California Trip

  Kelly visits the Noah Purifoy Desert Art Museum in Joshua Tree. Purifoy's outdoor assemblages include found items from piles of discarded clutter spread out across this dry landscape. Where others saw junk, Noah saw poetry. An old friend of Noah's, Pat Brunty, walks the grounds with Kelly while sharing personal stories. Her next stop is Pioneertown, a quirky desert community with a Main Street b...

  Kelly tours Lotusland with the Executive Director, Rebecca Anderson, to learn more about the eccentric Polish-American opera singer, horticulturist, and fashionista, Ganna Walska, who transformed 37-acres in Montecito, into a world-renowned botanical garden. Lotusland features a wide variety of rare and exotic plants from around the world and is known for its unique and fanciful garden designs....

  Kelly and Yola Jimenez sip Yola Mezcal at her R.M. Schindler home office, nestled in a residential neighborhood overlooking Silverlake. They engage in a spirited conversation on the traditions of Mezcal, the women who work in Yola Mezcal's facilities, Southern California architecture, and their love of the Golden State.   Show Notes: The women who work Yola Mezcal facilities receive direct pay,...

  Kelly explores Manzanar National Historic Site, a former Japanese American internment camp from World War II, accompanied by Supervisory Park Ranger Alisa Lynch for a guided tour.  Afterwards, she meets with Bruce Embrey, son of Sue Kunitomi Embrey, a former incarceree at Manzanar. They convene at the Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo in downtown Los Angeles to discuss Bruce's de...

  Kelly sits down with Kathy Jefferson Bancroft, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer from the Paiute-Shoshone Reservation in Kelly's backyard in Lone Pine. They discuss the role the Owens Valley has played in California's history, Kathy's efforts in preserving tribal traditions, ways to be an ally, and the importance of voting.   Show Notes: Get involved  Owen Valley Indian Water Commission. Reso...

Kelly hits the road to Lone Pine, an unassuming High Desert community where she's a part-time resident. Unlike the bustling cities and famous landmarks in California, Lone Pine is a hidden oasis that even native Californians often overlook. Her first stop is Cerro Gordo, a historic ghost town that played a crucial role in shaping modern Los Angeles. She talks with the sole resident, Brent Underwoo...