SoCal Voices

In his award-winning book, Alabama Grandson: A Black, Gay Minister’s Passage Out of Hiding, Cedrick Bridgeforth chronicles the many years he spent shielding his truth from the world, the pain he experienced when his secret was exposed and how he found his way to self-acceptance. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Bridgeforth talks about his life and faith, his experience writing Alabama Grandson , a...

Are you ready to transition from employee to entrepreneur? There are many matters to consider before you take that leap. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Bert Wright, entrepreneur and #1 Amazon best-selling author of the book Say Y.E.S.! Going from Employee to Entrepreneur in 5 Steps, discusses his journey through entrepreneurship and outlines what you need to know to make an informed decision abo...

Is China really the economic behemoth we hear about in the media? What are the real long- and short-term impacts of China’s role in the global economy? In this edition of SoCal Voices, author and China Unraveled podcast host Jason Szeftel shares his perspective on China’s role in the global economy, and what China’s future could mean for the economies of the US and southern California. Support the...

Alicia Montgomery is CEO of the Center for Powerful Public Schools, a Los Angeles-based organization that helps educators create and sustain powerful public schools that prepare every student for college, career, and life. In this episode of SoCal Voices, hear how Ms. Montgomery and her team work to address the needs of students working to thrive in a system that was not designed for their success...

One of Southern California’s most unique and authentic voices belongs to a former DJ who got her start in radio as a teenager. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Jewel, host of the Old School Jewels podcast, discusses how she became interested in radio, how her personal life experiences inform her podcast topics, the challenges of raising her grandchildren, and how her faith sustains her. Support th...

Are you dealing with imposter syndrome? That nagging, anxious feeling that you don’t have what it takes and don’t belong in the spaces you occupy? Maybe a workplace bully shattered your confidence and you’re unsure how to get it back. In this episode of SoCal Voices, author, coach and hypnotherapist Michele Molitor shares how she regained her confidence after being bullied at a previous job and ho...

The Inland Empire Black Worker Center (IEBWC) serves as a resource to help address Black unemployment and under employment. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Community Organizer Dominique Dean shares the principles that guide IEBWC’s approach to helping workers learn about all the services available to help them carve a path toward higher-wage jobs in the water industry. Support the show

Riverside’s Gail B. Smith started working for Pacific Telephone/Pacific Bell (known today as AT&T) in the 1970s. When she was hired, she was Riverside’s first African American woman splicer and installer for the phone company  — jobs that were held primarily by Caucasian men. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Ms. Smith discusses her experience being the first person like her in her workplace, t...

Kathy Murphy is an author, singer, inspirational speaker, surfer, mother and certified health and life coach who believes in faith and trust over fear. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Kathy discusses her coaching business, The Rising Tide, and how she helps empower people who lead to overcome challenges and see their lives in a whole new way. Resources: Visit Kathy Murphy's website Instagram...

Verious Smith, III is a man on a mission. He’s a web developer by trade, podcaster and founder of Startempire Wire that aims to foster and build the startup culture in the Inland Empire. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Smith shares what led him to launch his project and his vision for the Inland Empire’s startup ecosystem. startempirewire.com Support the show

Novelist, essayist and short story teller Keenan Norris’ new coming-of-age novel, The Confession of Copeland Cane is being hailed as “simply genius,” “potent” and “engaging.” In this episode of SoCal Voices, Norris, a SoCal native who teaches American Literature and Creative Writing at San Jose State University, discusses his latest work and what inspired his writing career. Norris also shares his...

Josh Giles is the super successful head coach of the Corona-Centennial High School’s boys basketball team. As coach of the Huskies, Giles’ long list of honors includes being named the 2020-21 Cal-Hi Sports Coach of the Year. He’s also known for his dedication to helping students become champions on and off the court. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Coach Giles shares how he came to basketball and...

The John M Pfau Library on the campus of Cal State University San Bernardino holds a digital archive honoring inland southern California’s Black history. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Assistant Professor of History Marc Robinson shares how “The Bridges that Carried Us Over” project came to be and his role in helping to preserve African American history in the Inland Empire. Resources: Bridges T...

A new business publication in the Inland Empire — IE Business Edge — promises content that is informative and actionable. The brains behind this new magazine brings years of corporate and entrepreneurial experience to this latest enterprise.  In this episode of SoCal Voices, publisher Norm Pelzer discusses why he launched IE Business Edge, the challenges he overcame to get the magazine off the gro...

In this “Ask Me Anything” episode, the tables are turned as SoCal Voices host Angela Ross answers questions posed by KGGI and KOST radio personality Evelyn Erives on Black History Month and more! Support the show

Dianne Callahan is an award-winning communication professional and non-profit executive who lives what many would describe as a charmed life, but she has experienced challenges, including three bouts with cancer. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Dianne talks about her life and expertise as a negativity disrupter and how she inspires people to live joyful lives.  Resources: www.catalystcoaching.biz...

Anthony Victoria is a journalist, community organizer and communications advisor who has spent years focusing on local civic and environment justice. Recently, Anthony’s newly launched outlet, The Frontline Observer, received a grant from The Listening Post Collective . In this episode of SoCal Voices, Anthony discusses how the grant will help him chronicle social and environmental justice issues...

When you think of a pilot or certified flight instructor, chances are, thanks to your social conditioning, you don’t think of a petite 26-year-old African American woman. Free your mind and meet pilot and certified flight instructor Lauren Harris of Moreno Valley. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Lauren discusses what pulled her into the world of aviation, what she loves most about flying, and how...

Brief summary of show:  Feeding America Riverside-San Bernardino CEO Stephanie Otero returns to SoCal Voices to share how you can be a real holiday hero by helping people dealing with food insecurity. Resources Instagram: @feedingamericaie Facebook: @feedingamericaie Twitter: @feedingie Website: www.feedingie.org Support the show

Juleen Erives is a young woman who wants to be limitless, and she’s well on her way! She was one of The Press Enterprise Newspaper’s “25 Most Remarkable Teens,” she has given SUE Talks (Successful Unstoppable Empowering Women Changing the Face of Business) and she raised over $64,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through her “Mission CANcer-vive” campaign. Today, as a college freshman, s...

Sylvia Melena is founder and CEO of Melena Consulting Group, a San Diego-based leadership and management consulting and training company. She is also the award-winning author of Supportive Accountability: How to Inspire People and Improve Performance. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Sylvia shares her thoughts on how leaders can achieve greater trust and accountability in their companies and what...

In this episode of SoCal Voices, host Angela Ross speaks with Mike Dunne, founder of Equine Empowered Therapy (EET). Throughout the southern California region, EET helps veterans dealing with trauma experience the healing nature of horses. Mike shares why he started EET, how the program works, the joy he experiences seeing veterans lives changed for the better, and how people can help support EET’...

To the people who know and work with him, Carl Dameron is a dynamic, hard-driving, award-winning advertising and public relations expert with more than 30 years of success helping organizations and people throughout California meet their goals. He is also a cancer survivor. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Carl shares the story of starting and growing his company, how he dealt with his cancer diag...

Award-winning television journalist Thalia Hayden is host of NBC Palm Springs’ Midday News, a motivational speaker, media expert and best-selling author. She has also struggled with drug and alcohol abuse. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Thalia discusses her new book Local Celeb: Addict to Anchor, and how she came to face some hard truths about her life, learned to ask for help and achieved sobri...

Carrie Madrid knows first hand what it is like to be diagnosed with breast cancer and the many challenges that follow. While dealing with her own diagnosis through “laughter, lipgloss and hard work,” she established The CARE Project, a nonprofit based in Riverside. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Carrie discusses how The CARE Project is fulfilling its mission: emotionally and financially supporti...