Our guest today is Kwamane Liddell, JD, MHA, BSN, the visionary CEO of ThriveLink—a healthcare technology company revolutionizing access to social safety-net programs and health services through telephonic AI. With a unique background as a trauma nurse, attorney, and health administrator, Kwamane brings a rare, multidimensional perspective to the healthcare space. Through ThriveLink, he has pioneered the use of telephonic AI to empower human service organizations and healthcare providers with al...
Jun 23, 2025•16 min•Ep. 221
As a podcast host, I have had the profound honor of listening to and documenting the powerful stories of community members who have dedicated their lives to advocating for justice. Tina Cordova, the Co-Founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, is a tireless advocate who has brought attention to the long-ignored consequences of nuclear testing in New Mexico. Her work illuminates the untold experiences of multiple communities who, in the aftermath of the Trinity Bomb detonation and sub...
May 17, 2025•27 min•Ep. 220
Matthew Feltrop serves as the Executive Director of The Patachou Foundation, a visionary nonprofit organization based in Indianapolis dedicated to fighting childhood hunger through transformative food initiatives. The foundation is committed to not only providing nutritious, scratch-made meals to children impacted by food insecurity but also fostering a deeper connection to food by sparking excitement and awareness. Under Matthew's dynamic leadership, the foundation has experienced remarkable gr...
Apr 25, 2025•24 min•Ep. 219
Our guest today is, Dr. Ann López is the Executive Director of Center for Farmworker Families. The Center for Farmworker Families provides support to farmworker families in the central coast of California. The Center for Farmworker Families is a 501(c3)nonprofit at www.farmworkerfamily.org . The website is designed to provide updates on the status of binational farmworker families and provides ways in which those who are interestedcan become involved with the work of improving their life circums...
Apr 11, 2025•19 min•Ep. 218
Our guest today is Elizabeth Bachman, CEO of Strategic Speaking for Results. Elizabeth is a renowned authority in advanced speaking, presentation skills, sales, and leadership training. With decades of expertise, she empowers high-level clients to craft impactful messages that secure funding, build alliances, and earn well-deserved recognition. As an internationally sought-after speaker and strategist, Elizabeth helps leaders present with confidence, relatability, and even a touch of humor—while...
Mar 20, 2025•24 min•Ep. 217
Our podcast today features Jasmine Najera and Barbara Garcia, who provide us with statistics regarding the economic power of US Latino communities. In addition to exploring these vital statistics, they delve into the critical role of uplifting and supporting the dedicated staff of our Latino community organizations, especially during these challenging and uncertain times. Keep our Latino Organizations strong by donating and volunteering. Si Se Puede! #LatinoEconomicPower #StrengthInCommunity #Su...
Mar 06, 2025•9 min•Ep. 216
Our guest today is Aaron Painter, the CEO of Nametag. Aaron shares his journey from a 14-year career at Microsoft, where he held various leadership roles across multiple countries, to founding Nametag. Driven by his personal experiences with online fraud and identity theft, Aaron has created cutting-edge technology that offers unprecedented protection from digital manipulation and impersonation fraud. Aaron discusses the evolution of fraud, from simple check scams to sophisticated digital impers...
Feb 14, 2025•25 min•Ep. 215
Our guest today is, Devon G. Peña the Founder and President of the Acequia Institute, a non-profit grant-making foundation dedicated to supporting environmental and food justice. The Institute is based on a 181-acre acequia farm in Viejo San Acacio, CO, situated on the ancestral lands and waters of the Nuchu, Dinè, Tewa, and Genizaro peoples. Established in 2006, the Acequia Institute focuses on the protection and preservation of acequia farming communities in the Upper Rio Grande region. Its ke...
Jan 28, 2025•59 min•Ep. 214
Las Fotos Project’s mission is to elevate the voices of teenage girls & gender-expansive youth from communities of color through photography and mentoring, empowering them to channel their creativity for the benefit of themselves, their community, and future careers. Several of the Las Fotos Project members have been impacted by the LA Fires, in response they have begun documenting the stories of artists who lost their equipment and studios in the fires.They are calling on artists impacted b...
Jan 17, 2025•9 min•Ep. 213
Our guest today is Dante King, M.ED, CHRMP, Dante is an incredible speaker, author and consultant known for his work in the fields of diversity and anti-racism. He is particularly focused on addressing systemic racism, bias, and discrimination within organizations and institutions. King leverages his expertise to help organizations understand and dismantle structural inequities, foster inclusive environments, and implement transformative change. As a consultant, he provides training, workshops, ...
Dec 19, 2024•30 min•Ep. 212
Our guest today is Vanessa Villaverde, the senior program investment officer at the CHCF Innovation Fund, which invests in technology and service companies with the potential to significantly lower the cost of care or to improve access to care for Californians with low incomes. Vanessa is an exceptional health leader with her eye on expanding the contributions of Latina/o/x innovators in health technologies, Before joining CHCF, Vanessa worked at health tech companies Caresyntax and Remedy Partn...
Nov 28, 2024•28 min•Ep. 210
Our guest today is Jacob Kendall, Jacob is a dedicated health advocate and a multifaceted expert. With a strong background in demographics, Jacob excels at analyzing health trends and identifying community needs. In this podcast he provides us with important insights about the roles and importance of immigrant health providers. His personal experiences as a patient within hospital and health systems as a patient, give him a unique perspective. Jacob is a speaker and educator and supports familie...
Nov 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 206
We are honoring the Loma Prieta Earthquake which took place on October 17, 1989 in Watsonville, California, by recasting our original podcast. We want to honor those who lost their lives and to those who responded to save lives and servethose who were impacted. You will hear about the fundamentals of disaster preparedness, response, and recovery particularly for vulnerable communities. Our podcast features Interviews with medical providers and Watsonville community leaders who responded immediat...
Oct 24, 2024•35 min•Ep. 127
Our guest today is Mayukh Choudhury, the Co-founder of Milaap and GetCopayHelp. Milaap is one of India’s leading crowdfunding platforms, connecting individuals and organizations with supporters to raise funds for medical emergencies and other critical causes. Through Milaap, thousands have received financial support for their medical needs. As a co-founder of GetCopayHelp, Mayukh has enabled US patients to access high-cost medications affordably. The platform simplifies the process by identifyin...
Oct 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 208
Our guest today is Itzel Maganda Chavez, the Civic Engagement Director for San Diego Alliance. Itzel shares her inspiring journey from growing up undocumented in San Diego to becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her story, transitioning from undocumented to DACAmented, and finally to citizenship, highlights the resilience and strength of immigrant communities. As the Civic Engagement Director at Alliance San Diego, she is responsible for promoting civic participation, organizing community effort...
Oct 10, 2024•23 min•Ep. 209
Our guests today are Carolyn Pritchard and Lorie Spence the Co-Founders of Bridge Medical Communications. Carolyn and Lorie have committed their work to bridge the gap between the health industry and the patient. They believe that specialized communications to healthcare professionals play a pivotal role in optimizing the potential impact of medical innovations on the healthcare landscape and—ultimately—on the patient. Their vision is to empower healthcare professionals to optimize patient outco...
Oct 03, 2024•18 min•Ep. 207
We are recasting our podcast on Smokey the Bear and our Indigenous firefighters. Help them by being safe and keeping your family safe with these safety precautions if you live in fire prone areas: *Create a fire escape plan Install and maintain smoke alarms Keep important documents and essentials with multiple family members if you can't afford a fireproof safe: Pack an emergency kit Have a designated meeting point: Practice fire safety: Take precautions to prevent fires by keeping flammable mat...
Sep 12, 2024•10 min•Ep. 158
Our guest today is, Mario A. Guel who is a South Texas native with a background in nonprofit grant management, community economic development focusing on rural & underserved communities and higher education. At Build Healthy Places Network (BHPN) Mario serves as Senior Program Manager, providing oversight and coordination of community of practice and field building in alignment with BHPN's goals. He creates, develops, and sustains national, regional, and local (including indigenous nations) ...
Aug 29, 2024•19 min•Ep. 204
On August 4th, 2024, we lost a remarkable community leader, Profe. Armando Vasquez Ramos. In his honor, I wanted to recast the podcast we recently recorded. I reconnected with Armando through John A. Taboada’s photo exhibit at the Historical Society Center of Long Beach, which showcased the community work of El Centro de la Raza. Armando’s podcast interview holds a special place in my heart. I first met him when I was fourteen, when he was the Director of El Centro de la Raza. I worked as a stud...
Aug 22, 2024•48 min•Ep. 205
Our guest today is Rebecca Hernandez, PhD, who is the Community Archivist at the UC Santa Cruz University Library. With a rich background as the former director of the American Indian Resource Center, Rebecca brings a unique blend of expertise and passion to her role. She is dedicated to ensuring that the diverse and untold histories of Santa Cruz County are not only preserved but also celebrated. Learn how to preserve your historical documents or gift your historical materials, by contacting Dr...
Aug 08, 2024•36 min•Ep. 203
Today, we’re joined by Janet Johns, Artistic Director, and Ruby Vasquez, Assistant Artistic Director from the Esperanza Del Valle Baile Folkorico in Santa Cruz County. They’re excited to announce the First International Folklorico and Music Conference, taking place in Santa Cruz County from August 15th to 25th. During our conversation, we’ll delve into the conference’s history and the meaningful relationship they’ve built with the University of Veracruz. Esperanza del Valle and Cabrillo College ...
Jul 04, 2024•22 min•Ep. 202
Our guest today is Gabriela Rodriguez-Gomez who is a Ph.D. candidate in Chicana/o Studies & Central American Studies at University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) with a specialization in the history of murals created during the Chicana/o art movement and the Mexican mural movement. She holds a B.A. in Art and History of Art and Visual Culture from the University of California Santa Cruz, an M.A. in Art History from the University of California Riverside, and an M.A. in Chicana/o Studies fr...
Jun 28, 2024•24 min•Ep. 201
Kateri Lopez serves as a Project Manager at Cornerstones in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Cornerstones is committed to safeguarding the architectural heritage and cultural traditions of New Mexico. Through collaborative efforts with local communities, Cornerstones restores historic structures and cultural landscapes while promoting traditional building practices. Kateri’s upbringing in a community and multigenerational family deeply rooted in land and farming in the South Valley of Albuquerque inform...
Jun 22, 2024•20 min•Ep. 200
Armando Vazquez-Ramos, an advocate for Chicano/Mexican and Latino education, has been promoting educational opportunities for over 50 years. As a student leader at California State University Long Beach (CSULB) in 1969, he co-founded the Chicano and Latino Studies department. Armando also became the Director of El Centro de la Raza in Long Beach which was a community service agency that provided thousands of families and youth, employment, and community resources. For the last decade Armando has...
Jun 13, 2024•40 min•Ep. 199
Jon is the Founder and Director of Migrant Media Productions. Jon is a visionary filmmaker, educator and advocate for social justice. John has been capturing and documenting the stories of Migrant Farmworkers for over three decades. He has committed his career to the struggles and the beauty of Migrant Farmworker lives. Jon's work captures the stories of musicians, strikers, educators and community advocates. His recent work, "Living in Exile", tells the untold story of Carlos Mejia Godoy a musi...
May 30, 2024•33 min•Ep. 198
In 2013, Wes founded Rare Patient Voice to provide patients and their caregivers with the opportunity to voice their opinions through surveys and interviews to improve medical products and services. As with any new business, the initial days were challenging. Wes knew that he wanted to be able to share this resource with all clients, so he purposely did not accept investments from clients or other related sources. He spent time traveling across the country and meeting patients and caregivers at ...
May 22, 2024•19 min•Ep. 197
"Joy Power and Pride" Brian Chavez, from the Historical Society of Long Beach, joins us today to share his thoughts and reflections on the new exhibit titled "Centro de la Raza: John A. Taboada’s Photo Legacy 1970-1985." John’s exhibit captures the Chicano Movement in Long Beach and the community work of Centro de la Raza through a beautiful collection of over 3,000 meticulously preserved photos. John's artistry will continue to have an impact on multiple generations to come. *This exhibit holds...
May 11, 2024•16 min•Ep. 196
Dr. Geeta Nayyar, a remarkable health and technology leader, has authored the book “DEAD WRONG: Diagnosing and Treating Healthcare’s Misinformation Illness”. In our podcast Dr. G emphasizes the importance of accurate information in empowering patients, providers, and policymakers. By embracing transparency, trust can be fostered, informed decision-making facilitated, and patient outcomes enhanced. Dr. Nayyar advocates for open data sharing, clear communication, and responsible handling of privac...
Apr 25, 2024•22 min•Ep. 195
Our guest today is Dr. Haghighian (Dr.Cyrus), Dr. Cyrus is deeply committed to patient care, aligning seamlessly with the mission of providing comprehensive and personalized healthcare. Specializing in Sleep Medicine, he strives to help patients achieve better sleep and overall well-being. He has experience working with both adults and children and his services address conditions such as Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy, Insomnia, and Circadian Rhythm disorders. Today Dr. Cyrus share with us about Sleep ...
Apr 08, 2024•21 min•Ep. 194
Our guest today is Chris Thompson, the CEO of Sober Sidekick. Chris developed his application for those seeking sobriety and support. Chris wants a world where no one is alone in their battle of sobriety and his app does just that, it is 24/7 and if you reach out, others will reach out to you and give you empathy and support. Chris believes that it only takes a few people to believe in you to find the strength to overcome your struggles and turn your setbacks into comebacks. His innovative app i...
Mar 25, 2024•18 min•Ep. 193
