California Sun Podcast

Joe Hagan, a Vanity Fair special correspondent, holds a mirror up to California today. In his recent story "Can Anyone Fix California," and on this week's podcast, Hagan talks about the fears and lost dreams in the world's fifth largest economy. Even with all of its economic assets, its beauty and its geographic magic, the state is a far cry from the future it once represented. He wonders if we can really say we want to make America into California.  

Sports executive Andy Dolich, co-author of the new book "Goodbye Oakland: Winning, Wanderlust, and a Sports Town’s Fight for Survival," discusses Oakland's bad sports luck. He talks about the exhilarating highs of victory and the painful lows of abandonment as the Raiders, the Warriors, and now the A's, all depart for ostensibly greener pastures. Once a celebrated sports hub, Oakland boasted a remarkable collection of national titles, star athletes, and colorful personalities. So, what led to this decline? Furthermore, does Oakland hold any potential for a future in sports?

Greg King has dedicated his life to the appreciation and protection of California's majestic redwoods. Sadly, only 4% of the original 2 million acres of redwood ecosystem remains intact. Witnessing the devastation first-hand in the 1980s was a life-changing experience for King. In 1987, he discovered and named the Headwaters Forest in Humboldt County, the largest remaining ancient redwood habitat outside of parks. This sparked a decade-long struggle that led to its protection by state and federal governments. In his new book, "The Ghost Forest," he tells the story of the exploitation of California's redwoods going back to 1849. 

From the Bay Area to commanding the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt, Brett Crozier's 30-year naval career was a journey defined by dedication, discipline, and courage. These qualities proved to be pivotal when he faced a crisis in the spring of 2020: a raging coronavirus outbreak aboard his ship. In these extraordinary circumstances, Crozier made the choice to stand up for his crew, embodying the power of kindness in a tussle against Washington politics. He tells his story in this week's podcast and in his new book, "Surf When You Can: Lessons in Life, Loyalty, and Leadership from a Maverick Navy Captain."

Maureen Ryan, known for her tough commentary as a film and television critic and contributing editor at Vanity Fair, puts Hollywood under a critical lens in this week’s podcast and in her new book, "Burn It Down." Often called "high school with money and power," the industry has embraced unsettling norms – abuse, poor etiquette, and a culture of complicity — for nearly a century. According to Ryan, long before the #MeToo movement highlighted sexual misconduct, a sinister underbelly was already lurking beneath Hollywood's glitzy façade.

Clare Frank has bravely battled fires in California for three decades, as she details in her new memoir "Burnt." Her experience spans local fires in Santa Cruz to the infamous wildfires that have left indelible marks on our collective consciousness. Beginning her firefighting journey at just 17 years old, she climbed the ranks to become the first and only female state chief of fire protection. In this conversation, she shares her passion for her work, the personal risks involved, the evolving conditions she has witnessed over her 30-year tenure, and her childhood fascination with the firefighting profession.

Kevin Kelly, the influential founding editor and defining voice of WIRED Magazine, played a pivotal role in its establishment in San Francisco during the advent of the internet era. Known for his unwavering advocacy of technology optimism and the recognition of fundamental truths, Kelly has championed California as a hub for embracing change with minimal resistance. In our latest podcast, we delve into these topics and much more.

The writers' strike seems like it has no end in sight. The directors are next. The "streaming wars" have produced financial losses for all of the studios; the pandemic drove a dagger into theaters; nationalism is impacting American movies overseas; and Hollywood leadership is lacking. Richard Rushfield, a long-time Hollywood journalist and founder of The Ankler, shares his analysis of how bad it really is.

Erik Davis has long recognized the deep intersection of technology, spirituality, mysticism, transcendence, and the power of California. In his works "TechGnosis" and "The Visionary State," and in this week's podcast, he talks about how all of these things are integrated, and how that impacts all Californians, each and every day.

Nicholas Goldberg has spent more than 20 years at the Los Angeles Times. As the editorial page editor and more recently as a columnist and associate editor, he has witnessed remarkable changes both at the paper and in the city. He shares his thoughts on the role of the Times as a local paper, keeping an eye on politicians, L.A.'s long-standing law enforcement problems, rooting out the recent wave of city corruption, and why local politics still