SoCal Voices
An award-winning podcast about navigating life in Southern California.
Real talk in the land of dreams.
Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
Building Young Leaders in SoCal
Conventional wisdom says that Gen Z and Gen Alpha are disengaged from society -- that they’ve checked out and don’t really care about reshaping the world around them. But an organization based in Los Angeles is actively and successfully challenging that narrative. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Haley Pollock, Director of Leadership & Mentorship at Legacy Youth Leadership, shares how the organization is developing and nurturing emerging leaders from all walks of life and creating positive commu
June 4, 2026
Rethinking College, Careers and the Future of Work in SoCal
A college education isn’t the guarantee it once was. Rising tuition costs and growing uncertainty about whether a degree will lead to a stable, well-paying career are prompting many people to rethink what “higher education” should look like. If college is no longer the only path to success, what needs to change? In this episode of SoCal Voices , educator and entrepreneur Kalista Combs explores how we can rethink learning, work, and family life by reshaping traditional approaches to workforce dev
May 21, 2026
Cocoon After Dark - Centering Queer Voices in SoCal & Beyond
As host of the podcast Cocoon After Dark, LA’s Quincy Tessaverne platforms queer-centered conversations featuring Black and brown voices and serves as a safe space for SoCal’s queer community to tell their stories. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Quincy opens up about starting Cocoon After Dark, the critical community issues explored on the podcast, and the importance of creating safe spaces through storytelling. Resources Cocoon After Dark is available on Apple and Spotify . Enjoy this episode
May 7, 2026
How Autopsies Hide Police Violence in LA
Southern California may be the land of dreams but like other parts of the country, the region has its share of law enforcement misconduct, including autopsy reports that hide the truth about people who die in police custody. In his book The Coroner’s Silence: Death Records and the Hidden Victims of Police Violence , UCLA Professor Terence Keel investigates how coroners and medical examiners omit key information about police actions — often attributing the death to a preexisting health condition
April 16, 2026
Fighting A Hidden Health Crisis in SoCal
Keziyah Yisrael-Gayle, PhD, is an innovator working at the crossroads of science and community. She’s the founder of TollRAir, a biotech startup developing new treatments for lung inflammation caused by environmental toxins, an issue hitting some of Southern California’s most marginalized communities the hardest. Her work recently earned second place and the People’s Choice Award at the SoCal OASIS Pitch Challenge in Riverside, along with funding to help scale her vision. In this episode of SoCa
April 2, 2026
Inland Empire Community News: Filling the Local News Gap
Corporate buyouts and downsizing have reduced budgets and staff in newsrooms across SoCal, leaving community issues underreported and community members less informed. But some independent journalists are stepping up to fill the void, including Manny Sandoval, owner, editor, and publisher of Inland Empire Community News. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Sandoval talks about IECN's community impact, his approach to covering news in a changing media landscape, the personal circumstances that led hi
About the Host
Angela Ross
Creator & Host
The creator and host of SoCal Voices is Los Angeles native Angela Ross, a veteran broadcast journalist and award-winning leader of media, public affairs, marketing communications, and public relations divisions in government and healthcare. She launched SoCal Voices in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic and the national reckoning after the killing of George Floyd. In the midst of grief, confusion, and frustration, Angela turned to real, grounded, human conversations with fellow Southern Californians as a way to heal, understand, and reconnect. Today, SoCal Voices is a virtual gathering place for insight, inspiration, and real talk about life in Southern California.