80 episodes

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.

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

Imperfect Paradise LAist Studios

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.5 • 500 Ratings

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.

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

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

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

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

    Content Warning: This episode contains racial slurs and discusses police brutality. 

    How can I support? Inheriting is entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of the show, go to LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to donate.
    Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join

    • 43 min
    LAist & NPR present 'Inheriting' Episode 2 - Carol & the Los Angeles Uprising: Part 2

    LAist & NPR present 'Inheriting' Episode 2 - Carol & the Los Angeles Uprising: Part 2

    In part two of Carol Kwang Park’s story, we follow Carol’s journey to connect more deeply with her family – and introduce the family-led conversations that are central to Inheriting. Decades after the 1992 LA Uprising, Carol finally learns what her mom experienced during the riots and how she made it back home. It allows for a better understanding of her mother, as well as her family’s journey leading up to the Uprising – which she never had as a child. For the first time, Carol also talks to her brother, Albert Park, about what it was like to work at the gas station as kids, especially around the time of the Uprising.

    How can I support? Inheriting is entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of the show, go to LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to donate.

    If you want to learn more about any of the historical moments we talk about on our show, visit our website: LAist.com/Inheriting. We have a variety of resources for you, as well as lesson plans from the Asian American Education Project.


    Lesson 5.2.1 (Grades 1-5)-Asian Americans as Activists and Accompliceshttps://asianamericanedu.org/activists-activism-accomplices.html
    Lesson 5.2 (Grades 5-12): The 1992 LA Civil Unrest  https://asianamericanedu.org/1992-la-civil-unrest-systemic-racism.html 
    Lesson 5.3 (Grades 7-12): Building Community Consciousness and Coalitions https://asianamericanedu.org/building-community-consciousness-and-coalitions.html
    Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join

    • 38 min
    The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Bonus

    The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Bonus

    LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin gives us insights into the making of The Gen Z Water Dealmaker series. In this bonus episode, Emily speaks with Luke Runyon, the co-director of The Water Desk at the University of Colorado-Boulder's Center for Environmental Journalism about how she thought through the series that follows the epic negotiation over the Colorado River's future during the current historic water crisis.

     

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseListen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/reimagining-democracy or wherever you get your podcastsSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
    Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join

    • 37 min
    The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Part 4

    The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Part 4

    Host Antonia Cereijido speaks with negotiations expert Victoria Medvec about how to make the best possible deal. Medvec also helps  identify ways the Colorado River water rights representatives could still change tactics and reach an agreement before time runs out.

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseListen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/reimagining-democracy or wherever you get your podcastsSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
    Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join

    • 24 min
    The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Part 3

    The Gen Z Water Dealmaker: Part 3

    JB Hamby and the other lead negotiators on the Colorado River have to come up with a long term solution to manage the river in the face of climate change. Will they reach a deal before it’s too late? 

     

    LAist correspondent Emily Guerin examines how JB's position on water has dramatically evolved since he first won office a few years ago. She brings us back to the current water negotiations as the conflict between the Upper and Lower Basins becomes very public, and JB struggles to convince Imperial Valley farmers that they need to cut back.

     

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
    Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join

    • 41 min
    NPR & LAist Studios present 'Inheriting'

    NPR & LAist Studios present 'Inheriting'

    Japanese American Incarceration. The Third World Liberation Front. The 1992 Los Angeles Uprising. What you think you know isn’t always the full story. Inheriting is a show about Asian American and Pacific Islander families that explores how the past is personal. Hosted by NPR’s Emily Kwong, we go deep with families on how their most personal, private moments are part of history.

    How can I support? Inheriting is entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of Inheriting, donate at LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to help us make Season 2.
    Support LAist Today: https://LAist.com/join

    • 3 min

Customer Reviews

4.5 out of 5
500 Ratings

500 Ratings

Reyoktam ,

My new favorite podcast

Great show with real journalistic integrity. So many times broadcast news drops a story once the headlines are pushed out by the newest topic with no follow up. This podcast does a deep dive into the stories that affect all of us and the way we move forward as a society.

Beachespeaches ,

People vs Emily Guerin

Emily Guerin is so mealy-mouthed (and vaguely an apologist for racist, entitled behavior) in the People vs Karen episode. She goes so far as to rue that a white woman’s feeeeelings are on trial. Spoiler: it was her actions that were on trial. And her actions endangered the reputations and lives of two innocent people of color. Ms Guerin’s entire take is pathetic. Shame that she’s on the air.

Tarkito ,

Surprisingly Amateurish

Feels more like a college radio show than a professional podcast.

The hard left political angle, as well as the chicken little climate “crisis”
screeching that infuse every aspect of the show, as well as long pauses that make me think the show ended or dropped out, the horrible reading skills of the hosts, improper pronunciation, and childish sounding speaking voices (interspersing sentences with “like”) all add up to a particularly inept cavalcade of ineptitude.

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