How did Downtown Los Angeles go from a glorified office park to being the "coolest Downtown in America" (at least according to GQ Magazine)? Who made it happen? What makes them tick? What are their stories? Your favorite Amateur Enthusiast interviews the dreamers, makers, movers, and shakers who made it happen - and continue to move it forward. From the famous to the infamous, the well known to the unknown, we all have one thing in common: a passion for Los Angeles. And we have our share of laughs along the way, too.
Cedd Moses has been many things, from horse track better to financial advisor to bar owner to, really, the creator of modern nightlife in Downtown Los Angeles. Now he can add one more title to his resume: author. Cedd has written a love letter to bars and bartenders, and he gave it the same title as his company: Pouring with Heart. Yes, Cedd is a repeat guest, but his first episode was really his story - this episode is more focused on his team and his service philosophy (an...
30 Aug 2020
Antonio Villaraigosa Part 1
Has anyone lived a more quintessentially Los Angeles life than Antonio Villaraigosa? From high school dropout to labor leader to, eventually, Speaker of the California State Assembly and Mayor of Los Angeles, Antonio's journey is both unlikely and fascinating. You may be somewhat familiar with his story, but you've never heard him tell it like this. Take a deep dive into his rough and tumble childhood, his close relationship with his mother, a very important relationship with his...
30 Aug 2020
Antonio Villaraigosa Part 2
Has anybody lived a more quintessentially Los Angeles life than former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa? In part 1 of this episode, we learned about Antonio's unlikely journey from high school dropout to elected official, just beginning his path towards leadership and power. This second half dives deeply into his political career. Hear how he almost unexpectedly ran for Speaker, getting his votes in 10 days time. Hear how Willie Brown continued to advise and guide him on h...
18 Aug 2020
Carol Schatz
The 24/7 Downtown Los Angeles we know now didn't happen by accident. And it didn't happen without a lot of hard work. And one of the hardest workers and most consequential leaders who helped make that happen was Carol Schatz - now widely recognized as the unofficial "Queen of Downtown". As the longtime head of the Central City Association, Carol helped make sure that Staples Center actually faced *towards* Downtown. She helped pass the policies that allowed for the conversio...
26 Jul 2020
Dave Whitton
You have probably not heard of Dave Whitton. But if you've been to Seven Grand ... Villains Tavern ... One Eyed Gypsy ... or, now, PrankBar, you have been subject to his hospitality. Why did I ask him to be interviewed? Because he has made a journey that is less common than you might expect - from bartender to bar owner. And also, because he's funny and a great interview. He started out like so many others - moving to LA to chase the dream. And, even while making his...
26 May 2020
Linda Dishman
Los Angeles used to have a reputation as a city that not only didn't care about its past, but hardly realized it even had a past. One of the biggest reasons that has changed is the advocacy and the effectiveness of the Los Angeles Conservancy. And the woman who has headed that organization for over 25 years is Linda Dishman. How does someone become interested - and make a career in - historic preservation? What's it like to take on the mighty Los Angeles Archdiocese ... and...
15 May 2020
Paul Audley
Film LA might be one of the most important agencies you've never heard of. Why? Because nearly everything that gets filmed in Los Angeles has to be approved and permitted by them. Heard anything about "runaway production" (ie, the economic loss from filming that happens in other states)? It's partly Film LA's job to fix that by making it easier and simpler to film here. Helicopters flying under freeway overpasses? Cars racing in the LA River? Creating a train ...
1 May 2020
Billie Greer
Billie Greer is many things. Pioneering female business leader. Courageous risk taker. Unmatched communications and public affairs professional. And now? "80 year old millennial", as she calls herself, living in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles. We'll hear how she evolved from the traditional midcentury career woman "schoolteacher" path to one of the most respected civic leaders in Los Angeles. How sitting in a Palmdale Planning Commission meeting at midn...
18 Apr 2020
Chris Martin
It's not an exaggeration to say that today's Downtown would not look the way it does were it not for the Martin family. Chris is the Chairman and CEO of AC Martin Partners, his family's continuously operating 113 year old architecture firm, which has designed and built more of Downtown's buildings - and more of its iconic buildings - than any other. Chris' grandfather helped design LA's historic City Hall - the building that no other building in Los Angeles could be taller than until t...
6 Apr 2020
Sue Laris
Anybody who spends any time in Downtown Los Angeles has undoubtedly picked up a copy of the Downtown News. Continuously in print for nearly 50 years, the Downtown News feels almost like a small town weekly newspaper ... and that's entirely intentional. The Downtown News' creator and original publisher is Sue Laris. How does a newly married woman with young children decide to start a newspaper from scratch serving Downtown LA ... in 1972?! Answer: don't rent office spa...
28 Mar 2020
Gary Leonard
Anybody who has been to almost any political, civic, charitable, or fundraising event in Downtown Los Angeles has probably had their picture taken by Gary Leonard. He's Los Angeles' unofficial civic photographer. So, why interview a photographer - an artist of a fundamentally visual medium - on a podcast? Because I knew that Gary had a story - a story that hardly anybody knows. Because, before he was LA's unofficial civic photographer, he was LA's unofficial ... unde...
20 Mar 2020
Tom Gilmore
Downtown LA is now undoubtedly a "24/7" community. With nearly 80,000 residents and many of the City's most famous and respected bars and restaurants, it's no surprise that Downtown was named the "Best Downtown in America" just a few years ago by GQ Magazine. It's easy to take that for granted, but it didn't happen automatically. It took a bit of vision and a lot of hard work by a few intrepid pioneers along the way. But perhaps none of those pioneers were as influential, o...
22 Feb 2020
Cedd Moses
Cedd Moses' business card reads "The Proprietor", but it could just as easily read "The Creator", at least when it comes to Downtown Los Angeles. His initial vision of 10 bars in Downtown seemed downright crazy, back when "nightlife" in Downtown consisted of hotel lobbies and seedy dives. But he did it, including helping launch what became the "Best Bar in America" (2012) with the Varnish. Now, with 26 bars (and counting) in 3 cities (and counting), his new goal? 100. ...
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