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 • 12:04

Transcript

Listen • 12:04

How Elections Shape Our City

#32: Alright LA. We may not see results for all races and issues for a few days, maybe even weeks. But regardless of who steps into the city's leadership roles – progressive or moderate – there are some big issues that they'll need to take on right away. Today we're hearing from voters about they want ... and we're talking to some experts about the best paths forward on some of our city's biggest issues.

Guests: Jody Armour, professor of law at the University of Southern California; Gary Painter, director of the homelessness policy research institute; Melissa Chinchilla, homelessness researcher at the University of California Los Angeles

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Listen • 12:31

Transcript

Listen • 12:31

Haven’t Voted Yet? These Young Angelenos Think You Should!

#31: Election Day is here! If there is any doubt about why you should go out and vote, we want you to listen to three people who not only vote but work hard to get their peers and other young folks engaged. Sure, they get jaded from time to time, but they are exercising their right and trying to make the change they want to see.

Guests: Clara Castronovo, UCLA student involved in a campaign that registers students to vote; Irene Rivera, senior policy advocate & organizer for the ACLU's Youth Liberty squad; and Catherine Estrada, political science student at UCLA

Transcript
Listen • 8:45

Transcript

Listen • 8:45

How To Choose an LA County Judge

#30: The race for L.A. Superior Court Judge might seem a little low profile... But did you know it draws the MOST questions from LA voters every election season? These judges weigh in on all sorts of cases from speeding tickets to murder. In other words, they're pretty important. If you're feeling like you need a little more info – don't worry. We got your back.

Guests:
Simona Grossi, professor at Loyola Law School, specializing in California civil procedure; Jerry Abeles, attorney and chair of the Los Angeles County Bar Association's Judicial Elections Evaluation Committee

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Listen • 11:38

Transcript

Listen • 11:38

LA Voter Guide + A Lighthouse Surprise

#29: November 8th – aka the last day to cast your ballot – is fast approaching. But don't worry, we've got answers to some voter FAQs to help get you ready. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos digs into LAist's Voter Game Plan, which has information on pretty much everything that's on the ballot in LA County and LA City.

And stick around for a lighthouse walk on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

Guests: Ariel Zirulnick, Senior Editor of Community Engagement; Lyn Watanabe, LA resident & longtime Palos Verdes devotee

Transcript
Listen • 11:38

Listen • 11:38

The Matriarch of Día de los Muertos in LA

#28: One of the first things to know about Día de los Muertos is that is NOT the Mexican Halloween. Brian sits down with Ofelia Esparza to talk about the true significance of the tradition for some Angelenos. Esparza is kinda like LA's matriarch for Day of the Dead and is the go-to artist to build an ofrenda in this town -- the alter built to remember loved ones who had died.

Guests: Ofelia Esparza, visual folk artist and teacher; Rossana Esparza Ahrens, artist and teacher
Listen • 11:51

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Listen • 11:51

BONUS: Time 2 Get Spooky, LA!

It's that time of year again so we just HAD to tell a few local ghost stories. We dug into the audio archives and found a few scary tales from L.A. that were once told to a colleague long ago... (ok, like 2018). These stories span the decades and take us from Kagel Canton to Koreatown to the L.A. Zoo. Oh, and you'll learn a little bit about the making of the Bradbury Building in Downtown LA. Enjoy!

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Listen • 11:32

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Listen • 11:32

The LAFC ARE Champs... The Fans Helped Them Get There

#27: The Los Angeles Football Club, LAFC, is inching closer to the MLS Cup. The team faces Austin FC on Sunday in the Conference Finals. Though the LAFC is the second soccer team in this city, and it has only been playing since 2018, it has a DEDICATED fan base. These folks aren't just about soccer but about creating community at every game. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos explores the spirit behind the LAFC supporters groups.

Guests:

Jimmy Lopez, founding member of the LAFC's Independent Supporters Union, the 3252. Now he’s Manager of Brand and Community for LAFC

Julia Barajas, community engagement reporter, LAist

NOTE: Since this podcast first aired, the Los Angeles Football Club, LAFC won the MLS Cup for the first time.

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Listen • 10:58

Transcript

Listen • 10:58

The Ripple Effects Of Antisemitism In LA

#26: Antisemitic incidents have been on the rise in Los Angeles and surrounding counties for the last few years. Now, the artist formerly known as Kanye West is amplifying the hate by spewing antisemitic and racist comments in interviews and on social media. It's not a new thing for him but its reached a crescendo in recent weeks and has had significant ripple effects right here in our city.

HTLA producers Megan Botel and Evan Jacoby talk to Jewish community members about what is happening, how to make sense of it ...and how to move forward.

Guests: Diane Winston, professor of media and religion at the University of Southern California; Rabbi Noah Farkas, CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles

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