What The Hal?

Brian Ferguson, Deputy Director of Crisis Communications for the California OES talks to Hal about how  the agency is responding to the threat of brushfires. The OES has provided a fleet of small fire engines that can get into wildland areas and has deployed them throughout California, including in Los Angeles.

As California is just hours from reopening the state's economy, Hal speaks with a psychiatrist to discuss the emotional impact that comes with the community's return to normalcy.

Hal returns from medical leave to host for the first time since his accident March 19. He is joined by photographer Joab Perez and his physical therapist Moses Lau. They discuss the injuries that Hal and Joab suffered when they were hit by an alleged drunk driver while on assignment in Hollywood.  Lau talks about how the body responds to physical trauma, and what therapeutic techniques are needed...

Marla Tellez hosts in place of Hal Eisner. Our first segment features Anchors Christine Devine and Michaela Pereira talking about their experiences during the uprisings last summer after the George Floyd killing. Long-time civil rights activist Connie Rice joins Marla to discuss the impact of the George Floyd killing, how the Derek Chauvin conviction was a fluke and what she calls “bluewashing” to...

Susan Hirasuna hosts in place of Hal Eisner.  She is joined by Major General Viet Luong. Luong talks about his remarkable career and his early life fleeing Vietnam with his family at age 9 during the fall of Saigon. He discusses how that experience prompted his desire to join the military, and his experiences as a minority in the armed forces. 

Marla Tellez hosts in place of Hal Eisner. She is joined by  Psychiatrist Dr. Ricardo Whyte of Dignity Health Community Hospital to discuss the consequences the pandemic has had on the nation’s mental health and how we can best recover.

Micki Boland, the head of engineering for Checkpoint Cybersecurity, talks about scammers taking advantage of the change in tax laws and the extension for tax payments to send out phishing emails to consumers.

Bob DeCastro hosts in place of Hal Eisner. He is joined by Dr. David Michilik, pediatric infectious disease director at Dignity Health St. Mary Medical Center, Long Beach. Dr. Michilik discusses the impact of the COVID-19 virus on young people, whether it is vital that children should be vaccinated, and the trials that are being done with the Pfizer vaccine on kids as young as 6 months.

Marla Tellez is joined by Diana Berrent, the founder of Survivor Corps, a grassroots movement to help COVID-19 long haulers support each other and help medical professionals and scientists try to find answers to the medical mysteries.

Marla Tellez hosts In Depth this week, as Hal Eisner remains hospitalized along with photographer Joab Perez after being stuck by an alleged drunk driver in Hollywood. To discuss the ongoing problem of drunk driving, we have guests Patricia Rillera, the California state executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving and psychiatrist Dr. Joseph Haraszti, to talk about the increase in substance...

Hal is joined by LA County Sheriff Alex Villanueva to discuss the Sheriff’s department new program that brings the vaccine to county residents who are mentally or physically disabled. 

 Hal is joined by UCLA Emergency Medicine doctor Matthew Waxman, JPL’S Allen Chen and Kate Vacanti with the L.A. County office of diversion and re-entry joins Hal to talk about their new program called SECTOR.

Many lives have been stolen by drugs with fentanyl disguised as other meds causing accidental overdoses. Shocked parents are caught unaware, and are left to grieve over a child's fatal mistake. For more information on this story: https://www.foxla.com/in-depth/in-depth-cracking-down-on-fentanyl-overdoses Hit the subscribe button on this podcast and connect with me on social: Facebook.com/HalEisner...

Our society has been dealing with COVID-19 for quite a while now. There's this notion that it continues to surprise us and do things we're not expecting. Joining us on this episode is Dr. Ronald Tang, Medical Director and Oncologist at Dignity Northridge Hospital. He talked about how he's seeing an uptick with patients who have advanced cancers that could've been diagnosed earlier if people hadn't...

Tarzana is a little beautiful neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley. It’s named after a famous star—Tarzan! The Tarzana Community Cultural Center on Ventura Blvd. is a museum that honors Tarzan creator Edgar Rice Burroughs. We caught up with Helen Baker who founded the center almost 20 years ago. In this podcast we also talked to residents about their concerns with homelessness and chatted with...

The city of Downey is nestled in-between Los Angeles and Orange counties and is often times considered part of the gateway cities. What makes Downey so interesting is it’s the birthplace of the aerospace industry—home to the Columbia Memorial Space Center. Another fun fact—it’s also home to the oldest McDonalds restaurant.  In this podcast we speak with Carol Rowland with “Keep Downey Beautiful” w...

The city of Carson was incorporated in 1968 and was created on land that had gone from farms, to oil derricks to waste disposal facilities, all utilizing the city’s wide open spaces.     If you drive past Carson on the 405 Freeway you might notice the iconic Goodyear blimp. The airship plays a pivotal role in the city’s history.    In this podcast with speak with Priscilla DeCapua with Goodyear wh...

The team of What the Hal? podcast is hitting the road and we’re taking you with us. In our new series ‘52 in 52’ we’re visiting 52 different Southern California cities to bring you local stories that matter. Each week we’ll highlight a city and explain what makes them so unique.  This week we head to Yorba Linda to meet one of the youngest mayors and visit the iconic and historical Nixon Library. ...

Matt Atchity, the general manager of Moviefone, talks to us about some newly released movies, how movie critics work, and his top picks for the Oscars. Hit the subscribe button on this podcast and connect with me on social: Facebook.com/HalEisner Instagram.com/HalEisner Twitter.com/HalEisner

Diane Warren has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, as well as won a Grammy, Emmy, Golden Globe so much more. She's been nominated 11 times for an Oscar and yet still trying to get that first one!    Warren sat down with us to talk about her career, how she started writing and getting into music, who she’s worked with and how she’s hopin...

She’s combining the worlds of country and Latin music together – and taking the world by storm.  Dianña Parro is a singer and songwriter who began her career in her early teens. She began with gospel music then jumped to rap then rock and now country with a mix of Latin.  She sits down with Hal Eisner for a one-on-one interview and gives us a look back on her life, music career and who inspired he...

Being in a high school band is a great after-school activities, perfect way to make friends and of course gain new skills by playing an instrument. In this podcast we speak with a bandleader and the LAUSD music director about its nearly 400 member band and how students benefit from music education.  The band performed in the Rose Parade and will be performing in the upcoming Martin Luther King Day...

Smartphones, tablets and other electronic devices can be a mystery to those who can't see very well. But the Braille Institute has classes to help those who are visually impaired learn how to use new devices and certain mobile apps.    In this podcast our guests include Jack Follman with the Braille institute instructor Nutsiri Kidkul and student Delores Mann. Hit the subscribe button on this podc...

It's one of the fastest growing sports in the U.S., but still a lot of people have never heard of it. It combines elements of tennis, badminton and ping pong and is a game that appeals to all ages. Joining us in this podcast is Bill Green who runs Sports Tutor-- which gives pickleball lessons. With him are Peter Martinez and James Napikin- who are here to explain a little about this new craze. Hit...

January is Human Trafficking Prevention month. It’s a time that shines a light on the issue and raises awareness. In 2018, 10,949 cases of human trafficking were reported to the Polaris-operated National Human Trafficking Hotline. According to statistics from Polaris these cases involved 23,078 individual survivors; 5,859 potential traffickers and 1,905 trafficking businesses. Human trafficking is...