Arts & Culture

On Air | Now Playing

Morning Becomes Eclectic playlist: June 12, 2025

Upcoming Event

Santa Monica College CMD Student Showcase
Jun 12

Santa Monica College

Santa Monica College CMD Student Showcase

Santa Monica College – Center for Media and Design

All Events
Kenny Scharf has painted mischievous-looking cartoons on about 300 cars, most of them in LA.

Kenny Scharf has painted mischievous-looking cartoons on about 300 cars, most of them in LA. He talks about making art accessible, plus his relationships with Keith Haring, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Andy Warhol.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Photography’s transformation into fine art, surveillance during Cold War

Culture critic Carolina Miranda weighs in on a retrospective of Diane Arbus’ photography at Zwirner gallery, and a Wende Museum exhibition about mass surveillance in former East…

27: Who’s Behind the Raids? A Mystery in Marion (Part Two)

A TV reporter from Kansas City hears about the brazen newspaper raids over in Marion.

Brian Wilson, The Beach Boys, and the ‘Pet Sounds’ goats (2016)

From the vaults: Reporter Peter Gilstrap lives every audiophile’s dream — chatting with Brian Wilson about the goats from the “Pet Sounds” album cover.

Love Letters to LA: Boyle Heights

High school student Ashley E. shares her love for the sights and sounds of Boyle Heights – with a special shoutout to her favorite taco stand.

Pachy Garcia grew up in Puerto Rico and was influenced by the Caribbean’s reggae and dub sounds. Now he lives in LA and is out with his fifth album.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Unhoused people lack safe bathroom access—an issue of public health, safety, and basic dignity we can no longer ignore.

from Second Opinion

Frequent collaborators — actor Bill Murray and filmmaker Wes Anderson — visit the Elvis Suite at Cannes to chat about their new movie, “The Phoenician Scheme.”

from The Treatment

Comedian and TV writer Carol Leifer shares how a classic Mel Brooks/Carl Reiner comedy bit inspired her.

from The Treatment

Featured Shows

All Shows >
It’s about the things we obsess over in our free time: TV and movies, music and celebrities, Internet and memes, and the people who make it. No topic is too big or small.

The Sam Sanders Show

It’s about the things we obsess over in our free time: TV and movies, music and celebrities, Internet and memes, and the people who make it. No topic is too big or small.

 Reporter Brian Reed re-examines everything about journalism, the profession he thought he knew. In the middle of making his second hit podcast, Brian got sued. Accused.

Question Everything

Reporter Brian Reed re-examines everything about journalism, the profession he thought he knew. In the middle of making his second hit podcast, Brian got sued. Accused.

 Evan Kleiman explores current events, social phenomena, history and culture through the lens of food.

Good Food

Evan Kleiman explores current events, social phenomena, history and culture through the lens of food.

 This season on Lost Notes: Groupies. Women of the Sunset Strip from the Pill to Punk.

Lost Notes

This season on Lost Notes: Groupies. Women of the Sunset Strip from the Pill to Punk.

This Week on KCRW

Actor and director Tyler James Williams joins to discuss tapping into his comedic side at a young age and his approach for directing “Abbott Elementary.”

Tyler James Williams on ‘Abbott Elementary’ and showcasing multi-faceted Black lives

Actor and director Tyler James Williams joins to discuss tapping into his comedic side at a young age and his approach for directing “Abbott Elementary.”

from The Treatment

The Black, artistic legacy of Altadena is on display at the California African American Museum. It includes established and up-and-coming artists.

CAAM exhibit spans generations of Black Altadena artists

The Black, artistic legacy of Altadena is on display at the California African American Museum. It includes established and up-and-coming artists.

from KCRW Features

The Hollywood slowdown is hurting sales at lots of local businesses. The owners of Chili John’s in Burbank get creative to revive the restaurant.

Historic Burbank chili joint tries to avoid 'slow, painful death'

The Hollywood slowdown is hurting sales at lots of local businesses. The owners of Chili John’s in Burbank get creative to revive the restaurant.

from KCRW Features

“Late Night” host Seth Meyers shares his plans for keeping up the political pressure. Plus, he reflects on how parenthood informs his comedy.

Seth Meyers on finding comedic relief amid political chaos

“Late Night” host Seth Meyers shares his plans for keeping up the political pressure. Plus, he reflects on how parenthood informs his comedy.

from The Business

In her new series Panamericana, Pati Jinich travels the roads and highways linking North and South America, connecting with people along the way.

Pati Jinich sees the Pan-American Highway as a metaphor for what unites us all

In her new series Panamericana, Pati Jinich travels the roads and highways linking North and South America, connecting with people along the way.

from Good Food

Headed to Summer Nights in San Pedro? Visit Humberto Raygoza aka the Chori-Man, a fourth generation chorizo maker

At the Chori-Man in San Pedro, one chorizo recipe links four generations

Headed to Summer Nights in San Pedro? Visit Humberto Raygoza aka the Chori-Man, a fourth generation chorizo maker

from Good Food

At the farmers market, chef Ed Cornell prepares for summer with apricots and soft serve.

At Cafe Tropical, stone fruit and soft serve ice cream make a perfect pair

At the farmers market, chef Ed Cornell prepares for summer with apricots and soft serve.

from Good Food

John Birdsall traces the evolution of queer food through the 20th century.

The big, beautiful world of expressing queerness through food

John Birdsall traces the evolution of queer food through the 20th century.

from Good Food

As a child of East African immigrants, Zaynab Issa uses her suburban childhood to create a cooking style all her own.

From East Africa to New Jersey, third culture cooking is fusion food with more intention

As a child of East African immigrants, Zaynab Issa uses her suburban childhood to create a cooking style all her own.

from Good Food

The latest film releases include From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, Dangerous Animals, Predator: Killer of Killers, and The Life of Chuck.

Weekend film reviews: ‘Ballerina,’ ‘Dangerous Animals,’ ‘The Life of Chuck’

The latest film releases include From the World of John Wick: Ballerina, Dangerous Animals, Predator: Killer of Killers, and The Life of Chuck.

from Weekend Film Reviews

With social media flaunting luxury, young people think they're falling behind financially, though they can cover living expenses and more. It’s called money dysmorphia.

Is everyone rich, or is it just Instagram?

With social media flaunting luxury, young people think they're falling behind financially, though they can cover living expenses and more. It’s called money dysmorphia.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Critics review the latest film releases: “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” “Dangerous Animals,” “Predator: Killer of Killers,” “The Life of Chuck.”

Weekend film reviews: ‘Ballerina,’ ‘Dangerous Animals,’ ‘The Life of Chuck’

Critics review the latest film releases: “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina,” “Dangerous Animals,” “Predator: Killer of Killers,” “The Life of Chuck.”

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Going to an outdoor event at the Hollywood Bowl or Gloria Molina Grand Park? Consider packing steak salad, Vietnamese banh mi, pastries with savory fillings, and more.

Planning a concert picnic this summer? Here’s your menu

Going to an outdoor event at the Hollywood Bowl or Gloria Molina Grand Park? Consider packing steak salad, Vietnamese banh mi, pastries with savory fillings, and more.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand

Nadya Tolokonnikova talks about her new art show “Police State,” losing herself in a Russian penal colony, plus the need for activists to speak up despite risks.

Pussy Riot founder incarcerates herself for ‘Police State’ in DTLA

Nadya Tolokonnikova talks about her new art show “Police State,” losing herself in a Russian penal colony, plus the need for activists to speak up despite risks.

from Press Play with Madeleine Brand