John Rabe Host, Off-Ramp
- Phone: (626) 583-5175
John Rabe is the creator and host of Off-Ramp, KPCC's weekend news and arts magazine program, which has been named "best local public affairs show" by two national journalism associations.
Prior to his time on Off-Ramp, Rabe was KPCC's host for "All Things Considered" and the station's housing & healthcare reporter, for which he garnered many awards – including several Golden Mikes.
Rabe began his career as a commercial DJ in high school in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, then found his niche as reporter and anchor at WKAR, Michigan State University's public radio station, where he earned his BA in English.
Rabe has also worked in public radio in South Florida, at WHYY in Philadelphia, and Minnesota Public Radio. He came to KPCC in 2000. Off-Ramp debuted in 2006.
He lives with his husband and Irish terriers in the foothills of Mt Washington, north of downtown LA.
Stories by John Rabe
Damn his Eyes! Wayne White in new film Beauty is Embarassing, now in LA
"Beauty is Embarrassing" is about how Wayne White has lived his art through his life and is, THANK GOD, not another damned tortured artist.
Damn his Eyes! Wayne White in new film Beauty is Embarassing, now in LA
"Beauty is Embarrassing" is about how Wayne White has lived his art through his life and is, THANK GOD, not another damned tortured artist.
Marv Wolfman on "Tomb of Dracula"
Boo! We reach into the Off-Ramp tomb for an interview with storied comic book writer Marv Wolfman, who wrote for the superb, modern, and scary "The Tomb of Dracula."
RIP Hal David, ace songwriter, and a bit of a loveable ham
In a performance at the Grammy Museum a few years ago, Hal David, who died Saturday at 91, shows off his stuff. The man obviously loved to make audiences happy.
LA County shows off water-dropping planes and choppers
LA County Fire Chief: The SuperScooper and the Sky Crane go to every fire to ensure we can get as much water on the fire as quickly as possible to knock it down. If they're not needed we send them back.
Ian Whitcomb went backwards in fame
Now at the ripe age of 71 — "I'm very old indeed" — Whitcomb has released a new book: "Ukulele Heroes: The Golden Age."
Steve Soboroff's typewriter time machines
"Andy Rooney was thinking when he was sitting at that typewriter. And so was John Updike, and so was Ernest Hemingway." Steve Soboroff owns them all.
Exclusive tour of Campanile's kitchen
Mark Peel gives Off-Ramp host John Rabe an exclusive tour of the kitchen at Campanile, his award-winning LA restaurant.
Uber-impressionist Jim Meskimen
Off-Ramp host John Rabe talks with Jim Meskimen, YouTube sensation, actor and man of a thousand voices, including Robin Williams, Kirk Douglas, Charleton Heston, Woody Allen, Droopy Dog, President George W Bush and Harvey Keitel.
"My Imported Bride" by David Haldane
In the 90s, he was your neighbor in Orange County - a white guy with a wife and 2 kids. Now, he has a Filipino wife more than thirty years his junior. How did it happen?
Fighting bullying with jiu-jitsu in East Pasadena
Gracie Barra, a jiu-jitsu center in East Pasadena that teaches kids self-defense skills, but – more importantly – teaches them self-respect.
A Jazz Aerie - Betty Hoover's A-Frame Jazz
One of the best jazz clubs in town isn't a club at all. It's a private home high in the hills.
Matt DeBord - The Saab Slob
He'd have been laughed out of the LA Auto Show, mocked at the River Rouge plant, but DeBord has no shame.
SketchTravel: 71 artists + one sketchbook = libraries in SE Asia
SketchTravel: 71 artists, one sketch book, thousands of miles = building libraries in SE Asia. Charles Solomon and Paul Felix tell Rabe about it.
SketchTravel: 71 artists collaborate on a sketch book that traveled 75,000 miles
SketchTravel: 71 artists, 75,000 miles, 1 sketch book -- and so far -- 4 libraries in SE Asia. Charles Solomon and Paul Felix tell John Rabe about it.
