For the finale, John does something he’s never done: the entire episode takes place in his car, including: Tom Petty's keyboardist, Benmont Tench, cramming his Casio into the back seat to play a very Off-Rampy song ... Off-Ramp’s first producer, Queena Kim, talks about the genesis of Off-Ramp ... Russ Parsons, the former LA Times food writer, and John talk about how food unites the diverse communities of Southern California, over a piece of delicious pie ... Two champions of local history and historic preservation – Charles Phoenix and Chris Nichols – talk about the joys of getting lost in Southern California ... Airtalk host Larry Mantle takes John to Pasadena’s historic Colorado Street Bridge ... And shhh! Don’t tell anyone … LA Mayor Eric Garcetti will be there, too. (PHOTO: A closed off-ramp on the 110 freeway. Credit John Rabe)
Listen
• 6:55
A carelessly placed leather-bound game case turned out to be a boon for the veteran radio host, who finally found out how to stop the Mayor's fast-paced schedule.
Listen
• 7:14
Benmont Tench III based his song "Like the Sun" on a tour of Los Angeles given to him by a friend, which opened his eyes to the city's true beauty.
Kings of Kitsch Nichols and Phoenix (mostly) manage not to talk over each other on the last Off-Ramp
Listen
• 9:03
Nichols and Phoenix - they never use each others' first names - have made careers celebrating creations that in their own day and age were seen as expendable. Now, we see them as touchstones of our history.
Listen
• 6:35
John and Russ Parsons hang out in John's car and talk about how food brings the city together, and what is humbling about being a culture or food journalist in LA.
Listen
• 10:02
She recalls covering a ten-theremin orchestra, and working on a show where she did what she always wanted to do. "It was almost like having a free pass to the city."
Listen
• 6:55
A carelessly placed leather-bound game case turned out to be a boon for the veteran radio host, who finally found out how to stop the Mayor's fast-paced schedule.
Listen
• 7:14
Benmont Tench III based his song "Like the Sun" on a tour of Los Angeles given to him by a friend, which opened his eyes to the city's true beauty.
Kings of Kitsch Nichols and Phoenix (mostly) manage not to talk over each other on the last Off-Ramp
Listen
• 9:03
Nichols and Phoenix - they never use each others' first names - have made careers celebrating creations that in their own day and age were seen as expendable. Now, we see them as touchstones of our history.
Listen
• 6:35
John and Russ Parsons hang out in John's car and talk about how food brings the city together, and what is humbling about being a culture or food journalist in LA.
Listen
• 10:02
She recalls covering a ten-theremin orchestra, and working on a show where she did what she always wanted to do. "It was almost like having a free pass to the city."