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Artwork for California City

California City

LAist Studios
Los Angeles
Homelessness
Mutual Aid
Housing Crisis
Identity Politics
Magic Castle
Volunteering
Los Angeles City Council
Elite Capture
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Public Health
Covid-19
Skid Row
Mayor Karen Bass
Inside Safe
Kundalini Yoga
Social Services
Kevin De León
Nithya Raman
Guru Jagat

Deep in the Mojave Desert, there is a little town with a big name and a bizarre history: California City. For decades, real estate developers have sold a dream here: if you buy land now, you’ll be rich one day. Thousands of people bought this dream. Many were young couples and hard-working immigrants looking to build a better future. But much of the land they bought is nearly worthless. In this n... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes119Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
News

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Artwork for California City

Latest Episodes

Despite an initial promise that LA Olympic events would start at $28, tickets for the games are costing fans hundreds to thousands of dollars. LAist Olympics reporter Libby Rainey joins us to discuss why the ticket prices are so expensive, what they ... more

The famed Big Bear bald eagle couple Jackie and Shadow have become a global internet sensation. Tens of thousands of fans tune in to watch every season as the couple expands their family. LAist Reporter and resident Jackie & Shadow expert Makenna Cra... more

At least four people have died in custody at an ICE detention facility in Adelanto, California. A recent lawsuit alleges that living conditions there are inhumane, and some are comparing the facility to "concentration camps." LAist reporter Julia Bar... more

Los Angeles Unified School District could face an open-ended strike if multiple labor deals are not made by April 14. The potential strike comes at a time when the district faces significant challenges, including a budget deficit and a superintendent... more

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Recent Guests

Denny Nivens
Olympics fan and interviewee
Individual
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: 'Astronomical' LA28 Olympics ticket prices have shocked fans. But could a more expensive games benefit taxpayers?
Makenna Cramer
LAist reporter and eagle expert
LAist
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Big Bear Valley’s ‘royal couple’ Jackie and Shadow & their emotional journey to parenthood
Antonia Cereijido
Former Imperfect Paradise host
Imperfect Paradise / LAist
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Big Bear Valley’s ‘royal couple’ Jackie and Shadow & their emotional journey to parenthood
Mariana Dale
LAist Senior K-12 Reporter
LAist
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Looming strike, budget deficit, and superintendent under federal investigation. What it could all mean for LAUSD's 400,000 students and staff
Erin Stone
LAist Climate and Environment Senior Reporter
LAist
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Whistleblower alleges manager asleep on job during Eaton Fire response. Complaint raises questions about accountability and preparedness
Emily Taranelli
Stanford Journalism student
Stanford University
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Women speak a quarter of words in the 2026 Oscars Best Picture nominated films. What that tells us about the movies Hollywood values
Kandace Taylor
Author, photographer, award-winning cultural documentarian
Independent/Writer and Documentarian
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Route 66 has a 100-year legacy of American road trips and expansion, but the Main Street of America had its problems too
Rita Padrell
Former Pennsylvania resident who traveled Route 66 with family in 1966
Private individual (interview subject)
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: Route 66 has a 100-year legacy of American road trips and expansion, but the Main Street of America had its problems too
Elly Yu
LAist Early Childhood Senior Reporter
LAist Studios
Episode: Imperfect Paradise: California is not tracking whether its multi-billion dollar public preschool program is working. So how do we know if it’s helping or hurting students?

Host

Nereida Moreno
Host of Imperfect Paradise, she brings a journalistic perspective to uncovering the truth behind California City's peculiar narrative.

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 1.5k ratings
  • No.

    “Transgender care” for children is at risk? Seriously? There is no such thing. Stop feeding into pure delusion. You are promoting ruining the lives of kids and their families. Get off this train.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    NKG120
    United States5 months ago
  • A really thoughtful view of how people can be pulled into a grandstand fraud, complicity and loss.

    Podcast Addict
    5
    scattyscatty
    9 months ago
  • Original story was good

    The original story was good three or four stars, but they just turned it into an advertisement for all their other shows. They uploaded like 100 episodes that had nothing to do with the original premise or the original reporter. It’s bad practice. Just advertise your other shows once or twice and leave this one for what it is.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Mehitchcock
    United Statesa year ago
  • Liberal NPR Mouthpiece

    This is a show sponsored by NPR and is so liberal it makes Hillary Clinton to look like a moderate. The host must emphasize her Latino name, but not talk like she’s a Latino when interviewing non-ethnic Americans. If you don’t live in LA, abort this program because if you didn’t vote for Kamala or George Gascon, you’re an useful idiot in their eyes.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Toolshed
    United Statesa year ago
  • Liberal propaganda now

    The first season was great and very interesting. It’s just a liberal grifting podcast now hosting communists, racists, and glorifying criminals. There is no”journalism”, it’s just a interviewers gaslighting one sided DEI garbage. This podcast is just too out of touch with reality now.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Toyotatacomasr5
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Overall, the exploration of California City is lauded for its captivating format, though some episodes have drawn criticism for straying from the original themes.
Many listeners praise the in-depth storytelling and journalistic integrity, often expressing how the narratives resonate with personal experiences related to land and dreams.
Some reviews reflect frustration with perceived biases in reporting, indicating a polarized reception dependent on political perspectives.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#135
Russia/News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Imperfect Paradise: Big Bear Valley’s ‘royal couple’ Jackie and Shadow & their emotional journey to parenthood
Q: When did you learn about the first pit and how does that signal relate to the hatching window?
The first pip indicated a crack in the egg, signaling the late stages of the hatching process and drawing a large audience to watch the chick's emergence during the prime hatching window.
Imperfect Paradise: Big Bear Valley’s ‘royal couple’ Jackie and Shadow & their emotional journey to parenthood
Q: So Makenna, what happened to these eggs?
Eggs were breached by ravens after a period of unattended nesting, leading to the loss of the original clutch and prompting a return to incubation with replacement eggs, which renewed hopes for a hatch.
Imperfect Paradise: Looming strike, budget deficit, and superintendent under federal investigation. What it could all mean for LAUSD's 400,000 students and staff
Q: How has past leadership responded to budget pressures?
Leadership has pushed a fiscal stabilization plan with options like school consolidations, layoffs, and reduced transportation, while emphasizing the need to protect classrooms and frontline staff, though reserves are dwindling and funding stability remains uncertain.
Imperfect Paradise: Looming strike, budget deficit, and superintendent under federal investigation. What it could all mean for LAUSD's 400,000 students and staff
Q: Mariana, what would a strike mean for students and their families?
A strike would likely force a shutdown of schools and meal programs, profoundly impacting working families who rely on the district not only for education but for childcare and nutrition; the impact would be especially acute for younger students and vulnerable populations.
Imperfect Paradise: California is not tracking whether its multi-billion dollar public preschool program is working. So how do we know if it’s helping or hurting students?
Q: Why has California struggled to launch a study of its TK program?
Researchers and officials suggest it's due to a long-standing pattern of not earmarking funds for large-scale evaluations, plus coordination challenges across agencies and researcher groups.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About California City

What is California City about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content focuses on the enigmatic town of California City, weaving together narratives of dreams, deception, and the socio-economic challenges surrounding land ownership in the Mojave Desert. It highlights the stories of individuals who invested in this town with hopes of a prosperous future, only to face harsh realities, creating a compelling examination of real estate dreams gone wrong. Listeners are likely to encounter discussions surrounding urban planning, immigration, and local governance, while interspersing personal stories that reveal the human implications behind broader systemic issues. The storytelling style may explore poignant themes of hope, loss, and the quest for a better life, resonating with a diverse audience.

Where can I find podcast stats for California City?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for California City. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to California City and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does California City get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for California City, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for California City?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for California City, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does California City have?

To see how many followers or subscribers California City has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to California City?

These podcasts share a similar audience with California City:

1. Imperfect Paradise
2. The Dropout
3. Brainwashed
4. Crimes of the Times
5. Breakdown

How many episodes of California City are there?

California City launched 6 years ago and published 119 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact California City?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for California City?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for California City from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for California City?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of California City. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on California City?

Recent guests on California City include:

1. Denny Nivens
2. Makenna Cramer
3. Antonia Cereijido
4. Mariana Dale
5. Erin Stone
6. Emily Taranelli
7. Kandace Taylor
8. Rita Padrell

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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