California Sun Podcast

Author and journalist Noam Cohen dares to ask if we really signed up for all the technological change we now take for granted. Did we really need instant delivery of everything, ride-hailing on a whim, the commercialization of residential neighborhoods, or 5,000 friends? Whose disruption is it anyway?

David Ulin, the former book editor of the L.A. Times, points out that few American cities have changed more in the past two decades than Los Angeles. The city that existed at the turn of the century has been reinvented, and the longtime social and cultural critic takes us on a journey through today's L.A.

Joe Talbot's debut film, "The Last Black Man in San Francisco," captures the unsteady pulse of an ever-changing city. The film is an ode to what home means as both a brick-and-mortar place as well as a state of mind. Talbot wonders if anyone can still hold onto that sense of home in today's San Francisco.

Leah Garchik is an original. In an era of transitory work, she had one employer for 47 years. For 35 of those years, as a daily columnist, her voice reflected back to us the world and her city of San Francisco. On the occasion of her retirement last month, she shared insights into her view of the world and how it came to be.

Tony Serra gives an exclusive look at his defense strategy in the ongoing Ghost Ship trial. He explains why he thinks his client, Derick Almena, is not guilty of 36 counts of manslaughter, and gives a preview of what we can expect to hear when Almena takes the stand. Regardless of the outcome, the trial is also about the future of the city of Oakland.

Allison Haley, the district attorney for Napa County, is one of 58 district attorneys in California whose work is profoundly affected by Gov. Gavin Newsom's decision to suspend the death penalty. Her reaction to it, like that of many of her colleagues, is outrage. She explains her concern for victims and juries after a move that seems out of sync with the will of California voters.

Paul Schrade stood at Robert F. Kennedy's side at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles, 51 years ago last week. As they entered the kitchen, Schrade was shot along with the presidential candidate. Schrade recovered from his injuries. Now 94 years old, his memories of that tragic night are still vivid. He shared his recollections of Kennedy and the candidate's time in the Central Valley, and of Schrade's own work for the United Auto Workers in California.

Julian Guthrie's past work has taken us up close and personal with many of Silicon Valley's most notorious alpha males, including Larry Ellison and Elon Musk. Now she takes us on a journey with the "alpha girls" who braved the male-dominated world of venture capital in Silicon Valley. Their personal stories will shape the future of women in tech, and their professional work impacts us all.

Mark Arax, a long-time California journalist, talks about the epic history of water in the Golden State. His new book, "The Dreamt Land," is a real-life "Chinatown," examining the water wars fought between farmers, activists, corporations, and governments. The story of the movement of water in California appears as a Rosetta Stone for understanding how these arteries of water literally and figuratively tie the state together

Robin Williams' story is woven into the fabric of both the Bay Area and Hollywood. His drive for success and fame, coupled with always wanting to show us a piece of ourselves, is a very California story — especially as told by N.Y. Times culture reporter Dave Itzkoff, whose book "Robin," is just out in paperback.