Press Play with Madeleine Brand
South L.A. to SOLA, Boosting Health With Mindfulness and Awe, LACMA at 50
Today, the Los Angeles City Council votes on a proposal to give South L.A. a new name: SOLA. Why, and do neighborhood name changes ever translate to real-world changes on the ground?
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenToday, the Los Angeles City Council votes on a proposal to give South L.A. a new name: SOLA. Why, and do neighborhood name changes ever translate to real-world changes on the ground? Then, a two-part look at the power of our emotions to boost our health; specifically, mindfulness and awe. How can we cultivate these qualities and what benefits do they have for our bodies? And finally, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art has turned 50. We look back at its humble beginnings.
Banner Image: The intersection of the 110 and 105 freeways in South Los Angeles; Credit: Alfred Twu
In this episode
5 storiesSouth Los Angeles or “SOLA?”
We start today with a story about the power of perception. Can you change a neighborhood by changing its name? Twelve years ago, the city council tried when it rebranded South Central Los Angeles as “South L.A.” The idea was to free the community from the negative connotations of violence and crime that had become associated with “South Central.”
Read the story7 minA History of L.A. Neighborhood Name Changes
South L.A. is only one of the city’s neighborhoods that has been branded or re-branded. Just last month, the city council approved a community petition to name the neighborhood in West LA around Sawtelle Boulevard, “Sawtelle Japantown.” What drives neighborhood re-naming campaigns, and what impacts do they have on the ground, if any?
Read the story7 minMindfulness for Depression
Take a deep breath. What are you thinking about? Are you worried about something? Focus on your breathing. Be aware of how you feel. Where are you feeling tense? Breathe, release the tension… and congratulations. You just practiced mindfulness.
Read the story8 minAn Awe-Inspiring Health Boost
Taking a more Zen approach to life can help with depression, as we just heard. It can also help with diseases like cancer and heart disease, according to new research. In addition to mindfulness, cultivating the emotion of awe can also enhance good health. What is awe, and why does it work such magic?
Read the story12 minLACMA Turns 50
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art launched its 50th Anniversary Celebration with a star-studded gala this past weekend. The rich and famous had a chance to wander through a new show called 50 for 50: Gifts on the Occasion of LACMA’s Anniversary. There were newly donated works by big names like Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, and Warhol.
Read the story14 min
