
California City, produced by LAist Studios and hosted by Emily Guerin, investigates the desert town of California City, where developers sold land as a future investment. The show runs about weekly with 22 episodes, typical length around 30 to 35 minutes. Estimated downloads per episode are 20,000 to 50,000 (estimated), with a rate of roughly $360 to $1,250 per episode.
A serious local newsroom podcast with a loyal, highly rated audience in Southern California
- Apple Podcasts shows 1,221 ratings with a 4.5 average, a strong signal of an engaged listener base.
- Weekly episodes of roughly 25 to 35 minutes give a sponsor a stable, predictable slot.
- Coverage of real estate, housing affordability and Los Angeles civic life suits property, finance and local-service brands.
Brand fit report
Content
- Formats
- narrative, investigative reporting, interview
- Tone
- serious, explanatory
- Language
- English
- Production
- Studio production
- Typical length
- 25 to 35 minutes
Audience
Commercial
- Brands seen
- None yet
- Categories promoted
- None yet
- Affiliate links
- No
No sponsor mentions found in the feed
Suitability GARM Brand Safety Floor + Suitability
Family friendly
Recent titles cover voter ID, immigration bond hearings and the Lineage warehouse fire, which carry political and public-safety subject matter but no explicit flag.
We classify content, never people. No age, gender, ethnicity, religion or political views are inferred about the creator. Audience figures are estimates unless marked verified. Creators can correct anything on their profile.
Where to listen
| Platform | Link |
|---|---|
| Website | laist.com/podcasts/california-city |
| Apple Podcasts | podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1516664274 |
| RSS feed | www.omnycontent.com/d/playlist/acc8cc57-ff7c-44c… |
Benchmark score: 100 / 100
Public rule, same for everyone. How it works.
Recent episodes
| Episode | Date | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Imperfect Paradise: The battle over voter ID comes to CA | 2026-10-16 | 29 min |
| Imperfect Paradise: Affordability, immigration & the DSA. Diving into | 2026-10-09 | 34 min |
| Imperfect Paradise: What went wrong with the Lineage warehouse fire in | 2026-10-02 | 34 min |
| Imperfect Paradise: Why some chefs are trading high-end dining for hom | 2026-09-25 | 23 min |
| Imperfect Paradise: President Trump says ‘Hollywood is dead.’ What’s b | 2026-09-18 | 22 min |
| Imperfect Paradise: Is your smoke-damaged home safe? The toxic afterma | 2026-09-11 | 25 min |
Last six episodes from the show's feed, latest 3 days ago, a new one about every 7 days.
Deep in the Mojave Desert, there is a little town with a big name and a bizarre history: California City. For decades, real estate developers have sold a dream here: if you buy land now, you’ll be rich one day. Thousands of people bought this dream. Many were young couples and hard-working immigrants looking to build a better future. But much of the land they bought is nearly worthless. In this…
About California City
California City is a narrative investigative podcast from LAist Studios, hosted by Emily Guerin, that examines how real estate developers sold land in the Mojave Desert town of California City. According to the show's feed and website, the series runs roughly weekly with 22 episodes and typically lasts 25 to 35 minutes. The recent run, titled Imperfect Paradise, covers Los Angeles and California news such as housing affordability and immigration hearings.
Apple Podcasts lists 1,221 ratings with a 4.5 average. Listeners are estimated to be adults interested in California news, housing and civic affairs, with an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 downloads per episode. No sponsors were found in the feed or on the show's pages.
Estimated rates are about $360 to $1,250 per host-read mid-roll slot, which suits real estate, home services and local financial brands looking for a serious, news-oriented audience.
Written from the show's public RSS feed, its Podcast Index listing and episode titles. Numbers updated 2026-10-19. California City can edit or remove this page at any time.
Questions about California City
How much does California City charge for a podcast sponsorship?
Based on an estimated 20,000 to 50,000 downloads per episode, a host-read mid-roll is estimated at about $360 to $1,250 per episode. Exact pricing must be confirmed directly with the show.
What is California City about?
California City is a narrative investigative podcast from LAist Studios, hosted by Emily Guerin, about real estate developers who sold land in a Mojave Desert town. The show runs roughly weekly.
How do I contact California City about sponsoring an episode?
The show's contact email unlocks on Starbooked for $0.80. Boosted shows can be booked through Starbooked.
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