New season of California Now podcast launches in Los Angeles

Visit California celebrated the launch of a new season of its award-winning podcast, California Now, with an event in Los Angeles on Jan. 15. The evening brought together media, celebrities and content creators to spotlight the refreshed podcast, now hosted by Josh Meyers, who attended the event.

Guests gathered at sunset to enjoy California-inspired food and drinks, hear previews from the new season and toast the relaunch following remarks from Visit California and Meyers.

Post-event coverage generated an estimated 150.8 million earned media impressions across entertainment, lifestyle and general news outlets, with an advertising value of nearly $1.4 million. Coverage appeared in outlets including People, Los Angeles Times, TMZ, E! News, Variety and Us Weekly. The event also sparked strong social engagement, generating more than 363,000 views and 3,400 engagements, reinforcing Visit California’s presence at the intersection of travel, culture and entertainment.

The new season features conversations with Michelin-starred chefs, celebrities, cultural tastemakers and locals and is available to watch on YouTube. New this season, three “On Location” episodes were filmed across the state, immersing audiences in experiences along Route 66, Mammoth Mountain and FIFA World Cup host destinations.

As the relaunched podcast rolls out its 2025–26 season, Visit California will continue building on this momentum, leveraging Meyers’ storytelling to invite audiences to experience the state through fresh, culturally resonant stories. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube and at VisitCalifornia.com/Podcast.