Connectopod™

Post Election 2016

Welp. Post election. Here we are. The reporters of The GMP take a moment to reflect on what the election results mean to them. 
Our pod: Angie Benitez, Victoria Benitez, Daniela Catalan and we welcome Lucia Buneulos to our pod! We salute Estuardo Rodas who is on leave from the GMP for a little while. 
The theme music for this episode was composed by Daniela Catalan. Victoria Benitez, the mighty might, was assistant editor. 

The GMP Asks Daniel Handler All the Wrong Questions

Daniela Catalan, Angie Benitez, Victoria Benitez and Estuardo Rodas, a.k.a. D.A.V.E, ask fish killer and author Daniel Handler, a.k.a. Lemony Snicket,  All The Wrong Questions.  The GMP caught up with him between swimming in the San Francisco Bay and making beet soup. (Mr. Handler, not D.A.V.E., was swimming and soup making).
 
Though he is a wanted man, he found time to discuss cutting off little bits of peoples personalities, bullying vs. being bullied, and cryptozoology. He fielded questions about his books "the Series of Unfortunate Events" and "All the Wrong Questions." 
 
 All the Wrong Questions website Go there. It's fun! - http://lemonysnicketlibrary.com
 
Mr. Handler lives in San Francisco with his 12 year old son, Otto, who may or may not be a father, and his wife, artist Lisa Brown. He has written many books. Google him! Even if you think you know his work. Mysterious! Shadowy! Delightful!
 
Daniela Catalan hosts.
 
 
 
 
 

Bird is the Word

Estuardo Rodas, our newest member, tries his hosting chops! Angie Bee, a.k.a. Benitez the Elder, clues us in as to why the Plymouth settlement succeeded and the Jamestown settlement failed, even though Jamestown had climate on their side. Daniela Catalan reveals the unknown Squanto. Victoria Benitez ("the younger") may make your tummy rumble in Thanksgiving anticipation. And Estuardo uncovers the Turkey in the Straw.We report to you with an attitude of gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving! 

A GMP Special report from KCAL 9 with Sylvia Lopez!

Angie Benitez hosts a very special episode of the GMP. Slyvia Lopez, retired long time reporter and anchor for KCAL 9 and CBS2 invited the GMP to the station to see how how a newcast happens.  She took time off from her heavy course load at CSUN where she is getting her Public health degree (retirement pshaw!). The whole CBS 2 crew from the doorman to the director gave the podsters their time and shared their skills. 
 
Thank you, Sylvia! We hope to interview you again in your new public health career!
 
 

Rise up!

 Our tiniest member, Victoria Benitez, brings big personality as she hosts the first episode of the new school year! Our theme is "Rise up." Angelica Benitez tells us of a migrant girls struggles to succeed in  a book review of "Esperanza Rising" by Pam Munoz Ryan. Victoria and Daniela Catalan team up to bring us the inspiring story of Malala Yousafzai who rises above violence to find her voice. And, introducing our newest podster, Estuardo Rodas, reporting on the grand re-opening of MEND Youth Services facility. He introduces Johana Jimenez,  who reported her last segment on the GMP, interviewing people who came to the celebration. Johana has moved to Tennessee but stayed in our hearts. Stay tuned for  new segments from our Tennessee correspondent!We now also have our very own  HQ at the new facility! Rise up, GMP!

Weather Control, Aliens and Synthetic Meat, Oh My!

This is our last podcast for the summer before we return  this fall.So the girls will leave you with some freestyling summer fare to think about at the beach. What if you could control the weather? Daniela Catalan brings a whimsical story of her future job. What if Aliens are with us now (and maybe always have been?!)? Anjelica Benitez will unnerve your summer relaxation.Our newest podteam member, little in size, big in brains, Victoria Benitez, who challenges you to think about this meaty question: will your burger come from the lab or the farm in the near future? I would like to note that this episode is special as the team took recording equipment home and were entirely in charge of writing and recording their own content. This exercise opens up an exciting chapter for the coming year of further developing their reporting skills! Thanks for listening! -Betsy Foldes Meiman

Free Styling Weirdness

Daniela Catalan hosts this month Greatest MEND Podcast which finds Laz Meiman talking about those Kooky Romans, Angelica Benitez's instructions for your very own zombie roach cyborg, and Daniela's zoo of weird animals. It's the GMP freestyle! Everybody did a segment on whatever interested them. Very revealing! We also have some new developments here at the GMP. Daniela the tech wiz has added musical scoring to her growing list of podcasting talents. She created two pieces for this month's podcast. Angie tried on the associate producer hat and put together all the pieces of this month's puzzle. And we have have a new member. Really new! She's the youngest podcaster yet. Welcome second grader extraordinaire, Victoria Benitez!

The GMP Cornerstone Experience

The Lady Gaga of hosts is back! Johana Jimenez introduces our latest podcast adventure of awesomeness. We took the podcast on the road. As a follow up to last months Cornerstone Theater Company interview, the team goes deep into the workings of Cornerstone's Pacoima production of "California: The Tempest!"First up Angelica Benitez interviews director Michael John Garces  in rehearsal at Pacoima City Hall. Daniela Catalan catches the unrehearsed reaction of theater goers at the Caesar Chavez Learning Academy after the show. And last but certainly not least, Brisa Quintana and Johana Jimenez  join the production for a first hand look at what it takes to be an actor in a professional show. And this month I am proud to say that our youngest member of the team, Daniela Catalan, also turns out to be a talented editor. She edited her own segment! Way to go, Daniela.Produced by Betsy Foldes MeimanOriginal theme song by Laz Meiman

The Big Question with Cornerstone Theater Company

The Podcast team, Angelica Benitez, Daniela Catalan, Johana Jimenez, and Brisa Quintanabring a special edition of The Big Question. Today's episode finds them interviewing Cesar Ortega and Karen Covarubias of Cornerstone Theater Company. Cornerstone is celebrating a decade of summer residencies  throughout California with a "Bridge Tour" connecting all 10 resident communities with one play: California: The Tempest. Next stop-Pacoima! Get to know and love Cornerstone with the  pack from Pacoima, the Power Pod Girls.....The Greatest MEND Podcast! To find out more, visit their website:  http://cornerstonetheater.org“Cornerstone is a modern miracle that has never stopped believing in the power of art.”– Amy Brenneman, Founding MemberProducer: Betsy Foldes Meiman  Origianl Music: Laz Meiman

My Country tis of Thee!

Daniela Catalan hosts for the first time! The GMP Team explores the the struggles of immigrants. First, Brisa Quintana tells us about some of our earliest immigrants, the Pilgrims, with the usual Moments in History twists and flair. Then in contrast, Angelica Benitez reports in depth on the challenges faced by the La Bestia riders of South and Central America. Johana Jimenez follows it all up with The Big Question: how would you have felt if you were a pilgrim?Tune in next month for a special interview with Cornerstone Theater Company who will be performing in Pacoima in January. Happy Thanksgiving!The picture above is the first brainstorm session for this podcast.