Housing development is one of Santa Monica's most hotly debated issues and has been covered extensively in the pages of the Daily Press. Today, publisher Ross Furukawa announced the release of "A Developing Story," a limited podcast series which examines the history, present, and future of Santa Monica's housing debate. This is the paper's first narrative podcast series.
"A Developing Story" is the brainchild of local filmmaker and journalist Brian Peter Falk, who hosts the six episodes. The series explores topics such as the controversial housing element, the builder's remedy loophole, density, gentrification, and affordability. Falk, Furukawa and Daily Press editor-in-chief Matthew Hall produced the series.
"A Developing Story" is the first narrative podcast series for Falk, whose long list of producing credits includes the Robert Redford movie "The Conspirator," and last year's Emmy-nominated PBS original series "Hope in the Water." "I was eager to expand my storytelling repertoire, and I've always been interested in podcasting," he said. "It's hard to argue that there's a more contentious topic in Santa Monica and California than housing development, and it felt like a perfect space for a long-form narrative podcast."
Local Santa Monicans interviewed for the series include Mayor Lana Negrete, former city councilmembers Gleam Davis and Phil Brock, Santa Monica Development Corporation Executive Director Tara Barauskas, and architect and slow growth advocate Mario Fonda-Bonardi.
"In this increasingly diverse media landscape, it's important to reach as many people as we can, especially on important issues," said Furukawa. "Producing a podcast series is a natural evolution of that idea. Plus, it's storytelling at its best. Brian and his guests make a complex issue accessible, personal, and deeply affecting."
The podcast series is available on all major podcast platforms, including Apple. The series can also be accessed at its website: www.adevelopingstory.com and at smdp.com/pod.