Imperfect Paradise podcast

Imperfect Paradise

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays. Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays. Support for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

 

#164

Residents left behind at elder care facilities in LA raise serious questions about evacuation prepar...

In the early morning hours of January 8, the Eaton Fire raced closer to the MonteCedro ret... more

12 Dec 2025

33 MINS

33:46

12 Dec 2025


#163

Altadena childcare providers' struggle to rebuild raises questions about government disaster respons...

At least 280 childcare spaces were affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires in January. L... more

05 Dec 2025

27 MINS

27:21

05 Dec 2025


#162

Gender-affirming care for transgender youth is at risk in LA and nationwide

Nearly 3,000 patients have been forced to find gender-affirming care elsewhere after the C... more

28 Nov 2025

31 MINS

31:26

28 Nov 2025


#161

Health workers say ICE agents at hospitals are compromising patient care

Amid the Trump administration's crackdown on immigration, there’s been an uptick in ... more

21 Nov 2025

28 MINS

28:16

21 Nov 2025


#160

California's new public preschool program for 4-year-olds: Exploring transitional kindergarten

All four-year-olds in the state of California now have access to a free preschool program ... more

14 Nov 2025

31 MINS

31:40

14 Nov 2025


#159

‘Taken: The Agents Raiding Communities and the People Trying to Stop Them’ from Latino USA & CalMatt...

This special episode on Imperfect Paradise is from our friends at Latino USA and CalMatter... more

12 Nov 2025

50 MINS

50:18

12 Nov 2025


#158

Who pays for the 2028 Olympics? LA taxpayers may be on the hook

In less than a thousand days, Los Angeles will be hosting the summer Olympics. Many cities... more

07 Nov 2025

29 MINS

29:57

07 Nov 2025


#157

Why the site of the largest methane leak in US history still hasn’t been shut down

Regulations on gas storage facilities have been tightened since the detection of the Aliso... more

31 Oct 2025

30 MINS

30:50

31 Oct 2025


#156

How becoming a US citizen just got harder under the Trump administration and what it means for Angel...

The Trump administration’s immigration policies have resulted in raids and protests ... more

24 Oct 2025

21 MINS

21:51

24 Oct 2025


#155

Prop 50: Is California’s redistricting push a threat to democracy or a defense of it?

Proposition 50 is part of a nationwide battle over control of the U.S. House of Representa... more

17 Oct 2025

31 MINS

31:03

17 Oct 2025


#154

An LA Commission created to tackle city government scandals is being stymied

A charter reform commission was created in 2024 in response to multiple Los Angeles city g... more

10 Oct 2025

20 MINS

20:51

10 Oct 2025


#153

Reports about failures in response to the January LA fires and a 2018 fire have striking similaritie...

A new report details the Eaton and Palisades fires, including failures in the emergency re... more

03 Oct 2025

23 MINS

23:27

03 Oct 2025


#152

How union organizing is being upended by private universities in Southern California

Big companies like Amazon and SpaceX are claiming that the National Labor Relations Board ... more

26 Sep 2025

17 MINS

17:35

26 Sep 2025


#151

Why California's protest law is flawed and the consequences to protesters

After the George Floyd protests of 2020, California took steps to rein in violent policing... more

19 Sep 2025

24 MINS

24:29

19 Sep 2025


#150

The Huntington Beach library at the center of America’s culture wars

Censorship efforts at libraries nationwide have increased steadily over the last several y... more

10 Sep 2025

32 MINS

32:06

10 Sep 2025


#149

An update to the Bass vs. Crowley feud

Last month, former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristen Crowley filed a legal claim against Los ... more

03 Sep 2025

37 MINS

37:07

03 Sep 2025


#148

Former Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do is officially in prison. What questions remain?

Disgraced former Orange County supervisor Andrew Do reported to federal prison in Arizona ... more

27 Aug 2025

28 MINS

28:13

27 Aug 2025


#147

The cost of becoming a teacher in California. Who can afford to do it?

Across the U.S., states are constantly in the midst of teacher shortages. California's tea... more

20 Aug 2025

39 MINS

39:39

20 Aug 2025


#146

Deputies severely beat a man struggling with mental health issues. Where are the records?

Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department deputies severely beat Joseph Perez in 2020, then a... more

13 Aug 2025

24 MINS

24:58

13 Aug 2025


#145

Despite three 911 calls, how did two men with disabilities die in their home during the Eaton Fire?

West Altadena residents Anthony Mitchell Sr. and his son Justin Mitchell were stuck at hom... more

06 Aug 2025

30 MINS

30:10

06 Aug 2025


#144

The dirty secret of trash: Illegal dumping in the Southern California desert

Diapers, concrete and construction debris. The open secret about trash in Southern Califor... more

30 Jul 2025

28 MINS

28:35

30 Jul 2025


#143

Inheriting: Leialani & The Occupation of Guam

In honor of Guam Liberation Day on July 21, this week we feature an episode from the Inher... more

23 Jul 2025

38 MINS

38:31

23 Jul 2025


#142

How one man rebuilt his life, 100 miles at a time

Struggling with addiction and reentry after multiple stints in prison, Cesar Quijano disco... more

16 Jul 2025

49 MINS

49:34

16 Jul 2025


#141

Are Latino pollsters helping or hurting the Democratic cause?

As Democrats confront declining Latino support across three consecutive presidential elect... more

13 Jul 2025

53 MINS

53:08

13 Jul 2025