23: The Influences and Interests of a Southern California Icon

Catalyst: A Creative Industries Podcast

A self-described bookworm, Gustavo Arellano spent his childhood at the Anaheim Public Library where he fell in love with classic works such as The Catcher in the Rye and The Importance of Being Earnest, and the surrealist poetry of the Beats. Influenced by jocular treasures such as Mad Magazine and In Loving Color, Gustavo shares how he discovered his own comedic voice through the development of his satirical column “Ask a Mexican” and how his experience at the O.C. Weekly paved the way for a successful career as a freelance reporter, food critic, author, and columnist for the L.A. Times.

Hosts Taryn Stroop and Shannon Halverson-Gorajia get a snapshot of how the vernacular culture of Orange County helped to shape and direct the humor, interests, and career trajectory of this Southern Californian icon.