One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
How to make it in this job market, good (and bad) sequels, Malaysian food, FilmWeek and more
A recent report shows that employers cut 23,000 jobs last month, and job gains for May and June were revised sharply lower.
(
Mario Tama
/
Getty Images
)
Jump to
- Looking for a job? It’s rough out there. Here are things to consider
- What makes a good (and bad) sequel?
- Rasarumah is Filipinotown’s one-stop shop for Malaysian-inspired food, tiki drinks
- FilmWeek: ‘One Night Only,’ ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,’ ‘Tony’ and more!
- Why some of the greatest romance movies started as novels
Today's show: AirTalk Friday host Austin Cross discusses the current state of the job market and how people on the job hunt can improve their chances, what makes a good or bad sequel, fusion restaurant Rasarumah, FilmWeek and romance movies adapted from novels.
Have a question or comment about a segment? Want to pitch us a story?
Fill out the form below, and please include an email address so we're able to follow up if necessary! We're not able to respond to every inquiry, but all submissions are read and reviewed by our production team.
Looking for a job? It’s rough out there. Here are things to consider
The topic:
U.S. employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs in July, and Labor Department revisions shaved 103,000 jobs off payrolls in May and June. Today on AirTalk, we ask listeners looking for jobs how their search is going and discuss ways to improve their chances.
Background: The unemployment rate dipped to 4.1% only because Americans left the job market. Economists have referred to our current job market as low-hire, low-fire, with employers reluctant to fire talent but also unwilling to take on new team members.
Join the conversation: How are you experiencing this job market? How long have you been on the job hunt? What questions do you have about standing out as a job applicant? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Sponsored message
With files from the Associated Press
Guest:
- Ryan Nunn, director of research for the Budget Lab, Yale’s non-partisan policy research center
- Matt Berndt, Head Career Strategist at Indeed
What makes a good (and bad) sequel?
The Minions and Goomi in Minions & Monsters
(
Courtesy Universal Pictures
)
The topic:
Blockbuster franchises like Spider-Man, Toy Story, Minions, Devil Wears Prada, all saw sequels this summer, and there's still new Dune and Avengers movies on deck. But what exactly makes a sequel “good”?
The summer slate: The results have been all over the map, with Scream Seven actually out-earning the 1996 original while Disney's live-action Moana turned into one of the year's biggest misfires.
Sponsored message
Join the conversation: So what makes a sequel worth making, and what makes one a cash grab? What's the sequel that got it right, and the one that never should have been made? Give us a call at (866) 893-5722 or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com
Guest:
- Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com
Rasarumah is Filipinotown’s one-stop shop for Malaysian-inspired food, tiki drinks
The topic:
Following the closing of Pearl River Deli, citing burnout, there were questions about what chef Johnny Lee might want to work on next. With additional support from Last World Hospitality, Lee was able to regain the energy to help run Rasarumah, a fusion restaurant influenced by Malaysian cuisine. Today on AirTalk’s Food Friday, we talk to Lee about Rasarumah, his restaurant that’s been open since November 2024.
Restaurant details:
- Chef-owner Johnny Lee was born in China, but grew up in Lincoln Heights.
- This is a joint collaboration between Lee and Last World Hospitality (whose other restaurants include Queen’s Raw Bar & Grill and Hermon’s).
- They recently introduced a whole menu of Tiki drinks.
What we tried:
- Beef rendang (slow-braised wagyu, pickles, raita, lime and roti)
- Rojak (salad with pineapple, cucumber, green apple, watermelon radish, herbs, tamarind and crispy shallots)
- Pork Skewers (char siu pork jowl, sesame, chive and hot mustard)
How to visit:
Address: 3107 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles
Hours: Sunday to Monday from 5 to 9 p.m. | Tuesday to Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m.
Cost: An order of beef rendang costs $48, rojak costs $14, and their pork skewers cost $6 each.
Sponsored message
Guest:
- Johnny Lee, chef-owner of Rasarumah, a Malaysian and Southeast Asian-inspired restaurant in Historic Filipinotown
FilmWeek: ‘One Night Only,’ ‘Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma,’ ‘Tony’ and more!
Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner star as Allie and Owen in One Night Only, directed and produced by Will Gluck.
(
Courtesy Universal Pictures
)
The topic:
Larry Mantle and the critics discuss the confusing intricacies at play in the society of One Night Only and the impressive storytelling and meta-commentary behind writer-director Jane Schoenbrun’s latest film Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma. Larry also reminisces on his interview with Anthony Bourdain following Kitchen Confidential. That time in Bourdain’s life is portrayed in the new biopic Tony.
The films:
One Night Only, Wide Release
Sponsored message
Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma, In Select Theaters
Tony, In Select Theaters
Ice Cream Man, Wide Release
Mr. Hero, In Select Theaters
Cookie Queens, In Select Theaters
Olmo, In Select Theaters
The Last House, Streaming on Netflix
Above and Below, Available on VOD Aug. 25
Guests:
- Amy Nicholson, film critic for the Los Angeles Times and host of the podcast ‘Unspooled’
- Tim Cogshell, film critic at the Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com
Why some of the greatest romance movies started as novels
Gene Tierney and Dana Andrews in the 1944 film Laura, directed by Otto Preminger.
(
Courtesy 20th Century Fox
)
The topic:
In a follow up to her book But Have You Read the Book?, author Kristen Lopez focuses on romance movies that were adapted from or inspired by famous works of literature. From beloved classics like Anna Karenina to modern cult favorites like Bridget Jones’ Diary, But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition will give you the perfect reading (and corresponding watch) list for the summer.
Guest:
- Kristen Lopez, freelance entertainment journalist and author of the new book “But Have You Read the Book? Romance Edition”
-
AirTalk listeners weighed in on whether furry friends belong in eateries. -
Today on AirTalk: New study on late homeownership, beliefs around modern marriage, California's wealth tax, dogs in restaurants and TV Talk. -
Today on AirTalk: SoCal Edison equipment caused Eaton Fire, Utah monument reductions, West End resurgence, latest AI news and prettiest California towns.
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
