Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Overheard in L.A.: Our Dreams Might Be Shallow But At Least They're Our Own

This week's edition of Overheard in L.A. features bits of overheard conversation from local hikes, coffee shops and other places where dreams go to die.
Overheard of the Week
"I just want to be rich. Like go to the strip club and make it rain twenties instead of dollars."
In a gym locker room via @RylanDogg
How You Know You've Arrived
"I've been on a cover of a magazine. Like, I'm good."
On a hike via @lifewithcarrie
How You Know You've Arrived Part 2
"I have a pretty thriving Vine account."
In Culver City via @MysteryExec
Religious Conversion
"I used to be a Catholic and then I did acid"
At Applebees via @alXuOfficial
Social Media FAIL
"I don't know if I want to see her again. She has a wedding board on Pinterest."
via @AngelaDaffron
Greatest Fears
"You don't want to be, like, that girl who goes to prom with her calculator. That's who you're going to be if you don't find shoes."
In Westwood via @rmscotti
Shit Angelenos Say
"I dunno, I just feel like transformed by the energy of it."
At a lesbian pool party via @failureprincess
The "Bitch" At The End Of The Sentence Is Implied
"OMG! I have the same shirt, except mine is Versace."
At Mack Sennett via @MissJodie
So Underground
20-something hipster: "Totally love Fleetwood Mac, way back before they were all cool to listen to."
via @anakincarver
Bike Snobs
"This place really should have a bike valet."
In Brentwood via @EmmettLoverde
Our Motto
"HASHTAG ANGRY BUTTHOLE."
via @DJwhitneyFIERCE
The "Bro" At The End Of This Sentence Is Implied
"This June gloom has completely messed me up."
At The Grove via @michaeldmullen
Doomed For Failure
"I'm an understudy, but I don't know any of my lines."
via @Evitamarie
Our Favorite Dirty Old Man Joke
"You are what you eat! Just call me Michael Douglas!"
via @maltymac
Syllables Are Hard
B-List actress: "I have to Insta this."
At WB via @MysteryExec
Bummer
"I have to go to the Valley this weekend. I'm trying to find a way to get out of it."
On the westside via @KristinaNette
Detox Problems
"Wait, so you're telling me, I have to pay $39 to drink juice all day?!!"
At the office via @tonyadam
Okey-Dokey
"This dress is soooo cute, kind of Bohemian Pocahontas, but... it might be two or three years too old for me. Yeah, this dress isn't for me. In other words, it isn't for Dad."
via @
We Get Our 90s Hawk(e)s Mixed Up, Too
Girl 1: "I'm going to see Ethan Hawke tonight!" (referencing "Before Midnight")
Girl 2: "The skater?"
In the office via @checinaj
Our Mom Is Our Best Friend, Too
Punk girl: "So my mom called me and said Honey, I know you're f***ed up right now but I need to ask you something".
On Cahuenga via Andy Kenareki
Rich People Problems
Woman to her 3-year-old daughter: "Emma, mommy's on the phone. Use your iPad."
In the Santa Monica Bloomingdale's via Hollywood Amazon
Our Overheard in L.A. feature relies on you to send us the strange conversations you overhear in this city. Send them our way at tips@laist.com. (In the e-mail, put "overheard" in the subject and tell us who said it, where they said it and any amusing context.)
Previously:
Overheard in L.A.: Why We're Sleeping With Our Exes
Overheard in L.A.: Partly Sunny With A Chance Of Plastic Surgery
Overheard in L.A.: How We're Spotting The City's Jerks
Overheard in L.A.: Our Coachella Fantasies
Overheard in L.A.: Things That Remind Us Of The 405
Overheard in L.A.: How We're Passing Our Drug Test
Overheard in L.A.: Starf*ckers At Sundance
Overheard in L.A.: Why Being Beautiful Is So Important
Overheard in L.A.: How We're Gonna Get Famous
Overheard in L.A.: How Our Dreams Were Crushed
Overheard in L.A.: Places You Might Hear "YOLO"
Overheard in L.A.: Shit People Say At Auditions
Overheard in L.A.: Our Rule For Dating Porn Stars
And more!
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?