Culture & Storytelling Episodes

Claudia Clark is an expatriate activist, historian and author of Dear Barack: The Extraordinary Partnership of Barack Obama and Angela Merkel. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Claudia discusses the inspiration behind her book...

In his award-winning book, Alabama Grandson: A Black, Gay Minister’s Passage Out of Hiding, Cedrick Bridgeforth chronicles the many years he spent shielding his truth from the world, the pain he experienced when his secret wa...

One of southern California’s most unique and authentic voices belongs to a former DJ who got her start in radio as a teenager. In this edition of SoCal Voices, Jewel, host of the Old School Jewels podcast, discusses how she b...

Riverside’s Gail B. Smith started working for Pacific Telephone/Pacific Bell (known today as AT&T) in the 1970s. When she was hired, she was Riverside’s first African American woman splicer and installer for the phone company...

Novelist, essayist and short story teller Keenan Norris’ new coming-of-age novel, The Confession of Copeland Cane is being hailed as “simply genius,” “potent” and “engaging.” In this edition of SoCal Voices, Norris, a SoCal n...

The John M Pfau Library on the campus of Cal State University San Bernardino holds a digital archive honoring inland southern California’s Black history. In this episode of SoCal Voices, Assistant Professor of History Marc Ro...

In this “Ask Me Anything” episode, the tables are turned as SoCal Voices host Angela Ross answers questions posed by KGGI and KOST radio personality Evelyn Erives on Black History Month and more!

Anthony Victoria is a journalist, community organizer and communications advisor who has spent years focusing on local civic and environment justice. Recently, Anthony’s newly launched outlet, The Frontline Observer, received...

On this edition of SoCal Voices, host Angela Ross speaks with Mike Dunne, founder of Equine Empowered Therapy (EET). Throughout the southern California region, EET helps veterans dealing with trauma experience the healing nat...

Storyteller, filmmaker, writer and composer James Grisom hails from Lynwood. A recent graduate of USC’s film school, he’s already making his mark, writing and directing short films and documentaries that tell poignant, person...

In this episode of SoCal Voices, a past guest on the podcast, Steve Jacobs, turns the tables to interview SoCal Voices founder and host, Angela Ross. Angela fields questions about her career, the state of media and what she e...

In this edition of SoCal Voices, host Angela Ross has a fun conversation with radio veteran, founder and CEO of “This is Funner,” Chris Donovan and his lovely wife, the ever-popular morning show co-host at 99.1 KGGI and weeke...

The Listening Post Collective offers resources, tools, peer-to-peer support and a shared learning space for journalists, newsroom leaders and community groups looking to revitalize their local news and information ecosystems....

When she first started writing, no one suspected that Celeste Barclay was penning what she calls “R-rated historical romance novels.” She didn’t tell anyone what she was doing. But the teacher turned author knows what she’s d...

As Executive Director of Inlandia Institute, Cati Porter oversees a special gem in southern California’s Inland Empire. An advocate and supporter of literary arts, Inlandia publishes books and programs that deepen people’s aw...

In this episode of SoCal Voices, Angela Ross chats with singer and DJ Myra Washington. Originally from Port Arthur, TX, Myra followed her dreams to come to Los Angeles and pursue a music career. It wasn’t always easy but her ...

In the final installment of her series on local, self-published, African American authors, Angela Ross speaks with James Otis Harris, author of Corey’s Courtroom. The book is a series of fun stories helping kids resolve confl...

In the third installment of SoCal Voices’ local African American author series, we meet James Coats, a poet with a deep, abiding love and message to share. Learn more about his work and perspective and what’s coming next for ...

The second installment in Angela’s series on local African American self-published authors features Monica Woodruff. She brings her lived experience, including her roles in law enforcement and counseling to her writing and sh...

Angela kicks off her series on local African American self-published authors with a fun interview with Dwayne Shigg, author of the book EncourageMINTS for Tough Times. Sometimes you need a breath mint; sometimes you need an e...

Live music performances? There is almost no such thing during the pandemic. If music lovers have missed attending concerts, musicians have missed performing even more. On this edition of SoCal Voices, electric violinist and v...

Throughout her career, award-winning singer, songwriter, musician and producer Sheree Brown has collaborated with multiple artists including Patrice Rushen, Zhane and Syreeta Wright. Her latest work, a music and literary proj...

What do you do when you can’t find a children’s book about the city you love? Write it yourself! Hear Mark Cloud, author of Hello Riverside, Good Night Scranton and Fun at the Office discuss his books, love of family and comm...

Inland Empire-based photographer/videographer Steve Jacobs talks about the recent death of a close friend and his father, both from suicide. An eight-year Air Force veteran, Steve discusses how their deaths affected him, and...