California Sun Podcast

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Pico Iyer's half known life Aug 17, 2023

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Pico Iyer gives us an end of summer lift in today's podcast. The long-time travel writer and philosopher reflects on the persistent human struggle to understand the world and find peace. Despite millennia of evolution, division and conflict remain central to civilization. While science offers definitive answers, understanding life and relationships is more complex, according to Iyer, a longtime California figure. He says we each search for solace, aiming to piece together life's puzzle to form an ideal picture, a theme that runs through his work, including, most recently, "The Half Known Life: In Search of Paradise."

Kate Flannery on L.A.'s fashion faux pas Aug 10, 2023

Show notes

Kate Flannery takes us back to the glamorous haze of early 2000s Los Angeles, where she embarked on a tumultuous journey with American Apparel, a company once synonymous with hipster chic but later a textbook case of financial mismanagement and "me too" behavior. Her story, captured in her provocative and candid memoir "Strip Tees," explores the salacious euphoria of youth, the ideals of feminism, and the gritty reality of exploitation and ethical ambiguity.

Faith Pinho on fortunetellers and the Romani community Aug 03, 2023

Show notes

Faith Pinho, a reporter for the Los Angeles Times, created and hosted a new nine-part podcast series, called "Foretold," that delves into the rich history of the Romani community in California, with a focus on Los Angeles. The narrative unfolds through the perspective of a young Romani American woman, Paulina Stevens, who defies her predestined path as a fortuneteller to rewrite her own story. Pinho's storytelling takes us beyond the neon glow of "psychic" signs and the allure of trendy tarot card shops, challenging us to confront our preconceptions about fortunetellers and the Romani people.

Margot Kushel explains homelessness in California Jul 20, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Margot Kushel is the co-author of a recent groundbreaking report by the UC San Francisco Benioff Homelessness and Housing Initiative, which represents the largest study on homelessness since the 1990s. Offering a sobering portrait of societal failures, the study underscores homelessness as perhaps the state's most compelling and pervasive crisis. An authority on homelessness and health, Kushel discusses the mosaic of factors contributing to the struggles of roughly 171,000 individuals experiencing homelessness on California's streets.

Joe Hagan wonders if anyone can fix California Jul 13, 2023

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Joe Hagan, a Vanity Fair special correspondent, holds a mirror up to California today. In his recent story "Can Anyone Fix California," and on this week's podcast, Hagan talks about the fears and lost dreams in the world's fifth largest economy. Even with all of its economic assets, its beauty and its geographic magic, the state is a far cry from the future it once represented. He wonders if we can really say we want to make America into California.

Andy Dolich and the exodus of Oakland sports teams Jun 29, 2023

Show notes

Sports executive Andy Dolich, co-author of the new book "Goodbye Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town's Fight for Survival," discusses Oakland's bad sports luck. He talks about the exhilarating highs of victory and the painful lows of abandonment as the Raiders, the Warriors, and now the A's, all depart for ostensibly greener pastures. Once a celebrated sports hub, Oakland boasted a remarkable collection of national titles, star athletes, and colorful personalities. So, what led to this decline? Furthermore, does Oakland hold any potential for a future in sports?

Greg King saves the Redwoods Jun 22, 2023

Show notes

Greg King has dedicated his life to the appreciation and protection of California's majestic redwoods. Sadly, only 4% of the original 2 million acres of redwood ecosystem remains intact. Witnessing the devastation first-hand in the 1980s was a life-changing experience for King. In 1987, he discovered and named the Headwaters Forest in Humboldt County, the largest remaining ancient redwood habitat outside of parks. This sparked a decade-long struggle that led to its protection by state and federal governments. In his new book, "The Ghost Forest," he tells the story of the exploitation of California's redwoods going back to 1849.

Captain Brett Crozier on the essence of military life Jun 15, 2023

Show notes

From the Bay Area to commanding the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Brett Crozier's 30-year naval career was a journey defined by dedication, discipline, and courage. These qualities proved to be pivotal when he faced a crisis in the spring of 2020: a raging coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship. In these extraordinary circumstances, Crozier made the choice to stand up for his crew, embodying the power of kindness in a tussle against Washington politics. He tells his story in this week's podcast and in his new book, "Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain."

Maureen Ryan wants to burn down Hollywood Jun 08, 2023

Show notes

Maureen Ryan, known for her tough commentary as a film and television critic and contributing editor at Vanity Fair, puts Hollywood under a critical lens in this week's podcast and in her new book, "Burn It Down."

Often called "high school with money and power," the industry has embraced unsettling norms – abuse, poor etiquette, and a culture of complicity — for nearly a century. According to Ryan, long before the #MeToo movement highlighted sexual misconduct, a sinister underbelly was already lurking beneath Hollywood's glitzy façade.

Clare Frank's love at first fire Jun 01, 2023

Show notes

Clare Frank has bravely battled fires in California for three decades, as she details in her new memoir "Burnt." Her experience spans local fires in Santa Cruz to the infamous wildfires that have left indelible marks on our collective consciousness. Beginning her firefighting journey at just 17 years old, she climbed the ranks to become the first and only female state chief of fire protection. In this conversation, she shares her passion for her work, the personal risks involved, the evolving conditions she has witnessed over her 30-year tenure, and her childhood fascination with the firefighting profession.

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