Host, Planetary Radio
Mat Kaplan on KCRW
More from KCRW
Will ‘Ambassadors’ help LA metro riders feel safer?
Food & DrinkFood journalist Mona Holmes discusses how the LA restaurant scene fared in 2023 and anticipates dining trends for the new year.
Kevin De León remains popular among voters, despite controversial history
PoliticsIncumbent Kevin De León is expected to compete in a run-off election in November in LA’s 14th district — after leaked audio showed him making contentious remarks about race.
Hear from sick neighbors of the infamous Castaic landfill
EnvironmentResidents want a nearby landfill — where a chemical reaction is happening underneath — to shut down to preserve their health. Months later, it’s still operating.
Lost Notes, Season 4 - Ep 3: My Lady’s Frustration: How Fela Kuti Found Afrobeat in LA
ArtsLost Notes explores how Fela Kuti’s time in LA in 1969 was instrumental in the creation of his legendary Afrobeat sound.
Fires, quakes, floods – 92-year-old Topangan has seen ‘em all
Los AngelesTopanga is one of the riskiest places in LA County for fires and floods. One of the area’s oldest residents explains why she still calls it home after 92 years.
Dodgers kick off home opener amid Ohtani investigation
SportsIt’s opening day for the LA Dodgers, who are feeling the pressure amid an ongoing investigation into star Shohei Ohtani and costly acquisitions during the off-season.
Love comes and goes, but typewriters are forever
ArtsAt Typewriter Connection, Angelenos find an analog way to get their intimate thoughts out onto paper — without computers, smartphones, or even electricity.
Compassion Prison Project reforms trauma through peace
LawFritzi Horstman, founder of the Compassion Prison Project, works with incarcerated individuals to heal childhood trauma and promote peace within the California prison system.
Developer bungles Newsom’s affordable housing program
Housing & DevelopmentAn affordable housing developer got $114 million from Gov. Newsom’s Homekey program. Now, with little to show for it, legal and financial problems are mounting.