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 • 10:43

Transcript

Listen • 10:43

How Much Power Does LA's City Council Really Have?

#25: The L.A. City Council has a LOT of power... But how do their decisions actually affect the lives of Angelenos? And how is it determined what areas of L.A. they control? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is looking for answers. He speaks with Caitlin Hernández, a reporter for LAist who's been been following the City Council and the fallout from the leaked tape scandal.

Also, don't forget -- there's an election happening. If you live in L.A. city, there are four council seats on the ballot.

Guests:

Caitlin Hernández, LA explained reporter for LAist
José Del Rio, political consultant active in the 2021 redistricting process.

Transcript
Listen • 9:54

Listen • 9:54

BONUS: This Boyle Heights Resident Doesn't Forgive Kevin De León

In this bonus episode of HTLA we hang out in Boyle Heights in Council District 14, repped by embattled councilperson Kevin de León. We talk to community activist and Órale Boyle Heights podcast host Erick Huerta, about the community's reactions to this leaked taped scandal and the fact that de León says he will not resign his post.

Guest: Erick Huerta, media organizer for East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, & host of the podcast Órale Boyle Heights
Listen • 12:50

Transcript

Listen • 12:50

So... What CAN I Recycle In LA?

#24: As humans, we produce a LOT of trash and only recycle about a third of it. Some new changes to California's recycling laws could help boost recycling rates, which, you know, could be good for the planet. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets the 411 on those changes and gets a first hand look at how L.A. County recycles its garbage.

Guests: Susan Collins, president of the Container Recycling Institute

Habib Kharrat, solid waste operations manager, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts

Transcript
Listen • 11:36

Transcript

Listen • 11:36

One Giant Bridge … To Save LA's Mountain Lions

#23: The largest wildlife crossing in the WORLD is being built right here in Los Angeles. It'll cross over 10 lanes of the 101 freeway - the deadliest road for mountain lions - to connect the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos meets up with Miguel Ordenaña, the guy who discovered one of LA's most famous mountain lions. They talk about what this crossing will mean for this city, and what it takes for projects like these to break ground.

Guest: Miguel Ordenaña, community science manager at the Natural History Museum.

Want to know more about the crossing? This article from LAist has got you covered:
The Earth Is Moving For The World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing

Transcript
Listen • 8:09

Transcript

Listen • 8:09

What Does LA's Mayor Even Do?

#22: LA is voting on a new mayor for the first time since 2013. Congresswoman Karen Bass is running against real-estate developer Rick Caruso. Each have different plans they argue would help improve things around this city, like homelessness. But mayors in LA don't have the power that other big city mayors do. It begs the question, what can the next mayor of Los Angeles really do?

Guest: Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.

Transcript
Listen • 11:25

Transcript

Listen • 11:25

Cheap Fast Eats #2: Long Beach

#21: HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán are back at it, searching for delicious (and affordable) grub. This time, they're featuring Cheap Fast Eats in Long Beach.

Locations: A&J Seafood Shack, Appu’s Cafe, Hamburgers Nice

Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor at LAist.

Transcript
Listen • 11:30

Transcript

Listen • 11:30

How To Jump On The Dodgers Bandwagon

#20: I’m not a Dodger fan… at least, not yet. But I know so many of you are! So today on HTLA, we’re learning all about what makes these games so fun to watch… Plus, their incredible season this year, which is leading them into the playoffs.

Guests: A Martínez, host of NPR's Morning Edition & Up First; Bianca Ramirez, operations director for KPCC & LAist; and Donald Paz, engineer for KPCC & LAist and HTLA music composer

Transcript
Listen • 10:52

Transcript

Listen • 10:52

LA's City Council Is a BIG Mess

#19: Leaked audio tapes from a Los Angeles City Council meeting contain racist remarks from the former council president, Nury Martinez. Many prominent L.A. politicians, including Sen. Alex Padilla, have called for everyone involved in the discussion to resign and take full responsibility for their actions. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos talks with community leaders and experts about the larger impact of this scandal and where this stems from.

Guests: Amir Whittaker, Senior Policy Counsel at the Southern California ACLU; Ange-Marie Hancock, gender studies professor at University of Southern California

Transcript