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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 9:54In this bonus episode of HTLA we hang out in Boyle Heights in Council District 14, repped by embattled councilperson Kevin de León. We talk to community activist and Órale Boyle Heights podcast host Erick Huerta, about the community's reactions to this leaked taped scandal and the fact that de León says he will not resign his post.
Guest: Erick Huerta, media organizer for East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, & host of the podcast Órale Boyle Heights
BONUS: This Boyle Heights Resident Doesn't Forgive Kevin De LeónIn this bonus episode of HTLA we hang out in Boyle Heights in Council District 14, repped by embattled councilperson Kevin de León. We talk to community activist and Órale Boyle Heights podcast host Erick Huerta, about the community's reactions to this leaked taped scandal and the fact that de León says he will not resign his post.
Guest: Erick Huerta, media organizer for East Yard Communities for Environmental Justice, & host of the podcast Órale Boyle Heights
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Listen 12:50#24: As humans, we produce a LOT of trash and only recycle about a third of it. Some new changes to California's recycling laws could help boost recycling rates, which, you know, could be good for the planet. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets the 411 on those changes and gets a first hand look at how L.A. County recycles its garbage.
Guests: Susan Collins, president of the Container Recycling Institute
Habib Kharrat, solid waste operations manager, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
#24: As humans, we produce a LOT of trash and only recycle about a third of it. Some new changes to California's recycling laws could help boost recycling rates, which, you know, could be good for the planet. HTLA host Brian De Los Santos gets the 411 on those changes and gets a first hand look at how L.A. County recycles its garbage.
Guests: Susan Collins, president of the Container Recycling Institute
Habib Kharrat, solid waste operations manager, Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts
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Listen 11:36#23: The largest wildlife crossing in the WORLD is being built right here in Los Angeles. It'll cross over 10 lanes of the 101 freeway - the deadliest road for mountain lions - to connect the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos meets up with Miguel Ordenaña, the guy who discovered one of LA's most famous mountain lions. They talk about what this crossing will mean for this city, and what it takes for projects like these to break ground.
Guest: Miguel Ordenaña, community science manager at the Natural History Museum.
Want to know more about the crossing? This article from LAist has got you covered:
The Earth Is Moving For The World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing
#23: The largest wildlife crossing in the WORLD is being built right here in Los Angeles. It'll cross over 10 lanes of the 101 freeway - the deadliest road for mountain lions - to connect the Santa Monica Mountains with the Simi Hills. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos meets up with Miguel Ordenaña, the guy who discovered one of LA's most famous mountain lions. They talk about what this crossing will mean for this city, and what it takes for projects like these to break ground.
Guest: Miguel Ordenaña, community science manager at the Natural History Museum.
Want to know more about the crossing? This article from LAist has got you covered:
The Earth Is Moving For The World’s Largest Wildlife Crossing
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Listen 8:09#22: LA is voting on a new mayor for the first time since 2013. Congresswoman Karen Bass is running against real-estate developer Rick Caruso. Each have different plans they argue would help improve things around this city, like homelessness. But mayors in LA don't have the power that other big city mayors do. It begs the question, what can the next mayor of Los Angeles really do?
Guest: Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.
#22: LA is voting on a new mayor for the first time since 2013. Congresswoman Karen Bass is running against real-estate developer Rick Caruso. Each have different plans they argue would help improve things around this city, like homelessness. But mayors in LA don't have the power that other big city mayors do. It begs the question, what can the next mayor of Los Angeles really do?
Guest: Fernando Guerra, professor of political science and founding director of the Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University.
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Listen 11:25#21: HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán are back at it, searching for delicious (and affordable) grub. This time, they're featuring Cheap Fast Eats in Long Beach.
Locations: A&J Seafood Shack, Appu’s Cafe, Hamburgers Nice
Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor at LAist.
#21: HTLA host Brian De Los Santos and LAist food editor Gab Chabrán are back at it, searching for delicious (and affordable) grub. This time, they're featuring Cheap Fast Eats in Long Beach.
Locations: A&J Seafood Shack, Appu’s Cafe, Hamburgers Nice
Guest: Gab Chabrán, food editor at LAist.
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Listen 11:30#20: I’m not a Dodger fan… at least, not yet. But I know so many of you are! So today on HTLA, we’re learning all about what makes these games so fun to watch… Plus, their incredible season this year, which is leading them into the playoffs.
Guests: A Martínez, host of NPR's Morning Edition & Up First; Bianca Ramirez, operations director for KPCC & LAist; and Donald Paz, engineer for KPCC & LAist and HTLA music composer
#20: I’m not a Dodger fan… at least, not yet. But I know so many of you are! So today on HTLA, we’re learning all about what makes these games so fun to watch… Plus, their incredible season this year, which is leading them into the playoffs.
Guests: A Martínez, host of NPR's Morning Edition & Up First; Bianca Ramirez, operations director for KPCC & LAist; and Donald Paz, engineer for KPCC & LAist and HTLA music composer
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Listen 10:52#19: Leaked audio tapes from a Los Angeles City Council meeting contain racist remarks from the former council president, Nury Martinez. Many prominent L.A. politicians, including Sen. Alex Padilla, have called for everyone involved in the discussion to resign and take full responsibility for their actions. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos talks with community leaders and experts about the larger impact of this scandal and where this stems from.
Guests: Amir Whittaker, Senior Policy Counsel at the Southern California ACLU; Ange-Marie Hancock, gender studies professor at University of Southern California
#19: Leaked audio tapes from a Los Angeles City Council meeting contain racist remarks from the former council president, Nury Martinez. Many prominent L.A. politicians, including Sen. Alex Padilla, have called for everyone involved in the discussion to resign and take full responsibility for their actions. Today, HTLA host Brian De Los Santos talks with community leaders and experts about the larger impact of this scandal and where this stems from.
Guests: Amir Whittaker, Senior Policy Counsel at the Southern California ACLU; Ange-Marie Hancock, gender studies professor at University of Southern California
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Listen 9:26#18: Climbing is a great way to connect with nature, or even just let off steam with friends. But the sport has a reputation of being somewhat exclusive. Today, HTLA newsletter writer Aaricka Washington is back in the studio with Brian De Los Santos. They're talking about Brown Girls Climb, a group that aims to increase representation of women of color in climbing communities. Aaricka learns to climb with them at one of their monthly meet ups in L.A.
Guests: Aaricka Washington, HTLA newsletter writer; Jaya Kang, Indira Orozco, & Shalaka Gole, local chapter leaders for Brown Girls Climb
#18: Climbing is a great way to connect with nature, or even just let off steam with friends. But the sport has a reputation of being somewhat exclusive. Today, HTLA newsletter writer Aaricka Washington is back in the studio with Brian De Los Santos. They're talking about Brown Girls Climb, a group that aims to increase representation of women of color in climbing communities. Aaricka learns to climb with them at one of their monthly meet ups in L.A.
Guests: Aaricka Washington, HTLA newsletter writer; Jaya Kang, Indira Orozco, & Shalaka Gole, local chapter leaders for Brown Girls Climb
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