Podcasts about east los angeles

This episode features a conversation with Benjamin Velez and Lisa Loomer about the Broadway musical: Real Women Have Curves. Ana García (Broadway newcomer Tatianna Córdoba) dreams of flying away. But when her family's East Los Angeles garment business receives a make-or-break order for 200 dresses, Ana finds herself juggling her own ambitions, her mother Carmen's (Tony Award nominee Justina Machado) expectations, and a community of women all trying to make it work against the odds.  REAL WOMEN HAVE CURVES: THE MUSICAL features a Tony-nominated score by Grammy® Award–winning songwriter Joy Huerta (Jesse & Joy) and Benjamin Velez (Kiss My Aztec), a book by Lisa Loomer (Girl, Interrupted) with Nell Benjamin (Mean Girls), music supervision by Nadia DiGiallonardo (Waitress), and choreography and direction by Tony® winner Sergio Trujillo (Ain't Too Proud). Based on the play by Josefina López that inspired the iconic hit HBO film, critics have lauded CURVES as “entertaining and empowering” (NY Daily News), and “a laugh-out-loud musical comedy with a massive dose of heart.” (The Washington Post). This episode features the songs “Make It Work” performed by Florencia Cuenca, Jennifer Sanchez, Carla Jimenez, Aline Mayagoitia, Sandra Valls and Shelby Acosta, “Jugglin” performed by the Original Broadway Cast of Real Women Have Curves, as well as “Flying Away” performed by Tatiana Cordoba. Connect with Benjamin Velez: Website: https://www.benjaminvelez.com/ Instagram: @benjaminvelezmusic Connect with Lisa Loomer: Instagram: @lisalromano Connect with New York Theatre Barn: Twitter: @nytheatrebarn Instagram: @newyorktheatrebarn  Facebook.com/nytheatrebarn nytheatrebarn.org  Pauls's personal instagram: @paulsmacs Teresa's personal instagram: @terijoyeaux Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the episode, “A Lived Experience Dialogue: Facing Our Pasts, Reinventing Our Futures with Tom Woodrow and Mike Panasitti (S6, E7),” I sit with two success stories of people who have suffered with forms of mental illness who have come out on the other side. Part 1:When Tom Woodrow was 17, his life took a sharp turn. During a road trip with friends, Tom experienced his first manic episode, and subsequently ended up in a psychiatric hospital-misdiagnosed with depression and subjected to electroshock therapy. After years of struggling, and after nearly losing his life in India during a volunteer trip, he met two counselors from a mental health charity, who taught him to manage moods, avoid triggers, and stay well with skills that have kept him stable for 20 years. Today he helps others who also live with bipolar disorder, understanding how overwhelming it can be. He offers support programs that help people manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.To learn more about Tom, follow him at: Instagram: @bipolarwithyouPart 2:Mike Panasitti was born in East Los Angeles in 1969 and is a graduate of UC Berkeley and a former patient of California's Department of State Hospitals.  From 2015 to 2018 he was a prisoner at New Folsom, a maximum security prison near Sacramento.  Mike is now an exhibiting artist, as well as a poet and prose writer whose publishing credits include poems in Matter, creative non-fiction in WALL Literary Journal, and over 40 short stories posted on Reedsy Prompts.  He currently lives in the city of Santa Ana and is enrolled as a student of creative writing at Saddleback College.  Mike shares how he become acquainted with the mental health industrial complex and bravely reveals what he's learned from prolonged institutionalization. Envisioning a new path, Mike is committe3d to making his dreams come true as a professional artist and writer. To learn more about Mike, follow him at:Instagram: @mikepanasittiDon't forget to subscribe to the Not As Crazy As You Think YouTube channel @SicilianoJenAnd please visit my website at: www.jengaitasiciliano.comConnect: Instagram: @ jengaitaLinkedIn: @ jensicilianoTwitter: @ jsicilianoBluesky:  https://bsky.app/profile/jengaita.bsky.socialSend us a text

On this episode I sit down with East Los Angeles based band Ear Ringers

Send us a textToday's discussion is with a very special person- Father Greg Boyle, an American Jesuit priest and the founder of Homeboy Industries, which is the largest gang rehabilitation and reentry program in the world.In Father Greg's own words, he says it has been the privilege of his life, for more than 30 years, to have been taught everything of value by gang members and that he stands in awe of what many of the disadvantaged, powerless, voiceless, and marginalized have had to carry in their lives.Father Greg founded Homeboy Industries nearly 40 years ago at the Dolores Mission Parish in Boyle Heights in East Los Angeles. His work has received the highest recognition - in 2014, former President Obama named Father Greg as a Champion of Change, and President Joe Biden recently awarded him the Congressional Medal of Freedom, a testament to the profound impact he has had on so many people's lives.Homeboy Industries is built upon two foundational principles that are directly responsible for infusing such a deep sense of love, hope, compassion, and kinship throughout the organization:Everyone is unshakeably good, there are no exceptions.We all belong to each other, and there are no exceptions.Father Greg believes that no bullet can pierce these truths, and that when gang members know this truth, they begin to inhabit it and develop the compassion and tenderness needed to transform not only their own lives, but the lives of all members of Homeboy Industries.In our conversation today, Greg shares life lessons he has learned through his work, but also how this work has changed his life for the better and given him the purpose and hope needed to continue his efforts every day.We also dive into his most recent book, "Cherished Belonging: The Healing Power of Love in Divided Times." I hope as many listeners as possible get their hands on a copy of this book.Connect with Homeboy Industries: WebsiteFacebookInstagramYouTubeLinkedInContact Homeboy Industries here.Father Greg's 2012 Ted TalkLinks to Father Greg's other books: Tattoos on the HeartThe Whole Language: The Power of Extravagant TendernessBarking to the Choir: The Power of Radical Kinship

Los Lobos' 1990 album The Neighborhood showcases their signature blend of rock, blues, and Latin influences through the lense and ears of East Los Angeles. While it didn't achieve the commercial success of La Bamba, the album captures Los Lobos' musical versatility and deep-rooted cultural influences. The band shifts from Texas blues and roots rock to old school rock 'n roll and acoustic balladry with the ease of seasoned players, with lead singer/guitarist David Hidalgo guiding the band all the way. At times the reliance on traditional blues structures can stifle the endlessly creative band by locking them into particular styles and arrangements, whereas tracks written outside the format flourish thanks to the skilled band.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Down On The Riverbed 19:17 - I Walk Alone 24:25 - The Giving Tree 26:25 - Georgia Slop 43:37 - Be Still Outro - The Neighborhood   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

Los Lobos' 1990 album The Neighborhood showcases their signature blend of rock, blues, and Latin influences through the lense and ears of East Los Angeles. While it didn't achieve the commercial success of La Bamba, the album captures Los Lobos' musical versatility and deep-rooted cultural influences. The band shifts from Texas blues and roots rock to old school rock 'n roll and acoustic balladry with the ease of seasoned players, with lead singer/guitarist David Hidalgo guiding the band all the way. At times the reliance on traditional blues structures can stifle the endlessly creative band by locking them into particular styles and arrangements, whereas tracks written outside the format flourish thanks to the skilled band.   Songs In This Episode Intro - Down On The Riverbed 19:17 - I Walk Alone 24:25 - The Giving Tree 26:25 - Georgia Slop 43:37 - Be Still Outro - The Neighborhood   Support the podcast, join the DMO UNION at Patreon. Listen to the episode archive at DigMeOutPodcast.com.

I'm joined here with fabb_999 on this episode reviewing "American Me" directed and produced by Edward James Olmos who shows us a life of a man who's spent half his life in the prison system, trying to reclaim himnself in society after he gets out. It's a very masculine but truly humbling film. Olmos did a great job showing us that he can not only act, but direct as well. I was impressed with the shots he used in the film, some that I pondered as to why he would use it and I understood why. He's a creative indivisual and gave us something DIFFERENT to look at. Faby and I talk about about film, it's explosive cast of characters, the iconic one-liners, it's controversies, the elements of theater displayed into the film, the way lighting is used to make things look realistic, how a film like this still resonates to this day spreading its message beyond East Los Angeles, beyond Folsom State, beyond California period. It's a powerful film by Olmos and a story of this kind needed to be told. It's important that even in filmmaking, we need to be a melting pot of sorts of sharing stories that created a culture that is still powerful to today's societal means.Four out of four tokes.#americanme #edwardjamesolmos

Chef Babette Davis, born and raised in East Los Angeles, is a force of nature who's turned adversity into triumph. As the founder of the wildly popular vegan restaurant Stuff I Eat in Inglewood, California, she's known for her soul food platters and vibrant health. At 73, Chef Babette is a fitness icon with legions of followers—whether she's working out, cooking, or running stairs around Los Angeles. Stay with us for an insightful conversation with the one and only Chef Babette—always authentic, always funny, always inspiring! Podcast sponsors:  - Book your Application Call: www.fitvegancoaching.com - Vedge Vegan Collagen: vedgenutrition.com – use code S4G for 30% off your order. - https://www.vedgenutrition.com/   “The human body is incredibly intelligent and responds to the love you give it or not. If I don't get my ass up in the morning and go work out, nobody is gonna do that for me. I don't care that I'm 72. I'm on no medication. I can stand up, put my shoe and my sock on, and balance myself through the entire process. If you're an older person, move and nourish yourself. Do it for you. We have been misled and misguided by people that don't know what the hell they're talking about. Along with all of the barbecue and the ribs and potato salad and coleslaw, and everybody's sitting back piling up all this food at one sitting and wondering why they feel like crap afterwards.” -  Chef Babette Davis   What we discuss in this episode: - How Chef Babette became vegan and how it transformed her health. - How timing when she eats certain foods has proven beneficial for her. - How the books Fit for Life and Mucusless Diet Healing System changed her life. - Why she does a juice cleanse three times a year. - Her journey from catering in a parking lot to opening her incredibly successful restaurant, Stuff I Eat. - How a predominantly meat-eating community was convinced to try plant-based dishes, leading to a thriving restaurant with a loyal following of regulars. - Lifestyle choices that maintain her health and advice on how others can achieve their best selves and longevity. - Her exciting show, Peeled. - The dishes she recommends for thriving like she does.   Resources: - Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefbabette/ - Chef Babette's book: Cash In On Cashews: 50 plus Desserts using One Nut - https://www.amazon.com/Cash-Cashews-plus-Desserts-using/dp/0692094717   ★☆★ Click the link below to support the ADD SOY Act! ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/add-soy-act/ ★☆★ Share the website and get your resources here ★☆★ https://kidsandmilk.org/ ★☆★ Send us a voice message and ask a question. We want to hear from you! ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/podcast/ ★☆★ Dairy-Free Swaps Guide: Easy Anti-Inflammatory Meals, Recipes, and Tips ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/dairy-free-swaps-guide ★☆★SUPPORT SWITCH4GOOD★☆★ https://switch4good.org/support-us/ ★☆★ JOIN OUR PRIVATE FACEBOOK GROUP ★☆★  https://www.facebook.com/groups/podcastchat ★☆★ SWITCH4GOOD WEBSITE ★☆★ https://switch4good.org/ ★☆★ ONLINE STORE ★☆★ https://shop.switch4good.org/shop/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM ★☆★ https://www.instagram.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ LIKE US ON FACEBOOK ★☆★ https://www.facebook.com/Switch4Good/ ★☆★ FOLLOW US ON TWITTER ★☆★ https://twitter.com/Switch4GoodOrg ★☆★ AMAZON STORE ★☆★ https://www.amazon.com/shop/switch4good ★☆★ DOWNLOAD THE ABILLION APP ★☆★ https://app.abillion.com/users/switch4good

Rainn Wilson sits down with Rabbi Susan Goldberg to explore the enduring wisdom of Jewish tradition and its relevance to modern challenges. They discuss the dynamic nature of belief in God, the universal values that transcend religious boundaries, and practical ways to bring these spiritual virtues into our daily lives. Rabbi Susan shares the powerful concept of tikkun olam—repairing the world through action and intent—and reveals how Shabbat fosters a sacred space for joy, gratitude, and love. Whether you're navigating the wilderness of life or seeking courage in despair, this episode offers profound insights for living with compassion, faith, and purpose. Rabbi Susan Goldberg is a visionary spiritual leader and founder of Nefesh, a vibrant Jewish community in East Los Angeles rooted in universal values like compassion, courage, and faith. Through Nefesh, she blends ancient Jewish wisdom with modern practices, fostering a space where individuals and families can connect, grow, and live out their deepest values in meaningful and practical ways. Thank you to our sponsors! Airbnb: http://airbnb.com/host Aura (promo code: SOULBOOM): https://auraframes.com Fetzer Institute: https://fetzer.org/ MERCH OUT NOW! https://soulboomstore.myshopify.com/ 'Soul Definition' Mug: http://bit.ly/3ZnFyhp God-Shaped Hole Mug: https://bit.ly/GodShapedHoleMug Sign up for our newsletter! https://soulboom.substack.com SUBSCRIBE to Soul Boom!! https://bit.ly/Subscribe2SoulBoom Watch our Clips: https://bit.ly/SoulBoomCLIPS Watch WISDOM DUMP: https://bit.ly/WISDOMDUMP Follow us! Instagram: http://instagram.com/soulboom TikTok: http://tiktok.com/@soulboom Sponsor Soul Boom: partnerships@voicingchange.media Work with Soul Boom: business@soulboom.com Send Fan Creations, Questions, Comments: hello@soulboom.com Produced by: Kartik Chainani Executive Produced by: Ford Bowers, Samah Tokmachi Companion Arts Production Supervisor: Mike O'Brien Voicing Change Media Theme Music by: Marcos Moscat

Join me in conversation with the vibrant Gloria Westcott and Grace Amemiya, directors and producers of the film "Art as Activism," celebrating 50+ years of Self Help Graphics, its vision & groundbreaking contributions to community.   About the Film: Art as Activism chronicles the evolving legacy of Self Help Graphics & Art, an East Los Angeles grassroots arts organization founded in 1972 by Sister Karen Boccalero, a Franciscan nun. Through a collection of first-hand interviews with prominent Chicano/Latino, multi-ethnic, and LGBTQ+ artists and community members, the film examines Sister Karen's powerful vision and contribution, showcases rare archival footage, first-hand histories and highlights the creativity.   email address: production@artasactivism.net   website: artasactivism.net  

Armando Contreras is the National president and CEO of United Cerebral Palsy Inc. The organization has 55 affiliates, 53 of which are here in the United States and two are in Canada. Armando grew up in East Los Angeles and then attended college at the University of Southern California where he obtained a degree in Business Administration. Later he secured a Master's degree in Divinity from the University of San Francisco.   Armando has worked both in the for profit world as well as for and with several nonprofit organizations. He tells us about all his life adventures including being a cancer survivor now for ten years.   Mr. Contreras and I have a great discussion about his vision for UCP which this year is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Along the way, UCP expanded services beyond just working with persons with Cerebral Palsy. As he explains, the same kinds of services required by people with CP also apply to persons with Downs and Autism.   I hope what Armando discusses with me inspires you as much as it did me. Please let me know what you think.     About the Guest:   Armando A. Contreras is the President and CEO of the Washington, D.C. and Vienna, Virginia-based United Cerebral Palsy Inc., one of the nation's leading health associations providing vital services and advocating for the inclusion of people living with neurodevelopmental disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, autism, and Down syndrome via its 55 affiliates (53 in the U.S. and two in Canada).   A native of Los Angeles, Armando's professional career includes having served as CEO of UCP of Central Arizona, President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (AZHCC), Director of the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, and Executive Director of the Council on Small Business under former Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.   He was featured in Activator Magazine's March 2021 issue (“A Servant Leader's Faithful Journey”). In November 2016, Arizona Business Magazine recognized him as a top CEO in the nonprofit health sector. In 2015, Armando was named one of the most Influential Minority Business Leaders in Arizona. He was also the featured CEO in the December 2013 issue of Arizona Business Magazine, and the Phoenix Business Journal awarded him a Champions in Diversity award in 2012. Armando was a special guest on The Hill newspaper's virtual Disability Summit, featuring policymakers, business and nonprofit leaders discussing ways to increase employment across the disability community.   Armando attended the Harvard School of Business Strategic Perspectives in Nonprofit Management program. In May 2001, he was honored to meet with President George W. Bush to discuss faith-based and community initiatives during a White House gathering on the topic.   Today, Armando serves on the Board of SourceAmerica. He is a former member of the Bishop's Finance Committee of the Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, and he recently completed a term serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Kino Border Initiative, a binational organization that promotes U.S.-Mexico border and immigration policies that affirm the dignity of the human person.   Armando earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Southern California and a master's degree in theology from the University of San Francisco. He also received certificates from the Indiana University School of Philanthropy and Harvard University.   He and his wife, Norma Contreras, live in Phoenix, where they are active in the community, particularly contributing their time and talents to faith-based social justice issues. The couple has three adult children and a grandson with another grandson on the way.       About the Host:   Michael Hingson is a New York Times best-selling author, international lecturer, and Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe. Michael, blind since birth, survived the 9/11 attacks with the help of his guide dog Roselle. This story is the subject of his best-selling book, Thunder Dog.   Michael gives over 100 presentations around the world each year speaking to influential groups such as Exxon Mobile, AT&T, Federal Express, Scripps College, Rutgers University, Children's Hospital, and the American Red Cross just to name a few. He is Ambassador for the National Braille Literacy Campaign for the National Federation of the Blind and also serves as Ambassador for the American Humane Association's 2012 Hero Dog Awards.   https://michaelhingson.com https://www.facebook.com/michael.hingson.author.speaker/ https://twitter.com/mhingson https://www.youtube.com/user/mhingson https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelhingson/   accessiBe Links https://accessibe.com/ https://www.youtube.com/c/accessiBe https://www.linkedin.com/company/accessibe/mycompany/   https://www.facebook.com/accessibe/       Thanks for listening!   Thanks so much for listening to our podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and think that others could benefit from listening, please share it using the social media buttons on this page. Do you have some feedback or questions about this episode? Leave a comment in the section below!   Subscribe to the podcast   If you would like to get automatic updates of new podcast episodes, you can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher. You can subscribe in your favorite podcast app. You can also support our podcast through our tip jar https://tips.pinecast.com/jar/unstoppable-mindset .   Leave us an Apple Podcasts review   Ratings and reviews from our listeners are extremely valuable to us and greatly appreciated. They help our podcast rank higher on Apple Podcasts, which exposes our show to more awesome listeners like you. If you have a minute, please leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts.       Transcription Notes:   Michael Hingson ** 00:00 Access Cast and accessiBe Initiative presents Unstoppable Mindset. The podcast where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet. Hi, I'm Michael Hingson, Chief Vision Officer for accessiBe and the author of the number one New York Times bestselling book, Thunder dog, the story of a blind man, his guide dog and the triumph of trust. Thanks for joining me on my podcast as we explore our own blinding fears of inclusion unacceptance and our resistance to change. We will discover the idea that no matter the situation, or the people we encounter, our own fears, and prejudices often are our strongest barriers to moving forward. The unstoppable mindset podcast is sponsored by accessiBe, that's a c c e s s i capital B e. Visit www.accessibe.com to learn how you can make your website accessible for persons with disabilities. And to help make the internet fully inclusive by the year 2025. Glad you dropped by we're happy to meet you and to have you here with us.   Michael Hingson ** 01:21 Welcome to another edition of unstoppable mindset where inclusion, diversity and the unexpected meet, and I won't go through all that again, it's inclusion because that means we include disabilities. Diversity typically doesn't, but the unexpected is what we get to deal with a lot as well. It's all fun, and we're glad that you're able to be here with us, wherever you happen to be. Our guest today is Armando Contreras, who is the president of United Cerebral Palsy, Inc, and I'm really anxious to hear more about that keeps keeps him, and I think a lot of us busy, and there's a lot of good stories and very relevant things to talk about regarding that. So let's get to it, Armando, I want to thank you and really appreciate you being here. Michael,   Armando Contreras ** 02:06 it's such a pleasure, and really it's an honor that I can be here on your show. So thank you for the kind invitation. Well, you   Michael Hingson ** 02:15 are. You're certainly most welcome, and Armando is one of those people who came to us again because of Sheldon Lewis here at accessibe, and he's he's keeping us busy, which is a good thing, and he's probably working on getting Armando to use accessibe, unless you already are with UCP. I haven't checked the website lately. Well, we   Armando Contreras ** 02:33 have. So we've already put in that, I believe, a plugin, and some of our affiliates are actually using accessibe as well,   Michael Hingson ** 02:43 which is cool, and it does a lot to help, which is, of course, what it's all about. Because accessibe, using AI, is able to do a lot of the work with the AI widget, not all, but a lot that needs to be done. So it's really great that you guys are using it, and I appreciate that and thank you for it, or on behalf of all of us at accessibe, yeah,   Armando Contreras ** 03:04 you're welcome. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 03:06 why don't we start as I love to do at the beginning? Why don't tell us a little bit about kind of the early Armando growing up and all that sort of stuff? Yes, so might as well,   Armando Contreras ** 03:18 yeah, the early Armando, growing up, was in East Los Angeles, in East LA so my father had a disability for most of his life. He had a he was in a car accident, and the doctors had said he would never work again. And right about that time when he had that car accident. I was born. I was the first, the oldest of three and my brother Louis and my sister Elizabeth. So life really changed for him, because he was middle class entrepreneur in Mexico, while he was American citizen. Then when he married my mom, then they moved over to Los Angeles, and eventually East Los Angeles, and that's where I grew up. I grew up pretty much in, you can say, in poverty. And while we were in a neighborhood called in Barrio, it's just a neighborhood of of, really, for the most part, a lot of good people. Our neighbors were fantastic, and we knew each other. So that was kind of like the beginning of many years of really, you know, experiencing disabilities with my dad and seeing what he had gone through. And it was a it was a tough, really. It was a tough. It was tough growing up, let me put it to you that way, for for many reasons. So then later, I got involved with the Catholic Church, Saint Lucy. Catholic Church in Los Angeles or a small town called City terrace, and that kind of that really changed a lot for me, as far as getting involved with community issues, getting involved in helping people, getting involved in connecting with the kind of the local issues that were happening in the city of Los Angeles, because those priests, those Catholic priests, were very involved in that, in ministries, and they went outside of the ministries to help community members, regardless if they were Catholic or not, what. And prior to that, I got involved as a musician. So I was a trumpet player, and I played trumpet at St Lucy's church for about 23 years. But then that that did something, something of sort of a miracle for me, because when I applied after going to a junior college in Los Angeles College, and then I applied to a dream university, USC, so the University of Southern California, and I think one of the big reasons that I got in was because of my community involvement, so that that led to a full scholarship, and that was quite the blessing for me, because there was no way that that we can afford me going to a private university. So, you know, that's kind of like, in the nutshell, my my upbringing, otherwise I would be here three days, you know,   Michael Hingson ** 06:30 yeah, what year? What years were you at USC,   Armando Contreras ** 06:34 I was there. I was there in 8085 through 87 ish, around that time? Yeah, around that that time? Yeah, I graduated in 87   Michael Hingson ** 06:46 that's that's much beyond my favorite USC football game, which was, how was it? I think Notre Dame was leading SC 24 to nothing at the end of the first half. You know, the game, I can tell by the end, it was 55 to 24 USC, which is the way it should be.   Armando Contreras ** 07:07 You know, SC had his great moments, and sc has had their challenging moments. Has Yeah. So, you know, last year, it could have been a better year for us. But, you know, we look to the future. And like I always say, don't fight on. So fight on   Michael Hingson ** 07:23 is right. My wife did her graduate work at SC I've never been to a football game there or anywhere, and one of these days, I'd love to go, but she just passed away in November of 2022 we were married for 40 years, but I've already been an SC fan before I married her, and one of my favorite SC stories is that the day we got married, we arrived at the church, and it was supposed to be a wedding that would pack the church. A lot of people wanted to come and see us get together, but the wedding was supposed to start at four o'clock, and like the church was less than half full on about 412 suddenly the doors opened, and this whole crowd came in, and the wedding went forward, only about 15 minutes late. Later, we tried to find out what it was that kept people away for so long. And what we heard was everyone was in their cars waiting for the end of the USC Notre Dame game. And since SC one, it was that God clearly was on our side.   Armando Contreras ** 08:25 I love that. Yeah, it's a great story. And my my sister, condolences for loss.   Michael Hingson ** 08:31 Well, thank you. You know she her body was just slowing down. She was in a wheelchair her whole life, and just in 2022, things were kind of catching up. And as I say, the spirit tends to move ahead of the body sometimes, and that's what happened. But she's watching somewhere, and if I misbehave, I'll hear about it. I'm not at all worried I'm going to try to be a good kid. But that's great that she did go to USC, and you said something else. I think that's really interesting to me, and that is that where you grew up, people were very nice and very friendly. And I think that is so often true, and a lot of times people stray into some of these areas and they think it's going to be horrible, and they they look for the worst, and they find it because they're not looking for the best. They're not looking to try to find friendly people and and it's so unfortunate that too many, too many times, we don't really look for the best in people. And unfortunately, then it comes out.   Armando Contreras ** 09:34 Well, you know, I I could only say great things about East LA and the barrio that I, that I grew up in, were there elements in there? Of course, sure you were, we were about a block away from from the gang activity, and you just had a choice, right? And thanks to my parents that were super strict, they didn't, they didn't allow me to make those kind of choices when I was younger. You know. To join the gangs, but that element was in front of you, you know, and some of them, some of the folks I still know today, some of them that were in gangs and stuff, now they've settled down. They have families, but I just have to say that there was a sense of community there where I grew up, even, even, or despite the elements that were around us. So yes, do I hear the negativity when they somebody mentions East Los Angeles? Yes, but I could, I have to say that even though we grew up in poverty and even though there was a lot of challenges for us as a family, I I really cherish the neighbors that were there. When I remember that the kind of those gatherings, we had nothing. So there was no we played, you know, with just a regular basketball or something. There was no communication via a cell phone or anything like that. Yeah. So, you know, I have only good things to say. And part of my upbringing there today, I realized that wow, I was I was working on a strategic plan without even knowing what a strategic plan was back in the day. Yeah.   Michael Hingson ** 11:17 Do you think that today it's harder, or there's more of that kind of activity, or is it just that people are now having their attention drawn more to it, and again, still, I think all too often deal with it in such a negative way. But do you think it's worse than it was?   Armando Contreras ** 11:36 I mean, if we're talking about, if we're talking about gang activity. I mean that still, I think, is just as prominent that today, unfortunately, than what it was this as it was back. You know, when I grew up in the night, in the 60s, I believe that leaders, community leaders, our representatives, really have to invest into communities, invest in education, invest in in jobs, right? Because people, naturally, some of them, will start looking for a way of making a living, and they may choose a different route. In addition to that, gangs and they become a family. So, you know, parents do need to, you know, also be aware of what their kids are doing, and support them and and nurture them and show them love, right? And because, if you really get to the bottom of it, and you start speaking to a gang member, she or he, there's underlining problems, and maybe comes from family. You know, there could be so many things that are happening, but I truly have a vision that that someday there's going to be more funds invested into communities like East Los Angeles, because a lot of great people come out of there, and I'm not talking about myself, but there's just a lot of good people, good hearted people, that really like to help their neighbor and others. When   Michael Hingson ** 13:10 I was selling in New York, when still living in California, and would go back and spend days at a time, I stayed at a particular hotel in midtown Manhattan, Near Time Square, and if I went out at night, every so often, somebody would come up and he would say, I'm one of the guardian angels. You're familiar with them? Yes. And he said, I'm with guardian angels. I want to walk with you. And I said, you know, you don't need to. And he said, I want to. And I didn't mind, but what I always felt and and experienced was if I treated people right, if I treated people like people, if I was I was treated like someone, and I didn't really need to fear any of the other kinds of things. Now, I'm sure there were crazies around, but in general, I really do think that if we would be a little bit more open to just accepting and not fear so much those things that we don't understand, or those kinds of communities that we're not as knowledgeable about, and I'm not so much thinking of the gangs, but just all the other communities, like East LA and watts and so on, we would be a whole lot better off, and we would learn to get along with people better.   Armando Contreras ** 14:31 I totally agree with that. I think it's building relationships, right, and getting to help and getting to know, you know, folks from different ethnicities, people with different abilities, right? It all comes together. Here is that, knowing them, respecting them, listening for understanding, and then building a friendship, right? And collaborating together. Um. For the betterment of humanity. That's what I believe, where it's at, and everybody has an opportunity to do that.   Michael Hingson ** 15:08 Yeah, and I just think that we, we, we somehow also need to get the politics out of providing the funds. And I don't know, it's just people have locked themselves into some very hard political decisions sometimes that that don't help the process at all.   Armando Contreras ** 15:26 Yeah? Michael, so yes, yes. Part of it is yes, taking out the politics, but the other part of it is bringing in the politics right? Is letting our our representatives, our public officials, and on the local level, on the municipality level, state level, on the federal level, to bring them in and know what the issues are, because we're all part of the fabric of society. Yeah, all somehow we do give, and we do contribute, and I don't, I don't care what ethnicity, what religion you are, if you if you have a disability, if you don't have a disability, we're all part of the society, and I believe that our representatives really need to know that and how we contribute in a very big way.   Michael Hingson ** 16:16 I think the biggest part is they need to be open to listening to hear that some do, some don't. And I am a firm believer in the fact that over time, all the issues that we need to deal with will get dealt with.   Armando Contreras ** 16:30 I believe so too, and I think those that those that don't listen to communities, for whatever reason it is that eventually somebody in their family or them may end up in that situation themselves, and then, you know, they'll begin to have that lived experience. But while they've had a chance to make a difference, and if they ignore it, then there was a window of opportunity for them to do something.   Michael Hingson ** 17:01 Yeah, well, and, and if they choose to ignore that again, I believe that things will will happen to deal with that, whatever it is, and hopefully it it doesn't a negative, horrible thing that has to happen to make them realize it. But I think in some cases, that has been what has occurred. But I have a lot of faith in the human race. Yes, so do I. Well, so you, what was your degree in from USC?   Armando Contreras ** 17:29 It was in business administration.   Michael Hingson ** 17:32 Ah. And did you go to any football games?   Armando Contreras ** 17:35 I did, yeah, good   Michael Hingson ** 17:36 for you. My wife did too. Yeah.   Armando Contreras ** 17:38 And, and most recently, most recently, I've gone to the last two USC UCLA games. So last year, it was great. It was fantastic. We were at the Rose Bowl at, you know, in UCLA territory this year, not so good. We were so good, not so good. We were at home at the Coliseum. And, you know, it didn't, it didn't work at a while, but it was a fun game. I   Michael Hingson ** 18:04 don't know, what do you think of the coach?   Armando Contreras ** 18:07 Um, I think that he's good, and I think that he will continue to be successful this year, this next year. I think it will be better this year. Yeah, I think so. And they got this young, this young man that showed up at the at the bowl game. I'm trying to remember Miller. I think it was Miller, and it was his name, and he showed up. He was a he, he did a fantastic job. And I do see a great future for him at USC and perhaps in in the in the NFL.   Michael Hingson ** 18:40 Well, it'll be fun. I know they got a new defensive coordinator and that they needed, so we'll, we'll see how it goes. But we won't bore everyone with football and our likes, but it's nevertheless, it's part of the world. So there you go, but then you went on to the University of San Francisco, right?   Armando Contreras ** 19:01 I did. So that was a few years later, and I graduated, I believe, in 2004 and I it was, it was something that drew me, and it was an opportunity for me to get a degree in Theology at a Jesuit university. So at that time, I was working for a faith based Catholic organization, a national organization called the National Catholic council for Hispanic ministry. And what we looked at overall in the United States were the issues of upper mobility for Hispanic Catholics for immigrants, or for our sisters and brothers that are immigrants, the issues that are happening with Hispanic families, education was a huge thing. You know, how do we how do we move, you know, our children that from, you know, grammar school to. Catholic high schools and perhaps Catholic universities were, yeah, unfortunate. Unfortunately, I have to say, is that there's not a whole lot of access, and we're the backbone of the Catholic Church, right? Because it's so expensive. So those were the things that that we were part of, and one of the opportunities that came about was attending the University of San Francisco and and I received, you know, I earned a degree in theology, master's degree, yes,   Michael Hingson ** 20:32 well, let's go back a little bit. So you graduated from SC then what did you do?   Armando Contreras ** 20:37 Well, then I had several jobs after that. I worked for a nonprofit in Los Angeles that helped people get jobs. And then after that, I believe, I went into a construction company as a contract administrator. I was here for maybe a year and a half or so, and then I went on for whatever reason I was interested in real estate. So then I worked for a corporation that did mortgage loans. And in that I met a gentleman who had his own real estate company, and then we decided to start our own real estate company. So I did that for about seven, seven years, and then I I got hired to work with this nonprofit, the National Catholic council that I just mentioned a little bit ago. I was there for about 10 and a half years. So I had I had a chance to travel around the nation and to meet with Hispanic Catholic leaders, lay leaders. I got to meet with religious orders of men and women from Jesuits, Franciscans, many other different orders. So it was, it was really a insightful time for me in those 10 and a half years about our church. And then after that, we moved from Los Angeles to Phoenix. And shortly after that, I got hired. Let's see here. I'm trying to remember the I got hired by governor Janet Napolitano, but I was her small business advocate, and in about 11 months, I moved into being a deputy director of a one of her departments, the Arizona register of contractors, and soon after that, I was on her cabinet. So I was honored to serve under Janet Napolitano when she moved to Washington, DC, because President Barack Obama appointed her as Secretary of Homeland Security. Then I moved on to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, here Arizona, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. And then about a year later, then that's where I had folks come to me and said, there's an organization here that is the United Cerebral Palsy association of central Arizona. And I said, Well, I'm going to maybe put the word out and see who might be interested in that position, which was a CEO position. And then they said, No, we're looking for somebody like you. So to make a long story short, I got hired. And that was really a beginning of of a lot of things. I got hired not because I had the clinical background, or the researcher background, or that I had been involved with disabilities. I got hired so then I can take take that organization to another level, where they wanted to increase the revenues, they wanted to increase their brand awareness. They wanted to make sure that we had stronger collaborations in the community in Arizona, in in Phoenix, and that's why I got hired, to make sure that we enhance that to benefit the children and adults that we were serving.   Michael Hingson ** 24:05 Well. So what do you think about the differences since you've been in a position to have done both working in the for profit corporate kind of world, as opposed to working in the the nonprofit sector? That's,   Armando Contreras ** 24:21 that's Michael. That's a really interesting question, because there are similarities,   Michael Hingson ** 24:27 I know, and I've done the same thing. I've worked for both as well. Well,   Armando Contreras ** 24:31 look, you know, I'm working for a nonprofit, and those that are going to be listening to this, that are CEOs are working in development for both for profits and nonprofits. There's not a whole there's not a big difference there. Because we strive to be sustainable, like a for profit. We strive to look at years to come, because we want to be around and help people in the next 1015, 75, Years which we we're celebrating this year, our 75th anniversary. So part of our responsibility as a leader, as a president and CEO, is really looking beyond the years that you're going to be there. You can, you can serve for one year, 10 years, 20 years, 30 years. But really the i i truly believe that the test is, once you leave, will that organization continue to survive because of what you put together? So to answer your question, a lot of similarities between a for profit and a non profit. However, at the end of the day, the mission for us is to not make a profit, but to be sustainable so we can continue our life saving work   Michael Hingson ** 25:49 and for not, not for profits. Nonprofits generally tend to work more in an arena where they're trying to make a social difference. And although they're they're still selling products. The products are different. They're oftentimes less tangible, although a lot of the services that that they provide, like UCB, UCP provides and so on, end up being very tangible, but still there's there's an intangibility, but still, I agree with you that the reality is that they're very similar. Development is extremely similar to what a for profit company does. And in reality, when you're in development, you're in sales, and when you're in sales, you're in development, it's just that people have come up with two words for the same thing, but they're so similar in what you ultimately are trying to get from them, and ultimately, how you present to people who you want to be your customers or your donors, is so much the same as well.   Armando Contreras ** 27:00 Yeah, I agree with you, Michael, so in development, because I also have a background in fundraising, it's aligning with the folks that have the same vision and that would want to contribute for an impact that's happening in society. So with United Cerebral Palsy and our affiliates are providing direct services to children and adults with cerebral palsy and many other conditions. So there are people that are very, very generous, but I have to say that in the world of philanthropy now, donors are becoming a lot more informed, and they want to make sure that the dollar that they're going to donate, that it's going to go a long way. Yeah, so obviously they're looking at at administrative costs versus your program program costs, right? And that's a good thing. I encourage the philanthropic community to do that, to do their research and to pick those nonprofits in the United States or maybe around the world that are really making a huge impact. Michael, we we serve 100 and approximately 155,000 children and adults on an annual basis, and this is our affiliates that are working day in and day out to provide those services, vital services, life saving services, and services that maybe other organizations don't or people don't want to do. So those are the things that that people that are going to invest their return is really what's happening in the lives of 1000s and hundreds of 1000s of people. Many,   Michael Hingson ** 28:45 many years ago, I remember watching a little bit of a telethon. It was actually on Channel 13 out here, kcop, and it was back in what had to be the early to mid 80s, I think, and it was a telethon put on by the Society for the Prevention of blindness, which I don't even know whether they're around anymore, but at the end of the telethon, they had raised, I think, like $200,000 it was a local, Just independent television station doing it. But what we learned was that 95% of the cost of the telethon went to pay for it, and that the organization only ended up with about 5% of that $200,000 which is, of course, a real problem.   Armando Contreras ** 29:39 It is so like I mentioned before, is that today you're having more informed donors, right, that are looking at that ratio, right? Yeah, how much of their dollar is going to go to actual services, right? Versus cost for putting on a. For putting like you mentioned, a telethon today, there's not a whole lot of telethons going on. Have a million channels, but back in the day, I remember the channels 13, 574, and maybe 11 nine. Yeah, 11 nine. So there was a few more today. What do you have? 234, 100, and then more and all of that. There's other ways that I certainly believe that that can be as impactful and less expensive than the telethons. But sure, you bring up a really good point, is that if you're going to, if you're a donor, if you're a philanthropist, if you really want to have your money change people's lives, they have to do some homework. Yeah, they have to look at that nonprofit and to make sure that 90% of your dollars not going into it, and 90% is not going into it, administrative expenses. It   Michael Hingson ** 30:55 may well be that that 90% works or maybe a little bit less. You're spending a little bit more money on administration, if you can justify it, to say, but look out of that we are able to reach more people and thus get more money. But I do think it's, it's a it's a tight rope.   Armando Contreras ** 31:20 Yeah, I definitely agree with that, that you have to be strategic when you're out fundraising and your your case statement really has to be where it's so compelling that and then showing the data and and and bringing children and adults to tell their story, right of how their lives have been changed. Those are the storytelling is really part, one part, or a major part, of development and fundraising.   Michael Hingson ** 31:56 Well, tell us a little bit about UCP, the history and so on, if you would to inform more people about it.   Armando Contreras ** 32:02 Well, one, you know, I'm, I'm so excited to share with everybody that we're celebrating our 75th anniversary, right? Uh, 75 years of providing vital services, right? 75 years of having our direct service professionals, the folks that are working at home, under the home community based services. We have we have pre Ks, the different therapies that are out there. We have group homes, we have transportation, we have employment. There's so many things that we're bringing to the community. But it started in 1949 right? It started with concerned citizens and concerned parents, that they felt that in that time, which was a totally different world for people with disabilities, that they felt that something more had to happen, that no more can society or the doctors or people in authority can say, would your kids have to go to an institution no matter if they had Down syndrome? Well, maybe autism wasn't. Were so prevalent back then, maybe not as prevalent, but cerebral palsy, spinal bifid, all of that that their kids suddenly were taken away from their home.   Michael Hingson ** 33:22 Well, my parents were told by our doctors that they should send me to a home when it was discovered I was blind, and my parents rejected that, which was very fortunate, but   Armando Contreras ** 33:32 yeah, and good for your parents. And that's how it started, right? I think, I think a lot of nonprofits started in that way, but back in 1949 that's when a group of parents got together and said, we have to do something more right. Then today, we've evolved where we're in the disability world, there's greater access than there was before, there's more inclusion than there was before, right? We're trying at least that used because UCP national and our affiliates, we're trying to help people be more independent, if it's through legislation, research, therapies, everything that we're trying to do. And we're very we're very centric to those issues that are out there, and we're trying to make a huge difference. So what I'm looking at is, I'm looking at another 75 years and that United Cerebral Palsy. One we're trying to in here. Four goals. One is brand awareness. Also let folks know about our 75th year anniversary. But one of the bigger things Michael that is the challenge for us is that United Cerebral Palsy serves children and adults with cerebral palsy and other conditions, so we're trying to bring that message out. And figuring out, how can we let the community know that if your child has Down syndrome autism, that we are there providing vital services for for them as well. The next goal is development, or what we just spoke about, connecting with the philanthropic community, because we, while a lot of our affiliates rely on government funding and reimbursement, I believe that there's another level that we have to engage with, and that's the philanthropic community right. There are millions and millions of dollars. Michael, I go to this to a an event called the heckling event in Orlando, I've been going there for now five years, and those professionals that are working with Planned Giving, some of them will come to me and say that their clients don't know where to give their money to. That's why we're present there, and that's why other profits are there too, as well. Is that we need to educate the community that that you can actually invest in something that's going to bring back this return of investment, but more of a humanity return, and something that's going to be great for society. The other goal that we have is advocacy. So we're known throughout the federal government, the Biden administration, as well as the Trump administration community, communicated with us, especially during COVID So we had communications with the White House. We still do. We're engaged at the Congress and Senate level with various representatives and senators to make sure that they create legislation that's going to be beneficial for our for the for the disability community, and that we don't ever go back to the institutions that that would be their only option. Unfortunately, Michael, today, there's still institutions that exist, not as many as before, but there's still institution the last goal we have is to grow our footprint, not only nationally, but but internationally. So we're having discussions locally, in places that were not present, to grow our footprint, to see how we can collaborate. We're also having, I'm having conversations with people on the global level, like the International cerebral palsy society, like aacpdm, the Academy for cerebral palsy. I've been invited twice, once, well, I got invited last year to the International Congress on cerebral palsy in Mexico City, I got invited again. I was their president, and I gave a speech. And I got invited again this year, in March, I'll be in medida Yucatan at an international congress again, and that brings a lot of awareness for us, brand awareness, and the main thing is really collaboration. So I kind of touched upon some of the some of the goals, Michael, and some of the things that important things and vital things that our affiliates are doing. So if there's, if there's something else that you want me to elaborate, I'd be glad, more than glad to do. So how are   Michael Hingson ** 38:19 you working toward creating more and better brand awareness to the general population?   Armando Contreras ** 38:27 Well, one of the things that we're doing, given that we have this window of opportunity that we're celebrating our 75th year, and that begins in that started in February, and we'll go all the way through January 31 is that one, we have a lot of partners out there that are doing things like you're doing access to be right, that invited me on this program. And that's one of the beautiful things that in social media, it's not it's not very expensive for us to be out there. So we're using the media vehicles such as LinkedIn, Facebook and the others that are out there. And we're also using YouTube to spread the message out there. So we're we're also sharing the stories of our affiliates and their accomplishments and the people that are being served, the parents and their children, so they can share those great stories that sometimes are miracle stories because of the people that are serving them and providing quality services, care and love. So that's one vehicle. The other one is that I I was on 26 I traveled to 26 locations last year, so I'm also providing that message out there. And then within our affiliate network, they're also doing marketing, and they're doing. Brand awareness as well. So it's a whole it's really this whole core nation that we want, not only the nation, no, but globally. Let the people know who is you at UCP and United Cerebral Palsy,   Michael Hingson ** 40:16 what caused UCP to add in as part of the services that are provided, services for people with downs and autism, as opposed to just UCP   Armando Contreras ** 40:32 or UCP. Yeah, so if I go back to when I was at the local United Cerebral Palsy the UC central Arizona. It just happened to be that the programs, the same programs that were provided for children and adults with cerebral palsy, also were beneficial to other conditions. I'm not a researcher, but when there's a breakthrough in cerebral palsy or in autism or in a different condition, they try to see if that same breakthrough will help people with different conditions. What we do know is that the therapies that are being offered to children and adults with cerebral palsy, those same types of therapies are also impactful to other conditions. So what was happening is that, then parents started to to, I guess, the word went out, and what we have across the board in the United States is that we have a high percentage of non cerebral palsy clients, or we'll call them family members, that are are getting services because that's much needed. One Michael is like respite, like respite care. You know any, any family can use that rest, that respite care, no matter what the condition is. So if you're offering that, then you can offer it to the disability community, a broad range of of people that have various conditions,   Michael Hingson ** 42:13 which makes perfect sense, because a lot of the care that needs to be provided is very similar. Well, or is the same? Yes, well, you know, you, I understand, had a an involvement with cancer, and you survived that. How has that affected you and in your attitude? Because, clearly, you're a very sensitive person and very much involved in community and family and helping people. But what, what was the whole situation with you in cancer?   Armando Contreras ** 42:42 You know, I think it's that. I think that's, it's the experience that all people go through when they first hear that you have cancer, right? First thought is, are you going to survive? You know, the first, first thing that comes to you is that it's, it's terminal, right? You're not going to get through it. You know this when you hear news like that, and you know, maybe it's the same as parents hearing that their child has cerebral palsy or disability, you know, you just, you just, it's a scary moment. It's a scary time. So what? Yeah, it was a difficult time for me and for my family, especially, I think my family knowing that I had transitional carcinoma, high grade, and it was a it was a tumor in my bladder that was nine and a half centimeters. I haven't really talked about it a lot, but it's been 10 years. So February, when I had seen that as a suggestion, like you want to talk about that, my first thought was, No, I think I'm going to skip it. But a few seconds later, I said, maybe it's time for me to share with the community, because it's been 10 years since I was diagnosed so and I'll try to make this short, I got diagnosed huge tumor. They had asked me if I wanted that tumor to be taken out, otherwise I could die. And I said, of course. So they took out the tumor. I had a brilliant surgeon that did that. And then after that, they basically said to me that if I don't, if I don't do radical surgery, taking out my bladder, taking out some lymph nodes, my prostate, that I wouldn't live very long, that I had really, like a 35% chance or less to live. So I had said that I wanted to put a pause on this rush, and that perhaps there's an option out there, perhaps there was another way, because I knew that billions of dollars have been raised for cancer. And maybe because this is a whole new journey for me, that the cure was somewhere out there. Well, after going to five different doctors for second opinions, they all said the same to me, that I only had one choice, and that choice radical surgery. And even after that, even after that, I was still I was confused, I was scared, but I was still. There was a pause that I felt that maybe there was something out there. So thanks to my sister, she really saved my life. She connected me with the scientists that she was researching, and that scientist said, you know, I only, I've only done lab studies on this particular oil called frankincense oil. I haven't done any clinical studies, and today, Michael, there's still no clinical studies on frankincense oil. So I started doing that three months after they they took the tumor out. I had 20 more tumors come back in my bladder. But they were small. They were lesions. So I just asked them to scrape, scrape them. The doctors were furious with me. I get it. I mean, that was, that was a protocol. I totally get it, you know. But something, people say that I had a lot of courage. I'm not sure if it was, like just something, it could have been something was telling you. I mean, I definitely there was a lot of prayer during that time. Yeah, a lot of prayer happening at that time. I just couldn't see myself dying, and I didn't want that to happen. So just to kind of, like, kind of close on this is that when those 20 tumors came back, they scraped them. They were supposed to be a lot more coming back, or it was going to invade my body. Three months later, I had nothing, absolutely nothing. Three months after that, I had six lesions come back, and that was March of 2015, so it's been nine years since the last reoccurrence. It's been 10 years since I was diagnosed, and I get checked very often. Once a year in the beginning, I would go in and get checked every three months. So it's been quite the miracle. But I have to say, this is that one I changed. I had changed my diet at the time for about four and a half years, I was strictly doing a lot of juicing, no sugar, a lot of prayer, a lot of family love, a lot of support. I did the frankincense oil. So I think in a comprehensive way, that helped me, and that gave me another option. And I'm very grateful for that, and I'm very grateful that every day I wake up and I say to God, thank you for sparing me. But on the advocacy side, Michael, I just didn't leave it there. I've had conversations with with the with the University of Arizona, with the Arizona State University, with Cancer Centers of America, with St Joseph's Hospital, with my alma mater, USC, and the last conversation I had was with Georgetown University, and these were top CEOs. And I was sharing my documentation, because I have it all there. But sadly, I have to say that they're not interested. They're not interested in a cure, and I'll continue to pursue it when the opportunity continues on, but it's only my story, and I didn't want to leave it where. Well, Lord, thank you so much. You know it never came back, so thank you. No, I have a responsibility to figure out some ways, somehow, that my my story, can turn into a clinical study, and that someday, and maybe not in my my time, that there's going to be an option for millions of people that will contract cancers. So that's my story in a nutshell. Thank you for asking.   Michael Hingson ** 49:04 So what did the frankincense oil actually do? I assume that you feel it was a very significant part of your ability to deal with it.   Armando Contreras ** 49:12 Yeah, it's a good question, because medically, I can't tell you, because we haven't done right? Yeah, we haven't done clinical studies. And I've been, I've been asking these universities and these hospitals and these cancer firms, you know that are out there, and said, Why don't we do the clinical studies so you can so you can see exactly what it did. I can't tell you that what it did. The only thing I can tell you is that is that as they, as they as they took samples of the cancerous tumors. So you had the big tumor, and then the 20 small tumors, and then you had the six lesions that, according to the scientists, dr, dr Lynn, HK Lynn, what he did see is that the cancer cells were becoming less aggressive. And at the end, some of the cancer cells actually turn into good cells. Now, you know, people can believe that or not. I'm I'm okay with that. Sure, only thing I'm saying, Michael is that there should be, there should be clinical studies on this, because I believe it would save hundreds of 1000s of lives. What was it? We don't know. Was it the combination? Is it the combination of me juicing on a daily basis for four and a half years? Was it that, as a Catholic, you know, I was going through all the different sacraments, prayers and healing masses? So I believe there was a holistic healing process. And then my family that was supporting me during a very difficult time,   Michael Hingson ** 50:49 sounds to me like it's time to write a book.   Armando Contreras ** 50:54 I've I've been asked many times, and I think when I think, when, when I feel that, that when I'm ready for that, that, yeah, that's that will happen.   Michael Hingson ** 51:03 Yes, you've got to, you've got to feel ready and feel that it's the right time. But that might be one way to bring visibility to it. Yes, well, you know, you you value family a lot. I understand that there are music connections in your family, has music always been a part of your life or   Armando Contreras ** 51:24 or, yeah, I think I think so. I think that. Well, I know so, because when I was the trumpet player, young trumpet player at St Lucy's Catholic Church, a few years later, my lovely wife, Norma, joined the choir. I didn't know she was married, but she joined the choir. And you know, we have this thing that she doesn't agree with me, but I say, hey, when I when I met you, when I seen you, was love at first sight. And and I said, but not for you. It took a while. And she says, no, no, but so So music, I was playing trumpet, normal was singing. And then later we got married, and then we had our first child. Was Andrea, Andrea Michelle, our daughter, our beautiful daughter, who's with child today, her and her husband, Fabian. So she knew that in our home there was a lot of music happening, and if it was church or at home. And then our second child, Armando, Michael, he started catching on a little bit, but we started to notice that he started to sing and sing right in tune. And then we said, hey, maybe there's something here. So his first recital in Los Angeles, he's saying pop by the Sailor Man and over the rainbow. And he did pretty good. So later he joined as a as a young child, you know, five years old, he joined the choir at St Lucy's. And then we moved. We moved from, we moved from Los Angeles over to Phoenix, Arizona, which was a great blessing being here. And we then were exploring how we can continue to support his talent. And he joined the Grammy Award winning Phoenix boys choir, and that's where he began to sing. Got to meet some wonderful people. They had wonderful directors there, and had a great experience. That experience led him to fall in love with the classics. Oh, there he began to be part of some of the local, local opera performances. So to make a long story short, Norma, my wife and I supported him. He went to the Cleveland Institute of Music, from there in vocals, and then from there, he went to the University of Missouri in Kansas City for his masters. And today he's a professional opera singer. He's a baritone. So it's it's been amazing. All our kids are amazing. I also have to mention that our youngest Andrew, Matthew. He went to Gonzaga University and then graduated from Lewis and Clark in clinical psychology. He's worked with a lot of kids with disabilities. He's a drummer and he's a guitar player. So yes, music is a big part of our family.   Michael Hingson ** 54:28 Well, it is getting to be that time of the year that Gonzaga will become visible again as we get back down to march madness. I actually, I actually had the pleasure of going up there once to speak and and I hadn't really known a lot about Gonzaga at the time, and they were the ones who told me, however, one always said, Where is Gonzaga? You know what? What kind of a place is it? And so I've kept up with it ever since, but it is kind of funny that their basketball team is good. Yeah.   Armando Contreras ** 54:59 Yeah, it's a, it's a beautiful place. It's a great Jesuit university. We, I, you know, he had a great experience. This is Andrew. He had a great experience out there. So, yes, I totally agree. Yeah, we had a chance to go out to Bob, trying to remember the city here. Spokane, yeah, yeah, yeah. Spokane, various times with him,   Michael Hingson ** 55:25 that's pretty cool. Well, so is he professionally doing music now? No, so,   Armando Contreras ** 55:30 So Andrew, our youngest, he's professionally now a clinical psychologist. Ah, yeah, now and now. Armando, Michael, he is a professional opera singer, right? And that's what he does. So, you know, his, his, one of his dreams, is going to be singing at the Metropolitan Ooh, we do see that perhaps happening within a year or two, because they he'll be, right? He'll be auditioning for that, probably very soon, and he's very young. He's just 34 years old.   Michael Hingson ** 56:03 So that'd be super What would you like people to know about the disability community in general, when we think about disabilities, you know, when there's so many prejudices, what would you like people to know and in terms of disabilities and how to maybe change attitudes, yeah,   Armando Contreras ** 56:23 well, they're definitely part of the fabric of society, and we, nobody, not me, or anybody else in in any organization, can speak for them. We need to allow for them and give them that opportunity and space to voice their concerns, to voice whatever joy they have, to voice things that we need to hear in our community. We have to provide while we're here in the United States, and there's been laws that have been enacted, enacted that laws now have to be updated. We have antiquated laws that do not even pay people with disabilities even minimum wage, right? So, so that we really have to be conscious of a community that is part of our society. We need to engage. Furthermore, we have to collaborate. We need them as public, public officials. They need to run for office, right? Some of them do. They have to be part of the decision making, decisions that are being made from all levels of government, all levels of corporation, all levels of nonprofits. And that's the way, that's the way I really see it. Is that, and we also have to have breakthroughs in research, right? What are some of the things that that we can do so we can those lives can be more that they would have more of a more access, right? That even if you go to certain states in the United States that I've been, there's not even accessibility for wheelchairs. And just speak about the airlines, right? How, how and why are people thinking in those corporations that a person that has a disability can easily go into their bathrooms. There's no way, right flying, especially if it's a long flight. So no, there's, there's been some great things Michael that have, that have evolved and happened through a collaboration of a lot of advocates, and a lot of them are self advocates, but we still have a long way to go.   Michael Hingson ** 59:08 Yeah, and I think that's absolutely true. So what is UCP Inc doing to celebrate its 75th anniversary? What kinds of plans do you have and where do you go from here?   Armando Contreras ** 59:19 Well, we do have a an annual conference coming up in Orlando, and this year in April. So that's a good thing for us, you know. But the bigger thing for us is to celebrate is really bringing that education, bringing that awareness of what we're doing, not only in here in the United States, but we also have affiliates in Canada. So as we celebrate, part of our celebration is educating the society about exactly what we do and please, you know, knock on our door for for help. So that's that's really part of it. The other part of it is acknowledge. Gene, the folks that started UCP back in 1949 right? Like the, like the golden sins, and also the housemans and many others that that have helped us get through the 75 years.   Michael Hingson ** 1:00:18 Yeah, well, it's, a great milestone to be able to celebrate 75 years, and I am sure that you, with your background, is very concerned about making sure that there is great sustainability for the future, which is really important and cool that you're thinking about that, because it's something that always needs to be with us in whatever we're doing. That's a good thing. Any kind of last thoughts that you have that you want to convey to people who are listening or watching us.   Armando Contreras ** 1:00:51 Yes, one is first, I want to share my gratitude for inviting me, Michael. And then second, please reach out to us the disability community. Please find us@ucp.org we may be in your backyard. If there are organizations out there that want to become an affiliate of United Cerebral Palsy, please reach out to us as well. We are here. We want to continue to be here for the next 75 years, so that our community can be part and be an inclusive part of our society. That we can bring that help, bring that independence, but we can continue to see those miracles, that children that we're told, and families that were told that they would never walk. I've seen them walk, and were physicians that said to a mom and dad that their child would never move or never speak, and I've seen them hug their parents and tell them that they love them, right? And we want to continue to make those miracles happen through therapies, through early detection, through early intervention, all these forms of of of a reach that we have through United Cerebral Palsy in the United States and Canada and and watched for us in the near future as we begin to go global, and that's really a vision that that I have. But and also, again, is that it's important to know that we know that I know that, Michael, you know that is that everybody is a fabric at society, some way, somehow, no matter their abilities. And that's really important, important message for people to know.   Michael Hingson ** 1:02:43 I agree. Well, I want to thank you for being here with us and conveying all this information, and I hope people will take it to heart and that they'll support UCP and and reach out and learn more about the organization and that you are doing, and will continue to do a lot to just help people in general, with disabilities, which is cool. I appreciate that, and I want to thank Go ahead. No, no.   Armando Contreras ** 1:03:10 I just wanted to thank and I also want to thank accessibe, right? That's how we got here. So I really thank them for what they're doing and providing. I love their model that they have. They have a for profit, a for profit model. However, the services that they, that they provide for nonprofits, are free, and that's that's amazing. So we're really happy with the services, the access services for websites, the accessibility that they're providing for people in the disability community to have that access. Well,   Michael Hingson ** 1:03:48 thank you, and we're excited about the time ahead and and I think that's that's a good thing, and we'll all work to make it happen. Well, I want to thank everyone who was listening and watching today. We really appreciate it. I hope that you'll give us a five star rating wherever you're observing our podcast. We value that. Love it. If you'd reach out to me, give me your thoughts, your opinions and Armando for you and for all of our guests, our listeners and so on today, if you know of anyone else who ought to be a guest on unstoppable mindset, please let us know. Provide introductions. We're always looking for guests. You can reach out to me directly at Michael H, i@accessibe.com that's m, I, C, H, A, E, L, H, I at accessibe, A, C, C, E, S, S, I, B, e.com, or go to our podcast page, www dot Michael hinkson.com/podcast, and Michael Hinkson is spelled M, I C, H, A, E, L, H, I N, G, S o, n.com/podcast, so we really do value all the thoughts and and information and suggestions that people provide. Yeah, as I think I've mentioned to many of you before, I also do travel and speak, especially after September 11, 2001 if anyone needs a speaker, please reach out. You can get me easiest at speaker at Michael hingson.com but however you do it, you've got all sorts of ways to reach out to me. Love to hear from you. And you know, once again, Armando, I want to thank you very much for being here, and thank you for all of your time today.   Armando Contreras ** 1:05:24 Michael, thank you many blessings to you and your family, and many blessings to everybody out there who is going to listen to this podcast interview.   Michael Hingson ** 1:05:39 You have been listening to the Unstoppable Mindset podcast. Thanks for dropping by. I hope that you'll join us again next week, and in future weeks for upcoming episodes. To subscribe to our podcast and to learn about upcoming episodes, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com slash podcast. Michael Hingson is spelled m i c h a e l h i n g s o n. While you're on the site., please use the form there to recommend people who we ought to interview in upcoming editions of the show. And also, we ask you and urge you to invite your friends to join us in the future. If you know of any one or any organization needing a speaker for an event, please email me at speaker at Michael hingson.com. I appreciate it very much. To learn more about the concept of blinded by fear, please visit www dot Michael hingson.com forward slash blinded by fear and while you're there, feel free to pick up a copy of my free eBook entitled blinded by fear. The unstoppable mindset podcast is provided by access cast an initiative of accessiBe and is sponsored by accessiBe. Please visit www.accessibe.com . AccessiBe is spelled a c c e s s i b e. There you can learn all about how you can make your website inclusive for all persons with disabilities and how you can help make the internet fully inclusive by 2025. Thanks again for Listening. Please come back and visit us again next week.

How do experiences from different generations influence leadership styles in the church? Friends, in this bonus interview by Amy Ayala, I get the privilege to have a conversation with someone who is not only a wonderful teacher and preacher, but also my father, Pastor Pancho Juarez. My dad has had a very unique journey as an immigrant and a pastor in the United States. He has gone through many challenges and triumphs while leading a church in East Los Angeles, The Ark Montebello.  We discuss the importance of cultural identity, and also reflect on the sacrifices made in ministry. One of the highlights of our conversation is when we get to discuss the generational legacy of faith and resilience that my dad has modeled as the leader in our family. We also touch on the impact that our shared experiences have had on our leadership styles and community-building efforts.  Our goal is to encourage future generations of leaders, particularly those from immigrant backgrounds, to embrace their unique stories and continue their calling with tenacity and faith. Key Topics: The unique journey of immigrant pastors in the U.S. Challenges and triumphs of church leadership The importance of cultural identity in ministry Generational legacy of faith and resilience Impact of experiences on leadership styles Encouragement for future generations of leaders Friends, we want you to embrace your unique story and continue your calling with unwavering faith and resilience. Let us know where you're at on your remarkable journey of faith by tagging Pastor Pancho @thearkmontebello and me @biancaolthoff. Love you, B RESOURCES/LINKS Guest Pancho Juarez The Ark Montebello  Quote Embracing cultural identity to build stronger communities. Takeaways Pastor Bianca attributes her leadership qualities to her father's sacrifices. The journey of immigrant pastors is filled with challenges but also immense rewards. Cultural identity plays a significant role in their ministry approach. The importance of resilience and grit in church planting is emphasized. Ministry is a privilege that comes with both joy and pain. The cost of ministry includes personal sacrifices and emotional challenges. Encouragement for future leaders to embrace their unique backgrounds. The significance of community building in a thriving church environment. The conversation highlights the importance of mentorship and legacy. Faith and the Holy Spirit empower them to overcome obstacles. ⋇ Convoy of Hope - Empowering Women and Girls Together Donate here ⋇ Bianca's new book Grit Don't Quit: Developing Resilience And Faith When Giving Up Isn't An Option ⋇ The Grit Don't Quit Bible Study is now available. ⋇ We are so grateful to our sponsors! ⋇ Subscribe to We're Going There on your favorite podcast app so you don't miss out on any of the great topics and conversations. Don't forget to leave a loving review! Apple Spotify ⋇ Visit biancaolthoff.com/resources to learn more about books and other resources from Bianca. ⋇ Want to stay connected, join the community today. ⋇ WGT email: podcast@inthenameoflove.org ⋇ Music by: Brad Tsushima, Instagram: @bradtsushima, email: bradtsushima94@aol.com, Spotify: “R.A.D.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, this episode of the Savvy Ladies Power the Ask podcast focuses on the often-overlooked issue of financial abuse. We rarely hear about it, but it's a devastating reality for many — and often intertwined with physical and emotional abuse.Join us as we welcome back Mayra Alejandra Garcia of Debt-Free Latina, a certified financial coach who achieved financial independence overcoming $21,000 in debt. Get ready for a candid conversation about:Understanding Financial Abuse: Learn to recognize the red flags and subtle signs of financial abuse, whether you're married or in a committed partnership.Finding Support: Discover how to break free from the cycle of abuse, seek help from professionals, and regain control of your financial life.Empowerment Through Financial Literacy: Understand why financial knowledge is crucial for women, providing the confidence and tools to ask for what we need and deserve.If you or someone you know is experiencing financial abuse, you're not alone. Savvy Ladies is here to help, offering resources and support to empower you on your journey to financial freedom.About Mayra Alejandra García:Mayra Alejandra García was born and grew up in East Los Angeles, CA. She moved to Laveen, AZ, a Phoenix suburb, with her husband and two children and started living the American dream, including getting into debt. By 2010, her family had credit card debt, student loans, two car loans and a house they couldn't afford. Mayra got serious and developed a budget and strategic plan. They sold their house and moved into a small apartment, and within 17 months they had paid everything off. They were then able to purchase their current home with a 20% down payment and a 15-year mortgage. With hard work and by following a budget, Mayra transformed her life from significant debt to financial expertise. Living debt-free has increased their net worth and given them financial independence. In 2017, Mayra was able to leave her career in media and train as a certified financial coach. She's been teaching determined individuals and families how to organize their finances and become debt free with practical strategies ever since.Important Links:Savvy LadiesPrecious Williams' LinkedInLisa Zeiderman's LinkedInMayra Alejandra García LinkedIn

Guest: Randol Contreras is an Associate Professor of Sociology, Media, and Cultural Studies at the University of California, Riverside. His research focuses on the intersection of history, social structure, and biography, which sheds light on how crime emerges and influences the behavior and meanings of people.  He is the author of the award-winning book The Stickup Kids: Race, Drugs, Violence, and the American Dream; and his most recent, The Marvelous Ones: Drugs, Gang Violence, and Resistance in East Los Angeles. The post A History of Gang Wars in East Los Angeles appeared first on KPFA.

In this episode of Tamarindo, we sit down with Giselle Carrillo, an educator, surfer, and founder of Los Courage Camps, an initiative aimed at creating equity in the surfing community. Giselle shares her personal journey from growing up in East Los Angeles to discovering surfing later in life, and how it transformed her sense of courage and purpose. We discuss how Los Courage Camps offers free surf lessons to children from underserved communities, helping them build confidence, leadership, and self-advocacy skills. Tune in as Giselle talks about the powerful connection between the ocean and personal growth, and her mission to make surfing accessible for all. We mention GLAAD's Dímelo series that you can watch right now: https://youtu.be/btzuD0FMTVk?si=VY3uLE8XLcjlOT9P Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We're here to uplift our community through powerful conversations with changemakers, creatives, and healers. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval are executive producers of Tamarindo podcast with production support by Karina Riveroll of Sonoro Media. Jeff Ricards produced our theme song. If you want to support our work, please rate and review our show here.  SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on twitter at @tamarindocast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode of the Power of the Ask podcast features Mayra Alejandra García, certified Financial Coach and founder of Debt Free Latina, a website dedicated to empowering and motivating families to gain control of their money, bid farewell to debt, and watch their net worth soar. Mayra shares her inspiring journey from being $21,000 in debt to becoming financially free in just 17 months and her passion for working to help other families find the same freedom.Growing up in a bicultural, bilingual household in East LA helped shape Mayra's outlook on finances. She learned from her father the critical difference between offering a hand up and a hand out and emphasizes the importance of helping family without enabling dependency. What she didn't learn was how to talk about money and to plan and budget for spending. That, Mayra notes, was the hardest lesson. When she found herself stressed about significant debt in 2010, she didn't know where to start. So she grabbed the tools she had – a piece of paper and pen – and wrote every debt out. In the next 17 months, using Mayra's rudimentary budget, the family paid off its debt and was able to move from a small apartment to a new home. Since then, her family has remained debt free. In 2017, she followed her heart to become a certified financial coach, offering her own cash flow plan sheet, one-on-one coaching and financial literacy resources on her website, DebtFreeLatina.com.The website was a passion project for Mayra. When she couldn't find the resources she needed online, she decided to create them herself, starting a blog about budgeting, empowering and motivating families to become debt-free and build wealth. “I know the struggle,” she shares. “I know that people may feel lost in that position, and that's where I love to help. My debt-free lifestyle enables me to focus my passion on helping other families.”But it's not just about a budget. Mayra concludes by explaining that it all comes down to having a written plan with a goal and specific ways to reach it. Start with small steps, she shares, like saving or cutting out impulse buying. While she says it will take hard work and time, the financial freedom is worth the effort.  About Mayra Alejandra García:Mayra Alejandra García was born and grew up in East Los Angeles, CA. She moved to Laveen, AZ, a Phoenix suburb, with her husband and two children and started living the American dream, including getting into debt. By 2010, her family had credit card debt, student loans, two car loans and a house they couldn't afford. Mayra got serious and developed a budget and strategic plan. They sold their house and moved into a small apartment, and within 17 months they had paid everything off. They were then able to purchase their current home with a 20% down payment and a 15-year mortgage. With hard work and by following a budget, Mayra transformed her life from significant debt to financial expertise. Living debt-free has increased their net worth and given them financial independence. In 2017, Mayra was able to leave her career in media and train as a certified financial coach. She's been teaching determined individuals and families how to organize their finances and become debt free with practical strategies ever since.Important Links:Savvy LadiesPrecious Williams' LinkedInLisa Zeiderman's LinkedInMayra Alejandra García LinkedIn

When Ellie Hidalgo served as a pastoral associate at Dolores Mission Church in East Los Angeles, the priest asked her to lead Liturgy of the Word and Communion services on Thursdays to give him a day off. “I would often use stories of people acting with courage, loving their neighbor, serving as good Samaritans and living out Gospel values,” she says, reflecting on the homiletic approach she developed over 12 years. “Storytelling builds community. It builds identity.” Inspired by St. Phoebe—a pioneering woman deacon esteemed and commended by St. Paul to serve the early Christian community in Greece and Rome, and whose feast day is Sept. 3—Ellie joins “Preach” host Ricardo da Silva, S.J., to discuss St. Phoebe's ministry and its impact on contemporary debates within the Catholic Church regarding women's ordination to the diaconate, a live topic in the ongoing Synod on Synodality. As co-director of Discerning Deacons, Ellie offers practical strategies for expanding lay preaching opportunities. She encourages clergy to invite women to preside at Liturgy of the Word and Communion services, share testimonies during homilies and participate in parish faith-sharing groups to bring diverse perspectives from the pews—especially those of women—into their homilies. Get this week's Scripture readings and a transcript of Ellie's homily Get daily Scripture reflections and support “Preach” by becoming a digital subscriber to America Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Sojourner Truth, a deep dive into the August 29th 1970 Chicano Moratorium, where tens of thousands of Chicanos and their supporters took to the streets in East Los Angeles to protest the war in Vietnam and the oppression of Chicano people. Similar marches took place in several other states, but the one in EastLos was by far the largest. Police attached peaceful marchers, many were injured, and 3 were left dead. We are also marking the anniversary of Mexico's independence from Spain which is celebrated on September 16th. Our guest is Bill Gallegos, a veteran Chicano liberation activist and author.

Today on Sojourner Truth, a deep dive into the August 29th 1970 Chicano Moratorium, where tens of thousands of Chicanos and their supporters took to the streets in East Los Angeles to protest the war in Vietnam and the oppression of Chicano people. Similar marches took place in several other states, but the one in EastLos was by far the largest. Police attached peaceful marchers, many were injured, and 3 were left dead. We are also marking the anniversary of Mexico's independence from Spain which is celebrated on September 16th. Our guest is Bill Gallegos, a veteran Chicano liberation activist and author.

Today I am excited to introduce you to author Mike Panasitti.Mike was a student in my life writing course that I delivered for ISPS-US (International Society for Psychological and Social Approaches to Psychosis) where he was working on short pieces of autobiographically informed work.Born in East Los Angeles in 1969, he is a graduate of UC Berkeley and a former patient of California's Department of State Hospitals.  From 2015 to 2018 he was a prisoner at New Folsom, a maximum security prison near Sacramento.  Mike is now an exhibiting artist, as well as a poet and prose writer whose publishing credits include poems in Matter, creative non-fiction in WALL Literary Journal, and over 40 short stories posted on Reedsy Prompts.  He currently lives in the city of Santa Ana and is enrolled as a student of creative writing at Saddleback College.  A slightly longer episode, this interview is about everything from sonnets, magical realism, music, art and how it is possible to go on living after spending almost a third of one's life detained.

“BLAST 69” of the DOUBLE VISION CREWDuring the 1983 to 1987 Los Angeles graffiti era, the first 5 bonafide LA graffiti bombers emerged:1. Mr. 151 - RIP 2. Sine - RIP 3. Geo - RIP 4. Silver - RIP 5. BLAST 69Blast 69 is the last living member of this historic group of legendary bombers. He was active when Radiotron and The LA Bomb Squad were making their mark in the Crown Hill, Pico-Union, and Belmont areas.**THE FIRST** - Blast 69 was the first writer to focus on getting up in East Los Angeles, alongside Boyle Heights ally MC FORCE. **THE FIRST** - To get up with a female writing partner, SECRET. **THE FIRST** - To paint on and put up the first classic burner titled “Madonna” on the MAIN WALL at the BELMONT TUNNEL in 1985 with his Double Vision writing partner, PRESTO.He also gave the notorious CHAKA his nickname.In his FIRST EVER INTERVIEW, long thought dead and forgotten, BLAST 69 has re-emerged to share one of the most historic and entertaining episodes to date.BLAST 69 has stepped onto the classic burners stage!! Classic Burners features legendary graffiti writers from around the globe. Hosted by Los Angeles graffiti legend: SKILL ONE

On this episode, Brenda and Delsy discuss the current state of the economy, focusing on inflation and its impact on daily life, while sharing practical tips for managing finances. We also chat with Felipe Esparza, a Mexican-American stand-up comedian and actor known for his comedy rooted in his East Los Angeles upbringing. Felipe joins us to talk about his podcast, Nace Una Leyenda: Chespirito, which explores the life and legacy of Chespirito, from his early work with Viruta y Capulina to becoming a top TV show in Mexico and a symbol of Latin identity across the continent. Link to pod: Nace Una Leyenda: Chespirito on Apple Podcasts Follow Traveler Charly: https://www.instagram.com/travelercharly/?hl=en Article referenced: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/impact-bidens-economic-agenda-may-be-felt-long-after-his-presidency-2024-07-22/ Tamarindo is a lighthearted show hosted by Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval talking about politics, culture, and self-development. We're here to uplift our community through powerful conversations with changemakers, creatives, and healers. Join us as we delve into discussions on race, gender, representation, and life! You can get in touch with us at www.tamarindopodcast.com Brenda Gonzalez and Delsy Sandoval are executive producers of Tamarindo podcast with production support by Karina Riveroll of Sonoro Media. Clivia Torres edits our YouTube episodes. Jeff Ricards produced our theme song. If you want to support our work, please rate and review our show here.  SUPPORT OUR SHOW Contribute to the show: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/tamarindopodcast1 Follow Tamarindo on instagram @tamarindopodcast and on twitter at @tamarindocast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Richard interviews his cousin Paulie Navarro about the trials and tribulations of growing up together in a broken home and in gang life while recalling their childhood memories in East Los Angeles.

Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo's AB 1950 would mandate a historical report, compensation options, and a memorial to honor uprooted residentsLos Angeles, CA – Today, Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo unveiled Assembly Bill (AB) 1950, the Chavez Ravine Accountability Act, which aims to address the historical injustice faced by those living in the Chavez Ravine in Los Angeles, a predominately Latino community. Authored by Assemblymember Wendy Carrillo and sponsored by Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, AB 1950 would acknowledge and rectify the displacement of these communities in the 1950s, offering a path toward historical accountability, reparative measures, and a permanent memorial honoring their legacy.“AB 1950, the Chavez Ravine Accountability Act aims to correct an injustice that displaced families and has lingered in the shadows of Los Angeles Eastside history for far too long. Amid the 1950s, the vibrant community of Chavez Ravine, home to mostly Mexican-American families, as well as Italian-American and Chinese-American, saw an upheaval as families were uprooted and displaced in the name of progress. Families were promised a return to better housing, but instead, they were left destitute,” said Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles).  “For generations, Chavez Ravine stood as a beacon of hope and resilience, embodying the dreams and aspirations of families who built their lives within its embrace. With this legislation, we are addressing the past, giving voice to this injustice, acknowledging the pain of those displaced, offering reparative measures, and ensuring that we honor and remember the legacy of the Chavez Ravine community."Chavez Ravine was named after Julian Chavez, a rancher who served as assistant mayor, city councilmember, and, eventually, as one of L.A. County's first supervisors in the mid-1800s. Chavez Ravine as we currently know it, was established in the early 1900s, encompassed approximately 315 acres, and had three main neighborhoods — Palo Verde, La Loma, and Bishop. By the 1950s, this area was home to generations of predominantly Mexican Americans.Residents, many of whom were working-class families, built a strong sense of community, with local businesses, churches, and social organizations thriving in the area. In the 1950s, the City of Los Angeles initiated plans to acquire land in Chavez Ravine under the guise of building public housing. However, it ultimately abandoned these plans and instead sold the land to a private developer who built Dodger Stadium on the site. This displacement forced more than 1,800 families from their homes and businesses, scattering a close-knit community and leaving a lasting impact on their lives and livelihoods."AB 1950 is about confronting a historical injustice and ensuring Angelenos understand the true story of Chavez Ravine," said Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara, one of the bill's sponsors. "Only by acknowledging the past can we work towards a more just and equitable future for all communities in Los Angeles."“The unjust seizure of land from the longtime residents of these three communities in the Chavez Ravine neighborhood is a chapter in our city's history that we cannot rewrite,” said Alfred Fraijo, Jr., Latino community leader. “Our homes are central to our livelihood and sense of being—and often the most important asset in the building of generational wealth. Belated as it may be, we hope this legislation will begin a larger conversation about how to restore justice to all those who bear the scars of social, racial, and economic discrimination, and create an opportunity for healing and reconciliation for all Angelenos.”Specifically, if enacted into law, AB 1950 would result in:Historical Accountability: Mandates a comprehensive report detailing events surrounding the land acquisition and displacement, and makes it publicly available to foster transparency and education about this pivotal moment in Los Angeles' history.Reparative Measures: Proposes various forms of compensation, including offering City-owned real estate comparable to the original Chavez Ravine landowners or providing fair market value compensation adjusted for inflation. It also creates pathways for displaced non-landowning residents to receive relocation assistance, healthcare access, employment support, educational opportunities, and other forms of compensation deemed appropriate by a newly established Task Force.Permanent Memorial: Requires the construction of a memorial on Chavez Ravine or adjoining property to honor the displaced residents and their legacy.It is important to note AB 1950 focuses solely on the displaced community of Chavez Ravine and does not involve the Los Angeles Dodgers or Dodger Stadium.The measure will be heard in the Assembly's Judiciary Committee. The text of the measure can be found at: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB1950###About Assemblywoman Wendy CarrilloAssemblywoman Carrillo was elected to serve in the State Assembly in December 2017. She represents the 52nd Assembly District, which includes East Los Angeles, the City of Los Angeles, and South Glendale. She serves on the Assembly Committees on Appropriations, Emergency Management, Health, Labor and Employment, and the Joint Committee on Climate Change Policies. She also serves as the Chair of the Select Committee on Latina Inequities, Vice Chair of the Legislative Progressive Caucus, Commissioner for the California Film Commission, Commissioner for the Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission, and Member of the California Cultural and Historical Endowment Board.About Insurance Commissioner Ricardo LaraUsing every tool at his disposal, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara's goal is to safeguard the integrity of the state's insurance market composed of consumers, drivers, homeowners, and businesses. He is focused on addressing decades-long neglected issues and taking on powerful, entrenched special interests to make insurance more available, which in turn will lead to greater affordability.Led by Commissioner Lara, the California Department of Insurance is the consumer protection agency for the nation's largest insurance marketplace, safeguarding all of the state's consumers by fairly regulating the insurance industry. Under the Commissioner's direction, the Department uses its authority to protect Californians from insurance rates that are excessive, inadequate, or unfairly discriminatory. The Department oversees insurance company solvency to pay claims, set standards for agents and broker licensing, perform market conduct reviews of insurance companies, resolve consumer complaints, and investigate and prosecute insurance fraud.

In this inspiring episode, our host welcomes Tony, a successful banker and business coach, who shares his incredible journey from a challenging upbringing in East Los Angeles to becoming a top mortgage professional. Tony emphasizes the transformative power of knowledge and the importance of leveraging life experiences to overcome obstacles. Tony's story is one of resilience and determination. Growing up in a rough neighborhood and facing numerous hardships, he learned to be fearless and adaptable. These traits have been instrumental in his success in the mortgage industry, where he now excels in sales and mentors others. Throughout the episode, Tony provides valuable insights on balancing professional responsibilities, the current state of the real estate market, and essential advice for first-time homebuyers. His motivational words encourage listeners to take control of their credit and prepare in advance to achieve homeownership. As the episode concludes, Tony leaves the audience with a powerful message: always move forward and focus on the future. Tune in to gain inspiration and practical advice from Tony's remarkable journey. Visit Anthony website here: https://tonypelayo.com/

Before it became a media franchise sensation, Dave's Hot Chicken was a pop-up shop in East Los Angeles creating a line as long as the eye could see. Now it has a national cult following with investors like Drake and Usher invested in the Nashville-style chicken chain. The Wolf sits down to chat with founding franchisees, Andrew Feghali and Lawrence Kourie about the challenges and triumphs of starting a franchise in a new market and the excitement of becoming part of a rapidly growing brand.  Hear how Dave's Hot Chicken has gained attention not only for its mouth-watering menu but also for its celebrity investors. How do its chef-inspired offerings set it apart from the competition? And how has Dave's made the art of the simple menu work in their favor? Can Dave's Hot Chicken compete with In-N-Out? Lawrence and Andrew explain how focusing on the people behind the brand and creating room for growth has led to a fantastic working culture and a high degree of scalability. Plus, don't miss out on an exclusive sneak peek into the future of Dave's Hot Chicken, including plans for expansion and international growth. Sandbox VR is the world's most advanced virtual reality experience. With more than 45 locations across 7 countries, this full-body gaming provides unprecedented realism and complete immersion that's not possible anywhere else. Groups of up to six can roam the VR space together, exploring exclusive virtual worlds and relying on each other to succeed while surviving a zombie apocalypse, battling a mighty dragon, hunting for lost treasure, and more. Visit Franchise.SandboxVR.com to learn more. 00:00:00 - Franchisees Share Dave's Hot Chicken Story 00:03:53 - Dodgers Game Meeting Leads to Successful Store Opening 00:06:06 - Opening a Franchise in San Diego 00:12:55 - Balancing Speed and Patience in Expansion 00:18:52 - Simplicity Key to Dave's Success 00:22:14 - Celebrity Investors Back Dave's Hot Chicken 00:26:18 - Third-Party Delivery: A Big Model   Follow Lawrence: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencekourie/   Follow Andrew: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-feghali-6728197a/   Follow The Wolf: Newsletter: https://workweek.com/brand/the-wolf-of-franchises/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thewolfoffranchises Twitter: https://twitter.com/franchisewolf Website: https://www.krokit.com   And for exclusive insider content, don't forget to check out my YouTube channel.   Are you a future franchise entrepreneur? Find all of the tools you need to launch, operate, and expand your franchise empire with the platform created by The Wolf himself, Krokit.com.   And if you've enjoyed listening to Franchise Empires, I'd be so grateful if you could drop me a 5-star review on Rate My Podcast. Thank you so much!

When she was nine years old, Xiomara Torres fled the civil war in her home country of El Salvador and came to the U.S. As a child, she adjusted to her new life in East Los Angeles before she was removed from her family and put into foster care—where she spent six years of her life moving from home to home. Now, she's the subject of a local play in Oregon titled, "Judge Torres." In this edition of “How I Made It,” Judge Torres shares how she overcame the hurdles of the foster system and made her way to the Oregon Circuit Court.This episode originally aired in 2019.

Episode 52: Historian and Author Roberta H. Martinez joins the podcast to shed light on the rich tapestry of Latino history, culture, and resilience. Raised in East Los Angeles, Roberta brings a personal perspective to understanding the Latino community's roots and reach in Pasadena and beyond. Through her own story and work, Martinez explores the multifaceted nature of Los Angeles' history, emphasizing the diversity and interconnectedness within the community. The discussion touches on the importance of recognizing and preserving Latino history in Pasadena, including Roberta's efforts in publishing her book 'Latinos in Pasadena.'The featured music on the podcast is courtesy of Pasadena's own The Nextdoors. Please visit nextdoorsmusic.com and follow them on social media for more information on their next live shows. The Crown City Podcast is produced in partnership with Pasadena Media. For more information about this incredible non-profit serving the Pasadena community, please visit www.pasadenamedia.org. For more information and to support The Crown City Podcast, please visit us at www.thecrowncitypodcast.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Scholar Randol Contreras joins Kate Wolf and Eric Newman to discuss his new book  The Marvelous Ones: Drugs, Gang Violence, and Resistance in East Los Angeles. The book is a study of the history and present lives of veterans of the legendary Maravilla gang that long dominated the scene in East Los Angeles before a bitter rivalry with the La Eme during the 1990s and early 2000s that had Maravillas scrambling for their lives in the streets and in prison. Though centered around the experience of that epic gang rivalry, The Marvelous Ones is also an examination of how masculinity, race, and cultural identity are shaped and reshaped within the context of organized crime inside state institutions and in the everyday lives of those living in Los Angeles. It is also a story about what it means to matter and to be remembered as a man, as a husband, as a father, and as a Maravilla amid the roiling waters of political, social, and historical change. Also, poet Victoria Chang, whose latest collection is With My Back to the World, returns to recommend an anthology of poetry entitled You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World edited by the current Poet Laureate of the United States, Ada Limon.

Scholar Randol Contreras joins Kate Wolf and Eric Newman to discuss his new book The Marvelous Ones: Drugs, Gang Violence, and Resistance in East Los Angeles. The book is a study of the history and present lives of veterans of the legendary Maravilla gang that long dominated the scene in East Los Angeles before a bitter rivalry with the La Eme during the 1990s and early 2000s that had Maravillas scrambling for their lives in the streets and in prison. Though centered around the experience of that epic gang rivalry, The Marvelous Ones is also an examination of how masculinity, race, and cultural identity are shaped and reshaped within the context of organized crime inside state institutions and in the everyday lives of those living in Los Angeles. It is also a story about what it means to matter and to be remembered as a man, as a husband, as a father, and as a Maravilla amid the roiling waters of political, social, and historical change. Also, poet Victoria Chang, whose latest collection is With My Back to the World, returns to recommend an anthology of poetry entitled You Are Here: Poetry in the Natural World edited by the current Poet Laureate of the United States, Ada Limon.

Born and raised in Mexico City Jose Antonio Aguirre has become internationally recognized for his venetian glass mosaic, and carved limestone murals many of which explore the people, places, and stories he has encountered as an artist who exists in two cultures bound by the Mexican and American bi-national spaces he has occupied for four decades. The Journey of Jose Antonio AguirreIn this episode of 'Change the Story, Change the World' we explore the life and works of Jose Antonio Aguirre, a Mexican-American artist renowned for his public art in the forms of murals and mosaics. Born in Mexico City and eventually making his way to the United States, Aguirre's multifaceted career spans roles as a muralist, teacher, journalist, and cultural ambassador. His work, deeply influenced by his bi-national experience, celebrates cultural heritage and challenges viewers to consider social issues and their own identities. Notably, Aguirre collaborated with significant cultural and community institutions such as Self Help Graphics and Art in East Los Angeles and participated in the creation of the Cesar Chavez Memorial. His journey underscores the power of art in community building, heritage preservation, and social commentary, all while navigating the complexities of his adventurous life in the U.S.00:00 Welcome to Change the Story, Change the World00:12 Journey to Knowledge: The Power of Public Art01:30 Jose Antonio Aguirre: A Life in Art and Cultural Diplomacy04:10 The Chicano Art Movement and Self Help Graphics08:39 A Serendipitous Journey from Music to Muralism20:57 From Chicago to California: A New Chapter in Art31:49 The Evolution and Impact of the Mural Movement41:10 Closing Thoughts: The Role of Art in SocietyBioAs a visual artist, I am dedicated to nurturing the development and production of an ongoing body of art that utilizes a variety of traditional mediums, materials, and techniques in combination with an experimental approach to contemporary technology and social issues. I seek to explore the application of space within an installation, painting, print or public environment that invites the interaction of the viewer with the elements of the composition; the spectator is to be engaged as an active participant and not a passive observer. The nature of my art is dependent upon the exploration and exportation of images, icons, symbols, and signs that have been contained within the continuity of creative expression in Mexican art from 3000 years ago until today. The essence of my iconography is traced from my personal pre-Columbian roots and it's mixing with religious symbols of Spanish colonization, and compounded by the contradictory reality of “modernism” in Mexico and the United States. The content is inspired by the duality of history and social experience; the color palette inspired by the richness of the folk artists hand and the local regions natural landscapes. Reflecting upon my place of origin (Mexico) and its impact on the recent history of my experience in the United States, I probe the aesthetics of an artist that exists in two cultures bound by bi-national implications. I create a visual imagery that provokes definitions and questions that attempt to integrate the tentative everyday experience of human nature and its social implications with the cultural diversity of living on the border of two worlds that exist in the time of expanding globalization.

On this week's Urban Valor, we meet Danny Rivera, a former Navy Chief Petty Officer with roots in East Los Angeles. Following in his families footsteps, Danny joined the Navy. He began his Naval Career as a Sonar Technician on the USS Cochrane (DDG-21), stationed at Pearl Harbor, where he honed his skills in sophisticated naval technology and tactics. Danny speaks on navigating storms, conflict, and warfare at sea.Danny's transition from the life of the Navy to civilian existence was a struggle to his mental health. This is something all too familiar to many veterans who find themselves battling to adjust to life after their service. 

Born and raised in East Los Angeles, CA, Sal Gonzalez learned to sing in grade school while performing in the choir and quickly fell in love with the whole process. He later picked up playing guitar partially by learning from his self-taught father and partially by playing in bands with much better guitar players. Sal quickly started singing lead in bands throughout high school, having small success with his Spanish rock band “La Cabaña,” playing locally all-over Southern California. After the terror attacks of 9/11, Sal decided to serve his country and shifted his focus from music to being a United States Marine—a title he would later earn in late 2003. After training to become a machine gunner, Sal proudly served with the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marines and would later be deployed to Iraq in the late summer of 2004. On October 31, 2004, Sal's vehicle was struck for the 7th time during that deployment, killing Lt. Matthew D. Lynch and severely injuring Sal and one other Marine Sal was flown to Bethesda Naval Hospital, where, after coming out of a weeklong coma, he learned the extent of his injuries. After more than 30 surgeries and 4 months of hospitalization, his left leg was amputated below the knee. Once healed, he was sent to San Antonio Medical Center in Texas, where he spent the next year learning to walk on his new prosthetic leg. Sal retired from the United States Marine Corps in late 2005 and, after a quick stay back home in Los Angeles, CA, he moved to Nashville, TN to pursue his dreams of songwriting and performing.

Become Part of The Parajunkie Fam today! Ad Free always plus so much more! www.patreon.com/savannahunderground In this chilling episode of our podcast, join Madison and Chris as they dive deep into the spectral heart of Savannah, famously known as "The Most Haunted City on Earth." Our special segment, Ghostmail, brings to light the personal, spine-tingling ghost stories shared by our listeners, turning skeptics into believers. Our first story takes us on a journey with a listener and her husband, Landon, as they embark on a ghostly adventure in Savannah. From a serendipitous encounter with Madison to witnessing a full apparition and engaging in a poignant ghost investigation at the Savannah theater, this tale is filled with eerie encounters and the pursuit of the unknown. Next, we delve into a terrifying experience shared by a high school student involving demonic oppression, the power of faith, and a harrowing night that tested the bounds of friendship and belief. This story is a testament to the unseen forces that lurk in the shadows, challenging our perceptions of the spiritual realm. Our final story from East Los Angeles unfolds in a house with a history spanning back to the 1920s. Alexis shares a heart-stopping encounter with an entity named Tabitha, an experience so intense it converts a skeptic into a believer and leads to a desperate search for spiritual protection. Madison and Chris offer their insights into these ghostly phenomena, exploring the themes of historical hauntings, spiritual warfare, and the enduring mystery of the afterlife. Whether you're a seasoned ghost hunter or a curious newcomer, this episode is sure to leave you pondering the mysteries that exist just beyond the veil of our understanding. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/john-taylor-timmons/support

Join us this week on Urban Valor as we listen to Nick Velez, a Marine Veteran whose roots are deeply planted in the vibrant streets of East Los Angeles. From his early dreams of military service to becoming an esteemed infantry rifleman with the "Magnificent Bastards," 2nd Battalion 4th Marines, Nick's story is a testament to courage, brotherhood, and the sacrifice.Born and raised in East LA, Nick's passion for serving his country led him to the Devil Pups program, setting the stage for his enlistment in the Marine Corps. His deployment to Ramadi, Iraq, with the 2nd Battalion 4th Marines, (aka “The Magnificent Bastards”) that marked a period of intense combat. The transition out of the Marine Corps was a pivotal moment for Nick. He co-founded "Bastard's Canteen," a venture that paid tribute to the unbreakable bond shared among Marines. However, the journey took a heartbreaking turn with the loss of his close friend and business partner in a tragic accident. This episode is a testament into the resilience and dedication of a Marine veteran. It's an exploration of the challenges and triumphs of military life and the transition back to civilian life. Don't miss this compelling episode of "Urban Valor." Subscribe to our channel, like this video, and share your thoughts and support for veterans like Nick in the comments below. Let's honor their service and sacrifices together.Remember to like, comment, and SUBSCRIBE to support Urban Valor and the courageous Veterans who take the share and tell their story! Your engagement greatly supports our mission to share authentic and impactful stories. Thank you for watching, and stay tuned for more content that delves into the lives of extraordinary individuals.#military #marine #urbanvalor #war #warstories #veteran #combatveteran

Please remember to rate and review our podcast on iTunes, CastBox, or on our website! Check out your YouTube channel @comadresycomics5196 CHISME DE LA SEMANA: Latinx Comic Arts Festival @latinxcomicartsfest Gina Carano filed a lawsuit against Disney. ON MY RADAR:  Ultimate Black Panther #1 from Bryan Hill and Stefano Caselli, published by Marvel Comics. HORA DE LA CERVECITA: 1554 by New Belgium Brewing Company BOOK REVIEW: Blackward Book by Lawrence Lindell @lawrencelindell @lanehahouse  EN LA LIBRERIA: Alternative Baltimore #1 : Headlines are Half the Story - A heartfelt exploration of what it means to live in Baltimore where everyday voices go unheard and history is forgotten. http://kck.st/3SuCATE JUNTOS Y FUERTES: Mujeres de Maiz (women of the corn) was founded in 1997 as a grassroots, multimedia women's activist organization based in East Los Angeles, California. Mujeres de Maiz utilizes community partnerships, mainly those developed with local artists, performers, educators, and organizers in the creation and implementation of our programming. www.mujeresdemaiz.com SALUDOS:  Laneha House @lanehahouse Follow us on socials @comadresycomics Visit our website comadresycomics.com Follow Period Network @periodpodcastnetworkins

Get to know Chef Babette Davis, a survivor who shares how she moved from a meat-eater who suffered from many health ailments including eczema, acne, digestive issues and drug addiction to become a plant-based lifestyle icon. Today, she thrives as a vivacious and beautiful woman in her 70s who looks as though she stopped the clock in her 40s when she went full vegan. Chef Babette even opened a vegan restaurant in her hometown of Inglewood, California in East Los Angeles area. She didn't go vegan for any ethical reason, at least not in the beginning. Today, she speaks for animals, against our cruel food systems, and operates as a willing spokesperson for Mercy For Animals, and even spoke at an event on their behalf in fall of 2022. She has made it her personal mission to help people reach optimal health by eating "something alive" in every meal they consume. We discuss the recent Netflix documentary that featured a twin-study performed at Stanford University, "You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment". If you watch the video version of this podcast, you will see Chef Babette in all her glory, a woman in her 70s who has had no difficulty maintaining muscle mass as a vegan and fitness enthusiast. You will also receive simple and actionable recommendations for how you can make a bigger impact by reducing your consumption overall, and even consider following Jonathan Safran Foer's recommendation of going "vegan before dinner". About Guest:Chef Babette is a world-known vegan chef, fitness enthusiast, and motivational speaker. She runs a successful restaurant, “Stuff I Eat”, which was the first plant-based restaurant in Inglewood. Not only does Chef Babette have a massive fan base on social media but she participates in global health and wellness speaking engagements on a yearly basis. Fresh off her 73rd birthday, she truly is a force of nature who can do it all.Becoming a self-taught chemist in the kitchen, Babette has perfected eating healthy while keeping her dishes tasting out of this world. Her combination of mindful preparation of food and fitness has allowed her to enjoy the meals she loves without the guilt. Her goal is to share her knowledge with others, and be a catalyst to get people moving and eating healthy! As she so eloquently says, "It's important to not only have longevity, but to live a life of quality." Guest Website: https://www.stuffieat.com/ Guest Social:https://instagram.com/chefbabette https://www.youtube.com/@chefbabette441 https://www.facebook.com/babette.davis.92 https://tiktok.com/@chefbabettePlease subscribe on your favorite podcasting platform - and join the Care More Be Better Community! When you visit our website and join our email list, you'll receive a FREE 5-Step Guide To Unleash Your Inner Activist!Website: https://www.caremorebebetter.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@caremorebebetter Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CareMore.BeBetter/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CareMoreBeBetterLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/care-more-be-betterTwitter: https://twitter.com/caremorebebettr Support Care More. Be Better: A Social Impact + Sustainability PodcastCare More. Be Better. is not backed by any company. We answer only to our collective conscience. As a listener, reader, and subscriber you are part of this pod and this community and we are honored to have your support. If you can, please help finance the show (https://www.caremorebebetter.com/donate). Thank you, now and always, for your support as we get this thing started!

Could the essence of love be more than heart-shaped boxes and red roses? Let's unravel the commercial facade and discover the profound connections that elevate our daily lives. In this special episode with fan-favorite guest, Rosie Acosta, we take you on a journey through the true meanings of love, from self-love's deeper layers to the resilience found in long-standing relationships. We'll confront societal pressures, debunk myths about the so-called perfect partnership, and celebrate the authentic love that unites our community. Step away from the expected and celebrate Valentine's Day by embracing love in its many forms, including the most important love story of all: the one you have with yourself. Rosie rejoins Ruben to explain why long-term love isn't always roses and champagne; it's an action that demands 100% of what we can give. Rosie dissects what it means to love over the years, tackling the crucial aspects of communication and conflict resolution. She shares insights on keeping the flames of love alive, even when they flicker, and how mutual effort rather than a 50/50 split can lead to a more fulfilling connection. In the intricate dance of dating and relationships, anticipation meets reality, and love's checklist gets a rewrite. The episode delves into the comical yet telling tale of a date with a checklist, prompting us to question the rigidity of our own criteria for love. We'll talk about how love languages evolve and the vital art of letting go, seeing love not as a possession but as a journey of shared growth and evolution.  How does Rosie live through love? “By being compassionate; desiring for the suffering of others to end. If I have a desire for your suffering to end, that's me living in my fullest expression of love.” “Love is not about possession but about mutual growth and evolution—a concept that love itself is ever-changing and endlessly fascinating.” - Rosie Acosta ----- In this episode, you will learn… True love transcends commercialized expectations, requiring self-acceptance and deep, authentic connections Love in long-term relationships is an action, not just an emotion, demanding continuous effort and communication Approach dating with clarity and openness, balancing desires with the unpredictability of love's journey Love languages evolve; recognizing and adapting to them is crucial for expressing and sustaining love Love is about mutual growth and evolution, not possession; embracing change is key to healthy relationships ----- “It's about embracing the messiness, the ebbs and flows, and the potent mix of tenderness and tenacity that sustains love over time.” - Rosie Acosta About the guest: Rosie Acosta is the author of You Are Radically Loved: A Healing Journey to Self-Love, has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years, and taught for over a decade. She hosts a weekly conversational wellness podcast called, The Radically Loved Podcast. She works with a wide range of students, from those in her East Los Angeles community to Olympic athletes, NFL champions, NBA All-Stars and veterans of war. A first-gen Mexican-American, Rosie's mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love. Follow Rosie @rosieacosta ----- Follow Ruben on Instagram Watch and subscribe to Live Through Love on YouTube An Operation Podcast original in collaboration with Live Through Love Media

On Part 7 of Episode 57, we continue our look into deputy gangs in the L.A. County Sheriff's Department. Last week, we talked about the rise of the Banditos in the East L.A. Station , their take over of the station, and how it allowed them to abuse their co-workers. But on today's show, we'll talk about their reign of terror over the communities of East Los Angeles, as well as their continued control over operations in the station. I hope everyone thoroughly enjoys today's show and tunes back in next week.PLEASE follow us on our socials- Instagram and Twitter: @theblackhandpodSources:Background Music:Music: Dark Flashes by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.comIntro Music:Music: Void Glider by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.comIntro audio sources:Lufthansa clip belongs to The Fox Corporation“New York City is a warzone” clip belongs to CBS Broadcasting Inc.Joey Gallo and “Leave by violence” clip belongs to the American Broadcasting CompanySupport the show

Alfonso Gonzales Jr. is a painter whose work is both documentation & expressive of the transient nature that exists within Los Angeles. Through the appreciation of weathered surfaces, remnants of Los Angeles & the communities behind it, Alfonso's paintings evoke feelings of wonder & contemplation as to where changing city scapes will culminate. His early inspiration comes from his father's sign painting practice. He lives & works making paintings in East Los Angeles. http://livingproofnewyork.comhttp://patreon.com/livingproofnewyork

We are joined by comedians comedian Silvia De Anda to discuss growing up religious, making friends and the benefits of crying. Merch Store: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1429951216/un-poquito Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/unpoquitopod Join our Discord: https://discord.gg/eDAhPfZZ8n Follow Us: Silvia De Anda: https://www.instagram.com/silviadeanda17/?hl=en Rian Reyes https://linktr.ee/RianReyes Dominic Angel https://linktr.ee/Domsiethebomsie Ricky Macias: https://linktr.ee/therickymac  Un Poquito Podcast https://linktr.ee/unpoquitopod Legacy Teas and Spices: https://legacyteasandspices.com/t/shop-teas?page=2 code: UP20 Theme music by: Piano Blac https://www.instagram.com/piano_blac/?hl=en

Rosie Acosta Author of “You are Radically Loved: A healing journey to Self-Love” has studied yoga and mindfulness for more than 20 years and taught for over a decade. She hosts a weekly conversational wellness podcast called, Radically Loved. Rosie has traveled all over the world leading workshops, retreats and yoga teacher trainings. She works with a wide range of students, from those in her East Los Angeles community to Olympic athletes, NFL champions, NBA All-Stars and veterans of war. A first-gen Mexican-American, Rosie's mission is to help others overcome adversity and experience radical love. She's been featured in Yoga Journal, Well + Good, Forbes, Entrepreneur, The New York Post. She currently lives in the greater Los Angeles region known as The Valley.  Connect with Rosie Website: https://www.radicallyloved.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosieacosta/ Buy the book: https://www.radicallyloved.com/book Substack: https://radicallyloved.substack.com/ Connect with Ina Wellness Collective Website: https://www.inawellnesscollective.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inawellnesscollective/ Follow + rate + leave a review!

Learn More About Attending the Highest Rated and Most Reviewed Business Workshops On the Planet Hosted by Clay Clark In Tulsa, Oklahoma HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/business-conferences/   See the Thousands of Success Stories and Millionaires That Clay Clark Has Helped to Produce HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/   Clay Clark Testimonials | "Clay Clark Has Helped Us to Grow from 2 Locations to Now 6 Locations. Clay Has Done a Great Job Helping Us to Navigate Anything That Has to Do with Running the Business, Building the System, the Workflows, to Buy Property." - Charles Colaw (Learn More Charles Colaw and Colaw Fitness Today HERE: www.ColawFitness.com)   Download A Millionaire's Guide to Become Sustainably Rich: A Step-by-Step Guide to Become a Successful Money-Generating and Time-Freedom Creating Business HERE: www.ThrivetimeShow.com/Millionaire   See Thousands of Actual Client Success Stories from Real Clay Clark Clients Today HERE: https://www.thrivetimeshow.com/testimonials/   See Thousands of Case Studies Today HERE:  www.thrivetimeshow.com/does-it-work/  

Have you ever considered going back to school to get your doctorate? You may have wondered how doctorate school counseling could benefit your career. Well, you're in luck because we are going to hear directly from a counselor who went for her dream and received her Ph.D.   Today's guest, Dr. Maritza Cha, is a first-generation college graduate who started her journey as a social studies teacher in East Los Angeles. Dr. Cha helped design and launch a pilot school within the Los Angeles Unified School District, leading her to work toward her lifelong dream of becoming a college counselor. She has her Ph.D. in Education and Urban Leadership from Claremont Graduate University and teaches at the University of La Verne. She is also a current member of The Clique Collaborative membership.   In this episode, Dr. Cha shares all about her journey to pursuing her doctorate, what she has learned from her experience as an adjunct professor, what it's like to teach adults, and the topic she wrote her dissertation on and is passionate about. Plus, she shares her experience of being in The Clique Collaborative.   Resources Mentioned: Resource: Join The Clique Collaborative! Resource: Allies for Dreamers Certificate Resource: Dr. Maritza Cha's Dissertation Leave your review for High School Counseling Conversations on Apple Podcasts Connect with Maritza: Sign up for the free, 3-day prep for High School Counseling Job Interviews Visit my TpT store Send me a DM on Instagram: @counselorclique Follow me on Facebook Send me an email: lauren@counselorclique.com Join the Clique Collaborative Full show notes on website: https://counselorclique.com/episode108

Science and Faith Do Not Have to Fight Each OtherJoin me for an amazing conversation with Dr. Michael Guillen, Ph.D. about his important book, Believing is Seeing: A Physicist Explains How Science Shattered His Atheism and Revealed the Necessity of Faith.PLEASE SUBSCRIBE to the show wherever you listen!Dr. Guillen was born in East Los Angeles, where he dreamed of becoming a scientist. The dream took him to UCLA, where he earned a B.S. in physics and mathematics. Then to Cornell, where he earned an M.S. in experimental physics and Ph.D. degrees in physics, mathematics and astronomy. For eight years thereafter, he was an award-winning physics instructor at Harvard University. He's also received honorary doctorates from the University of Maryland and Pepperdine University.Dr. Guillen is known and loved by millions as the ABC News Science Editor, a post he filled for fourteen years (1988-2002). He appeared regularly on Good Morning America, 20/20, Nightline, and World News Tonight. He also hosted Where Did It Come From?, a weekly, one-hour primetime series for The History Channel. He is a three-time Emmy Award winner and a member of the renowned Explorers Club.​​He has a wonderful podcast also!Click here to access the Hope Is the First Dose playlist of hopeful, healing songs!Be sure to check out my new book, Hope Is the First Dose!Here's a free 5-day Bible study on YouVersion/BibleApp based on my new book!Sign up for my weekly Self-Brain Surgery Newsletter here!

-How do couples interact when they are under the ‘spell of codependency?' -Why is it that ‘high-functioning' codependents act immature and childlike in romantic relationships? -What can couples do to break their codependent patterns? Welcome to Episode 144! This week, the amazing Connie Morlett Maddison, LMFT, joins us to talk about her experience treating codependency in couples. Connie shares about the couples she has worked with and how the ‘high-functioning' codependent partner often behaves in an immature, childlike, and over-reliant manner when it comes to problem-solving, conflict, and compromise. We also discuss the dynamic between the ‘codependent partner' and the ‘partner they are codependent on' since it is a symbiotic relationship! It's not all on the codependent! We conclude with ways Connie helps couples combat codependency through ‘uncoupling' and improving their respective relationships with themselves. It's a must-listen! Links for the show: Sign up for the newsletter to receive all things codependummy: https://keap.app/contact-us/2302598426037497  Journal! The Confiding Codependummy: 30 Days of Journaling Prompts for a Less-Codependent and More-Conscious YOU for just $1 a day. www.codependummy.com/toolsforhealing FREEBIE! The Self-Validation Challenge: Learn to validate your GD self: www.codependummy.com/challenge  Money! Funds! Help support the show via a one-time donation via secure Paypal link: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RJ3PSNZ4AF7QC Work with me! Email marissa@codependummy.com to inquire about psychotherapy, coaching, or coming on the show! More on thise week's guest: Connie Morlett Maddison, LMFT,  is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Claremont, California. She is also an adjunct professor teaching clinical psychology with an emphasis in Multicultural and Latino Community mental health. Connie proudly identifies as Chicana, born in East Los Angeles, and raised by her maternal grandparents in Queretaro, Mexico. www.morlettcounseling.com  More deets on the episode: We begin with Connie's definition of codependency: when one surrenders their own identity for the benefits of love, security, safety, belonging, and survival. She emphasizes how being dependent is nothing to villainize and how, from a sociological lens, it is a good thing. However, when relationships become conditional like codependency often does, it is unhealthy.  Connie recollects her own codependent relationship with her younger sister. Due to their circumstance, they relied heavily on one another and this lead to each of them wanting the other's approval, love, validation, and so on. Connie highlighted how, if and when she did not get the approval or communication from her sister that she needed, it felt like abandonment. Such a great description of our codependent experience! We shift gears to Connie's expertise: working with couples in therapy. She shares her observations of the codependent parter's behavior, including how we often seize our partners, give up our autonomy/self-trust/wisdom/intuition, become child-like and immature during conflict, and rely on our partner as a “mighty source.” This looks like bickering, fighting, passive-aggressiveness, and name-calling on the day-to-day.  And what about the partner of the codependent? We often focus on our behavior but it's a symbiotic relationship! What about the partner in this dynamic? Connie states how the relationships are symbiotic “and they can become parasitic.” The other partner has been codependent too! Their behavior includes staying in the relationship and fulfilling needs despite how draining it is.  To address these challenges, Connie has couples ask themselves: how do you get your needs met for yourself first? They must have a willingness and motivation to have a relationship with themselves first THEN address the needs in the relationship. What needs are most important to you? Attention, acceptance, affection, appreciation, or allowance.  We conclude with Connie's experience of witnessing couples do the work of “uncoupling” and creating a relationship with themselves: they feel relieved, responsible for their own needs, and become sexy to one another as mature partners!  Thanks for coming on Connie! And thank you for listening, my dear listener! PLEASE: Rate.  Review. Subscribe.  Share. We need more ratings on Spotify! TY! -The Self-Validation Challenge - free 30-day guide to providing yourself with all the validation you seek: www.codependummy.com/challenge -Get your copy of the Confiding Codependummy: 30 days of journaling prompts for a less-codependent and more-conscious you! www.codependummy.com/toolsforhealing  -If you are wanting to dive into your codependency deeper one-on-one, please email marissa@codependumy.com to work with me! -Sign up for the newsletter: https://keap.app/contact-us/2302598426037497  -Support the show via a one-time secure donation: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=RJ3PSNZ4AF7QC  See you next week!

Back around the era when this came out in the late '80's/early '90's it felt like there was a new heroic teacher drama (Dead Poet's Society, Lean On Me) being released every six months.  This particular inspirational drama was directed by Ramon Menendez and might be one of the best of that group.  It's based upon the true story of Jaime Escalante and his advanced math class at Garfield High School in East Los Angeles.  Escalante was a math whiz and he taught his students not only how to be math whizzes but eventually AP Calculus.  And we follow all of their stories towards clearing this difficult academic hurdle.  Edward James Olmos stars as Professor Escalante alongside Lou Diamond Phillips, Rosanna DeSoto, Andy Garcia, and several other talented young actors. Host & Editor: Geoff GershonProducer: Marlene Gershon https://livingforthecinema.com/Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Living-for-the-Cinema-Podcast-101167838847578Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/livingforthecinema/Letterboxd:https://letterboxd.com/Living4Cinema/

I've long been one to say to someone who's paralyzed about the direction they see their lives going in or goals they want to achieve – experiences they want to have – to say, “Why not “and?” After they look at me kinda funny, I'll explain. “Why can't you be a plumber and a painter? A mother and an ad exec? That's what this week's SelfWork guest has accomplished. She's an internal medicine doctor and she's a comic. A stand-up comic at that. Named by Refinery29 as one of the 50 Female Stand-Up Comedians You Need To Know", Priyanka Wali is a stand-up comic who also believes strongly in mind/body connection and the importance of fear in true transformation. I think you'll love this conversation! She's also the co-host of HypochondriActor with Sean Hayes (yes the guy from Will and Grace…). I know you'll enjoy talking about her story and how you might use it as motivation for your own! After all, why can't life be an “and?” Advertisers' Links: We welcome back BiOptimizers and Magnesium Breakthrough as a returning sponsor to SelfWork and they have a new offer! Just click here! Make sure you use the code "selfwork10" to check out free product Click HERE for the NEW fabulous offer from AG1 - with bonus product with your subscription! Episode Transcript:   Speaker 2: Dr. Margaret This is SelfWork. And I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford. At SelfWork, we'll discuss psychological and emotional issues common in today's world and what to do about them. I'm Dr. Margaret and SelfWork is a podcast dedicated to you taking just a few minutes today for your own selfwork. Hello and welcome or welcome back to SelfWork. I'm Dr. Margaret Rutherford. I'm a clinical psychologist, and I started this podcast just about seven years ago to extend the walls of my practice to many of you, some of you very interested in therapy or psychological issues, but also perhaps those of you who are a bit skeptical about the whole thing. So, I have a great interview for today and before beginning, here's a message and an offer from AG1, the Greens mix I take every morning to get my day started on the right track. Okay... Occasionally I miss a day, gotta say that, but I try to remember every day 'cause it makes a difference. AG1 Advertisement:  Our next partner is AG1, the daily foundational nutrition supplement that supports whole body health. I drink it literally every day. I gave AG1 a try because I wanted a single solution that supports my entire body and covers my nutritional bases every day. I wanted better gut health, a boost in energy immune system support. I take it in the morning before starting my day, and I make sure and leave it out for my husband because he tends to forget. I love knowing that I'm starting my day so incredibly well and I wouldn't change a thing because it's really helped me the last two or three years I've taken it. And here's a fact. Since 2010, they've improved their formula 52 times in the pursuit of making this nutrition supplement possible and the best it can be. So if you wanna take ownership of your health, it starts with AG1. Try AG1 and get a free one-year supply of Vitamin D and five free AG1 travel packs with your first purchase. Go to drinkAG1.com/selfwork, and that's a new link. DrinkAG1.com/selfwork. Check it out. Dr. Margaret I've long been one to say to someone who's paralyzed about the direction they see their lives going in or goals they wanna achieve, experiences they wanna have... They always say, "Well, I've gotta have this or this, but I've gotta make the perfect choice. I've gotta try this or this." And my question to them is, "Why isn't it an "and"? And after they look at me, kind of funny, I'll explain, "wWhy can't you be a plumber AND a painter, a mother AND an ad exec? We don't have to limit ourselves. We can be "AND",  not this or this. And that's what our guest has accomplished. She's an internal medicine doctor and she's a comic, a standup comic, by the way, who was named by Refinery 29 as one of the top female standup comedians that you need to know. Her name is Priyanka Wali. And she's the co-host of HypochondriActor with Sean Hayes, the guy from Will and Grace that probably a lot of you know, It's a great, great podcast and I'm delighted to have her on SelfWork as a true "And" - er . Here's one more sponsor message. This one from BiOptimizers and Magnesium Breakthrough. I use it every night just like I use AG1e in the morning. And that's my own AND,  I guess, Magnesium Breakthrough Advertisement: Hey guys, I wanna share with you that recently I've been working on some very important projects that have very short deadlines, as always, right? It seems everything today is a S A P. Anyway, I have not been able to keep up with all of my self-care routine. I certainly haven't had breaks to have proper meals, and I'm drinking way too much ice tea. I was starting to get really stressed out when I remembered that the magnesium breakthrough I take every night is also a great support for stress management. And I'd kind of forgotten that. In fact, magnesium is responsible for over 300 body reactions. And magnesium breakthrough is the only magnesium formula that delivers all seven different forms of magnesium. I didn't know there were seven forms, one of them being feeling more calm, centered, and in control of our stress. If you are trying to balance life demands, give it a try. Trust me, your mind and your body will thank you for it. What you can do is visit mag breakthrough.com/ self-work and order now. Oh, in addition to the discount you get by using promo code self-work 10. So that's different self-work. 10. They're also amazing gifts with purchase. That's why I love shopping it by optimizers. Again, go to mag breakthrough.com/ self-work to get your magnesium breakthrough and find out this month's gift with purchase. Episode 356 with Priyanka Wali.  Realize you can support self-work by supporting our sponsors. And now, Priyanka Wally, Speaker 2: Dr. Margaret I started off my morning by listening to your comedy routine . Speaker 3: Dr. Priyanka Wali Oh, which one? Which bit did you check out? Speaker 2:  the one on your Website? Speaker 3: The one? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Speaker 2: And I laughed. I just thought, I've known some in and out guys. Speaker 3: . Oh man. Yeah, that takes me back. You know, I haven't, I haven't, you know, after the pandemic hit, you know, obviously comedy changed and performing in person totally changed. And I remember going back on stage in 2021, so, you know, we were kind of used to reentry, we were opening up a little bit, and the vibe was just really different. And so I've, I've slowly been getting my feet Speaker 2: Thought about that. How was it different, Priyanka? Speaker 3: Well, first of all, you know, having, it was an outdoor show and most people were wearing masks. But even if you're doing an indoor show, you, it's hard to see people's facial expressions if they're masked. Right? So that, you know, to me, standup has always been a relationship between the, the performer and the audience. It's a connection. And when you, you know, cover the face for obvious important reasons, safety reasons it, it sort of breaks that connection. And so what I found was that I enjoyed comedy, less enjoyed performing less after the pandemic. And I actually took a break from comedy and I sort of went back to like, "Okay, what does bring me joy? Like, what is this really about?" And I went to France and I actually studied clowning with Philippe Goer, who's a world renowned clowning expert. And I went back to the basics of like, okay, physical comedy, like comedy with your body and not just your neck up mind voice. And then I sort of came into singing parody songs. And that's kind of the new stuff that I'm working on now. Really? Yeah. So I'm taking my comedy and I'm turning it into more parody songs, and I've released a few small clips on Instagram. But I'm planning on releasing a longer video at some point. So that's kind of what I'm working on. And that's like part of the transformation as an artist, which is, it's an incredible journey. Speaker 2: Well, you know and I wanna, I wanna back up and we, we kinda started in the middle, didn't we? Or I did. Yeah. Yeah. And so I wanna back up and, and talk about how you got to be, but you know, I'm a huge advocate of, of, AND kind of lives. I am this AND I'm that, and I'm something else. Mm-Hmm. . So I love that you're living your life that way. Oh, thank you. I also listened to the last podcast that you and Sean did. Mm-Hmm. . And I thought the story about your either great-grandfather or your grandfather was so touching that Wali is actually the Arabic name. Mm-Hmm. healer or helper. Speaker 3: Yeah. Helper. Helper. Or like friend, friend of man, helper of man. Yeah. Yeah. It was a name bestowed upon us. Yeah. Speaker 2: Incredible. Speaker 3: . Yeah. Yeah. When I, when I learned that for the first time, and it sort of changed my relationship with my own name, you know, I always thought I didn't really have a relationship, but then once I realized it was sort of like, gifted, I was like, Wow, that's, that's, there was an identity shift and you know, there's a sense of humility and gratitude as well. Speaker 2: You know, when you hear stories like that. My grandmother was named Emma Clayton Robinson, and I remember asking one time why was, why was her middle name Clayton? And the story was that I'm from the south, I'm from Arkansas, and her mother and father's home was taken over by the Yankees during the Civil War by a General Clayton. Speaker 3: Okay. Speaker 2: He was so kind to them that they, when my grandmother was born, she was named Emma Clayton Robinson. Speaker 3: Wow. Speaker 2: And Clayton has become one of our family names, which is just so, I don't know, it adds something to your understanding of your family and what has happened, and of course, Speaker 3: Right. Speaker 2: It's just, I don't know, there's something about that kind of tradition or g legacy that's just fascinating to me. Speaker 3: Yeah. And I'm curious, do you know what, what was the name prior to Clayton before that? Speaker 2: Well, no, she had not been. She was born and then, and then they named her Emma Clayton Robinson. Speaker 3: Wow. Wow. Yeah. There's so many complexities to that story, because on one hand, this, this person was the oppressor. They came in and they took, you know, your family home and your land. Right. And yet they were a kind, oppressor, kind enough for us to name them after them. It's like, there's so many nuances to that, that story. It's, it's very complex. It certainly could, would be totally justifiable to bring up a lot of different set of feelings around that. Speaker 2: Yeah, I think so. So I wanna find out about your journey. You are a physician. Mm-Hmm. , you're an internal medicine physician. Mm-Hmm. . And I think you also have training in OB obesity, is that right? Speaker 3: Correct. Yeah. Double board certified. Mm-Hmm. double board certified. Speaker 2:  And so, and, and then, and you know, you, you've laughed with your co-host Sean, about I really wanna be just a doctor on tv and Yeah. Speaker 3: , I just want a small rule on Grey's Anatomy. Is that too much to ask? I mean, come on. Speaker 2: So I would love to hear you know, there's a lot of doctors in your family and you told that story, but Yeah. How, how did you decide to become a physician? And are you, are, are you American born? Are you, were you born in India or were you born in America? Speaker 3: Yeah, great question. So I was born in the United States, so I'm Kary Pundit. So my family originates from Northern Kashmir, and that region was actually affected by genocide as recent as 1991. And so that led to a diaspora and immigration all over the world. And my family chose the United States. And so I was born in Los Angeles, but I actually spent some early formative years going back and forth between India and the United States up until I was age three. And so, you know, my childhood upbringing you know, my parents were doctors, their siblings are doctors. Their kids are doctors. I mean, and, and the lineage goes further up the chain. So healing was really, we would not have normal dinner discussions. You know, like the, the dinner table discussions were about, like, the cases my dad had and like, you know, all this sort of preventive medicine stuff. And so I joke, you know, like I sort of came out of the womb holding a stethoscope. It was something that I lived, breathed. It wasn't until I went to college that I was like, oh, people can do other things. You know what I mean? And I always had an artistic side to me. And so I always loved performing arts and creative writing, and that's always been a, a very big part of my sort of soul's energy. And at the same time, the science had also would come to me quite easily. And so I found myself you know, going through the pre-med classes and I actually was accepted into a program coming out of high school called a Baccalaureate MD program. It no longer exists, but it was a program where you basically got accepted into medical school coming out of high school. Really? It was a, yeah, it was a very competitive program. They only took, I think like 12 or 15 people all across the United States. And so I knew, I knew out of high school that I was gonna go to med school. Yeah. And I can't say honestly though, that that was what I wanted. I think there was a part of me that really was you know, I loved creative arts. I loved performing. And I couldn't see a path if I were to pursue medicine. But I, I grew up in a very traditional Indian family. Like, I had a tremendous amount of pressure from my parents. Like, no, you have to go to med school. Like, that's gonna happen. Yeah. And so, you know, again, because the science would come to me easily, I decided to, to sort of give it a go and give it a chance. You know, in hindsight I wish I had taken some time off in between undergrad and med school. 'cause I went straight through. And I, I don't necessarily recommend that. I think if I had had more time to sort of develop and simmer as a human being you know, I, I wasn't really a human being by the time I went to HU Med School. I was just this concept, you know, I was so undeveloped as a person. Speaker 2: So you followed the structure that your parents wanted you to follow, and really hadn't had a whole lot of autonomy about Speaker 3: That. Totally. Yeah. And, you know, it would come out in these different ways. Like I, you know, when I was a med student, I joined this local improv troupe in East Los Angeles, you know, and I would have these little pockets of things that I would do to create balance. Sure. And it's funny now because the work that I do as a, as a physician, I, I am very passionate about it now, but I think it's because I've taken much more of a an an identity that this is part of social justice activism in terms of like, what is going on right now with the current medical paradigm and you, what needs to change. I feel like very compelled now to be involved with this and to be a part of this. Because at the end of the day, we're all connected. And I feel like I was given a set of privileges by being born into a family that, you know, was all healthcare providers on some aspect. And I feel like it would really be a, a waste to, to squander those gifts essentially. Mm-Hmm. . And so it's funny 'cause now I, I really love what I do and the way I've sort of built my life. I mean, I'm definitely not working like a traditional medical doctor at like, you know, a major hospital or anything like that. I mean, I have my own private practice and I, the way I think about healing, I would say it's, it's more consistent with like a new paradigm as opposed to the older paradigm. You know, in terms of integrated, Speaker 2: More holistic, Speaker 3: More holistic integrative, you know, thinking about issues from a mind body perspective as opposed to the current, you know, the current paradigm is like, you have a heart problem, you go to a heart doctor, you have a kidney problem, you go to a kidney doctor, you have a mind problem, you go to the mind doctor. It's like that. It's very disconnected and, you know, there's no more like general doctors anymore. I mean, it's like, it's a rare dying breed. And so I am really trying to bring a callback to, Hey, let's look at the whole person. Let's treat the whole person. This is not just a mind issue or a body issue. This is a mind body issue. And essentially we are all mind body spirits. Yeah. Speaker 2: Yeah. Couldn't agree more. So I was always interested, and I remember asking my sort of, she's my manager you know, why does Priyanka wanna come on SelfWork? I mean, why does she wanna come on a mental health podcast? And I, I wanna ask you that question. I was so intrigued that, you know, and it sounds like it's very may maybe tied into this, well, one, of course, you're an example of someone who is saying, don't be, don't be governed by, you know, what other people expect of you. But make sure that you're, you're zoning in and really expressing the parts of yourself that bring you joy and, and that kind of thing. Which I think is wonderful. I didn't know if you had any history with depression or anxiety or anything like that, but it also sounds like maybe it's tied in with more of this holistic view of things. Speaker 3: Yeah, I think, I think you're hitting the nail on the head. So, so yeah. I, I actually, I've talked about this publicly. I think there was an article in Women's Health Magazine where I actually was very depressed in medical school. In fact, I didn't realize that I had the signs and symptoms of clinical depression until my psychiatry rotation in medical training Oh. . Where I was interviewing people. Yeah. I was interviewing people who were severely clinically depressed. And I was walking away from these interviews with individuals and I was like, there's really no difference between me and this person that like, probably needs to be hospitalized. And you know, I, it was then that I, yeah. So it was then that I realized that, you know, I had severe clinical depression and I needed to be on antidepressants for a period of time in medical training. And what, what in hindsight coming out of that, what really was going on is that I was in a very difficult situation. The medical system, the medical training system, it's actually a very oppressive system. And I didn't have the best coping skills. I didn't even know what therapy was at the time. And fortunately that's when I learned about treatments, like cognitive behavioral therapy. And I started therapy. I saw a psychiatrist and was able to get the help that I needed. And then when I graduated medical school, my depression symptoms went away and I was able to get off the meds. And I haven't had a relapse of depression to that severity since then. Speaker 2: So it was probably very situational and that kind of thing. It was Speaker 3: Absolutely situational. Yeah. Speaker 2: I have the fancy title of adjunct professor at University of Arkansas Medical School. Mm-Hmm. Medical School of Medical Sciences, I think it's called mm-hmm. . And I laughed and said, I don't even get a parking place with that. So Speaker 3: . Yeah. Yeah. And Speaker 2: I, I teach a course that's, you know, an hour and a half in one semester or so, it's very little about psychotherapy to medical students. Mm-Hmm. who are psych psychiatry rotation. And one of my major questions is, what do y'all think therapy is? And they just kind of stare at me. Oh, yeah. Like, what are you talking about? You know, and Oh yeah, well now we've learned that this is what you do with this person and this is, and I said, you know what? You gotta throw all that out. 'cause That's not really true. Mm-Hmm. mm-hmm. . But it, it's fascinating how that the, unfortunately the medical school schools still don't really incorporate a whole lot of mental health knowledge and understanding to physicians. Speaker 3: You know, I really appreciate you naming this because it's something I talked about. I think on one of the podcast episodes, you know, in medicine we are sort of taught that if you can't objectively identify the cause of someone's issues, like for example, if you can't get lab work Right. That can corroborate or a CAT scan or something like that, you we're, we're literally taught, or at least back when I was in med school, I was taught that you need to conclude that this is a psychosomatic issue. And once you label someone as having a psychosomatic issue, you kind of wash your hands of it and move on. What the deficit in education right now that's happening in the system, I think physicians especially need to be taught the next step. Right. If you're gonna label someone as having a psychosomatic issue, the next training is understanding, okay, well what is the emotion that's linking to that physical symptom? Speaker 2: Well, the trauma or the Yeah, exactly. The, what's going on? Name what's going on with the patient. I, I love it. I did my dissertation yeah, my dissertation on conversion disorders, Speaker 3: So, okay. Sure. Speaker 2: I was, you know, bridging the gap between, for those listeners who don't know what conversion disorders are, they are disorders that are, that are psychologically based, but can can mimic mm-hmm. Speaker 3: Speaker 2: Make true medical problems. And I did mine on Pseudoseizures mm-hmm. , which was someone looks like they're having a seizure, but there's no actual abnormal EEG activity, so, right. Although they can be mixed anyway, enough about that. Mm-Hmm. . Yeah. I'm always I'm so glad that more, at least there's a movement toward physicians moving there's a movement toward moving , Speaker 3:, a lot of movement, a lot Speaker 2: Of movement, lot of movement toward integrative, or that's kind of this kind of medicine. 'cause I just think it's vital. Speaker 3: Oh, not only is it vital, Margaret, I I actually am at the point in my career where I am sort of, if anyone's gonna call themselves a physician or even a healer for that matter. Yeah. and they don't have a basic understanding of this type of education. They actually have an incomplete education of how healing actually works in human beings. And so what I would love to see more of is more education for medical students, especially helping them understand how to name emotions and the effects that that has on the human body. Speaker 2: Sure. Sure. Because isn't there research, in fact, I've read some research that says the brain actually doesn't, can't tell the difference between physical pain and emotional pain. Speaker 3: That's correct. Actually, yes. When we experience emotional pain, it activates the same receptors of the brain. This is through functional MRI studies, it activates the same receptors of the brain as if we were to experience physical pain. Fascinating. Fascinating. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, all we're naming here again, is this is more and more evidence of how we need to move towards a mind body model, a model in medicine. And I do believe this will be the next paradigm where we start to look at human beings as mind bodies and not just bodies with minds. Speaker 2: Right, right. Bio psychosocial, Speaker 3: Spiritual. Yeah. Right. Yeah. Exactly. Speaker 2: Okay, so let's switch gears. Okay.  Talk about the clown part of you, or the funny part of you, the comedic part of you. You have a wonderful podcast yourself that's very, very popular. It's called, let me see if I can not This Hypo Dry actor Hypo Speaker 3: Hypochondriac. hypochondria. I'm so Speaker 2: Used to saying the word hypori, called it . Speaker 3: Yeah, totally. We just call it hypo for sure. Speaker 2: And your partner is, your partner in crime, Speaker 3: Is the lovely Sean Hayes, who you may know from a small show called Will and Grace tiny little show. Yeah. Speaker 2: In fact, my trainer, I was working out this morning and I was told him who I was, who I was interviewing. He goes it did you say that her co her cohort, you know, her partner is, is Sean Hayes. And I said, yeah. Oh, I can't wait to tell my girlfriend that you're interviewing someone . Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, Sean's darling. I love working with him. It's, it's been a pleasure. And I don't know when this episode's getting released, but he's currently on Broadway at the moment. So I do, I do miss him because he is, he's very, very busy on Broadway. But it has been just an absolute joy working alongside with him. Oh, great. He brings, you're, oh, thank you. Mm-Hmm. . Yeah. It's, it's so easy to work with someone who's so lighthearted as Sean, and he brings just a lot of joy and humor and, you know, in on the podcast we're talking about, we can talk about some pretty serious things, pretty heavy things. And, you know, that that lightness that he brings, it allows us to kind of go to places where maybe we wouldn't necessarily be able to go if this was a more serious kind of heavy podcast. Mm-Hmm. , you know, it's so important when you're interviewing celebrities or anyone who's willing to share something vulnerable about creating a safe space so that people feel like they can share. And so I feel really grateful to be working alongside him. Speaker 2: And you answer questions from listeners about, is it only medical issues that they call in about? Or is it Yes. Speaker 3: Yeah. So people like to call in and share their medical stories. And it's been also, that has been a very, very humbling experience. You know, the, the callers that call in and the, the depths of their shares, you know, as the show has progressed, the shares have been more and more vulnerable, which we so appreciate. And what I love about the shares is that people will many times call in and say, you know, I thought I was the only person that had blah, blah, blah, but after listening to this episode, I realize I'm not, and I have it too. And this is my experience. And that's, to me is what this is really about. You know, connecting us, reminding us that we're all one people. We're one species. We're human beings, and we, we feel the same things and emotions do connect us. And I think that's so important to remember in this time of such divisiveness Speaker 2: On SelfWork. I also love to, to answer questions from listeners. It's one of my most favorite things to do. And so it's your right. I just feel like there's so many, you know, there's this, again, research will say that there's this explosion of loneliness, and it's true and right. Staring at our screens instead of talking right to another. And so there's this sense of, I must be the only one feeling this. So, so since, since the pandemic happened, what are you doing with you? You said you went to France and you, you're doing this clowning and that kind of thing. Tell us about that part of you. Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I think in order for me to stay balanced, it is very important that I engage in some kind of play. Yeah. And it can be formal play, like going to study clowning with a renowned clowning expert. But on a day-to-day, like every day, you know, I can't fly to France to study clowning . I do spend a, a significant part of my day. Like, I dance every day. I try and do some kind of movement, you know, especially before I start to see individuals in my private practice. You know, I may put on a song and just move my body and I get really funky and really weird, and I'll growl. I love growling and I love putting my yoga mat out and just like rolling on the floor and just like, moving and arching my back and acting like a total fool. I mean, just like completely just like the, just an animal. But to me, I, it, it's important for me to do that every day. You know, I think we forget that we, human beings, we're animals and we're, we're, so we have to engage in somatic practices, otherwise we'll be very disconnected from our bodies. And in my own healing journey, I've noticed that the more I'm in my body, the more present I am, and the more I can give, the more I can share sort of the gifts that I have. And we all have gifts to share. And I've just noticed that the more I engage in somatic practices, it's easier for me to tap into that and play. I also consider rest to be a really important facet. I mean resting, going slow, taking naps, anything that just, again, keeps the body in flow. Mm-Hmm. . And so yeah, I'm, I'm generally a very silly person. and . Speaker 2: You know, people always ask me, well, how do you do something so serious all day long? And I think I laugh all the time with people, right? Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, Speaker 2: There's a lot to not, we're not laughing. I'm not laughing at people. I'm laughing with people that I see. We find things too, to laugh about because it's so important for them to laugh. And it's important for me to laugh. Speaker 3: Oh my gosh. Yeah. And laughing is so, you know, there's studies to show that laughter literally will lower cortisol levels in the blood. It'll lower inflammatory markers. I mean, it's, and it's, it's just a, a really great feeling. And I think that's why while I was a resident working 80 hours a week, sure. I gravitated towards standup comedy and performing comedy. 'cause It was this one thing that I could do solo on my own terms. And it, there's an immediate feedback. You make the audience laugh like you've done it. That's the feedback. And it's spontaneous. You can't fake it. Well, maybe you can fake it, but like a real belly laugh. Mm-Hmm. really hard to fake, you know, that big old belly laugh. For those Speaker 2: Listeners who are out there going, how do you, how do you get the courage to stand up there for five or eight minutes and try out these jokes? Because I know from, I've heard enough conversations with, with standup comedians that they, they go to hundreds of these clubs and try material and try out material, and sometimes it dies. I was lucky enough to hear Ellen DeGeneres when she was young. Speaker 3: Oh, nice. Wow. Speaker 2: And, and I can remember thinking, this lady's going somewhere. You know, I was Speaker 3: In . Oh, wow. Speaker 2: And but I know it just must be grueling. And, and I don't know, how did, how did you, how did you rake up or whatever We would say the courage to do it? Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, I was a resident and I had just broken up with a long-term relationship. So I was really going through a process where I was really just re trying to figure out who am I at the coming out of this very long relationship. And I, I sort of took some time and I was like, what is it that I really need? What is it that I really want? And I, I, I searched in and the answer was like, I, I want laughter and I want to make people laugh. And, you know, to be completely honest, standup was a morbid fear of mine. You know, it was something that I could have never imagined myself doing, but I sort of wielded it within myself. I was like, you know what, it's just gonna be a one-time thing. It was supposed to be like a bucket list thing. Like, I'm gonna do standup once, and then that's it. And I'm writing it off. But what happened is, I was in San Francisco training, and I Google searched good place to try standup comedy for the first time in San Francisco. And the first hit that came up on Google was a laundromat slash cafe slash open mic place where people, oh, fun. They have a, they have an open mic and people are like folding their laundry while you're like, telling jokes . And yeah, the website said, this is a good place to try standup comedy for the first time in San Francisco. So I go to Brainwash Cafe slash laundromat, and I, there were three minute sets, so I wrote three minutes of jokes. They were, I, they, now, in hindsight, they weren't funny at all, but they were all I could do at the time. Mm-Hmm. and I go to the laundromat, I do a three minute set, it went well. And just, it happened to be that, that afternoon in the audience was a local producer who produced shows locally in the Bay Area. And he came up to me after my set, he is like, you were really funny. Like, do you wanna do my showcase? Which is in a month? No. And I was shocked. And I was like sure. And he is like, I need you to do 10 minutes and it's next month. See you next month. And so I was like, I told him, yeah, absolutely. But in my mind, I was like, 10 minutes, I don't even have 10 seconds of good material . So, you know, what I ended up doing is I started going to other open mics so I could prep for that one showcase. But then what happened is that at those other open mics, other comedians who had shows, they would see me and they were like, Hey, I want you to do my show. And so by the time I had that showcase a month out, I actually had all these other showcases lined up, and the next thing I knew I was, I was in it. I was deep in it. And, and the, the, it really just transformed. And then I, I was like, this is a lot of fun. I'm not gonna stop. And so I just kept doing it. And then years passed and then more opportunities arose, and then I started doing commercials. And that, you know, it turned into this whole other world. But it really originated for me wanting to face this small fear and just like seeing what would happen. I hope, Speaker 2: I hope my listeners are listening to this because, you know, one of the things that I, that I say probably, I mean too many, too many times, is it doesn't matter where you go, it matters that you go, oh Speaker 3: Yes. Speaker 2: It sounds like you just said this is a fear of mine. I wanna confront it. You didn't have plans necessarily to become, you know, a standup comedian, but you just went where, you know, you went, you went in intersection and three minutes Speaker 3: . Yes. And those three minutes literally changed my life. Yeah. And, you know, over the years, my relationship with fear has evolved. You know, it's, it's only years later that I realized, you know, when we experienced fear, and I'm not talking about the, the, the real fear. Like, if there's a tiger about to mall you or you know, a car gonna hit you or something like that, forget about that sort of fear, like actual real fear, but just sort of the existential fear that everyday fear to me. Now, when I experienced that in relation to a specific situation, I actually view that as a sign that I'm getting close to some area of transformation. Fear is a sign that you probably are doing something right. Speaker 2: It's a flare from your unconscious mind going, pay attention, pay attention, Speaker 3: Pay attention. Yeah. And so now when I experience fear, my relationship with it is such that I'm like, oh, it seems like this might be an opportunity for transformation. Speaker 2: I Just love your story.. Speaker 3: Oh, thank you. Speaker 2: What's the next? Speaker 3: You know, yeah. So there's a coup, there's a couple of things in the pipeline. I mean I, I just wanna name to, to piggyback off of what you're saying, you know, again, when I first started doing standup, I never thought it would pivot to doing more social justice activism about better treatment for physicians treat. I never thought it would lead to educating the general public about complex medical issues in the form of a podcast that mixes comedy and medicine. You know standup really are, is kind of the trunk of the tree, but the branches led to other things. And for that, I'm very grateful. And so at this point, you know the, the podcast is taking up quite a bit of time. And we do have, it does butt Speaker 3: it's a lot of work. It's a lot of work. And like I said earlier, I am working on a show with parody songs and singing. So I love that you sing because singing has, has also been, it's another way of performing that really uses your whole body. And so I, I'm working on that as well. And then a couple of other projects that I can't really talk about yet, but I, I'm excited to release soon. Speaker 2:Oh, that's nice. Well, again, we'll have the link to your podcast, but say it one, because I'll probably crucify again. So , Speaker 3: It's, it's HypochondriActor episodes are released every Wednesday on all of the channels Spotify, iTunes audible, you name it. Speaker 2:Yeah. Okay. And way any other ways people can reach out to you. Yeah, Speaker 3: Sure. You know, I'm available on social media, Instagram. You can find me at Wali Priyanka. That's w a l i, Priyanka, P R I Y Y A N K A. Speaker 2: Okay. Well, I, I, like I said, I was up about five 30 this morning and I started, you know, and you made me laugh and you made me laugh hard. Speaker 3: Oh, good. . Speaker 2:That was really a fun way to start my morning. And I have loved our conversation. Likewise. Speaker 2: If You ever wanna have a mental health professional on, just keep me in mind, Speaker 3: . Yeah. Yeah. I'd love to stay in touch. Well, Speaker 2: It's lovely to meet you. Likewise. Speaker 3: Bye. Dr. Margaret Outro I hope you enjoyed that. I could not have been more pleased that Priyanka wanted to be on the episode. In fact, we had quite a bit of schedules and reschedules and reschedules before we could get things planned. I really enjoyed talking with her. I hope I get to meet her in LA one time when I go out to see my son. As of this recording, my TEDx has now had 112,000 views. Please go listen to it or watch it and like it if you do, I'm falling a little short on likes, 'cause I really want those to show that people are agreeing with the idea that we don't have to keep secrets. That we can be transparent even about things that are very, very hard to talk about. I hope that's what SelfWork is showing you, that I and other people can talk about things like depression, anxiety, sexual abuse, anything that happens to you with clarity so that we can act as beacons for each other. So just go to YouTube, TEDx Dr. Margaret Rutherford, and it'll be there. You could watch it, listen to it, and if you do like it or even comment, that's even better. Thanks for being here, guys. It's always a pleasure. Take very good care of yourself, your family, and your community. I'm Margaret, and this has been.  

EPISODE #920 THE NIGHT STALKER CASE Richard speaks with retired L.A. Homicide Detective Gil Carrillo discussed how he helped capture the infamous serial killer Richard Ramirez, known as the Night Stalker. GUEST: Detective Gil Carrillo was sworn in as a Deputy Sheriff in 1971, started the first plain clothes gang unit in East Los Angeles, and continued working gangs for several years. Detective Carrillo worked as a Homicide Investigator for 21 years, where he was called upon to investigate all types of murders, including serial killings as well as officer-involved shootings. Detective Carrillo helped capture the infamous serial killer, Richard Ramirez, who was known as the "Night Stalker" and was recently featured in the Netflix documentary "Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer."  WEBSITE/LINKS: https://www.facebook.com/gil.carrillo.77 https://www.facebook.com/gil.carrillo.77 VIDEO: Night Stalker: The Hunt for a Serial Killer SUPPORT MY SPONSORS!!! COPY MY CRYPTO https://copymycrypto.com/richard  Discover how over 2,800 people - many of who know nothing about crypto or how to invest - are building rapid wealth the cabal can never steal. "You don't need to know a thing about cryptocurrency if you copy someone who does." Gain Access for just $1 https://copymycrypto.com/richard BECOME A PREMIUM SUBSCRIBER https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm Use the discount code "Planet" to receive one month off the first subscription. We and our partners use cookies to personalize your experience, to show you ads based on your interests, and for measurement and analytics purposes. By using our website and services, you agree to our use of cookies as described in our Cookie Policy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://strangeplanet.supportingcast.fm/

Whether you're from Ushuaia or East Los Angeles, you've likely heard cumbia blaring from a stereo. From our play friends at NPR's Alt.Latino, Jasmine Garsd and Felix Contreras talk about their common love of the musical backbone of Latin America.