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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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  • What Mark Stambler was reduced to until Governor Brown signed the Homemade Food Act.
    Breadmaker Gets Rise from County - Off-Ramp 7-16-11
    Mark Stambler, breadmaker v. LA County ... Comedy Store history with Brandon Christy ... ball-chasing at Dodger Stadium ... Austin Beautner, the man who would be LA's mayor ... Dinner Party Download ...
  • In this little seen photo, Theodore Filson, an engineer at the LA County Heatwave Generator cranks up the temperature in the LA Basin. Don't blame him, though. He gets his orders from the nation's air conditioner manufacturers, which operate state-of-the-art centers like these throughout the country.
    California's Golden Explorer, Huell Howser - Off-Ramp 7-9-2011
    A Day with Huell Howser ... a fifty-year space tech vet on the ending of the shuttle program ... "D is for Dog" ... Dinner Party Download ... "Leave it on the Floor" black drag movie ...
  • James Sallis, harmonicat and author.
    "Drive" novelist James Sallis - Off-Ramp 7-2-11
    In-depth with James Sallis ... LAUSD cuts homework requirement ... new backstory for old Washington bust at Huntington ... singing Mountain Goats ... CyberFrequencies ...
  • James Sallis, harmonicat and author.
    James Sallis, "Drive" author - Off-Ramp 6-28-11
    In-depth interview with literary Renaissance man James Sallis, author of book "Drive," which the new Ryan Gosling movie is based on.
  • Off-Ramp host John Rabe.
    Off-Ramp on the Larry Crowne set - 6-25-11
    Tom Hanks welcomes Off-Ramp to the set of Larry Crowne ... Eat:LA on new Vietnamese food and make-your-own limoncello ... Dinner Party Download ... LA Film Festival ... Hard Times meets Peggy Martin ...
  • Old time paddleboarding!
    All Aboard! Off-Ramp for 6-18-2011
    Paddleboard Racing, Father's Day, the real Gidget, John Frame, and Rabe finds his roots.
  • New York's Papaya King -- now in Hollywood!
    The New Pinks? - Off-Ramp 6-11-2011
    Papaya King's hot dog empire comes West ... Harry Partch's Partch-work ... more Hard Times ... America's most famous naked actor ... California's most multiculti butcher shop ... Dandelion Wine ... top secret Lotusland garden,
  • Undated photo of a Shriners parade walking past 5th and Olive Streets in Downtown LA. On the right corner is the Philharmonic Auditorium Building, which shared space with Temple Baptist Church.
    Betty White and Yuri Lowenthal - Off-Ramp 6-4-2011
    Betty White on acting, being blue, and tapirs ... Marc Haefele on new Cuba exhibit at Getty ... Yuri Lowenthal, anime star, reveals secrets of voiceover acting ... Mimi Pond hails "Bridesmaids" for allowing women to be gross ... Remembering the SLA Shootout ...
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