SoCal Voices

Mary Kennedy is an actor and comedian who has appeared in film, TV and stage roles. She played the “New Fiona” character in Season 7 of Showtime’s Shameless, and performs at some of LA’s most popular comedy clubs. When she’s not performing, she coaches and teaches young actors and comics. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Mary discusses what led her to comedy, her experience working on Shameless, h...

Twillea Evans-Carthen has a servant’s heart. She is University Ombuds Officer at Cal State San Bernardino, an active member of a number of community organizations, and serves on the board for the Inland Ivy Foundation and League of Women Voters San Bernardino. She is a life member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and much more.  Well-known in SoCal’s Inland Empire for lifting people up and getting t...

With over a decade of teaching experience, educator LaTina McGhee-Simmons saw that many girls in her classroom lacked confidence. She launched Daughters of Promise — a program that helps instill a greater sense of value, resilience and purpose in young girls. In this edition of SoCal Voices, LaTina discusses the impact her program has on participants and how their positive transformation impacts h...

Melody C. Miller is the filmmaker behind the multi-award winning documentary “California’s Forgotten Children.” The film focuses on the complex issue of child sex trafficking through the lens of survivors. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Melody discusses what inspired her to make the film, what people should and shouldn’t do if they suspect someone is being trafficked, and the ongoing work needed...

Kimberle Smith Austin is a business growth, communications and lifestyle strategist who helps corporations and businesses experience life at the next level. She is a sought-after speaker and coach, and author of Millions of Possibilities: Taking Your Ideas from Inspiration to Monetization . In this episode of SoCal Voices, Kimberle shares her thoughts on the real meaning of success and how to achi...

Bibi Pirayesh is an educational therapist based in Los Angeles.  For 15 years her work has focused on helping children, families, and schools better understand the unique needs of kids with learning disabilities.  More recently, her work has shifted toward the fight for the learning rights of kids in LA, where children's educational experiences are directly linked to their socio-economic stat...

Kevin Roth is firmly rooted in American folk music history. As a singer-songwriter and dulcimer player, he rose to international fame in the 1970s and 1980s recording albums and collaborating with other folk artists, including the legendary folk trio Peter, Paul & Mary. He was riding high on success when his life changed dramatically. Diagnosed with melanoma, he had to figure out a way to not...

As part of Earth Month activities this April, cities across the nation can show how water-wise they are by participating in the Wyland Foundation’s National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Wyland Foundation President Steve Creech provides details about the Mayor’s Challenge and how water conservation efforts are key to keeping the environment clean and sa...

Courtney McKenna is an LA-based artist and marketer on a mission to help society shift into a healthier and happier collective. She’s passionate about helping entrepreneurs unlock their full potential and stand in their power. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Courtney shares how she channeled all the fears and challenges she faced while pursuing her goals in marketing and music. Her story may help...

Amani Roberts is a successful DJ, music producer, podcaster, educator, business pro and author of the book DJs Mean Business . In this edition of SoCal Voices, Amani speaks with host Angela Ross about blending art with savvy business strategy, the life experiences that inspired him, the hard work required to reach goals, the importance of having mentors and supporters, and the importance of paying...

A self-described “Urban Polymath,” Flobo Boyce has been entertaining audiences for over 15 years. He’s a comedian, author, master of ceremonies, DJ, and owner of the digital network Knew Amsterdam Entertainment. In this episode of SoCal Voices, you’ll hear Flobo share his wit and wisdom and how he persevered through challenges to accomplish many entrepreneurial pursuits. Support the show

As a teenager, Rosalyn Carter gave birth to a baby girl who was soon adopted by another family. Both the baby and Rosalyn went on to live fulfilling lives apart from one another. Then, many years later, they reconnected. These days the mother-daughter duo host the I Found Her podcast which chronicles their reunification journey and serves as inspiration to many. Support the show

From its broadcast center on March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, the American Forces Network (AFN) ensures that “a touch of home” reaches US military personnel stationed overseas. The service provides radio and television news, entertainment and sports programming as well as critical worldwide, regional and local command information to US service members across the globe. In this special “On the...

Los Angeles has an ample supply of radio stations but historically only a few have been real standouts. One of them is LA staple KIIS-FM. On this edition of SoCal Voices, Paul Joseph or PJ as he’s known, shares how he got into radio, how he started working with the great Rick Dees, and what he believes the radio industry needs to do to stay viable in the future.  Support the show

In her book Trees Without Roots, author Ella Colic recounts the true story of her father and aunt who experienced life as refugees of the Bosnian war in the early 1990s. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Ella discusses the powerful and emotional journey she faced while writing the book, the impact of her relatives’ story on her life today, and how her own trip to Bosnia inspires her course of study...

In this edition of SoCal Voices, host Angela Ross chats with Clinton Galloway, author of Anatomy of a Hustle: Cable Comes to South Central LA and What Did you Think was Going to Happen? — books that detail his experiences trying to establish the first Black-owned cable franchise in the country and the government corruption that he says stopped it. Support the show

Midterm election day is just around the corner and as voters go to the polls, they have economic inflation, voter suppression, reduced access to abortion and candidate conduct on their minds. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Kim Moffat returns to discuss the upcoming elections, and the work she’s doing with We’re The People, a voter outreach and advocacy organization that aims to increase voter tu...

Music can instantly transport us to a specific place or special time in our lives. Many believe it also has the power to heal. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Master Speaker, Energy Sound Healer and Visionary Mark Romero shares his experience with high-vibration healing music and how listening to it can shift you into a greater sense of awareness and well-being.  Support the show

Jocelyn Harris is Founder and CEO of Connections, Inc. Her organization helps bring joy to struggling low-income families in San Bernardino County. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Jocelyn shares how Connections makes a meaningful difference in the lives of people who need a helping hand. jollyconnectionsinc.com Support the show

Susan Lambert Hatem and Sharon Johnson are super fans of television. They channel their passion for TV into a fun and informative podcast, The 80s TV Ladies! Susan and Sharon bring their joy, fun and wit to this edition of SoCal Voices, as they describe their love for 80s TV, with a special focus on the female-driven shows of this fabulous era. Support the show

LA County elected leaders and government officials have received well-deserved praise this year for returning Bruce’s Beach, prime coastal land in the city of Manhattan Beach, to the descendants of Charles and Willa Bruce. This comes nearly 100 years after the Bruce’s endured anti-Black harassment, and the Manhattan Beach city council unjustly condemned and seized the land through eminent domain,...

This first installment in SoCal Voices’ “On the Road” series begins at one of the most iconic sites in Southern California, the Historic Mission Inn in Downtown Riverside.  The story of the Mission Inn spans more than 100 years including 30 years of construction and powerful stories about the people who worked for founder Frank Miller and made the hotel the icon that it is today. In this edition o...

We close out this season of SoCal Voices with an interview featuring Shanti Hershenson, a 14-year-old southern California teenager who has written 15 books including You Won't Know Her Name , a novel-told-in-poetry about bullying in middle school. Want some Sci-Fi? Dystopia? She has that and more. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Shanti talks about what inspired her to become a writer, her su...

Claudia Clark is an expatriate activist, historian and author of Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Claudia discusses the inspiration behind her book about two of the world’s most influential leaders, and her struggles to get published. She also shares her views on current events through the lens of an American living in B...

In this mid-term primary election season, voters have a lot on their minds, including the possible overturning of Roe v Wade, the war in Ukraine and public safety, following back-to-back-to-back mass shootings. How are voters feeling? Will they vote? What will they decide? In this special edition of SoCal Voices, Kim Moffat, host of the “Here’s What’s Happening” and “My America” podcasts, talks ab...