Best Gustavo Arellano Podcasts (2024)

1
Gustavo Arellano takes on the myth and reality of Latino political identity 27:39

21d ago27:39

27:39

In a wide-ranging conversation, Los Angeles Times columnist Gustavo Arellano dismantles the myth of a monolithic "Latino vote." Through his recent 3,000-mile journey across the Southwest, Arellano discovered communities far more focused on local concerns than national political narratives. He explores how Latinos navigate the complex dynamic of ass…

1
Joe Mathews on why California must think globally, but act locally 32:22

5h ago32:22

32:22

Veteran journalist Joe Mathews offers a post-election analysis of California's future, arguing that the state's path lies not in isolation but in building global alliances — particularly at the local level. While many focus on tensions between the state and federal governments, Mathews suggests California's cities should forge connections with coun…

1
Michael Mina (The Mina Group) on his Egyptian Heritage, the Spirit of 90s NYC, and Growing a Restaurant Group 1:13:10

3d ago1:13:10

1:13:10

Michael Mina, whose hospitality group boasts about two dozen restaurants across the United States (and one in the UAE), trained in New York City. But he hadn't opened a restaurant in Manhattan ... until this summer when he and his team launched Bourbon Steak on Central Park South. On the occasion of the opening, Michael sat down with Andrew for a c…

1
Emily Hoeven asks if Gavin Newsom can save the Democratic Party 24:45

6d ago24:45

24:45

San Francisco Chronicle columnist Emily Hoeven examines Gov. Gavin Newsom's heightened relevance following the Democrats' stunning presidential defeat. As the party searches for new leadership, California's ambitious governor seems poised to step onto the national stage. But can the telegenic leader of the world's fifth-largest economy translate hi…

1
Elsa Devienne sifts through the sands of L.A.’s little known coastal history 32:02

15d ago32:02

32:02

Elsa Devienne takes us behind the iconic beaches of Los Angeles to reveal a hidden history of transformation, conflict, and reinvention. The author of "Sand Rush," Devienne discusses how L.A.’s shores went from eroding, polluted strips in the 1920s and '30s to expansive public spaces that defined the city’s image and culture. She details the social…

1
Forrest Gander navigates geology and loss in 'Mojave Ghost' 25:00

28d ago25:00

25:00

The Pulitzer Prize-winning California poet Forrest Gander discusses "Mojave Ghost," his novel-poem blending personal grief with geological exploration. He explains how his background in geology shapes his writing, offering unique insights on landscape and emotion. Gander describes walking the San Andreas Fault to process loss, highlighting the dese…

1
Oisin Heneghan believes in San Francisco 26:05

1M ago26:05

26:05

Oisin Heneghan, a Stanford engineering graduate and real estate developer, sees opportunity in San Francisco's challenges. His company N17 leads the Bay Area in pending planning applications for new housing. Heneghan explains San Francisco's cyclical nature, emphasizing the need to look five to seven years ahead, as conditions change by project com…

1
Dan Richer (Razza Pizza Artigianale; Jersey City, NJ) on Craft, Obsession, and Live-Fire Cooking (part of our Chefs on Fire series) 1:39:10

1M ago1:39:10

1:39:10

Dan Richer, the wonderfully obsessed pizzaiolo behind New Jersey's acclaimed Razza Pizza Artigianale, is a longtime friend of the pod. But he's never shared his full story and how he came to love and be consumed with the making of pizza here ... until now. On this episode, Dan and Andrew commandeer the upstairs office at Razza, and Dan shares it al…

1
Zusha Elinson on a life lost over $14.64 33:28

1M ago33:28

33:28

Wall Street Journal reporter Zusha Elinson takes us through his reporting on the tragic encounter at a San Francisco Walgreens on April 27, 2023, when security guard Michael Anthony fatally shot Banko Brown, a homeless transgender man, over $14.64 worth of stolen candy. The story unfolds against a backdrop of shifting attitudes towards crime and po…

1
Ashley Christensen (Raleigh, NC) on How She Started Cooking and Where Restaurant Concepts Come From 1:10:06

1M ago1:10:06

1:10:06

After years of trying, Ashley Christensen and Andrew were finally able to orchestrate an in-person interview this past spring at The Chef Conference in Philadelphia. Unsurprisingly, it was well worth the wait: Ashley opens up about the role of music and food in her childhood, the college dinner parties that sparked her eventual commitment to the pr…

1
Sasha Abramsky on the partisan takeover of small-towns: from potholes to culture wars 31:11

2M ago31:11

31:11

Sasha Abramsky, author of the new book "Chaos Comes Calling," talks about how America's deep polarization has cascaded from national politics down to local levels of governance. Abramsky reveals that even in small rural communities, once-mundane local issues like library policies, road repairs, and child care have become ideological battlegrounds. …

1
Elizabeth Rosner and the transformative art of listening 29:23

2M ago29:23

29:23

Elizabeth Rosner discusses the importance and difficulty of deep listening in our noisy, information-saturated world. The Berkeley author's new work "Third Ear: Reflections on the Art and Science of Listening" draws in part from her experience as a child of Holocaust survivors. Rosner weaves personal narratives with insights from various fields to …

1
Alison Owings and Del Seymour on the incredible journey of the "mayor of the Tenderloin" 32:06

2M ago32:06

32:06

Del Seymour, a former homeless addict known as the "mayor of the Tenderloin," and his biographer, Alison Owings, offer a raw, street-level view of San Francisco's most notorious neighborhood. Seymour, the subject of Owings' book, "Mayor of the Tenderloin," pulls no punches, exposing the paradoxical allure of homelessness and the failings of well-me…

1
Carol Mithers rethinks rescue with L.A.'s "Dog Lady" 26:50

2M ago26:50

26:50

Los Angeles author Carol Mithers discusses her new book, "Rethinking Rescue," which explores a groundbreaking approach to animal welfare pioneered by Lori Weise, the founder of L.A.’s Downtown Dog Rescue. Known as the "Dog Lady," Weiss focuses on preventing pets from entering shelters by addressing the root causes of surrender, particularly in unde…

1
Patt Morrison takes the pulse of Los Angeles 41:55

3M ago41:55

41:55

Patt Morrison, a veteran Los Angeles journalist and Pulitzer Prize winner, takes us on a journey through the city's ever-evolving landscape. With over five decades of experience chronicling L.A. across print, television, and radio, Morrison shares unique insights into the city's transformation, from its complex power structures to its diverse commu…

1
Stephanie Izard (Girl and the Goat & others, Chicago and Los Angeles) on Eclecticism, Career Decisions, and Live-Fire Cooking (part of our Chefs on Fire series) 1:19:52

3M ago1:19:52

1:19:52

For the past two decades, Stephanie Izard has steadily amassed a stellar culinary and hospitality career as a chef and restaurateur. First introduced to a national audience when she won Season 4 of Top Chef, which she immediately followed with her first restaurant, Chicago's Girl and the Goat. The instantaneous and overwhelming success of that rest…

1
Roger BelAir and Dan Ostroff on pickleball in prison 34:05

3M ago34:05

34:05

Roger BelAir and Dan Ostroff are bringing hope to California's toughest prisons through an unlikely source: pickleball. Their upcoming documentary, "Pickleball in Prison," explores how the simple paddle sport is transforming life behind bars, bridging gaps between inmates and staff, and fostering teamwork in high-security environments. From San Que…

1
Chicago's Mindy Segal (Mindy's Bakery) on Collaboration, Cannabis, and a Life without Recipes 1:10:59

3M ago1:10:59

1:10:59

From high atop the Hoxton Hotel in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Chicago's Mindy Segal takes us through her life and career: How she grativitated to the pro kitchen and zeroed in on pastry; her instinct-based approach to creativity and collaboration; and the genesis of her self-titled line of edibles, as well as the story behind her current place, Mindy'…

1
Gustavo Arellano (LA Times columnist) on the Ethics of Restaurant Criticism, the Joys of Being a Columnist, and Whether Any Subjects Should be Taboo 1:09:42

3M ago1:09:42

1:09:42

Andrew's been a fan of the wit, wisdom, and observational powers of LA Times columnist Gustavo Arellano for years. So, when they both attended The Chef Conference in Philly this spring, we asked Gustavo to sit down for an improvisational conversation. He obliged, and did not disappoint. Enjoy this freestyle conversation that covers a wide range of …

1
Zoë Bernard on El Segundo's hard tech patriots 20:00

3M ago20:00

20:00

Zoë Bernard's recent story in Vanity Fair looks at El Segundo, California's emerging tech scene, where young entrepreneurs are rejecting Silicon Valley's software focus in favor of hard tech and defense tech. These predominantly male founders emphasize bro culture, patriotism, religion, and traditional values while developing drones, nuclear reacto…

1
Arielle Johnson (food scientist & author, Flavorama) on Why Foods Taste the Way They Do 1:09:51

3M ago1:09:51

1:09:51

Food scientist Arielle Johnson has worked with some of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world, and recently offered up much of her knowledge in a surprisingly fun, accessible, and comprehendible book, Flavorama: A Guide to Unlocking the Art and Science of Flavor. In this interview, Arielle recounts her path to becoming a food scientist (a rela…

1
Kevin Fagan on the front lines of California's homelessness crisis 31:38

4M ago31:38

31:38

Kevin Fagan, a veteran San Francisco Chronicle reporter, discusses the state's evolving homelessness crisis. After the Supreme Court's recent Grants Pass decision, cities are taking more aggressive action on encampment sweeps. Fagan explores these sweeps, the state of homelessness, and the political implications as elections approach. With decades …

1
Caroline Paul on empowerment through outdoor adventure 26:33

4M ago26:33

26:33

Caroline Paul's youthful adventures began as one of the first women to join the San Francisco Fire Department back in 1989, a story she recounts in her bestselling memoir, "Fighting Fire." In her latest book, "Tough Broad: From Boogie Boarding to Wing Walking — How Outdoor Adventure Improves Our Lives as We Age," Paul demonstrates how a lifelong re…

1
Adair Canacasco (Roister, Chicago) on Nostalgia, his Mexican Roots, and Live-Fire Cooking (part of our Chefs on Fire series) 1:15:21

4M ago1:15:21

1:15:21

Born in Mexico and raised in the Midwest, Adair Canacasco brings his personal background and passion to his role as executive chef of Roister restaurant in Chicago. While in Chicago recently, Andrew sat down with Adair to learn about his familial roots, his maturation as both a cook and a manager/mentor of cooks, and the complex nature of the live-…

1
Sara Fenske Bahat navigates art, protests, and politics 47:56

4M ago47:56

47:56

Sara Fenske Bahat, the former interim chief executive of San Francisco's Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, explores the interplay between art, politics, and institutional responsibility. Bahat, who is Jewish, explains the museum's mission and history leading up to a crisis in February involving pro-Palestinian protests, questions of free speech, and…

1
Sean Brock (Joyland, Audrey & june, Nashville) on Finding His Culinary Voice in Appalachian Food 1:05:52

4M ago1:05:52

1:05:52

During The Chef Conference in Philly this spring, Sean Brock graciously made time to sit down for this deeply personal and open conversation about his path to the pro kitchen, his development as a chef, and his various restaurants, including his current Joyland, Audrey, and june in Nashville. Please check out our fellow meez network podcasts and ne…

1
Announcing ... The meez Network! A New Hospitality Industry Content Hub co-founded by Andrew and meez founder/ceo Josh Sharkey 10:57

5M ago10:57

10:57

Hey, everybody! Please take 8 minutes and listen to this announcement of The meez Network. Andrew co-founded this new content hub with meez founder and ceo Josh Sharkey, and will initially serve the network as program director. The meez Network launches today (7/1/04) with an inaugural roster of podcasts, and one newsletter. Please check it out, ta…

1
José Vadi on skateboarding at the edge of culture and creativity 28:15

5M ago28:15

28:15

José Vadi, author of "Chipped: Writing from a Skateboarder's Lens," explores skateboarding as a unique window into California culture, both northern and southern. He discusses how skating serves as a form of self-empowerment and artistic expression, intertwining with music and writing. Vadi examines skateboarding's evolution from a rebellious subcu…

1
Ruth Reichl (author, The Paris Novel) on Pleasure, Travel, and Discovering the Joy of Writing 44:54

5M ago44:54

44:54

After years mostly writing and editing "real life" articles and books set in and around the food and restaurant realm, Ruth Reichl recently published a new work of fiction, The Paris Novel. The book follows young protagonist Stella as she discovers life's pleasures, and gets to know herself, in the most romantic city on Earth. In this Special Conve…

1
Markos Kounalakis on the Golden State's global impact 26:19

5M ago26:19

26:19

Markos Kounalakis, a visiting fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and California's "second gentleman," married to Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis, argued in a recent Washington Monthly piece that California, given its economic power and strategic location, is underrepresented in key U.S. Senate committees, including those on armed s…

1
Lyndsay C. Green (Restaurant & Dining Critic, Detroit Free Press) on Becoming a Critic, Detroit's Food Scene, & the Role of Race in Criticism 54:35

5M ago54:35

54:35

Lyndsay C. Green covers restaurants and dining for The Detroit Free Press. She comes to her area of specialization from a background in beauty reporting. In this conversation--recorded after a chance encounter with Andrew at The Chef Conference in Philly this spring--Lyndsay shares her personal story and how she migrated from beauty to food, the ho…

1
Jan Sramek's vision of California Forever 46:47

5M ago46:47

46:47

Jan Sramek grew up enamored with the California dream. Today he tells us how he wants to transform that dream into the development of a new 21st-century city on 60,000 acres of rural Solano County. Dubbed California Forever, the project is designed, Sramek says, to reshape the Bay Area housing landscape by adding more than 25,000 homes, creating th…

1
Cecillia Lunaparra wants to change the world at 22 24:37

6M ago24:37

24:37

What were you doing at 22? Cecilia Lunaparra, a senior at UC Berkeley, was just elected to the Berkeley City Council at that age, making her the youngest and first undergraduate to hold the office. She's not new to activism and making a difference in her community, and thinks that the young people protesting on campus today may be at the forefront …

1
LIVE! FROM HOT LUCK: Paola Velez (Dōekï Dōekï; Bakers Against Racism) Just Wants to Bake the World a Better Place 53:23

6M ago53:23

53:23

LIVE! from Hot Luck (Austin, TX)--Perhaps best known as the force behind Bakers Against Racism, Paola Velez (Dōekï Dōekï) has made a life and career of intertwining baking and altruism. (As her website says, she just wants to "Bake the World a Better Place.") In this interview, recorded on the grounds of Hot Luck last weekend, Paola shares about he…

1
Sal Lamboglia (Cafe Spaghetti, Swoony's) on the Long Road Back to Brooklyn 1:07:20

6M ago1:07:20

1:07:20

Raised in the Bensonhurst neighborhood of Brooklyn, Sal Lamboglia grew up on Italian-American food in a family populated by his chef father, butchers, and other food professionals. Following graduation from culinary school, he spent many years with a Manhattan-based restaurant group before returning to Brooklyn and launching his hit restaurant Cafe…

1
Chad Williams (Friday Saturday Sunday restaurant; Philly, PA) on Finding the Magic & Poetry in Food & Cooking 1:17:43

6M ago1:17:43

1:17:43

When Philly's Friday Saturday Sunday won the James Beard Foundation Award as Outstanding Restaurant in 2023, it was the culmination of chef Chad Williams' slow, patient development, of both his talent and craft, and of the restaurant he co-owns and co-operates with his wife Hanna Williams. In this conversation, recorded at The Chef Conference in Ph…

1
Ken Doctor and the little newsroom that could 34:39

6M ago34:39

34:39

Over the years, the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting has typically been awarded to major legacy media brands. However, this year a hyperlocal online publication, the Santa Cruz Lookout, received the prestigious honor for its coverage of the once-in-a-century floods that devastated Santa Cruz in January 2023. Ken Doctor, who founded the Lo…

1
Author Robert Simonson on His Book "The Encyclopedia of Cocktails" (an ATTC Special Conversation) 35:16

6M ago35:16

35:16

Robert Simonson is one of our most prolific and witty scribes on the subject of cocktails. Along with cocktails, he also writes about the related topics of spirits, bars, and bartenders for the New York Times and is the creator and author of the Substack newsletterThe Mix with Robert Simonson. In his most recent book, The Encyclopedia of Cocktails,…

1
Lauren Petkin and divorce, California style 35:46

6M ago35:46

35:46

California has often been identified with divorce, at least in the media. After all, California was the first state to introduce no-fault divorce in 1970 under then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, and celebrity divorces make lots of headlines. Our guest, Lauren Petkin, has been practicing family law in Los Angeles for 36 years. She lays out today's divorce lan…

1
The Rent is Too Damn High and Other Industry Issues, with Marc Forgione (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 45:50

6M ago45:50

45:50

On the occasion of the relocation of his eponymous restaurant to its new home in Tribeca, Marc Forgione sat down for one of our special conversations--and, man, did he bring it. In just 30 brisk minutes, he and Andrew discuss NYC restaurant rents, the possibilities of a new space, the crucialness of having a private dining room, and the media's por…

1
Robert McNally exposes the hidden legacy of John Muir 25:56

6M ago25:56

25:56

In his new book "Cast Out of Eden," Robert McNally removes John Muir from his pedestal and exposes his contempt for the Indigenous peoples whose homeland he helped expropriate. McNally contends that Muir, while rightly celebrated as a nature mystic who introduced the concept of wilderness to Californians and fought for the preservation of wild plac…

1
Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard (authors, Koreaworld: A Cookbook) on This Exciting Time in Korean Food 1:00:53

6M ago1:00:53

1:00:53

In their second literary collaboration, Koreaworld: A Cookbook, authors Deuki Hong and Matt Rodbard take readers on an adventure to Korea, and to hubs of Korean food in the United States, to paint a vivid portrait of Korean food worldwide right now. On today's episode, Deuki and Matt share their impressions of modern Korea and its cuisine, and of s…

1
Evan Funke (Felix, Mother Wolf, etc.) on Pasta, Italy, and the Meaning of Life 1:21:27

7M ago1:21:27

1:21:27

After a few lurches and false starts early in his career, Evan Funke connected with the Los Angeles area dining public in a big way with his Felix restaurant in Venice, California, and has followed it up with a series of successes: Mother Wolf, Funke, Tre Dita in Chicago, and others on the horizon. In this conversation, recorded last week in New Yo…

1
Sylvia Brownrigg's memory and imagination 26:09

7M ago26:09

26:09

Bay Area author Sylvia Brownrigg embarked on a captivating journey to uncover family secrets, set against the backdrop of California's allure of reinvention. In her new memoir, "The Whole Staggering Mystery," a lost package sparks an exploration that intertwines identity, hidden family histories, and the enduring influence of the past on the presen…

1
Max Podemski defends multifamily housing 32:22

7M ago32:22

32:22

Max Podemski is an urban planner, writer, and illustrator who currently serves as a transportation planner for the city of Los Angeles. In his new book, "A Paradise of Small Houses," he traces the evolution of American housing types, from the Philadelphia row house and Chicago workers cottage to the California bungalow. Podemski argues that Califor…

1
Nina Compton (Compère Lapin, New Orleans) on How She Put it All Together 58:06

7M ago58:06

58:06

Between speaking on a panel at The Chef Conference in Philly and catching a flight back to New Orleans, chef Nina Compton took time to sit down with Andrew and share the milestones in her life and career to date. From a fondly remembered childhood in Saint Lucia to the Culinary Institute of America to stints working for and with chefs such as Danie…

1
Austin Johnson's Long and Winding Road to One White Street (NYC) 1:30:04

7M ago1:30:04

1:30:04

Austin Johnson has taken a circuitous route to NYC's One White Street and Rigor Hill Market. He's cooked or cheffed at institutions like Canlis, Noma, Eleven Madison Park, Frenchie, and others, as well as on an Alaskan fishing boat. (His blog from his time on the boat is still online, and is well worth your time.) He shares it all here, and takes t…

1
Napa's wine industry is not aging well 40:48

7M ago40:48

40:48

The California wine industry is under siege. A global wine glut, younger generations turning away from alcohol, and a contentious battle over the future of Napa County wineries have left the enemy inside the gates. As if this weren't enough, Justice Department investigators have subpoenaed dozens of wine industry figures, including a member of the …

1
Alain Ducasse on His New Book "Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion" (An Andrew Talks to Chefs Special Conversation) 34:46

7M ago34:46

34:46

If ever there were a guest who needed little introduction, it's certainly Alain Ducasse. The great chef--one of the most influential, prolific, and successful in the history of Western cuisine--sat down with Andrew this week to discuss his new book "Good Taste: A Life of Food and Passion." The book is a meditation on Chef Ducasse's life and career …

1
A California voice for a distant land: Amy Wilentz's advocacy for Haiti 24:45

7M ago24:45

24:45

Though Haiti may seem distant, it is arguably as relevant to us as Ukraine or Israel. The Caribbean country serves as a global example of failed governance rooted in tribal strife. Amy Wilentz, a prominent voice in bringing attention to the horrors endured by the people of Haiti, has been covering the nation since the 1980s. A long-time resident of…

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Gustavo Arellano Podcasts

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