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Imperfect Paradise

LAist's weekly on-demand news magazine show that pulls back the curtain and dives deeper into the biggest and most consequential SoCal stories of the week from our newsroom. New episodes drop every Friday.
  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen 29:31
    As the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues, we explore what’s happening on the legal side of immigration enforcement. One group of court observers at the Santa Ana Immigration Court is trying to help immigrants and asylum-seekers who appear there get a fair shot under the law. 

    LAist Orange County Correspondent Jill Replogle tells us about her experience following the court observers and how what’s happening in these courtrooms determines the fate of undocumented immigrants across the U.S. We also discuss how immigrants, lawyers, and even judges are trying to keep up with the administration’s rapidly evolving immigration policies.

    Read more of Jill's reporting at LAist.com.

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    Inside an Orange County immigration court. What it reveals about the Trump Administration’s changing policies
    As the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown continues, we explore what’s happening on the legal side of immigration enforcement. One group of court observers at the Santa Ana Immigration Court is trying to help immigrants and asylum-seekers who appear there get a fair shot under the law. 

    LAist Orange County Correspondent Jill Replogle tells us about her experience following the court observers and how what’s happening in these courtrooms determines the fate of undocumented immigrants across the U.S. We also discuss how immigrants, lawyers, and even judges are trying to keep up with the administration’s rapidly evolving immigration policies.

    Read more of Jill's reporting at LAist.com.

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen 20:19
    Catastrophic fires are becoming more and more common across California. After-action reports about the fires and other disasters can help officials prevent past mistakes. But the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or CalOES, has failed to deliver legally mandated reports on time following disasters for years. LAist Science Reporter Jacob Margolis looks at why the agency is so far behind, whether anyone is being held accountable and the worrying consequences for all Californians when we can’t learn from past emergencies until years later.

    After disasters, California mandates timely reports. Why it matters that more than 100 of them are years overdue
    Catastrophic fires are becoming more and more common across California. After-action reports about the fires and other disasters can help officials prevent past mistakes. But the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, or CalOES, has failed to deliver legally mandated reports on time following disasters for years. LAist Science Reporter Jacob Margolis looks at why the agency is so far behind, whether anyone is being held accountable and the worrying consequences for all Californians when we can’t learn from past emergencies until years later.

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  • Listen 36:25
    Adolfo gets his first lead on a person possibly involved in Oscar’s death.
    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

    Adolfo gets his first lead on a person possibly involved in Oscar’s death.
    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

  • Listen 45:30
    Adolfo learns that there was a dark side to Oscar’s experience in the Chicano student movement. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

    Adolfo learns that there was a dark side to Oscar’s experience in the Chicano student movement. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people

  • Listen 30:29
    Oscar Gomez was a star of the 1990s Chicano student movement and then, unexpectedly, he died. A rattling event in host Adolfo Guzman-Lopez’s life spurs him to investigate Oscar’s death. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    Oscar Gomez was a star of the 1990s Chicano student movement and then, unexpectedly, he died. A rattling event in host Adolfo Guzman-Lopez’s life spurs him to investigate Oscar’s death. 

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • Listen 4:08
    In the early 1990’s, hateful anti-immigrant political rhetoric roused California’s Chicano student rights movement, and college student and radio host Oscar Gomez was one of its most prominent voices. Some thought he was going to be the next Cesar Chavez. But on November 17, 1994, Oscar was mysteriously found dead on the Santa Barbara shore. 

    Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionaryfollows host and reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez as he investigates Oscar’s death and revisits his own past and ties to the Chicano movement.

    The Forgotten Revolutionary is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/imperfect

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    Introducing Season 2: Imperfect Paradise - The Forgotten Revolutionary
    In the early 1990’s, hateful anti-immigrant political rhetoric roused California’s Chicano student rights movement, and college student and radio host Oscar Gomez was one of its most prominent voices. Some thought he was going to be the next Cesar Chavez. But on November 17, 1994, Oscar was mysteriously found dead on the Santa Barbara shore. 

    Imperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionaryfollows host and reporter Adolfo Guzman-Lopez as he investigates Oscar’s death and revisits his own past and ties to the Chicano movement.

    The Forgotten Revolutionary is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/imperfect

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live. This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • Listen 30:15
    David attempts to rally his supporters, some of whom find themselves conflicted.
    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    Home is Life: Episode 3
    David attempts to rally his supporters, some of whom find themselves conflicted.
    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • Listen 21:36
    A tour of similar housing projects goes off the rails, and ends up doing more harm than good to David’s cause.

    Visit Talkspace.com and get $100 off your first month when you use promo code imperfect at sign-up.

    Go to HelloFresh.com/imperfect16 and use code imperfect16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    Home is Life: Episode 2
    A tour of similar housing projects goes off the rails, and ends up doing more harm than good to David’s cause.

    Visit Talkspace.com and get $100 off your first month when you use promo code imperfect at sign-up.

    Go to HelloFresh.com/imperfect16 and use code imperfect16 for up to 16 free meals AND 3 free gifts!

    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist

    Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.
    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

  • Listen 20:05
    David Gillanders wants to build housing for people experiencing homelessness in Orange County. When his idea hits more opposition than expected, city officials send him out to try to win over the neighborhood.
    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist
    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    David Gillanders wants to build housing for people experiencing homelessness in Orange County. When his idea hits more opposition than expected, city officials send him out to try to win over the neighborhood.
    This LAist Studios podcast is sponsored by BetterHelp and our listeners get 10% off their first month of online therapy at BetterHelp.com/LAist
    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

Credits

Antonia Cereijido, Host
Nereida Moreno, Host
Monica Bushman, Producer
James Chow, Producer
Anjuli Sastry, Senior Producer
Catherine Mailhouse, Executive Producer & Dir. of Content Development
E. Scott Kelly, Audio Production Engineer