LifeHacksLA - Hacking the Best of Los Angeles

133. In a city with about 4 million people and a county with almost 10 million it may seem hard to believe that there are spaces where you can escape for solitude and some much needed self reelection. But we are here to tell you that they do indeed exist and today on this episode we are going to share all the details about one of our favorites The Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine. Lake Shrine is an absolutely breathtaking oasis in the Pacific Palisades just a few minutes aways from all the chaos of the busy city. In this interview we talk to Brother Satyananda who is the long time minister-in-charge of the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine. He explains how the organization started, the spectacular Lake Shrine location, how he became a part of tips, tips on spiritual journeys, his personal relationship with Los Angeles and much more.  You can find out more about the Self-Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/srf_lakeshrine/ or on their Website: https://lakeshrine.org/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla   To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub   This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/   Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

132. On this episode we talk to LA lifestyle Influencer Brynn. She keeps busy with her wide range of interests including her work in the medical field, fitness, veganism, fashion, Disney, day trips, travel, Pilates and so much more. And she shares all these adventures and more with her 38,000+ followers on Instagram as she explores the best of what LA has to offer. We talk about her many hobbies, why a health scare turned her towards a life of fitness and how she has translated online friends into real life ones with in person meetups. she aslo shares some of her best tips on how you can explore the best of LA and SoCal for yourself.  If you want to find out more about Brynn you can find her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/brynny_md/ or on her TikoTok https://www.tiktok.com/@brynnymd  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla      To sign up for the LA Hackers Club waitlist go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub      This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/     Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

131. Sometimes you have to get through an ugly exterior to discover a beautiful interior. That is often the case when it comes to Los Angeles according to our guest today, Kristin from the blog This Ugly Beautiful City. This Ugly Beautiful City is an itinerary-focused travel blog that features travel tips and guides for anyone exploring Los Angeles, from a local to a first-time tourist, who is passionate about food, art, and culture.  In this interview Kristin further explains the concept behind her blog and the term This Ugly Beautiful City and  If you want to find out more about Caroline you can find her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/thisuglybeautifulcity/ or on her Website: https://thisuglybeautifulcity.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla     To sign up for the LA Hackers Club waitlist go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub     This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/     Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

130. One of the best things about living in Los Angeles is the access to so many incredible eating and drinking options with a restaurant and bar scene that just seems to get better and better by the day. Today we are going to explore some of the many, many, many dining options we have available to us in our city. Because our guest for this edition of the podcast is Caroline from EatDrinkLA. Caroline has a blog where she shares about one of the absolute best perks about living in LA and that is all the incredible choices we have for us when it comes to going out to eat or going out and grabbing a drink. If you like to explore it all like we do then you will love this interview and you are going to want to write these down because Caroline shares some her favorite places to go out in and near LA. If you want to find out more about Caroline you can find her on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/eatdrink.la/ or on her Website: https://www.eatdrinkla.com/   You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla    To sign up for the LA Hackers Club waitlist go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub    This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/    Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

129. Malibu Farms is one of the most popular restaurants in Los Angeles and is a big part of the Malibu scenery with its premiere location right on the iconic pier.  The restaurant is beloved by people that live in Malibu and visitors alike. In fact it is such a part of the culture, the landscape and the environment of the Malibu Pier that you may be surprised to learn that its been open for less than 10 years. Yes its one of the most well known and loved spots in Malibu but it really hasn't been here that long. So in this episode we talk to the founder and owner, Helena Henderson who is going to share her story and its inspiring one. Of how she came to America from Sweden, moved to LA, eventually made her way to Malibu and created the beloved Malibu Farms from an idea that originally started in her backyard. If you love to hear LA success stories and the background history of some of the most iconic spots in Los Angeles you are going to love Helena's story about her business: Malibu Farms. You can find out more about Malibu Farm on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/malibufarm/ or on their Website: https://www.malibu-farm.com/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla    To sign up for the LA Hackers Club waitlist go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub    This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/    Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

128. October is one of LA's favorite months to go out and explore all the incredible activities going on, especially related to the Halloween season.  That is why having todays guest on is perfect timing to discuss all the strange and the weird stories you can find here in California.  In this episode we are talking to Joe from Weird California. Joe and his daughter cover a lot of the Weird stuff you can find in our state from quirky roadside attractions, and bizarre outdoor art installations and our favorite category the bizarre, the strange, the spooky, and the hauntingly weird stories and attractions you can find right here in Los Angeles and across the State. If you love Halloween and you love weird stuff you are going to enjoy this conversation with Joe from Weird California. You can find out more about Joe and Weird California on his Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/weirdca/ or on his Website: http://www.weirdca.com/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla   To sign up for the LA Hackers Club waitlist go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub   This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/   Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

127. The Public Library is such an integral part of good communities and good public service and that is especially true here in Los Angeles. We have an incredible library system here and we want to encourage everyone in our city to go out there and take advantage of this awesome free resource meant for the whole community. Our guest today is a perfect representative to motivate us to go out and explore the Library. Todd Lerew works with the Library Foundation of Los Angeles and the LA Public Library. Todd is going to talk about his work with the foundation and the LA Public Library, some really cool exhibits they have going on right now, some history of the magnificent historic landmark Central Library downtown and some really cool hacks and free perks you get access to by having a Library card that most people don't even know about. You can find out more about the LA Public Library on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/lapubliclibrary/ or on their Website: https://lapl.org/ For more information about the LA Public Library Foundation https://lfla.org/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla  To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub  This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/  Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

126. Santa Barbara is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities in California if not the world and its only a 2 hour drive from Los Angeles. That makes this coastal gem one of the most popular getaway and staycation visits for people living in LA. With so much beauty, culture and activities happening in Santa Barbara it has been nicknamed the American Rivera by admirers.  In this episode we welcome Karna Hughes. She has not only lived in Santa Barbara for 30 plus years but she is also the Public Relations Director for Visit Santa Barbara. A non profit organization that promotes tourism and travel there and is really the best source of information anytime for this incredible city. Karna is going to share how Santa Barbara captured her heart, she is going to talk about the rich cultural history, including the art, the architecture and the beautiful natural landscape. She is going to share more about Visit Santa Barbara and her work there, she is also going to share ideal times to visit and best of all some of her favorite tips, tricks and hacks as a local. You can find out more about the Visit Santa Barbara on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/visitsantabarbara/ or on their Website: https://santabarbaraca.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

125. Tony Pierce has been writing about Los Angeles for over 15 years and has worked as a journalist and editor for both the LAist, the Los Angeles Times and KPCC. But now his passion project is his own podcast called Hear in LA where he is on a mission to uncover all the secrets of 250+ neighborhoods in Los Angeles. And how does he do that? Tony goes right into each area and finds at least 5 interesting people from there to interview. Each episode is one interview so that's at least 5 episodes per 250 neighborhoods and he estimates that this project will take 15-20 years to complete! Now that is an insane amount of commitment that can only come from someone who truly loves this city! In this interview Tony is going to share some of his personal history with Los Angeles, what inspired this massive passion project for him, and why more driving an Uber has taught him more about Los Angeles and its residents than anything else.  You can find out more about the Hear in LA on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/hearinla/ or on their Website: https://hearinla.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

124. The Getty Center high above Brentwood and The Getty Villa in the Pacific Palisades are 2 remarkable gifts to the city of Los Angeles from the J. Paul Getty Foundation. With priceless collections of world class art, astoundingly beautiful gardens and landscapes, and epic sweeping views its hard to believe that visiting both locations is completely free! We were lucky enough to talk to Brittany Saake the Marketing Project Manager at the Getty and she shared the history, tips for visiting and awesome events they have planned at the Getty for this their 25th year anniversary celebration.  You can find out more about the Getty on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/gettymuseum/ or on their Website: https://www.getty.edu/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla      To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub        This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/     Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

123. You know we love interviewing entrepreneurs who have built amazing brands right here in L.A. And if you love dessert we are talking to one you most likely have heard of and enjoyed and that's the Pie Hole! Yes, Sean who owns this popular Los Angeles brand is going to share all the secrets to how it started, how he branded it and how their relentless focus on customer experience has allowed them to stay popular in a crowded and competitive Los Angeles food scene.    You can find out more about Sean and the The Pie Hole on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/thepieholela/  or on their Website: https://www.thepieholela.com/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla     To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub       This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/    Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

122. We are talking to Erika from TheLAGirl.com and she runs that very popular website which covers events, travel, lifestyle, fashion & more, in the city of Los Angeles & around the world! Now in our conversation Erika is going to share some of her background, how The LA Girl was started and how she became involved with it. She is also going to give some great tips for people who are visiting Los Angeles, and some of her all time favorite activities she likes to enjoy right here in the City of Angeles. You can find out more about the Erika and the LA Girl on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/thelagirl/ or on their Website: https://thelagirl.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla    To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub      This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/   Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

121. In this episode we are talking to Todd Barnes the long time general manager of one of the most iconic establishments in Los Angeles and one of the most famous gay bars in the world, The Abbey. West Hollywood has long been known as a beacon for the gay community and attracts visitors from all over the globe and the Abbey is a big part of the history. In this conversation he is going to tell us more about West Hollywood and of course share some of that fascinating history of the Abbey which has now been open for over 30 years!  You can find out more about the Abbey on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/theabbeyweho/or on their Website: https://www.theabbeyweho.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla   To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub     This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/  Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

120. In this episode we are talking to John the owner of a popular nerd and pop culture brand called the Nerd Reactor. With over 50k subscribers on YouTube and tens of thousands of monthly visits to his website John really has his pulse on all the latest nerd/geek and pop culture news and events. John also lives right here in SoCal and spends lots and lots of time in Los Angeles. In this conversation we talk about embracing your inner nerd, how he built Nerd Reactor, some of his favorite celebrity interviews, and why LA as a capital for pop culture and entertainment, is a mecca for nerd lovers everywhere.  You can find out more about John and Nerd Reactor on his  Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/nerdreactor/ or on his Website: https://nerdreactor.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla  To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub    This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

119. Summer 2022 is here in Los Angeles and although its not the "Roaring 2022's" that we predicted last year there are tons and tons of fun and exciting activities happening. Not only do we have the regular Summer adventures we always love to enjoy like the beach, road trips and hiking, but many annual events that were sadly canceled the last 2 years are making their return in Summer 2022!  In this episode we are flying solo with no guest and I'm going to share some of my best suggestions for an epic Summer in Los Angeles.  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla  To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub    Editor: Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ Associate Producer: Michelle Mink from LA Dreaming. https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

118. In this episode we are talking to my friend Gigi from Gigi Exploring. We met through the LA Hackers Club and with her sense of adventure, positive vibes and love of exploring Los Angeles she is definelty the perfect fit for our group.  I asked Gigi to come on because she really takes LA Hacking to another level, sometimes attending multiple events in one day always exploring and having fun all the way. In this conversation we talk more about why she got interested in constantly seeking out new experiences, some of her favorite international places to visit and she drops some awesome So Cal hacks and locations that will immediately go on your bucket list.  You can find out more about Gigi and Gigi Exploring on her  Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/gigiexploring/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla  To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ Producer: Michelle Mink https://ladreaming.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

117. In this episode we are talking to Evan Lovett the creator of LA In a Minute. In early 2022 Evan started his account on Tik Tok and it has exploded in popularity from Gen X to Gen Z. In each video he breaks down some part of Los Angeles fascinating history into entertaining but informational 1 to 2 minute videos. A passion project for Evan you can feel his love for sharing LA history with others in each and every video.  In this conversation we talk more about why he started his account, how it exploded so quickly, his future plans for it and he even gives us some exclusive LA in A Minute coverage of some of his favorite Los Angeles topics.  You can find out more about Evan and LA in A Minute on his  Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/lainaminute/ or on his Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@evanlovett  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla    To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub    This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

116. In this episode we are talking to Matt the owner of Proudly Serving. They went from a humble pop up spot started on his driveway to a South Bay Smash Burger sensation serving up long lines of fans at their first physical location right on the Redondo Beach Pier.  Matt started his business during Covid with no prior professional cooking experience and was able to build a following of passionate smash burger lovers in just over a year. They are so popular they've even been featured in local magazines and on the local news. We love talking to Los Angeles entrepreneurs who were able to build a brand out of nothing and make a bit of noise in this ultra competitive city. So in this episode we decide to do the interview live on location. I went down to Proudly Serving and sat down with Matt right at the Redondo Pier so he could share his whole story with us.  We learn about his crazy journey from the driveway to the Pier, the challenges of being an entrepreneur during a pandemic, why he loves the South Bay and some of his favorite Los Angeles hacks. You can find out more about Matt and Proudly Serving on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/proudlyservingla/ or on their website: https://www.proudlyservingla.com/  You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla    To join the LA Hackers Club Wait List go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub    This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

115. Today we are sharing secrets from one of LA's most iconic places. The Original Farmers Market on Fairfax! Its a beloved institution that has been in our city since 1934! If you're not from Los Angeles you may be confused why we would make a big deal about a Farmers Market. But if you live here you know that's its not one of these common farmer markets that pop up in every neighborhood once a week. The Original Farmers Markets is permanent and you can go and enjoy it anytime. But that still doesn't begin describe how special it is.  So my guest and I are going to do our best in this episode. Ilysha Buss is the Director of Marketing for the Market and has been there for over 16 years. There is no better person to help unpack all the secrets that make the Market along with the Grove next door, such a special place and loved location for all Angelinos.   You can find out more about The Farmers Market on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/farmersmarketla/ or on their website: https://farmersmarketla.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla   To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub   This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support

114. In this episode we are talking to the amazing Bobby Green from the 1933 Group. Bobby is one of the most innovative restaurant and bar entrepreneurs in Los Angeles, if not the whole country, and he and his partners own and operate about a dozen local establishments including the historic Formosa Cafe, Highland Park Bowl and Idle Hour.  Over the last 20 years they have not only fully embraced next level aesthetics to create transformative experiences with their establishments but at the same time have restored many iconic locations important to the history of our city.  In this interview Bobby tells us the story of how he went from one humble coffee shop to the current impressive portfolio that includes some of LAs most beloved places. He also shares how his teams early embrace of set design, detail, quality and transformative experiences has helped set the stage for the high quality restaurant environment that is common in the city today. He also talks about his love for Los Angeles, his other hobbies and how he would choose to spend his perfect day in LA.  You can find out more about Bobby and the 1933 Group on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/1933group/  or on their website: https://www.1933group.com/ You can find more LifeHacksLA at: www.lifehacksla.com and www.instagram.com/lifehacksla   To join the LA Hackers Club go to:  http://lifehacksla.com/jointheclub   This episode was edited by Jaconell Mouton from Creative Wave. https://jaconellmouton.com/ --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/message Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/lifehacksla/support