Richard Dion - Podcast Details

Shows

$Talkin\' \'bout Food$ Talkin' 'bout FoodEpisode 4: Interview with singer, songwriter, legend...DionThis week on "Talkin' 'bout Food" Chef Richard Florczak sits down with music legend "Dion." Dion discusses the food he was raised on growing up in the Bronx, his mother's cooking, and how his first hit record changed the restaurants he was able to frequent. Also, commentaries on Luigi's Trattoria, Surfside Pizza and Inlet Culinary Garden. 2024-11-0842 min

Thrift Shop BiographyCeline DionWelcome to our podcast where we discuss and deliberate over memoirs and biographies found in thrift shops. This is a great way to do things as we are not choosing who to read about. We may not be fans of the person, we may never have heard of the person and we never know who we are going to find next...There are only 2 rules to this podcast. The book has to be found in a thrift shop and we are not allowed to talk about the book until we press record, which is sometimes agonising.2024-09-1749 min

Staffcast15 - Baseball: The Movie: The Podcast with Noah GittellFor episode 15 of Staffcast, Tom and Richard are joined by author Noah Gittell to talk about his new book Baseball: The Movie, Iowa [derogatory], the Mets in movies, the irrationality of fandom, Sicko Richard Nixon, the magic of baseball, and more! Follow your incredibly cool hosts and guest on Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/whatwouldDOOdo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/t_hildy⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/RichardStaff⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠twitter.com/HackAttackimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠twitter.com/NoahGittell Check out Noah's website for upcoming book events: noahgittell.com Buy Baseball: The Movie at your outlet of choice! noahgittell.com/book Episode art by Abiga...2024-05-151h 14

Ina / adnCyril Dion dans INA / ADN : « Je ne peux pas rester les bras croisés et laisser la catastrophe advenir »Dans cet épisode d’Ina / adn, l'auteur, réalisateur et militant écologiste Cyril Dion raconte son parcours, ses engagements et ses valeurs. Face aux archives de l’INA, celui qui a inspiré la Convention citoyenne sur le climat dénonce l'influence des lobbies industriels et évoque sa déception quant à l'action des pouvoirs publics en matière de protection de l'environnement. Il évoque le succès populaire en 2015 du film "Demain" réalisé avec Mélanie Laurent, l'influence de Pierre Rabhi, apôtre de la sobriété heureuse et sa rencontre avec Yasser Arafat à l'époque où il travaillait pour la paix en Palestin...2024-04-3031 min $Dion\'s Daily Dose$ Dion's Daily DoseSpecial Guest: Colonel Richard Ligon - Candidate for Lake County Sheriff4.23.22 Special Guest: Colonel Richard Ligon: Candidate for Lake County Sheriff County Sheriff is a critical race. It's arguably the single most important elected position in a county, and is our last defense from an overreaching state and federal government. It's imperative that we vet these candidates. In an effort to do just that, as a part of our Candid Candidate Conversations series, I sit down with candidates from a variety of races and have a discussion with them, not just about what they want to accomplish in office, but who they really are (how someone likes their steak tells...2024-04-291h 03 $Dion\'s Daily Dose$ Dion's Daily DoseMeet Timothy (Tim) Stabosz: Future La Porte County Commissioner?Audio issues are resolved very soon. Hang in there. I forgot to mute the secondary camera/built-in mic Join us Tuesday March 26th at 7 PM Central to meet Timothy Stabosz, candidate (R) for La Porte County Commissioner, ask any questions you may have, and get to know the person behind the headlines. Tim has been an outspoken critic of certain La Porte County personalities and policies. For some, he's a controversial figure that makes the job harder than it has to be, speaking out when there are those that wish he'd be silent. He's been on the front page...2024-04-291h 12

CREATIVE STORIESPHILIPPE ZAOUATI I Bataille culturelle, écriture et vie intense I Changer la finance de l’intérieur tout en devenant romancierPhilippe semble savoir réconcilier les contraires comme personne. Avec lui, la finance n’est plus l’ennemie mais la solution; Un Marseillais peut être à l’aise avec la vie parisienne; On peut être dirigeant au sein d’un grand réseau bancaire et vouloir travailler avec des ONGs; On peut faire des études scientifiques tout en étant littéraire; Avec lui, le businessman est aussi un artiste, le financier, un écrivain Avec lui nous avons parlé - d’ascenseur social, ...2023-03-1448 min

Richard Skipper CelebratesRichard Skipper Celebrates Marc Rosen 11/02/2022For Video Edition, Please Click and Subscribe Here: https://youtu.be/84LgcSSnx5o Internationally acclaimed designer, Marc Rosen, is known for his award winning fragrance, cosmetic, and fashion packaging, A creative entrepreneur, his foresight has established him as a leader in the fields of design, marketing and public relations. His vision has been inspired by working with famous 'beauty' manufacturers and fashion names such as; Elizabeth Arden, Coty, Revlon, Estee Lauder, Nina Ricci, Perry Ellis, Oscar de la Renta, Avon, Halston, Chloe, Proctor & Gamble, Karl Lagerfeld, Fendi, Bath & Body Works, Victoria's Secret, Ellen Tracy and Burberrys, etc…He has worked wit...2022-11-021h 01

Max Richard ShowMax Richard Show | En Studio | Avec Jonathan DionCet épisode a été enregistré le mercredi 1 juin, tout juste avant le show de la nouvelle soirée d'humour "Le Max Richard Show" qui a lieu tous les mercredis à 19h30 au Déjà Vu à Hawkesbury.Pour ce premier podcast, Max est accompagné de Jonathan Dion, humoriste franco-ontarien, natif de Clarence Creek.Dans cet épisode, les gars parlent de:C'est quoi étudier dans une école catholique au secondaireLes soirées d'humour dans l'est ontarien et en outaouaisLes shows qui tournent malLa nouvelle soirée Max Richard Show au Déjà VuLes mauvaises nouvelles post-COVIDLe reto...2022-06-0758 min

Smith and SniffThe ConquistadorsRichard makes up an '80s American advertising slogan and Jonny has developed a strange obsession with Tiger Woods. Also in this episode, sports people in free cars, Last of the Summer Wine, a bum in the window of an SD1, Alonso Fernando and Hamilton Lewis, the arrival of Richard's new VW e-Up, chamois leather trousers, Alan Bennett in an Evo X, cars with hard drives for music, thinking that Celine Dion might smell weird, the oldest cars you can buy new, Jason Plato's last season of BTCC and the end of the Ford Mondeo. ...2022-04-1159 min

The Friday Night LetdownEp 14: Part 3 - Shout Out Richard ShermanThe guys discuss Richard Sherman and mental health.2021-08-0413 min

La Culture Oui, But Why?Emel Sings to Celebrate la FrancophonieBorn in Tunisia, Emel evokes her childhood and her musical beginnings. Singing in English and in Arabic, sometimes in French, Emel talks about identity as a language of creation. What is it to be a Francophone and belong to this French-speaking cultural world? Her latest album, still in the making, is dedicated to women and among them, the most vulnerable. " I change the story to change History and create a virtuous circle", says Emel. Emel is participating to a virtual concert organized by the Cultural Center of the Lycée Francais de New York and l...2021-03-1924 min

Empower AppsLarge Scale Teams with Joe FabisevichGuestJoe Fabisevich - WebsiteTwitter - @mergesortGitHub - @mergesortLinkedInYoutube Video - https://youtu.be/Mgg9D4JggQIRelated EpisodesEpisode 76 - Scaling and Security with Jeroen LeenartsEpisode 64 - A Very Remote Year with Jacob GorbanRelated LinksHow Complex Systems Fail by Richard I. Cook, MDMy New 1st Principle of Programming – “Good Code Is Easy to Change” by Aaron KingConway's law from WikipediaWrite code. Not too much. Mostly functions. by Brandon SmithSponsorsAppFiguresThe tools you need to monitor...2021-02-1237 min

Richard Skipper CelebratesValerie Smaldone (11/23/2020)Valerie Smaldone is a 5-time Billboard Magazine Award winner and is well known for her unprecedented success holding the #1 on-air position in the New York radio market. She has hosted, produced and created several nationally syndicated programs featuring in-depth interviews with top recording artists such as Paul McCartney, Celine Dion, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Mariah Carey, among others. Having interviewed hundreds of celebrities, performers and entrepreneurs, she is an accomplished interviewer who is always interested in procuring each individual’s unique story. As an actress, Valerie had a featured role in “Blue Bloods” on CBS, has been a recurring charact...2020-11-2457 min $ADQ\'s Renaissance$ ADQ's RenaissanceEpisode 71: Doin Work Theatre Style w/ Richard Taylor, Steven S. George & Alex LewisADQ chops it up with Brazilian born Richard Taylor, India native Steven S. George and Panama rooted Alex Lewis about their different approaches to theatre as well as their different experiences. Along with Dramaturgy. --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/adqsrenaissance/message 2020-10-041h 42

CHURCHepreneursInterview with Andy Fronius from Mr. JugendarbeitIf you appreciate the content I produce please consider becoming a Patron at Patreon here https://patreon.com/churchepreneurs?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=creatorshareIn this premier episode of the third season of CHURCHepreneurs Richard Moore Interviews Andy Fronius the founder and director of Mr. Jugendarbeit (Mr. Youthworker). Mr. Jugendarbeit is a ministry that serves and empowers Youth Workers and ministry professionals in German Speaking countries with resources, materials, curriculum, and all the tools that youth ministry professionals need to do ministry in this ever changing youth culture landscape. Richard and Andy talk...2020-09-191h 11

The Soul of CaliforniaSoC's Swan SongAfter 75+ shows of the Soul of California, I am closing out the podcast. This finale is a short five minutes, reflecting on the podcast, some of the stories and a few of my takeaways. A MASSIVE thanks to you out there. I hope that you learned something, enjoyed it along the way and felt inspired to go out and have a California experience. I certainly did. Please download them and share them - it is unclear how long I will keep the site running. Some are precious stories of people who were very instrumental in cr...2019-03-0605 min

The Soul of CaliforniaGrgich Hills Estates - keeping up with the best of FranceIn this 32-minute episode, Violet Grgich, President of Grgich Hills Estates, discusses the history of the Napa wine producer and the Paris Tasting of 1976, which catapulted her father Mike Grgich, a Croatian villager who fled Yugoslavia to settle in the US, to the center of the wine industry. Violet then touches on the types of wines that Grgich produces (min. 8) and the differences in climate and land, which impact the final product (min.11). She recounts the honor and the collective reaction to be named as one of the 101 objects that made America. Her 95-year old father still h...2019-02-2832 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe Joshua Tree - iconic, revered, threatenedIn this 34-minute episode, UC Santa Cruz artist/scientist Juniper Harrower places the iconic Joshua Tree in the context of the desert, her PhD research (complete with her mom and a ladder), then moves on to the implications of climate change on the tree (min. 6), and her own nod to social media's dating power for the tree (min. 12). She then moves on to the balance of the throngs of tourists now visiting the park, stretching public services (min. 24), which medium she prefers to make an impact (min. 27) and closes out with her favorite spot (min.33). Fe...2019-01-0534 min

The Soul of CaliforniaJulian Wasser - through my lensIn this 17-minute episode, photographer Julian Wasser shares some of his best stories from a 50-year career shooting the titans of entertainment. Julian's lens caught the likes of MLK, the Kennedy brothers, Joan Didion and Roman Polanski, among dozens of others, freezing important moments in time, becoming instantly iconic and acting as a reference point for generations. Throughout it, he gives a comic and an honest look at the profession and additionally offers his thoughts on some of the most meaningful photos, which other photographers have taken. Feed your soul. Keep listening. ...2018-12-1717 min

The Soul of CaliforniaLeadership - both body and mindIn this 45-minute podcast, Richard Strozzi-Heckler shares the importance of the body in leadership. The eyes, the walk, shoulders, breathing - it plays a massive role in how you are perceived and the confidence that you exude. Richard gives background on the Dojo (the place) and the Soma (the whole body) and its role in leadership, then moves onto the impacts that it has globally (min. 7), the role of the marital arts and how they fit into the “Western” type of leadership (e.g. Peter Drucker (min. 9)) and how morality is a key aspect of leadership. He t...2018-11-1945 min

The Soul of CaliforniaDivestment's DeliveranceIn this 33-minute episode, Lauren Jabusch of the California Student Sustainability Coalition (CSSC) discusses the increasingly important influence and financial impact that divestment is having within the public school system. Lauren starts with CSSC's origins as well as the massive reach of the Golden State's public university system and its multi-billion dollar pension schemes, then moves on to the evolution of issues (min. 6) and the engagement with local communities (min. 9). She then continues with the subtleties of each issue and winning over hearts and minds (min. 12), the dual use of facts and storytelling and California's bro...2018-10-1033 min

The Soul of CaliforniaPhilanthropy for Social ChangeIn this 41-minute podcast, Stanford’s Paul Brest (and former President of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation) gives an overview of the philanthropy sector, explaining the growth of foundations, the trade-off between a foundation and a donor-advised fund and the coordination of foundation policy on big bets, particularly climate change. Much of our discussion touches on aspects of his just released book, co-authored with Hal Harvey, Money Well Spent: A Strategic Plan for Smart Philanthropy. Paul further discusses the trade-off and analysis between what are the benefits of succeeding and the likelihood of that success, the "hap...2018-09-1140 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCancer’s Anthropology - a new prism for an old problemIn this 41-minute episode, cancer survivor Cheryl Buck shares her own experiences of being one of 1.6 million per year diagnosed with cancer. To her, the tumor is just a symptom of an imbalance - the real problem rests with a body's metabolism. Cheryl disregarded the usual “cut, burn or poison” approach, embracing the protocol advocated by Dr. Max Gerson, which concentrates on a full court press towards toxicity coupled with nutrients to the nth. Forbidden in the US (but with a presence in San Diego), the Gerson approach has been an option for those diagnosed with cancer, despi...2018-08-2941 min

The Soul of CaliforniaObi Kaufmann - art as license and shieldIn this 39-minute podcast, Obi Kaufmann takes us on a big picture ride of the system, indeed the organism, that is California. Fresh off the surprise hit of his California Field Atlas, Kaufman recounts his beginnings as a painter, respect for the environment verging on the spiritual and his hope about the “wild reimagining” of the Golden State. Obi discusses the process of putting together the book (min. 12), his surprise at the extent of the knowledge available (min.18), the coming of the post-carbon economy (min. 24) and the possible “undoing” of projects this century. He then moves on to his fe...2018-07-2439 min

The Soul of CaliforniaJerry Brown's GeniusPolitician, icon, myth, Jerry Brown leaves an impression on everyone. Love him or loath him, he is the governor of the 5th largest global economy, with the (moral) authority resembling that of a head of state. In this 55-minute podcast, journalist Narda Zacchino shares with us the background to Brown's 1970s revolution as the State's youngest governor, who is now closing out his long career with his fourth term in that office. Narda discusses the influence of his father, his messaging in the early days (min. 3), Brown's "canoe politics", and his love of policy (min. 14). Sh...2018-07-1355 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCalifornia Indians - Transforming TragedyIn this 52-minute podcast, author Deborah Miranda discusses the plight of Native Americans in California, who underwent near genocide over the course of two centuries with the Spanish, the Mexicans and then the Americans all but ensuring their extinction. Deborah begins with the historical context and the role of the church, the defamation of Native Americans during the Gold Rush (so-called “diggers” and bounties, min. 8), the continuing stereotypes through the Mission Project (min. 13) and developing family trees through cassette tapes (min. 21). She continues in discussing language challenges (min. 28), writing and a certain footlocker (min. 31), the hopefu...2018-06-1951 min

The Soul of CaliforniaTech's Dark Side in the Bay AreaIn this 52-minute podcast, Richard Walker, author of Pictures of a Gone City: Tech and the Dark Side of Prosperity, discusses the negatives impacts that the Tech Boom has had in the analog world - housing, sprawl, labor, you name it.... Richard talks about the origins of the book, then moves on to inequality (min. 6), why we hate the word "class" (min. 11) and then discusses the culture of commuting and the tech buses (min. 13). He then highlights regulation challenges (min. 25), the push-pull of private vs. public services (min. 33), tax optimization and whether sustained regulatory chance i...2018-05-1655 min

The Soul of CaliforniaViet Thanh Nguyen - another perspective of VietnamIn this 29-minute podcast, Viet Nguyen discusses The Sympathizer, which takes aim at the Vietnam genre, particularly Coppela’s Apocalypse Now, and how it is ripe for parody. He then moves into the impact of literature vs. film (min. 5) and the duality of 30 April - the day in 1975 when Saigon fell (min. 9). Viet shares with listeners the body of literature and other perspectives coming from Vietnam (min. 10) and recounts his own harrowing early life as a refugee in America and the friendly competition with his brother (min. 14). He then closes with how he writes (min. 18) and his tea...2018-05-0428 min

The Soul of CaliforniaIshmael Reed - Not going far enoughIn this 49-minute discussion, the Godfather of Multiculturalism Ishmael Reed discusses his writing (min. 7), his love of contagions and his just released book Conjugating Hindi (min. 10) and critical acclaim outside of the US (min. 17). He then continues regarding the establishment and the “space” for minority viewpoints, his thoughts on teaching (min. 35) relaxing (min. 39) and oral histories. Now entering his ninth decade without one hint of slowing down, Reed remains relevant across a number of art forms. BONUS POETRY READING: Ishmael reads three of his poems at the end of the interview - not to be missed...2018-04-2756 min

The Soul of CaliforniaSF's 49 mile scenic driveIn this 21-minute episode, Kristine Poggioli, co-author with Carolyn Eidson of Walking San Francisco's 49 Mile Scenic Drive, discusses how Carolyn and her implemented a new year's resolution, walking what was originally created to be enjoyed behind the wheel. Kristine tells about the drive's origins and then talks about some of her favourite walks, the best views and monuments, the most strenuous and the actual vantage point of walking as opposed to being in a car. Putting a new twist on an old concept and for a new generation of those dedicated to healthy living, the 49 mi...2018-04-1621 min

The Soul of CaliforniaAfrican American narratives - the story of usIn this 33-minute podcast, Susan Anderson of the African American Museum and Library (AAMLO) in Oakland provides the history and context of AAMLO, describes some of its archives and recent events. Shell equally reflects on who writes which narrative, with California not being part of the usual US narrative. Susan also touches on the digital/analog aspects that archival institutions face, reaching out to students and some of her favorite archives (even though she wouldn't dare take them to a desert island!). She closes up with overview of her book, which is currently in the works. N...2018-03-1733 min

Ultram Radio: Hard ElectronicEP.1 [Dubstep V.S. DnB][[[Welcome to Ultram Radio]]] A face off between both Dubstep and Drum and Bass, other elements such as Electro and Trap are intertwined. Feel the tempos change as you ride through this genre changing journey of sound. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- All Credit goes to the artists who have produced and composed these tracks: Apashe - Lacrimosa Demons - Nukid remix Game over - Lookas & Crankdat Vantablack - I.D. Plug me in - Dion Timmer Fatloaf - Pushy Party 2018-03-1518 min

The Soul of CaliforniaAmerica’s Legal FictionsNovelist. Law Professor. Art Critic. Yxta Maya Murray juggles her life between the three. In this 37-minute interview, Whiting Award winner Yxta discusses how listening to defendants tell their story inspired her to come up with 26 lines of text per day. She then continues with how she juggled writing and a legal career (min. 6), treasures from Latin America in American museums, changing education in the digital age (min. 15), gentrification’s very negative impacts (min.18), how law resembles fiction (min. 25), and how it has been changing in the last few years (min. 32), her latest piece on non-disclosure agreements, and...2018-02-2237 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe Fairchild Notebooks - the Trillion dollar start-upIn this 29-minute episode, David Laws recounts the history and background of the "Fairchild Eight" and their Notebooks, what makes them so special technologically and the personalities of each one (min. 6). David then talks about the equivalent today (min. 14), its complete analog beginnings and the memory challenge (min. 16) and closes with how the Computer History Museum acquired the notebooks. Although not household names, the work of Robert Noyce, Gordon Moore and the other six continues to have an enormous impact on all of us every day. Feed your soul. Keep listening.2018-01-2529 min

The Soul of CaliforniaMBARI's immense oceanic impactThe brainchild of the Packard family and built out of the enormous success that has been the Monterey Bay Aquarium, MBARI is a global leader in oceanography, with an extensive array of equipment and the leadership and R&D to back it up. In this 35-minute podcast, Judith Connor discusses MBARI's origins and mission, the specificities and advantages of Monterey Canyon, technological advances allowing autonomous and remote research (min. 5), climate change impacts (min. 8), international cooperation (min. 16), communicating the importance of oceans to the general public (min. 18), two of her most challenging dives (min. 26), her getaway island and d...2018-01-0935 min

The Soul of California2017 - some reflections and storiesThe Best of 2017 - 26 minutes of snippets of some of the policies, persons and personalities that defined the Soul of California this year. In the following order: UCLA's Donald Shoup on why company parking is massively unjust: Bassist Nathan East on picking up a guitar for the first time; Secretary Norman Mineta on being a “non-alien” of Japanese ancestry during WWII; Mural Queen Judy Baca on “getting caught” painting on her boss’s wall with gang members; Rocker Chuck Prophet on Bobby Fuller’s legacy and California Noir; Stanford's Clayborne Carson on Martin Luther King, Jr’s most memorable speech; ...2017-12-1125 min

The Soul of CaliforniaNoah Purifoy - Junk’s deeper meaningIn this 38-minute podcast, Joe Lewis shares with listeners Noah Purifoy (1917-2004) the man, the social worker, the Director of the Watts Towers and pioneering arts advocate and activist. Known for his work with the vernacular, read “junk”, which started in 1965 using debris leftover from the Watts Rebellion, Purifoy worked steadily out of Los Angeles, spending the last 15 years of his life in Joshua Tree. Purifoy took debris, mixed it with the vernacular and social issues, and created unique and powerful works, reverberating far beyond the desert. Lewis describes the influence that the Watts Rebellion had on Purif...2017-11-2038 min

The Soul of CaliforniaDana Johnson - LA’s other sideDana Johnson talks about a different side of Los Angeles, one that is under the radar and usually on the other side of the tracks. In this 38-minute podcast, Johnson discusses the changing nature of LA and the suburbs of West Covina where she grew up, the portrayal of a different LA in film (min. 10), her writing style and schedule (min. 12), how she teaches (min. 19), her first job (min. 22), white-dominated pop culture (min. 23), who writes history and the wonderfully moving history on one Biddy Mason (min. 29). Dana closes it out with her top three picks on an island or...2017-11-1039 min

The Soul of CaliforniaHighway 99 - California’s Main StreetIn this 39-minute podcast, Stephen Provost (pronounced Provo), author of Highway 99 - California’s Main Street, takes listeners down one of American's first highways. Stephen starts out with how California led the way in highway building and the adaption of signs and traffic safety and then moves on to the construction of the mythic Grapevine and the Ridge Route and its dangerous driving conditions, After discussing the influence of William Mulholland on California’s water (min. 8), we then cover the burgeoning roadside vernacular and its culture impact, from gas stations, to “auto courts” and to restaurants (min. 15). After...2017-10-2639 min

The Soul of CaliforniaJack London - Made in OaklandIn this 43-minute podcast, Earle Labor gives an extensive overview of Jack London, starting with his two mothers and two fathers and the hard life that he had as a kid (“poverty made me hustle”). Earle then discusses ultimate vs. immediate happiness and the havoc that it wreaked on his life (min. 4) and also argues that London had a substantial “seeking” drive, which took him to the ends of the earth and to the extreme (min. 10). We then examine his writing methods (1,000 words a day regardless), his relationship with Sinclair Lewis for plots and the influence of Carl Jung...2017-10-1843 min

The Soul of CaliforniaWhy Walls don’t WorkIn this 37-minute episode, Michael Dear, author of Why Walls won’t Work, takes us through the evolution of the US-Mexico border from quaint and lacklustre demarcations to its current full-fledged military industrialisation. Michael talks about the rise of borderland mentalities (min. 4) slowly etched into those living in that region, the intertwined economies along the border (min. 10), its militarisation after 9/11 (min. 11), just how ineffective walls are (min. 17) and the “portfolio” of options. We then continue discussing not only the supply of drugs, but the slow change in US government thinking that indeed there is a demand...2017-09-0337 min

The Soul of CaliforniaLuis Rodriguez - angry at injustice, hungry for changeIn this 65-minute interview, writer Luis Rodriguez discusses his nine lives, going from being a barely pubescent gang member in East LA and the San Gabriel Valley, to being shot at, doped up and finding redemption through the arts, literature and his own writing. After all this, he sets an example to others facing the same temptations and challenges that he faced. Our discussion touches on how the arts saved his life and the cultural starvation facing many inner city communities (min. 2), the influence of black awareness on his thinking (min. 7), whether politicians really understand urban challenges (m...2017-08-171h 06

The Soul of CaliforniaSanta Monica Pier - Route 66's mythic endIn this 39-minute podcast, Jim Harris of the Santa Monica Pier Corporation provides listeners an insight into the history and ongoings at one of the US’s most iconic structures. After touching on its original purpose (treating sewage), Jim and I discuss the true and not to true stories such as the Route 66 and the origins of Popeye (min. 7), and city politics and gambling ships (min. 18). We then change tack and touch on its considerable star power in troubled financial times (min.23), the tug-of-war with mulitnationals on the pier (min. 26) and weathering financial storms, 2008 and in the fut...2017-07-2739 min

The Soul of CaliforniaT.C. Boyle - the human species vs. the environmentIn this episode, TC Boyle discusses the impact that humans have on their environment, citing the Channel Islands, the Galapagos of North America. We then take a tour d’horizon covering writing (min. 12), his historical fiction (min. 20), the disappointment of Hollywood for writers and his tenure as a professor (min. 22). We continue, referring to humans as species with The Tortilla Curtain as an example (min. 34), grandiose huis clos experiments (min. 36) and close it up with books and technology (min. 39), escaping to a desert island, his advice to himself as a 20 year old (which he didn't follow) and his...2017-07-1450 min

The Soul of CaliforniaPark Ranger Betty Soskin - Forever Young94 years young - Betty Reid Soskin sparkles with insight, humility and at times giddiness as to what she has been able to experience. In this 40-minute podcast, Betty discusses moving to Oakland when Calvin Coolidge (!) was US President and tells life as she experienced it - the unpleasantness of racism in her community (including death threats) and the eventual change in her neighbourhood’s attitude. She grins with pride in recounting her work as a National Park Ranger and what she has been able to witness over the course of her long life. She equally discusses some of...2017-05-0240 min

The Soul of CaliforniaPublishing Dr. KingAs a 19-year old, Clayborne Carson went to the March on Washington, which some in the civil rights struggle deemed a “picnic”. That aside, the March dramatically affected him, turning Clayborne into an activist, based out of Los Angeles. Moving from activist/journalist to a Stanford professor, Clayborne went on to publish the papers of Martin Luther King. In this 43-minute podcast, he discusses MLK’s most precious speech in his opinion and how the papers are released. Clayborne covers the struggle in the 1960s, various styles and the importance of rhetoric, but also potentially more important organiza...2017-04-0343 min

The Soul of CaliforniaChuck Prophet’s CA NoirChuck Prophet’s new album “Bobby Fuller died for your sins” was just released to very solid reviews. In this 30-minute podcast, Chuck describes the album as California Noir, and discusses a few of the album’s standout tracks. He then touches upon his recording and writing style and his collaboration with the poet klipschutz and many others. Chuck also lays out the cultural tapestry that is San Francisco and how that culture shaped him in his formative years. Finally, he offers advice to himself as a teen-ager and closes with his desert island five (okay, three, one of wh...2017-03-1430 min

The Soul of CaliforniaJudy Baca - art meets activismJudy Baca shares a life in the arts that began when Spanish-only speaking Baca drew and painted as a way to communicate. In the early 1970s, she worked in LA's parks with rival gangs, spearheading the first wave of mural painters in the 1970s. Since then, her work and influence went viral - inner cities awash in murals, leading to more engaged youth and offering them an alternative in the face of life's challenges. In this 52-minute podcast, Judy also discusses the wall project that she painted with her colleagues in a flood control channel and how t...2017-03-0151 min

The Soul of California9/11 - a Secretary remembersIn this 36-minute podcast, former Secretary of Transport Norman Mineta recounts his response to the 9/11 attacks. His day started innocuously enough in a meeting with the Belgian Deputy Prime Minister and finished in a bunker, deep below an empty White House. It was there that he gave the orders to ground the more than 4,600 planes at that time in US airspace. Secretary Mineta continues with the policy changes after 9/11, particularly the role of the government in regulating security at US airports (previously in private hands) and also the role that the private sector made, whether it...2017-02-1736 min

The Soul of CaliforniaSecretary (and internee) Norman Mineta - discrimination's relevance todayNorman Mineta has lived the 20th century. Born in San Jose, Mineta’s life was typical of a Japanese-American family, at least until World War II. For his being a “non-alien” of Japanese descent, Mineta and his family were interned first at Santa Anita racetrack and then in Wyoming. He brushed off the initial discrimination of his early years to become one of American’s most decorated public servants, with roles as San Jose’s Mayor (during the early days of the tech boom), as a Congressman representing Silicon Vally and later as Secretary of Commerce under Clinton and...2017-02-0952 min

The Soul of CaliforniaBassist Nathan East - Try a little 'Reverence'Bassist Nathan East has been keeping busy - contributing to 2,000 albums over the last 35 years, touring with Clapton for decades, contributing 25% to jazz quartet Fourplay - all starting from humble beginnings at Christ the King Church in San Diego, where he first picked up a guitar with four strings…. In this 28-minute podcast, Nathan discusses how he got started with the bass, writing songs, being the front man, collaborating with his son, how 'Reverence' came about and his desert island five. Throughout the interview, he shares some of his “pinch me” moments, whether it’s on stage at...2017-01-2727 min

The Soul of CaliforniaParking’s billion dollar impactWe’re all guilty of it, cruising for parking, hoping for a free space. But what’s the downside? In this 33-minute podcast, UCLA’s Donald Shoup gives us a rundown on parking’s catastrophic inefficiencies, highlighting poor policy and planning and the outright injustice of the entire sector. Donald shares how he became involved in the sector, the actual cost of a parking space ($20,000+ for surface, $30,000+ for underground, even up to $80,000!), LA’s revolutionary “adaptive re-use” policy allowing for dozens of buildings to be refurbished (creating a real estate boon) and the policy of required spaces...2017-01-1933 min

The Soul of CaliforniaWild Records - nurturing promising musicians in East Los AngelesIn this 20-minute podcast, Wild Records founder Reb Kennedy shares his experiences in starting an East LA-based record label from scratch. Reb discusses his approach to finding promising, yet struggling and immature bands and turning them into proper acts. Over the course of the last 15 years, Reb has played a number of roles with his label’s musicians - manager, producer, agent, mentor, psychologist, surrogate father (and mother). The podcast includes snippets of "Broke his heart" by the Rhythm Shakers in the intro and "Silhouette" by TJ Mayes in the outro…..For the entire offering, check out wildr...2017-01-0926 min

The Soul of California2016's best stories and reflectionsThis 32-minute episode takes a look back at a few of this year’s best stories and reflections. In the following order, we have: Shelly Spiegel-Coleman on the need for a dignified and humane approach to the treatment of illegal immigrants and their families; Sabrina Fendrick of Berkeley Patients Group on the domination of women in the cannabis industry; Emily Burns of Save the Redwoods Alliance on how carbon is measured in giant Sequoia and Redwood trees. Alan Hess on William Pereira’s reputation among the East Coast elite and how he was “Hollywood’s version of an archit...2016-12-1632 min

The Soul of CaliforniaBilingual Education - an enormous asset Here is the latest SoC podcast on bilingual education with leading proponent Shelley Spiegel-Coleman of Californians Together. Shelley and her colleagues are fresh from an electoral mandate to implement bilingual education all over the Golden State, the first State in the nation to offer a Seal of Biliteracy. In this 30-minute podcast, she recounts how Californians Together began, language as an asset (min. 9), Proposition 58’s roll-out (min. 13) and responding to the English-only movement (min. 18). Shelley then discusses the implications of a potential clampdown on immigration and the need for people to be seen as humans, not...2016-11-2838 min

The Soul of CaliforniaMarijuana's now legal, pass it around....With Proposition 64 passing, marijuana is legal in California. In this 39-minute podcast, Sabrina Fendrick of Berkeley Patients Group gives listeners a history of the century old “Reefer Madness” stereotypes, runs us through the changes in legislation (min. 7), the economic aspects, both the freeing up of the criminal justice system and the potential boom to the State, with estimates of up to $100 million in taxes and the potential advent of a tourist increase (min. 11). She then details the specifics on the issue of medical research and the push/pull between Washington, DC and individual states (min. 16). Sabrina also prov...2016-11-1638 min

The Soul of CaliforniaRedwood and Giant Sequoia trees - tools to combat climate changeIn this 25-minute podcast, Dr. Emily Burns of Save the Redwoods League discusses how scientists can now measure the carbon content of Redwood and Giant Sequoia trees, and how these trees hold much more than previously thought. Emily explains how the teams, consisting of scholars from Humboldt State University and UC Berkeley, have been able to examine one tree’s history all the way back to 474 AD through its rings. She also explains the technique of measuring carbon in a tree (min. 10, not for those with Vertigo), the restoration of forests (min. 14) and how Sacramento is including the...2016-10-2424 min

The Soul of CaliforniaWilliam Pereira - modernism on a massive scaleThe Transamerica building in San Francisco, Los Angeles International Airport, Pepperdine University, UCSD's Geisel Library, even master planning the city of Irvine, William Pereira’s buildings are littered all over California. A career embedded in the mid-20th century at a very special moment in history - the creation of a suburban metropolis in one of the most modern cities in the world. In this 45-minute podcast, Alan Hess returns to the Soul of California and discusses the variety of buildings which defined Southern California mid-century (min. 7), Pereira's background in Hollywood and his garnering of an Oscar (min...2016-10-1346 min

The Soul of CaliforniaHenry Miller's Big SurMagnus Torén of the Henry Miller Library in Big Sur provides listeners with a deeper undestaning of Big Sur - one of the most mythic places in California. In this 42-minute podcast, Magnus discusses hitchhiking down the coast to Big Sir in the late 1970s, the work of the Henry Miller Library (where "nothing happens" - min. 2), how Miller first arrived in the area and some of his writings specifically about (min. 5-10), Miller's relationship with Emil White and Emil Schnellock and some of the outstanding letters that the Library holds (min. 11). Magnus also explains the in...2016-09-2155 min

The Soul of CaliforniaMonterey Bay (the novel)Lindsay Hatton's novel Monterey Bay takes on a lot - Ed Ricketts, John Steinbeck and the founding of the world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium. She squarely takes on that history and legacy, delivering an enjoyable and thought provoking examination of character set against the tapestry of the Monterey peninsula. In this 28-minute podcast, Lindsay talks about the novel's setting, her many summers working at the Aquarium, the meticulous use of archives for material and takes a look at the close friendship, indeed bromance, between Ricketts and Steinbeck. While sticking to the historical script between the marine bio...2016-09-1327 min

The Soul of CaliforniaLouise Goffin - very much her own womanIn this 39-minute podcast, singer-songwriter Louise Goffin discusses the release of her latest album The Essential Louise Goffin, Volume 1, reflecting on the choice of songs and the origin of several of them. She then discusses the songwriting process generally, her favourite instrument, sharing the same profession as her parents, performing recently in front of 60,000 in Hyde Park and her desert island three.... www.louisegoffin.com Thanks for listening, subscribing and sharing.... We're taking a short break, so see you next time in September. Have a good one. 2016-08-0440 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCharles and Ray Eames - episode twoHere is episode two of the interview with Eames scholar Daniel Ostroff, author of An Eames Anthology. In this 21-minute podcast, Daniel talks about what separates an Eames piece from pseudo designers (and why there is no serious threat to copyright infringement), Apple and “good design”, how Daniel’s poor choice of rented furniture in a high profile industry led him to become an avid Eames collector, some of the standout archives that he perused when writing the Anthology (“toys and games are preludes to serious ideas”) and the couple’s film philosophy and their use of it in their wo...2016-07-1921 min

The Soul of CaliforniaDesigners Charles and Ray Eames - the joy of workCharles and Ray Eames are a couple that left an indelible mark on modern design. Based out of Los Angles for the majority of their careers, the two worked on all things design and in a considerable amount of media, whether it be wood, wire, film or toys. Those in Los Angeles are able to see their 1949 masterpiece Case Study House #8, which sits today on a bluff overlooking the ocean. Film producer and agent Daniel Ostroff began an unsuspecting relationship with the work of Charles and Ray Eames when a colleague suggested that his newly-found office was i...2016-07-0430 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCalifornia’s Urban Development - challenges and opportunitiesAs California enters the 21st Century, it is in real need of a “Re-Coding” - making it ready to maintain its Top 10 global economic position. UCLA Institute for the Environment and Sustainability's Jon Christensen discusses this "Re-Coding", the importance of not only financial muscle and political will, but also cultural adjustment, particularly in light of climate change. With an ageing hardware/infrastructure, software in the form of new policies and a change in behaviour are required. Jon also reflects on how Governor Jerry Brown has changed, leading the charge on climate change and also reveals which piece of infrastructure shoul...2016-06-1941 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe Bakersfield Sound - country goes electricThe city of Bakersfield served as an unlikely centre of a new kind of country music, one tinged with electricity, which catapulted musicians Buck Owens and Merle Haggard to international acclaim. We take a different approach for this show and interview a practitioner - Dallas Good of the Toronto-based Sadies. The Sadies have cross-polinated a number of styles, creating their own unique brand of contemporary music, which draws upon 60s garage rock, psychedelia, surf, roots and of course country. The Sadies have collaborated with the likes of Neko Case, Andre Williams, John Doe and Neil Young. ...2016-06-0312 min

The Soul of CaliforniaImmigration - a reasonable approach (episode two)In this podcast, Akers Chacón discusses California’s draconian Prop 187, the United Farm Workers change in tactics and discusses policy improvement in an election year. He continues with a commentary on the European refugee influx, integration and language acquisition, the value of bilingual education and the influence of Marx in bringing about change in immigrant neighbourhoods. Thanks for listening, subscribing and sharing. Next month, the influence of design team Charles and Ray Eames and Re-Coding California - infrastructure needs for the 21st Century. 2016-05-2041 min

The Soul of CaliforniaImmigration’s socio-economic advantagesLong one of the hottest issues in California and indeed the US, immigration has been an integral part to the Golden State’s success. Hysteria and ignorance have characterised the immigration debate and led to draconian exclusions of the “other”. Ironic given that immigration is part of America’s DNA…. In this 31-minute podcast (of two) San Diego-based scholar Justin Akers Chacón discusses the history of US-Mexican relations, starting with the non-honoured agreement of the US-Mexican war and continues through to the Bracero programme and the modern era. He discusses the maquiladoras, the enormous assembly plants on the US-M...2016-05-0430 min

The Soul of CaliforniaIndie Bookstore Day, created in California, goes nationalIn this 13-minute podcast, Samantha Schoech of Independent Bookstore Day (April 30) shares with us the origins of the day, how they learned from the vinyl industry about keeping declining media relevant, her favourite place to read, her desert island five and taking the day to a global audience. www.indiebookstoreday.com Next month, immigration with Justin Akers Chacón in two episodes. Thanks for listening, subscribing and sharing. 2016-04-2512 min

The Soul of CaliforniaGrant-Lee Phillips releases his latest album The NarrowsGrant Lee Phillips has been a staple on the California, and indeed the national, music scene for the last two decades. Fronting Grant Lee Buffalo in the 1990s, he ventured out on his own in 2000 and has just released The Narrows, his eighth solo adventure. In this 41-minute interview, Grant-Lee discusses a few tracks off of The Narrows and songwriting more generally (min. 9). He then reflects on the recent passing of Merle Haggard, the influence of the Bakersfield sound (min. 14) and the musical differences between Nashville (his current home) and Bakersfield. Grant-Lee recounts his first...2016-04-1141 min

The Soul of CaliforniaJohn Muir - Yosemite's patron saintWithout John Muir (1838-1914), Yosemite Valley as the world knows it (Apple users included) may not be as pristine as it is today. Muir, born in Scotland, grew up in the US and eventually made his way to California, where he fell in love with Yosemite. Over the course of several decades, Muir changed the way that America looks at nature, spurring the creation of the environmental movement and the designation of countless national parks. In this 37 minute episode, Mary Colwell, author of John Muir - the Scotsman who saved American’s wild places, discusses Mui...2016-04-0437 min

The Soul of CaliforniaSpanish Missions of California - episode twoIn this episode (29 minutes) David McLaughlin discusses Pope Francis’s controversial canonisation of mission founder Junipero Serra, which sparked protest from Native American groups about Spain’s ill treatment of indigenous populations. He also touches upon disease, fire and earthquakes, and the rebuilding of the missions. David closes with a description of a few of his favourites. Coming up in April, the BBC's Mary Colwell on John Muir, Justin Akers Chacon on immigration and musician Grant Lee Philips on his latest album, The Narrows. Thanks for listening, subscribing and sharing. 2016-03-1730 min

The Soul of CaliforniaSpanish Missions of California - the King’s HighwayIn this first episode (28 minutes) of two, David McLaughlin of the California Mission Resource Center tells the story of the Spanish Missions. These 21 missions, dubbed the the King’s Highway, served the dual purpose of protecting Spain's military interests along the California coast as well as converting the indigenous populations to Christianity. McLaughlin provides the historical context, the balancing of military and religious purposes, mission layout, architecture and daily life as well as the differences between the Franciscans and the Jesuits in the running of individual missions. The second episode, to be released around March 20th...2016-03-0328 min

The Soul of CaliforniaRaymond Chandler - torchbearer for crime fiction (episode two)In this second episode (27 minutes), we discuss Chandler’s ups and downs with Hollywood and his indirect role as crime fiction’s leader. Williams shares some of the stand out moments (and archival gems) in writing Chandler's biography as well as his favourite on-screen Marlowe. Next time, California’s Spanish Missions. Thanks for listening, subscribing and sharing. 2016-02-1827 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCrime writer Raymond Chandler and the backdrop of Los AngelesThe Big Sleep, Farewell my Lovely, the Long Goodbye….novels which constitute an integral part to the canon of crime fiction, all penned by Raymond Chandler. Chandler, a US citizen brought up in the UK, had a number of professions before taking up writing at the age of 44. Chandler churned out a number of novels, introducing the literary world to the character Philip Marlowe, private detective. Tom Williams, author of A Mysterious Something in the Light, spent six years researching Chandler’s life and provides an intimate look into Chandler’s life, his stories and his influence. In...2016-02-0528 min

The Soul of CaliforniaLA’s 6th Street Bridge, RIPThe 6th street bridge is dead! Long live the 6th street bridge! Photographer Kevin Break has been photographing downtown LA’s bridges for over 20 years. As the iconic 6th street bridge is being demolished, Break provides listeners with a history of the dozen bridges that span the LA River, comments on the replacement bridge and reflects on its eery silence and the unexpected nature in the concrete-lined river. He shares the logistics of going into the river and why 2am is the best time to shoot photos. He ends with how the Jesus Wall came into existence, the...2016-01-2126 min

The Soul of CaliforniaElectric Mobility with Chelsea Sexton - episode twoIn this second episode on electric mobility (19 minutes), industry expert Chelsea Sexton talks about the fear of a limited range, lessons from Silicon Valley, the politics of electric mobility, low oil prices, the evolution of batteries, fixing incentives, and the potential bubble in the industry. @evchels Watch out for the next show with photographer Kevin Break on LA’s iconic 6th Street Bridge, scheduled to be released in the coming days. 2016-01-1119 min

The Soul of CaliforniaElectric Mobility - seizing on the hype to make it sustainableIn this first of two episodes (24 minutes), electric mobility expert Chelsea Sexton talks about the state of play in the sector. She gives us a brief background how she became involved through her time as a sales rep for GM and the ill-fated EV1 project, which was the main protagonist in the cult documentary film “Who killed the electric car?”. Chelsea discusses how she and her cohorts went from pot stirrers with a goal to save the first cars and then embarked on a quixotic journey to make them part of today’s mix. That journey has taken t...2016-01-0423 min

The Soul of California2015 - a few stories and reflectionsIn this 19-minute episode, we take a look at some of 2015’s best stories, reflections and outtakes. We have (in the following order): Dave Alvin’s first songwriting lesson (at 13 years old) from Big Joe Turner Susan Shillinglaw on why John Steinbeck is still so read today Friends of the LA River’s Lewis MacAdams on the river’s state in the 1980s and how he became involved in restoring it Chelsea Sexton on electric mobility about how the walkman was the precursor to the smartphone (and how consumers would never have asked for the technology if companies didn’t in...2016-01-0419 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCalifornia's Cornucopia - episode twoFor this second episode (27 minutes) on the Business of Food, Professor Richard Walker discusses the history and continued use of pesticides (the concept of gas chambers was started in the fields of California) and the describes the variety of available fruits and vegetables thanks to the State's melting pot of nationalities. Dr. Walker continues with the logic of growing rice in the desert (there is none, except that it is a best seller in Japan), the agricultural lobby's inordinate influence in water allocation rights (Governor Jerry Brown’s multi-billion dollar tunnels project) and closes with why the dro...2015-12-1827 min

The Soul of CaliforniaCalifornia's Cornucopia - the Business of FoodCalifornia is a world leader in agriculture. Take note, this is not about farming, this is agricultural capitalism and it is relentless. The State's growers take the finding of markets, killing pests and turning out a variety of food that is the envy of the world very seriously. Nearly endless water rights and labour standards right out of Steinbeck (the harvest gypsies of the 21st century) have allowed these growers to profit enormously. In this first episode of two (26 minutes), UC Berkeley Professor Richard Walker walks us through the State's climactic trump cards, the industry's ear...2015-12-0426 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe Redwood Forest's Destruction - episode twoIn this episode, EPIC’s Rob DiPerna discusses the split in the community between those favouring logging and those against it. He details the Headwaters “deal” reached between the US government and Maxxam and its consequences. Rob also walks us through some of the challenges in being “certified”, specifically for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and how the private sector’s regulation is not always what it seems. Finally, he takes us through the work that still needs to be done in the forests and shares with us his favourite place in California (no surprises here, but it’s very spec...2015-12-0231 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe Redwood Forest's destruction - Humboldt County's Headwaters project -For this first episode of two, Rob DiPerna of the Environmental Protection Information Centre (EPIC) provides an introduction and thorough overview of logging issues in Humboldt County, particularly the Headwaters Project, which saw the Houston-based investor Maxxam hostilely acquire long-established local company Pacific Lumber in 1985. Maxxam’s takeover involved the raiding of Pacific Lumber’s pension fund and the accelerated destruction of the some of the oldest trees on the planet - 10 metres in diameter, 30 meters in circumference and over 2,000 years old. In this 27-minute podcast, DiPerna walks us through the politics around the industry, the technological advanc...2015-11-2027 min

The Soul of CaliforniaComposer Harry Partch - creating music instruments, fusing music and theatreHarry Partch - who created musical instruments from scrap and completely dismantled the 12-tone system that Western music is based on - was not your average mid-twentieth century composer wandering around the Golden State. To discuss Partch’s influence, impact and his own instruments, we are pleased to have as the SoC’s guest Thomas Oesterdiekhoff, the Director of the Musik Ensemble in Cologne, Germany, whose company produced Partch’s Delusion of the Fury in Cologne and at New York’s Lincoln Centre for two sold-out performances. In this 15-minute interview, Oesterdiekhoff sheds light on Partch’s a...2015-11-1015 min

The Soul of CaliforniaPeter Case's album 'Highway 62' rolls into townWith thirteen solo albums, three Grammy nominations and one brush with death under his belt, Peter Case is back with 'Highway 62', his new album on Omnivore Records. In this twenty-minute discussion as Case makes his way up California's Highway One, he talks about his new songs and his (song)writing more generally, the making of Highway 62 and the musicians who played on it (Ben Harper and D.J. Bonebrake, among others), connecting with the audience, the differences between northern and southern California and obtaining some of his education at City Lights Books. Case is j...2015-10-2719 min

The Soul of CaliforniaDr. Gray Brechin and the history of geography - episode twoThis second episode with UC Berkeley's Gray Brechin includes Mono Lake's near-death experience and how Dr. Brechin and his colleagues used the public interest doctrine in the early 1980s to save it. He then discusses the West's water wars, the dismantling of large projects, Governor Pat and Jerry Brown's legacies, bullet trains and his favourite place. Gray Brechin is the author of Imperial Dreams: Urban Power, Earthly Ruin and Farewell, Promised Land - Waking from the California Dream, both published by UC Press. www.graybrechin.net 2015-10-1428 min

The Soul of CaliforniaSan Francisco's Imperial Dreams and ImpactsUC Berkeley Professor Dr. Gray Brechin gives a history lesson of San Francisco's "Imperial Dreams", drawing on the model of Ancient Rome. He discusses the immense environmental impacts that mining and logging had on the city's contado (Italian for hinterland). He argues that the technological advancements in mining played a key role in warfare and of all things the skyscraper, and that thanks to fracking California's attitude to new energy less resembles leadership and more one-foot-on-the-accelerator-one-foot-on-the-brake. Dr. Brechin shares the large and uncomfortable role that UC Berkeley (and the wider UC Regents) had and still has in the...2015-10-0627 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe LA River and Lewis MacAdams - episode twoIn this second episode with Lewis MacAdams, Founder of the Friends of the LA River, the discussion turns to the River's best spots (including canoeing), FoLAR's advocacy regarding the 6th street bridge and his best and worst experiences. He goes on to discuss his art, his book The Birth of the Cool (to be an HBO series) and LA's East Bank as the next SoHo. Lewis closes up the conversation by sharing the importance of a sense of humour in the face of so much adversity. Please note that after the brief introduction, the episode begins with L...2015-09-2425 min

The Soul of CaliforniaThe LA River - Lewis MacAdams merges poetry and politics to save itLewis MacAdams, Founder of the Friends of the Los Angeles River (FoLAR), has looked the impossible in the face and stared it down. Taking on the Quixotic campaign of transforming the LA River, which Wim Wenders described as violent and dangerous in the 1980s, MacAdams and his Friends have been speaking on behalf of the River for thirty years. They have created a critical mass to transform the former "flood control channel" created in the 1930s back to its natural state. A major victory took place just a few weeks ago when it was agreed to take o...2015-09-1626 min

The Soul of CaliforniaKim Stringfellow - the importance of the geographic periphery Through her multi-media projects on the Salton Sea, Highway Five, the State’s never-ending saga of water distribution and currently the Mojave desert, artist Kim Stringfellow has doggedly uncovered the complexities and little-known history in California’s hinterland. In this 35-minute interview, Kim discusses her major projects, her development as an artist and her 100-mile view in Joshua Tree (!), providing interesting insight into some of the characters, players and issues that not only impact California’s periphery, but have implications for the rest of the Golden State. www.kimstringfellow.com 2015-08-2436 min

The Soul of CaliforniaWeimar on the Pacific - German Exiles in Los Angeles during World War II Bertolt Brecht, Lion Feuchtwanger, Fritz Lang, Thomas Mann, Arnold Schoenberg - names which heavily contributed to Germany’s 20th century intellectual history. What unites these cultural giants is their choice of exile during the rise of Adolph Hitler - Los Angeles. The Soul of California is pleased to have UCLA Professor Dr. Ehrhard Bahr on the programme, author of Weimar on the Pacific - German Exile Culture and the Crisis of Modernism. In this 35+ minute interview, Dr. Bahr covers a range of topics including the circumstances in which these writers, artists and musicians came to the...2015-08-1038 min

The Soul of CaliforniaSan Francisco's Golden Gate and Bay bridgesThe Golden Gate and Bay bridges have not only heavily contributed to the iconic San Francisco skyline, they serve as a collective engineering and aesthetic tour de force. Architect Donald MacDonald, whose work continues on the redesigned Bay Bridge, gives an extensive overview of both bridges and thier places in San Francisco's history. Covering the politics and the financial history of each bridge, MacDonald moves on to discuss seismic measures, environmental impact, the "bridge aesthetic" (design) and how some cities are branding themselves through their iconic bridges. 2015-07-0838 min

The Soul of CaliforniaDesert Modernism - more than just lines and angles in the sandJust east of Los Angeles, Palm Springs became and has remained the home of the architectural movement known as Desert Modernism. In this 50-minute podcast, Alan Hess sets the movement in the historical context of post-World War II America and the rise of the recreational economy, describes the design and structural/material aspects which distinguish it from other movements and then covers the region's topographical and climatic conditions, the movement's core architects such as Richard Neutra, Albert Frey, William Cody, E. Stewart Williams and William Krisel, as well as how desert modernism has managed to maintain its...2015-07-0855 min

The Soul of CaliforniaJohn Steinbeck - documenting the downtroddenJohn Steinbeck, one of American's literary giants, is the author of amongst others, The Grapes of Wrath, Cannery Row and Of Mice and Men. Steinbeck highlighted the plight of America's workers who migrated west to California in the 1930s, drawing not only critical acclaim, but also intense criticism from landowners and politicians. Dr. Susan Shillinglaw, Director of the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, California, reflects on his miniscule handwriting, his love for the natural world, his eye for detail and the one item that epitomises Steinbeck's soul for her. This 50-minute podcast includes Steinbeck's 1962 Nobel Pe...2015-06-0551 min

The Soul of CaliforniaDave Alvin - blues in my bloodIn this 40-minute interview, "barroom guitarist" (and Grammy Winner) Dave Alvin discusses a range of topics including recording Big Bill Broonzy songs with his brother Phil, his first songwriting lesson (barely a teen) from Big Joe Turner, sneaking into L.A's Ashgrove Club as a kid and his close relationship with musician Chris Gaffney. Along the way, Alvin gives listeners a glimpse into his songwriting technique and production stye, his love of ghost towns, "shining buckles" in Nashville West, his recording future and what makes California so unique. A very personal, honest, funny and touching...2015-06-0442 min

The Celine Dion PodcastThe Celine Dion Podcast Ep 3The Celine Dion Podcast is back with episode 3. Join your host Shaun as he brings you up to date on the latest Celine Dion news. Hear all about Celine’s performance at the Saint Justice benefit concert. Find out what happened when Richard Dunn returned to Las Vegas and met Celine! Plus find out which country has been added to Celine’s 2014 Asia tour. All that plus much more. Also featured on this episode are some of Celine’s best ever live performances including requests from you, our listeners. Another packed episode on the world’s only Celine Dion Podcast. We’d lov...2014-08-011h 05

The Celine Dion PodcastThe Celine Dion Podcast Ep2The Celine Dion Podcast returns with episode 2. On this episode Shaun updates you on all the latest Celine Dion news including updates on the "Incredible" music video, Rene stepping down as Celine's manager, Annie Horth leaving her role as Celine's stylist and Richard Dunn's "All By Myself" viral video sensation. All this plus the breaking news that Celine is to tour Asia later this year! Add into the mix some brilliant old, new and rare Celine Dion music and it's a packed episode! We'd love for you to be involved in the show and you can contact us: E-mail: celinedionpodcast...2014-07-0155 min