Beach Boys Mike Love and Al Jardine

On this episode of the California Now Podcast, host Soterios Johnson speaks with Mike Love and Al Jardine, founding members of the most California band of all time, The Beach Boys. 

“So much of our music was inspired by California itself,” Love explains during the first segment of the episode. Reflecting on the essence of the California Dream, Love highlights how The Beach Boys’ lighthearted and carefree music resonates across generations and geographic boundaries. “Those songs evoke such good vibrations and such positivity. It’s just miraculous that we’re still able to create that good vibration to this day,” he shares. 

Johnson then chats with Jardine, who shares stories about the band’s early days and comments on the group’s continuing appeal more than six decades after they started out. “[It’s] without a doubt the songwriting genius,” Jardine says, adding that the band also owes much of its success to “the wonderful comradery and the family connection.”

Both stars conclude their interviews by taking the California Questionnaire, answering a lightning round of questions about their love for the Golden State. 

GUESTS

Mike Love

Al Jardine

RESOURCES

Los Angeles

Stagecoach Music Festival

Indio

Orange County

Newport Beach

La Jolla

Del Mar

Trestles Beach

Manhattan Beach

Ventura

Santa Cruz

California Redwoods

The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

Napa

Monterey

Sonoma County

Golden Gate Bridge

ABOUT THE HOST

Soterios Johnson, formerly the local host of National Public Radio’s Morning Edition on New York radio station WNYC, has been the host of the California Now Podcast since its inception in 2018.

OUR TEAM

Host, Soterios Johnson

Editorial Director, John Godfrey

Producer, Kate Eplboim

Technical Producer, Jessica Marshall

Theme music, Aaron Taos