Episode 44: Esotouric’s Kim Cooper and Richard Schave come on the podcast to talk about their journey as guides and preservationists dedicated to keeping the stories and places of old Los Angeles alive.

In a far-reaching conversation, we talk about the responsibility of storytelling, the return of their famous bus tours after COVID-19, and an ongoing preservation battle over the B’nai B’rith Lodge on South Union Avenue in Downtown. This special episode was recorded at The Huntington Library, Art Museum, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, and we discuss its role as one of the world’s great independent research libraries.

Episode 39: Michelle Ares of LA Dreaming joins the podcast to talk about a journey that has taken her from Long Beach to Tennessee and back to California. When she was four and her family moved to Tennessee, she vowed to return to the Golden State and has worked in and around the entertainment industry since college, including time at Warner Bros, Disneyland, and Walt Disney World.

As a way to share her adventures and passion, Michelle founded LA Dreaming in 2018 and, in 2021, launched her companion podcast. She brings the energy of a tour guide and the honesty of a local to explore and educate visitors and Angelenos alike.