Metro ridership was way down in June, but why?
There were around 6% fewer Los Angeles Metro bus and train riders in June compared to the same time last year, a drop that coincides with a more visible uptick in federal immigration enforcement, anti-ICE protests and a weeklong curfew in downtown L.A. June 2025 saw the fewest number of riders compared to any month since last February, according to an LAist analysis of Metro ridership data. The analysis looked at how many people rode every bus and train route each month since January 2024. Metro said reduction in riders could also to some extent be attributed to the 70-day closure of the D Line, which is scheduled to end later this month. Today on AirTalk, we check-in on LA Metro’s ridership with LAist transportation correspondent, Kavish Harjai. Join the conversation: Do you frequent the Metro? Have you seen these changes firsthand? Tell us about it by calling 866-893-5722 or emailing atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist
We reached out to Metro to join this conversation but they did not respond in time for the segment.
A new memoir explores the state of modern healthcare through the eyes of a paramedic
Ideally, people spend as little time in an ambulance as possible. They’re in the midst of a medical emergency, and are hopefully stabilized and transported to a medical facility capable of revitalizing them. For most, they’ll spend little if any of their lives in one of these vehicles. But for paramedics, the script is completely flipped. They not only have to work with people as they are actively in an emergency, but also need to act with urgency to provide immediate life saving care. Now, one paramedic has catalogued her 15 years spent in and out of an ambulance, and what it's taught her about herself, life, and the healthcare industry in a new book. Today on AirTalk, Joanna Sokol joins the program to talk about her new book A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance.
In our digital age, what low-tech solutions do you still rock with?
Need to drive somewhere? Whip out your phone and search up some directions. Need to eat? Whip out your phone and order some food. Need to tell your wife you love her and miss her dearly in the middle of the work day, even though miles of snaking freeways separate you? Whip out your phone and struggle to convey the full weight of your emotions over a string of ones and zeros. In our digital age, there’s very little that isn’t accessible from our smartphones. But just because phones are the quick way to do a lot of things, doesn’t mean they are always the “best” way. Sometimes that grainy Polaroid picture of you and your wife that a buddy took on that New Year’s night all those years ago holds far more sentimental value than a similar photo, crisp and bright, housed on your smartphone. Sometimes an old paper map leads you down an equally old, craggy road and towards memories you both still cherish. Sometimes, low-tech solutions just feel correct in the same way marrying the love of your life does. So today on AirTalk, we’re leaning into our inefficient side with Jose Briones, low tech lifestyle enthusiast, minimalist, and author of Low Tech Life: A Guide to Mindful Digital Minimalism, and learning what value low tech has to offer. We also want to hear from you! What’s a low-tech solution you still swear by, even though there’s a high-tech solution just begging to be used? Maybe you prefer reading a physical book over an e-book, or hey maybe you still swear by getting your flour from a literal windmill versus that machine process stuff. Whatever low-tech quirk you maintain, we want to hear about it! Give us a call at 866-893-5722, or you can email us at atcomments@laist.com.
Rancho Palos Verdes check-in: what to know about the city’s construction policies
As recently as last week, the city of Rancho Palos Verdes held a town hall meeting, where building codes and repairs was a major talking point. The city has considered an expanded ban on new construction in landslide-prone areas, including those at-risk of slide damage, but the policy proposal did garner concern from residents. Helping us to get into what was specifically spoken about at the town hall meeting, as well as the current landslide-related issues that Rancho Palos Verdes is experiencing, is LAist reporter Yusra Farzan. We’re also joined by David Bradley, mayor of Rancho Palos Verdes, who’ll offer more insights on how the city is handling the ongoing problem. Do you have a question or comment? Join the conversation by calling us at 866-893-5722 or emailing atcomments@laist.com.
With files from LAist
A look at the present and future state of the podcast industry
Podcasting, by nature, has long been chained to the realm of our ears. It’s an audio first medium where stories are told and heard through the spoken word. But increasingly, listeners of podcasts are also becoming watchers of them. In February, Youtube announced that over one billion people each month were watching podcasts on the video streaming platform. So what’s behind this rise in video-first podcasting, and what’s the state of the industry overall? Joining us today on AirTalk is Paul Riismandel, president of Signal Hill, a company specializing in audio research, Eric Nuzum, long-time podcast strategist and co-owner of Magnificent Noise, a production and consulting firm, and Marshall Lewy, chief content officer of Wondery. We also want to hear from you! Have your podcast listening habits changed? Call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
