gHello, LA It’s June 18th.

Monday, LAist Studios will launch its new podcast: WILD, with host Erick Galindo. It’s a show about growing up… sort of. Here’s the story behind the show, in Erick’s own words:

“It will sound wild, but I believe everyone has an origin story. And yes, I’m talking like a superhero moment that had you fight evil, reverse time, or heal at an incredibly fast rate.

“This is the subject of my new WILD podcast. These are those moments that seem too great to overcome but somehow, like when Linda Yvette Chavez was about to pitch Gentified at FX while trying to overcome a lifelong struggle with impostor syndrome. It is also about those who seem small but who will forever change the trajectory of our lives. Like when Sarah ‘La Morena’ Palafox tweeted a video, or when Megan Tan signed up on a dating app.

“The wild part of the first season of, well, WILD is that it’s made up of 10 of those types of stories that all happened in the year and a half we’ve been stranded at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Covid seemed to come at a time when, as a first-generation millennial from Southeast Los Angeles, I was just starting to take off. It tore me away from the life I knew and forced me to become resourceful in a world I didn’t quite know yet.

“But I quickly realized that although it was difficult, there were triumphs and beauty mingled. And part of the reason I was able to do it was because I wasn’t really alone. Suddenly, through shared experiences, the Zoom windows would open up to vast worlds and deep experiences.

“And I really needed it.

“So I wanted to recreate that feeling for anyone who needs it too. Being a youngster in this country can sometimes feel like a bad video game where you automatically lose on respawn. WILD is an ongoing conversation about how people, especially my generation, are always finding new ways to cope. About what it was like growing up during this time. And about who we were, who we were meant to be and who we became.

The first two episodes of WILD will be available on June 21st, with subsequent episodes launching weekly. A the trailer is available here, and listeners can subscribe to the series now at Apple podcasts, Spotify, NPR A, iHeartRadio and wherever podcasts are available.

Read on to find out more about what’s going on in LA, and stay safe there.

What else you need to know today

Weekend readings

There’s a lot going on in the world right now, and it’s hard enough to keep up with our day-to-day lives, let alone stay on top of the news. But if you have some time this weekend, here’s what you might have missed:

Great come. Here is your ultimate survival guide. (LAist)

Allensworth in Tulane County is the first and only city in California founded by black Americans. (KCRW)

Apartments Tinhorn in Burbank finally says goodbye. (LAist)

LAist contributor Anju Kulkarni reflects on growing up after 9/11 as a ‘bad type of Asian’. (LAist)

Food vendors who have always worked at Echo Park Lake now find themselves fenced. (Earth)

Many historic buildings in LA have been shut down by the pandemic. Here is what we lost. (Capital and principal)

Here is where to find the best donuts in LA… (LAist)

… and here are the cocktails to take away to accompany them. (LAist)

Before you go … This week’s outdoor pick: Mt. Wilson

Since it’s hot this weekend, you know people flock to the beaches and pools in LA. Here’s a counter-schedule: pack a picnic and head to Mt. Wilson to explore the grounds around the Observatory. Located over 5,700 feet above Pasadena, it should be a little cooler. There are plenty of hikes to choose from, but if they feel too sweaty, relax with a summer picnic.

Or, you could: Celebrate Juneteenth with block parties, car parades and shows. Play bingo under the stars or pinball in a retro arcade. Thank the father figures in your life on Father’s Day. Dance last year when clubs reopen. Check out one of the restaurants or bars that reopened this week. And more.