44 episodes

In May of 1980, the sleepy streets of Norco, California were turned into an all-out war zone in what is one of the most violent bank robberies in American history. From LAist Studios in collaboration with Futuro Studios comes the new podcast—Norco ’80 based on the book by Peter Houlahan. Listen as host and producer Antonia Cereijido tells the unbelievable true story about God, guns, survivalism and the bank robbery that changed policing in America forever. Using eyewitness testimony and never before heard police tapes, Norco ’80 takes listeners on a wild ride, and serves as a cautionary tale in the context of America being immersed in the middle of an economic crisis, revamped end of the world paranoia and a complex conversation about policing.

Norco 80 LAist Studios

    • True Crime
    • 3.7 • 871 Ratings

In May of 1980, the sleepy streets of Norco, California were turned into an all-out war zone in what is one of the most violent bank robberies in American history. From LAist Studios in collaboration with Futuro Studios comes the new podcast—Norco ’80 based on the book by Peter Houlahan. Listen as host and producer Antonia Cereijido tells the unbelievable true story about God, guns, survivalism and the bank robbery that changed policing in America forever. Using eyewitness testimony and never before heard police tapes, Norco ’80 takes listeners on a wild ride, and serves as a cautionary tale in the context of America being immersed in the middle of an economic crisis, revamped end of the world paranoia and a complex conversation about policing.

    Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 1

    Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 1

    mperfect Paradise: The Forgotten Revolutionary, the 2022 podcast from LAist Studios, has been optioned by Participant and is simultaneously being developed as a scripted and documentary limited series. 

    Part 1:

    Oscar Gomez was a star of the 1990s Chicano student movement and then, unexpectedly, he died. A rattling event in host Adolfo Guzman-Lopez’s life spurs him to investigate Oscar’s death. 

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    • 33 min
    Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 2

    Imperfect Paradise presents The Forgotten Revolutionary Redux: Part 2

    Part 2:

    Adolfo learns that there was a dark side to Oscar’s experience in the Chicano student movement. 

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    This program is made possible in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private corporation funded by the American people.

    • 46 min
    Imperfect Paradise presents LAist Investigates: The Unknown Mandate - Accessing Medication Abortion at California Universities

    Imperfect Paradise presents LAist Investigates: The Unknown Mandate - Accessing Medication Abortion at California Universities

    Imperfect Paradise host Antonia Cereijido is joined by LAist Senior Health Reporter Jackie Fortier and Higher Education Correspondent Adolfo Guzman-Lopez to break down their investigation into why many students and faculty across California's public universities don't know that medication abortion is mandated on their campuses. This is the latest LAist Investigates episode on Imperfect Paradise that highlights reporting from our newsroom.

    CONTENT WARNING: This episode includes first-hand description of an outpatient abortion procedure.

    For additional information and resources, you can visit https://abortion.ca.gov/

     

     

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    • 34 min
    Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union: Part 4

    Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union: Part 4

    Part 4: Half a year after Star Garden reopens as a union club, the dancers are still negotiating a contract. LAist producer Emma Alabaster brings you the latest. Plus, some of the dancers have set their sights on a different dream: a worker-owned cooperative strip club. 

    Here are some resources that informed our reporting:


    LA Co-op Lab
    U.S. Federation of Worker Cooperatives
    2021 Worker Cooperative State of the Sector Report
    Yes, A Stripper Podcast

    For more resources 

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    • 34 min
    Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union: Part 3

    Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union: Part 3

    Part 3: The Star Garden Topless Dive Bar reopens as a union strip club, but the fight doesn’t end there. What happens after the victory? LAist Producer Emma Alabaster has the story.

    Here are some resources that informed our reporting:


    Working It: Sex Workers on the Work of Sex  (In particular, the essay "White Supremacy in Organizing" by Domino Rey)


    Yes, A Stripper Podcast
    Unequal Desires: Race and Erotic Capital in the Stripping Industry by Siobhan Brooks
    T**s and Sass: Service Journalism by and for Sex Workers

    Click here for more resources 

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    • 46 min
    Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union: Part 2

    Imperfect Paradise: Strippers Union: Part 2

    Part 2: When the Star Garden strippers go public with their union campaign, they get pushback from the club’s management and a group they didn’t anticipate - other strippers. LAist Producer Emma Alabaster reports.

    Grow your business–no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period at SHOPIFY.COM/paradiseSupport for this podcast is made possible by Gordon and Dona Crawford, who believe that quality journalism makes Los Angeles a better place to live.

    • 43 min

Customer Reviews

3.7 out of 5
871 Ratings

871 Ratings

Zombiekam ,

Unfortunate Twist

The storytelling of the Norco bank robbery was well done and I thoroughly enjoyed it, however, the show took quite a political anti-policing twist that was very disappointing. You can’t set forth these types of statements until you have actually risked your own life in the line of duty.

KevinfmII ,

Quality Story Telling is Dead

Started very well (first 6 episodes) before becoming a soapbox for injecting personal ideology about guns and policing. Disappointing that journalists nowadays can’t just allow people to share their experiences and let the audience draw their own conclusions on a topic or subject matter.

ProsecutorsWillBeViolated ,

Oh how culturally sensitive!!

Thanks for trilling your R’s.

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