From the creator of social media mainstay L.A. In a Minute, Evan Lovett invites you along for a personal and intimate ride as he shares interesting facts about all sorts of things you didn’t know you needed to know. Be entertained and informed as Evan brings you into his mind to see the world through his lens. There is history everywhere, as long as you know where to look. Let's get into it!
I sit down with arguably one of the most interesting people in the world of Los Angeles... Mr. Ben Baller! We finally get to the bottom of how his world in the music industry to entertainment to jewelry to influencing all started! Ben breaks down his origin story in detail, and makes it ALL make sense. This story has never been told like this, so tune in and learn with me as we dissect the celebrity of Ben Baller.
Eric Sondheimer has covered prep sports in L.A. for 50 years and he's truly seen it all. From John Elway to Paul Pierce; from Allyson Felix to Giancarlo Stanton, Eric was there with his recorder and notepad. We discuss how high school sports have evolved over his half century at the Daily News and L.A. Times, the greatest athletes he's seen, and some of his most indelible memories from the fertile hotbed of Los Angeles - which continues to produce more pro athletes than any region on the planet.
Olvera Street is at a crossroads, that has become an emergency. The birthplace of Los Angeles used to have 2 million people per year supporting the small businesses on the most historic Street in LA. Today, that number has dwindled by 85%, shuttering many of the puestos That were a lifeline to generations of immigrants, families, Los Angeles, legacies. I sit down with Ed Flores of Juanita’s, Sylvia Grabel of the Mexican Shop, and Valerie Garcia of Casa California, Each of whom are multi-generational merchants on the Calle to discuss what went wrong, and how it can be fixed. Sarah Higgins from The People Concern Joint as well, to provide a perspective on safety & homelessness around the Pueblo, one of the many factors attributed to the decline attendance. Please consider donating to the GoFundMe To help ALL vendors on Olvera Street.
The FIFA World Cup is bringing out the best in L.A.! From Hollywood to Venice to East L.A. to Lake View Terrace, the energy is palpable - people from nearly every country in the world are representing their colors and flag, and uniting under the banner of Los Angeles. There is a buzz on the streets, in bars, and at restaurants. If this is how L.A. Is going to feel for LA28, we are ready! Simply put, L.A. shines brightest when the eyes of the WORLD are on us.
John Ackerman is the CEO of Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) which runs LAX and Van Nuys airports, two of the busiest in the world. And with LAX as the 'first-touch' point for travelers to Los Angeles, he knows that major renovations are necessary to make LAX the world-class airport that L.A. deserves. Ackerman has huge plans which include making the airport 'more L.A.,' but also making it easier to get into and out of - as well as major overhauls to the airport aesthetically. A former military pilot with a people-first background, is Ackerman the right person to lead LAX and Van Nuys into the future? With the eyes of the world on Los Angeles for World Cup, Super Bowl, and the LA28 Olympics, it looks like he is. Let's get into it!
Summer starts with the grill, and Noah Galuten is L.A.'s erudite grillmaster. From working more than a decade at Bludso's with Kevin Bludso, Galuten has written the book on grilling with Grill Time!, a guide to enjoying not just luscious meat but veggies & sides, and even desserts. But Galuten is more than that - a former playwright-turned-accidental-blogger who ate the food from 102 countries on consecutive days without leaving Los Angeles, he understands this city and its food culture, which we discuss in delectable depth, with some laughs along the way.
Zach Brooks is the General Manager of Smorgasburg LA, the largest weekly food market in L.A., with more than 10,000 folks attending the huge, historic space each Sunday at the Row DTLA. From phenomenon to institution, Smorgasburg LA has jump-started business for legendary L.A. names like Tacos 1986, Wanderlust Creamery, Evil Cooks, and Broad Street Oyster Company. With a bicoastal culinary legacy going back to his days as the steward of NY's Midtown Lunch, Zach traces both his origin and the origin of L.A.'s greatest Food Festival, and discusses the immense challenge of staying consistent while continuing to evolve.
Yesika Salgado is the L.A. poet whose words have become a voice for a generation of Angelenos finding beauty in a raw examination of Los Angeles. Born and raised in L.A. to Salvadoran parents, Yesika helped create Chingona Fire, the groundbreaking Latina feminist poetry collective that carved out space for women of color to tell their stories loudly and unapologetically. Yesika discusses identity, Boyle Heights, love, loss, body positivity, and why Los Angeles remains at the center of her work. From her bestselling poetry collections Corazón, Tesoro, and Hermosa, to her rise from open mic nights to becoming one of the most recognizable contemporary Latina poets in America, Yesika has always written with honesty, vulnerability, and defiance.
Irene Diaz is a singer-songwriter who has captivated L.A. and beyond with her powerful voice, which conveys the depth and soul of her background in East Los Angeles. A proud Chicana whose captivating vocals and soulful melodies have garnered critical acclaim, she is truly one of my favorite artists working today. From her debut album I Love You Madly to her appearance on Tiny Desk, she's helped usher in the modern 'Souldies' sound. Make sure you check out Anything for You and The Fool, and catch her on tour this summer at the Fools Only Summer Tour.
Paul "P-Rod" Rodriguez is one of the most acclaimed skaters of all-time - and one of the most important. An L.A. native, P-Rod was one of the first high-profile skaters of Mexican descent, opening the doors for a generation of skaters that 'looked like' him. He is also the namesake of the Nike SB P-Rod shoes, helping him become one of the few Nike athletes ever with over ten iterations of his signature shoe. We trace Paul's love for L.A. and the origin story behind one of the biggest and best names in the sport's history.
Tom Carroll of the widely acclaimed, irreverent & informative L.A. Times.404 joins Evan in the studio for an L.A. conversation that's been years in the making. Described as "two sides of the same coin," Tom & Evan have a shared love and passion for L.A. that is reflected in their work, making this a unique and VERY fun interview. We get into Tom's favorite history, culture, and spots to eat in Los Angeles. . .and how the heck his team at 404 is able to keep cranking out such great content.
After 2,000 episodes of L.A. in a Minute and two years of In a Minute w/ Evan Lovett, spending THOUSANDS of hours of research and discovery, I put together a list of my Top 10 Favorite Facts about L.A. Each episode contains fun nuggets, trivia, and tidbits - but these are my absolute favorite facts: the people, the food, the culture. This is an episode to savor, and to regale your friends with the Best Facts about My Favorite City on the Globe!
Big Boy IS the voice of Los Angeles. From radio to streaming to podcasts to video, Big Boy’s impact on L.A. over the last four decades has been unparalleled. Hear how Big went from being homeless to being a bodyguard for The Pharcyde to creating a legacy on Los Angeles airwaves that we may never see again in the city. He also discusses how an epiphany when he was 500 pounds led to lifestyle changes and lessons he still lives by today. Simply put, this is one of my favorite interviews ever.
Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan of the Milk Carton Kids are a Grammy-nominated folk duo hailing from Eagle Rock. Somewhere in between Simon & Garfunkel and The Smothers Brothers, their sound is described as "bittersweet & beautiful," with a side of wry, humorous banter that makes them both accessible and beloved. We discuss their origin story, the band's evolution, and the state of folk music in L.A. and beyond. Also, check out their NEWEST release, Lost Cause Lover Fool, streaming everywhere (and at independent record shops!)
John "Spider" Salley won championships with Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and the Bad Boys Pistons. But he's more than an NBA legend - he's a genuine, fascinating, wise human whose growth continued well past his playing career. I sit down with John 1-on-1 to discuss his origin story, his perspective on life, becoming a successful actor, vegan, and host of The Best Damn Talk Show Period. . .and why he always knew he'd end up living in and loving Los Angeles.
We take the show on the road to an OG Shakey's in Culver City, where we sit down with John Tilley, the Creative Visionary of Shakey's, to discuss how a pizza parlor that started in Sacramento became L.A.'s favorite pizza parlor. Fun, games, merch - and off-the-cuff fun..pizza, wings, & mojos!
Normally, companies are nameless, faceless, soulless entities. . .but there are four L.A. Companies that transcend just "doing business" - in fact, these four companies are BELOVED for their significant roles in L.A.'s history, culture, & communities. From sole proprietors to Mom & Pops, businesses are the lifeblood of Los Angeles - but these are the four that make the L.A. Mount Rushmore of Companies. Let's get into it!
Before there was Disneyland, Bob Gurr was part of Walt Disney's secret team. One of the original Disney Imagineers, Gurr designed Matterhorn, Autopia, Monorail, Haunted Mansion and anything on wheels at Disneyland. A true Disney legend, he is also an L.A. Native and regales us with stories of how L.A. has changed over his 90+ years - and what he likes best about Disneyland, even if he didn't design it!
In 1969, UCLA Computer Science Professor Leonard Kleinrock led a team of scientists in a project to get two computers to 'talk' to each other. Lo and behold, the experiment worked. . .and ARPAnet was created, laying the groundwork for the internet. Nearly 60 years later, Kleinrock is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus at UCLA, still teaching - and still creating groundbreaking work, including forays into AI. A wildly endearing, vivacious, witty intellect, meet the man I call "the Vin Scully of Computer Science" - a person that truly belongs on the Los Angeles Mount Rushmore.
KROQ was an L.A. institution for decades, but they hit rock bottom a decade ago, plummeting to 23rd in the ratings. But thanks to Kevin Klein & Ally Johnson, KROQ is back on top as a purveyor of culture & great music in L.A. We talk to Klein/Ally about their origin stories, how they dealt with years of near-failure, and what the secret was to the station's miraculous turnaround.
