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How To LA
How To LA helped curious Angelenos connect with others, discover the new, navigate the confusing, and even drive some change along the way. Host Brian De Los Santos brought you stories about L.A., for L.A., by L.A. — with your help — from August 2022 to July 2025.
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Episodes
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Listen 50:06This 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.
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 SteamThis 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 24:30Hey there! After 317 new episodes, the How to LA team is turning the page. We won't be producing weekly episodes anymore, but you'll hear our reporting on LAist 89.3 FM, on our website and on social media. Before we exited the party, we wanted to hang out with our homies, comadres and contributors one last time.
Thank you for lettings us in your homes, speakers and communities. Follow along at LAist.com/newsletters and Instagram.
Guests:
Gab Chabrán, LAist food editor
Cato Hernández, LAist reporter
Joshua Letona, LAist social media producer
Erin Stone, LAist reporter
Antonia Cereijido, LAist Studios host
Monica Bushman, LAist Studios producer
Victoria Alejandro, LAist Studios producer
Hasta luego, friends ❤️Hey there! After 317 new episodes, the How to LA team is turning the page. We won't be producing weekly episodes anymore, but you'll hear our reporting on LAist 89.3 FM, on our website and on social media. Before we exited the party, we wanted to hang out with our homies, comadres and contributors one last time.
Thank you for lettings us in your homes, speakers and communities. Follow along at LAist.com/newsletters and Instagram.
Guests:
Gab Chabrán, LAist food editor
Cato Hernández, LAist reporter
Joshua Letona, LAist social media producer
Erin Stone, LAist reporter
Antonia Cereijido, LAist Studios host
Monica Bushman, LAist Studios producer
Victoria Alejandro, LAist Studios producer
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Listen 17:04#81: Cheap Fast Eats is back with it's first ever late-night extravaganza. And where else but Koreatown? The historic neighborhood features delicious foods from a variety of cultures, from Korean to Oaxacan, and everything in between. Join Gab Chabrán and Brian De Los Santos as they eat their way through LA's late-night neighborhood.
Featured Restaurants: Love Hour, Guelaguetza, and Two Hands Corn Dogs.
Check out Gab's full list of Koreatown's Cheap Fast Eats over on LAist.com:
https://laist.com/news/food/asian-american-pizza-the-beating-heart-of-oaxacalifornia-and-hot-cheeto-incrusted-corn-dogs-cheap-fast-eats-visits-koreatown-after-dark
Cheap Fast Eats #6: K-Town, After Dark!#81: Cheap Fast Eats is back with it's first ever late-night extravaganza. And where else but Koreatown? The historic neighborhood features delicious foods from a variety of cultures, from Korean to Oaxacan, and everything in between. Join Gab Chabrán and Brian De Los Santos as they eat their way through LA's late-night neighborhood.
Featured Restaurants: Love Hour, Guelaguetza, and Two Hands Corn Dogs.
Check out Gab's full list of Koreatown's Cheap Fast Eats over on LAist.com:
https://laist.com/news/food/asian-american-pizza-the-beating-heart-of-oaxacalifornia-and-hot-cheeto-incrusted-corn-dogs-cheap-fast-eats-visits-koreatown-after-dark
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Listen 15:37#80. For many Latino kids in the 2000s in L.A., the party crew scene was it. There were "underground" parties happening in places all over the SGV and Eastside neighborhoods that provided spaces to make friends, have fun and escape the pressures of immigrant parents and the harsh realities of the world. But there were risks. There were shootings and police raids. Many adults saw the scene as gang-adjacent and the media fueled negative stereotypes of kids who were out of control. One of the teens who got caught in that narrative was Emmery Muñoz, after she was murdered in 2006.
How to LA's Brian De Los Santos talks to Janice Llamoca, host of a new podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story, about growing up in L.A. during this time and what this scene meant for teens like her and Emmery.
Read more about it here: https://laist.com/news/emmery-munoz-strangled-homicide-party-crews-cold-case
Guest: Janice Llamoca, host of Party Crews: The Untold Story, from LAist Studios and Vice
How to LA is produced by a non-profit newsroom. Please support How To LA by donating now at LAist.com/joinHTLA
LA Teens Found 'Safe' Spaces In Party Crews. But There Was A Cost#80. For many Latino kids in the 2000s in L.A., the party crew scene was it. There were "underground" parties happening in places all over the SGV and Eastside neighborhoods that provided spaces to make friends, have fun and escape the pressures of immigrant parents and the harsh realities of the world. But there were risks. There were shootings and police raids. Many adults saw the scene as gang-adjacent and the media fueled negative stereotypes of kids who were out of control. One of the teens who got caught in that narrative was Emmery Muñoz, after she was murdered in 2006.
How to LA's Brian De Los Santos talks to Janice Llamoca, host of a new podcast Party Crews: The Untold Story, about growing up in L.A. during this time and what this scene meant for teens like her and Emmery.
Read more about it here: https://laist.com/news/emmery-munoz-strangled-homicide-party-crews-cold-case
Guest: Janice Llamoca, host of Party Crews: The Untold Story, from LAist Studios and Vice
How to LA is produced by a non-profit newsroom. Please support How To LA by donating now at LAist.com/joinHTLA
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Listen 16:55#79: The winners of the 38th annual LA Marathon. were elite runners Stacy Ndiwa, with a time of 2 hours and 31 minutes, and Jemal Yimer with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds.
In total, about 20,000 people completed the race on Sunday, including our very own newsletter writer, Aaricka Washington, who ran that 26.2 miles in a little over 6 hours. It was the first time she's run a marathon and she says she'll do it again.
Today she's joining Brian De Los Santos for a look back at her training process, and how the running community she found in L.A. motivated her every step of the way.
If running a marathon is something you've been thinking about, read about the 10 Lessons she learned along the way and check out a list of local run clubs in L.A. here: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/ive-never-run-26-2-miles-before-but-this-sunday-i-will
Guests: Alrick “Butta” Augustine, founder of Keep It Run Hundred run club; Sharon McNary, reporter and long-time resident marathon expert for LAist.
At The LA Marathon, Community Cheers You Across The Finish-Line#79: The winners of the 38th annual LA Marathon. were elite runners Stacy Ndiwa, with a time of 2 hours and 31 minutes, and Jemal Yimer with a time of 2 hours, 13 minutes and 13 seconds.
In total, about 20,000 people completed the race on Sunday, including our very own newsletter writer, Aaricka Washington, who ran that 26.2 miles in a little over 6 hours. It was the first time she's run a marathon and she says she'll do it again.
Today she's joining Brian De Los Santos for a look back at her training process, and how the running community she found in L.A. motivated her every step of the way.
If running a marathon is something you've been thinking about, read about the 10 Lessons she learned along the way and check out a list of local run clubs in L.A. here: https://laist.com/news/how-to-la/ive-never-run-26-2-miles-before-but-this-sunday-i-will
Guests: Alrick “Butta” Augustine, founder of Keep It Run Hundred run club; Sharon McNary, reporter and long-time resident marathon expert for LAist.
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Listen 14:16#78: L.A. is the music capital of the world. It's where all the big studios are, almost every famous musician lives here, there are major concerts every night of the week. BUT, with huge price tags for concerts these days (and soaring ticketing platform fees...) it can feel hard to find places to see live music that are actually accessible (i.e. free or cheap).
Today, HTLA producers Evan Jacoby and Megan Botel take you to a few spots around town where you can see live music without breaking the bank.
The Venice West is a restaurant, bar and music venue in Venice. Hear all genres of live music, Tuesday - Sunday nights. Check out the show calendar and buy tickets here.
The Smell is an all-ages punk venue in Downtown LA with shows most nights of the week. All shows are $5. Check show calendar here.
Industry Cafe and Jazz is an Ethiopian restaurant and Jazz lounge in Culver City. Open with live Jazz bands Wednesday - Sunday, sets at 6:30pm and 8pm.
Where to Catch Live Music in LA for Free (or Cheap!)#78: L.A. is the music capital of the world. It's where all the big studios are, almost every famous musician lives here, there are major concerts every night of the week. BUT, with huge price tags for concerts these days (and soaring ticketing platform fees...) it can feel hard to find places to see live music that are actually accessible (i.e. free or cheap).
Today, HTLA producers Evan Jacoby and Megan Botel take you to a few spots around town where you can see live music without breaking the bank.
The Venice West is a restaurant, bar and music venue in Venice. Hear all genres of live music, Tuesday - Sunday nights. Check out the show calendar and buy tickets here.
The Smell is an all-ages punk venue in Downtown LA with shows most nights of the week. All shows are $5. Check show calendar here.
Industry Cafe and Jazz is an Ethiopian restaurant and Jazz lounge in Culver City. Open with live Jazz bands Wednesday - Sunday, sets at 6:30pm and 8pm.
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Listen 17:26#77: Lots of Angelinos live without a car – and hundreds of thousands of people here don't use a car in their daily commute. But... it is definitely NOT the norm. HTLA Producer Evan Jacoby recently joined the car-less when he switched to a bike last fall.
Today, he's showing fellow producer Megan Botel his work commute. And they're talking with people across LA about how limiting their car use, or even going car-free, changed their lives for the better.
Guests: Fabian Santiago, Sahian Huesca, & Andrew McLeod
How To Live Car-Free — In the Car Capital of the World#77: Lots of Angelinos live without a car – and hundreds of thousands of people here don't use a car in their daily commute. But... it is definitely NOT the norm. HTLA Producer Evan Jacoby recently joined the car-less when he switched to a bike last fall.
Today, he's showing fellow producer Megan Botel his work commute. And they're talking with people across LA about how limiting their car use, or even going car-free, changed their lives for the better.
Guests: Fabian Santiago, Sahian Huesca, & Andrew McLeod
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Listen 17:01#76: L.A. loves its lawns. And while a whole lotta you have transitioned to more drought-tolerant yards, there is still a lot of grass in front of most homes out there.
Statewide, about half of household water usage goes to outdoor landscaping. AND to stay looking nice and green….lawns require more irrigation than any other agricultural crop.
But how, in this desert climate of ours, did lush, green lawns become so popular? And how can we replace this water-guzzling crop with climate-appropriate alternatives?
LAist’s climate emergency reporter Erin Stone and producer Megan Botel head to the Los Angeles County Arboretum to find out.
Guest: Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum
Check out Erin's article for more on the history and future of lawns in LA.
Why We Love Our Lawns... And Why It's Time To Let Go#76: L.A. loves its lawns. And while a whole lotta you have transitioned to more drought-tolerant yards, there is still a lot of grass in front of most homes out there.
Statewide, about half of household water usage goes to outdoor landscaping. AND to stay looking nice and green….lawns require more irrigation than any other agricultural crop.
But how, in this desert climate of ours, did lush, green lawns become so popular? And how can we replace this water-guzzling crop with climate-appropriate alternatives?
LAist’s climate emergency reporter Erin Stone and producer Megan Botel head to the Los Angeles County Arboretum to find out.
Guest: Richard Schulhof, CEO of the Los Angeles County Arboretum
Check out Erin's article for more on the history and future of lawns in LA.
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Listen 34:03BONUS: The Oscars are Sunday and, as an L.A.-focused show, we gotta get into it somehow, right? Our friends with LAist Studios' Academy Museum pod are gonna help us out.
This episode looks back at the historic night in 2002 when Halle Berry became the first - and still only - Black woman to win the Academy Award for best actress.
The category has been one of the least diverse acting categories in the history of the ceremony. For this reason and others, Oscars Night 2002 holds particular historical significance.
Take a listen. If you like what you hear, you can catch more episodes here: https://laist.com/podcasts/the-academy-museum-podcast
HTLA Presents: The Academy Museum PodcastBONUS: The Oscars are Sunday and, as an L.A.-focused show, we gotta get into it somehow, right? Our friends with LAist Studios' Academy Museum pod are gonna help us out.
This episode looks back at the historic night in 2002 when Halle Berry became the first - and still only - Black woman to win the Academy Award for best actress.
The category has been one of the least diverse acting categories in the history of the ceremony. For this reason and others, Oscars Night 2002 holds particular historical significance.
Take a listen. If you like what you hear, you can catch more episodes here: https://laist.com/podcasts/the-academy-museum-podcast
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Listen 16:45#75: LAX may feel like one of the more frustrating airports out there, but it really is the front door to this city. Yes, it's always jammed, always under construction... And getting out of there on a Sunday night can feel impossible. But today, we're gonna explore some of the things that make this airport an integral part of our home.
LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernandez is taking you to the airport with producer Evan Jacoby to check it all out, and talk to employees and passengers about the past, present and future of this international hub.
Check out Caitlin's article for more LAX history, and of course, TSA tips and tricks: https://laist.com/news/transportation/lax-explained-airport-travel-guide-los-angeles
LA Explained: The Past, Present & Future of LAX#75: LAX may feel like one of the more frustrating airports out there, but it really is the front door to this city. Yes, it's always jammed, always under construction... And getting out of there on a Sunday night can feel impossible. But today, we're gonna explore some of the things that make this airport an integral part of our home.
LA Explained reporter Caitlin Hernandez is taking you to the airport with producer Evan Jacoby to check it all out, and talk to employees and passengers about the past, present and future of this international hub.
Check out Caitlin's article for more LAX history, and of course, TSA tips and tricks: https://laist.com/news/transportation/lax-explained-airport-travel-guide-los-angeles
Support & Credits
Brian De Los Santos, Host
Victoria Alejandro, Producer
Megan Botel, Producer
Monica Bushman, Producer
Evan Jacoby, Producer
Aaricka Washington, Associate Editor
Megan Larson, Executive Producer