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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 14:14#68: The How to LA team is checking out yet another neighborhood: Mid-City. Listener and TV producer Nisa Ahmad answered our call about what area of L.A. we should visit next and her love of this neighborhood lured us in. Officially, L.A.'s Mid-City region is bound by Pico and the 10 Freeway to the north and south, Crenshaw and Robertson to the east and west. Still, the EXACT area is a little squishy for some. Wherever it is, it's got a lot going on.
Join us as we learn about what makes this place special, from tree-lined streets to soul food eats...and get Nisa's tips on where to get some good pan dulce and hear some live jazz.
Guest: TV producer, and How to LA listener/reader, Nisa Ahmad
Exploring The Food, Fun And History of Mid-City#68: The How to LA team is checking out yet another neighborhood: Mid-City. Listener and TV producer Nisa Ahmad answered our call about what area of L.A. we should visit next and her love of this neighborhood lured us in. Officially, L.A.'s Mid-City region is bound by Pico and the 10 Freeway to the north and south, Crenshaw and Robertson to the east and west. Still, the EXACT area is a little squishy for some. Wherever it is, it's got a lot going on.
Join us as we learn about what makes this place special, from tree-lined streets to soul food eats...and get Nisa's tips on where to get some good pan dulce and hear some live jazz.
Guest: TV producer, and How to LA listener/reader, Nisa Ahmad
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Listen 15:35#67: When people think Los Angeles, they don't exactly think soul food. But this city actually has a rich (and delicious) soul food scene mostly in South LA. In this episode, we explore the origins of this epic cuisine, and how it plays a huge role in preserving Black history and culture. We visit South LA soul food staples Serving Spoon in Inglewood, and Mama's Chicken in Hyde Park.
Guests: Christopher Carter, food and racial justice professor and author of the Spirit of Soul Food; Karen "Mama" Whitman, owner of Mama's Chicken
How The West Coast Soul Food Flavor Was Born#67: When people think Los Angeles, they don't exactly think soul food. But this city actually has a rich (and delicious) soul food scene mostly in South LA. In this episode, we explore the origins of this epic cuisine, and how it plays a huge role in preserving Black history and culture. We visit South LA soul food staples Serving Spoon in Inglewood, and Mama's Chicken in Hyde Park.
Guests: Christopher Carter, food and racial justice professor and author of the Spirit of Soul Food; Karen "Mama" Whitman, owner of Mama's Chicken
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Listen 7:25#66: On certain holidays – like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day – flower vendors are out in force on the streets of LA, selling all sorts of goodies on corners, major boulevards or at the end of freeway off ramps. But what does it take to make that hustle happen? How did they get there? And do they make much money doing it? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and the team spent the day finding out.
On Valentines Day In LA, Love Has A Price#66: On certain holidays – like Valentine's Day and Mother's Day – flower vendors are out in force on the streets of LA, selling all sorts of goodies on corners, major boulevards or at the end of freeway off ramps. But what does it take to make that hustle happen? How did they get there? And do they make much money doing it? HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and the team spent the day finding out.
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To Live And Love In LA#65 It's not easy to find love in the big city but it DOES happen. In this episode we hear from YOU, Angelenos who found love in LA -- love for their partner, love for their friends and, most of all, love for this wild and expansive place we call home. Take a listen.
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Listen 57:47#64: It's HTLA's first live special! Brian De Los Santos is teaming up with LAist food editor Gab Chabran at the Crawford Family Forum to interview some of their favorite Cheap Fast Eats chefs from the downtown episode. They'll explore what it's like to run a kitchen in downtown LA, how they survived the pandemic, their favorite things to cook, and much more.
Don't miss the next live event! If you're signed up for our newsletter, you'll be the first to know where to buy your tickets. Check it out at LAist.com/HowToLA
Live Guests:
- Claudia and Laura Barrera, co-owners of Burrito Break
- Jennifer Feltham, co-owner of Sonoratown taco shop
- Moderna Cocina Libre owner Denice Mendez and chef Pablo Ricardo Vega
HTLA, Live! The Chefs Behind Cheap Fast Eats#64: It's HTLA's first live special! Brian De Los Santos is teaming up with LAist food editor Gab Chabran at the Crawford Family Forum to interview some of their favorite Cheap Fast Eats chefs from the downtown episode. They'll explore what it's like to run a kitchen in downtown LA, how they survived the pandemic, their favorite things to cook, and much more.
Don't miss the next live event! If you're signed up for our newsletter, you'll be the first to know where to buy your tickets. Check it out at LAist.com/HowToLA
Live Guests:
- Claudia and Laura Barrera, co-owners of Burrito Break
- Jennifer Feltham, co-owner of Sonoratown taco shop
- Moderna Cocina Libre owner Denice Mendez and chef Pablo Ricardo Vega
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Listen 15:10#63: Ever wonder why certain things in LA work the way they do? Well, we've got you covered. This is our new segment, LA Explained, with Caitlin Hernández. They'll be joining us to answer YOUR questions about this city. Up first: How do LA's streets get their names?
Guests: Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist; Mark Tapio Kines, writer of LA Street Names.
Check out Mark's website: LAstreetnames.com
Also, take a look at Caitlin's article on LAist: Why Does LA Have So Many Roads With The Same Name?
#63: Ever wonder why certain things in LA work the way they do? Well, we've got you covered. This is our new segment, LA Explained, with Caitlin Hernández. They'll be joining us to answer YOUR questions about this city. Up first: How do LA's streets get their names?
Guests: Caitlin Hernández, LA Explained reporter for LAist; Mark Tapio Kines, writer of LA Street Names.
Check out Mark's website: LAstreetnames.com
Also, take a look at Caitlin's article on LAist: Why Does LA Have So Many Roads With The Same Name?
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Listen 13:25#62: If you’re like a LOT of California residents, you spent way too much on your natural gas bill for January. The price to heat your home has been kind of out of control… like three times what people typically pay each month. Governor Gavin Newsom is actually calling for an investigation into why it's been so high.
Now, the good news is the price spike is expected to fall for February. But prices are still WELL above what they were last year.
Today, we're explaining why gas prices went soaring in California. We'll also give you a few tips on how you can control the cold in your home.
Guests: William Boyd, professor at UCLA's Institute of Environment and Sustainability; Caitlin Hernández, reporter, L.A. Explained, LAist
To get more tips and tricks to protect your home from heat leakage, check out Caitlin's article:
Southern California Is Very Chilly (Again). Here’s How To Keep Heat From Leaking Out Of Your Home
And here's another one info from Caitlin on how to level out your gas bill:
Can’t Afford Another Mammoth Gas Bill? Averaging Your Yearly Bill Can Help You Smooth Out The Spikes
#62: If you’re like a LOT of California residents, you spent way too much on your natural gas bill for January. The price to heat your home has been kind of out of control… like three times what people typically pay each month. Governor Gavin Newsom is actually calling for an investigation into why it's been so high.
Now, the good news is the price spike is expected to fall for February. But prices are still WELL above what they were last year.
Today, we're explaining why gas prices went soaring in California. We'll also give you a few tips on how you can control the cold in your home.
Guests: William Boyd, professor at UCLA's Institute of Environment and Sustainability; Caitlin Hernández, reporter, L.A. Explained, LAist
To get more tips and tricks to protect your home from heat leakage, check out Caitlin's article:
Southern California Is Very Chilly (Again). Here’s How To Keep Heat From Leaking Out Of Your Home
And here's another one info from Caitlin on how to level out your gas bill:
Can’t Afford Another Mammoth Gas Bill? Averaging Your Yearly Bill Can Help You Smooth Out The Spikes
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Listen 35:51BONUS: Hey, How To LA listeners, this is Brian De Los Santos. We're doing something a little different and bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast Code Switch. My colleague Josie Huang is talking to one of their hosts about the mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, and what it says about the dark side of the Asian American dream. I hope you like it.
HTLA Presents: NPR's Code SwitchBONUS: Hey, How To LA listeners, this is Brian De Los Santos. We're doing something a little different and bringing you an episode of the NPR podcast Code Switch. My colleague Josie Huang is talking to one of their hosts about the mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, and what it says about the dark side of the Asian American dream. I hope you like it.
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