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Imperfect Paradise

LAist Studios
California
Los Angeles
Colorado River
Wildfires
Eaton Fire
Oscar Gomez
Hollywood
Climate Change
Trump Administration
George Gascón
Laist
Donald Trump
Social Media
Immigration
Criminal Justice Reform
JB Hamby
Civil Rights Movement
Kamala Harris
Coyotes
Mountain Lions

Imperfect Paradise is LAist's weekly on-demand news magazine show that pulls back the curtain and dives deeper into the biggest and most consequential SoCal stories of the week from our newsroom. New episodes drop every Friday.

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.

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes207Founded5 years ago
Number of ListenersCategory
Society & Culture

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Artwork for Imperfect Paradise

Latest Episodes

It took days to put out the Lineage warehouse fire in Los Angeles this summer. Once the flames were out, the cleanup of rotting food took weeks. Residents suffered health problems, businesses lost customers and many questions are still unanswered. Wh... more

In the infamously cutthroat industry of restaurants, some chefs are finding untraditional paths towards success. LAist food writer Gab Chabrán dives into the state of restaurants through the story of one chef who traded in his high-end dining job for... more

In 2025, California majorly boosted its film and TV tax credit program for the first time since 2014 in an effort to keep jobs in the Golden State. One year out, is it working as planned? And why is President Trump now calling for a national incentiv... more

Many of the homes that survived the Palisades and Eaton fires are still not habitable because of contamination from smoke damage. Residents have been left battling with insurance companies over who is responsible for post-fire cleaning and testing. L... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Dawn Chmielewski
Veteran entertainment journalist at LAist
LAist
Episode: President Trump says ‘Hollywood is dead.’ What’s being done to revive it?
David Wagner
LAist Correspondent covering housing in Southern California
LAist
Episode: Is your smoke-damaged home safe? The toxic aftermath of LA’s 2025 fires
Dawn Fanning
Resident of Altadena and managing director of Eaton Fire Residence United
Eaton Fire Residence United
Episode: Is your smoke-damaged home safe? The toxic aftermath of LA’s 2025 fires
Don Fanning
Resident of Altadena who pursued testing and remediation
Altadena Residents Group
Episode: Is your smoke-damaged home safe? The toxic aftermath of LA’s 2025 fires
Tamara Brown
Comedy writer and performer
LA-based performer
Episode: Is LA becoming a public transit city?
Josh Vredevo
Transportation advocate
Streets for All
Episode: Is LA becoming a public transit city?
Cesar Quijano
Former inmate, ultramarathon runner
Amity (transitional housing program)
Episode: How one man rebuilt his life, 100 miles at a time Redux
Ashley Winter
Physician (urologist) from New Jersey, living/working in Los Angeles
Independent physician, resident of Los Angeles area
Episode: Most Californians don't own a home until 47. What that says about the CA Dream
Makenna Cramer
LAist reporter who covers Big Bear's bald eagles
LAist
Episode: More than an internet star: the life & legacy of Big Bear’s famous eagle Jackie

Hosts

Nereida Moreno
Host of Imperfect Paradise
Antonia Cereijido
Host of Imperfect Paradise

Reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars from 697 ratings
  • Very Good

    As a Californian, this is a must listen. Great podcast.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    The Mrs Sykes
    United Statesa year ago
  • “How one many rebuilt his life, 100 miles at a time”

    Loved the “How one man rebuilt his life, 100 miles at a time” episode! It was my first listen for this podcast but definitely not my last. Such a good story and fascinating insight into life after prison for all these people.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LizB2007
    United States2 years ago
  • Plain stupidity or misinformation?

    So much misinformation spread in the anti black Latinos episodes. You should know what those words mean in Spanish or at least in Mexico.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    ForrestGlover
    United States2 years ago
  • Appreciation post

    Thank you so much for bringing these insightful stories to us all. The one I just listened to was the one with Caesar in regard to his walk after prison, it’s good to hear that America is starting to bring light and proactive solutions to reduce recidivism. I hope to listen to more of this podcast. Lucy you did an amazing job!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Monica_Neema
    United States2 years ago
  • Yes to local journalism!

    I appreciate the local journalism especially on topics that we don’t get to hear from elsewhere. Will keep listening!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    etizc
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Listeners praise the show for deep, local journalism and its nuanced look at policy impacts.
Positive notes on storytelling and on-the-ground reporting from LAist reporters.
Appreciation for accessibility and real-world relevance of episodes.
Some criticism about perceived ideological bias or coverage depth on certain topics.

Top Society & Culture Podcasts

The Ezra Klein Show
The Ezra Klein ShowNew York Times Opinion
Notes from the Edge
Notes from the EdgeGamut Podcast Network
Stuff You Should Know
Stuff You Should KnowiHeartPodcasts
This American Life
This American LifeThis American Life
the Girls
the GirlsFOX News Podcasts
Freakonomics Radio
Freakonomics RadioFreakonomics Radio + Stitcher
Sold a Story
Sold a StoryAPM Reports

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

President Trump says ‘Hollywood is dead.’ What’s being done to revive it?
Q: What is the goal of California's expanded film and TV tax credit program, and is it achieving it so far?
The goal is to reduce production flight and keep projects in California by making the cost of producing here more competitive, but while there are signs of recovery, the gains are not yet at pre-2022 levels and competition remains fierce.
Is LA becoming a public transit city?
Q: What practical steps can people take to start using transit more, and how should they view their own routines in relation to transit expansion?
Start by identifying common destinations that you already visit and see if you can reach at least one of them by bus or train, then gradually make transit a regular option—this builds familiarity and helps reveal the system's possibilities and limits.
Is LA becoming a public transit city?
Q: Why is making LA a public transit city something to strive for, especially for those who are car-centered?
Public transit is cheaper, environmentally better, and socially beneficial because it brings people into shared spaces, reducing single-occupancy car use while expanding access and mobility for more Angelenos.
Most Californians don't own a home until 47. What that says about the CA Dream
Q: Has homeownership been a goal?
A highly inobtainable one.
Can a city built by the oil industry stop drilling for good?
Q: What makes urban drilling in LA different from other parts of the country?
Urban drilling in LA is deeply interwoven with residential life, schools, and public spaces, creating unique health and safety concerns that are not easily isolated from daily living, which makes regulatory actions and cleanup plans more complex.

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 Imperfect Paradise

What is Imperfect Paradise about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This program consistently covers Southern California life through a journalistic lens, blending policy, local politics, housing, immigration, culture, and community impact. Recent episodes show a strong emphasis on LA's housing challenges, the mechanics of local and state policy, and how big events (like World Cup) ripple through local economies and communities. The show also features first-hand reporting from LAist journalists and diverse guests, ranging from policymakers to practitioners and residents, to illuminate issues that affect everyday life in the region. A few standout angles include in-depth looks at homelessness, paid family leave, judicial and electoral coverage, interfaith experiences, and the social effects of major events o... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Imperfect Paradise?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Imperfect Paradise. 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 Imperfect Paradise and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Imperfect Paradise get?

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What are the audience demographics for Imperfect Paradise?

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How many subscribers and views does Imperfect Paradise have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Imperfect Paradise 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 Imperfect Paradise?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Imperfect Paradise:

1. The LA Report
2. Latino USA
3. Code Switch
4. The Daily
5. Throughline

How many episodes of Imperfect Paradise are there?

Imperfect Paradise launched 5 years ago and published 207 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 Imperfect Paradise?

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 Imperfect Paradise?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Imperfect Paradise 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.

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What guests have appeared on Imperfect Paradise?

Recent guests on Imperfect Paradise include:

1. Dawn Chmielewski
2. David Wagner
3. Dawn Fanning
4. Don Fanning
5. Tamara Brown
6. Josh Vredevo
7. Cesar Quijano
8. Ashley Winter

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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