The Substack version of this episode has a 10-minute introduction that adds context and background. To get right to the interview (though I recommend listening to the intro), skip ahead about 10 minutes or watch the episode on YouTube.
I have also posted a transcript of the introduction here.
Anyway . . .
This one is big, guys. My guest this week is the man of the hour in politics (or, as Hannah Horvath might say, a man of an hour): candidate for Los Angeles mayor Spencer Pratt.
If you’re thinking “wait . . . the Spencer Pratt from the MTV reality show The Hills who later blew a fortune on moldavite crystals and Birkin bags before settling down into a quieter life raising a family and tending to hummingbirds in his yard?” — yes, that’s the one I mean.
I’m about to introduce you to a very different version of Pratt. This is the version who became politically active after losing his house in the Palisades Fire in 2025 and decided to do something few, if any, public officials in L.A. have done in the last decade: state the truth out loud about just how bad things have become.
As you know, I have an interest in the issue of street homelessness in Los Angeles. Recent interviews with investigative reporter Sam Quinones and with Estela Lopez, who represents business owners on Skid Row, talked about the shocking humanitarian crisis on the streets, particularly the role of fentanyl and new forms of methamphetamine. The Pratt interview is both a natural continuation of those conversations and a surprising turn for the podcast. It’s the first time I’ve done an on-site video interview and the first time I’ve interviewed a political candidate.
This version of the episode (the one you’re about to watch or listen to if you’re reading these words) is just for you, my Substack audience. It contains a 10-minute introduction that fills in some missing context (Spencer talks fast) and explains why I did this interview and what I think of the prospect of Pratt becoming mayor.
I’m sure you’re eager to get to the main event, but I urge you to listen to the introduction first. I’ll also post a transcript of the introduction here on Substack soon.
Enjoy!
Housekeeping
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Also . . .
📝 I’ve got Personal Essay and Memoir workshops coming up! An 8-week coed Zoom course in June-July and a three-night women’s writing retreat in the Catskills Sept 28-Oct 1. Application deadlines are May 11 for the Zoom course and August 13 for the Catskills retreat. Would love to hear from you.
🤣 Don’t miss my special April Fool’s Day episode with “curiosity coach” Amanda Gertz-Hurdy. It just might change your life.
🏍️ I am hosting Zoom hangouts for Founding Members on the last Sunday of every month at 8pm ET. The next meeting is Sunday, April 26. If you’re a Founding Member, you will get an email with the link. If you’re not yet a Founding Member, you can upgrade your subscription here.
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