Back to Show
Lost LA
Octavia Butler
Ayana Jamieson has read every piece of Octavia Butler’s work that she has been able to get her hands on. Of course, she has read Butler’s published and unpublished novels, but Jamieson has also sifted through her archives of interviews, video recordings, personal papers, grocery lists, and more, all of which point to a profound influence that Southern California has had on her writing.
Support Provided By
26:29
From wildflowers to jacarandas, explore the plants that paint California in vibrant hues.
26:40
Discover how the True Crime genre was shaped by its deep historic legacy in Los Angeles.
26:43
Uncover the origins of the sci-fi genre and its unique connection to historic Los Angeles.
27:10
Auto racing's LA roots, from dry lake beds to movie ranches, left tread marks across the region.
27:05
Trace the devastation of the 1928 St. Francis Dam collapse and its deadly flood.
26:40
How Cold War vigilance and secrecy shaped Southern California culture.
26:39
The Space Shuttle Endeavour’s journey is traced from its origins.
26:40
Tiki culture isn’t a Polynesian import — it’s a Hollywood creation.
26:49
Archives reveal the “forgotten plague” that shaped Southern California: tuberculosis.
26:50
Visit Hollywood Forever, Evergreen and Forest Lawn, where L.A. reinvented the cemetery.
26:40
The hiker-activists who led Angelenos into their hills and onto the trails.