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
Opening Day: Dodgers shut out Giants, fans love stadium makeover (photos)
One thing hasn’t changed. Vin Scully got the biggest cheer of the day, and, later, up in the top deck, a little transistor radio was broadcasting Vin's play-by-play.
Attention shade tree mechanics! Free stuff from the county!
Free shop towels, funnels, containers ... and all you need is some nasty old motor oil.
Epic fail: Valitar horse show plays out disastrously in San Diego
"They promised this was going to be a spectacle beyond the likes of anything we'd ever seen in San Diego, and in a certain tragic sense, they redeemed that promise. We've never seen anything quite like the disaster that was Valitar."
RIP: Lawrence McKiver, last original member of McIntosh County Shouters
"In slavery times, the old folks couldn't talk to each other. They had to make signs ... make the sounds we singing. That's why we sing in these old slavery sounds ... they couldn't talk so they sang a song and they'd get together underneath the song that we're gonna sing."
Val Kilmer becomes Mark Twain in 'Citizen Twain'
Kilmer says Twain used his own voice, unlike the other public speakers of his time, who affected an unnatural cadence and tone.
The Getty explores the mystery of Rubens' Korean man
'Looking East: Rubens's Encounter with Asia,' at the Getty Center through June 9th, is the Getty's first Korean-themed exhibit, and its first collaboration with LA's Korean-American community.
50 years ago, boxer Davey Moore's fatal fight at Dodger Stadium
The two people most affected by Davey Moore’s death had to get on with their lives. Moore’s widow, Geraldine, took a job and raised five children as a single mom. Sugar Ramos, the new champion, kept fighting.
Bob Gurr imagined it, helped build Disneyland, King Kong, Jurassic Park
Bob Gurr, named a Disney Legend in 2004, never let a thing like not knowing how to do something get in the way of doing things.
Off-Ramp host does Kate Upton and Jake Davidson one better, asks 17-year old girl to prom
Since it's now okay for high school kids to ask out celebrities, it must be okay for celebrities -- even D-list public radio celebrities -- to ask out high-schoolers, right?
'Deep Throat' porn star Harry Reems dies, 65
"Harry went from living a bizarre lifestyle, through a 180 degree, almost miraculous change to find a Higher Power he called God, and become a truly nice guy who cared for others."
Desert Christ Park in Yucca Valley
Slow pans, intense but faded colors, snow-white statues of Christ, chips in the plaster, exposed rebar. A feeling of calm. Listen with the sound up or off. A lovely movie from Christopher Lee.
Help Off-Ramp during March Madness - or, trash talking for a cause
Everyone knows Lynne Rossetto Kasper has the worst jump-shot in public radio. Worse than David Brancaccio's. She once told Noah Adams she "can't be bothered" to go up for rebounds, and she took out Peter Sagal with an "accidental" knee to the temple .. after she tripped him.
Family turns tragedy -- losing a baby -- into a safe haven for other kids
The Miguel Leonard Padilla Banks soft room is a place at the cold, hard, scary Hollywood police station where kids won't feel quite so scared.
UPDATE: SoCal Catholics welcome news of 1st Latin American pope (photos)
The Los Angeles Archdiocese's 4.2 million Catholics greeted news Wednesday of a new pope, Argentine cardinal Jorge Bergoglio.
Homeboy's Father Greg Boyle excited by Pope Francis, moves church closer to Jesus
Father Greg Boyle, one of Southern California's spiritual leaders, reveals his dream: a humble Pope wearing huaraches, jeans, and a guayabera. "That guy I could follow anywhere." Is Francis that man?
