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State of the CA governor's race, living playfully, Food Friday, and more
California gubernatorial candidates during a debate hosted by CBS Bay Area and the San Francisco Examiner in San Francisco on May 14, 2026.
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Godofredo A. Vásquez
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AP Photo/Pool
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Jump to
- With the last debate behind us, a look at the state of the California governor’s race
- New book highlights the benefits of living in a playful way
- World Cup pub crawl: Greyhound Bar and Grill
- FilmWeek: ‘Is God Is,’ ‘The Propagandist,’ ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin,’ and more
- Feature: The few projectionists in LA still working with film on the big screen
Today's show: Austin Cross, filling in for AirTalk host Larry Mantle, discusses the state of the governor's race, a new book on living playfully. He also fills in this week for Mantle on FilmWeek and interviews local film projectionists. Cross is LAist's local Morning Edition host and also hosts Friday AirTalk.
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With the last debate behind us, a look at the state of the California governor’s race
The topic:
Last night, the top contenders for the top job in California sparred collectively for the last time before voters head to the polls for the June 2 primary. But will their performances sway voters?
Context: With seven debates this year between viable candidates, each honed their message to voters and how they present their politics.
But: With multiple Democrats vying for the office, it’s been a challenge for candidates to own a specific lane.
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Join the conversation: Are debates helpful to you as a voter? Did you find yourself coming away from the debates this season with more knowledge of candidate platforms? Give us a call at 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Guests:
- Mark Barabak, political columnist for the LA Times
- Matt Lesenyie, assistant professor of political science at California State University, Long Beach with expertise in political psychology
New book highlights the benefits of living in a playful way
Do you know your "play persona?"
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Tomy Ardiansyah / Getty Images
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iStockphoto
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The topic:
The Playful Way: Creativity, Connection, and Joy Through Everyday Moments of Play makes the case that humans are socialized away from play as they enter adulthood, but that approaching life in a playful manner with fluidity, curiosity, and aliveness can help you live a better life with deeper connections and more moments of joy.
What’s in the book: The author collects intimate stories, research, and practices to help promote what she says is a playful way of life, and how it contrasts against a “pressured way” of living. She also defines “play personas.”
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The author: Piera Gelardi is a self-described creative entrepreneur who cofounded the digital media site Refinery 29.
Guest:
- Piera Gelardi, cofounder of the digital media site Refinery29, and author of The Playful Way: Creativity, Connection, and Joy Through Everyday Moments of Play (Harper Collins, 2026)
World Cup pub crawl: Greyhound Bar and Grill
Fans watching a game at Greyhound Bar and Grill
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Rolfe Jones
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Rolfe Jones
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We talked to:
Austin Cross sits down with Matt Glassman, owner of The Greyhound Bar and Grill in Highland Park, to talk about the live sports viewing experience and how they’re preparing for this year’s World Cup.
Restaurant details:The Greyhound Bar and Grill opened its original Highland Park location in 2014. At one point, they did have a second location in Glendale, which closed in 2025. They host L.A. Spurs, the local support group for Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
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Location and hours: 5570 North Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90042.
Sunday-Thursday: 12:00 PM-11:00 PM; Friday and Saturday: 12:00 PM-1:00 AM
Guest:
- Matt Glassman, owner of The Greyhound Bar and Grill in Highland Park; he’s also a Tottenham Hotspur fan
FilmWeek: ‘Is God Is,’ ‘The Propagandist,’ ‘The Wizard of the Kremlin,’ and more
Mallori Johnson and Kara Young in Is God Is.
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Amazon MGM Studios
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Amazon MGM Studios
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The topic:
Austin Cross and LAist film critics Claudia Puig, Tim Cogshell, and Charles Solomon review this weekend’s latest movie releases in theaters and on streaming platforms.
Films:
- Is God Is, Wide Release
- Life Hack, In Select Theaters
- The Propagandist, Available on select digital platforms
- Decorado, In Select Theaters
- Silent Friend, AMC Burbank & Laemmle Royal [West LA]
- American Agitators, Laemmle Monica Film Center [Santa Monica]
- The Wizard of the Kremlin, In Select Theaters
- Marty, Life is Short, Streaming on Netflix
- Obsession, Wide Release
- The A List: 15 Stories from the Asian and Pacific Diasporas, Streaming on HBO Max
The Critics:
- Claudia Puig, film critic for LAist and program director for the Santa Barbara International Film Festival (She/Her)
- Tim Cogshell, film critic for LAist, Alt-Film Guide and CineGods.com (He/Him)
- Charles Solomon, film critic for LAist, Animation Scoop and Animation Magazine (He/Him)
Feature: The few projectionists in LA still working with film on the big screen
Now few projectionists experienced enough to handle delicate film prints.
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Eric Norris
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Flickr
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The topic:
Movies on film are having a resurgence. Just take last year’s biggest movies: One Battle After Another, Sinners and Marty Supreme. But the craft of screening movies on film is a dying one, with few projectionists experienced enough to handle the delicate prints.
A film stronghold: In L.A., it's the local repertory theaters that have helped maintain the art of film projection with many offering screenings of old movies on vintage prints. The task may be tedious, but for audiences, it’s a striking viewing experience.
Guests:
- Spencer Christiano, a senior projectionist at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
- Boris Ibañez, technical director of Vidiots, a repertory theater and DVD/video rental store in Eagle Rock
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Today on AirTalk: CA Medicaid funding deferral, declining test scores, what hype do you just not get? CA solar program, potential SAG-AFTRA contract, and TV Talk. -
Three years later, here's why the Sphere has been so successful — with some advice for taking it all in. -
Today on AirTalk: Guest host Austin Cross discusses producer prices, recycling, life changing meals, Chinese espionage's history in CA, blue dot fever, and our parents' lies.
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Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive from readers like you will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
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