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When Sarina found Stephanie Pao on social media, she knew she had to interview her. Stephanie has the job we all want—she owns a bookstore on wheels. La Fleuria is L.A.'s first mobile romance bookstore, and we are here for it. Tune in to hear our interview with Stephanie. We're discussing how she got this idea, where she turned for advice, and how she figures out what to stock and where to park La Fleuria!Show links include: #YouAndYourBookstore episode with Mary Laura PhilpottLa Fleuria book truckStephanie on InstagramStephanie's LinktreeLa Fleuria's popup schedule Thrown for a Loop, Sarina's upcoming release (pub date 11/4/25)TropeTruck, a book truck whose owner generously contributed knowledgeIngram, the wholesale bookseller we discuss in some detail (because Jess needed to understand how this bookseller access to indie authors works!)Books Stephanie recommends and loves to sell at La Fleuria:Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry (La Fleuria's #2 bestseller!)Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana ZapataHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the #AmWriting Podcast.I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her, I begged her, if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast.So while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process, from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry, she knows very little about how one goes about writing a book—so essentially, this is as I mentioned before, from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there.But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether after this book she ends up having a speaking career, this is about the process of preparing to do that. I hope you'll join us.This series is for supporters only, so if you are a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get the ability to submit for our First Pages Booklab, and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters—So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Transcript below!EPISODE 457 - TRANSCRIPTJess LaheyHey, Jess here to talk to you about a new series I have created just for supporters of the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. I met an aspiring author and speaker who has an idea for a book that just knocked me over. I said, please, please write that book. This is someone who had an idea that it has a place in the market. It's timely. She's the perfect person to write it, and I asked her—I begged her—if I could please mentor her through this process publicly on the podcast. So, while we're not giving her full name and we're not giving the actual title of the book, because we don't want to hand those things away, I am coaching her through the entire process—from preparing her book proposal to querying an agent. I'm going through the whole thing with her. She knows nothing about the publishing industry. She knows very little about how, you know, one goes about writing a book. And so she essentially—this is, as I mentioned before from soup to nuts, From Authority to Author, and hopefully we'll get her there. But really, whether or not this book ends up selling, whether this book—she ends up having a speaking career—this is about the process of preparing to do that. How do you write a book? How do you prepare to become a speaker on the back of that book? So I hope you join us. This is a series for supporters only. So if you are a free supporter, or if you're a free subscriber right now, consider upgrading. Remember, if you upgrade, you'll also get access to the ability to submit for our First Pages Book Lab and lots of other fun stuff that we put out just for supporters. So come join us. It's a lot of fun.Multiple Speakers:Is it recording? Now it's recording, yay. Go ahead. This is the part where I stare blankly at the microphone. I don't remember what I'm supposed to be doing. All right, let's start over. Awkward pause. I'm going to rustle some papers. Okay, now one, two, three.Jess LaheyWelcome to the Hashtag AmWriting podcast. This is the podcast about, oh, writing all the things—the short things, the long things, the nonfiction, the fiction, the poetry, the book proposals, the agent queries—all the things. In reality, though, this podcast is about two things. It is about getting the work done, and flattening the learning curve for other writers. I'm Jess Lahey. I am co-hosting today. I am the author of The Gift of Failure and The Addiction Inoculation, and you can find my journalism at The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The Atlantic.Sarina BowenAnd I'm Sarina Bowen. I am the author of many romance novels. My next one is called Thrown for a Loop and it's coming from Forever in November, and I could not be more excited. And it is in the vein of romance, publishing, and readership that I have invited a guest to talk to us today because she has done something so outrageously cool that I needed to hear more in person. So please welcome Stephanie Pao, who has started Los Angeles' first romance book truck. She's become a bookseller, and I am here to hear all about it. Welcome, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoHi, thank you so much for having me.Sarina BowenMy pleasure. If you wouldn't mind, I would love to hear—how did this happen? Like, how did you decide that the world needed a book truck? Because that is just a cool idea and I never thought of it. And like, so how did you decide to actually make it a thing? And what did you do?Stephanie PaoYes, okay. The idea actually came to me—I lived by the beach, so I was walking by the beach and I saw a vintage Volkswagen truck for sale, and I just couldn't get it out of my mind. It isn't the truck that I have now, but I kept thinking, what could I do with it? And I've always loved books—romance in particular—and I've been looking for something that I could do that kind of took my previous experience, which is marketing, but melded it with something I really enjoyed. And I just thought maybe I could start a book truck. And I started to do research and I saw that there are many book trucks across the country. At the time, I think maybe there was just one or two romance ones and I was lucky enough to be able to speak with someone who had a romance book bus called Trope. She has a bookshop now and she really gave me a lot of confidence that I could probably do this too. I ended up taking a course on bookselling and started looking for a truck. The truck I ended up finding was actually the first truck I found on Facebook Marketplace. The man who was selling it had completely restored it. And he was so excited that I wanted to do this book shop in a truck idea, that he actually helped me and designed all the shelves, and he built it, and he didn't charge me for it.Sarina BowenOh my goodness!Stephanie PaoYeah. So it felt very serendipitous and almost meant to be. And now it's been like two months and I'm having so much fun.Sarina BowenWow. Wow. Oh my goodness. I feel like you should be teaching a class on how to live, right? You're like, "I'm good at this thing, but I'm really interested in this other thing, and I'm going to stick them together and it's going to be great."Stephanie PaoYeah, I feel like it was a little bit of like manifesting, I guess.Sarina BowenWell, wow, that's so great. So how many books does your truck hold at once? Like, what is the size of your store?Stephanie PaoYeah, so it holds about 350 books, and I've taken to also stacking books on top to display my favorite books. So I think it might hold almost 400.Sarina BowenOkay. And so of course, when we think about the bookstores that we grew up going to—you know, there are these giant cavernous Barnes & Nobles, there are smaller independent bookstores—and they're all numbering in the thousands. But by specializing in a category that you really love, like suddenly 400 is you know, it's a workable amount for what romance readers might be looking for on any given day. So, but still, there's a lot of good books in the world. How do you choose?Stephanie PaoYeah, I do a mix of like books that I've read and loved. I have been a voracious reader—I've read my whole life—but I've been a voracious reader for a couple of years. I also do a lot of books that I get recommendations from friends or that I just see are very popular online. So I think people will want to find those, but I think it is hard. I'm still figuring out the right balance of what types of romance to carry.Sarina BowenRight. Right. Because we all have our favorite you know, parts of the genre and they might not be the ones that are killing it.Jess LaheyBut the thing that I'm really excited to hear about is the thing that I love so much about independent booksellers. I get a sense for the bookseller when I go to the bookstore. Like, there are certain bookstores I rave about not necessarily because they're huge, not necessarily because they're beautiful—but because I can tell that when the bookseller recommends something to me; I know who that person is. Or I know the sense of the curation at the store. And that excites me because I feel like I'm in capable hands. So I'm really curious—especially to hear about your curation, and how you decide what you're going to carry—and then I'm also, and I know Sarina is going to ask this question, but in my head, I'm like, how do you find your readers? That's the part I'm so excited to hear about. Like, how do you know where to go? How do the people find you? Because I think that's the magic—is connecting the people with the books. And that's what I feel like a really great curation does. It says, "If you like this, try this," or, "Oh, you're new to this genre? Let me tell you where you should start with this genre." That's what's magic to me about independent booksellers, and the idea of you getting to do it in a very concentrated way with a particular genre is just—it makes me so happy. I'm just so happy you're out there doing this, Stephanie.Stephanie PaoThank you.Sarina BowenSo one time I was reading the listing of a literary agent, I think, and somebody had said, "What do you like about this job?" And the agent said, "I get to invest in my own taste." And I thought that was a really interesting way of looking at her job—but also of your job as well. And before we get to “How do you find the readers?”—because that is a really important chapter of this conversation—I just, from the listener standpoint: are you constantly deluged by authors who are like, “Pick me, pick me”? Like, what would you tell an author who is trying to navigate the bookselling world? What have you learned about your end of being a bookseller that an author might need to hear?Stephanie PaoYes. Okay. So first I want to say, like the curation part—My like number two best seller is actually an indie author's book who I love, and I can see from the book selling, like software that I use, that I'm the only bookstore of the 200 plus bookstores that carry her book, and it's the second best seller for me. Like. I've sold over 30 copies in like two months. So I think it really is like the passion of the bookseller, and I have had quite a few authors reach out to me, and they'll come to events. And I feel like it's, I don't have a good process on how I'm vetting all the authors, but I think it's like, if we make a personal connection, I will try to go out of my way to like read their book, because we've connected in some way, and I love reading, and I just feel like because we've like, either met in person or we've exchanged nice messages on social media, it does make me want to read someone's book more, because I have that personal connection, which is probably how people feel when they go shop at an indie books, or they have the personal connection with, like, a bookseller. So I think that's very similar. Um, I had people like, bring me their books, which does make it easier for me to, like, already have it ready. I don't have to look it up to read it or remember to look it up as well, but I know that, like, probably has a cost to it as well. But I had someone just bring me an F1 romance book yesterday at one of my pop ups, and I've been on an f1 kick. I don't know if she noticed that from my personal social but, like, I am very intrigued already, and now I have itSarina BowenThat's so lovely.Jess LaheyFor the listeners out there who are interested in this very specific topic, in our show notes I'm going to link to an episode we did with Mary Laura Philpott, who used to be at Parnassus, about making connections with booksellers. Because there are things you can do to go out of your way—before your book comes out, or when your book is coming out—to say, “Hey, I have this book coming out, would you be interested at all in getting a copy?” So it's something that can happen that authors can work on. And I'm going to definitely drop the link to that episode in the show notes.Sarina BowenYeah. I had this earlier this year. I was noticing—I started keeping track of how many romance bookstores are in the world. And now I have a list of 60, more than 60. And for a little while, when one just sort of popped up in my social, I was writing an email—because authors get a lot of publisher copies, you know, and sometimes after the launch of the book we end up with a box of like 15 copies still sitting here—and I was sending an email like, “Congratulations on your new store! That's amazing. Can I send you a signed author copy? Because I just have them here. It's a gift.” And the uptake of that is, you know, almost 100%. But I don't ever want to presume that a bookseller wants a copy, you know, unless I check first, because that just seems cheesy. You know, it's, it's, it's hard for authors to know, like, how to be a good partner and not irritating. And anyway, I just thought, you know what your thoughts about that are?Stephanie PaoYeah. I mean, I think for me, like, I am a new store and, like, a single-person business. So anyone that reaches out to me, I'm like, “Oh my gosh, what do you mean? How do you know about me? Why would you want to send me something?” So I'm sure, like, the like, weariness goes both ways, where we are, like, we're also—a lot of people are, like women—or maybe like, not used to promoting themselves more. So I think, like, just shoot your shot. I have an event coming up at like, a big, like, kind of mall, and they said they don't really do things like that with partners like this, but they were impressed that I shot my shot. So I have like, a summer series with them, and I think it's the same for, like, promoting your own book.Sarina BowenYeah, I guess this whole conversation is an exercise in trying.Stephanie PaoYeah, like the worst that could happen is, I think probably they would maybe say no or not respond to your request—which I do feel like I am guilty of that, because I get a lot and I don't know how to best, like, manage the flow of people saying that they want to send books. But that isn't because I don't want to reply. It's more like, I don't have a good system.Sarina BowenIt's hard. So I definitely want to hear how you figure out where to go. Like, where does the truck go? How do you know who to ask? Like, is that a lot of asking and hoping for the, for the best as well. Like, how does it come together?Stephanie PaoYeah, that has been a trial and error process. I think I started off applying to more markets, because they're looking for vendors anyways. But those usually have costs. And I found a few markets that I really enjoy going to, so I go to them monthly now. And…Sarina BowenWhat kind of markets, can I ask?Stephanie PaoYeah, they're like, one is like a night market. They do it like, a couple times a month in a city of LA called Lakewood, and there's like food, there's usually, like a theme, so like, there was an AAPI night, or they had— I don't know if you know those, like toys called Labubu — but the last event I did was a Labubu themed one. And then I do another market that is in Culver City, and it is similar—like, there's food and drinks and then there's, like, people selling different like, a lot of artisan-made things,Sarina BowenOkay.Stephanie PaoYeah, um, and then I reach out to local businesses as well. And I found, like, right away, I reached out to so many, and I didn't hear back from that many, because I was just starting out. I didn't have that many followers at the time. But the people who I found, and I did pop up set, they were so kind, and they let me dictate, like a day where I come back monthly, so I just have like places that I will go monthly, which makes it a lot easier to, like, have it like a set schedule, and then I just try to test new places and add on.Sarina BowenLike, what kind of business? What? What makes a good what's a good sort of connection?Stephanie PaoYeah, well, so the first place that said yes to me was another women-owned business. And I do feel like they are, like, more inclined to, like; take a chance on another woman-owned business. So she actually has a flower shop, and she does like high tea on the days that I go. So she has people going there for like, high tea— but it's on a very visible Street. It's on the Pacific Coast Highway, so I think it's—I'm not sure it's benefiting her in any way, because I'm not sure my customers are going to buy flowers, um, but she has a space for me to pop up, and it doesn't like detract from her business, and it adds something fun to her guests. And I also go to coffee shops and breweries, and I do want to start reaching out to restaurants as well.Jess LaheyI'm actually looking at her pop-up schedule on her site right now, and there's also—I wouldn't have even occurred to me—but these silent readings that I see every once in a while on social media that I'm like, "Oh, if I lived in a city, I would be going to those all the time," where people just get together to read together. I've also seen them—people getting together just to write together—and those? That's brilliant. Showing up for something like that is such a wonderful idea, and your pop-up schedule looks fantastic. I'll definitely be dropping that into the show notes as well.Sarina BowenWell, I just want to push back on the idea that the flower shop isn't getting anything out of you stopping there, because, like—so she runs a flower shop. I'm just certain she has a tiny core number of people who come every week and get fresh flowers because, you know, money is no object, and why not.But then there are other people who are on her list, maybe, who are only there when it's somebody's birthday three times a year. But if you're coming on a certain day, and she can tell her following, you know, that, "Oh, stop by on Tuesday because La Fleuria is going to be here, and it's, you know, the romance book truck, and you definitely want to check it out," it gives her a timely thing she can tell the people that do like flowers. And, you know, she's going to maybe have more foot traffic on that day than she otherwise might not have had.Stephanie PaoYeah, I think it's more maybe imposter syndrome, because she has like 800,000 followers.Sarina BowenWow!Stephanie PaoSo I'm like drop in your bucket.Sarina BowenWow. Well, maybe we should all be in the flower business.Stephanie PaoYeah.Jess LaheyWell, what did you have to sort of overcome with your own resistance in order to try this new thing? Because when writers have this same problem, we have an idea. It's a little glimmer, a sparkle, of an idea. It's so appealing in our minds. But, like, the commitment to actually, like, set aside six months of your life and write an entire book because you had this glimmer of an idea is a process, and that is why there aren't as many people who write complete books as you have ideas for them. So how did you convince yourself that, um, that this risky thing was—was something you ought to commit to? And how did you make that decision?Stephanie PaoYeah, I think I'm still convincing myself that...Jess LaheyOkay, fair, fair.Stephanie PaoUm, I think it's actually really—it's really hard, because I think we're really programmed, or at least I was, on, like, this typical metric of success, which is, like: go to college, get a job, keep climbing the corporate ladder. And so I just kind of thought I would be doing that my whole life. But I never once thought, like, does that make me happy? Like, I was in a marketing job, and I was like—I climbed up to, like, VP, but I didn't enjoy it at all. And I just thought that's what we were supposed to do. So I think for me, I have been freelancing for three years because I got really burnt out, and I've just slowly come to terms with, like, maybe what I build for myself, or what I want for my life, is different than what all my friends have. Because I still talk to my friends that I've had for a long time, and I don't think they understand what I'm doing. And I feel like you will get a lot of resistance from people that you know, because they just want you to do the thing that feels safe to them, which is not venturing and doing something completely unknown. So I think it's, like, being really comfortable with the idea yourself and that not everyone's going to get it—but that's okay, because the people who do will, like, really support you. And then, of course, like, I'm not going to sugarcoat it—it is like a big financial risk. I think if you're setting aside time to write and not doing, like, other work, like—it is a risk either way. So I am lucky enough to have support, and I think that's, like, really important to share; that, like, my parents supported me so that I could take this on. And I—I started taking less and less clients from my, like, freelancing work to prepare to do this. And, like, I am still not, like, super profitable, but I know that I can, like, push back into freelancing if I really need to. So I think it's—I'm comfortable knowing that there are other means of, like, income if I really need it. But I really want to give myself time to see where this goes.Sarina BowenRight, I love that. So, of course, you knew that freelancing was—that you had some connections there, which helps, so you have, like, a little bit of a cushion for yourself, which is amazing. You—you mentioned earlier that you took a course in bookselling, and I just wonder how you found that, and how—how you felt. Was it information that you already had? Did it just give you confidence? Or did you really learn a lot from that course?Stephanie PaoWell, I found it through the American Booksellers Association. It was, like, a linked course that they had on, like, how to get started with opening your own bookstore. And I did learn a lot. I think at the time, I was really debating whether I should do a bookstore or do something more mobile. And that course actually made me feel like—when we did all the calculations—the rent is so much in LA that it just seemed, like, much, much too risky to do a store first. Like, maybe building up a customer base before investing in a shop. So I think I did learn a lot. I also—there's—I get a lot of the same questions from people who want to start something similar. And I got all of that information through this course. Like, a lot of people ask me where you buy books from, and things that have to do with bookselling that aren't very well known. And I think the course provides that information.Jess LaheyNice. Do you do you use Ingram [Ingram Content Group], and so you have like a special account as a bookseller?Stephanie PaoYes. And I just started opening, like, accounts with the publishers, because I wasn't sure how much I was going to order, and you have to meet minimums to order through the publishers. I was like, I don't know how quickly my inventory is going to go, but now I think it will be more worth it, because you get a better, like, discount through the publishers.Jess LaheyAs someone who's not involved in the bookselling community or the independent publishing community—just for my knowledge—one of the things that I, you know, often lament is if I like an author that is an independent bookseller and their print books are hard to come by. How do you—is Ingram someone who helps you bridge that? Does Ingram do this, like, print on demand? Sorry, there—my husband's home. Could you explain how this works a little bit to me?Stephanie PaoSo I also—well, I'm not 100% sure—but yes, Ingram does the print-on-demand books, and they have books from a lot of independent authors on there. I have a friend who is an indie author, and she said that she first listed her book on Amazon, but then the bookstores couldn't buy it, so she had to do something to get it on Ingram. So I'm not sure how that works, but I've also bought directly from a few authors, like the author I mentioned, who is, like, my second best seller. I buy directly from her, and I'm not sure where she gets her copies, but it is a much better deal than through Ingram.Jess LaheyYeah. So, Ingram—their first and primary business was as a wholesaler for traditionally published books. So, you know, in the '90s, when I briefly worked at Random House, Ingram was—you know, when a new book is published, Ingram buys a certain amount of them, and Baker and Taylor buy a certain amount of them, and they stand as a middleman who is ready to wholesale those books to booksellers. And then, of course, they created their print-on-demand service so that, probably, when you log into Ingram, you can see indie titles and traditional titles sort of all together in their offered database. But I did learn something recently about indies and Ingram that was a real eye-opener for me, which is that an author who opens an IngramSpark account and uploads their files there—like, like an indie author that you buy from probably does—has to set a discount amount. And unfortunately, the number that the bookseller gets is not the same as what the author sets. So the author can set a discount to retail in a band between, I don't know, 40 and 60 or something like that. But, um, in order for a bookseller to get their maximum discount, I have to put 53% discount or greater—like 53 or 55—and if I put 52 instead, then the bookseller gets, often, a very bad discount that is not 52%; it's more like 30%. So there's this magic that happens at the 53% author discount that allows you and your colleagues to get the max discount in your Ingram account. And it took me only, like, eight years to learn this magic.Jess LaheySo Stephanie, this is why we keep Sarina around, because she knows how this stuff works.Stephanie PaoI figured it was there was something, because the range in discounts I see from indie offers is so wide from like 20 to 40% and at 20% it's almost not even worth it to carry.Sarina BowenRight. I bet it isn't.Stephanie PaoYeah.Sarina BowenSo you if somebody Well, but, and that's where the confusion comes in, because here's an author, and she's putting 45% in that box, and then you're seeing it at 20 and going, this isn't worth it. And of course, like both of you, could be frustrated because…Jess LaheyExactly!Sarina BowenBecause that doesn't make a whole lot of sense. So um, but I have learned that 53 is the magic number, and that if an author puts 53 and then you will get your max discount. And it took me way, way too long to understand this.Jess LaheyThis is like… this is, this is—these little random things that come up occasionally—are, you know, why I talk about flattening the learning curve for other authors or booksellers or whomever that listen to this podcast. Because how on earth would you know that? And then you're frustrated because you can't carry a book, because you can't make money on it. The author's incredibly frustrated because you can't—won't—carry the book, and then that piece of information never gets across. So thank you for diving into that dorky detail for me, because, again, I think that's such an important piece of information that no one would ever know unless someone somewhere is discussing it. So thank you.Sarina BowenUm…you're welcome. It's really just inside baseball—like picky junk that takes up my week. But here we are.Jess LaheyI know. But the people who listen to this podcast—in particular, the people who are fans of Sarina Bowen—are often people who are also writing within the indie space. And so how, you know—how are they going to find this stuff out?Sarina BowenWell okay.Jess LaheyOkay.Sarina BowenEven if it's not as you know, as joyful as the following your dreams and the flower shop stuff, but we're here to do all of it.Jess LaheyWell… But the big—this is also a big part of it, because there are also going to be people out there who are like, Oh, I don't want to open a brick-and-mortar store, but Oh, a truck? I mean, like, for me, that's the entry point. That's very, very exciting to me. So, the other reason I wanted to be on this podcast today is because I want to understand how that works, and is it a way into something that would really feed your soul and your heart—and not to mention your book… sell—your, your bookshelves.Sarina BowenOf course. So, Stephanie, before we go, I would love—since you're the expert here—I would love for you to recommend a couple romances that you're excited about right now. And if you wouldn't mind, I would be super thrilled to hear what your number two bestseller is—that you, that you are her best bookseller.Stephanie PaoYeah, okay. It's Yes No Maybe by Jessica Sherry, and it is a story of a woman who has, um, scars on her face from, like, an accident from when she was younger. And she's, like, always felt not worthy of, like, all the good things in life, and she's settling. And she moves next door to a romance writer who has writer's block, and she becomes basically his muse. And it's, like, very sweet but very emotional. Some other books I love—I recently finished Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and I've never cried so hard in a book. And it's, like, also such a beautiful love story. I, like, have chills thinking about it.Sarina BowenWow.Stephanie PaoYeah. And then, just like a favorite that I always recommend is All Rhodes Lead Here by Mariana Zapata. I'm in my late 30s, so I feel like I love when characters are in their 30s and still figuring things out, and I love a slow burn romance.Sarina BowenAll right. Thank you so much. I, um—I love those choices. Um, we've all walked into bookstores and seen, like, the same five books on the front table that we've seen in every other bookstore we've walked into that month. And it's really lovely to hear some different recommendations from you, and we really appreciate it. Thank you so much for spending some time with us today to talk about this super fun project that—that Jess and I are like, Ooh, we could just quit everything and get a...Jess LaheyYeah. Well, no. The other thing is, I'm like, Okay, when's my next speaking engagement in Los Angeles, and can I make it coincide with one of your pop-up dates so that I could come by?Stephanie PaoI will drive the truck to you.Jess LaheyThat… actually, we'll figure it out. Because I just, I'm dying to see your truck, dying to see how it works. I just, I'm loving the selections. And I'm just really happy for more than anything else, I'm really happy for someone who has found a way to turn something they love into a business that can work. So I'm just so happy for you.Stephanie PaoThank you. Thank you so much for having me. This was really fun.Sarina BowenIt was entirely our pleasure. And thank you listeners for tuning in once again to the am writing podcast, and until next week, keep your heads in the game and your butt's in the chair.Jess LaheyThe Hashtag AmWriting podcast is produced by Andrew Perrella. Our intro music, aptly titled Unemployed Monday, was written and played by Max Cohen. Andrew and Max were paid for their time and their creative output, because everyone deserves to be paid for their work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit amwriting.substack.com/subscribe

Security cameras have captured footage of pale, stilt-legged beings moving through the darkness — creatures so bizarre that even experts can't explain what they are.==========HOUR ONE: There are roads on Long Island that are much more than a line between two points. Some roads contain legends that travel with you on your journey. (Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow Road) *** In 1981, a cabin in the woods played host to a brutal family murder. We'll look into the still unsolved murders of the Keddie killings. (The Unsolved Keddie Killings) *** Sightings of strange, pale creatures are being reported in California – and now over two decades from the first sighting, we still don't know what the Fresno Nightcrawlers truly are. (Freaky Reports of Pale Crawlers)==========HOUR TWO: Violence, mayhem, even rape. Horrifying atrocities committed by the most evil of human beings – but in one case, in Culver City, California, it wasn't a man who engaged in these obscenities, but specters of the paranormal. (A Famous Case of Frightening Entities) *** We'll delve into a handful of out-of-body experience stories directly from those who lived through them – and they might change your opinion about the afterlife. (Surviving Out of Body Experiences) *** We'll look at true encounters from Redditors who claim to have come across doppelgangers – their exact duplicates, or duplicates of those they love – and it's almost always a disturbing experience. (Creepy Encounters With Real Doppelgangers)==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: During the grueling Great Northern Expedition, naturalist Georg Wilhem Steller came face-to-face with one of the sea's most mysterious creatures. Or did he? (Steller's Sea Ape) *** Weirdo family member Jamie Tyroler shares what happened to her and a few friends when they rummaged through a demolished building, only to find something still existing there. (The Ninth Street Entity) *** Weirdo family member Daniel Hagan shares how he once explored some woods on his bike and ended up pedaling for his life to escape paranormal beasts that appeared from nowhere. (Demon Dogs) *** Digging in their backyard, two brothers find what appear to be small human heads carved of stone… but the curious find turns creepy once they bring the heads into the house, resurrecting sightings of a wolf-like creature not seen in almost seventy years. (Hexam Heads and the Wolf of Allendale) *** In 1886 Chicago, one of the nation's very first serial killers would build a sadistic chamber of horrors to live out his most demented fantasies. (Murder Castle of Chicago)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“Freaky Reports of Pale Crawlers” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2O9fG6C“Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow Road” by Arthur Criscione: http://bit.ly/2LXUr4K“The Unsolved Keddie Killings” by Orrin Grey: http://bit.ly/2LYC8fK“Steller's Sea Ape” by Andrew Thaler: http://bit.ly/2XMpxDM“The Ninth Street Entity” by Weirdo Family member Jamie Tyroler“Creepy Encounters With Real Doppelgangers” by Nathan Gibson: http://bit.ly/2YkPTwL“Demon Dogs” by Daniel Hagan, submitted at https://WeirdDarkness.com/submit“Surviving Out of Body Experiences” by Audrey Webster: http://bit.ly/2M3bMKx““A Famous Case of Frightening Entities” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2M3YGg3“Hexam Heads and the Wolf of Allendale” by Neil Boothman: http://bit.ly/2Kut2Fn and http://bit.ly/2Kiufk0“Murder Castle of Chicago” by Brent Swancer (link no longer available)==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2025==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).

This episode, Jen and Shira sat down with the wonderful Lil Miss Hot Mess, drag queen and professor at the University of Arizona. We recorded during Pride month, and had a great conversation about Drag Story Hour, Drag culture more broadly, and queer and trans rights. We hope you enjoy!Lil Miss Hot Mess's Recommendations:- Tabitha and Magoo Dress Up Too⁠ by Michelle Tea- The Queen Bees of Tybee County⁠ by Kyle Casey Chu-Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson⁠ by TourmalineThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

A fire near Silverwood Lake started burning in San Bernardino yesterday, forcing evacuations. Culver City gathers to support a longtime ice cream vendor detained by ICE. LAist journalist Adolfo Guzman-Lopez takes readers on a road trip from Mexico to L.A. with his first book of poetry. Plus, more. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

In this episode of the Mind Shift Podcast, Aaron and Erwin McManus reflect on a major transition as Mosaic moves out of its long-time Hollywood home. They recount the final worship night where nearly 900 people gathered and 70–80 baptisms took place, marking the end of an era. The conversation touches on the new campuses now emerging in Calabasas, South Pasadena, Culver City, and Studio City. Erwin shares emotional reflections on the legacy of the building and the many lives transformed there, while Aaron underscores how movement and growth have always been part of Mosaic's DNA.The episode also dives into the ongoing exploration of Genesis and the growing interest from new audiences, with a notable 60–80% of listeners being first-time participants. Erwin explains why staying in Genesis offers endless opportunities for reflection and theological curiosity. They emphasize the importance of disagreement and diversity of thought within their community, encouraging listeners to engage, question, and wrestle with scripture. This ethos of open dialogue and mutual respect shapes their approach to both the Bible and the people engaging with it.As the discussion unfolds, Aaron shares a moment where he called out performative criticism in church culture, and Erwin unpacks how terms like “heretic” are often weaponized to enforce conformity. Drawing from history, they discuss how ideas once deemed heretical—like heliocentrism—eventually reshaped how we understand truth. Erwin stresses the necessity of intellectual honesty and the courage to question long-held traditions. The conversation becomes a call to spiritual integrity, where truth is not inherited but discovered through inquiry and faith.Throughout the episode, Erwin shares his own theological journey and how he starts with Jesus—not a system—when interpreting scripture. Using analogies like Oppenheimer's role as a theorist, he explains his focus on deep questions over surface answers. This leads into a thoughtful reflection on the Old Testament, which he compares to stories like *Braveheart* and *Gladiator*, noting how its themes of freedom, honor, and struggle mirror real human experience. He reminds listeners that the Bible was written by the oppressed, not the powerful, and that its messiness is part of its authenticity.Finally, the conversation turns toward the future of theology and the church. Erwin critiques the stagnating effect of the phrase “there's nothing new under the sun,” arguing that it limits innovation and imagination in faith communities. He shares his own experience being blacklisted for advocating creativity and change, and stresses the urgent need for early adopters and innovators to influence theology today. The episode closes with talk of future long-form episodes, community events in different cities, and a shared excitement to keep exploring faith, scripture, and transformation—starting with Jesus and moving outward from there.

This week on the pod, Jen and Brett sat down with Professor Mo Ogrodnik from NYU. They talked about Mo's new book Gulf, featuring stories from women in the Gulf States. They also covered the impact of international education, shifting geopolitics in the region, and Brett's experience as one of Mo's students.Mo's Recommendations:Secondhand Time by Svetlana AlexievichWe Do Not Part by Han KangThe Autobiography of My Mother by Jamaica KincaidThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

If you follow entreprenurial business news, you may have seen that Drybar founder, Alli Webb launched a new "anti-blowout" product line this week... and we at the Gratitudeology Podcast are here for the disruptive pivot!! We love Alli, so check out our replay of her episode today...*****Original Episode: If you love the look of a big, bouncy blowout... chances are you've heard of Drybar, the salon that revolutionized the industry with its exclusive focus on blowouts. Loved not only by women across America, but also by celebrities like Julia Roberts, Zooey Deschanel and Jennifer Garner, Drybar became a sensation.But the story behind this $255 million idea might surprise you…Alli Webb, Drybar founder, recounts her path from starting out having no clue what she wanted to do to twisting-and-turning her way through various job possibilities to embarking on the journey to launch this ground-breaking business.(Lest you feel like you should have it "all figured out" right away... think again!)The part of her story you may have heard before is the "female founder finds the white space, builds an empire, and makes an epic $255m exit" story. The part you may not know.... underneath it all, there was the realization that her marriage was failing and her teenage son was battling drug addiction.Alli shares her story, including the dark, messy truth about the parts that didn't look "perfectly coiffed." If you're struggling with life feeling less-than-perfect these days and wondering where to find the strength to keep going... tune in to hear Alli's gems, including: her advice for other entrepreneurs, how she overcame challenges like imposter syndrome, and how to find gratitude for both the obstacles and wins you're bound to face.IN THIS EPISODE:[00:09] Jamie introduces Alli Webb. [04:02] Alli begins to talk about her childhood and feeling like a late-bloomer.[05:43] Alli shares her experience moving and living in New York City to finding her way to beauty school. [07:59] Alli talks about motherhood and the itch to do something for herself.[09:57] Alli recounts how her business started and developed which led her to address a hole in the marketplace.[14:48] Alli describes where some of the defining details of Drybar were inspired by. [17:03] Alli talks about what drew celebrities like Zooey Deschanel, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Garner to Drybar.[23:04] Alli opens up about her marriage and the realization that it wasn't going to last forever. [26:04] Alli shares her teenage son, Grant's, experimentation with drugs and her reckoning with how to parent him. [31:29] Alli describes Grant's turnaround and reveals her biggest lesson as a mother.[32:23] Alli explains her identity crisis during her second marriage and divorce. [35:28] Alli talks about what's next: new projects, mentorship, and dating. KEY TAKEAWAYS:[14:58] Alli shares her advice for all entrepreneurs to “build something that you want.”[31:50] Alli reveals the shift in her parenting approach, crediting “getting curious” to her and her son's healthy relationship. [36:50] Alli describes her gratitude for the little things, such as no longer being heartbroken or in pain from grief.************Make sure to follow Jamie @jamiehess on Instagram for news & updates, and visit our companion Instagram account @gratitudeology for a sneak peek into the personal moments discussed on the show.************Thank you to Alli Webb for sharing your truth with us today. Follow Alli on Instagram @alliwebb.Check out more about Alli: https://www.alliwebb.com/************The Gratitudeology Podcast theme music is by HYLLS, performed by Nadia Ali @thenadiaali ************Alli's Bio:Alli Webb is the Founder of Drybar, N.Y. Times Bestselling Author, Co-Founder Squeeze, Brightside and Becket + Quill. After spending 15 years as a professional hair stylist, Webb left the hair industry in 2005 to start a family, but after being a stay-at-home mom for 5 years, Webb decided to find a way to continue pursuing the creative side of hairstyling at a new-mom pace. She began offering affordable in-home blowout services to her mommy friends, which quickly expanded into a mobile operation by 2009. In 2010, Webb opened the first Drybar in Brentwood, CA. 10 years later and over 150+ locations across the U.S., Webb's Drybar has exploded into a nationally recognized and highly sought-after brand. Webb diversified the Drybar brand, creating a line of products and tools sold at popular retailers such as Nordstrom, Sephora, and Ulta, recently selling this product division to Helen of Troy for $255 million. Webb has been on the cover of Inc Magazine's “How I Did This” issue, named the “100 Most Creative People in Business” by Fast Company, featured on Fortune magazine's “40 Under 40” list, Marie Claire's “Most Fascinating Women” and recently Inc. magazine recognized her as one of “The 100 Women Building America's Most Innovative and Ambitious Businesses.” Webb appeared on season 10 of ABC's Emmy nominated hit show “Shark Tank” as a guest shark in 2019. Webb currently serves as an Advisor and Investor in The Feel-Good Company's newest brand, Brightside - A brighter take on infrared yoga & saunas. Brightside brings the well-researched benefits of infrared yoga & saunas. Brightside combines the well-researched benefits of infrared yoga and sauna, and modernizes them with thoughtful technology in just the right places. The gorgeous custom space will teleport you to the brightside, the moment you walk through the door, and the incredible services make every interaction personal and meaningful. Brightside's flagship location is now open in Culver City, CA.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

This week, Esther and Erin took a field trip to Village Well in Culver City because they had a LATTE to talk about! From Andor's series finale to the themes of Reformed and Amy Poehler's new podcast, the bagels break down what they're watching and what they're listening to. Erin, in honor of Esther's birthday, also asked Esther about her rose, thorn, and seed for the year.   Check out these links: Reformed Trailer  Spaceballs 2: The Search for More Money Teaser   

Downtown Los Angeles sees thousands of Angelenos gather for the "No Kings" protests. A Culver City restaurant tries to help pollinators by giving away native plants. In conjunction with Pride celebrations at the Altadena library, Christmas Tree Lane resident Rob Caves is reopening his massive backyard train display. Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.com Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!Support the show: https://laist.com

On this very special Mother's Day episode, Jen and her daughter Allie sat down with Angourie and Kate Rice to talk about their new book Stuck Up and Stupid, a contemporary YA adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. They talked about their work collaborating together, their relationship with each other, and their love for Jane Austin. We hope you enjoy!The Rices' Recommendations:- The Art Thief by Michael Finkel- My Friends by Fredrik Backman- You Belong With Me by Mhairi McFarlaneThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

This week, we step into a defining moment—not just for our community, but for each of us personally. As we prepare to transition locations from Hollywood, we're reminded that the most significant moves in life are never about geography — they're about courage.In this message, Pastor Erwin McManus unpacks the opening chapter of Joshua, where God's words to a fearful young leader echo through time: Be strong and courageous. This isn't a pep talk. It's a command. A call to action. A summons for anyone ready to leave behind comfort and step into the unknown.Through powerful storytelling, real-life moments of failure and faith, and deep spiritual reflection, this talk is a challenge to stop waiting to be chosen and start choosing bravery. The sign over the next season reads Only the Brave. The only question left is: will you walk through the door?

Maison Louis Marie (20:00) was founded in 2012 and has never taken on investment, which, according to the married couple behind the brand, Marie du Petit Thouars and Matthew Berkson, has allowed it to focus on slow and steady growth. It is profitable and does not spend excessively on influencer marketing. "We want to be careful with the brand. We really want to create a legacy brand," Berkson said. In 13 years, Maison Louis Marie has grown to sell eau de parfums, perfume oils, candles, diffusers, body wash, lotion and deodorant, among other products. It entered Sephora in 2017. A little over six months ago, it opened its first dedicated retail space, at Platform, an open-air shopping center in Los Angeles's Culver City. According to the founders, Maison Louis Marie's community members love the space and the chance to shop the brand's full collection — a smaller selection of products is carried at Sephora. "People want to smell [things IRL] — yet what each store can carry is so limited, as there are so many brands," said du Petit Thouars. "[At our store] the customer is so excited to [discover] all the things we offer that they're not aware of and to be able to touch, smell and look," said du Petit Thouars. In this week's episode of the Glossy Beauty Podcast, Sara Spruch-Feiner speaks with Berkson and du Petit Thouars about how Maison Louis Marie is meeting the current moment of fragrance mania, how it's working to attract a younger audience with its soon-to-launch hair and body mists, and what drove its first-ever celebrity endorsement. But first, co-hosts Sara Spruch-Feiner and Lexy Lebsack chat about the different ways customers discover new products nowadays, including ChatGPT's updated shopping capabilities, Wirecutter's new beauty vertical and Ulta Beauty's program transforming its salespeople into content creators.

This week on the pod, Anneliese Judge stopped by to chat with Brett and Neema! She talked about her love of reading, her experience as an actor on Sweet Magnolias, and her inspiration for starting a book club (Who to Judge). We hope you enjoy!Anneliese's Recommendations:- The Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors- Daughter of Daring by Mallory O'Meara- Tell Me How You Really Feel by Betty CayouetteThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

On this episode of Pauly Shore's PMS Podcast Show, special guest stand up comedian Ian Fidance skanks onto the PMS stage to chat with Pauly on everything from his Jewish upbringing to opening up about his bisexuality! Filmed live at Jam in the Van in Culver City, Episode 78 never has a dull moment, as one of the best comedians from the New York scene goes all out on his interview with the MTV legend Pauly Shore! Sparks fly with Ian and Khalif, many playful Jewish jokes ensue, and your host surprises everyone with a very special mystery guest influencer! To round out the excitement, musical guest soul and blues musician Ash Minor gives a beautifully moving solo guitar session. If you're looking for a funny and absolutely chaotic conversation full of entertaining discussions, spontaneous ska dance sessions, and a hilarious chat with a special surprise influencer guest, this podcast episode is for you! Episode 78 of the PMS Podcast is sure to be one of the most off-the-rails episodes yet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Send us a textDo you ever feel unmotivated by the monotony of the work week and wish you could have a little more fun at work? Well, this episode is for you! Risa Williams talks to Dr. Alexis Hope, co-founder of Focused Space, about how to find the fun in your work week again. They discuss different tricks for getting yourself to focus in fun new ways when you're feeling unmotivated and stuck on what you need to do.They discuss:-Risa's Hats Method from Get Stuff Done Without the Stress: How to switch between roles you have to do intentionally to help you be more present in the moment-Alexis' "Foot Bath Method" for focusing on computer tasks that sounds as funny/fun as it is-How connection and body-doubling often help people focus and find accountability in finishing projects and tasks-How working on things with people you like or in positive support groups can give you that fun boost to get through things**Risa often partners with Focused.space to do workshops and talks, check them out for body-doubling sessions!****And if you're in Los Angeles this Saturday, come to Village Well Bookstore in Culver City on May 24th at 6 PM and say hi to Risa! She'll be part of a local authors' night book signing and she'll be signing copies of Get Stuff Done Without the Stress and her new kids' book, Max and The Imaginary Tree!****Congratulations to Stephanie Van Schaick, winner of the double book giveaway contest @risawilliamstherapy - Stay tuned for more giveaways soon!**Host: Risa Williams, risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest: Dr. Alexis Hope, www.focused.space, @focused_spaceSupport the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

Fill up your airbag and lather yourself in fire-gel, it's David Leitch. We discuss the literal and figurative pratfalls of the industry— cherry picking, Culver City for Tokyo, and of course: pickleball injuries. Preparation plus opportunity equals miracles, Sister… on an all-new SmartLess. Subscribe to SiriusXM Podcasts+ to listen to new episodes of SmartLess ad-free and a whole week early. Start a free trial now on Apple Podcasts or by visiting siriusxm.com/podcastsplus.

This week on the pod, Josh and Sam sat down with Professor Leah Litman to talk about her new book Lawless: How the Supreme Court Runs on Conservative Grievance, Fringe Theories, and Bad Vibes. Leah is a professor of Law at the University of Michigan and co-host of the legal podcast Strict Scrutiny. She has a gift for breaking down complicated legal decisions into straightforward summaries, and she sprinkles in a healthy dose of pop culture along the way. We hope you enjoy!Grab your copy of Lawless HERELeah's Recommendations:- Dark Money by Jane Mayer- How Democracies Die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt- Lady Justice by Dahlia LithwickThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Why are all the comedians getting sober? On this episode of Pauly Shore's PMS Podcast, we dive deep into the shifting culture of comedy and sobriety with three very different guests: stand-up veteran Josh Wolf, rapper and recovering addict Lil Xan, and everyone's favorite stoner comic, Stoney McBlaze. Taped live at Jam in the Van, this is Episode 77 and it's as wild, raw, and honest as it gets. Filmed live at Jam in the Van in Culver City, this episode explores the changing landscape of comedy culture-where punchlines are still sharp, but the haze of booze and weed is starting to lift. Josh Wolf reflects on life after getting clean, bringing the same intensity to recovery that he brings to the stage. Lil Xan opens up, performs live and Stoney McBlaze, true to form, rides the line between insight and absurdity, keeping the laughs coming even as the subject matter turns heavy. This isn't your typical recovery talk. It's rehab meets roast, with a side of redemption. And yeah, it's still Pauly, so expect things to get weird. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a desperate mother claimed unseen forces were assaulting her, a routine ghost hunt spiraled into one of the most chilling and controversial cases of spectral violence ever recorded.Get the Darkness Syndicate version of #WeirdDarkness: https://weirddarkness.com/syndicateDISCLAIMER: Ads heard during the podcast that are not in my voice are placed by third party agencies outside of my control and should not imply an endorsement by Weird Darkness or myself. *** Stories and content in Weird Darkness can be disturbing for some listeners and intended for mature audiences only. Parental discretion is strongly advised.IN THIS EPISODE: The investigation on August 22, 1974, in Culver City California was to be like any other one Dr. Barry Taff had done. Believing that this would be an open and shut case they showed up at Doris Bither's house. Not expecting much. Little did they know this would be one of the biggest cases in the annals of paranormal history. (“The Entity Haunting: The True Story of Doris Bither”) *** One of the most mysterious disappearances of the American twentieth century took place when a man named Bruce Nelson Campbell stumbled out of his Jacksonville motel room one night, dressed only in a pair of green pajamas, and was never seen again. (“The Man In The Green Pajamas”) *** A woman moves into a flat by herself and immediately begins to feel an uncomfortable presence around her. (“Tiny Apartment, Big Presence”) *** On a cold January morning, John Hoskins slaughtered three members of his family. (“A Day That Began with Death: The Hoskins Family Murders of 1919”)CHAPTERS & TIME STAMPS (All Times Approximate and Only Accurate For the Commercial Version)…00:00:00.000 = Lead-In00:01:22.328 = Show Open00:03:14.954 = A Day That Began With Death: The Hoskins Family Murders of 191900:10:16.101 = The Man In The Green Pajamas00:18:31.258 = Tiny Apartment, Big Presence00:25:03.659 = The Entity Haunting: The True Story of Doris Bither00:39:23.064 = Show CloseSOURCES AND RESOURCES FROM THE EPISODE…“The Man In The Green Pajamas” written by Troy Taylor & Lisa Taylor Horton: https://tinyurl.com/y4a68c3p“Tiny Apartment, Big Presence” written by KatsWhiskers: https://tinyurl.com/yxmb9d67“A Day That Began with Death: The Hoskins Family Murders of 1919”, written by John Brassard Jr.: https://tinyurl.com/weq3ytl“The Entity Haunting: The True Story of Doris Bither” written by Xavier Ortega: https://tinyurl.com/y8fv25w=====(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for the material I use whenever possible. If I somehow overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it in these show notes immediately. Some links included above may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)= = = = ="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46= = = = =WeirdDarkness® is a registered trademark. Copyright ©2025, Weird Darkness.=====Originally aired: February 10, 2019EPISODE PAGE at WeirdDarkness.com (includes list of sources): https://weirddarkness.com/DorisBithersTheEntityTAGS: paranormal investigation, ghost attack, Doris Bither, The Entity case, Culver City haunting, Barry Taff, Kerry Gaynor, poltergeist activity, spectral assault, supernatural phenomena, haunted house, paranormal documentary, real ghost stories, psychic phenomena, spectral rape case, Braddock Drive haunting, 1974 haunting, paranormal case study, psychic energy, ghost photographs, famous hauntings, poltergeist manifestations, paranormal research, Dr. Barry Taff investigation, real poltergeist, ghost mist, spectral entity, paranormal attacks, famous ghost cases, haunted California, true ghost stories

On this episode of the Village Well Podcast, we sat down with Dave Ehrlich, a Sales Rep from the book publisher Chronicle Books. We talked about the publishing world and exciting new releases for 2025.Dave's Picks for 2025:100 Afternoon Sweets by Sarah KiefferOne Week in January by Carson EllisTaste In Music by Luke Pyenson and Alex BleekerPalace Costume by Mimi HaddonThey Hold the Line by Dan Paley and Molly MendozaA Fearless Eye by Barbara Ramos, Sally Stein, and Steven HellerThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday.If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Send us a textDo you tend to feel overwhelmed by the intensity of your own emotions? Do you feel like your emotions sometimes get out of control? Does fear, rejection, or guilt consume your thoughts to the point where it's very hard to move forward? Listen to this episode on emotional mastery to learn how your own perceptions are causing you to feel certain things, and how you can control these perceptions in practical ways. Risa Williams talks to psychologist and book author, Dr. Christopher Cortman, about his tools for mastering your "emotional dashboard." Dr. Cortman is the author of six books including his latest release: The Guided Imagery Cure: The Best Proven Methods for Quickly Resolving and Healing Trauma.They discuss:-How our own perceptions cause our feelings-How certain emotions can be cues to you about things that are important to you -How to learn to let go of internal blocks that are holding you back-How people tend to self-sabotage themselves and where this stems from**If you happen to be in Los Angeles on May 24th at 6 PM PST, stop by Village Well Bookstore in Culver City and say hello to Risa! She'll be signing copies of her latest. book, Get Stuff Done Without the Stress, along with other local authors at Local Authors Night there. Come get a copy of her book!***Host: Risa Williams, risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest: Dr. Christopher Cortman, srqshrink.com, @drchristophercortmanSupport the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

Today is a Work Friends first! We're welcoming two guests: Alexa Buckley Roussel and Sarah Pierson, co-founders of Margaux. These two started their careers as undergrads at Harvard and have grown their business into a one-of-its-kind shoe brand that's disrupted the footwear industry—one that's historically male-dominated and very traditional.Alexa and Sarah are also here to discuss an exciting new Argent partnership: Argent x Margaux. But first, they spill exactly how they upended their original post-grad-job plans and started on a path toward creating a shoe brand from scratch. And now, 10 years later, how they're evolving and continuing to thrive with a line of styles in an inclusive range of sizes. We talk all things:entrepreneurship and never giving less than 100%.what it takes to make it as a fashion brand in 2025.navigating the massive imbalance of funding given to female-founded businesses.and finally, how Margaux is helping Argent make its footwear debut this month!*Explore Argent x Margaux: an exclusive footwear capsule designed with your busy, on-the-go lifestyle top of mind. It features three timeless silhouettes—a sandal, a flat, and a loafer mule—designed to fit into every aspect of your life. Shop the Argent x Margaux capsule online at Argent and Margaux, and in store at Margaux's Los Angeles store at Platform in Culver City and in Argent stores in Soho, Upper East Side, and Georgetown in Washington, D.C.*Work Friends CreditsHosted by Sali Christeson @salichristesonProduced by Gina Marinelli @ginaalilbitEdited by Ryan WoldoffTheme Song by Karina DePiano @sheplaysdepiano & Melanie Nyema @melanienyemaRecorded at Podstream Studio @podstreamstudioWork Friends is produced by ARGENT (www.argentwork.com), a women's clothing label on a mission to redefine workwear and drive forward women's progress. For more, follow ARGENT on Instagram, @ARGENT, and subscribe to the ARGENT YouTube channel, @ARGENTWork, for clips and bonus content. To be featured on a future episode, email your work questions and dilemmas to WorkFriends@ARGENTWork.com for a chance to have one of our amazing guests weigh in with advice.

On this special live episode of the Village Well Podcast, Colin Hinckley sits down with author Philip Fracassi to talk Sci-Fi, Horror, and time travel in his new book The Third Rule of Time Travel. This was a fun one!The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Let's talk about drugs - and everything that comes with it - in Episode 76 of the PMS Podcast Show with Pauly Shore! Filmed live at Jam in the Van in Culver City, this wild ride features stand-up comedian Sara Weinshenk, punk rockers Death Lens from Los Angeles, and internet personality Chrissa Sparkles diving deep into comedy, music, and real talk about drug culture. In this episode, we really talk about drugs - the good, the bad, and the hilarious consequences. Sara Weinshenk (host of the SHENK and This Bitch podcasts) brings savage stand-up energy and brutally funny drug stories. Death Lens delivers raw, honest tales about the realities of the LA punk scene and how drugs have shaped the culture. Meanwhile, Chrissa Sparkles keeps it hilariously unfiltered, bringing her unique spin on partying, recovery, and survival in the wild world of LA nightlife. If you've been looking for a funny, real, and totally off-the-wall conversation about drugs, music, and comedy, you're in the right place. Let's talk about drugs - and everything else that makes life completely insane. The PMS Podcast with Pauly Shore continues to be one of the most chaotic, hilarious comedy podcasts on YouTube. Every week brings celebrity interviews, musical performances, and no-holds-barred conversations, always filmed at the legendary Jam in the Van. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we sat down with Sophie and Andrea from Piece by Piece - a nonprofit that teaches those experiencing homelessness how to make mosaic art. We talk about the organization's founding, how its grown over time, and the healing power of art. If you'd like to learn more, head to piecebypiece.orgSophie and Andrea's Recommendations:- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle- Art is the Highest Form of Hope by PhaidonThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Text a Message to the ShowToday our guest is Kelly Enos and he's here to talk about making a successful career change from law enforcement to teaching criminal justice and police science at the college or university.  Kelly made that very career change unexpectedly less than ten years into his career but he found success in academics as his second chapter and he wants to share with you how to make that change.I don't know if teaching in the local community college is in your future, but I do hope that this begins the brainstorming session for how to apply your law enforcement skills to a different career track.Kelly Enos always wanted to be police officer and wanted to do that for his entire career; he worked at the Culver City Police Department and then the LA County Sheriff's Department in high crime areas during the some of the worst drug and gang violence of the early 1990's.  But a sudden violent encounter and legal battle changed his life unexpectedly…Kelly's book is Teaching for Criminal Justice Professionals https://a.co/d/02Hqg5lMusic is by Chris Haugen and by LesFMHey Chaplain Podcast Episode 111Tags:College, Academics, Advisory Board, Career, Change, Community College, Criminal Justice, Dean, Education, Sheriff's Department, Police, Police Science, Shooting, Teaching, Culver City, Los Angeles, Marina Del Rey, CaliforniaSupport the showThanks for Listening! And, as always, pray for peace in our city.Subscribe/Follow here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hey-chaplain/id1570155168 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2CGK9A3BmbFEUEnx3fYZOY Email us at: heychaplain44@gmail.comYou can help keep the show ad-free by buying me a virtual coffee!https://www.buymeacoffee.com/heychaplain

Buckle up for episode 75 of the PMS Podcast show with Pauly Shore—this might be the weirdest podcast ever recorded. Filmed live at Jam in the Van in Culver City, this episode delivers a full-blown comedy fever dream featuring actor-comedian Harland Williams, the ape-masked synth-punk band FartBarf, and the intergalactic vibe-bringers themselves, The Galactivators. Harland Williams brings his signature blend of cosmic absurdity and pure stand-up brilliance to the table, riffing with Pauly on everything from raccoon encounters to philosophical wormholes. If you're searching for the funniest Harland Williams podcast appearance yet, this might be it. Enter FartBarf—yes, that's their name—and prepare for sonic weirdness. The band shows up in full ape regalia to talk synths, space, and surviving the LA music scene while looking like Planet of the Apes crossed with Daft Punk. Then The Galactivators roll in to elevate the weird factor with glowing outfits, good vibes, and wild commentary that makes this one of the most unpredictable comedy podcasts on YouTube. The PMS Podcast continues to prove why it's one of the most chaotic and hilarious corners of the internet. With Pauly Shore steering the ship through every awkward pause and laugh-out-loud moment, this episode blends celebrity interviews, surreal comedy, and music madness into one unforgettable ride. Tune in and see why this is being called the weirdest podcast ever. Like, subscribe, and get ready for more from the Pauly Shore podcast universe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week's episode, we had a lovely chat with local LA Poet Kim Dower. We talked about her new book What She Wants, her experience as an artist and as a businesswoman, and the way the literary world has changed over the decades.Kim's Recommendations:- Exit Opera by Kim Addonizio- Revolutionary Letters by Diane di Prima- Lunch Poems by Frank O'HaraThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast. This week, we're recapping our SciFi/Fantasy Book Club's discussion of The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett. Special thanks to our lovely Village Well customers Roshni and Joe for joining us! If you'd like to join any of our Book Clubs, check out our events page on villagewell.com. You can also head there to order the titles discussed each episode.The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Why do we push ourselves? What makes you put yourself out there and try?Why is that trying so easy for some and so hard for others?How much does belief matter with all this? How much is it relevant to driving around in circles, or human performance, or doing the best you can with anything, especially given the limited resources each of us has on tap, as a person? Why do those resources rarely feel like enough—even when they so clearly are?This show changes format weekly, because squirrel. We call this format “ROSS AND SAM ASK WHY.” It came about because Ross and Sam once went to a Brazilian restaurant in Culver City. There's more to that story, but it's a secret and maybe we'll tell you one day just not now ooooooh the mystery and suspense so enormous!!!RELATED TRIVIA: Ross always says this show is what happens when an engineer, a driver coach, and a journalist walk into a bar. (Insert punchline here.)This episode was produced by Mike Perlman.**Who We Are + Spicy Merch:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.ItsNotTheCar.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Support It's Not the Car:Contribute on Patreon ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.patreon.com/notthecar⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Topic suggestions, feedback, questions? Let us know what you think!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠INTCPod@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Check out Sam's book!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Smithology: Thoughts, Travels, and Semi-Plausible Car Writing, 2003–2023⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**Where to find us:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/intcpod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/thatsamsmith/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/j.v.braun/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/rossbentley/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rossbentley.substack.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://speedsecrets.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠**ABOUT THE SHOW:It's Not the Car is a podcast about people and speed. We tell racing stories and leave out the boring parts.Ross Bentley is a former IndyCar driver, a bestselling author, and a world-renowned performance coach. Jeff Braun is a champion race engineer. Sam Smith is an award-winning writer and a former executive editor of Road & Track magazine.We don't love racing for the nuts and bolts—we love it for what it asks of the meatbag at the wheel.New episodes every Tuesday.

Do you over-commit to social events only to find yourself avoiding what you've just signed up to do? Do you over-explain why you can't make something and then feel overly guilty afterwards? Do you wish you had a simple formula so you could just say no to something without all the stress? Then, check out our latest episode: Setting Boundaries!In this episode, Risa Williams talks to psychologist, Dr. Michelle Chung, about setting healthy boundaries by learning how to use a "soft no". Sharing her practical boundary-setting formulas, Dr. Chung teaches us that we can learn to take care of ourselves and our own needs in a gentle way that doesn't confuse the listener.They discuss:-The Soft No formula: Learning the "validation sandwich" technique-The DEARMAN Method: Derived from DBT, Dearman teaches us how to effectively communicate our needs in a mindful way that is easy to remember-Learning to let others feel their feelings and to let ourselves feel our own feelings too-Why self-care is so important for refilling your own cup so you can pour out to others--If you're in Los Angeles on May 24th, stop by Risa's newest book signing at Village Well bookstore in Culver City! May 24th from 12-2 PM: Risa will be signing copies of Get Stuff Done Without the Stress at this friendly downtown Culver City bookstore!--Host: Risa Williams, risawilliams.com, @risawilliamstherapyGuest: Dr. Michelle Chung, drmichellechung.com, @dr.michellechungSupport the showFor info on books, workshops, guests, and future episodes, please visit: risawilliams.com.*All tools discussed on the show are meant for educational purposes only and not as a replacement for therapy or medical advice.

On Sunday, October 17, 2021, Heidi Planck, a 39-year-old divorced mother of one left the townhome that she rented in the Palms area of West LA near Culver City and got into her silver Range Rover. She brought along her Labradoodle dog, Seven, and set out for her son, Bond's football game in Downey, California, about 17 miles away. But Heidi left the game early, and after texting with her son that evening, suddenly went radio silent. Her last known whereabouts were at a luxury high rise residential building called the Hope and Flower in downtown LA at 6:30 that night and then Heidi Planck simply...vanished. Her dog was found by residents of the Hope and Flower building on the 29th floor wandering aimlessly. Heidi Planck has never been heard from or seen again. Joseph McStay and his wife, Summer, along with their two little boys, Gianni and Joe Jr had just moved into a new house in November of 2010. On February 4, 2011, Joseph left to go have lunch with a business partner and friend named Chase Merritt in the early afternoon. By February 13, when Joseph's mother had not heard from him, she had his brother, Michael, go check on the family. What Michael found in their home was fruit rotting on the counter and a half eaten bowl of popcorn on the table. The family's two dogs were out in the yard. It was as if, on that day, February 4, 2011, the whole McStay family had simply...vanished.Show Notes:https://blood-money.simplecast.com/https://dateline-missing-in-america.simplecast.com/https://www.oxygen.com/killer-motive/season-2/episode-1/the-mcstay-family-mystery 

This week on the Village Well Podcast we sat down with American Ninja Warrior host and former NFL player Akbar Gbajabiamila! We talked about his book Everyone Can Be a Ninja which covers family, faith, and positive masculinity. Enjoy!Akbar's Recommendations:- Will by Will Smith- A Promised Land by Barack Obama- Born a Crime by Trevor NoahThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

Broadway powerhouse and “Younger” star Sutton Foster joins the show. Over a Parisian style omelet and nicoise salad, she tells me about starting her career with a lie, overcoming on-stage anxiety and growing up with an agoraphobic mother. This episode was recorded at Simonette at the Palihotel in Culver City, CA Want next week's episode now? Subscribe to Dinner's on Me PLUS. As a subscriber, not only do you get access to new episodes one week early, but you'll also be able to listen completely ad-free! Just click “Try Free” at the top of the Dinner's on Me show page on Apple Podcasts to start your free trial today. A Sony Music Entertainment & A Kid Named Beckett production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

V and I talk about our favorite new dining spot in CC

Nicole Brown '98 is the president of TriStar Pictures, the famed Sony Pictures division responsible for producing many of the most influential films in movie history. In this episode, Nicole tells her story—from growing up in Culver City and attending public and private schools, before discovering Harvard-Westlake through the Independent School Alliance. It was at HW where Nicole met the late great performing arts teacher Ted Walch, who encouraged Nicole (a budding actor) to consider working “on” student productions—rather than "in" them. The message stuck, leading Nicole to study history and film at Columbia University, pursue a life-changing internship with Marc Platt and executive role at Good Universe, and then finally—seize the opportunity to lead TriStar in 2020. Nicole references Ted Walch of Harvard-Westlake, as well as film producer Marc Platt and Sony Pictures Chairman Tom Rothman, as profound influences and mentors.

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast. This week, we're recapping our Book Club's discussion of Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Special thanks to our lovely Village Well customers Omari and Andy for joining us! If you'd like to join any of our Book Clubs, check out our events page on villagewell.com. You can also head there to order the titles discussed each episode.The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

This week we talk to some older readers at the Culver City book Festival about their favorite books. Once again, fantasy seems to be the fan favorite. Give a listen. Favorite Books from Older Readers at the Culver City Book Fest Once and Future - Cory McCarthy & A. R. Capetta Harry Potter - J.K. Rowling Big Nate - Lincoln Peirce Keeper of the Lost Cities - Shannon Messenger Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

This week's guest is Aida Davis, founder of Decolonizing Design and chief people officer of the Sierra Club. Jen and Neema sat down with Aida to discuss her book Kindred Creation and the work of reclaiming African heritage in the Black community.Aida's Recommendations:- Insight & Poems by Huey Newton and Ericka Huggins- By the River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho- Things Fall Apart by Chinua AchebeThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

On the Overthinking It Podcast, we tackle built environments and the experiences they enable: Brutalist architecture, zoos both large and small, and the streetscape of Culver City, Los Angeles. Episode 871: We Will Fight Them in the Menageries originally appeared on Overthinking It, the site subjecting the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. [Latest Posts | Podcast (iTunes Link)]

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast. This week, we're recapping our Sci Fi/ Fantasy Book Club's discussion of Annihilation by Jeff Vander Meer. Special thanks to our lovely Village Well regulars Laura and Alex for joining us!If you'd like to join any of our Book Clubs, check out our events page on villagewell.com. You can also head there to order the titles discussed each episode.The Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

The lads take a knee and offer their football up to the Lord as they cover the 2024 Coach Joseph Kennedy biopic: Average Joe. Topics include the return of Harold Cronk, the Deadpoolification of Christian movies, and what it means to build a social movement around one of the most annoying narcissists alive. Media Referenced in this Episode: Average Joe. Dir. Harold Cronk. 2024. TWOAPW theme by Brendan Dalton: Patreon // brendan-dalton.com // brendandalton.bandcamp.com Interstitial: “Harold Cronk Presents: A Revival of His Much-Acclaimed Production of The Vagina Monologues at the Ivy Substation in Culver City, California” // Written by A.J. Ditty // Featuring Brian Alford as “Announcer Brian” and A.J. Ditty as “Harold Cronk”

Welcome to the Village Well Podcast (formerly Shelf Talkers). After devastating wildfires swept through Los Angeles, we decided to dedicate an episode to cover the extent of their impact on our community. We interviewed staff and customers about their experiences going through the fires. Whether affected directly or indirectly, we all feel the grief caused by such a generational disaster. We hope that by sharing these stories, our listeners find a sense of solidarity and understanding. We also compiled a list of books on fire and grief. Take a look below for our recommendations. We love you LA ❤️Recommendations - FireThe Last Fire Season by Manjula MartinFire Weather by John VaillantThe Pyrocene by Stephen J. PyneFire in Paradise by Alastair GeeThe State of Fire by Obi KaufmannRecommendations - GriefAnxiety: The Missing Stage of Grief by Claire Bidwell SmithThe Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis WellerBearing the Unbearable by Joanne CacciatoreWhat Looks Like Bravery by Laurel BraitmanThe Grieving Brain by Mary-Frances O'ConnorSelf-Compassion by Kristin NeffThe Village Well Podcast is brought to you by Village Well Books & Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ in downtown Culver City, CA. Each episode, we interview authors and readers about books that capture our imagination. New episodes every Wednesday. If you'd like to get in touch, you can email us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠podcast@villagewell.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.If you love the show and want us to keep creating, please consider subscribing on YouTube or leaving us a review wherever you listen!

On this episode of MHD Off the Record, MHD sits down with Abigail Marquez, General Manager of the Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), and Michael Tubbs, Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI) and Special Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom. Together, they dive into the realities of Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI)—a policy designed to provide no-strings-attached cash payments to individuals and families in need.With millions struggling to make ends meet, we ask: Does GBI empower people to escape poverty, or does it foster dependency? Our guests share insights from pilot programs in Los Angeles and Stockton, breaking down the data, misconceptions, and long-term impact of direct cash assistance.Abigail R. Marquez serves as the General Manager of the City of Los Angeles' Community Investment for Families Department (CIFD), a position she has held since 2021. With nearly 21 years of experience advancing anti-poverty initiatives in Los Angeles, Marquez plays a key role in overseeing programs designed to disrupt generational poverty and support low-income residents. She is responsible for administering the City's Consolidated Plan, which allocates around $120 million in federal funds annually to support various capital projects and social services. This includes managing 20 FamilySource Centers and services for domestic violence and human trafficking survivors. Under her leadership, CIFD has implemented notable initiatives, including the Guaranteed Basic Income pilot program (BIG), the largest of its kind in the nation, and the Opportunity LA Children's Savings Account program, which helps thousands of first-graders build financial security. Prior to this role, she was the Assistant General Manager at the Los Angeles Housing and Community Investment Department (HCIDLA), where she led efforts in community services and development​.Michael Tubbs is the Founder of the Non-profit organization, End Poverty in California (EPIC), the Founder of Mayors for a Guaranteed Income (MGI), and the Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility and Opportunity. In 2016, he was elected Mayor of Stockton at 26-years-old. He was the city's first African-American Mayor, and the youngest Mayor of any major city in American history. As Mayor, Tubbs was lauded for his leadership and innovation. He raised over $20 million dollars to create the Stockton Scholars, a universal scholarship and mentorship program for Stockton students. Additionally, he piloted the first mayor-led guaranteed income pilot in the country. His book, The Deeper the Roots: A Memoir of Hope and Home, where he details the experiences of his life is available now wherever books are sold.Community AnnouncementsFree Tax PrepThere are free tax prep locations all across LA. Here are four locations where you can get help:All People's Community Center – South LABarrio Action Youth & Family Center – El SerenoEl Nido Family Center – South LA & PacoimaWest Adams/Leimert Park FamilySource CenterVisit www.FreeTaxPrepLA.org to find a location near you and book an appointment today.Impacted Worker & Family Recovery CentersProviding family support, job assistance, youth services, and small business resources at no cost. Open Monday - Friday 9 to 5pmWest LA WorkSource Center (JVS-SoCal)5446 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City, CA 90230310-309-6000Northeast San Fernando Valley WorkSource Center (Mission College)13356 Eldridge Ave., Campus Center, Sylmar, CA 91342818-482-1754West Adams/Leimert Park FamilySource Center4305 Degnan Blvd., Suite 105, Los Angeles, CA...

Today on AirTalk, California schools are facing low enrollment and closures. What's next for the staff and students? We'll honor the career and life of actor Gene Hackman who passed away today. We have a Pulitzer Prize winner with us to talk about his new book on California history. As of December, Culver City completed its contentious MOVE project to make the city more bikeable. What do residents think of the results? Historically, many Oscar winners have used the podium as a soapbox. We're reflecting on the most memorable advocacy speeches at the Academy Awards. You won't want to miss TV Talk today, we're covering '1923', 'Running Point', and much more. Today on AirTalk: CA K-12 schools face low enrollment and closures (0:15) Remembering Gene Hackman (25:09) Pulitzer winner's new book on CA history (33:22) Results of Culver City's contentious bike lane project (51:27) Political Oscar speeches: love or hate? (1:16:48) TV Talk:1923 and more (1:31:13)

Last Saturday was the culver city book festival and book club for kids was there, gathering great suggestions for your next favorite read. We've got a different take on Shakespeare, a it of underwear humor, and a debate about which does a better job of telling the story; the book or the movie. Favorite Books from the Culver City Book Festival: The Apothacary - Sarah Penner These Violent Delights - Chloe Gong Captain Underpants - Dav Pilkey The Wild Robot - Peter Brown Dog Man - Dav Pilkey Angels and Demons - Dan Brown   If you're a teacher or librarian in LA County and you'd like your readers to star on a Book Club for Kids podcast, send us an email to bookclubforkidspodcast@gmail.com and we'll send you all the information.

With heavy rain in the forecast tomorrow, watch out for road flooding and potential mudflows. A Culver City man whose drone crashed into a firefighting plane is set to plead guilty. Many beaches near the Palisades burn area have reopened. Plus, more.Support The L.A. Report by donating at LAist.com/join and by visiting https://laist.comSupport the show: https://laist.com

This week, I speak with Jennifer Caspar, founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee and one of their events coordinators, Brett Morrow. We focus on The Culver City Book Festival, Saturday, February 22nd from 10 - 5 pm. I will be there representing Books Are My People. Come say hi! We also talk about the many activities and events held at this wonderful independent bookstore. Today's episode is brought to you by MOLDed: A Memoir of Loss & Resilience - a dark yet humorous journey into the underreported experience of fighting toxic mold.Books Recommended:Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher MurrayThe Bright Sword by Lev GrossmanThe Most by Jessica AnthonyThe Great Divide by Christina EnriguezCherished Belonging by Gregory BoyleCynthia Weiner, guest author of A Gorgeous Excitement recommends Banal Nightmare by Halle ButlerEnter my The Great Divide Giveaway here. Closes March 5th, 2025.Listen to my interview with Bookshop.org founder, Andy Hunter here on the episode titled: Bookshop.org and the Importance of Independent BookstoresJennifer Caspar is founder and owner of Village Well Books & Coffee, a community-focused bookstore-café with a mission: to be a welcoming comfortable community space where people can be inspired and find connection. A life-long lover of books, coffee and third spaces, Jennifer has been focused on developing community for most of her adult life. She worked for 3 decades in Washington DC and Los Angeles in affordable housing finance and development. In 2020 she was able to realize her dream of building a supportive community space when she opened Village Well in downtown Culver City California.Brett Morrow is one of the events coordinators at Village Well Books & Coffee and is currently organizing the Culver City Book Festival.  Learn more about Village Well Books & Coffee here. Support the showGet your Books Are My People coffee mug here!I hope you all have a wonderfully bookish week!

Onward we must bravely march into the terrifying world of outside without our trusty companion Cole Hersch. Noel Miller co-hosts for a fantastic new episode where we solve all the problems in American politics by proposing a much better system of government. Guests include a nice young man we learn absolutely nothing about, a professional movie editor / director, some young women working hard in the exciting world of swimsuit fashion, and a beer guy. Recorded on 10/09/24 in downtown Culver City in Los Angeles.Visit http://BetterHelp.com/OUTSIDE today to get 10% off your first month!Go to http://storyworth.com/Outside to get $10 off your first purchase!This is a Headgum podcast. Follow Headgum on Twitter, Instagram, and Tiktok. Advertise on Podcast But Outside via Gumball.fm.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Darkness Syndicate members already received the commercial-free early release of this episode: https://www.patreon.com/posts/116799545==========HOUR ONE: Violence, mayhem, even rape. Horrifying atrocities committed by the most evil of human beings – but in one case, in Culver City, California, it wasn't a man who engaged in these obscenities, but specters of the paranormal. (A Famous Case of Frightening Entities) *** We'll delve into a handful of out-of-body experience stories directly from those who lived through them – and they might change your opinion about the afterlife. (Surviving Out of Body Experiences) *** We'll look at true encounters from Redditors who claim to have come across doppelgangers – their exact duplicates, or duplicates of those they love – and it's almost always a disturbing experience. (Creepy Encounters With Real Doppelgangers)==========HOUR TWO: There are roads on Long Island that are much more than a line between two points. Some roads contain legends that travel with you on your journey. (Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow Road) *** In 1981, a cabin in the woods played host to a brutal family murder. We'll look into the still unsolved murders of the Keddie killings. (The Unsolved Keddie Killings) *** Sightings of strange, pale creatures are being reported in California – and now over two decades from the first sighting, we still don't know what the Fresno Nightcrawlers truly are. (Freaky Reports of Pale Crawlers)==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: During the grueling Great Northern Expedition, naturalist Georg Wilhem Steller came face-to-face with one of the sea's most mysterious creatures. Or did he? (Steller's Sea Ape) *** Weirdo family member Jamie Tyroler shares what happened to her and a few friends when they rummaged through a demolished building, only to find something still existing there. (The Ninth Street Entity) *** Weirdo family member Daniel Hagan shares how he once explored some woods on his bike and ended up pedaling for his life to escape paranormal beasts that appeared from nowhere. (Demon Dogs) *** Digging in their backyard, two brothers find what appear to be small human heads carved of stone… but the curious find turns creepy once they bring the heads into the house, resurrecting sightings of a wolf-like creature not seen in almost seventy years. (Hexam Heads and the Wolf of Allendale) *** In 1886 Chicago, one of the nation's very first serial killers would build a sadistic chamber of horrors to live out his most demented fantasies. (Murder Castle of Chicago)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“Freaky Reports of Pale Crawlers” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2O9fG6C“Mount Misery and Sweet Hollow Road” by Arthur Criscione: http://bit.ly/2LXUr4K“The Unsolved Keddie Killings” by Orrin Grey: http://bit.ly/2LYC8fK“Steller's Sea Ape” by Andrew Thaler: http://bit.ly/2XMpxDM“The Ninth Street Entity” by Weirdo Family member Jamie Tyroler“Creepy Encounters With Real Doppelgangers” by Nathan Gibson: http://bit.ly/2YkPTwL“Demon Dogs” by Daniel Hagan, submitted at https://WeirdDarkness.com/submit“Surviving Out of Body Experiences” by Audrey Webster: http://bit.ly/2M3bMKx““A Famous Case of Frightening Entities” by Brent Swancer: http://bit.ly/2M3YGg3“Hexam Heads and the Wolf of Allendale” by Neil Boothman: http://bit.ly/2Kut2Fn and http://bit.ly/2Kiufk0“Murder Castle of Chicago” by Brent Swancer (link no longer available)==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2024==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).