LA Stories Unfiltered with Giselle Fernandez

Known for award-winning movies such "Amores Perros,” "Babel,” "Birdman” and "The Revenant," five-time Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his latest film, "Bardo: False Chronicle of a Handful of Truths.” Iñárritu says he identifies closely with the story, which uses surrealism and humor to explore stories of his own life. Just as the main character grapples with his insecurities and identity, so too has Iñárritu, who once used his Oscar acceptance speech to shine a light on Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. Iñárritu plans to continue to use his voice, work and platform to continue to uplift immigrants.

Michael Harris was once known as “the Godfather” in South Central Los Angeles. In the 1980s, he was arrested on attempted murder and drug trafficking charges, spending 33 years in prison. From behind bars, however, he helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Harris in the last hours of his presidency, and once freed, “Harry-O” went right back to work. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Harris, who ultimately partnered with Snoop Dogg as COO of the all-new Death Row Records.

As the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, April McDaniel works with brands, including Adidas and Spotify, to create experiences and events to promote their products and share their stories. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with McDaniel, whose success did not come easily, but after being left a widow at just 33 years old, she was forced to raise her two young sons on her own. According to McDaniel, the experience inspired her to create her agency. Her perseverance has inspired her many A-lister friends, including Adele, who dedicated her album "30" to McDaniel.

Derek Hough has won the coveted mirror ball trophy on “Dancing with the Stars” more times than any other professional dancer on the show. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Hough, who opens up about the lessons he learned from the experiences — both on and off the dance floor. Recalling his childhood, Hough shares horrific stories of being bullied as a young boy, which he details in his book, "Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion.” Hough has expanded his career with his "No Limits" Las Vegas residency show in addition to returning for the latest season of “DWTS.”

David Ambroz says he spent most of his time starving and freezing while growing up on the streets of Manhattan, surviving on old pizza crusts and sugar packets with few people offering him help or support. At 12 years old, after a moment where he says his mother almost beat him to death, Ambroz entered the foster care system. He finally found foster parents to give him the love and support he needed, and was able to break free from the struggles he faced. Today, Ambroz is considered a national poverty and child welfare expert, advocating on behalf of children in the foster care system and those experiencing homelessness.

In one of his final interviews before stepping down as mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti opens up to host Giselle Fernandez and reflects on his time serving the city. During his tenure as mayor, Garcetti says he's happy to know his administration is responsible for projects such as investing in infrastructure, bringing the Olympics to LA, cutting poverty and increasing the rate of job growth. Despite headlines reporting on all the work that is yet to be done in the city, Garcetti believes the good he brought the city is significant. He considers Mayor-elect Karen Bass a dear friend and is excited to see what she brings to LA in her new role.

Antonio Salazar-Hobson was born into a farm-working migrant family in Arizona, the 11th of 14 children. At just 4 years old, he was kidnapped by the next-door neighbors his family had grown to trust, and for years, he was sexually abused and trafficked at a guest ranch in central California. Salazar-Hobson shares with host Giselle Fernandez his powerful story of survival and chance meeting with workers' rights activist Cesar Chavez in high school. Despite hardship that continued into his college years, Salazar-Hobson became one of the most successful labor lawyers in the country, just as Chavez predicted.

In 2016, Miry Whitehill answered a call from a friend who asked if Whitehill had a baby chair she could donate to a Syrian family who had just moved to California. Thinking on her feet, Whitehill made a list of items this family needed in order to get settled in their new home, posted the list to social media and, soon after, the Miry's List nonprofit was born. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Whitehill, who has been able to help more than 600 families get settled in the U.S. through crowdsourcing and social media. Miry's List is now serving refugee families in as many as 17 states, but Whitehill says California is leading the way in resettlement.

Kat Taylor has made it her life mission to bring equity to underserved and underrepresented communities across the country. As the co-founder and board chair of Beneficial State Bank, she aims to make banking more accessible to under-resourced communities in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Through her TomKat Ranch, in coalition with other farms and ranches, Taylor helps bring local, healthy, organic food to millions of school children in California. As she opens up to host Giselle Fernandez, one thing is clear with all her various endeavors: Kat Taylor has an optimistic outlook on the state's future.

With nearly 250 million views on YouTube and three successful books, millennial mortician Caitlin Doughty has launched what she calls a “death positive” movement through her series, “Ask a Mortician.” With videos such as “Can I Keep My Parents' Skulls and Tattoos” and “Morbid Minute: Coffins vs. Caskets,” Doughty hopes to help people understand that death is a part of life and we should be comfortable talking about it. She tells host Giselle Fernandez that embalming or cremating a body is bad for the environment, and she encourages people to consider more environmentally friendly options. In 2011, she founded the Order of the Good Death to create a national dialogue around the funeral industry and both the financial and emotional burdens many funerals put on families.

With the Los Angeles mayoral election coming up, host Giselle Fernandez sat down with candidates Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass for a special edition of “LA Stories.” In Fernandez's interview with Caruso, the businessman explained why he wanted to enter the race, saying he has a gift for civic duty. He opened up on all the major issues LA is facing and explained in detail how he plans to address them if he were to become mayor. Caruso also discussed what fuels his leadership and who he's looked up to throughout the years, crediting Tom Bradley and former President Barack Obama for leading with hope and a sense of community.

With the Los Angeles mayoral election coming up, host Giselle Fernandez sat down with candidates Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass for a special edition of “LA Stories.” In Fernandez's interview with Bass, the U.S. representative explained why she wants to leave her position in Washington D.C. in order to serve as mayor of LA. Bass went deeper into the issues LA is facing and discussed her plans for tackling them if she were to become mayor. She also shared some insight into those who have helped guide her, crediting her parents for providing her with direction in different areas throughout her life.

Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from Southern California, including the two candidates running for Los Angeles mayor in the upcoming election. Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass discuss the issues that face the city and what makes them stand out from their opponent. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.

Now in her 90s, Dolores Huerta has spent most of her life as a political activist, fighting for better working conditions for farmworkers and women's rights. Her role in the farmworkers' movement has long been overshadowed by that of Cesar Chavez, her longtime collaborator and co-founder of what became the United Farm Workers of America union. Huerta also coined the movement's famous slogan, “Sí Se Puede,” which inspired former President Barack Obama's own campaign battle cry, "Yes, we can." She opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about being by former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's side the day he was assassinated and the importance of sharing her accomplishments with young women to open the doors for the next generation.

As a young boy, José Hernández worked alongside his Mexican immigrant family, picking fruits and vegetables throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Stockton. When he watched the first astronauts walk on the moon, Hernández knew right away that he wanted to be just like them, so he followed his father's advice and worked tirelessly through school to become an engineer. It took Hernández 12 attempts, but his dream was finally set in motion when he was accepted into NASA's space program and got to fly into space at age 47. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Hernández, who started the Reaching for the Stars Foundation that aims to expose kids to STEM-related opportunities.

Estevan Oriol began his career as a hip-hop club bouncer in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to LA-based groups Cypress Hill and House of Pain. To document the experience, Oriol's father, also a famed photographer, gave him an old film camera and said that maybe he, too, would become an artist. Though he may not have had any professional training, Oriol proved he had the eye and natural talent of an artist. He shares with host Giselle Fernandez how his love of photography grew from a hobby to an art he mastered.

Growing up in Los Angeles, Joan Agajanian Quinn befriended artists at a young age. Over time, her relationships in the art world grew, and she was soon at the center of the LA art scene, befriending artists like Andy Warhol and David Hockney. Quinn explains to host Giselle Fernandez how she became known as one of the most painted women in the world, with world-famous artists, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Hurrell, Kenneth Price and Robert Mapplethorpe capturing her portrait. As the West Coast editor of Warhol's Interview Magazine, and host of her own interview series, "Joan Quinn Profiles," Quinn used her fame in the art world to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming artists.

Born with congenital limb differences, Ezra Frech came into this world missing his left knee, left fibula and fingers on his left hand. As soon as he was old enough, he received a prosthetic leg that opened him up to the world of sports, where he played basketball, soccer, football, and track and field. Frech opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his journey to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where he competed in both the long jump and high jump as the youngest member of Team USA. Having realized there was little opportunity for people with disabilities in Los Angeles to participate in sports, Frech and his parents created the Angel City Sports nonprofit for kids, adults and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments.

In this episode of “LA Stories,” host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Michael Harris, who was once known as “the Godfather” in South Central Los Angeles. Harris was arrested in the 1980s on attempted murder and drug trafficking charges. He spent 33 years in prison, but from behind bars, he helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Harris in the last hours of his presidency, and once freed, “Harry-O” went right back to work. He opens up to Giselle Fernandez about going on to partner with Snoop Dogg as the COO of the all-new Death Row Records.

More than half the people in America believe children are in foster care because they have done something wrong, according to recent polls. For more than three decades, Jennifer Perry has made it her mission to change that perception and open people's eyes to the truth: Children are placed in foster care by no fault of their own and are sometimes victims of abuse or neglect. As the executive director of Children's Action Network and co-founder of FosterMore, Perry uses her connections in Hollywood and politics to change the narrative around foster youth and share stories in order to show the world who they really are. She tells host Giselle Fernandez that her work became personal when she herself adopted her daughters through foster care.

Jessica Sarowitz made her fortune through the payroll company she founded with her husband, Steve — but she was not raised with that sort of wealth. While growing up, she remembers that even though she spoke a different language and looked different from her classmates, her parents instilled a confidence in her that she still carries with her today. Most recently, Sarowitz served as an executive producer on the documentary “With This Light,” which follows a nun in Honduras known as the Mother Teresa of Central America. Sarowitz is building a five-acre film studio in the heart of Baldwin Hills and the Crenshaw corridor, which she hopes to use to empower diverse filmmakers and artists while encouraging the storytelling of underrepresented groups.

James Samuel Harris III - famously known as Jimmy Jam. In this “LA Stories” episode, he opens up to Giselle Fernandez about his iconic career, which gained him five Grammy Awards, a star on the Walk of Fame and dozens of No. 1 Billboard hits. He's been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in the fall of 2022, he will be inducted into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame. Jimmy Jam also talks about taking piano lessons with Prince and producing Janet Jackson's breakthrough album “Control.” Along with his business partner, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam would go on to produce Jackson's “Rhythm Nation,” “The Velvet Rope,” and “All for You” albums. Most recently, the pair released an album of their own, called “Jam and Lewis Volume I.” The album features some of the biggest artists they have worked with throughout the years, singing songs written and produced by the producing duo.

Almost every week, Dr. Susan Partovi walks the streets of Skid Row, tracking down and checking in on her patients. Dr. Partovi does this not only because she is the medical director of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, which provides basic health services for the homeless community, but because she sees herself in every patient she treats. She also works with programs like the Center for Harm Reduction, which gives patients access to clean needles and offers community training to reverse opioid overdoses. Dr. Partovi joins Giselle Fernandez on this episode of "LA Stories" to share stories from her work with the homeless population and her work internationally as the co-founder of H.E.A.L.

Famous for being half of the marijuana-loving hippie comedy duo "Cheech and Chong," Richard "Cheech" Marin is one of the highest achieving Latino​s in Hollywood — and has no plans to slow down. Although he enjoyed an immense amount of success together with Tommy Chong for 17 years, Marin eventually made the difficult decision to break up the duo and set off for a successful acting career on his own. Marin opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about that painful split and eventual reunion with Chong, as well as his love and pride for Chicano culture. Today, Marin owns one of the most extensive Chicano art collections in the U.S., which is now housed in the newly opened Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture at the Riverside Art Museum.

As the child of a lieutenant colonel in the Australian Army, Rick Springfield moved around a lot with his family and was always changing homes, schools and communities. He struggled to lay down roots and battled depression from an early age. As a teenager, he tried to take his own life — a secret he held from his family for decades — but despite his struggles, Springfield had one constant that kept him moving forward: music. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his rise to fame and reveals the true story behind “Jessie's Girl,” his 1981 Grammy-winning hit.

Once known as "the Godfather" in South Central Los Angeles, Michael Harris was arrested in the 1980s on attempted murder and drug trafficking charges. He spent 33 years in prison, but from behind bars, he helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Harris in the last hours of his presidency, and once freed, “Harry-O” went right back to work. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about going on to partner with Snoop Dogg as the COO of the all-new Death Row Records.

In 2016, just after the birth of his son, Ady Barkan was hit with a devastating blow: He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As the medical bills began pouring in, Barkan was inspired to take action against what he says is a flawed health care system in the U.S. When his ALS progressed, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak, Barkan used his ailing body as a weapon in the fight for health care rights, which is chronicled in the documentary “Not Going Quietly.” Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Barkan, who knows his time is limited and wants to do everything he can to leave the world in a better place for his kids.

St. Anne's Family Services in Los Angeles offers support programs to struggling expectant mothers and young families so they can get the help they need to live their best lives. When Lorna Little moved to LA to serve as the nonprofit's president and CEO, she brought more than just her work experience to the role, as she had become pregnant in high school and felt both the fear and shame associated with becoming a teenage mother. In her acclaimed book "Mum's the Word!" Little also reveals her shocking discovery in her 30s that she was adopted and the emotional roller coaster it sent her on. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Little, who reveals how she turned her experience around to help others.

As the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, April McDaniel works with brands like Adidas and Spotify to create experiences and events to promote their products. In this episode of “LA Stories Unfiltered,” host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with McDaniel, who says her success did not come easily. She was left a widow at just 33 years old and forced to raise her two young sons on her own, an experience that paved the way to creating her agency. McDaniel's perseverance has inspired her many A-lister friends, including Adele, who dedicated her album “30” to McDaniel.

As senior rabbi of the historic Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, Steve Leder has had a front row seat to hundreds of deaths, offering comfort to those who are dying and to families who have lost loved ones. He's come to realize the importance of writing down your answers to questions about life while you're still living so that your values and lessons can live on after you're gone. Leder opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his new book, “For You When I Am Gone,” which offers a guide through the process of writing an ethical will. In guiding us through the process, Leder himself answers the questions he's asking, sharing personal stories and experiences.

Derek Hough rose to fame on the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” winning the coveted mirror ball trophy six times — more than any other professional dancer. Recalling his childhood, Hough shares with host Giselle Fernandez some horrific stories about being bullied as a young boy, which he also details in his book, “Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion.” When he was 12, Hough's parents sent him and his sister Julianne to London so they could train to become professional dancers, an experience that landed them both on “DWTS.” Hough is now expanding his career with his “No Limits” Las Vegas residency show, where he gets to dance with Hayley Erbert, his new fiancé.

The Los Angeles Fire Department faced a history-making shift when Mayor Eric Garcetti nominated Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley to serve as the first female head of the force. In this episode honoring Pride Month, Crowley opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about taking on the role and says she's ready to implement big changes to address accusations of both sexism and racial bias within the LAFD. Crowley has held nearly every position within the department and has a habit of creating many career firsts: She was the first female fire marshal of the LAFD and will be the first paramedic to hold the role of fire chief. As a wife, mother and member of the LGBTQ community, Crowley knows young people will look up to her and hopes her legacy will live on long after she has retired.

Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers in Southern California. She sits down with “Dancing with the Stars” champion Derek Hough, who reveals how dance has taught him life lessons over the years. Beyond that, Fernandez speaks with Death Row Records founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris, who opens up about life after incarceration. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.

Jennifer Yen played the villain character Vypra on the hit series "Power Rangers: Light Force," but in real life, she struggled to find self-confidence due to skin issues from wearing heavy makeup for the show. Frustrated with trying techniques and products that didn't work, Yen drew upon on her Chinese roots and looked to her grandmothers for help, an experience that led her to give up acting in order to create her first skin care line. She tells "LA Stories" host Giselle Fernandez it was her second line that found success by celebrating her Asian heritage, which she didn't embrace the first time around per the advice of some investors. Yen now hopes to inspire other women in business to continue to fight for whatever dream they're chasing.

As a child growing up in Portugal, Alberto Carvalho and his family lived in poverty. After coming to America, he found himself homeless, working odd jobs until he saved up enough money to graduate college. After holding many different titles in the Miami-Dade School District, he became the district's superintendent and is credited with turning it around, having emphasized fighting for immigrant children and underserved communities. After serving for 14 years, Carvalho moved to Los Angeles to serve as LAUSD's superintendent, telling host Giselle Fernandez that he has high goals and expectations.

At age 17, Charlie Zhang's situation was dire amid China's Cultural Revolution, but he remained hopeful thanks to his clarinet, which he learned to play himself. Zhang explains to host Giselle Fernandez how a chance to attend school in the U.S. changed his life forever, as he made it to Los Angeles with just a suitcase, his clarinet and $20 in his pocket. After a hand injury ruined his chance to play music professionally, Zhang threw himself into restaurant work and opened the successful Pick Up Stix chain. Today, Zhang is well known for his many philanthropic endeavors, but he is most proud of creating OC Music & Dance, a nonprofit performing arts school that aims to make the arts accessible to every child.

Known for her bold brush strokes, unique textures and dynamic colors, Yolanda Gonzalez has become one of Los Angeles' most prestigious Chicana artists. She has traveled the world showcasing her work and believes the more you're exposed to art, the better person you'll become. Gonzalez opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about her family's artistic heritage, which has carried on for five generations — starting with her great-grandfather's pencil drawings all the way down to her niece's paintings. Today, Gonzalez shares her artwork secrets with the LA community, teaching at the Para Los Ninos nonprofit for children and AltaMed senior centers.

Known for his community organizing, civil rights activist Paul Schrade successfully helped lead the anti-war movement and worked closely with the farmworkers union. He served as an aide in Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's bid for the presidential nomination, joining Kennedy on the campaign trail and introducing him to the many workers unions on the West Coast. As one of the last living witnesses to Kennedy's assassination in 1968, Schrade says it not only changed his life forever, but it also changed the course of American history. Now in his 90s, Schrade is still dedicated to honoring Kennedy's legacy, securing the funding to build the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown, where the Ambassador Hotel once stood.

Arturo Sandoval opens up about his passion for music, escaping communist Cuba and meeting the great jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie by chance. When he first started playing the trumpet at age 10 while living in Cuba, Sandoval was told he'd never make it as a musician — yet he persevered and eventually mastered the instrument at a young age. Now a 10-time Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, Sandoval is expanding beyond the trumpet, playing the piano and composing his own music as well. During the pandemic, Sandoval has turned to social media in order to share his gift with the world for free.

When Katie Cleary was a young girl growing up in Chicago, she would help her mother rescue and care for stray cats and dogs. While she always felt the calling to care for animals, Cleary went on to pursue a career in modeling, competing on "America's Next Top Model" and appearing on "Deal or No Deal” as a briefcase model. Cleary tells host Giselle Fernandez she had a feeling she needed to do more to be a voice for the voiceless animals of the world, so she gave up her life in entertainment to focus on her Peace 4 Animals nonprofit and her World Animal News network. She has traveled the world on her quest to help creatures great and small, and her experience is captured in the upcoming documentary “Why On Earth.”

Host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from Southern California this year. She recently sat down with former Los Angeles Rams star Andrew Whitworth, who discusses his career and charity efforts through his foundation. Fernandez also spoke with April McDaniel, a millennial mastermind sought after by Fortune 500 companies looking for the “it” factor. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.

With the recent announcement of his retirement, former Los Angeles Rams player Andrew Whitworth is reflecting on his career. This year, Whitworth made history as the oldest player in NFL history to start a game as left tackle, while also winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and helping lead the Rams to Super Bowl victory at SoFi Stadium. Whitworth opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his childhood and journey to the NFL, laughing about how he once hated playing football as a teenager. He has dedicated his life to helping others and serving his community by creating the Big Whit Foundation with his wife Melissa to help thousands of people in need.

As the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, April McDaniel works with brands, including Adidas and Spotify, to create experiences and events to promote their products and share their stories. McDaniel's success did not come easily, however, as she was left a widow at just 33 years old and forced to raise her two young sons on her own. According to McDaniel, the experience inspired her to create her agency. Her perseverance has inspired her many A-lister friends, including Adele, who dedicated her album “30” to McDaniel.

As one of the top plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills, Dr. Marc Mani has provided services to A-listers and celebrities for decades while making scientific advancements in cosmetic surgery, such as the first scarless facelift. Also a skillful artist and painter, Mani's passion is finding the beauty in the world — and in every human being. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about the moment his life was flipped upside down in 2018, when he was charged and convicted of failing to disclose his interest in a foreign bank account. Mani used his time behind bars to study quantum physics and evolutionary theory, and the experience allowed him to recommit himself to his craft for the benefit of those who need it most.

At age 91, Dolores Huerta has spent most of her life as a political activist, fighting for better working conditions for farmworkers and women's rights. Her role in the farmworkers movement has long been overshadowed by that of Cesar Chavez, her longtime collaborator and co-founder of what became the United Farm Workers of America union. Huerta also coined the movement's famous slogan, “Sí Se Puede,” which inspired former President Barack Obama's own campaign battle cry, "Yes, we can." She opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about being by former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy's side the day he was assassinated, as well as the importance of sharing her accomplishments with young women and opening the doors for the next generation.

The Los Angeles Fire Department is facing a history-making shift with Mayor Eric Garcetti nominating Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley to serve as the first female head of the force. Crowley opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about taking on the role and says she is ready to implement big changes to address accusations of sexism and racial bias within the LAFD. Crowley has held nearly every position within the department and has a habit of creating many career firsts: She was the first female fire marshal of the LAFD and will be the first paramedic to hold the role of fire chief. As a wife, mother and member of the LGBTQ community, Crowley knows young people will look up to her and hopes her legacy will live on long after she has retired.

Lois Cook grew up playing football with her older brother and is now a wide receiver for the D.C. Divas, a women's professional football team. In order for Cook and her fellow players to compete in the league, they must pay fees for practice and equipment, and if they have a travel game, they must provide their own transportation and lodging. In fighting for some of the recognition that NFL players receive, Cook has gained the attention of millions of viewers through social media. She created the Lois Cook Foundation to support girls aspiring to play the sport, and during Super Bowl LVI, Cook and four other women were featured in ads and on billboards surrounding SoFi Stadium.

While studying to join the Catholic church as a priest, LeVar Burton joined a school play and realized the power of performance and storytelling. He soon shifted his focus from priesthood and enrolled to study theater arts at USC, where he was cast for his first of many iconic roles: Kunta Kinte in "Roots." Burton tells host Giselle Fernandez how important the miniseries was to society, and how he sees similarities between the impact of the series when it was released and the racial reckoning we face today in America. Following his many years hosting “Reading Rainbow,” Burton continued his passion for storytelling with the "LeVar Burton Reads” podcast, his children's book titled "The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm" and a book club on the Fable app.

As the excitement for Super Bowl LVI takes over Los Angeles, host Giselle Fernandez joined LA Rams COO Kevin Demoff for a behind-the-scenes tour of SoFi Stadium. At 3.1 million square feet, it's the largest stadium in the world and boasts the largest video board in all of sports. After growing up listening in on his sports agent father speaking with NFL executives, Demoff became one of those executives himself, working first for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now as chief operating officer for the Rams. He proudly spearheaded the development of SoFi Stadium and looks forward to the future of football on the West Coast, especially now that the Rams are competing in this year's Super Bowl in Inglewood.

St. Anne's Family Services in Los Angeles offers support programs to struggling expectant mothers and young families so they can get the help they need to live their best lives. When Lorna Little moved to LA to serve as the nonprofit's president and CEO, she brought more than just her work experience to the role, as she became pregnant in high school and felt the fear and shame associated with becoming a teenage mother. In her acclaimed book “Mum's the Word!” Little also reveals her shocking discovery in her 30s that she was adopted, and the emotional roller coaster it sent her on. Once again, as she tells host Giselle Fernandez, Little turned her experience around to help others.

In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day this week, we look back at our special interview with a 97-year-old Auschwitz survivor. William Harvey was just 19 when Nazi soldiers knocked on his door and forced him and his family into a ghetto, where they were later crammed in a cattle car to make the harrowing journey to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Harvey tells host Giselle Fernandez that he was separated from the rest of his family almost immediately and never saw his mother again. Since being liberated from the camp, Harvey has somehow found peace with what happened despite all he went through. He immigrated to Los Angeles, where he opened two successful beauty salons, and often speaks at Holocaust Museum LA with hopes that his story reminds people of the importance of speaking out against hatred and injustice.