Southern Californians know a thing or two about chasing sunshine and big dreams, and there’s no better example of that spirit than the man who created the happiest place on earth.

In this episode of SoCal Voices, you’ll hear from Dr. Disneyland, also known as Jeff Barnes, the author, speaker, and founder of The Wisdom of Walt. He shares how exploring Walt Disney’s life reshaped his own journey.

He unpacks what it really means to build your own reality and why those “wild” ideas you’re afraid to say out loud might be exactly what puts your world on a whole new path.

Resources

thewisdomofwalt.com

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Southern California is filled with overachievers. Without some balance and healthy practices, the relentless drive to accomplish more can leave us feeling like we're running on fumes. Licensed marriage and family therapist Laurel van der Toorn of Los Angeles specializes in helping high achieving professionals overcome burnout and improve their mental well-being. In this episode of SoCal Voices, she shares how burnout sneaks into the bodies and minds of high performers and what it really takes to heal. From simple mindset shifts to redefining success beyond achievement, this conversation might help you find the balance you need to thrive without losing your edge.

Resources

Laurel Therapy Collective

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Since booking his first gig in 2004, LA voice actor Kyle Chapple has built a career across video games, animation, and commercials but he didn't reach those milestones on talent alone. His journey has also been about grit, risk, and belief in self. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Chapple talks about everything it took for him to achieve his dreams and why it was so important for him to go all in. If you’re grinding toward a goal and wondering whether to stay the course or walk away, Chapple’s journey may be just the inspiration you need.

Resources

Learn more about Kyle Chapple.

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The Trump administration’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” included funding cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program known as SNAP. These cuts mean Southern Californians dealing with food insecurity may need to turn to local food banks in increasing numbers to put food on the table. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Rachel Bonilla of Feeding America Riverside-San Bernardino, explains how her organization is preparing for the potential increased demand, and how Southern Californians can come together to help meet the growing need.

Resources

Feeding America Riverside-San Bernardino

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Serving as an effective state legislator in 2025 requires “next level” commitment and courage, as California finds itself targeted by what some political observers describe as the Trump administration’s retribution campaign. Despite this challenging political environment, State Assemblymember Corey Jackson of SoCal’s 60th assembly district is focused on leading with purpose and clarity. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Jackson shares how staying focused on what matters most builds resilience and serves as an act of resistance. He breaks down how Southern Californians can stay informed, stay hopeful, and take meaningful action when democracy feels under attack.

Resources

Official Website - Assemblymember Corey A. Jackson

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The end of federal funding for public broadcasting has many Southern Californians wondering what's next for public media. In this episode of SoCal Voices host Angela Ross sits down with Connie Leyva, executive director of the Inland Empire's public radio and TV station, KVCR. Leyva shares insight about the uncertain public media landscape, her determination to stay focused on KVCR’s core mission, and how listeners can help ensure public broadcasting thrives in Inland Southern California.

Resources

KVCR.org

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Laura C. Chávez-Moreno is an assistant professor at UCLA and author of How Schools Make Race. Her research digs deep into the ways schools don’t just reflect race—they actually produce it. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Dr. Chávez-Moreno talks about what that means in practice, and why teaching about race matters as much as teaching about math. She also shares her thoughts on the policy, community, and personal actions necessary to help classrooms become spaces for building a more equitable future.

Resources: How Schools Make Race is available at booksellers including Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Ask for it at your local public library.

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In a time when inclusion efforts are under pressure and immigrant communities are too often misrepresented, Dr. Lola Adeyemo is leading with courage, clarity, and heart. As founder of Immigrants in Corporate, she empowers first-gen and immigrant professionals to thrive by building meaningful careers, connecting to mentors, and creating communities of belonging inside and outside the workplace.

In this episode of SoCal Voices, Dr. Lola shares how Southern California’s unique diversity offers both challenges and opportunities, and why community, allyship, and storytelling are key to navigating today’s climate. Whether you’re an immigrant professional finding your place, or a SoCal native who wants to build stronger bridges of understanding, this episode will remind you that resilience grows when we stand together, and that thriving in SoCal means no one has to do it alone.

Resources: Immigrants in Corporate

Enjoy the Show? Leave a 5-Star Review on Apple Podcasts or socalvoices.com.

Join the SoCal Voices email list and receive our free mini-audio series, 5 Ways to Live Well in SoCal (without losing your mind).

Looking for your next adventure in SoCal? There’s lots to enjoy from San Diego to Ventura. Book with our affiliate partner, Viator.

Follow SoCal Voices on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn @socalvoices.

Follow Host Angela Ross on LinkedIn.

Want to be a guest on SoCal Voices? Reach out to host Angela Ross on PodMatch.

Thank you for listening! Support SoCal Voices Podcast. Your contributions help us continue to bring you quality content about navigating life in Southern California. It’s easy! Just click this link:

Support the show