Greater LA

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Host Steve Chiotakis connects you to the people and places of Southern California.

KCRW


    • Jan 12, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 25m AVG DURATION
    • 924 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Greater LA podcast hosted by Steve Chio is a must-listen for anyone interested in the vibrant and diverse culture of Los Angeles. Each episode brings forth interesting content and knowledgeable guests, making it an informative and entertaining podcast.

    One of the best aspects of The Greater LA podcast is Steve Chio's ability to bring fascinating stories and conversations to the show. He consistently features guests who have unique perspectives on life in Los Angeles, providing listeners with an insightful look into various aspects of the city. Whether it's discussing local politics, cultural events, or personal stories, Steve always presents thought-provoking content that keeps listeners engaged.

    Another standout feature of this podcast is the work done by Steve's co-reporters. Their contributions, particularly in the OC reports segment, add another layer to the show. While it may not be something a listener would actively search for, these reports provide valuable information about neighboring communities and help foster a greater understanding of Los Angeles as a whole. The dedication to covering topics beyond just the main city allows for a more comprehensive exploration of the region.

    However, like any podcast, The Greater LA does have its drawbacks. One possible drawback is that occasionally some episodes can feel too focused on specific niche topics that may not resonate with all listeners. While these episodes may appeal to those with a particular interest in that subject matter, others might find themselves less engaged. However, this is a minor issue considering the wide range of topics covered overall.

    In conclusion, The Greater LA podcast stands out as an excellent source of information and entertainment for those curious about Los Angeles and its culture. With Steve Chio's refreshing perspective and his ability to bring together compelling guests and stories, each episode offers a delightful mix of deep heart and sharp wit. This podcast is a valuable resource for gaining insight into various aspects of life in Los Angeles while remaining entertaining throughout. Thank you to KCRW for producing such an engaging podcast!



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    Latest episodes from Greater LA

    How has LA homelessness changed in over 8 years?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 12, 2024 36:52


    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.  To mark Greater LA's last show, we re-air part of the first-ever episode, in which Steve Chiotakis visits a giant car shredder between the Ports of LA and Long Beach.

    Angelenos are crowding clown shows — ‘an act of counterculture'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2024 24:15


    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 speaks to the importance of LA music history. Gathering around the table for a meal can ease America's loneliness crisis, says Natasha Feldman, author of “The Dinner Party Project.”

    Sale of Skid Row grocery store aims to bring racial healing

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 24:47


    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 earthquake. In an era of “hurriquakes,” heat waves, and fires, The Academy Museum screening series “Beware the Elements! Natural Disasters on Film” looks at the real-world implications of disaster films.

    Finding love and beauty at Mosaic Tile House in Venice

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 24:37


    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 Playhouse. At Regen Projects in Hollywood, Catherine Opie's exhibition, “harmony is fraught,” features over 60 photographs of LA spanning three decades.

    Will ‘Ambassadors' help LA metro riders feel safer?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 5, 2024 24:38


    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 Museum's “Reclaiming El Camino” details the hardships Native populations faced under European settlement, and highlights Indigenous resistance.

    Forget Hinge and Tinder? LA singles try ‘Love Isn't Blind'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 24:05


    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 around by cars.

    Once-quiet landslide zone is starting to move. SoCal residents are worried

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2024 31:39


    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 of COVID in NYC. An OC congressional race in the upcoming elections could tip the political scales in the U.S. House of Representatives.

    Helpers replay special: Miracle Messages, Las Fotos, Underdog Community

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 22:35


    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. Underdog Community Project is a mutual aid group of volunteers and trained veterinarians who help unhoused Angelenos keep their pets happy and healthy.

    Animals replay special: Shrimp farming, bear boom, cats on hikes

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 27, 2023 24:37


    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 sure how to handle the ursine explosion.You often can't tell cats what to do, much less put leashes on them and take them on walks. But that's just what LA Times writer Lila Seidman did, and continues to do.

    Replay: Looking back on 100 years of Tinseltown's Hollywood Sign

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2023 25:07


    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. Other celebs followed. Artist Zach Fernandez marked California's marijuana legalization by turning the Hollywood Sign into “Hollyweed.” It was tough to pull off due to security around the sign.

    ‘Santa Claus Conquers the Martians': Failed film is hit theater show

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2023 22:24


    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 far as New York go there to buy supplies like corn husks and nativity scenes for Christmas.

    LA Breakfast Club: ‘Everybody is on the same level,' regardless of background

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 23:50


    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 1980s. U.S. Postal Service mail carrier Lesly Gonzalez works 10-hour days leading up to Christmas. Does the heavy workload dampen her holiday spirit?

    For many LA Latinos, making tamales is core to the holidays

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2023 25:04


    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 it just might happen. For many in the Latino community, the act of making and eating tamales offers a sense of togetherness during the holiday season.

    Driverless cars: Is it safe to be a passenger?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 24:48


    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.

    Fake snow, ice rinks: Which LA areas are creating a white Christmas?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2023 23:29


    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 Concert Hall.

    Diamond Bakery, Jewish LA institution, closes after 7 decades

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 24:59


    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 personal journey and many posters. At Lisson Gallery, Hugh Hayden's new exhibition features strange, surreal sculptures and photographs placed in bathroom stalls. It runs through January 13, 2024.

    Sustainable ideas for Christmas gifts, decoration, and food

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2023 23:59


    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 and pre-loved item, or make something by hand. And to further cut down on holiday waste, KCRW offers tips for sustainable decorations and the holiday dinner menu.

    CARE Court: Who is it for, how does it work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 25:04


    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 accessible world. After six years in Anaheim, Japanese baseball phenom Shohei Ohtani will play for the Los Angeles Dodgers after signing a 10-year, $700 million contract.

    LA kids grow climate optimism through composting

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2023 25:04


    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 exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum showcases the work of the trailblazing photographer “Kali,” whose psychedelic prints of SoCal life weren't appreciated until long after her death.

    kids climate optimism socal skid row composting street symphony palm springs art museum
    Cal State faculty strike for ‘dignified wages,' mental health services

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 32:27


    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 musician Phoebe Bridgers,Brandon Stosuy's latest book features 115 essays, poems, and stories on sadness and crying.

    San Gabriel Mountains: Volunteers aim to reverse tourism-driven pollution

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 24:29


    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 world's most sustainable megacities by 2050. The OC Hall of Fame's class of 10 includes a range of artists, athletes, and developers. Some of the inductees' ties to the county are loose, at best.

    Amid Gaza conflict, LA restaurateurs hope to bring unity through food

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2023 24:05


    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 his new photography book.

    Volunteering on Skid Row — and across LA — during all seasons

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 24:18


    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 stand-up, writing, and podcasting. The Angeleno is performing in Long Beach this Saturday.

    Less religious, more diverse: Today's homeschooling movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 24:41


    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 Angeles-based artist Kelly Akashi reflects on her Japanese American family history during World War II for an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

    TikTok's ‘grocery goblin' offers a guide to food stores in LA

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 24:49


    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. During the 1980s, ACT UP LA advocated for greater awareness of the AIDS epidemic. Now the organization is collecting 100 testimonies from its former members.

    Meet a modern-day falconer, one of a few hundred in California

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 24:36


    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 with the artist.Ownership of the Bolsa Chica Mesa, a six-acre plot of land just north of Huntington Beach, was transferred to native Tongva and Acjachemen tribes after ancient remains were found.

    LA bakers sprint to meet Thanksgiving pie demands

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 24:39


    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 LA due to cooler temperatures and red-orange autumn foliage. Cris Hazzard, aka The Hiking Guy, shows you where to go.

    Bees, spiders, ants: Harvesting big ideas from tiny creatures

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 25:03


    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 scientists say the way ants build their nests might help humans improve traffic and transportation logistics.

    Chinese American artist shares lifelong effort to unravel ‘cultural amnesia'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2023 24:48


    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. Germans founded Anaheim in 1857. Chinese immigrants then built much of the city and developed a bustling Chinatown district. Today, few remnants of Anaheim's historic Chinatown remain.

    LA makes progress toward renewable energy goal

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 25:03


    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. It's among the last of its kind. Jeff Boynton, a Highland Park native and lifelong artist, is a “circuit bender,” making music by toying with the circuitry of old electronic devices, like children's toys.

    For below-the-line workers, when will work pick up?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 24:37


    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 150 creations of textile art and modern abstraction that span over a century.

    Book club spent 28 years reading ‘Finnegans Wake,' they're still confused

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 25:04


    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 platform for Indigenous filmmakers from around the world to showcase their stories.

    Relief is on the way: LA Metro adds bathrooms, you'll need a phone

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2023 24:32


    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 asbestos in the ash and smoke. In “Keys to the Kingdom,” an eight-part audio documentary, co-hosts Matt Gourley and Amanda Lund highlight the lives of people who work as theme park characters.

    End of LA's bail system draws applause and critiques

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 24:19


    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 neuroscience, sociology, social media, music studies, and more. Comedian Alex Edelman has brought his one-man show, Just For Us, to LA for a limited run. It explores antisemitism, microaggressions, and so much more.

    Actor John Stamos on his most important role: dad

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 25:16


    After 188 days, some good news in Hollywood. 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.

    ‘Ustedes no están detenidos': LA groups welcome migrants from Texas

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 24:49


    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 new documentary Holy Frit. You often can't tell cats what to do, much less put leashes on them and take them on walks. But that's just what LA Times writer Lila Seidman did, and continues to do.

    Still no contract for Medieval Times union. What's taking so long?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 6, 2023 24:35


    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. It's available digitally thanks to UCLA and the Getty. In Santa Ana, a recall election to oust progressive Jesse Lopez is moving forward, despite being flagged for legal issues and a possible lawsuit from the councilmember should she lose.

    Electric v. gas cars: Strong opinions fuel CA drivers

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 32:12


    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 perfumers and nature lovers Jack Kelly and Natalie Coffen lead “scent saunters” through Griffith Park and Franklin Canyon Park. Enjoy the wild smells of LA!

    Hollywood Forever Cemetery: Life amid death is on full display

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 24:38


    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, and fashion images. LA bakeries are preparing “pan de muerto,” a traditional Mexican “bread of the dead” that's eaten to celebrate Día de los Muertos.

    Celebrate Halloween with a real-life mummy, cursed park, and full-time witch

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 25:01


    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 twisted 18th-century curse.  Sometimes called the “Pagan version of Halloween,” Samhain is a time to soothe and be soothed by the “unquiet spirits” of ancestors past. 

    Vine to cafeteria line: Inside SoCal's growing farm-to-school movement

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2023 24:48


    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 giant map to examine the policies that led to the removal of nearly 1,500 rent-controlled units in the beachside neighborhood. Despite Gov. Gavin Newsom's veto of the “Cannabis Cafe Bill,” West Hollywood lounge PleasureMed is reimagining the way users can experience cannabis, dining, and sex positivity.

    Thousands of Angelenos could see their rent jump 7% in 2024

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 25:07


    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 American cuisine. The nonprofit ActiveSGV's ArroyoFest will shut down six miles of the 110 freeway from Lincoln Heights to South Pasadena for cyclists and pedestrians on October 29.

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