Austin Cross to Begin Hosting ''Airtalk With Larry Mantle''

RADIO ONLINE | Thursday, April 13, 2023 | 6:40pm CT

KPCC-FM (LAist 89.3)

KPCC (LAist 89.3)/Los Angeles midday host Austin Cross will take over hosting duties on April 14 for "AirTalk with Larry Mantle." "AirTalk" airs after "Morning Edition" weekdays from 9-11am. Larry Mantle, the longtime AirTime host and creator, will continue to host the program Monday through Thursday, with Cross taking over hosting on Friday. Mantle has been the host of "AirTalk" on KPCC since April 1, 1985.

Mantle will also continue to be heard on Friday's from 10-11am as he continues to host "Film Week," the movie review and interview program during AirTalk, heard Fridays and Saturdays at noon.

"I asked LAist management several months ago if I could cut my schedule by an hour a week," said Mantle. "With a typical AirTalk week consisting of 20 to 30 topics, I wanted the chance to step back from that pace just a bit, while continuing a five day a week presence with Film Week. I'm still energized by talking with LAist 89.3 listeners each day and am looking forward to more years of hosting our program. I'm very happy Austin is hosting on Friday. He's already a trusted and respected voice on our air and I'm glad listeners will have this opportunity to hear more of him."

"Austin is one of the strongest voices we have at LAist. We are thrilled to see Austin take over hosting "AirTalk" on Fridays for one of our tentpole programs. Austin has earned the opportunity to become the regular Friday host, as Larry moves to four days a week. We are confident he will be a trusted voice for Angelenos to hear on Friday mornings," added LAist's Chief Content Officer Kristen Muller, .

Cross joined LAist as a fill-in producer for AirTalk in 2014, later securing a fulltime role producing the show "Take Two," hosted by A Martinez. Before arriving at LAist (formerly KPCC), Austin worked at APM's Marketplace, and the News KNX. Since joining LAist, Austin has produced powerful reporting on two of the most challenging conversations hitting America: race and politics.