California Now Podcast

Host Soterios Johnson and Travel + Leisure’s Nathan Lump take an audio road trip from Calistoga to the Mendocino Coast visiting friendly wineries, enjoying memorable meals, and walking in a majestic redwood grove. Rock critic Fred Schruers reveals his top five music venues in Los Angeles. And, Pauline Frommer offers up some family-friendly destinations in the Golden State.

When Curtis Stone decided to showcase Central Coast wines at Maude, his 24-seat Beverly Hills hotspot, he knew he had to hit the road. Stone and his culinary team ventured north from Los Angeles—tasting wines in Santa Barbara, visiting farms in San Luis Obispo County, and even riding along with a sea urchin diver. Also, host Soterios Johnson talks with Olympic Gold Medalist Jonny Moseley about his favorite experiences in Lake Tahoe and maps out the perfect Death Valley National Park itinerary with author Matt Jaffe.

Dennis Mammana lives in Borrego Springs, an International Dark Sky Community located two hours east of San Diego that just happens to be one of the best places in the world to experience the night sky.  Former pro cyclist Phil Gaimon explains why California is his favorite place to ride (his rationale involves sunshine and dolphins) and architecture expert Sam Lubell raves about the Mid-Century Modern buildings worth visiting in the Golden State.

What happens when an intrepid food critic is asked to consume 13 Michelin stars worth of cuisine in the space of four days in San Francisco? Amanda Frasier pulls back the curtain on Forbes Travel Guide’s influential luxury ratings program and describes California’s three triple Five-Star rated properties.  Author Ken McAlpine shares insights on Channel Islands National Park, an archipelago off the Central Coast that’s rich in wilderness and isolation.

Episode No. 2 of California Now kicks off with a conversation with Atlas Obscura co-founder Dylan Thuras, a man who specializes in surfacing curious and wondrous travel destinations. Pauline Frommer offers up a few packing tricks she has assembled over a lifetime of travel as co-president of Frommer’s. Acclaimed wine writer Jon Bonné talks about his latest book on wine culture, The New Wine Rules and shares some of his favorite wine destinations in the Golden State.

Samantha Brown, PBS host of  Samantha Brown’s Places to Love talks about the gorgeous views along Highway One and raves about the area’s iconic destinations and also celebrates some of the hidden gems in the region and shares her insights about how to experience them. Outdoor expert and author Ann Marie Brown, offers essential advice on chasing waterfalls in the Golden State, including what to wear and where to go. And finally, acclaimed chef Tanya Holland takes listeners on a tour of her restaurant, Brown Sugar Kitchen, and shares her favorite places to see in the vibrant, diverse city of Oakland.