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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 6:47#38: Ever feel a little weird celebrating thanksgiving? It's easy to want to love a holiday that celebrates food, but this one is tied up in some pretty mucky American history. In this bonus episode, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is sitting down with LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán. They're talking about why Gab never celebrated growing up... and what he plans to cook this year for his family – because even if you have complicated feelings about Thanksgiving, its still really nice to gather for a meal with the people you love.
For more, check out Gab's article here: https://laist.com/news/food/my-familys-un-thanksgiving-celebration
Guest: Gab chabrán, LAist food editor
#38: Ever feel a little weird celebrating thanksgiving? It's easy to want to love a holiday that celebrates food, but this one is tied up in some pretty mucky American history. In this bonus episode, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is sitting down with LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán. They're talking about why Gab never celebrated growing up... and what he plans to cook this year for his family – because even if you have complicated feelings about Thanksgiving, its still really nice to gather for a meal with the people you love.
For more, check out Gab's article here: https://laist.com/news/food/my-familys-un-thanksgiving-celebration
Guest: Gab chabrán, LAist food editor
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Listen 13:46#37: It's Thanksgiving week, and today we're asking the question of what it means to be "American." It means something different to everyone. LAist's new series, "Being American," is exploring different meanings through reader essays submitted by Angelenos of all backgrounds. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is talking to LAist's Immigrant Communities Correspondent Leslie Berestein Rojas, who is overseeing the project.
Check out the series here: https://laist.com/news/essays/tell-us-your-american-story
Being "American Enough" in LA#37: It's Thanksgiving week, and today we're asking the question of what it means to be "American." It means something different to everyone. LAist's new series, "Being American," is exploring different meanings through reader essays submitted by Angelenos of all backgrounds. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is talking to LAist's Immigrant Communities Correspondent Leslie Berestein Rojas, who is overseeing the project.
Check out the series here: https://laist.com/news/essays/tell-us-your-american-story
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Listen 15:47(Update) #10: Since the news hit most of us on Sunday morning, we've been thinking about the mass shooting in Colorado Springs. A gunman opened fire in an LGBTQ nightclub, killing at least 5 people and wounding several others, just 6 years after another shooting in another LGBTQ club in Orlando, Florida. These incidents have hit the queer community hard as many, especially Black and Brown LGBTQ folks, still struggle to find their place, even in liberal places like L.A. As we reflect on this moment, we bring back a portion of a conversation we had with sociology professor Anthony Ocampo, author of the book Brown and Gay in LA, and talk to Tre'vell Anderson, host of the podcast FANTI.
(Update) #10: Since the news hit most of us on Sunday morning, we've been thinking about the mass shooting in Colorado Springs. A gunman opened fire in an LGBTQ nightclub, killing at least 5 people and wounding several others, just 6 years after another shooting in another LGBTQ club in Orlando, Florida. These incidents have hit the queer community hard as many, especially Black and Brown LGBTQ folks, still struggle to find their place, even in liberal places like L.A. As we reflect on this moment, we bring back a portion of a conversation we had with sociology professor Anthony Ocampo, author of the book Brown and Gay in LA, and talk to Tre'vell Anderson, host of the podcast FANTI.
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Listen 9:26#36: Sunsets are one of those few things that most Angelenos -- most people in general -- can agree on. When the sun goes down, and the sky changes colors, blue to orange and pink… It always makes you stop and enjoy, even if it’s just for a moment. There's a lot of beautiful spots in LA to catch it, too. We asked our listeners for some of their favorite sunset moments and they gave us these stories. It's been a wild couple of weeks so consider this your moment of zen. Enjoy!
#36: Sunsets are one of those few things that most Angelenos -- most people in general -- can agree on. When the sun goes down, and the sky changes colors, blue to orange and pink… It always makes you stop and enjoy, even if it’s just for a moment. There's a lot of beautiful spots in LA to catch it, too. We asked our listeners for some of their favorite sunset moments and they gave us these stories. It's been a wild couple of weeks so consider this your moment of zen. Enjoy!
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Listen 11:56#35: Riding a bike isn't exactly the safest way to get around in Los Angeles. The city introduced two programs in 2015 that were supposed to change that: Vision Zero, and the Mobility Plan 2035. But while there have been some new bike lanes installed, the city has been dragging its feet on funding. At the current rate, the planned projects wouldn't be completed for another 200 years... and meanwhile, traffic collision deaths are 58% higher than when they launched these programs seven years ago.
So today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is checking out some of the bike lanes in the city. We'll find out what's working, and what more needs to be done.
Guests: Ryan Fonseca, transportation and mobility reporter; and Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, mobility justice advocate
#35: Riding a bike isn't exactly the safest way to get around in Los Angeles. The city introduced two programs in 2015 that were supposed to change that: Vision Zero, and the Mobility Plan 2035. But while there have been some new bike lanes installed, the city has been dragging its feet on funding. At the current rate, the planned projects wouldn't be completed for another 200 years... and meanwhile, traffic collision deaths are 58% higher than when they launched these programs seven years ago.
So today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos is checking out some of the bike lanes in the city. We'll find out what's working, and what more needs to be done.
Guests: Ryan Fonseca, transportation and mobility reporter; and Yolanda Davis-Overstreet, mobility justice advocate
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Listen 11:25#34: Tired of refreshing your news feed for election results? Well, how about a quick adventure! In our latest trip through one of LA's neighborhoods, we hook up with HTLA listener and reader Andrea Martinez Gonzalez to take a tour of Angelino Heights, one of the oldest areas in the city. It's got some of the coolest and most diverse architecture around from Victorians to Craftsmans but, like so many places in LA, this once middle class enclave has become extremely unaffordable. Come check it out with us. And if you'd like to tell us what neighborhood to visit next, let us know here.
Guest: Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, HTLA listener and Angeleno Heights resident
#34: Tired of refreshing your news feed for election results? Well, how about a quick adventure! In our latest trip through one of LA's neighborhoods, we hook up with HTLA listener and reader Andrea Martinez Gonzalez to take a tour of Angelino Heights, one of the oldest areas in the city. It's got some of the coolest and most diverse architecture around from Victorians to Craftsmans but, like so many places in LA, this once middle class enclave has become extremely unaffordable. Come check it out with us. And if you'd like to tell us what neighborhood to visit next, let us know here.
Guest: Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, HTLA listener and Angeleno Heights resident
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Listen 10:01It's Cheap Fast Eats time again, and that means Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos. Glendale has a large Armenian population, and their flavors can be found all over the city. Need a new burger spot? Maybe dumplings? Well, Brian and Gab are digging into it all.
Still hungry? Well - Gab's got even more places to check out in this month's edition of Cheap Fast Eats.
Locations: Front Yard Burger, Khinkali House, Zhengyalov Hatz
Guest: LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán
It's Cheap Fast Eats time again, and that means Gab Chabrán is hitting the streets with HTLA host Brian De Los Santos. Glendale has a large Armenian population, and their flavors can be found all over the city. Need a new burger spot? Maybe dumplings? Well, Brian and Gab are digging into it all.
Still hungry? Well - Gab's got even more places to check out in this month's edition of Cheap Fast Eats.
Locations: Front Yard Burger, Khinkali House, Zhengyalov Hatz
Guest: LAist food editor, Gab Chabrán
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Listen 12:04#32: Alright LA. We may not see results for all races and issues for a few days, maybe even weeks. But regardless of who steps into the city's leadership roles – progressive or moderate – there are some big issues that they'll need to take on right away. Today we're hearing from voters about they want ... and we're talking to some experts about the best paths forward on some of our city's biggest issues.
Guests: Jody Armour, professor of law at the University of Southern California; Gary Painter, director of the homelessness policy research institute; Melissa Chinchilla, homelessness researcher at the University of California Los Angeles
#32: Alright LA. We may not see results for all races and issues for a few days, maybe even weeks. But regardless of who steps into the city's leadership roles – progressive or moderate – there are some big issues that they'll need to take on right away. Today we're hearing from voters about they want ... and we're talking to some experts about the best paths forward on some of our city's biggest issues.
Guests: Jody Armour, professor of law at the University of Southern California; Gary Painter, director of the homelessness policy research institute; Melissa Chinchilla, homelessness researcher at the University of California 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