Los Angeles has an energy and atmosphere different from anywhere else I’ve lived. I grew up outside of Davis, California, I went to school at Cal, then moved to Los Angeles on a whim in 2012. Back then, I had no idea what was in store for me. I got a job working at a Whole Foods in Sherman Oaks and lived in North Hollywood. At first… I hated LA. It took me six months to figure out how this city works and even then I was only cracking the surface. And when I say “works,” I mean the best time to use the freeways versus choosing to stay home or do something in my neighborhood. I roamed up and down the 134 and the 101 from Glendale to Sherman Oaks, then would take occasional jaunts down the 405 to the beach, or the Red Line to the Hollywood Bowl and beyond. I started to find my little niche community, and over time, began to understand the cadence of this city. I fell in love with LA.
Then Whole Foods gave me the opportunity to start a new adventure. In 2016, I was offered a promotion to work at their headquarters in Austin, Texas, and I took it. Even though this meant my time in LA was ending, in the recesses of my mind I always knew I’d be back. I just wasn’t quite sure when or how it would happen.
Enter… COVID, 2020.
My partner, Victoria, and I have been a little bit adrift since the start of COVID. Remote work, baking cookies, living with parents in NorCal, and a new job for her in San Jose. All along, aiming to get to LA, but still not sure how. (This small paragraph describes about four years of our lives. Whew! What a ride.)
At the end of 2023, I’d been with Whole Foods for 11 years and needed to see what else was out there. I wanted something that was a little more community-driven and allowed me to use both halves of my brain, my creativity and my analytical skills. Victoria was helping me job search and did a Google Maps view of businesses in the Santa Monica area — where we were considering moving if things worked out. KCRW’s little bubble popped up at Santa Monica College and low and behold, a communications manager position was recently posted (I worked in comms for Whole Foods). It must be fate, right?
Over a month, I was given a writing assignment, met Connie!, and went through a few rounds of interviews. All the while, I couldn’t help imagining what our lives would be like if I got the job and moved back to LA (they say don’t tunnel-vision when job searching… oops). It was a dream opportunity and I romanticized it as such. Then the offer finally came. Let the romancing begin.
Here’s my outsider becoming an Insider POV so far:
Starting here has been a whirlwind of learning (normal for most new jobs), but it’s been a refreshing change to work for a smaller non-profit providing a service the community wants. KCRW doesn’t have “Apple cash”, so some of it’s figuring things out as we go and working with what we’ve got. All aimed toward doing our best to give the LA community, you all, what you’re looking for from a community-driven organization. I’m still viewing much of this at a surface level, but even by just being here I can feel the community immersion KCRW provides. With three months under my belt, I can hear 👂how KCRW aims to connect, inspire, inform about, and celebrate everyone and everything in Los Angeles and beyond. It’s not always easy or clear how to do it best, but the people here care about what we bring to our fans, listeners, members, and the “Greater LA” communities, and I can’t believe I get to be a part of this now. I found my vibe.
Insider outsider, signing out.
-JoeyP
P.S. HUGE shoutout to Connie and Alexandra for training and guiding me through the intricacies of KCRW. Connie is a force here at the station with so much history and knowledge. Both Connie and Alexandra work WAY too hard. Which is why I’m writing this during Connie’s much-needed vacation.
“The meanest thing you can do to yourself is hate somebody else.” So says James Dutton in 1883. I’m not fully immersed in the Yellowstone universe, I haven’t seen the core show, but I did watch this mini-series recently and couldn’t get this quote out of my head. This brings us to the Midweek Reset. Clinical psychologist and Buddhist teacher Tara Brach discusses activism and how easy it is to unintentionally absorb the hate and anger leveled at others. Brach suggests that rather than reacting with the same anger, try taking an additional step and move to a place of reflection, care, and understanding.
Bolis Pupul will share a guest mix tomorrow night during Freaks Only with Travis Holcombe. You may have heard his single from 2023, “Completely Half”, now featured on a recently released album, Letter to Yu. The quirky synth beats mixed with interesting and eclectic vocals (or animal sounds) make for some good driving music if you’re out rolling around under the Los Angeles lights. Bolis begins at 9 PM. Tune in with Travis from 8 PM to 10 PM on the dial or on the KCRW app for some voracious vibes.
If you’re looking for ways to make your home a little more eco-friendly, Caleigh and Candice talk to an “ecopreneur” for tips about how to get the most bang for your buck and use state and federal money to help cover the costs. If you’ve got spaces in your home that you can repurpose for a new, more desirable use, do that! Also, insulation, insulation, insulation. Get more guidance from the Anti-Dread Climate Podcast for where to start on what can be a very overwhelming venture.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find entertainment media of any kind that shows a hopeful version of the future. This seems fair because conflict drives many forms of story-telling, and if the story exists in a hopeful, positive setting, then where does the conflict come from? The idea is this: dystopias are horrible, and utopias are perfect (and therefore not feasible, and potentially also menacing and pre-dystopian). Protopias, on the other hand, are achievable. They present a realistic, better tomorrow. Star Trek is a good example of a protopia, but even recent iterations of the series border on end-of-universe themes! Activist and philanthropist, Kathryn Murdoch, co-founded Futurific Studios, which is focused on telling these protopia stories in a world of dystopian expectations. Let’s see what they can come up with!
Design Immersion Days (DID) is a four-week journey where high school students embark on an exciting exploration of design and architecture in the very heart of Los Angeles.
Why DID?
An immersive space for creativity and innovation
Blending of traditional and digital design techniques
Engaging with renowned Los Angeles-based designers
Hands-on projects
Participants will leave with content for their admissions portfolio
Student Experience:
"The DID program doesn't limit your creativity — it amplifies it! It's not just about drawing buildings; it's about shaping cities and impacting lives. Joining DID expanded my understanding of architecture and the design process."
– Gerson Rivas, DID Alumnus
When: June 17th–July 12th, 2024 — Mondays through Fridays from 9 AM to 3 PM. Materials and lunch are included in the tuition. Spaces are limited!
Where: Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc)
The culmination of Young Creators Project 2024 is coming up this Monday, April 8th, and you’re invited. We’ve got some new, fun, and inspiring talent on deck. It’s all happening at School Night in Hollywood, with a lineup that includes: Kaiden Surti, The Lemonfrogs, Slideshow, Great Big Cow, and Veritus Miller. Doors are at 7 PM, and the show is from 7:30 PM to 10 PM. It’s free with RSVP, all ages, and open to the public.
Want to attend a very special Faye Webster performance exclusively for KCRW? It's taking place in LA on Wednesday, April 10th. For your chance, respond to this email with your favorite Faye Webster song. The first three KCRW members to respond will receive an email invitation.
Not a KCRW member? Join today so you never miss out on exclusives like these.
"KCRW is a sanctuary for me. There’s a program and host for every moment of the day and night. You are a constant source of fuel for my imagination, education, and good vibes. Thank you!" – Elaine (Redondo Beach)
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