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Off-Ramp
Hosted by John Rabe

Exploring Southern California with John Rabe

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Episodes
  • The Big Disaster: The Big Burn from LAist Studios
    Off-Ramp listeners, introducing The Big Disaster: The Big Burn from LAist Studios. As the world enters a new age of wildfires, science reporter Jacob Margolis dives deep into personal stories that illuminate the history of how we got here, why we keep screwing things up, and what we can do to survive and maybe even thrive while the world around us burns. 

    Listen to this episode and catch all the others here. 

    Preppi is giving a free emergency kit with any purchase over $100. Go to preppi.com/thebigburn for more information.

    This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/bigburn and get on your way to being your best self.

  • What's it like to ride a motorcycle in LA? Susan Carpenter says, "life affirming"
    This piece from the vast Off-Ramp archive is from the very first Off-Ramp - August 5, 2006 - and it's still one of my favorites because it answers a very simple question. What's it like to ride a motorcycle in LA?

    The obvious person to answer that question was Susan Carpenter, then the motorcycle columnist for the LA Times (now at Spectrum News 1), who put a little microphone into her helmet and then took off down the streets, roads, and freeways of LA.

    Support for this podcast comes from Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live; and bythe Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    Off-Ramp theme music by Fesliyan Studios.

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  • A undated photo of the back of the Los Angeles Theatre in downtown LA, purchased by Ezat Delijani in 1982 at Mayor Bradley's request.
    RIP Downtown Theater Savior - Off-Ramp 9-3-2011
    Remembering Ezat Delijani, 83; bought and saved 4 downtown LA movie palaces ... A Noise Within gets a huge new theatre ... stick-fighting in Hermosa Beach ... Nick Roman remembers covering Cerritos plane crash 25 years ago ...
  • "Mr. Flamingo" and the "Bronze Buckaroo," Herb Jeffries
    Sweet, hot and windy - Off Ramp for 8-27-11
    A different music festival, less likely to be cancelled, comes to LA. Birding with a 15 year old expert, and how to bring a tornado to Long Beach.
  • Off-Ramp turns five years old this month. One of our heroes is Robbie Eisenberg, who died in 2003. He turned 101 in 1999, celebrating with a big cake at The Pantry, and was still selling zippers in downtown LA until he was 103.
    Happy 5th Birthday Off-Ramp - 8-20-11
    The best of five years of Off-Ramp including: Tom Jones ... Heston Remembered at the DWP ... Movies at the Cemetery ... Dog Pee v Skunks ... Rabe as Arnie and Andy ...
  • Men play tug of war at a Korean Institute of Southern California picnic in 1995. But feel free to sit in the shade at your local park this weekend and do absolutely nothing.
    Your turn to talk about 9/11 - Off-Ramp 8-13-11
    CyberFrequencies launches new 9-11 project ... Marvin Hamlisch on writing music for Barbra ... Eat:LA on making goat cheese at home, and eating burgers with Obama ... ArtWalk reacts to the baby tragedy ...
  • Filming "I Love Lucy" in 1952.
    Off-Ramp Loves Lucy -- 8-6-2011
    We celebrate TV pioneer Lucille Ball on her Centennial ... Kevin's grandma remembers WW2 and the USS Indianapolis ... The LA Jewish Symphony plays Bible stories at the Ford Ampitheatre ... a trip down Wilshire in 1970s photos ...
  • Author Lisa See (far right) with (L-R) Producer Wendi Murdoch, actress Li Bingbing, director Wayne Wang, and producer Florence Sloan, at a screening of Fox Searchlights' "Snowflower and the Secret Fan" on July 11, 2011 in Los Angeles, California.
    Lisa See Dreams of Joy on Off-Ramp 7-30-11
    Lisa See on "Dreams of Joy," the sequel to "Shanghai Girls ... "Leftover Cuties" live on KPCC's Jam and Banter ... Dinner Party Download makes you 15% smarter, 12% more attractive ... RIP Magu (Gilbert Luhan, founder of Los Four) ...
  • In this undated photo from the LA Public Library's fantastic online photo archive, a child captures Off-Ramp correspondent Hank Rosenfeld's disgust at the way officials treat the people who enjoy the free concerts at the Santa Monica Pier from blankets on the sand.
    Turturro Shares His "Passione" - Off-Ramp 7-23-11
    John Turturro on his Naples music doc Passione ... tour the new dino exhibit at the Natural History Museum ... Kidz Karmen at the Bowl ... The Man Harshes Good Vibe at SaMo Pier Concerts ... CyberFrequencies on Sexting ...
  • In Passione, Director John Turturro gets in front of the camera to dance with a few of the Neapolitans he meets on the street.
    Special: Actor and Director John Turturro on Passione, his newest film
    John Turturro talks with Kevin Ferguson about his love of Italian music, especially that of Naples, where his musical documentary takes place.
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