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Podcasts
Imperfect Paradise
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Imperfect Paradise
The Show About Hidden Worlds and Messy Realities

About The Show

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.

Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Funding provided by:

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Episodes
  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen • 20:51
    Listen • 20:51
    An LA Commission created to tackle city government scandals is being stymied
    A charter reform commission was created in 2024 in response to a bunch of Los Angeles city government scandals, including the leak of a racist tape featuring City Council President Nury Martinez. One of the commission’s aims was to modify the LA charter, which is basically the city’s constitution. But reports indicate that this commission is actually struggling to do its job – and there are calls for transparency around its very structure. LAist Watchdog Correspondent Jordan Rynning joins us to talk about the commission’s issues and how this work will affect the lives of everyday Angelenos. 

  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen • 23:27
    Listen • 23:27
    Reports about failures in response to the January LA fires and a 2018 fire have striking similarities
    A new report details the Eaton and Palisades fires, including failures in the emergency response. But this report bears striking similarities with another -- which chronicled the response to the 2018 Woolsey Fire in Southern California. LAist science reporter Jacob Margolis discusses the reports and what they mean for L.A. County moving forward.

  • Listen • 45:36
    Transcript
    Episode 5
    Listen • 45:36
    The Forgotten Revolutionary - Part 5
    Was Oscar going to leave the Chicano student movement? Adolfo discovers new information about Oscar’s last months. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

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

    Transcript
  • Listen • 36:38
    Transcript
    Episode 4
    Listen • 36:38
    The Forgotten Revolutionary - Part 4
    Adolfo finds a briefcase with information that could lead to clues about Oscar’s death. 
    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

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

    Transcript
  • Listen • 36:25
    Transcript
    Episode 3
    Listen • 36:25
    The Forgotten Revolutionary - Part 3
    Adolfo gets his first lead on a person possibly involved in Oscar’s death.
    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

    Transcript
  • Listen • 45:30
    Transcript
    Episode 2
    Listen • 45:30
    The Forgotten Revolutionary - Part 2
    Adolfo learns that there was a dark side to Oscar’s experience in the Chicano student movement. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

    Transcript
  • Listen • 30:29
    Transcript
    Episode 1
    Listen • 30:29
    The Forgotten Revolutionary - Part 1
    Oscar Gomez was a star of the 1990s Chicano student movement and then, unexpectedly, he died. A rattling event in host Adolfo Guzman-Lopez’s life spurs him to investigate Oscar’s death. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

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

    Transcript
  • Listen • 4:08
    Listen • 4:08
    Introducing Season 2: Imperfect Paradise - The Forgotten Revolutionary
    In the early 1990’s, hateful anti-immigrant political rhetoric roused California’s Chicano student rights movement, and college student and radio host Oscar Gomez was one of its most prominent voices. Some thought he was going to be the next Cesar Chavez. But on November 17, 1994, Oscar was mysteriously found dead on the Santa Barbara shore. 

    Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionaryfollows host and reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez as he investigates Oscar’s death and revisits his own past and ties to the Chicano movement.

    The Forgotten Revolutionary is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/imperfect

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • Listen • 30:15
    Episode 3
    Listen • 30:15
    Home is Life: Episode 3
    David attempts to rally his supporters, some of whom find themselves conflicted.
    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

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

  • Listen • 21:36
    Episode 2
    Listen • 21:36
    Home is Life: Episode 2
    A tour of similar housing projects goes off the rails, and ends up doing more harm than good to David’s cause.

    Visit Talkspace.com and get $100 off your first month when you use promo code imperfect at sign-up.

    Go to HelloFresh.com/imperfect16 and use code imperfect16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • Listen • 20:05
    Transcript
    Episode 1
    Listen • 20:05
    Home is Life: Episode 1
    David Gillanders wants to build housing for people experiencing homelessness in Orange County. When his idea hits more opposition than expected, city officials send him out to try to win over the neighborhood.
    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist
    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    Transcript
Credits
Antonia Cereijido
Host
Natalie Chudnovsky
Senior Producer
STAFF-HEADSHOTS-2023
James Chow
Producer, LAist Studios
E. Scott Kelly
Audio Production Engineer
Catherine Mailhouse
Catherine Mailhouse
Director of Content Development, LAist Studios