Entrepreneurs, athletes, journalists, politicians, and cultural trailblazers connected to Los Angeles come into view through the lives of individuals who helped shape the region’s identity.

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/20/5c4796ad-2d56-4249-b383-19bb6183ee4e_4ftpgtgme2z6d0gtxwjn9dive8j64hqh39sigljp.mp3

A savvy businesswoman who invented the Barbie Doll.

Ruth Handler

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/20/c54df222-b161-4c4d-84e5-04954c482a1b_aggf42nyd2e94arqoqdgcsxphrnaghmgoyztospr.mp3

First African American Woman to Own a Newspaper.

Charlotta Bass

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/20/cc754c71-4067-4e95-908c-41e21500acd4_63f135f421dfc.mp3

The Irishman who owned Malibu &amp; became Los Angeles’s &#34;Father of Horticulture&#34;

Matthew “Don Mateo” Keller

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/20/a6f0137e-2c0e-4b44-bf75-9bf07c8908de_63f135efb8b8e.mp3

Challenging political gender roles.

Harriett Wieder

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/20/708b27f6-3c70-4e56-a553-43e36e5bb295_63f135ceb9695.mp3

19th century Californio businesswoman, landowner &amp; Belle of the ball.

Arcadia Bandini

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/9/20/14b952e1-e0f7-42e1-bcd5-3b6fe434fae7_63f135b673b33.mp3

An iconic player in the field of women tennis, Venus Williams is a name to reckon with.

Venus Williams

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/4dc67c93-0304-4bda-bc82-ea5644be17f0_63f1377cddce7.mp3

Early So Cal journalist walked from Cincinnati to LA.

Charles F. Lummis

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/b5125e5c-4064-4d07-94ca-e6f8d62159d0_63f13769eae7e.mp3

Would you rather have one camel or four mules - an intriguing US military question in 1856.

George Caralambo - Camel Corps

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/75b325fb-7f35-4a66-ae21-3e4e79ea2e59_63f137555dc45.mp3

A prominent American Democratic Party politician.

Augustus Hawkins

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/f9ce618f-9116-4a72-881e-452291d77398_63f13753dfbff.mp3

The Martial Law that backfired.

Captain Archibald H. Gillespie

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/98209ddc-9059-4caf-b99c-4ff100012d3a_63f137452654e.mp3

A ruthless developer, dreamer, and pioneer.

J. Harvey McCarthy

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/05ceb71f-dbd9-42b4-a81c-e778f4dce6f9_63f137388b6cb.mp3

The founder of Irvine, CA.

James Irvine

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/20010365-dd0a-47f8-b934-a63a3e844990_63f13727c4f6f.mp3

Maker of Santa Monica Pier’s cherished carousel &amp; hippodrome.

Charles I. D. Looff

https://s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/pod-public-media-files/2026/3/5/1/6ba4bc7a-31a4-4047-95e0-62f936bb8cd6_63f1352cc95ed.mp3

History of the entrepreneur and philanthropist George C. Page.

George C. Page

Entrepreneurs, athletes, journalists, politicians, and cultural trailblazers connected to Los Angeles come into view through the lives of individuals who helped shape the region’s identity.