Off Press Podcast
Fernando Saldivar, S.J. on the Church and Immigration
The Catholic Church’s stance on immigration and immigrants is putting the church at odds with the policies of the Trump administration. Fernando Saldivar, S.J., who works on human rights at the LMU Loyola Law School International Human Rights Center, talks about the church’s immigration position, human rights, and current U.S. immigration policies.
Linda Dakin-Grimm M.A. ’18 On U.S. Immigration
Asylum seekers, refugees, and others seeking safety and a home in America are facing new hurdles in the sweeping changes in the U.S. immigration system. Linda Dakin-Grimm, a lawyer who works with separated families, discusses the changes taking place.
Kevin Sarabia on Immigration Raids
Immigration raids hit Los Angeles this summer, and they’ve been disrupting everyday life for the city’s migrants, with many not going to work and even avoiding church. Kevin Sarabia, with the LMU Loyola Law School Loyola Immigrant Justice Clinic, discusses some of the lasting impacts of the raids.
Fernando Guerra on the L.A. Wildfires
The wildfires of January 2025 likely are the biggest natural disaster in Los Angeles history. Fernando Guerra, director of the LMU Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles, talks about the current and future impacts of the fires on the city’s people, resources, and budget.
Nathan Sessoms on L.A. Freeways and Communities
Freeways both connect and divide the Los Angeles region. Nathan Sessoms, professor in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, describes the impact of building the 10 freeway through L.A.’s West Adams community.
Trent Kersten on D1 Volleyball
Trent Kersten, head volleyball coach, talks about the increased popularity of women’s sports, volleyball strategy and recruiting, and the impact of the transfer portal on LMU and D1 volleyball.
Cheryl Grills on Reparations
Cheryl Grills, professor in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, was appointed to the California state task force tasked with proposing reparations to the state’s Black descendants of enslaved people. She talks about the long-term harms of slavery and possible steps to repair the wrongs.
Donegal Fergus on LMU and MLB Baseball
Donegal Fergus, LMU baseball head coach, talks about the impact on NCAA baseball of the transfer portal, the technical and mental aspects of hitting, and how he develops players for a major league future.
Mary Agnes Erlandson ’82 on Homelessness and What Works
Homelessness has many causes, and Mary Agnes Erlandson ’82 directs a social services center in Lennox that offers programs addressing many of them. She says focusing on people’s needs, especially housing, can change people’s lives for the better. She has seen it happen.
Eileen Schoetzow ’98, MBA ’07 On Planning Homeless Shelters
Eileen Schoetzow ’98, MBA ’07, an urban and environmental planner for the City of Los Angeles, is part of a team that constructs homeless shelters for unhoused people in Los Angeles. She talks about helping people get off the streets and into homes and why making a difference matters to her.
Kenneth Chancey ’15 on Youth Homelessness
Kenneth Chancey ’15 found meals and solace at school during a period of homelessness in his youth. Now he’s helping others find life beyond being unhoused.
Ben Bolch on NIL’s Impact on College Athletics
L.A. Times sportswriter Ben Bolch talks with Off Press about both the good and bad ramifications of name, image, and likeness payments for collegiate athletes.
Tara Pixley on Life By the Oil Fields
Oil drills and storage facilities are scattered across communities in the Los Angeles region. Tara Pixley, who teaches photojournalism in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, has produced photo essays of many of those communities. She describes the dangers experienced by people who live and work in proximity to L.A.’s oil industry.
Aarika Hughes on the Women’s Basketball 2022-23 Season
Aarika Hughes, in her second season as head coach of LMU women’s basketball, describes the strengths of the West Coast Conference competition and the discipline, defense and fast-paced play she intends to confront her opponents with.
Rebecca Delfino on the Opioid Crisis
The opioid crisis has killed as many as 700,000 Americans in the past 20 years. Rebecca Delfino, LMU Loyola Law School professor, describes the overprescription practices and misleading marketing that have fueled the epidemic.
Kara Allen, Ed.D. ’14, CIO, on the Spurs’ Role in San Antonio
Kara Allen Ed.D. ’14, chief impact officer, is the San Antonio Spurs’ face in their community. Putting seats at the table where decisions are made — putting a Spurs voice at community tables but also adding community voices at the Spurs’ table.
Eric Strauss on Climate Change
The impact of climate change on Southern California — in heat, ocean temperatures and coastal damage — is now evident, says Eric Strauss, of the LMU Center for Urban Resilience. With more on the way, he says, our goal shouldn’t be climate change reversal but adaptation.
Paul Krumpe on LMU Men’s Soccer Hopes
Paul Krumpe, Loyola Marymount University men’s soccer head coach, has led the team for 24 years, but the 2021 team may be the strongest one yet.
Ernesto Colín ’99, M.A. ’01
Ernesto Colín, associate professor in the LMU School of Education, describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on America’s schools and students.
Jason Bentley ’92 on KXLU And Artists’ Conversations
In the ’90s, Jason Bentley ’92 was general manager of KXLU, Loyola Marymount University’s student-run radio station. Now a KCRW DJ, he tells Off Press what it was like to work in the KXLU studios during the “golden age of college rock.”
U.S. Rep. Karen Bass On Election Results
U.S. Rep. Karen Bass talks with Off Press about Biden’s presidential prospects, her experiences as chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, and what she expects from a new session of Congress.
Election Special Report: Where Do We Stand?
Election Day 2020 is over, but will the result of the presidential election be decided by the voters or the candidates’ lawyers? Michael Genovese, LMU political science professor, and Justin Levitt, LMU Loyola Law School election law expert, discuss the presidential transition and other scenarios that the ultimate White House winner will face.
Sean Dempsey, S.J., on the 2020 Catholic Vote
Catholic voters, considered a crucial swing vote in 2016, may sway the 2020 presidential election. But, says Prof. Sean Dempsey, S.J., the days when Catholics voted as a bloc are long gone. Today, they span the political spectrum, and they don’t look for voting instructions from the pulpit.
Chaya Crowder on Black Voters and U.S. Elections
Chaya Crowder, LMU associate professor of political science and international relations, examines how Black voters have shaped U.S. elections and Democratic Party politics since passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.
Stefan Bradley on Black Americans and the 2020 Election
With a highly polarized 2020 presidential election, in the offing Stefan Bradley, who teaches African American studies, wonders whether issues of racial justice will slip off the nation’s radar.
Carol Costello on White House Virus and Incivility
Carol Costello, former CNN anchor and LMU lecturer of English and journalism in the LMU Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, explores political incivility and its impact on American politics.
Allan Ides and the SCOTUS Nominee
Every new appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court changes the high court’s proceedings. Allan Ides, Loyola Law School professor, examines the possible impact of Amy Coney Barrett’s presence on the court.
Justin Levitt and Election 2020
Contrary to others’ predictions, Justin Levitt, Loyola Law School constitutional law professor and elections expert, doesn’t foresee an electoral apocalypse on Election Day 2020.
Michael Genovese
Voters will face a stark choice between candidates in the 2020 presidential election, says Michael Genovese, LMU professor and leading expert on the presidency.
Sean Kennedy ’86, LLS ’89
An LMU Loyola Law School suit was recently rejected that would have forced the release of more juveniles in detention who are at risk for contracting the coronavirus. Sean Kennedy explains why this is a failure of the justice system.
Sung Won Sohn
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic has had a lasting impact on nationwide and local economies. Loyola Marymount Professor Sung Won Sohn, who teaches finance and international trade, takes a look at the economic forecast.
Tom Plate
Tom Plate, Loyola Marymount University professor and Asia expert, explains to Off Press why U.S. relations with China may shape how voters make their choice for president in the 2020 election.
Fernando Guerra and Brianne Gilbert
Loyola Marymount University’s Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles Director Fernando Guerra, and Managing Director Brianne Gilbert discuss Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s leadership in the COVID-19 crisis.
Shira Shafir ’99
Shira Shafir, an expert in epidemiology, cautions that as in the 1918-19 influenza epidemic, the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic could cause more deaths than the first.
David Offenberg
Loyola Marymount University Professor David Offenberg, an expert in entertainment finance, talks with Off Press about how COVID-19 has slammed L.A.’s film industry.
Chilembwe Mason ’98, M.D.
Off Press podcast, an LMU Magazine production, interviews Chilembwe Mason, M.D. about the current strains to health services that the COVID-19 crisis has brought to light. This is the third podcast episode focusing on the pandemic.
Stan Johnson
Stan Johnson, new head coach of the LMU men’s basketball program, shares the challenges of recruiting athletes — usually a face-to-face process — during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thomas V. Cunningham
Thomas V. Cunningham is a lecturer with the Loyola Marymount University Bioethics Institute, and shares with Off the Press Podcast the impact of the trauma and stress from the virus on medical staff in hospitals.
Kate Pickert
Kate Pickert offers an inside look at a slow response from the government where health policies are concerned. These ramifications are felt throughout the medical arena, health agencies, and the communities they serve.
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead’s basketball philosophy, famously referred to as “The System,” produced one of the most exciting basketball teams to compete in the NCAA tournament Elite Eight. He talks about his 1989-90 team and its season of glory and tragedy.
Judy Woodruff
Judy Woodruff shares the moderator’s role in the 2000 presidential debates, one of the most visible stages in the entire election process leading up to the 2020 presidential election.
Tony Coelho ’64
Tony Coelho ’64 explains why approachability is a very important quality in a presidential candidate. Coelho knows: He ran Al Gore’s 2000 presidential campaign.
Tom Perez
Tom Perez, chair of the Democratic National Committee, tells Off Press that the 2020 presidential election will be a moral fork in the road for America.
Tia Carr ’21 and Olin Osborne ’23
LMU International Relations majors Olin Osborne and Tia Carr explain why young voters may determine the 2020 presidential election and what they expect from the candidates.
Michael Genovese
Loyola Marymount University professor and presidential expert Michael Genovese reveals how the Democratic Party Presidential Candidates will need a compelling alternative to President Trump in order to win the 2020 Presidential Election.
Richard Fox
The Democratic primary race is full of contenders for President of the United States. LMU Professor Richard Fox, an expert on U.S. Elections discusses who has the best chance to defeat President Trump.
Elizabeth Drummond
Elizabeth Drummond, who teaches 20th century European history, describes how hate plays a role in wars, ethnic conflict, and democratic processes.
Lynell George ’84
Loyola Marymount University alum and writer Lynell George ’84 describes growing up in Los Angeles and life in L.A. as an adult.
Richard Fox
Loyola Marymount University professor Richard Fox discusses the very full list of Democratic candidates for the 2020 Presidential election with Off the Press Podcast.
Evelyn McDonnell
Loyola Marymount University journalism professor Evelyn McDonnell discusses female rockers who have confronted and overcome glass ceilings, limited air play, and musical prejudice while shaping America’s musical heritage.
Justin Levitt
Justin Levitt, LMU Loyola Law School professor and elections expert, explores gerrymandering and its unofficial consequence of lawmakers choosing their voters, instead of voters choosing their legislators.
Carlos Soto ’16
Carlos Soto ’16 started his tequila company, Nosotros, as an LMU undergrad. Since then, he’s mastered everything from recipes to production, bottling, international sales and delivery, and rocky U.S.-Mexico trade relations. Soto discusses he’s learned about the risks of being an entrepreneur.
Garrett Snyder ’09
Los Angeles Magazine food editor Garrett Snyder ’09 probably has tasted as many dishes as a United Nations chef. He talks about L.A.’s unique food culture and the oddest thing he’s ever eaten.
Demian Willette
Demian Willette, LMU biology professor, studies species substitution — fish fraud — in the fish industry. He and his students have learned that what you eat at your local restaurant may not be what you ordered.
Helen and Robert Singleton
Professor Robert Singleton, and his wife, Helen, were Freedom Riders, who defied segregation laws in the South. They share their experiences in the fight for civil rights and about time spent in prison for their commitments.
Elias Wondimu
Elias Wondimu turned his exile from his homeland of Ethiopia into an opportunity to capture and explore the country’s history through the LMU Marymount Institute Press and Tsehai Publishers.
Chris Dufresne
Former LA Times writer Chris Dufresne discusses Don Klosterman, a legendary Loyola quarterback and innovative general manager of the L.A. Rams, who changed the face of football in Los Angeles forever.
Lisa See ’79
Lisa See, LMU alumna, discusses her new novel, “The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane,” and her family’s roots in L.A.’s Chinatown.
