The Heart of Laguna

Title: George Gilliam on Creative Identity, Music Therapy, and the Gift of Being Seen Episode Description: In this episode of  The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist welcomes George Gilliam, Executive Director of Creative Identity, a ministry of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach. For more than 30 years, George has helped adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities discover thei...

The Heart of Laguna Is People: Christina Logue on Business, Belonging, and Human Connection In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Christina Logue, owner of Little Freebirds and president of the Laguna Beach Business Club. Christina’s story moves from a 28-year career in opticianry, leadership, training, teaching, and regulation in Canada to the bold decision to beg...

The Heart of Laguna: Why a Community Needs Its Story | Karen Lagrew   E pisode Description What gives a place its soul? In this conversation, Will Crist sits down with Karen Lagrew —Vice President and former President of the Laguna Beach Historical Society and one of the few people born and raised in Laguna Beach—to explore the stories that continue to shape one of California’s most distinctive co...

Description In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist welcomes Ryan Brown, Artistic Director of the Laguna Beach Chamber Singers, for a rich conversation about music, belonging, beauty, and the deep human need for unity. Ryan reflects on what happens when individual voices come together in a choir—not by disappearing, but by listening, breathing, and creating something no one voice c...

Description In this tender and deeply humane episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist welcomes Jenna Mikula, Director of the Bluebell Foundation for Cats, a remarkable Laguna Beach sanctuary devoted to lifetime care for senior cats whose owners can no longer care for them. Jenna shares her journey from finance and accounting into a life of service, compassion, and purpose. Together, she and...

Showing Up for Every Child: Sarah Durand on School Power, Connection, and the Future of Laguna’s Schools — Fr. Will Crist and Sarah Durand, April 15, 2026 Description What does it really take for a community to support its children well?  In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Sarah Durand , Executive Director of School Power , for a thoughtful conversation about ed...

Facing Death, Finding Life: Barbara McMurray on Death Doulas, Presence, and the Courage to Be Human — Fr. Will Crist and Barbara McMurray Description What happens when we stop avoiding death and begin talking about it honestly, compassionately, and without fear?  In this moving episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Barbara McMurray , one of the founders of the OC Death Wor...

Art, Belonging, and the Creative Urge: Randy Morgan on Laguna’s Artistic Soul – Fr. Will Crist and Randy Morgan   Description What makes Laguna Beach more than a beautiful town by the sea? In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with acclaimed Laguna Beach artist, sculptor, and author Randy Morgan for a rich conversation about art, belonging, creativity, faith, and the in...

Prepared Together: Sarah Limones on Wildfire Readiness, Neighborhood Resilience, and the Future of Laguna – Fr. Will Crist and Sarah Limones Description In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist speaks with Sarah Limones , Emergency Operations Coordinator for the Laguna Beach Fire Department, about what it really means to prepare a city for disaster. Sarah oversees the full cycle of...

Description In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill for a thoughtful conversation about what it takes to hold a community together in a time of fear, division, and rapid change.   They explore gratitude, family, civic life, the challenge of listening across differences, and the importance of staying human in an age shaped by technology,...

Laguna’s Hometown Spirit: Ed Hanke on the Patriots Day Parade, Volunteering, and the Power of Community — Fr. Will Crist Podcast Description What keeps a community alive?   On this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Ed Hanke, President of the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade, longtime volunteer, Pageant of the Masters volunteer, and community leader.   Ed shares the sto...

Podcast Description What helps people rediscover their worth when trauma, fear, and digital distraction pull them away from themselves and from one another?   On this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist is joined by Arolyn Burns , CEO of Just Gather and a licensed therapist, and Michelle Highberg , founder of Just Gather of Just Gather and principal of  Gratefully Philanthropic Consult...

Title: Heart of Laguna — Fr. Will Crist with Ann Cooling & Marshall Ingwerson, February 11, 2026 Podcast Description  What would it take to rebuild safe, human conversation in a time when fear sells and stereotypes spread faster than truth? On this episode of The Heart of Laguna (February 11, 2026), Fr. Will Crist welcomes two guests from the Christian Science community: Anne Cooling , a longt...

Episode Description What happens when the community that once defined us changes — when retirement arrives, relationships shift, or life asks us to begin again?   In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist welcomes Rickie Redman , Director of Aging in Place at the Susi Q Center in Laguna Beach, for a deeply human conversation about aging, identity, and how we build meaningful lives in...

Out of Pajamas and Into Community: Gail Onondera on Love Laguna, Kids, and the 80% We Share — Fr. Will Crist and Gail Onondera, January 28, 2026  What does a healthy community look like in 2026—when we’re still half-asleep from COVID, arguing online, and quietly wondering where real connection went?   In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist talks with Gail Onondera , head of Childr...

Episode Description In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist welcomes Monica McDade , Chief Advancement Officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Laguna Beach . Monica shares what’s really happening with kids right now—especially the rise in anxiety—and why the Club is more than an after-school program. It’s a steady, safe place where children are known, supported, and guided back in...

On this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist sits down with Gail Duncan—longtime Laguna Beach advocate, Rotary leader, and community connector—to talk about what makes this town work when it “shouldn’t work on paper.”   Gail shares her journey from Metro Detroit to Laguna, her love for Rotary’s learning culture, and why Love Laguna has become one of the most powerful “belonging builders”...

Episode Description What makes Laguna Beach more than a postcard?   In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Pastor Jay Grant , a 55-year Laguna Beach resident and a pastor at Networks Community Church . Jay takes us back to the early days—renting an ocean-view place on Pearl Street for $60 a month , the rise of the Sawdust Festival out of the counterculture, and the...

Laguna Beach is famous for beauty—but the real story is how a small town holds together when things don’t “work on paper.”   In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , Fr. Will Crist sits down with Slade Carlton , Outreach Volunteer at Laguna Beach United Methodist Church , a local builder-turned-community leader who has devoted himself to serving neighbors on the margins and strengthening civic lif...

Description From Siberia to Sudan: how one lay leader turns compassion into action—and invites Laguna to go bigger. What happens when a lifelong “can-do” spirit meets real human need?  This week on The Heart of Laguna , Father Will Crist welcomes Barbara Van Gaasbeek , Chair of Outreach at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach . Barbara’s story is a masterclass in compassionate leadership—st...

🎙 Episode Description  Faith, Suffering, and the Courage to Build Community   Fresh from London, Rabbi Marcia Tilchin—founder of the Jewish Collaborative of Orange County—joins Father Will Crist for a wide-ranging, deeply human conversation about Jewish identity, interfaith friendship, suffering, spirituality, and the holy work of building community in a transient world. From Detroit to Orange Cou...

Episode Description The Heart of Laguna – “The Power of Presence: Hunger, Hope, and Human Connection” What if addressing hunger isn’t only about food—but about restoring dignity, belonging, and hope?   In this deeply moving episode of The Heart of Laguna , I sit down with Maurice Baz , Co-Chair of the Laguna Beach Interfaith Council and Data Project Manager at the Laguna Food Pantry. Maurice bring...

Episode Description   The Heart of Laguna – “From Street to Sanctuary: Faith, Healing, and the Work of Belonging” What does it take to walk with someone from life on the street back into community? In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , I sit down with Deacon Joe Seminara of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church , a retired law enforcement officer whose career moved from patrol work into deep s...

Episode Description The Heart of Laguna – “Grace, Guilt, and Getting Real in Laguna Beach”   What happens when two priests ordained in 1974 sit down and talk honestly about faith, failure, calling, and community?  In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , I’m joined by Bishop Brian Delvaux of St. Francis Cathedral in Laguna Beach. Brian tells the story of his winding path—from Roman Catholic priest...

Episode Description   The Heart of Laguna – “Many Faiths, One City: How Interfaith Service Is Holding Laguna Together”   What happens when churches, temples, and spiritual communities stop debating doctrine and start feeding the hungry, sheltering the cold, and showing up for their city—together? In this episode of The Heart of Laguna , I’m joined by Beth Garlock , longtime leader with the Laguna...