Greater LA

KCRW

4.7 (73)
NEWS
UPDATED DAILY

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

JAN 12

How has LA homelessness changed in over 8 years?

KCRW’s departing reporter Anna Scott talks about the gains and setbacks in housing and homelessness — after eight years covering the beat. Zach Galifianakis talks about the nonprofit Comedy Gives Back, reflects on his own Hollywood career, and explains why comedy is tougher than dramatic acting. To mark Greater LA’s last show, we re-air part of the first-ever episode, in which Steve Chiotakis visits a giant car shredder between the Ports of LA and Long Beach.

39 min
JAN 10

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

When you hear the word “clown,” you probably picture a hacky kid’s entertainer. Well, a group of super-talented LA-based performers are trying to change that. The Broad’s “LA Intersections” is an upcoming festival-style exhibit of the music and spoken word scenes of LA. Punk rocker Keith Morris speaks to the importance of LA music history. Gathering around the table for a meal can ease America’s loneliness crisis, says Natasha Feldman, author of “The Dinner Party Project.”

26 min
JAN 9

Sale of Skid Row grocery store aims to bring racial healing

A convenience store in Skid Row is changing hands from the community-oriented Korean American family that runs it — to a Black-led nonprofit. “Existencia,” a new work by the experimental performance troupe Diavolo, explores the chaos and community that resulted from the 1994 Northridge earthquake. In an era of “hurriquakes,” heat waves, and fires, The Academy Museum screening series “Beware the Elements! Natural Disasters on Film” looks at the real-world implications of disaster films.

27 min
JAN 9

Finding love and beauty at Mosaic Tile House in Venice

Cheri Pann and Gonzalo Duran have transformed their Venice home into The Mosaic Tile House, a living artistic tapestry reflecting their love story. Kate Berlant wants audiences to know that her semi-autobiographical show, “KATE,” is theater, not stand-up. It begins on Jan. 17 at the Pasadena Playhouse. At Regen Projects in Hollywood, Catherine Opie’s exhibition, “harmony is fraught,” features over 60 photographs of LA spanning three decades.

27 min
JAN 5

Will ‘Ambassadors’ help LA metro riders feel safer?

Food journalist Mona Holmes discusses how the LA restaurant scene fared in 2023 and anticipates dining trends for the new year. In response to complaints about customer service and mass transit safety, Metro is hiring hundreds of people to offer warm welcomes and help to passengers. The Autry Museum’s “Reclaiming El Camino” details the hardships Native populations faced under European settlement, and highlights Indigenous resistance.

27 min
JAN 4

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

At an East Hollywood bar, a once-a-month comedy show features four men competing for the heart of a bachelorette, as the host whips out jokes and games. “Renewing the Dream: The Mobility Revolution and the Future of Los Angeles” is a new book about how LA is developing alternatives to getting around by cars.

26 min
JAN 3

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

Last winter’s rains accelerated a slow landslide in Rancho Palos Verdes, leading to cracked homes and trail damage at a popular reserve. What will El Niño do? David Duchovny isn’t just an actor — he’s a musician, director and author. His latest novella, “The Reservoir,” is set in the early days of COVID in NYC. An OC congressional race in the upcoming elections could tip the political scales in the U.S. House of Representatives.

34 min
12/28/2023

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

For people experiencing homelessness, it can be tough to stay in touch with friends and family. The nonprofit Miracle Messages aims to make it easier. Las Fotos Project teaches photography to young women and gender expansive youth from communities of color. And they don’t just use phone cameras. Underdog Community Project is a mutual aid group of volunteers and trained veterinarians who help unhoused Angelenos keep their pets happy and healthy.

25 min

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4.7

out of 5

73 Ratings

Sad this is ending …

Feb 3

bevatron

Really sorry to learn this show has ended. It was a rather abrupt ending. As a UCLA employee who now works remotely, the show kept me tethered to a city whose amazing people and culture were a regular source of inspiration. As public radio moved Westward it has followed a familiar pattern of re defining the hyper local as important sources of ‘national’ moods and trends. KCRW’s offerings are emblematic of California as a state - most of the world (at least the premise was) admired the US as the place where progressive democratic freedom was expressed best. Now, people in the US think the same of California, and especially Southern California as being that special place. This show will be missed. Work on a worthy replacement please.
Clean

11/24/2022

Paul (Cali Dude)

I appreciate the way you bleep out bad language. Regardless of how “cool” people think they are when they drop the F-bomb, I’m always left thinking how unintelligent they are as they could use so many other adjectives. I love the stories, the style and the balance. I just especially wanted to say thank you for bleeping the foul language, as that tells me much about the intelligences and integrity of the production team. Virtual (double) fist bump with an explosion (like the Cool Kids do).
Predictable promotion of progressive cause of the day

06/15/2023

ChimayoPress

What are the most progressive Southern Californians talking about today? What is the new panacea for pesky social problems? Listen to this daily KCRW update and find out how smart, sensitive professionals embrace the latest lingo, simplify complex human problems, and espouse the latest progressive crusade. It’s a series of secular sermons for righteous folks. Are you looking for candid conversations based on empirical evidence for the effectiveness of government programs? Curious how Los Angeles spent billions on homeless programs and still sees increasingly numbers of homeless and homeless encampments? Wonder about the real world consequences of progressive propositions passed by voters? Dismayed by the abysmal reading levels of California public school students? Looking for honest reporting on the performance of Los Angeles public officials? Expecting reporters to ask tough questions instead of offering alibis for failed policies and broken promises? Sorry, those questions are taboo on this daily “news” program that avoids awkward facts, protects corrupt Democrats, and regurgitates progressive fairy tales.
Awesome Podcast!

09/29/2021

Heather Bo

Steve always brings interesting content and knowledgeable guests to the show. Great information, and an always entertaining podcast!