California City: From Short Feature to Podcast Series

Emily Garren, a reporter at KPCC, initially covered the drought in California City, intending it to be a quirky one-off story. However, she discovered a city with empty plots, failed infrastructure, and a record-breaking lack of water conservation. Intrigued by the gap between expectations and reality, Emily decided to dive deeper into the history and present-day struggles of California City. She uncovered suspicions of a real estate scam and a company that continued to sell the dream of the city. Emily found characters and a clear arc that made her believe there was a podcast series to be made. After pitching the idea and creating a pilot episode, California City: The Dark Side of the American Dream was approved, with the series exploring the past and present of the city.