Professor of Literature and Writing at Loyola Marymount; journalist, author and performer, his books include the forthcoming Desert America: Boom and Bust in the New Old West
Rubén Martinez on KCRW
More from KCRW
LA’s dirty beaches: Surfers are ‘stoked,’ families are cautious
EnvironmentYou might know that Los Angeles beaches get dirty after a winter storm, but it remains a problem in the summer, too. Why? And does it keep anyone away?
Weekend film reviews: ‘The Substance,’ ‘A Different Man’
EntertainmentCritics review the latest film releases: “The Substance,” “A Different Man,” “In the Summers,” and “The Falling Star.”
US Catholic sisters are dying out. ‘We knew this was coming’
ReligionAs the average age of American Catholic nuns and sisters crests 80, one local order spends their remaining years ensuring their legacy survives.
Chasing the Watermelon Man
Food & DrinkAn audio folk story examining the tradition of Black watermelon long-haulers, who drive to farms in the South for watermelon and sell them in Black neighborhoods around the US.
Is local news dying? An initiative wants to revive it
Los AngelesThe LA Local News Initiative raised almost $15 million to help journalists tackle specific community-driven stories that often get overlooked.
‘Making it’ is getting paid for your creativity: An artist’s story
Making ItSummer is a fine artist and stay-at-home mom who wants to become financially independent by the time her youngest son moves out.
Disney’s messy succession story; Overcoming the production challenges of ‘Strange Darling’
EntertainmentIn the wake of Disney’s big night at the Emmys, Kim Masters and Matt Belloni take a look at the New York Times article chronicling the chaotic succession endeavors at Disney.
Chasing the Watermelon Man
Food & DrinkAn audio folk story examining the tradition of Black watermelon long-haulers, who drive to farms in the South for watermelon and sell them in Black neighborhoods around the US.
The Murdoch family’s own private ‘Succession?’; Encore: Writer Justin Kuritzkes on ‘Challengers’
EntertainmentKim Masters and Matt Belloni examine the secret battle for succession among the family of billionaire Rupert Murdoch.