California Insider

Independent LA builder John Gregorchuk spent over a decade navigating delays, shifting requirements, and a maze of unclear rules—just to build housing on land he already owned. At one point, he creat…

Kaylee Law is just 19 years old—and already a city council member in her California hometown. In this episode, she shares how homeschooling, early college enrollment, and strong community support hel…

As California’s shelters reach capacity, thousands remain on the streets. Hotel GM Claudio Bono believes there’s a practical, dignified alternative—one that uses empty hotel rooms to offer temporary …

Many Los Angeles residents aren’t reporting home burglaries, but real estate agent Diana Lavu Weems says they’re happening more often than people realize. She shares firsthand accounts from her commu…

A former corrections officer and his wife returned to California’s toughest prisons—not to enforce rules, but to offer a new way forward. In this episode, they share how education, discipline, and hu…

California pours billions into public education. Yet classrooms remain under strain, student outcomes lag, and programs multiply without clear accountability. In this episode, Senator Rosilicie Ochoa…

California’s effort to protect the iconic Joshua tree is well-intentioned—but the law has led to unintended consequences for homeowners, developers, and even public infrastructure projects. In this e…

Marine veteran Kate Monroe’s journey began with injury and disappointment during her military service, and deepened as she faced the complexity of the Veterans Affairs system after leaving the Marine…

Thousands of families, farms, and businesses across three Northern California counties—Sonoma, Mendocino, and Marin—could lose a vital water supply as two key dams face removal. Chris Coulombe joins …

Could California’s old oil fields become part of the state’s clean energy future? In this episode, we meet Mike Umbro, a California native testing a new approach to long-duration energy storage. With…

In California’s nonprofit world, consistency is hard to find, but one of the state’s oldest foundations still focuses on long-term support and trust. In this episode, Bill Ahmanson, president of The …

A shift in California law is changing how courts handle criminal cases tied to behavioral conditions. Judges must now presume a connection between a diagnosis and the offense, narrowing their discret…

Building a home in California can take months—or even years—before anyone moves in. Max Gerbut, founder of Haus.me, believes that timeline is outdated. In this episode, he explains how his off-grid, …

A behind-the-scenes agreement between federal officials, environmental groups, and The Nature Conservancy changed the course of ranching in Point Reyes.

Now, many longtime families are leaving.

West …

Tony Hall spent decades working inside San Francisco’s government—across seven departments and three branches. In this conversation, he shares how civic culture once centered on service, and what hap…

California has long been a symbol of possibility—but for many residents, that promise feels increasingly out of reach. Author and policy expert Steve Hilton joins us to examine the data and decisions…

If you’re a homeowner in California, you’ve probably noticed it’s getting harder—and more expensive—to keep your property insured. Even in low-risk areas, people are being dropped or pushed into the …