How To LA

Episodes

Listen • 50:06

Listen • 50:06

This Old House Radio Hour: Designing for Disaster: How Los Angeles Builds Back Smarter + Saving The Outsider’s House + Four DIY Fixes: Chimneys, Circuits, Ceilings, and Steam

This week on This Old House Radio Hour—what does it mean to rebuild not just homes, but entire communities?

Sunset Magazine editor-in-chief Hugh Garvey joins us to discuss the magazine’s special issue devoted to the rebuilding of Altadena and Pacific Palisades in the wake of January’s devastating wildfires. Sunset, a voice in California architecture for over 125 years, has assembled an extraordinary coalition of architects, planners, artists, and historians. Together, they offer not just a plan, but a call to action—for fire-resilient homes, culturally grounded design, and a West that can weather what’s coming.

Then we travel from the hills of Los Angeles to the streets of Tulsa, where Danny Boy O’Connor—from House of Pain—takes us inside his remarkable second act. After bottoming out, he bought a run-down house for $15,000... and it just happened to be the house from The Outsiders. What followed was a full restoration, a pilgrimage, and a new life. We take a tour of the Outsiders Museum and meet the community that made it possible.

Later, Cheap Old Houses is back—Ethan and Elizabeth Finkelstein spotlight a dreamy 1870s Victorian in Fredonia, Kentucky and an off-the-grid cabin on federal forest land in Snoqualmie Pass, Washington, both for under $100,000.

Plus, another round of House Rules, our listener-powered game that tests your home renovation know-how. And in The Simple Fix, we show you how to find a stud in your baseboard—without breaking the wall.

And as always, we’re taking your calls. Got a house problem, project hurdle, or just need a little advice? Call us at (877) 864-7460.

All that and more, coming up on This Old House Radio Hour.

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Listen • 24:48
Listen • 24:48

Social Calendar: André 3000, Self-Care, LA's 'Moving Living Room'
#262: Hey, How to LA listeners! We’re back with another social calendar to talk about new and interesting happenings in the city.

Guests: Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido and TV and podcast host Dexter Thomas
Here’s what each person pitched:
- André 3000's flute album (or better yet, catching a live performance)
- In the market for a flute of your own? Hit up Guillermo Martinez (like André 3000 did)
- Getting work done on the LA Metro (or your favorite library)
- Relaxing at a Korean spa (Spots mentioned: Olympic Spa, Crystal Spa)
- Checking out Dexter's lo-fi album
Let us know what’s on your social calendar and drop us a note. We’d love to read your suggestions on the podcast: howtola@scpr.org
Listen • 18:43

Listen • 18:43

The Los Angeles Festival Of Movies Is Here To Treat Your Inner Cinephile

#261: Despite being a hub for all things film, Los Angeles doesn't have what could be described as a major film festival. But starting tomorrow, the brand new Los Angeles Festival of Movies is bringing festival highlights and world premieres to three independent venues around the city. Forget the cost of a pass, airfare and lodging in a town like Sundance -- folks in L.A. can attend screenings for just $20 a ticket.

Today we're chatting with festival founders Sarah Winshall and Micah Gottlieb about what the festival will entail and what it means to them to screen great independent films in L.A. You can find tickets and more information about the festival on their website here.
And don't worry, we're keeping the movies going and we'll be back next week with another episode of Revival House.

Guests: LA Festival of Movies founders Sarah Winshall and Micah Gottlieb
Listen • 14:56

Listen • 14:56

Vietnamese Workers Fuel Nail Salons. So Why The Low Pay?

#260: Tens of thousands of Vietnamese immigrants rely on nail salons as an economic powerhouse: a an attractive option that lets them work hard and express their creativity, all without needing to learn English. But worker pay can sometimes dip below minimum wage, depending on individual manicurists' client lists.

This wouldn't be a legal problem if the manicurists were classified as "Gig Workers," and until recently that's exactly what most salons did. But advocates for salon workers – and even industry advisors representing employers – say that manicurists do not meet the criteria to be classified that way. Instead they should be hourly employees, and receive benefits like sick pay, vacation days, and at least a minimum wage.

LAist's Asian American Communities reporter Josie Huang shares her reporting with us at the salon near work. To learn more about her report, check out her article on LAist.com
Listen • 11:42

Listen • 11:42

Alvin Ailey, A Dance "Revelation" in LA

#259: Are you ready to get dancing, Los Angeles?
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, yes, that iconic New York dance company, will be hitting the Music Center's stage here in Los Angeles. But this is more than just a tour. It's a homecoming.

In this episode, host Brian De Los Santos talks with HTLA's associate editor Aaricka Washington about her experience taking a community dance class with the company, and how it felt to be at the opening night of the Alvin Ailey company's 4 year L.A. residency. Join us as we get into Ailey's L.A. history and give you a rundown of what to expect at next season's shows.
Read Aaricka's piece on the Alvin Ailey residency here.
Listen • 15:49

Listen • 15:49

LA Towers Graffiti: Art Or Vandalism?

#258: Los Angeles is spending nearly $4 million to clean up and fence off the Oceanwide Towers after the three abandoned buildings were covered with graffiti. Some people are glad to see the graffiti go, but others say they like what the murals represent, arguing that their removal is a bad use of tax dollars.

Meanwhile, LAist reporting shows the company who owns the Oceanwide towers has been linked to bribery and money laundering investigations. With all this drama on our mind, we wanted to talk with someone with deep knowledge of LA's graffiti writing scene.

We meet up with Red Ortiz, a graffiti writer turned barber and film director. He'll tell us how painting illegal murals changed his life, and why he thinks graffiti is so important to LA's culture.

If you want to share your hot take, write to us at howtola(at)scpr.org

Music in this episode composed by Dexter Thomas
Listen • 12:21
Listen • 12:21

Jimmy Smits Says Goodbye To LA's Conga Room
#257: Today, we’re saying goodbye to a space with a storied legacy in this city – the Conga Room. The Latin nightclub opened in 1998, and brought in artists ranging from Celia Cruz and Tito Puente to Maluma and Bad Bunny.

The club’s star studded list of investors included Jennifer Lopez, Sheila E., comedian Paul Rodriguez, and actor Jimmy Smits.

This week, the Conga Room is closing its doors.

The legacy of the club will live on through a non-profit called Conga Kids, a program bringing music and dance of the African diaspora to classrooms across L.A. But it is still the end of an era.
One of the Conga Room’s original investors, Jimmy Smits, talked with me about the club’s legacy.
Music featured in this episode:
- Celia Cruz - Que Le Den Candela
- Bad Bunny - Soy Peor
- Prince Royce - Adicto
- Jennifer Lopez - Una Noche Más
- Wisin & Yandel - Recordar
- Tito Puente - Ran Kan Kan
Listen • 18:21

Listen • 18:21

Feeling Lonely? Get Moving, Make Some Friends

#256: Today we’re gunna get moving!

In our next installment of our series on How Not To Be Lonely in LA, we’re covering all the ways moving in synchrony together promotes closeness. Really, it’s just an excellent way to make friends.

Luckily in LA, there are unlimited amounts of classes, courses, leagues and clubs one can join based on your particular interests. Whether it’s a dance class, sports league or a mixed martial arts training, there’s literally something for everyone.

How To LA producer Megan Botel discovers why moving in what’s called "behavioral synchrony" is so good for connection, and learns about how one really popular activity in L.A. is bringing people together.

Guests: Sana Kim Davis, marketing director at Santa Monica Pickleball Center; Jamie Krems, assistant professor of psychology at UCLA; Micah Mumper, Longbeach resident and pickleball fan
Listen • 16:35

Listen • 16:35

Revival House: The Academy Museum's Sister Cinemas

#255:

We're back with another episode of Revival House, but this time we're not heading to a 100 year old theater...

The David Geffen and Ted Mann theaters at the Academy Museum of Motion Arts and Pictures are a new addition to L.A's revival programming. In this episode, we explore what the theaters, which only opened in 2021, have to offer our city's moviegoing landscape. And hopefully, we demystify what seeing a movie here is actually like! (Did you know that tickets are only $10? And no, they don't just show Oscar winners.)

In this episode, How To LA producer Victoria Alejandro sits in the red velvet seats of the David Geffen theater with Academy Museum Director of Programming, K.J. Relth-Miller, to talk community access, screening trends, and the power of movie theaters.

If you're curious about the Academy Museum, you can check out our other LAist Studios series, The Academy Museum Podcast here.

Guests: Academy Museum Director of Programming K.J. Relth-Miller