drops, the HTLA team has you covered with a bunch of great take-out options to keep you feeling nice and cozy.
Feb 24, 2023•12 min•Ep. 70
#69: We're back with another edition of How I Got Started – the segment where L.A.'s movers and shakers join us to demystify exactly how they got to where they are in their field. This time, Brian De Los Santos is sitting down with a legit changemaker: Yolanda Davis-Overstreet. She's a mobility justice strategist responsible for getting crosswalks and bike lanes installed in her neighborhood of West Adams, and putting a big spotlight on road safety in L.A. – one the deadliest cities in the natio...
Feb 23, 2023•11 min•Ep. 69
#68: The How to LA team is checking out yet another neighborhood: Mid-City. Listener and TV producer Nisa Ahmad answered our call about what area of L.A. we should visit next and her love of this neighborhood lured us in. Officially, L.A.'s Mid-City region is bound by Pico and the 10 Freeway to the north and south, Crenshaw and Robertson to the east and west. Still, the EXACT area is a little squishy for some. Wherever it is, it's got a lot going on. Join us as we learn about what makes this pla...
Feb 22, 2023•14 min•Ep. 68
#67: When people think Los Angeles, they don't exactly think soul food. But this city actually has a rich (and delicious) soul food scene mostly in South LA. In this episode, we explore the origins of this epic cuisine, and how it plays a huge role in preserving Black history and culture. We visit South LA soul food staples Serving Spoon in Inglewood, and Mama's Chicken in Hyde Park. Guests: Christopher Carter, food and racial justice professor and author of the Spirit of Soul Food ; Karen "Mama...
Feb 16, 2023•16 min•Ep. 67
#66: On certain holidays – like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day – flower vendors are out in force on the streets of LA, selling all sorts of goodies on corners, major boulevards or at the end of freeway off ramps. But what does it take to make that hustle happen? How did they get there? And do they make much money doing it? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and the team spent the day finding out.
Feb 15, 2023•7 min•Ep. 66
#65 It's not easy to find love in the big city but it DOES happen. In this episode we hear from YOU, Angelenos who found love in LA -- love for their partner, love for their friends and, most of all, love for this wild and expansive place we call home. Take a listen.
Feb 14, 2023•11 min•Ep. 65
#64: It's HTLA's first live special! Brian De Los Santos is teaming up with LAist food editor Gab Chabran at the Crawford Family Forum to interview some of their favorite Cheap Fast Eats chefs from the downtown episode. They'll explore what it's like to run a kitchen in downtown LA, how they survived the pandemic, their favorite things to cook, and much more. Don't miss the next live event! If you're signed up for our newsletter, you'll be the first to know where to buy your tickets. Check it ou...
Feb 09, 2023•58 min•Ep. 64
#63: Ever wonder why certain things in LA work the way they do? Well, we've got you covered. This is our new segment, LA Explained, with Caitlin Hernández. They'll be joining us to answer YOUR questions about this city. Up first: How do LA's streets get their names? Guests: Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist; Mark Tapio Kines, writer of LA Street Names. Check out Mark's website: LAstreetnames.com Also, take a look at Caitlin's article on LAist: Why Does LA Have So Many Roads With...
Feb 08, 2023•15 min•Ep. 63
#62: If you’re like a LOT of California residents, you spent way too much on your natural gas bill for January. The price to heat your home has been kind of out of control… like three times what people typically pay each month. Governor Gavin Newsom is actually calling for an investigation into why it's been so high. Now, the good news is the price spike is expected to fall for February. But prices are still WELL above what they were last year. Today, we're explaining why gas prices went soaring...
Feb 07, 2023•13 min•Ep. 62
BONUS: Hey, How To LA listeners, this is Brian De Los Santos. We're doing something a little different and bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast Code Switch . My colleague Josie Huang is talking to one of their hosts about the mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, and what it says about the dark side of the Asian American dream. I hope you like it.
Feb 03, 2023•36 min
#61: Remember those intense storms in early January? L.A. County said it captured some 33 BILLION gallons of stormwater to use later and support about 800,000 households a year. It's an important step to help us get through the drought years. But that awesome number is less than 20% of the total rain water. The other 80% washed right out to sea. Today we're explaining why that is... and what the county is doing to improve. We're also checking out a success story in a neighborhood park in South L...
Feb 02, 2023•13 min•Ep. 61
#60: It's been a little more than a week since a shooter killed 11 people at the Star Dance Studio in Monterey Park. The grief and the sense of shattered security won’t go away easily – if ever – but the healing process has begun. At vigils and Lunar New Year Festivals, communities of the San Gabriel Valley came together to mourn those who died and to celebrate life. So we were there...to capture and understand this healing process from the community level.
Feb 01, 2023•12 min•Ep. 60
#59: The deadline for ending COVID-era eviction protections got pushed...and pushed again. Now the deadline is at the end of March. Unless, of course, L.A. County officials punt it one more time. There's been a lot of confusion out there about what's going on. Landlords are angry. Tenants are scared. Brian De Los Santos talks to LAist Housing Reporter David Wagner about how we got to this point, and what might happen next. If you are looking for some answers, we got some here. Plus, David has wr...
Jan 31, 2023•15 min•Ep. 59
#58: LAist Food Editor Gab Chabran and HTLA Host Brian De Los Santos are at it again, eating everything in sight that's good and cheap. This time they're hitting up Culver City - a city steeped in moviemaking history that is very much part of LA but with its own personality. It's kinda like where urban meets suburban, and where there is a lot of good grub. Featured restaurants: Empanadas Place, Jasmine Market & Deli, Sexy Beans. Check out Gab's full article here: https://laist.com/news/food/...
Jan 27, 2023•16 min•Ep. 58
#57: New Year, New You, right? Whatever self improvement goals you've set for yourself this year, life is still stressful - work pressures, family commitments...not to mention natural disasters, political strife and world crises that you literally have no control over. Well, we want to offer a little respite. Los Angeles actually has a lot to offer in terms of quiet places to walk or meditate that could bring a little peace to a hectic day or week. We are not mental health experts so we are just...
Jan 26, 2023•14 min•Ep. 57
#56: Following the mass shooting in Monterey Park, a lot of focus has been placed on the mental health of people in the larger Asian American Pacific Islander community. The realization that the suspected shooter in this case -- and in another recent incident in Half Moon Bay -- was an older Asian man, a senior citizen, has brought about a closer examination of the generational divide in the AAPI community when it comes to one's mental health and a willingness to see help. How to LA host Brian D...
Jan 25, 2023•12 min•Ep. 56
#55: A mass shooting sent shockwaves through the Asian American community of Monterey Park on the eve of Lunar New Year. Eleven people have died, and more are still being treated for their injuries. The tragedy left residents wondering how such a horrible event could happen in an otherwise idyllic example of what an immigrant enclave can be. Today on HTLA, we want to take some time to talk about the history and cultures of Monterey Park. Guests: Josie Huang, Asian American communities reporter f...
Jan 23, 2023•15 min•Ep. 55
#54: The City of Angels is made up of some pretty exciting people, from all sorts of backgrounds with all kinds of interests. This year, we're putting the spotlight on some folks we think you should know about... and demystifying how they got to where they are in life. From musicians and writers to changemakers and activists, we’re sitting down with some dope Angelenos and getting INTO it in our new segment, “How I Got Started.” This first chat is with the fabulous Ashley Ray. She’s a stand-up c...
Jan 19, 2023•14 min•Ep. 54
#53: We've had record rain in California since the start of the year, brought on by atmospheric rivers and bomb cyclones. There's been massive flooding and at least 19 deaths in parts of the state. It's got people talking about whether this is just what normal is supposed to look like after years of drought, or if all these back-to-back storms really were some sort of natural abnormality. How much does this have to do with climate change, and can we expect this extreme weather more often from no...
Jan 18, 2023•12 min•Ep. 53
#52: For our first episode of 2023, HTLA is headed back to our roots: exploring LA's neighborhoods. This stop? Fairfax – one of the oldest AND newest neighborhoods in Los Angeles. From Canter's Deli and a handful of remaining Judaica stores, to RipNDip and Supreme, this is one of those neighborhoods that's got something for everyone. So join host Brian De Los Santos as HTLA listener Patrick Vukovich takes him on a tour of the district and its history. Guest: Patrick Vukovich, television producer...
Jan 17, 2023•15 min•Ep. 52
#51: Kenneth Mejia made history this fall when he was elected as the first Asian American controller in L.A. He's young, 32. He has corgis, rides a scooter, and has been painted as a leftist. In other words, he comes off kinda cool...for an accountant. Mejia joins a couple of other political newbies who rode a progressive wave into office this year. But L.A. needs some work. How will he and some of the other new folks work with everyone else to get things done, and make some change? Guests: Kenn...
Dec 23, 2022•16 min•Ep. 51
