Together LA Listening Tour

Join us as we hear from Jake Bracewell, who works with Athletes in Action. Jake shares his background and some of his struggles moving to and adjusting to LA. He outlines his calling and transition from performance coach at UCLA to serving with Athletes in Action and shares his desire to reach college athletes and deepen their relationship with God. Tune in now!

In this episode of TogetherLA's Listening Tour, we sit down with Charity McCloud, Missions Director of RealityLA.  We talk about the role of the church in serving the community, what RealityLA is doing in their neighborhood, and she also shares about her own entrepreneurial bent in starting businesses.  

In this episode of TogetherLA's Listening Tour, our host Tommy Lee sits down with Steven Yu, FCEH Member. They talk about Steven's journey as a pastor, his passion for the homeless, and his nonprofit Mentor for Change. Steven also shares about their nonprofit's Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness and shares opportunities for people to get involved.

In this episode of TogetherLA's Listening Tour, we sit down with Joe Thackwell, Founding Director of Christian Life at the University of Southern California and national leader with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. We talk about life and ministry on the campus of USC now compared to pre-Covid. We talked about some of the issues university students on campus are wrestling with today as well as Joe's work also with collegiate faculty and his hope to continue to be salt and light on the USC campus.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Rudy Paniagua, a Pastor and the Director of Coaching for Breath of Life. Rudy explains some of the Hispanic culture and its relationship with the church, explores his passions and calling, and he shares some strategies he uses when helping others plant churches.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we talk with Martha Juarez-Garcia about her life in LA, her heritage, resilience and endurance in our walk with God, and our calling and identity.

In this week's episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we hear from Bethany McKinney Fox, the author of the book Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church and the founding leader of Beloved Everybody. Bethany shares her calling and the mission of Beloved Everybody, she shares why she wrote her book, and she challenges us to think about healing in a way that isn't harmful to those with disabilities.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Pediatrician, Dr. Malaika Graves. She explains her calling and transition from teacher to doctor, how she integrates her faith and work, and some of the challenges in her profession.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we hear from Tom Lutz, a Professor of Biblical Studies at Metro Atlanta Seminary and a Convene CEO Roundtable chair through his consulting company, Vision Planners. Tom speaks about his book Equipping Christians for Kingdom Purpose in Their Work: A Guide for All Who Make Disciples. He shares how pastors and ministers can relate to people in the marketplace, the growing desire to hear that work matters to God, and how the church can encourage those in the workforce.

Join us as we speak with Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders, the President, and CEO of World Impact. He explains the changes World Impact has gone through, why informal theological training is needed, and how the organization is filling this need and impacting leaders.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we hear from Stella Yau Lok, the Social City Director at LINC Los Angeles. She shares about her calling and career journey, how LINC began and what it is, and how LINC is engaging, equipping, and empowering local leaders.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Rev. Jaime Edwards Acton who serves at both St. Stephen's Hollywood and St. Barnabas Eagle Rock. Along with serving at his churches, Rev. Acton is the executive director of Jubilee Consortium. Rev. Acton shares his backstory, how his churches and organization are impacting the community, and how he is able to manage multiple projects and responsibilities. #TLA #TLAListeningTour #JaimeEdwardsActon #JubileeConsortium

Join us as we hear from Regan Williams, the CEO of Seen&Heard. She explains how Seen&Heard helps meet the needs of older youth in the foster care system, details her own experience with fostering, and shares her hope for the organization to make a real impact among fostered youth in LA. #FosterCare #Seen&Heard #ReganWilliams #TLAListeningTour

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we talk with Kevin Nye about his journey, the intersection of faith and homelessness, living in solidarity with those on the margins, and upcoming projects he is working on. Kevin Nye is a writer and advocate for the unhoused living in Los Angeles. He was a contributing author for Theology and the Marvel Universe and is the founder of Theophany, a blog and YouTube channel looking at the intersection of God and movies. His first book, Grace Can Lead Us Home: A Christian Call to End Homelessness, releases in August 2022. Tune in now to hear this insightful conversation!

This week, we shared an inspiring conversation with the President of Equity Lens Consultants, Myesha Reynolds. We talked with Myesha about the latest with Equity Lens Consultant and her upcoming conference and dialogue she is seeking to have in order to serve and equip "business owners, school leaders, organizations, churches and community groups with quality, relevant equity resources." To learn more about Equity Lens Consultants, you can find them on their website, Instagram (@equitylensconsultants), and Facebook.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Dr. Steve Argue from Fuller Theological Seminary. He speaks about his book Sticky Faith Innovation: How your Compassion, Creativity, and Courage Can Support Teenagers' Lasting Faith. Dr. Argue details how adults can serve young people in both ministry and parenting. He discusses how to connect with youth, how churches can serve and engage with young people, and the future of youth ministry.

Join us as we hear from Dr. La Verne Tolbert, the President/CEO of Teaching Like Jesus Ministries and Host of Sunday School Made Simple. She discusses her book I Serve You Just As My Mother Did: The Woman Who Discipled a King and shares about King David's mother's backstory, history, and impact on David. Dr. Tolbert provides insights on how to go deep into scripture and develop a more intimate relationship with God through the Bible.

In this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Christopher Han, the founder of the nonprofit organization, Treasure Invest. He discusses how God revealed his giftings to him through his unique education and career journey. Christopher also shares why he founded Treasure Invest, what the organization does, and how he is using his giftings to serve the kingdom of God.

We discuss with Pastor Sam Koh from Hillside LA about the evolution of his immigrant Korean church, the importance of racial and economic diversity in church, and how Hillside LA is making a real impact in their community.

We speak with Dr. Michaela O'Donnell, the Executive Director of the Max De Pree Center for Leadership, and Assistant Professor of Marketplace Leadership at Fuller Seminary about her book Make Work Matter: Your Guide to Meaningful Work in a Changing World. We discuss the influence of work through seasons of holy wrestling, overcoming the symptoms of change, and the relevance of the entrepreneurial way.

This week we talk with Pastor Robert Cruz from Antioch City Church, as he shares his unique and inspiring testimony. He discusses how he came to Christ, his calling as a pastor, and how God is working in his church community.

We talk with author Katie Schnack about her book The Gap Decade: When You're Technically an Adult but Really Don't Feel Like It Yet. She discusses how her gap decade transformed her through seasons of waiting, finding contentment, making peace with the past, and trusting God.

Join us as we hear from Chris Rattay, the lead pastor of both New Life Community Church in Lincoln Heights and Epicentre West LA. He speaks about pastoring in different cultures, finding unity regardless of racial and class differences, and how to find and develop Christ-centered leaders.

In this interview, Tommy interviews Dr. Felicia Song, a Professor of Sociology at Westmont College. They discuss the evolution of digital technology, its integration with all aspects of our lives, and how digital media can be used as a means for discipleship.

This week TogetherLA's President and Chairman Brannin Pitre sits down with Bill Clark of A21 as he touches upon ways to help protect those who are most vulnerable and to identify signs of human trafficking and the programs available to assist victims in the midst of it. In the second half of the interview, they talk specifically about the Super Bowl and the It's A Penalty Campaign.

Join us as we listen to Drs. Scott and Melissa Symington talk about their relationship and the development of the app ActAgape, and how the app is used to help couples reignite positive energy to identify and remind their partner, of ways they can each feel loved, appreciated, and valued.

In this interview of the Listening Tour, our guest host, Tanya Pitre, interviews representatives from the Coalition of Christian foster care ministries. They discuss the current state of the child welfare crisis in LA, the need for Christian foster care, and what Christ-followers and churches can do in LA.

In this interview of the Listening Tour, our guest host, Tanya Pitre, interviews representatives from the Coalition of Christian foster care ministries. They discuss the current state of the child welfare crisis in LA, the need for Christian foster care, and what Christ-followers and churches can do in LA.

f you are a believer looking for a dose of wisdom in leadership, inspiration through self-doubt, or awe of how God is activating multi-ethnic, urban youth leaders, you are in for a treat. Our special guest this week is Tommy Nixon, CEO of non-profit Urban Youth Workers Institute, husband and father (to five kids, six chickens, two dogs and two ducks!). As he talked about his current mission of "developing urban leaders who will shape the future of the Church" and its significance, Tommy offered nuggets of wisdom he had collected along the way. A few of them included: Ask the Holy Spirit specific questions, press into nuance while standing on the truth of Scripture, and know that attitude and perspective are things within our control. Tune in to hear the full conversation and his personal testimony. Do you also wok in the realm of urban space or want to stay connected with Tommy or his organization? Follow them on Instagram (@uywi), Youtube channel, Facebook, Twitter and Website.

How can the Super Bowl and the gospel collide? This week, we talked about that seemingly impossible intersection with Terry Bortz, Athletes in Action's Director of Special Projects. Within her many responsibilities, Terry oversees and plans the Superbowl Breakfast -the next one being in February 2022, a day before the game, in downtown Los Angeles. Tune in to her explaining the history of how the Superbowl Breakfast got started, the famous athletes who have attended and been awarded prizes for outstanding integrity, and most importantly: how this event has been a springboard for many to share their personal testimonies and even calls to faith to fellow athletes and individuals of influence in corporate America. She also describes how our Los Angeles listeners can be a part of making this event possible. For more information, check out their website, superbowlbreakfast.com.

Our podcast guest this week is Steven Yu, Staff Analyst at Housing for Health, a division of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Here, he has been one of the key members spearheading the “Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness”, a government initiative to support and implement faith-based organizations into LA county's homeless services continuum of care. Steven is also the Founder & Executive Director of “Mentor for Change”, an organization that provides youth with mentorship, opportunities to lead community service projects, career-training workshops, and scholarships to pursue higher education. We had the privilege to listen to his exciting work, as well as his personal testimony of how God's grace led him to his passion for bridging underserved groups to resources and opportunities. Through this talk, we invite you to see how the gospel can advance anywhere: from the government offices of downtown LA to the communities of faith quietly serving those experiencing homelessness to the intimate relationships between mentors and youth in Lincoln Heights and all across LA county.

This week, on our Together LA Listening Tour, we were gifted with a stirring conversation about empowering the youth with Dionte and Meg Grey, a married #powercouple and co-founders of their non-profit enterprise, Urban Promise Los Angeles. Urban Promise Los Angeles's vision?: Reach a child. Raise a leader. Restore community. Their services include an Afterschool Program led by high school StreetLeaders that provide K-5 students with academic and recreational support, 5-week Summer Camps designed to keep students intellectually stimulated and academically on-track for the upcoming school year, and their StreetLeader Program, which provides year-round employment and holistic support to local teens determined to restore their communities in Canoga Park. Tune in to hear how they individually, and as a team, developed their vision, approach (hint: no "saviorism"!), and leadership styles; their entrepreneurial wisdom and encouragement for people who want to make a difference in their neighborhoods; how to support Urban Promise Los Angeles; and their story behind the scenes: how they met, got married, dreamed and balanced their responsibilities as spouses, co-founders and parents. You can also follow their work on Instagram at @urbanpromiselosangeles.

This week's special guest was Meredith Barnes, author of All the Time and frecklesandfortitude.com. Interviewed by Tanya Pitre, Meredith talked about how her devotional book explored the concepts of time in the daily routine, in the wider scope of our lives, and in its ultimate design and purpose. One of her conclusions?: God created time for us, not for Himself. Time was made to be a companion and help -not an enemy- for our existence and enjoyment. If you find yourself astonished by that perspective, tune in to hear more of her insights which you will find equally surprising and uplifting, as well as her personal stories of how the Lord re-shaped her misconceptions of time. To order her book, All the Time is available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Walmart. You can also request a copy by emailing info@gracepasadena.org.

We talked to one of our very own team members this week, Michael Mata, to hear his thoughts on why Christians need to learn how to to "exegete" urban communities (much like a text) by listening to locals, making field observations (eg- reading the graffiti, seeing how people interact with one another in buildings, walking not driving etc.), learning about the land's histories, understanding the strengths and assets within the community and taking on a proactive (rather than a reactive) advocacy. Michael also gave a timely reminder that prayers need to be paired with risks and action. Tune in to listen with us how he observed the escalating racial and political tensions in LA, how the gospel champions diversity, what gives him hope, and what has continued to concern him. We know that our listeners will be challenged to re-think what it means -and what it takes- to love Los Angeles and be a servant-leader who lifts others up.

Incarceration. Hollywood. Ministry. These three words somehow came hand in hand as we shared a conversation with Gary Hall, President and Co-founder of Hollywood Impact Studios, formerly a producer for Warner Brothers, and the Sr. Vice President for 20th Century Fox Television. Hollywood Impact Studios' mission is to "help men (women and veterans) coming out of prison, jail and long term drug rehab centers to become substance-free, morally strong, and vocationally trained so that they may return to society as productive citizens with restored family relationships. TO TRULY BREAK THE CYCLE OF INCARCERATION AND ADDICTION...FOREVER." His organization's work is unique and hope-filled in how it connects professionals with incarcerated men (and soon, women) to develop their individual talents to successfully work in the profession of their choosing. Tune in to hear the remarkable story of how Holly Impact Studios initially started as a “film school behind bars", where 25 inmates were annually selected to be mentored and taught to find a career in the television and motion picture industry. He shared with us his hope to bring the program to many more prisons, which was deeply exciting and moving to hear. We also had the chance to ask Gary how he started in the film industry, how he knew working in network television was a right fit for him, how his faith melded into his work through Hollywood, and how he has handled all his responsibilities (which includes being a part-time police officer!). This is a conversation that will challenge and uplift your spirit while leaving your ears at the edge of their seats. To learn more about and/or support Hollywood Impact Studios, visit their website on hollywoodimpactstudios.com. Monetary donations, professionals of all fields in the LA area who can volunteer in the program, and help with spreading the word about their mission would all make a difference. You can find their Instagram at @hollywoodimpactstudios, Facebook here, and/or send mail to PO Box 801002 Santa Clarita, CA 91380

This week, we shared an inspiring conversation with the President of Equity Lens Consultants, Myesha Reynolds. We asked her how she forged a relatively unpaved path for herself, from a Wisconsin teacher who was the first to attend college in her family to an equity consultant and business owner based in Los Angeles. Tune in to learn how her steps of faith and entrepreneurial initiative took flight and now allows her (through Equity Lens Consultants) to serve and equip "business owners, school leaders, organizations, churches and community groups with quality, relevant equity resources." Tune in to also hear how she decided to move to California (which used to be the last place she imagined herself to be), the learning curve she went through to launch Equity Lens Consultant through the pandemic, why this field fuels her with purpose, and passion, how equity is reflected and valued in the gospel, and her favorite coffee spots in Monrovia (a city near Pasadena). To learn more about Equity Lens Consultants, you can find them on their website (https://www.equitylensconsultants.com/), Instagram (@equitylensconsultants), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/EquityLensConsultants/). Last but not least, listen to our full interview with Myesha Reynolds here on our website, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Google Podcast, Radio Public, and Anchor under the "Together LA Listening Tour".

What is it like for a young Christian Hip-Hop artist to navigate through Los Angeles and the faithscape of creatives? Tune in to Together LA's Listening Tour podcast to hear our interview with MJ aka "2 the Human" to find out! A Houston native who moved to Los Angeles fresh after graduating high school for his dream, MJ "2 the Human" shared with us the inspiration behind his artist name, life in LA (especially through the pandemic), the theme of his album "The Move", the key events that shaped his faith and outlook, his songwriting and voice-finding process, ambitions for the future, the artists he looks up to for inspiration and about Glendale. We know you will be encouraged to hear how his love for the Lord guides his hopes and how faithful God has been to him through times of joy, uncertainty, transformation, and loss. MJ's music was and is written with the hope that it "will create a safe place to encounter the Lord in an intimate way" and help others move to wherever they need to be and serve as the soundtrack to their journey. Hear more of this up-and-coming artist's thoughts on our website or on all major podcast platforms (under "Together LA Listening Tour" on Spotify, Anchor, Radio Public, Google Podcast, Apple Podcast, and Breaker). Follow his work on Instagram and Youtube!

We are elated to have Annette Forster, Partnership Growth Mentor of Kids Hope USA (and a Kids Hope USA Mentor for nearly 11 years!), and Sarah Dornbos, Kids Hope Los Angeles Director, join us on the Together LA Listening Tour this week. Kids Hope is an organization founded upon the vision of building life-changing mentor relationships one child, one hour, one church, and one school at a time. We heard these incredible and inspiring women of God tell us about their roles, how Kids Hope started (twenty-five years later, the organization expanded to 39 states and 1200 church-school partnerships), details about the mentorship program, and vignettes of testimonies. We were encouraged to hear about the impact Kids Hope mentors had on their local youth and communities, as well as how schools saw participating churches as integral partnerships and sources of support. If you are interested to work with at-risk youth or give back to your community, can dedicate one hour a week for one academic school year, and are based in LA County, you can e-mail Annette Forster info@kidshopeusa.org or go to kidshopeusa.org for more information.

Today we had Pastor Eric Loh, Senior Pastor and English Congregation Pastor of Community Christian Alliance (CCA) Church, join us at the Listening Tour. Founded forty-five years ago, CCA Church ministers to a multi-generational and multilingual audience through its three congregations speaking English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Fun fact: Pastor Eric shares with us that it was in fact the English congregation that planted the church (the Mandarin and Cantonese congregations were added shortly afterward). Tune in to learn more about CCA Church -how the church was started, how the founders found their vision, the demographic and challenges Granada Hills (the city the church is currently established at) has and how CCA is preparing to address homelessness and other needs of their neighborhood and the local community. In addition, we had the chance to listen to Pastor Eric's unique journey: how his degree and experience in electrical engineering prepared him for full-time ministry, how CCA's pastoral staff leads a multi-congregational, multicultural and multi-generational church and his thoughts on the unique blessings second-generation children of immigrants carry. We know that our listeners will be encouraged to hear Pastor Eric Loh's thoughtful perspective, how CCA Church is partnering with the Lord to bless the greater Los Angeles area, and what the term "ABC" means.

Founder and CEO of Wellness District Los Angeles, Chris Foreman shared with us his entrepreneurial journey that started from his college days in campus ministry. What is Wellness District? It is a community of experienced wellness professionals who holistically cares for the body, mind, and spirit and provides guided access to the best health and wellness practices for their clients. Tune in to this week's episode to hear how the program charts "brain maps" for their clients and what can be uncovered by Wellness Districts' neuroscientists, naturopathic and functional medicine doctors who understand that the body, mind and spirit work synergistically together. Before opening his clinic, Chris had worked in management at Apple, served as a chaplain for the United States Army Reserve and pastored at Christian Assembly Church. However, one question kept coming back to him: How can more people heal? And how can root issues be addressed instead of symptom management? From Chris's own experiences with chronic pain and the treatment that was available for him, he created the solution that he had been looking for in Wellness District. Tune in to learn about the 3 phases patients go through at the Wellness District, Chris's take on the difference between joy and happiness, how Chris and his wife support each other's entrepreneurial spirit, how LA's neighborhoods have changed, and his advice for those looking for their calling or wanting to be entrepreneurial. One of the few insights he gave?: When your plan or direction changes, instead of thinking it happened because you were at the wrong place at the wrong time, be open to believing that, in fact, it happened because you are at the right place at the right time. We know you'll be inspired and challenged by Chris's steps of faith and perspective of healing -feel free to also share this podcast with anyone who may be having entrepreneurial aspirations or wanting access to a wholistic healing approach. Want to learn more about Wellness District or Chris Foreman? Wellness District website: wellnessdistrictla.com Wellness District on Instagram: @wellnessdistrictla Chris Foreman on Instagram: @chrisdforeman

Poet, Hip-Hop Rapper, Spoken Word Artist, Activist, Husband, Father, Coffee-Enthusiast, and now Author, Propaganda joined Together LA's Listening Tour to tell us about his latest book publication, journey and what is coming next this year. A Los Angeles native (we couldn't help but chuckle at his superbly LA story of running from the cops after trying to write his name on a wall by the LA River) who has worn many hats, Propaganda has tirelessly chased after his purpose and art. His book, Terraform: Building a Better World, in conjunction with his newest EP, The People, was in response to Propaganda's manager singular question: "What do you want to talk about the next 10 years?". The book explores the structure, reformation, and redemption of culture through prose, illustrations and historical commentary on various topics from colonialism to wars to Native Americans. When asked what his ultimate hope was for Terraform's readers, he answered, "to spark creativity and imagination...[because] culture is the product of collective imagination." Now you may ask, what does "terraform" mean and why did he select it to be his work's title? And what are some practical ways to "terraform"? Listen to find out, and even better, read about it at length in his book! Tune in to also hear Propaganda differentiating cynicism from bitterness and how the former can be the powerhouse of change and holy activation for Christians who are content to answer injustices and issues as an inevitability product of a fallen world. His perspective rocked our Together LA team to the core (in the most blessed way) and we can't wait for you to hear his thought-provoking ideas, too. Before releasing his book, Propaganda had released his collaborative EP with Derek Minor called Nothing but a Word and had performed a set for a Juneteenth block party hosted by artist Jaybee (the back-story of this party is also worth fully hearing! It involved giving local residents rent-to-buy contracts on commercial properties to fight gentrification and raise black ownership -incredibly inspiring!). And what's coming next this year? 3 more EPs (one of which is dropping in the coming few weeks), LA pop-ups, a live show and reading for The People and Terraform: Building A Better World, and last but not least, the release of his personal cocktail and coffee recipes (Propaganda knows his coffee! Tune in to find out his top coffee recommendations for LA locals!). To follow Propaganda and his work: Instagram, Twitter, Tik Tok handle- @prophiphop Website- prophiphop.com Learn more about his book, Terraform: Building A Better World, here Shop his book, Terraform: Building A Better World on Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, BAM!, Bookshop, Indie Bound, and Audible

After hearing Jaslyn Dixon -Marriage and Family Therapy Licensed Therapist, Professor, and Gospel Care Director at Reality LA - speak for the Mental Health Conversation, we (like everyone else who attended) left with wanting more -so what did we do? We invited her to be on the Listening Tour. In the words of Jaslyn, her position as Reality LA's "Gospel Care Director" means coming alongside people to help them receive and reflect the heart of Christ and the power of our greatest counselor (the Holy Spirit) through leadership development and training, initiating various care programs and offering care. Altogether, it is a love-driven endeavor to make the church a safe and healing space. We asked her if other churches have similar positions, if the concept of soul care is becoming more commonplace, her story of pursuing psychology (she has two Master's degrees and a license!), how the gospel models soul care, and why soul care is important to the Christian walk. We were blessed to hear Jaslyn's testimonies as well as her encouragement to press into healing for His glory, see soul care as a vessel of incarnational ministry, ask how to practice lament and reconciliation, be a people who remember that God is at work, and in that, be freed to move at a pace of trust and peace. Listening to Jaslyn, we were moved by her reminder that the creator of shalom -which means wholeness, harmony and completeness- is with us, and we know that you will be blessed, too. To follow her work and projects, follow her on Instagram at @jaslynmft or contact her by e-mail on jaslynmft@gmail.com

This week's podcast guest is Nikita Motorin from Athletes in Action, an organization with the vision of seeing "Christ-followers on every team, in every sport, in every nation." Nikita currently oversees the UCLA Campus, a school known to produce Olympians and having sports games viewed by millions of people all over the country. He shared with us his journey of becoming an Athletes in Action leader, his personal professional sports career growing up in Kazakhstan (where he got to attend weekly Bible studies in a country that is not open to Christianity...curious how this happened? Tune in to find out!), how Nikita and his wife function as a team when discipling athletes, his answer to what problems students face today that are different from when he first started to work with Athletes in Action (since 2008) and his hopes for Athletes in Action's legacy in UCLA. Other worthwhile tidbits to hear include: -What is unique about an athlete's platform to be a witness to the gospel? -Guess which famous basketball player Motorin met when he was ministering to the Sun Devils team? -How did he communicate with his now-wife when they first met and he did not speak English at the time? -Where will the Olympics 2028 Opening Ceremony be?

Our Listening Tour Podcast guest today... 1. spent most of her childhood in Acapulco de Juarez, Mexico 2. was a first-generation high school and college graduate 3. completed her Ph.D. in Education Policy and Social Context 4. is passionate about providing mentorship and resources to the Latinx community and disenfranchised groups and 5. loves Jesus. Her name? Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty. Tune in to our podcast to hear her journey that shaped her passions and social justice pursuits, which include writing a book and establishing Prickly Pear Collective. Just as noteworthy was hearing how the life Jesus led redefined her measurement of success as well as her insights into her Boyle Heights neighborhood! For more information about Dr. Alma Zarazoga-Petty and her work... Follow her on Instagram:@thedoczp Follow her podcast: @theredcouchpod Follow her foundation that intersects community, therapy, and faith: @pricklypearcollective

If you're going through a career change, taking the leap of faith to start your own business, or admiring the Alabaster publication of Proverbs on your coffee table... you are in for a treat. Tune in to our Listening Tour episode with Co-founder of Alabaster Co., Brian Chung! Behind Alabaster's intentionally and beautifully designed books of the Bible was a journey of recognizing and responding to the realization that God's story is beautiful. Growing up, Brian had not been raised in the Christian faith and came to encounter the Lord during his freshman year in college. He shared with us the string of questions and risks that led him to ideate and commit to Alabaster's success full-time. For those of you unfamiliar with Alabaster's books, Brian's company makes "Bibles that look like coffee-table magazines" where each book of the Bible is accompanied by beautiful imagery, thoughtful design, and intentional negative space on every page. Their vision is to experience God as beautiful and so far, they've succeeded in doing so with 16 of the Bible's 66 books. What has been the best-selling book? And where did the name 'Alabaster' come from? Tune in to find out! Another topic we talked about was where he grew up (it wasn't California!) and the LA neighborhood he lived the longest in: South LA! So many great topics were discussed in the short half-hour we shared with Brian and we know you'll be encouraged by this young and faithful entrepreneur. If you want to know more about Alabaster Co: Website: alabasterco.com IG: @alabaster_co If you want to follow Brian Chung's journey: IG: @brianchung TikTok: brian__chung PS- Alabaster has a new book release in collaboration with Intervarsity this coming July that has "everything you love about Alabaster but with added guided meditations." Tune in to know which book of Scripture is being released (Hint: it's one of the gospels)!

In our latest interview, we stepped into the intersectionality of spirituality and art with Cara Lewis, director of Bridge Projects, and Jasmine McNeal, curator of Contemporary Black Art at Bridge Projects and founder of Other Faith Art Consulting. If you don't know what or how that intersectionality looks like, you will want to listen to this podcast then visit their art gallery, Bridge Projects, in Hollywood afterward. According to their website, "Bridge Projects creates space for exploring questions at the interfacing of these communities, addressing the ways contemporary art continues to engage the lineages of religious thought and tradition." In our interview, you will hear our guests share their respective journeys, the origin of their art gallery's vision, examples of art being able to capture the nuanced stories and experiences that slip through the news, how art can evoke unity in its unique ability to express people's histories, sociopolitical issues, and cultures, and be a safe space for people to be authentic in their spirituality and religious practices. Equally fascinating, our guests shared with us the unique positioning and culture of Los Angeles from a spiritual point of view, such as being a "cultural capital of the world" and a city that derives its vibrancy from its creative, open, and curious people. Last but not least, hear Cara and Jasmine share how Bridge Projects can be supported and their take on the digital wave of NFT's (we had to ask!). You can follow their important work through their social media and professional platforms as well- Cara Lewis: https://www.instagram.com/carameganlewis/ https://www.carameganlewis.com/ Jasmine McNeal: https://www.instagram.com/jahzmen/ https://www.instagram.com/other.faith/

What better way to usher in May -Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month- than to hear Asian-American rapper and activist, Jason Chu talk about his musical career, his work with racial justice, and how his faith weaved his music and activism together? To start, he shared his journey of following the call to pursue music as the means to entertain, heal and educate people and coming to love and engage with Los Angeles and its issues. He then delved into his music career -and what was coming next (you NEED to hear all the artists that have partnered with him on this project -tune in to listen to Jason naming several of them! ). Featuring numerous artists, Jason's newest album of 15 tracks will each highlight a topic in Asian American history and its relevance to our current society, such as the model minority myth, beauty standards and the economic opportunities that ethnic food afforded the Asian American community. His full album will be out this Friday, May 14th, on all music platforms including Spotify, Pandora, and Youtube. For more updates, follow him on his social media handle @jasonchumusic. While speaking about his music, Jason also shared a multitude of profound encouragements to the Asian American community and aspiring artists. To name a few, he touched on not falling into "oppression Olympics" (in which struggles are authenticated or dismissed in the comparison game), learning to be constructive than reactive, being aware of the oppressors within us, holding onto the hope that those who mourn will be comforted and not spurning adversity and pain because they can lead to the unique blessings of "liminality", a term coined by theologian Sang Hyun Lee (listen to Jason speaking about this term -it was one of the most inspiring and edifying concepts we've heard on this podcast!). We know you'll be on the edge of your seat listening to Jason's thoughts on music building God's kingdom, on how to find hope through these challenging times of witnessing the increasing rates of violence against Asian Americans, and what is being released in his newest album so tune in!

Our guest, Dr. Sharoni Little, leads the global inclusion strategy team at Creative Artist Agency (CAA) and before that, was the Vice Dean and Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at the USC Marshall School of Business. During our conversation, she poured insight upon insight into the history of inclusion and exclusion shaping her decisions and values, how the drive for growth and noble intentions can go wrong, what the biblical model and charge is for community engagement, and the hope-filled blessings that have glimmered through the unique challenges of Compton city (you need to also hear how she describes Compton -we can almost guarantee you never heard anything like it! For instance, did you know a former United States President resided there?). And finally, Dr. Little ended with a personal testimony of God's faithfulness and plans proving to be larger than any hopelessness and doubt she endured. This half-hour flew past us and we know it will for our listeners, too. Tune in now to hear the wealth of insight and inspiration she shared with us!

Christian Assembly is a multi-ethnic and historical church in Eagle Rock, CA with four central values: Grace, Worship, Family and Kingdom. Our podcast guest today is Christian Assembly's Kingdom Pastor, Scott Quay, who leads the task of partnering with local and global opportunities for acts of compassion and justice and equipping his congregation to adopt a missional lifestyle. He shares why missions is integral in the character of Jesus and how this has inspired his church to mentor at-risk youth and help feed over 5000 individuals in their community throughout the pandemic. We also heard Pastor Scott's strategy when it comes to forming partnerships, training marketplace leaders to advance the kingdom in their spheres of influence, and serving the unreached in Eagle Rock. Tune in to hear his insights on living missionally and what Christians miss out on when we refrain from doing so!

We sat down and talked with Jennifer Matthews about how she found her identity and grounding in her Christ-given identity and passions despite her extensive and eclectic career, ranging from nonprofit and real estate development work to sports reporter and host, to Vogue model, and currently, as the Director of Development for Prison Fellowship and Fantasy Football expert for Sirius XM. We also got to learn about how her upbringing and family culture (which produced 8 NFL players!) shaped her perspective to dream large, to love others, and serve the underserved in Los Angeles and abroad. Tune in to also hear her Fantasy Football picks and who she is cheering on for!

In this episode of TogetherLA's podcast The Listening Tour we sit down and talk with Larry Acosta and Brannin Pitre to get an update on City to City LA and their work with church planters in the city.