SoCal Connected: In the Studio

At one military training center, amputees act as victims in war simulations. It's fake, but the impact for trainees and amputees is very real. CNN's Poppy Harlow talks to Val about her story.

When he was working as 2nd unit director on "The Soloist," Thomas Napper caught a glimpse of a world most people probably find frightening and avoid at all costs -- Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. However, during the two-year course of making the documentary film "Lost Angels," Napper realized that Skid Row is as much a community brought together by friendship and caring as it is by the common misfortunes of drug addiction, violence, and mental illness. He spoke to Madeleine about the film and some of its characters.

Hollywood character actor Stephen Tobolowsky drops in to talk about his new book of essays "The Dangerous Animals Club," and some other perilous encounters.

Earlier this week, there was a lot of excitement that NASA's rover Curiosity had discovered evidence of organic compounds on Mars. While some of the hype may have been quickly deflated, Huffington Post's senior science correspondent, Cara Santa Maria, tells Madeleine there's still a lot to be excited about.

He's known to most as the friendly traveling host of "Rick Steves' Europe." But for the residents of Washington State, he is now a legislative reformer. Rick Steves co-sponsored an initiative legalizing pot statewide. The law took effect Wednesday. Steves sat down with Val and Madeleine to speak about the motivations for his advocacy.

OC Weekly editor Gustavo Arellano remembers why the banda and norteño singer was so popular, and why American media tended to overlook her.

Book reviewer and proprietor of Libros Schmibros David Kipen stopped by the studio to give us his literary holiday picks.

Author Peggy Orenstein talks to Madeleine about the role of gender-specific toys in children's social development, and how companies are taking advantage or those separations.

'Hitchcock' director Sacha Gervasi talks to Val and Madeleine on the struggles and motivations of the enigmatic filmmaker (and his wife) as he made a cinematic classic.

Comedian Paula Poundstone took time away from some heavy manual labor (cleaning up after her cats) to visit Madeleine in the studio.

Vince Gonzales has an update to our investigation into Supervisor Don Knabe and his son's lobbying firm.

Michael Connelly's books have sold 45 million around the world, but his beat has always been L.A. The best-selling crime reporter-turned-novelist sits down with Madeleine to talk about his latest "The Black Box."

The U.S. Supreme Court will soon decide whether or not to hear cases against the Defense of Marriage Act, the law making same-sex marriage illegal in the eyes of the federal government. One of the plaintiffs suing the feds is Karen Golinski, a lawyer for the very government she's suing. She and her spouse Amy Cunninghis speak to Madeleine.

Madeleine talks to Automobile Magazine's Jamie Kitman about what's hot at this year's L.A. Auto Show, which celebrates 105 years.

Prof. Doug NeJaime of Loyola Law School helps explain the complicated issues to be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court regarding gay marriage in California and the country.