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.

You can power How To LA

This great community resource only exists with your listener support. Help us tell stories about LA’s rich history and exciting future, as well as answer the deeper questions on important issues. Step up and become a member today with a donation! Let’s explore and discover our great city together.

Listen • 11:42

Listen • 11:42

How To Make LA Greener: REDUX

#5: To celebrate the sun shining and being outdoors, we want to bring you one of our first episodes, highlighting the real need for more trees and parks is Los Angeles. This episode first aired on September 7, 2022.

For its size, Los Angeles is lacking in parks and other green spaces compared to other major cities. Meet one man who is on a mission to make a difference in some of L.A.'s most underserved neighborhoods - one tree at a time.

Guest: Aaron Thomas, Director of Urban Forestry for the non-profit Northeast Trees.
Listen • 33:34

Listen • 33:34

HTLA Presents California Love: K-Pop Dreaming

BONUS: This week we're dropping an episode from California Love: K-Pop Dreaming.

There’s no better place to experience K-Pop fandom in all of its passion and glory than KCON. In the span of a decade, the annual fan convention has grown to a nationwide event drawing hundreds of thousands of fans. And just like many things K-Pop-related in the US – the extravaganza started right here in Southern California. Vivian and her childhood friends visit KCON held in downtown Los Angeles to witness the impact of the music firsthand.
(Originally published March 30, 2023)

Support K-pop Dreaming and other LAist Studios podcasts by donating now at LAist.com/join

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Save 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/Dreaming

This episode is brought to you by your local Kia dealers. Visit kia.com to discover movement that inspires.

This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.
Listen • 19:30

Listen • 19:30

Finding Home con DACA, Part 1: "The Process"

#87: Brian is surprised by a letter from U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It’s his Advance Parole document. He can travel to Mexico – his country of birth – for the first time in 30 years. The days ahead become a sprint to prepare and make travel plans. He only has a month to return to the U.S., or he could lose DACA and be denied reentry.

"Finding Home con DACA" is a special three-part series from LAist Studios and How To LA. Part 1 follows Brian as he prepares for his journey and dives into the Advance Parole process – all the way through the moment he leaves LA. We'll continue with Brian into Mexico next Thursday in Part 2: "Hecho en Mexico."

Guest: Roberto Gonzales, a professor of sociology at University of Pennsylvania, who has testified before Congress on immigration policy.

Music from this episode composed by: Chris Schlarb, Dexter Thomas, Geir Sundstøl, Mamman Sani, Nicklas Nygren, Old Saw, and Yeahman
Listen • 12:31

Listen • 12:31

Montecito Heights: Way Up Above The Noise of LA

#86: HTLA is exploring another neighborhood - this time Montecito Heights. You may be thinking, where the heck is that? (Don't feel bad, so were we!). It's a tiny town in Northeast L.A., just across from better-known Mount Washington, adjacent to the famous Debs Park.

We talk to the unofficial town mayor, Hans Maas, an 81-year-old fashion designer who makes clothing for Taylor Swift, Pharrell Williams and other stars, who has been living there for more than 30 years. This hilly enclave is filled with eclectic characters like Hans: artists, painters, musicians and creatives looking for a little space away form the Hollywood scene (which is only 15 minutes away!).

But the best part about the town? Listener Debra Dysart says it's the peace and quiet. AND the panoramic views of downtown L.A. and the surrounding hills.

Join host Brian De Los Santos and producer Megan Botel as they explore what makes this place so special.

Guests: Debra Dysart, How To LA lister and Montecito Heights resident; Hans Maas, fashion designer and Montecito Heights resident
Listen • 14:17

Listen • 14:17

How I Got Started: Playwright & Director, Gina Young

#85: We’re back with another segment of How I Got Started, highlighting dope Angelenos in different fields. From the arts, to entertainment, to advocacy – we're talking to people who are doing cool things you should know about.

Gina Young wears a bunch of hats: theater director, musician, songwriter, DJ... But there’s a common thread in their work: they create community, and foster spaces that LA's queer folk are hungry for. Join HTLA host Brian De Los Santos as he talks to Gina about all the above and more.

You can find more of Gina's work on their website: https://www.ginayoung.com/sorority
Listen • 11:04

Listen • 11:04

L.A. Renters Lose COVID Eviction Protections March 31. What Then?

#84: COVID-era eviction protections for renters are set to expire on March 31. This time, there are no more extensions. What can renters and landlords expect? What ripple effects might this have on the county? How To L.A.'s host Brian De Los Santos speaks with LAist's David Wagner and Julia Barajas about the policies at play and who is most affected.

You can find more of David's and Julia's reporting on Laist.com:

https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-county-city-covid-19-pandemic-eviction-renter-tenant-protections-moratorium-housing-homelessness

And here is LAist's renters' guide that includes links to additional resources:
https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/los-angeles-county-city-eviction-guide
Listen • 12:41

Listen • 12:41

The Election To Replace Nury Martinez Is Here. What's At Stake?

#83: Homelessness will be a major challenge for whoever wins the special election to fill the seat once occupied by disgraced former L.A. City Council President, Nury Martinez. The area she used to represent, Council District 6, has the highest concentration of unhoused people in the San Fernando Valley. And in District 6, that means more than 500 people living in about 400 vans and RVs that line the streets of neighborhoods like Van Nuys and Sun Valley.

HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is walking and talking with LAist's Frank Stoltze, and some CD-6 residents, about the race and what that community needs the most from this next council representative.

(Note: After recording, another candidate entered the race as a write-in, bringing the total number of write-in candidates to four.)

Frank's story about the challenges facing District 6: https://laist.com/news/housing-homelessness/people-living-in-rvs-and-vans-a-big-issue-in-special-election-to-replace-nury-martinez

The special election to fill Nury Martinez's seat is April 4. Find everything you need to know about the race and who is running: https://laist.com/news/politics/cd6-special-election-la-los-angeles-city-council-district-6
Listen • 11:42

Listen • 11:42

How Effective Are Strikes Anyway?

#82: Last week, more than 60,000 workers and teachers in the nation's second largest school district went on strike.

It was led by SEIU Local 99 — members of the Service Employees International Union, representing about 30,000 essential workers in Los Angeles Unified. These are LAUSD's bus drivers, teachers’ aides, custodians food service workers and other school workers – and they're among the lowest paid workers in the district. The teacher's union joined in solidarity.

On Friday, after three days of striking, LAUSD reached a tentative labor deal with the district effectively meeting the workers’ demands for a 30% increase in salary and healthcare benefits for part-time employees. SEIU 99 union members will be able to vote on the agreement in-person and online throughout next week. The voting results will be announced on Saturday, April 8.

But it got us thinking, how effective are strikes anyway? What other tools do unions have to get their demands met? And how are they even organized?

Guests: Joshua Grunland, choir and music production teacher at Manuel Arts High School; Jonathan Harris, associate professor at Loyola Law School; Diana Reddy, doctoral fellow at the University of California, Berkeley.

Shout out to LAist newsroom for assist with voice from the picket line!