Coachella Valley Chronicles

Coachella Valley Chronicles: Ep. 12. Julie Makinen, Executive Editor, Desert Sun/USA Today Network

Julie Makinen has blazed trails from China to the war-torn Middle East. Her assignments with some of the biggest print media giants in America including the Washington Post and the Los Angeles Times ultimately landed her in the top editorial role covering a region that she had owned a vacation home: the Coachella Valley. In this new episode of the Coachella Valley Chronicles with Randy Florence, your host goes in-depth with her on the challenges of running a print media outlet in the 21st century, how she and her team at Gannett's Desert Sun have worked remotely in a year of pandemic challenges and survival, and what drives her in covering this oasis that is no sleepy hollow. She also discusses the local effort to keep the perspective of the all-important institution that is the Op-Ed Page.

Coachella Valley Chronicles: Ep. 11. Larry Bohannan, Sports Journalist

Larry Bohannan has been writing at the Desert Sun [https://www.desertsun.com] for 35 years. This week, the discussion with Randy Florence will focus on Larry's career covering major sports and news events, some of the most memorable PGA and LPGA tournaments and their participants, and how his career began.

Coachella Valley Chronicles: Ep. 10. Tod Goldberg, NYT Best-Sellling Author and Podcast Host, Part 2

New York Times bestselling author Tod Goldberg continues talking with Randy Florence and further delves into his newest book, The Low Desert. They also share a mutual worst moment as fans of the Oakland Athletic's baseball club.

Coachella Valley Chronicles: Ep. 09. Tod Goldberg, NYT Best-Sellling Author and Podcast Host

Crime, the Salton Sea, clowns with guns……New York Times Bestselling writer, Tod Goldberg, joins the Coachella Valley Chronicles with Randy Florence this week. We explore Tod and his over-achieving family, how he came to understand the seedy underside of the desert, and how he turned those into some of the most intensely satisfying stories you’ll read! Click Here to See and Order Books by Tod Goldberg [https://www.amazon.com/Tod-Goldberg/e/B001IQWFIA?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_3&qid=1616711939&sr=1-3] Tod's Website [http://todgoldberg.com/] Literary Disco Podcast [https://lithub.com/story-type/literary-disco/]

Coachella Valley Chronicles: Ep. 08. Lisa Vossler Smith, Palm Springs Modernism Week

Ever wonder about Modernism Week? The stories behind the homes and the people who built and designed those homes? This week on the Chronicles, Lisa Vossler Smith talks to Randy about many topics including her current role as the Executive Director of Modernism Week. And as always, the Chronicles dives a little deeper to find out what turned Lisa into the valley influencer that she is. We also hear a little bit more about her special mentor; her mother, Judy Vossler and how she met her husband, world renowned artist Philip K Smith, III.