The Change Reaction Podcast

A significant focus of the Change Reaction's direct giving efforts in 2025 was directed toward survivors of the Palisades and Eaton Fires. These wildfires, the most destructive in a generation, devastated communities across Los Angeles County, leaving thousands of families displaced and searching for a way forward.  One of those families was the Linares, four generations all sharing a propert...

In this year-end recap, co-founder Greg Perlman and Brooke Perlman reflect on a year that tested, stretched, and ultimately deepened their philanthropic efforts. From wildfire relief that mobilized thousands to the ripple effects of Michael Dell’s $6.25B gift, they explore what real charity impact looks like, and why altruism in action isn’t about headlines or scale, but about trust, presence, and...

How do you build a world where pain doesn’t keep getting passed down? In this episode of The Change Reaction podcast, we're joined by Shirley Torres, Co-CEO of Homeboy Industries, who shares a powerful blueprint for transforming survival into healing and pain into purpose. This conversation is a masterclass in compassion and vision.  We cover:  - Creating safety for those who’ve never known i...

We're excited to reconnect with the remarkable Aurianna Tuttle, a Change Agent who has dedicated her life to lifting up young girls in the community that she came from. This past year, Auri has expanded her work in community engagement and social impact beyond her hometown of Watts to support Fire Survivors in Altadena.  She shares her personal journey, one filled with acts of kindness and se...

Designer Brenda Equihua didn’t set out to build a brand. She was healing, channeling grief, culture, and vision into something that felt like hers. What started as a hoodie made from a San Marcos blanket has turned into a cultural movement worn on the world’s biggest stages, from Vogue to the NFL. In this episode, Brenda shares what it means to design with purpose, without a safety net, and to hon...

What if everything you believed about success, about “enough,” was wrong? In this episode, Matt, Wade, and Brooke get real about wealth, hustle culture, and the quiet epidemic of disconnection.  It starts with a trillion-dollar pay package and leads into a conversation that hits something deeper:  — Why more isn’t always better  — What a “generous economy” could actually look like  — How connectio...

What started as a family packing snack boxes during COVID has grown into one of LA’s most impactful nutrition initiatives. In this episode, Yossi Segelman, Executive Director of OBKLA, shares the story behind Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles and how a few volunteers in a garage transformed into a movement that feeds hundreds of thousands across the city. But this isn't just about meals. It’s about...

What if the most radical thing you could do right now… was just one kind act? In this episode, Matt West sits down with Change Reaction President, Wade Trimmer, to talk about generosity as a movement and a medicine. From buying flowers for strangers to standing in the gap where systems fail, we unpack how simple actions ripple out in powerful ways. We also get into: Why the people with the least o...

What do you do when your world ends? Joe McDonough lost his son Andrew to cancer when he was just a teen - but what grew in his absence was a movement that’s helped thousands of families carry impossible burdens. In this episode, Joe shares the origin of the B+ Foundation , from a boot-strapped fundraiser to a movement that's raised millions for families facing the same tragedy and supporting...

What does it take to walk away from a life that’s stealing your soul and build one that sets others free? In this raw and powerful episode, author and advocate Harmony Dust shares how childhood trauma made her vulnerable to exploitation, how she escaped life under a trafficker’s control, and why she founded Treasures, a survivor-led organization supporting women in the commercial sex industry.  Fr...

Steve LePore didn’t plan on working with unhoused youth. He just started showing up with sack lunches — and kept showing up. What followed wasn’t just a career shift. It was a life shift, leading him to co-found My Friend's Place, which serves young people between the ages of 12 and 24 who are experiencing homelessness in Los Angeles.  But this conversation isn’t about one organization — it’s...

Sometimes the road to inspiration leads through the darkness. On this episode of The Change Reaction podcast, you’re going to meet an absolutely remarkable young woman named Regina Brodell. We met her through The Change Reaction's partnership with Ready To Succeed, one of our partner organizations that supports former foster youth as they prepare themselves for college.  After losing her pare...

Garrett Underwood didn’t just start a nonprofit — he gave up his own house to do it. In this powerful conversation, Garrett shares how The Seed House Project was born out of grief, sacrifice, and an unshakable belief in community. From living in a trailer while housing strangers to building a model of support rooted in healing,  not just shelter, Garrett opens up about the unseen emotional cost of...

In our first episode from the new studio, Matt West and co-host Wade Trimmer sit down with Aaron Valencia, founder of Lost Angels Career Center in Lancaster.  Aaron shares how his own turbulent childhood led him down a road to becoming one of California's most sought-after custom car designers. Despite all his success, it was witnessing kids like him struggling in his community that inspired...

In Los Angeles, a full-time job at $22 an hour still isn’t enough to cover the basics. Rent, groceries, transportation; every cost stacks up, and when something goes wrong, there’s often nothing left to fall back on. On this episode, Wade Trimmer joins us to share how the Change Reaction's Upward Fund provides ongoing financial support for hardworking Angelenos who are doing seemingly everyth...

Every night, more than 18,000 kids in L.A. County fall asleep in foster care — and over half of them are being raised by relatives. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, and older siblings are stepping up to provide safe, loving homes. But behind closed doors, many of these caregivers are struggling. In this episode, we shine a light on the unsung heroes of kinship care. From housing repairs to transportat...

Sometimes, the best way to understand a community is to look at how it cares for the people who care for its kids. In this episode, we're focused on the people who show up daily for our kids: educators. The ones who stock their classrooms out of their pockets, shoulder their students’ burdens, and rarely get the time or resources to care for themselves.  Ielaf Altoma-Stead, Senior Partnership...

What happens after you’ve “made it”? In this powerful episode, we explore how generosity becomes a way of life—and why giving from the heart is the most transformative act of all. Greg Perlman, co-founder of The Change Reaction, and Wade Trimmer, President of The Change Reaction, share what inspired a movement of direct giving that now supports thousands of Angelenos. From confronting the complexi...

Sometimes the people who lift others up are the ones who need support, too. In this episode, we spotlight Door of Hope — a rare and remarkable space in Pasadena where families experiencing homelessness can stay together, no matter what that family looks like. With over $2 million in direct support from The Change Reaction since 2021, they’ve helped more than 1,000 families reclaim stability. We ta...

What happens when getting sick costs more than just your health? We unpack the hidden price of getting sick in America — surprise bills, lost wages, and the emotional strain of navigating a system that often fails those who need it most. Change Reaction co-founder Greg Perlman returns to share how the organization began as a lifeline for those facing medical crises — and how direct giving continue...

This episode is for you if you’ve ever believed in second chances - or needed one yourself. We’re diving into the real stories behind anti-recidivism, not just the policies but the people. People who’ve lived it, who’ve done the time, and are now doing the work to help others as they re-enter society, rebuild their lives, and reclaim their future. This week, our guests, Carlos Vasquez, CEO of How...

Imagine growing up in Los Angeles without a safety net. For foster youth across Southern California, this is the reality—and the odds are steep. In this episode of Change Reaction Radio , we shine a light on the young people navigating life after foster care, and the organizations walking alongside them to build a bridge toward success. We sit down with former foster youth Reyleen Delgado, Romi La...

When wildfires tore through Los Angeles, houses of worship weren’t spared. In this episode, we hear from three faith leaders who lost their sacred spaces—but not their sense of purpose. Pastor John Shaver, Cantor Chayim Frenkel, Bishop Charles Dorsey, and Aaron and Delores Abdus Shakoor join us for a powerful hour to share how their communities are recovering, the role of faith in healing after di...

Discover how the Change Reaction is revolutionizing small business recovery in Los Angeles! Join us as we sit down with visionary co-founder Jodi Perlman, who reveals her groundbreaking mission to rebuild and revitalize local businesses devastated by the LA Wildfires. Additionally, don't miss our exclusive interview with  Bobby Kobara of TMC Community Capital, where we uncover innovative fina...

How does Direct Giving help stabilize communities, not just in the aftermath of disaster, but through the everyday challenges of life?  Listen to Change Reaction President, Wade Trimmer, and Los Angeles City Councilman John Lee (CD12) explain how it works through acts of generosity and compassion, coupled with a calling to serve and help.  Change Reaction Radio is a podcast and radio show sharing...