Season 8

Explore Southern California’s century-long love affair with car racing. Once a major form of entertainment, racing drew crowds and shaped the region’s car culture. Nathan visits the Auto Club of Southern California’s archives, watches land speed racers in the high desert, tours the Petersen Museum’s vault and uncovers the hidden racing history of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Boldly go into the heart of science fiction storytelling and discover its deep roots in Los Angeles. From UC Riverside’s vast sci-fi collection to author Octavia Butler’s Pasadena, host Nathan Masters explores how Southern California became a launchpad for stories that imagine new worlds—and reflect our own hopes and fears.

Host Nathan Masters examines old crimes like a 1950s Burbank murder and how these moments shaped the true crime genre. Featuring author Michael Connelly, former prosecutor Marcia Clark, podcaster Kate Winkler Dawson and historian William Deverell, the episode explores how Los Angeles' crimes have influenced storytellers and the city’s cultural identity.

Meet the personalities who bring year-round color to California’s landscape. Hunt for native wildflowers in the Santa Monica Mountains, visit San Diego to learn how horticulturalist Kate Sessions colorized the Golden State, stop by Whittier for a debate on the controversial jacaranda tree and see how Burbank’s annual Rose Parade float comes together.