The Crown City

Episode 61: Author and historian Michael Logan joins the show for a deep dive into the fascinating history of Pasadena’s Busch Gardens. Michael, the author of The Original Busch Gardens, shares how his move to Pasadena and passion for restoring Craftsman homes sparked a profound interest in the city’s rich cultural heritage. What began as a personal hobby of collecting postcards grew into an ambitious, years-long research project t...

Episode 60: Pawandeep Khinda and Santokh Singh Khinda, the dynamic father-daughter duo behind All India Cafe in Old Pasadena join the podcast to share their family’s story that has taken them from India to the bustling culinary scene of Pasadena, California. Listen as Santokh shares his rich history of growing up on a farm, gaining invaluable cooking experience in Germany, and blending Indian authenticity with a touch of Italian in...

Episode 59: Melissa Lee, Principal in Charge of Urban Planning and Community Health at Public Works Partners, joins the podcast to share her unique perspective on urban planning, community health, and the evolving fabric of Pasadena.

A fifth-generation Pasadenian, Melissa delves deep into her journey - from her family’s historic roots in Pasadena to her transformative experiences in urban planning across New York and New Orleans...

Episode 58: Alhambra Mayor Sasha Renée Pérez joins the podcast for this special election episode. The Democratic candidate for California’s State Senate, District 25, Mayor Pérez discusses her journey growing up in Alhambra and her background in community activism and policy making.  

Mayor Pérez shares stories of her family’s deep roots in the community and the pivotal moments that inspired her to run for the Alhambra...

Betty and Rob Poquez of Bricks & Minifigs Pasadena join the podcast to share their fascinating journey from established careers in industrial-organizational psychology and media production to becoming proud owners of a one-of-a-kind LEGO store. Betty and Rob share the serendipitous way LEGO entered their lives during the pandemic, igniting a passion that led to creating a community hub for LEGO enthusiasts of all ages. 

Pasadena City Councilmember for District 1 Tyron Hampton joins the podcast for an engaging conversation about his experiences as a fifth-generation Pasadena resident, small business owner, and elected official. 

Councilmember Hampton shares personal stories about his background, offering listeners a glimpse into his deep-rooted connections with the city. He recounts his upbringing, schooling, and loyalty to his alma mater, ...

Award-winning author Naomi Hirahara joins the podcast to talk about her journey from growing up in the Pasadena area to her career as a reporter and mystery writer. Reflecting on her Japanese American heritage, she shares how her background and rich experiences have shaped her acclaimed works. 

Naomi discusses her transition from reporting to fiction writing, providing keen insights into her creative process and the signifi...

Episode 54: President and CEO of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association Paul Little joins the podcast and dives deep into the unique history and mission of the Chamber, from its beginnings as the Board of Trade in 1888 to its modern-day role in supporting and growing the local economy. Paul shares invaluable insights into his multifaceted career, highlighting key moments from working as a steelworker building submar...

Episode 53: Actor, producer, writer, and much-loved content creator Malia Miglino, known affectionately as LA History Girl, shares fascinating tales from her life, weaving together stories from her eerie childhood home in Seattle to her brave move to Los Angeles at 18. She opens up about her journey from working in makeup on film sets to embracing her passion for history and content creation during the pandemic, leading to her stri...

Episode 52: Historian and Author Roberta H. Martinez joins the podcast to shed light on the rich tapestry of Latino history, culture, and resilience. Raised in East Los Angeles, Roberta brings a personal perspective to understanding the Latino community’s roots and reach in Pasadena and beyond. 

Through her own story and work, Martinez explores the multifaceted nature of Los Angeles' history, emphasizing the diversity and i...

Episode 51: Pasadena Now's Managing Editor Andre Coleman, joins the podcast to share his journey growing up in Altadena and how Watergate inspired him to pursue a career in journalism. 

During this engaging conversation, Andre discusses the current state of local news and his responsibility to the community as a trusted source of information. In addition to being a journalist and columnist, Andre is an accomplished playwrig...

Episode 50: Nature Boy Products Founder and Artisan Jacob Quetant joins the podcast to talk about how he turned his passion into a successful business that serves the health and wellness of his customers. 

Jacob shares insights from growing up in Pasadena, describes his path to creating artisan beard care products, and talks about the legacy he wants to build as a creator and entrepreneur. The conversation closes with a dis...

Episode 49: Author and Publisher Pamela McColl joins the podcast for a special Holiday Episode to discuss her book Twas The Night - The Art and History of the Classic Christmas Poem in celebration of the bicentennial of the iconic poem “Account of A Visit From St. Nicholas” by Clement Clarke Moore on December 23, 1823.

During our conversation, Pamela discusses her journey in art and history and how it led to a personal ten-year ...

Episode 48: Piper + Enza’s Rita Ho-Bezzola joins the podcast to discuss the road she has taken from growing up in Taiwan and becoming a concert pianist to becoming the Founder and CEO of Piper + Enza.

During this engaging conversation, we talk about everything from the demands of family businesses to how going through Covid as a parent inspired Rita to launch Piper + Enza - a company built to provide children with engaging sto...

Episode 47: The Nextdoors’ Mika Larson and Russell Mark join the podcast to talk about the role music and the arts have played in their lives and how they have built a unique sound in East Pasadena. 

As a duo, Mika and Russell have performed locally but also hosted shows in the Midwest, and in 2022, they released their debut album, Linda Vista - an ode to Americana music. We talk about their backgrounds growing up in Minnes...

Episode 46: Merch Motel’s Barkev Msrlyan joins the podcast to discuss his journey from growing up in Pasadena to how his interest in design led him to launch Merch Motel, a retro-inspired brand built around historic places and vintage signs. With Merch Motel, Barkev has hosted events, produced one-of-a-kind collectibles, hosted his own podcast, and released wonderfully made videos. 

For more information, please visit https:...

Episode 45: Found Coffee’s Annie Choi joins the podcast to discuss creating a community at Found Coffee, the shop she opened in 2015 in Eagle Rock. 

While coffee has always been a part of her life, Annie’s journey took her from La Crescenta to UC San Diego and then a career in post-production, where she worked on some pretty big shows but was unhappy. She took an unpaid internship at one of her favorite coffee shops, and st...

Episode 44: Esotouric’s Kim Cooper and Richard Schave come on the podcast to talk about their journey as guides and preservationists dedicated to keeping the stories and places of old Los Angeles alive. 

In a far-reaching conversation, we talk about the responsibility of storytelling, the return of their famous bus tours after COVID-19, and an ongoing preservation battle over the B’nai B’rith Lodge on South Union Avenue in ...

Episode 43: Exploring Pasadena’s Julia Long joins the podcast to share her story of growing up in Pasadena, her adventures traveling and working in museums as a curator, and how she returned to Southern California. 

With a love of history, Julia founded Exploring Pasadena - a walking tour project focused on what makes our area so interesting and unique. This summer, she joined the Pasadena Museum of History as Curator of Hi...