British podcaster Emma Gannon addressed the 800-pound gorilla in the room as soon as California Now Podcast host Soterios Johnson welcomed her to the show.
"Thank you so much for having me," Gannon said. "How exciting. I'm normally the one interviewing, so this is kind of weird. But I'm loving it."
Gannon, of course, is an author, media insider, and the host of the acclaimed podcast Ctr Alt Del. Johnson is a longtime broadcaster and veteran journalist who rose to fame in New York City before relocating to the Golden State.
They are both unabashed advocates for California, and Johnson asked Gannon about her passion for the state straightaway.
"It's funny," Gannon said, "I was reflecting on this recently and I'm definitely that British girl who is obsessed with California and I always have been. Actually looking back to when I grew up, I was that kid who watched Saved By the Bell and all of those American high school sitcoms and kids programs. There's actually one called California Dreams, I think it was called back in the 90s, and I've just loved watching, through the screen, other people live this life by the sea and on the beach and I don't know, just having a great time."
Gannon's love of California prompted her to create a California Innovation Tour, a series of interviews with California entrepreneurs and innovators, and it also convinced her to make multiple visits to the state over the past few years.
Johnson wanted to understand Gannon's California passion and his guest obliged.
"The glamor of Hollywood is an obvious one," she began, "but I think as someone who always wanted to be a writer, always wanted to be creative and have a cool media job, I think the idea of L.A.. for example, people just bumping into each other or you're getting in an Uber and you're talking to the Uber driver who is actually an extra in a Hollywood movie. It just felt like everyone was doing cool stuff and making stuff happen and being enthusiastic.
"When I'm in California, I feel like everyone's excited for you. So it's the people, it's definitely the weather. I think waking up every day and the sun shining is just not something you get in the UK."
The conversation between podcasters quickly expands beyond 30,000-foot discussions of California's appeal and moves into a detailed discussion of Gannon's favorite experiences in the state—ranging from stargazing in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park to wine tasting in Temecula to simply chlling out in the Central Coast town of Cambria.
To hear their conversation, check out the latest episode of California Now.