Yeah No, I’m Not OK - podcast cover

Yeah No, I’m Not OK

LAist Studioslaist.com

Growing up, I was taught to say that I was “ok” when I really wasn’t. Mental health just wasn’t something that anyone in my family or community talked about or even had access to. Yet pretty much everyone was affected by it. 

Today, young people of color are disproportionately affected by mental health issues and are not getting the resources they need, and I want to change that.  

And this is why this podcast exists.

Yeah No, I’m Not Ok, my new podcast made in collaboration with LAist Studios, is here to open up the conversation about mental health. Every week we will explore issues that youth face all over the world (addiction, depression, anxiety, suicide, radical self love, and much much more) through conversations with friends, colleagues, activists, artists and health care professionals, all people who have gone through something life-changing and are now healing from it. 

We want to start a mental health revolution. A movement that can start by talking about how we feel. One where we’re not ashamed of our own human experience. 

What will feel like simple conversations among friends will really become a complex narrative of what is happening right now, especially to young people of color. With a real and emotional sound and few easy answers, Yeah No, I’m Not Ok will hopefully become a critical show in a critical time, a place for you to bring your complicated feelings and spend time with people who are rooting for you.

– Diane Guerrero

This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

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Episodes

Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 4 - The Eagle Lovebirds

Jackie and Shadow are two beloved bald eagles who live in Big Bear, a ski town a couple hours northeast of L.A. They went viral in 2024, as people tuned in to a livestream of their nest to see if their eggs would hatch. Fans around the world became deeply attached to the lovebirds, obsessing over the couple’s devotion to each other and their eggs. For Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido, the story became personal when she also began her parenthood journey. Antonia explores how our relation...

Aug 14, 202425 min

Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 3 - The Bear Nuisance

The first deadly black bear attack in California’s history was confirmed recently in a small mountain town in Northern California. While wildlife officials say fatal bear attacks are rare, this recent death and growing encounters between bears and people underscore how high the stakes are as wild and urban worlds merge. LAist climate reporter Erin Stone takes a deeper look at bears through the lens of the mountain town of Sierra Madre, where she lives. Just 25 minutes from downtown L.A., the res...

Aug 07, 202445 min

Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 2 - The Coyote Villain

If the mountain lion is thought of as a celebrity, then, many would think of the coyote as a villain. LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin looks into why we vilify coyotes, what scientists actually know about them, and how they’ve adapted and thrived in some of the most urban parts of Southern California. Emily also explores the historic and cultural baggage that may inform people’s attitudes about coyotes. CONTENT ADVISORY: This episode includes details about a deadly coyote attack of a toddler. Gr...

Jul 31, 202445 min

Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 1- The Mountain Lion Celebrity

One of Hollywood’s recent celebrities wasn’t a person, but a feline. The famed mountain lion made headlines in Los Angeles and nationwide. He became a household name for making his home in Griffith Park, right in the middle of L.A. But the overwhelming support for P-22 wasn’t enough to save him. LAist Correspondent Jill Replogle looks into P-22’s stardom, people’s obsession with him, and what his story says about our ability to coexist with wildlife in a rapidly changing, increasingly urban worl...

Jul 24, 202446 min

Imperfect Paradise: Return from Mexico

In 2009, Gloria Arellano de la Rosa was banned from re-entering the U.S. for ten years, finding herself separated from her four children and husband. But unlike Daniel Zamora, she didn’t remake her life in Mexico. Every day she waited to go home to the U.S. Fernanda Echavarri tells the story of what happens when Gloria finally returns to the States and reunites with her family. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/parad...

Jul 10, 202442 min

LAist Studios presents Passing The Mantle: Is Gen Z less curious than the Baby Boomers?

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. In this first episode, Larry Mantle and his son, Desmond, 23, talk about their wide-ranging interests and shared drive to understand why things are the way they are, and discuss whether today's generation is as intellectually curious as Larry's peers in the 1970s. Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that...

Jul 08, 202416 min

Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico: Part 3

Unable to return to the U.S., Daniel Zamora struggles to build a life in Mexico, until a trip abroad suddenly upends his perspective. Lorena Ríos reports. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Listen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/reimagining-democracy or wherever you get your podcasts Support for this podcast ...

Jul 03, 202433 min

Introducing Passing The Mantle, from LAist Studios

Passing the Mantle is a new podcast from LAist Studios about family, curiosity and the things that change — and stay the same — across generations. It's co-hosted by Larry Mantle, host of LAist 89.3’s AirTalk , the longest-running daily talk show in Southern California, and his son Desmond Mantle. Even though Desmond is in law school pursuing a different career, he shares his dad’s fascination with the world and drive to understand why things are the way they are. Diving into topics like gender ...

Jul 02, 20243 min

HTLA Presents: How Not To Be Lonely: Part 8 - How Giving Back Can Make You Feel Less Alone

Part 8: How Giving Back Can Make You Feel Less Alone We're back with another installment of our How To Not Be Lonely In LA series. Today, we're talking about volunteering your time to a cause, and how doing so can make you feel a lot less alone. Call it selfish, but doing some community service is a really great way to create connections, broaden your perspective of life, and ultimately give you a greater sense of belonging. Producer Megan Botel is at Growing Hope Gardens in Santa Monica to get ...

Jun 29, 202417 min

Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico: Part 2

Daniel Zamora waits for the decision on his deportation appeal and has to figure out how to make a life in Mexico — find work, get an apartment. All the while, Daniel tries to keep up his cross-border relationship. Lorena Ríos reports. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Listen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/...

Jun 26, 202435 min

Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico: Part 1

Daniel Zamora took a roadtrip in 2011 that would take an unexpected turn to the Texas border. That detour would shatter the course of his life. Journalist Lorena Ríos reports. CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes mention of suicidal ideation. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers services to talk to a skilled counselor. If you are feeling distressed and need to talk to a counselor, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit https://988lifeline.org/ . Grow your business–no matter what...

Jun 18, 202436 min

LAist & NPR present 'Inheriting' Episode 1 - Carol & the Los Angeles Uprising: Part 1

Carol Kwang Park was 12 years old, working as a cashier at her family’s gas station in Compton, California, when the 1992 LA Uprising forever changed her life. Her mom was at the gas station that day and Carol was unsure if she’d even make it home. At the time, she didn’t understand why tensions came to a head in Los Angeles, following the acquittal of the officers who beat Rodney King. She also never understood why her mother insisted on keeping the business going, especially after the Uprising...

Jun 14, 202443 min

Imperfect Paradise: ‘Free the Tee’: Fighting Back Against LA Golf Course Scalpers

LA was rocked on March 4 when Dave Fink, a golf influencer, posted a viral video on Instagram detailing how brokers - largely using a Korean messenger app- were snatching up prime time tees at Los Angeles’ public golf courses and reselling them. Here’s how an unlikely crew of golf enthusiasts’ fight to keep golf in L.A. accessible and affordable is paying off. Host Antonia Cereijido reports. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHO...

Jun 12, 202444 min

HTLA Presents: How Not To Be Lonely: Part 7 - Looking For Community? Go Find Your 'Church'

Part 7: Looking For Community? Go Find Your 'Church' How To LA is back with our series on How NOT To Be Lonely in LA . Today we explore the connection between religion…or lack thereof…and loneliness. For decades, Americans relied on their church, temple or mosque, or other religious institutions, for a sense of built in community. But with more and more people disaffiliating from organized religion in recent decades — particularly since the 90s — we, as a society, haven't really found a replacem...

May 26, 202426 min

Imperfect Paradise: The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Bonus

LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin gives us insights into the making of The Gen Z Water Dealmaker series. In this bonus episode, Emily speaks with Luke Runyon, the co-director of The Water Desk at the University of Colorado-Boulder's Center for Environmental Journalism about how she thought through the series that follows the epic negotiation over the Colorado River's future during the current historic water crisis. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-mo...

May 25, 202438 min

HTLA Presents: Revival House: Part 9 - American Cinematheque's Year-Round Film Fest

Revival House says goodbye for now with a look at one of the biggest programming groups in town, the American Cinematheque. Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, screening 1500 movies a year in three iconic theaters across Los Angeles, the American Cinematheque has a movie for everybody, every night of the week. In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro jumps into the history of these movie theaters and this programming group to shine a light on a little L.A. moviegoing hist...

May 23, 202420 min

Imperfect Paradise: The Gen Z Water Dealmaker Part 4

Host Antonia Cereijido speaks with negotiations expert Victoria Medvec about how to make the best possible deal. Medvec also helps identify ways the Colorado River water rights representatives could still change tactics and reach an agreement before time runs out. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Listen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Ava...

May 22, 202425 min

Imperfect Paradise: The Gen Z Water Dealmaker Part 3

JB Hamby and the other lead negotiators on the Colorado River have to come up with a long term solution to manage the river in the face of climate change. Will they reach a deal before it’s too late? LAist correspondent Emily Guerin examines how JB's position on water has dramatically evolved since he first won office a few years ago. She brings us back to the current water negotiations as the conflict between the Upper and Lower Basins becomes very public, and JB struggles to convince Imperial ...

May 15, 202442 min

HTLA Presents: How Not To Be Lonely: Part 6 - Connect To Yourself — And Others — Through Dance

Part 6: Connect To Yourself — And Others — Through Dance We're back with another episode in our How Not To Be Lonely in L.A. series. Brian is out but, today, How To LA producer Megan Botel takes over the mic and explores these questions: What does it mean to connect to yourself, and why is it important for warding off feelings of loneliness? How do you do it? And in a group setting? One way is to do the things you loved as a kid and connect with that "inner child." For Megan, that was ballet, so...

May 11, 202418 min

HTLA Presents: Revival House: Part 8 - Movies Under — And Among —  The Stars At Hollywood Forever

Go back to the movies with us! It's heating up in the city, so Revival House continues with a classic of spring and summertime in L.A. — a film at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery. Run by Cinespia, you can picnic and catch a revival film on the iconic grassy knoll. What keeps people coming back year after year? What's the history of it all? Listen along to find out. Learn more about the cemetery tour here: https://www.cemeterytour.com/ Find more about Cinespia here: https://cinespia.org/ Guests: C...

May 10, 202420 min

NPR & LAist Studios present 'Inheriting'

Japanese American Incarceration. The Third World Liberation Front. The 1992 Los Angeles Uprising. What you think you know isn’t always the full story. Inheriting is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families that explores how the past is personal. Hosted by NPR’s Emily Kwong, we go deep with families on how their most personal, private moments are part of history. How can I support? Inheriting is entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of Inherit...

May 09, 20244 min

Imperfect Paradise: The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Part 2

JB Hamby is the dealmaker from California, and at 28 years old, he’s the youngest and least experienced among the representatives from the seven states involved with the Colorado River water negotiations. LAist correspondent Emily Guerin explores the beginnings of Hamby’s understanding of water growing up in the Imperial Valley, a desert farming area in California. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support f...

May 08, 202434 min

Imperfect Paradise: The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Part 1

The Colorado River is in the midst of one of the worst water crises in recorded history. Climate change and overuse are taking a significant toll. Seven states, including California, must compromise and reach a solution to prevent the river from collapsing. In late 2023, the tensions were running high between the major players in the water world as they convened at the annual Colorado River conference in Las Vegas. LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin was there, seeking to learn as much as she can a...

May 01, 202442 min

NPR Host Tonya Mosley on ‘She Has A Name,’ Reporting Her Family’s Own True Crime

She Has A Name is set against the backdrop of the drug epidemic in 1980s Detroit. The new podcast hosted by NPR's Tonya Mosley blends elements of investigative journalism and memoir to tell a story about loss and redemption, mending broken family ties, and the trauma experienced by countless individuals who've lost loved ones to violence. Listen to all episodes of She Has A Name from APM Studios and Truth Be Told Presents here . CONTENT WARNING: This episode of She Has A Name includes discussion...

Apr 24, 202455 min

Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 8

Part 8: Adolfo finds new information about the night Oscar died, and has to have a difficult conversation about what really happened to Oscar. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a p...

Apr 17, 202443 min

Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 7

Part 7: Adolfo learns about the dangers of Santa Barbara’s bluffs and gets a second opinion on Oscar’s death report. CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains discussions about fatal injuries and suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers services to talk to a skilled counselor. If you are feeling distressed and need to talk to a counselor, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit https://988lifeline.org/ . Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-...

Apr 17, 202439 min

HTLA presents: Revival House: Part 7 - The Long Road From Silent Films to Brain Dead Studios

Go back to the movies with us! We're still profiling LA's repertory theaters in Revival House cause there are SO MANY to check out! In this episode, we explore a cool space with some deep, messy history. Fashion label Brain Dead has taken over a site that some would consider....a little cursed. Originally opened in the 1940s as The Silent Movie Theater on Fairfax, the venue was home to premieres and parties. Until a theft and murder shut the theater down. In the 2000s, it was taken over by Cinef...

Apr 11, 202417 min

Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 5

Part 5: Was Oscar going to leave the Chicano student movement? Adolfo discovers new information about Oscar’s last months. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation f...

Apr 10, 202446 min

Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 6

Part 6: Adolfo reckons with his own relationship to his past and the Chicano student movement. And he finds someone who may have clues about what happened the night Oscar died. Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corpor...

Apr 10, 202433 min

HTLA presents: Revival House: Part 6 - The Academy Museum's Sister Cinemas

We're back with another episode of Revival House, but this time we're not heading to a 100 year old theater... The David Geffen and Ted Mann theaters at the Academy Museum of Motion Arts and Pictures are a new addition to L.A's revival programming. In this episode, we explore what the theaters, which only opened in 2021, have to offer our city's moviegoing landscape. And hopefully, we demystify what seeing a movie here is actually like! (Did you know that tickets are only $10? And no, they don't...

Apr 04, 202417 min
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