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Imperfect Paradise
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Imperfect Paradise
The Show About Hidden Worlds and Messy Realities

About The Show

Imperfect Paradise is an award-winning weekly narrative podcast showcasing California stories with universal significance, hosted by Antonia Cereijido. Each deeply reported story is driven by characters who illuminate aspects of American identity and underscore California's reputation as a home for dreamers and schemers, its heartbreaking inequality, its varied and diverse communities, its unique combination of dense cities and wild places. New episodes premiere Wednesdays, with broadcasts on LAist 89.3 the following Sundays.

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.

Funding provided by:

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Episodes
  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen 33:56
    Listen 33:56
    Investigating fraud allegations over missing pandemic funds in Orange County
    An LAist investigation uncovered more than $13 million in public funds directed by Orange County Supervisor Andrew Do to Viet America Society (VAS) without disclosing his daughter was a leader at the nonprofit. County officials now allege that money was “brazenly plundered” for personal gain. Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido speaks with LAist correspondent Nick Gerda, who broke the story, about the ongoing investigation.

  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen 43:39
    Listen 43:39
    Imperfect Paradise: Patrisse Cullors on leaving BLM, racial justice, and the election
    Artist, abolitionist, and co-founder of Black Lives Matter Patrisse Cullors shares her perspective on what's at stake in the 2024 election and reflects on the current state of the BLM movement. Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido’s conversation with Cullors is part of a series of interviews with notable Californians in the lead up to the election, in which they talk about a range of key issues.



    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise 

    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. 

Show your support for Imperfect Paradise today!
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Episodes
  • Mountain Lion, Coyote, and Bear face forward with Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears title and LAist Studios logo in the foreground.
    Listen 44:24
    Listen 44:24
    Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 3 - The Bear Nuisance
    The first deadly black bear attack in California’s history was confirmed recently in a small mountain town in Northern California. While wildlife officials say fatal bear attacks are rare, this recent death and growing encounters between bears and people underscore how high the stakes are as wild and urban worlds merge.

    LAist climate reporter Erin Stone takes a deeper look at bears through the lens of the mountain town of Sierra Madre, where she lives. Just 25 minutes from downtown L.A., the residents of Sierra Madre increasingly come face-to-face with black bears. 

    Erin looks at the history of bears in the U.S., how black bears ended up in Southern California, and how Sierra Madre is choosing to respond to the black bears living in its community.
  • Mountain Lion, Coyote, and Bear face forward with Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears title and LAist Studios logo in the foreground.
    Listen 44:28
    Listen 44:28
    Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 2 - The Coyote Villain
    If the mountain lion is thought of as a celebrity, then, many would think of the coyote as a villain. LAist Correspondent Emily Guerin looks into why we vilify coyotes, what scientists actually know about them, and how they’ve adapted and thrived in some of the most urban parts of Southern California. Emily also explores the historic and cultural baggage that may inform people’s attitudes about coyotes.
    CONTENT ADVISORY: This episode includes details about a deadly coyote attack of a toddler.
  • Mountain Lion, Coyote, and Bear face forward with Imperfect Paradise: Lions, Coyotes, & Bears title and LAist Studios logo in the foreground.
    Listen 45:45
    Listen 45:45
    Lions, Coyotes, & Bears: Part 1 - The Mountain Lion Celebrity
    One of Hollywood’s recent celebrities wasn’t a person, but a feline. LAist Correspondent Jill Replogle looks into P-22’s stardom, people’s obsession with him, and what his story says about our ability to coexist with wildlife in a rapidly changing, increasingly urban world.
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  •  A man looks into the distance, leaning on the U.S. / Mexico border wall. The image has a dark pink filter on it, and the title of the series: Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico.
    Listen 41:22
    Listen 41:22
    Return from Mexico
    In 2009, Gloria Arellano de la Rosa was banned from re-entering the U.S. for ten years, finding herself separated from her four children and husband. But unlike Daniel Zamora, she didn’t remake her life in Mexico. Every day she waited to go home to the U.S. Fernanda Echavarri tells the story of what happens when Gloria finally returns to the States and reunites with her family. 
  •  A man looks into the distance, leaning on the U.S. / Mexico border wall. The image has a dark pink filter on it, and the title of the series: Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico.
    Listen 32:45
    Listen 32:45
    Return to Mexico: Part 3
    Unable to return to the U.S., Daniel Zamora struggles to build a life in Mexico, until a trip abroad suddenly upends his perspective. Lorena Ríos reports. 
  •  A man looks into the distance, leaning on the U.S. / Mexico border wall. The image has a dark pink filter on it, and the title of the series: Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico.
    Listen 34:47
    Listen 34:47
    Return to Mexico: Part 2
    Daniel Zamora  waits for the decision on his deportation appeal and has to figure out how to make a life in Mexico — find work, get an apartment.  All the while, Daniel tries to keep up his cross-border relationship. Lorena Ríos reports. 
  •  A man looks into the distance, leaning on the U.S. / Mexico border wall. The image has a dark pink filter on it, and the title of the series: Imperfect Paradise: Return to Mexico.
    Listen 35:50
    Listen 35:50
    Return to Mexico: Part 1
    Daniel Zamora took a roadtrip in 2011 that would take an unexpected turn to the Texas border. That detour would shatter the course of his life. Journalist Lorena Ríos reports.

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes mention of suicidal ideation. 

    The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline offers services to talk to a skilled counselor. If you are feeling distressed and need to talk to a counselor, please call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit https://988lifeline.org/.
  • Imperfect Paradise Main Tile
    Listen 43:34
    Listen 43:34
    ‘Free the Tee’: Fighting Back Against LA Golf Course Scalpers
    LA was rocked on March 4 when Dave Fink, a golf influencer, posted a viral video on Instagram detailing how brokers - largely using a Korean messenger app- were snatching up prime time tees at Los Angeles’ public golf courses and reselling them. Here’s how an unlikely crew of golf enthusiasts’ fight to keep golf in L.A. accessible and affordable is paying off. Host Antonia Cereijido reports.

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradise

    Listen to Reimagining Democracy for A Good Life, hosted by longtime equity advocate Angela Glover Blackwell. Available now at policylink.org/reimagining-democracy or wherever you get your podcasts

    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.

  • The podcast title "Inheriting" in all caps at the top of the image. Three people sit around a table in the foreground talking with a mic. In the background, people walk across a bridge. The colors in the image are a warm reddish, purple and orange.
    Listen
    Listen
    In part two of Carol Kwang Park’s story, we follow Carol’s journey to connect more deeply with her family – and introduce the family-led conversations that are central toInheriting.Decades after the 1992 LA Uprising, Carol finally learns what her mom experienced during the riots and how she made it back home. It allows for a better understanding of her mother, as well as her family’s journey leading up to the Uprising – which she never had as a child. For the first time, Carol also talks to her brother, Albert Park, about what it was like to work at the gas station as kids, especially around the time of the Uprising.
    How can I support? Inheritingis entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of the show, go to LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to donate.
    If you want to learn more about any of the historical moments we talk about on our show, visit our website: LAist.com/Inheriting. We have a variety of resources for you, as well as lesson plans from the Asian American Education Project.
  • The podcast title "Inheriting" in all caps at the top of the image. Three people sit around a table in the foreground talking with a mic. In the background, people walk across a bridge. The colors in the image are a warm reddish, purple and orange.
    Listen
    Listen
    Carol Kwang Park was 12 years old, working as a cashier at her family’s gas station in Compton, California, when the 1992 LA Uprising forever changed her life. Her mom was at the gas station that day and Carol was unsure if she’d even make it home. At the time, she didn’t understand why tensions came to a head in Los Angeles, following the acquittal of the officers who beat Rodney King. She also never understood why her mother insisted on keeping the business going, especially after the Uprising. As an adult, a personal crisis prompts Carol to finally start processing that event and her place in history. 
    Content Warning: This episode contains racial slurs and discusses police brutality. 
    How can I support? Inheritingis entirely funded by supporters like you. If you want to hear future seasons of the show, go to LAist.com/Inheriting and click on the orange box to donate.

Credits
Correspondent
Senior Producer
Producer
Senior Producer
Associate Producer, LAist Studios
Associate Producer
Audio Production Engineer
Former Production Coordinator
Vice President, LAist Studios
Director of Content Development, LAist Studios