LA Stories Unfiltered with Giselle Fernandez: Recent Episodes
Spectrum News 1
Southern California is home to some of the world’s most incredible innovations and accomplishments. But who are the change agents responsible for it all? Each week, Giselle Fernandez will take a deep dive into the philosophies and motivations of these people, who are creating an impact throughout the community. LA Stories Unfiltered is the companion podcast to the weekly television series on Spectrum News 1 and gives you an even more in-depth look at the stories and lives of change makers in SoCal.
Known for award-winning movies such "Amores Perros,” "Babel,” "Birdman” and "The Revenant," five-time Oscar-winning director Alejandro González Iñárritu opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his latest film, "Bardo, False Chronicles of a Handful of Truths.” Iñárritu says he identifies closely with the story, which uses surrealism and humor to explore stories of his own life. Just as the main character grapples with his insecurities and identity, so too has Iñárritu, who once used his Oscar acceptance speech to shine a light on Mexican immigrants living in the U.S. Iñárritu plans to continue to use his voice, work and platform to continue to uplift immigrants.
Michael Harris was once known as “the Godfather” in South Central Los Angeles. In the 1980s, he was arrested on attempted murder and drug trafficking charges, spending 33 years in prison. From behind bars, however, he helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Harris in the last hours of his presidency, and once freed, “Harry-O” went right back to work. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Harris, who ultimately partnered with Snoop Dogg as COO of the all-new Death Row Records.
As the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, April McDaniel works with brands, including Adidas and Spotify, to create experiences and events to promote their products and share their stories. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with McDaniel, whose success did not come easily, but after being left a widow at just 33 years old, she was forced to raise her two young sons on her own. According to McDaniel, the experience inspired her to create her agency. Her perseverance has inspired her many A-lister friends, including Adele, who dedicated her album "30" to McDaniel.
Derek Hough has won the coveted mirror ball trophy on “Dancing with the Stars” more times than any other professional dancer on the show. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Hough, who opens up about the lessons he learned from the experiences — both on and off the dance floor. Recalling his childhood, Hough shares horrific stories of being bullied as a young boy, which he details in his book, "Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion.” Hough has expanded his career with his "No Limits" Las Vegas residency show in addition to returning for the latest season of “DWTS.”
David Ambroz says he spent most of his time starving and freezing while growing up on the streets of Manhattan, surviving on old pizza crusts and sugar packets with few people offering him help or support. At 12 years old, after a moment where he says his mother almost beat him to death, Ambroz entered the foster care system. He finally found foster parents to give him the love and support he needed, and was able to break free from the struggles he faced. Today, Ambroz is considered a national poverty and child welfare expert, advocating on behalf of children in the foster care system and those experiencing homelessness.
In one of his final interviews before stepping down as mayor of Los Angeles, Eric Garcetti opens up to host Giselle Fernandez and reflects on his time serving the city. During his tenure as mayor, Garcetti says he’s happy to know his administration is responsible for projects such as investing in infrastructure, bringing the Olympics to LA, cutting poverty and increasing the rate of job growth. Despite headlines reporting on all the work that is yet to be done in the city, Garcetti believes the good he brought the city is significant. He considers Mayor-elect Karen Bass a dear friend and is excited to see what she brings to LA in her new role.
Antonio Salazar-Hobson was born into a farm-working migrant family in Arizona, the 11th of 14 children. At just 4 years old, he was kidnapped by the next-door neighbors his family had grown to trust, and for years, he was sexually abused and trafficked at a guest ranch in central California. Salazar-Hobson shares with host Giselle Fernandez his powerful story of survival and chance meeting with workers’ rights activist Cesar Chavez in high school. Despite hardship that continued into his college years, Salazar-Hobson became one of the most successful labor lawyers in the country, just as Chavez predicted.
Antonio Salazar-Hobson was born into a farm-working migrant family in Arizona, the 11th of 14 children. At just 4 years old, he was kidnapped by the next-door neighbors his family had grown to trust, and for years, he was sexually abused and trafficked at a guest ranch in central California. Salazar-Hobson shares with host Giselle Fernandez his powerful story of survival and chance meeting with workers’ rights activist Cesar Chavez in high school. Despite hardship that continued into his college years, Salazar-Hobson became one of the most successful labor lawyers in the country, just as Chavez predicted.
In 2016, Miry Whitehill answered a call from a friend who asked if Whitehill had a baby chair she could donate to a Syrian family who had just moved to California. Thinking on her feet, Whitehill made a list of items this family needed in order to get settled in their new home, posted the list to social media and, soon after, the Miry’s List nonprofit was born. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Whitehill, who has been able to help more than 600 families get settled in the U.S. through crowdsourcing and social media. Miry’s List is now serving refugee families in as many as 17 states, but Whitehill says California is leading the way in resettlement.
Kat Taylor has made it her life mission to bring equity to underserved and underrepresented communities across the country. As the co-founder and board chair of Beneficial State Bank, she aims to make banking more accessible to under-resourced communities in an economically and environmentally sustainable manner. Through her TomKat Ranch, in coalition with other farms and ranches, Taylor helps bring local, healthy, organic food to millions of school children in California. As she opens up to host Giselle Fernandez, one thing is clear with all her various endeavors: Kat Taylor has an optimistic outlook on the state’s future.
With nearly 250 million views on YouTube and three successful books, millennial mortician Caitlin Doughty has launched what she calls a “death positive” movement through her series, “Ask a Mortician.” With videos such as “Can I Keep My Parents’ Skulls and Tattoos” and “Morbid Minute: Coffins vs. Caskets,” Doughty hopes to help people understand that death is a part of life and we should be comfortable talking about it. She tells host Giselle Fernandez that embalming or cremating a body is bad for the environment, and she encourages people to consider more environmentally friendly options. In 2011, she founded the Order of the Good Death to create a national dialogue around the funeral industry and both the financial and emotional burdens many funerals put on families.
With the Los Angeles mayoral election coming up, host Giselle Fernandez sat down with candidates Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass for a special edition of “LA Stories.” In Fernandez’s interview with Bass, the U.S. representative explained why she wants to leave her position in Washington D.C. in order to serve as mayor of LA. Bass went deeper into the issues LA is facing and discussed her plans for tackling them if she were to become mayor. She also shared some insight into those who have helped guide her, crediting her parents for providing her with direction in different areas throughout her life.
With the Los Angeles mayoral election coming up, host Giselle Fernandez sat down with candidates Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass for a special edition of “LA Stories.” In Fernandez’s interview with Caruso, the businessman explained why he wanted to enter the race, saying he has a gift for civic duty. He opened up on all the major issues LA is facing and explained in detail how he plans to address them if he were to become mayor. Caruso also discussed what fuels his leadership and who he’s looked up to throughout the years, crediting Tom Bradley and former President Barack Obama for leading with hope and a sense of community.
Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from Southern California, including the two candidates running for Los Angeles mayor in the upcoming election. Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass discuss the issues that face the city and what makes them stand out from their opponent. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.
Now in her 90s, Dolores Huerta has spent most of her life as a political activist, fighting for better working conditions for farmworkers and women’s rights. Her role in the farmworkers’ movement has long been overshadowed by that of Cesar Chavez, her longtime collaborator and co-founder of what became the United Farm Workers of America union. Huerta also coined the movement’s famous slogan, “Sí Se Puede,” which inspired former President Barack Obama’s own campaign battle cry, "Yes, we can." She opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about being by former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s side the day he was assassinated and the importance of sharing her accomplishments with young women to open the doors for the next generation.
As a young boy, José Hernández worked alongside his Mexican immigrant family, picking fruits and vegetables throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Stockton. When he watched the first astronauts walk on the moon, Hernández knew right away that he wanted to be just like them, so he followed his father's advice and worked tirelessly through school to become an engineer. It took Hernández 12 attempts, but his dream was finally set in motion when he was accepted into NASA’s space program and got to fly into space at age 47. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Hernández, who started the Reaching for the Stars Foundation that aims to expose kids to STEM-related opportunities.
Estevan Oriol began his career as a hip-hop club bouncer in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to LA-based groups Cypress Hill and House of Pain. To document the experience, Oriol's father, also a famed photographer, gave him an old film camera and said that maybe he, too, would become an artist. Though he may not have had any professional training, Oriol proved he had the eye and natural talent of an artist. He shares with host Giselle Fernandez how his love of photography grew from a hobby to an art he mastered.
Estevan Oriol began his career as a hip-hop club bouncer in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to LA-based groups Cypress Hill and House of Pain. To document the experience, Oriol's father, also a famed photographer, gave him an old film camera and said that maybe he, too, would become an artist. Though he may not have had any professional training, Oriol proved he had the eye and natural talent of an artist. He shares with host Giselle Fernandez how his love of photography grew from a hobby to an art he mastered.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Joan Agajanian Quinn befriended artists at a young age. Over time, her relationships in the art world grew, and she was soon at the center of the LA art scene, befriending artists like Andy Warhol and David Hockney. Quinn explains to host Giselle Fernandez how she became known as one of the most painted women in the world, with world-famous artists, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Hurrell, Kenneth Price and Robert Mapplethorpe capturing her portrait. As the West Coast editor of Warhol's Interview Magazine, and host of her own interview series, "Joan Quinn Profiles," Quinn used her fame in the art world to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming artists.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Joan Agajanian Quinn befriended artists at a young age. Over time, her relationships in the art world grew, and she was soon at the center of the LA art scene, befriending artists like Andy Warhol and David Hockney. Quinn explains to host Giselle Fernandez how she became known as one of the most painted women in the world, with world-famous artists, such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, George Hurrell, Kenneth Price and Robert Mapplethorpe capturing her portrait. As the West Coast editor of Warhol's Interview Magazine, and host of her own interview series, "Joan Quinn Profiles," Quinn used her fame in the art world to shine a spotlight on up-and-coming artists.
Born with congenital limb differences, Ezra Frech came into this world missing his left knee, left fibula and fingers on his left hand. As soon as he was old enough, he received a prosthetic leg that opened him up to the world of sports, where he played basketball, soccer, football, and track and field. Frech opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his journey to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where he competed in both the long jump and high jump as the youngest member of Team USA. Having realized there was little opportunity for people with disabilities in Los Angeles to participate in sports, Frech and his parents created the Angel City Sports nonprofit for kids, adults and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments.
Born with congenital limb differences, Ezra Frech came into this world missing his left knee, left fibula and fingers on his left hand. As soon as he was old enough, he received a prosthetic leg that opened him up to the world of sports, where he played basketball, soccer, football, and track and field. Frech opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his journey to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, where he competed in both the long jump and high jump as the youngest member of Team USA. Having realized there was little opportunity for people with disabilities in Los Angeles to participate in sports, Frech and his parents created the Angel City Sports nonprofit for kids, adults and veterans with physical disabilities or visual impairments.
In this episode of “LA Stories,” host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Michael Harris, who was once known as “the Godfather” in South Central Los Angeles. Harris was arrested in the 1980s on attempted murder and drug trafficking charges. He spent 33 years in prison, but from behind bars, he helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Harris in the last hours of his presidency, and once freed, “Harry-O” went right back to work. He opens up to Giselle Fernandez about going on to partner with Snoop Dogg as the COO of the all-new Death Row Records.
More than half the people in America believe children are in foster care because they have done something wrong, according to recent polls. For more than three decades, Jennifer Perry has made it her mission to change that perception and open people’s eyes to the truth: Children are placed in foster care by no fault of their own and are sometimes victims of abuse or neglect. As the executive director of Children’s Action Network and co-founder of FosterMore, Perry uses her connections in Hollywood and politics to change the narrative around foster youth and share stories in order to show the world who they really are. She tells host Giselle Fernandez that her work became personal when she herself adopted her daughters through foster care.
Jessica Sarowitz made her fortune through the payroll company she founded with her husband, Steve — but she was not raised with that sort of wealth. While growing up, she remembers that even though she spoke a different language and looked different from her classmates, her parents instilled a confidence in her that she still carries with her today. Most recently, Sarowitz served as an executive producer on the documentary “With This Light,” which follows a nun in Honduras known as the Mother Teresa of Central America. Sarowitz is building a five-acre film studio in the heart of Baldwin Hills and the Crenshaw corridor, which she hopes to use to empower diverse filmmakers and artists while encouraging the storytelling of underrepresented groups.
James Samuel Harris III - famously known as Jimmy Jam. In this “LA Stories” episode, he opens up to Giselle Fernandez about his iconic career, which gained him five Grammy Awards, a star on the Walk of Fame and dozens of No. 1 Billboard hits.
He’s been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, and in the fall of 2022, he will be inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Jimmy Jam also talks about taking piano lessons with Prince and producing Janet Jackson’s breakthrough album “Control.” Along with his business partner, Terry Lewis, Jimmy Jam would go on to produce Jackson’s “Rhythm Nation,” “The Velvet Rope,” and “All for You” albums.
Most recently, the pair released an album of their own, called “Jam and Lewis Volume I.” The album features some of the biggest artists they have worked with throughout the years, singing songs written and produced by the producing duo.
Almost every week, Dr. Susan Partovi walks the streets of Skid Row, tracking down and checking in on her patients. Dr. Partovi does this not only because she is the medical director of Homeless Health Care Los Angeles, which provides basic health services for the homeless community, but because she sees herself in every patient she treats.
She also works with programs like the Center for Harm Reduction, which gives patients access to clean needles and offers community training to reverse opioid overdoses.
Dr. Partovi joins Giselle Fernandez on this episode of "LA Stories" to share stories from her work with the homeless population and her work internationally as the co-founder of H.E.A.L.
Famous for being half of the marijuana-loving hippie comedy duo "Cheech and Chong," Richard "Cheech" Marin is one of the highest achieving Latinos in Hollywood — and has no plans to slow down. Although he enjoyed an immense amount of success together with Tommy Chong for 17 years, Marin eventually made the difficult decision to break up the duo and set off for a successful acting career on his own. Marin opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about that painful split and eventual reunion with Chong, as well as his love and pride for Chicano culture. Today, Marin owns one of the most extensive Chicano art collections in the U.S., which is now housed in the newly opened Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture at the Riverside Art Museum.
As the child of a lieutenant colonel in the Australian Army, Rick Springfield moved around a lot with his family and was always changing homes, schools and communities. He struggled to lay down roots and battled depression from an early age. As a teenager, he tried to take his own life — a secret he held from his family for decades — but despite his struggles, Springfield had one constant that kept him moving forward: music. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his rise to fame and reveals the true story behind “Jessie’s Girl,” his 1981 Grammy-winning hit.
Once known as "the Godfather" in South Central Los Angeles, Michael Harris was arrested in the 1980s on attempted murder and drug trafficking charges. He spent 33 years in prison, but from behind bars, he helped build one of the most prolific music labels in the world. In 2021, then-President Donald Trump pardoned Harris in the last hours of his presidency, and once freed, “Harry-O” went right back to work. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about going on to partner with Snoop Dogg as the COO of the all-new Death Row Records.
In 2016, just after the birth of his son, Ady Barkan was hit with a devastating blow: He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As the medical bills began pouring in, Barkan was inspired to take action against what he says is a flawed health care system in the U.S. When his ALS progressed, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak, Barkan used his ailing body as a weapon in the fight for health care rights, which is chronicled in the documentary “Not Going Quietly.” Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Barkan, who knows his time is limited and wants to do everything he can to leave the world in a better place for his kids.
St. Anne’s Family Services in Los Angeles offers support programs to struggling expectant mothers and young families so they can get the help they need to live their best lives. When Lorna Little moved to LA to serve as the nonprofit's president and CEO, she brought more than just her work experience to the role, as she had become pregnant in high school and felt both the fear and shame associated with becoming a teenage mother. In her acclaimed book "Mum’s the Word!" Little also reveals her shocking discovery in her 30s that she was adopted and the emotional roller coaster it sent her on. Host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with Little, who reveals how she turned her experience around to help others.
As the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, April McDaniel works with brands like Adidas and Spotify to create experiences and events to promote their products. In this episode of “LA Stories Unfiltered,” host Giselle Fernandez revisits her conversation with McDaniel, who says her success did not come easily. She was left a widow at just 33 years old and forced to raise her two young sons on her own, an experience that paved the way to creating her agency. McDaniel’s perseverance has inspired her many A-lister friends, including Adele, who dedicated her album “30” to McDaniel.
As senior rabbi of the historic Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, Steve Leder has had a front row seat to hundreds of deaths, offering comfort to those who are dying and to families who have lost loved ones. He’s come to realize the importance of writing down your answers to questions about life while you’re still living so that your values and lessons can live on after you’re gone. Leder opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his new book, “For You When I Am Gone,” which offers a guide through the process of writing an ethical will. In guiding us through the process, Leder himself answers the questions he’s asking, sharing personal stories and experiences.
Derek Hough rose to fame on the hit show “Dancing with the Stars,” winning the coveted mirror ball trophy six times — more than any other professional dancer. Recalling his childhood, Hough shares with host Giselle Fernandez some horrific stories about being bullied as a young boy, which he also details in his book, “Taking the Lead: Lessons from a Life in Motion.” When he was 12, Hough’s parents sent him and his sister Julianne to London so they could train to become professional dancers, an experience that landed them both on “DWTS.” Hough is now expanding his career with his “No Limits” Las Vegas residency show, where he gets to dance with Hayley Erbert, his new fiancé.
The Los Angeles Fire Department faced a history-making shift when Mayor Eric Garcetti nominated Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley to serve as the first female head of the force. In this episode honoring Pride Month, Crowley opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about taking on the role and says she’s ready to implement big changes to address accusations of both sexism and racial bias within the LAFD. Crowley has held nearly every position within the department and has a habit of creating many career firsts: She was the first female fire marshal of the LAFD and will be the first paramedic to hold the role of fire chief. As a wife, mother and member of the LGBTQ community, Crowley knows young people will look up to her and hopes her legacy will live on long after she has retired.
Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers in Southern California. She sits down with “Dancing with the Stars” champion Derek Hough, who reveals how dance has taught him life lessons over the years. Beyond that, Fernandez speaks with Death Row Records founder Michael “Harry-O” Harris, who opens up about life after incarceration. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.
Jennifer Yen played the villain character Vypra on the hit series "Power Rangers: Light Force," but in real life, she struggled to find self-confidence due to skin issues from wearing heavy makeup for the show. Frustrated with trying techniques and products that didn't work, Yen drew upon on her Chinese roots and looked to her grandmothers for help, an experience that led her to give up acting in order to create her first skin care line. She tells "LA Stories" host Giselle Fernandez it was her second line that found success by celebrating her Asian heritage, which she didn't embrace the first time around per the advice of some investors. Yen now hopes to inspire other women in business to continue to fight for whatever dream they're chasing.
As a child growing up in Portugal, Alberto Carvalho and his family lived in poverty. After coming to America, he found himself homeless, working odd jobs until he saved up enough money to graduate college. After holding many different titles in the Miami-Dade School District, he became the district’s superintendent and is credited with turning it around, having emphasized fighting for immigrant children and underserved communities. After serving for 14 years, Carvalho moved to Los Angeles to serve as LAUSD's superintendent, telling host Giselle Fernandez that he has high goals and expectations.
At age 17, Charlie Zhang’s situation was dire amid China’s Cultural Revolution, but he remained hopeful thanks to his clarinet, which he learned to play himself. Zhang explains to host Giselle Fernandez how a chance to attend school in the U.S. changed his life forever, as he made it to Los Angeles with just a suitcase, his clarinet and $20 in his pocket. After a hand injury ruined his chance to play music professionally, Zhang threw himself into restaurant work and opened the successful Pick Up Stix chain. Today, Zhang is well known for his many philanthropic endeavors, but he is most proud of creating OC Music & Dance, a nonprofit performing arts school that aims to make the arts accessible to every child.
Known for her bold brush strokes, unique textures and dynamic colors, Yolanda Gonzalez has become one of Los Angeles' most prestigious Chicana artists. She has traveled the world showcasing her work and believes the more you’re exposed to art, the better person you’ll become. Gonzalez opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about her family’s artistic heritage, which has carried on for five generations — starting with her great-grandfather’s pencil drawings all the way down to her niece’s paintings. Today, Gonzalez shares her artwork secrets with the LA community, teaching at the Para Los Ninos nonprofit for children and AltaMed senior centers.
Known for his community organizing, civil rights activist Paul Schrade successfully helped lead the anti-war movement and worked closely with the farmworkers union. He served as an aide in Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s bid for the presidential nomination, joining Kennedy on the campaign trail and introducing him to the many workers unions on the West Coast. As one of the last living witnesses to Kennedy’s assassination in 1968, Schrade says it not only changed his life forever, but it also changed the course of American history. Now in his 90s, Schrade is still dedicated to honoring Kennedy’s legacy, securing the funding to build the Robert F. Kennedy Community Schools in Koreatown, where the Ambassador Hotel once stood.
Arturo Sandoval opens up about his passion for music, escaping communist Cuba and meeting the great jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie by chance. When he first started playing the trumpet at age 10 while living in Cuba, Sandoval was told he'd never make it as a musician — yet he persevered and eventually mastered the instrument at a young age. Now a 10-time Grammy and Latin Grammy Award winner, Sandoval is expanding beyond the trumpet, playing the piano and composing his own music as well. During the pandemic, Sandoval has turned to social media in order to share his gift with the world for free.
When Katie Cleary was a young girl growing up in Chicago, she would help her mother rescue and care for stray cats and dogs. While she always felt the calling to care for animals, Cleary went on to pursue a career in modeling, competing on "America’s Next Top Model" and appearing on "Deal or No Deal” as a briefcase model. Cleary tells host Giselle Fernandez she had a feeling she needed to do more to be a voice for the voiceless animals of the world, so she gave up her life in entertainment to focus on her Peace 4 Animals nonprofit and her World Animal News network. She has traveled the world on her quest to help creatures great and small, and her experience is captured in the upcoming documentary “Why On Earth.”
Host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from Southern California this year. She recently sat down with former Los Angeles Rams star Andrew Whitworth, who discusses his career and charity efforts through his foundation. Fernandez also spoke with April McDaniel, a millennial mastermind sought after by Fortune 500 companies looking for the “it” factor. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.
With the recent announcement of his retirement, former Los Angeles Rams player Andrew Whitworth is reflecting on his career. This year, Whitworth made history as the oldest player in NFL history to start a game as left tackle, while also winning the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award and helping lead the Rams to Super Bowl victory at SoFi Stadium. Whitworth opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his childhood and journey to the NFL, laughing about how he once hated playing football as a teenager. He has dedicated his life to helping others and serving his community by creating the Big Whit Foundation with his wife Melissa to help thousands of people in need.
As the founder of creative agency Crown + Conquer, April McDaniel works with brands, including Adidas and Spotify, to create experiences and events to promote their products and share their stories. McDaniel’s success did not come easily, however, as she was left a widow at just 33 years old and forced to raise her two young sons on her own. According to McDaniel, the experience inspired her to create her agency. Her perseverance has inspired her many A-lister friends, including Adele, who dedicated her album “30” to McDaniel.
As one of the top plastic surgeons in Beverly Hills, Dr. Marc Mani has provided services to A-listers and celebrities for decades while making scientific advancements in cosmetic surgery, such as the first scarless facelift. Also a skillful artist and painter, Mani’s passion is finding the beauty in the world — and in every human being. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about the moment his life was flipped upside down in 2018, when he was charged and convicted of failing to disclose his interest in a foreign bank account. Mani used his time behind bars to study quantum physics and evolutionary theory, and the experience allowed him to recommit himself to his craft for the benefit of those who need it most.
At age 91, Dolores Huerta has spent most of her life as a political activist, fighting for better working conditions for farmworkers and women’s rights. Her role in the farmworkers movement has long been overshadowed by that of Cesar Chavez, her longtime collaborator and co-founder of what became the United Farm Workers of America union. Huerta also coined the movement’s famous slogan, “Sí Se Puede,” which inspired former President Barack Obama’s own campaign battle cry, "Yes, we can." She opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about being by former Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s side the day he was assassinated, as well as the importance of sharing her accomplishments with young women and opening the doors for the next generation.
The Los Angeles Fire Department is facing a history-making shift with Mayor Eric Garcetti nominating Deputy Chief Kristin Crowley to serve as the first female head of the force. Crowley opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about taking on the role and says she is ready to implement big changes to address accusations of sexism and racial bias within the LAFD. Crowley has held nearly every position within the department and has a habit of creating many career firsts: She was the first female fire marshal of the LAFD and will be the first paramedic to hold the role of fire chief. As a wife, mother and member of the LGBTQ community, Crowley knows young people will look up to her and hopes her legacy will live on long after she has retired.
Lois Cook grew up playing football with her older brother and is now a wide receiver for the D.C. Divas, a women's professional football team. In order for Cook and her fellow players to compete in the league, they must pay fees for practice and equipment, and if they have a travel game, they must provide their own transportation and lodging. In fighting for some of the recognition that NFL players receive, Cook has gained the attention of millions of viewers through social media. She created the Lois Cook Foundation to support girls aspiring to play the sport, and during Super Bowl LVI, Cook and four other women were featured in ads and on billboards surrounding SoFi Stadium.
While studying to join the Catholic church as a priest, LeVar Burton joined a school play and realized the power of performance and storytelling. He soon shifted his focus from priesthood and enrolled to study theater arts at USC, where he was cast for his first of many iconic roles: Kunta Kinte in "Roots." Burton tells host Giselle Fernandez how important the miniseries was to society, and how he sees similarities between the impact of the series when it was released and the racial reckoning we face today in America. Following his many years hosting “Reading Rainbow,” Burton continued his passion for storytelling with the "LeVar Burton Reads” podcast, his children's book titled "The Rhino Who Swallowed a Storm" and a book club on the Fable app.
As the excitement for Super Bowl LVI takes over Los Angeles, host Giselle Fernandez joined LA Rams COO Kevin Demoff for a behind-the-scenes tour of SoFi Stadium. At 3.1 million square feet, it's the largest stadium in the world and boasts the largest video board in all of sports. After growing up listening in on his sports agent father speaking with NFL executives, Demoff became one of those executives himself, working first for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now as chief operating officer for the Rams. He proudly spearheaded the development of SoFi Stadium and looks forward to the future of football on the West Coast, especially now that the Rams are competing in this year’s Super Bowl in Inglewood.
St. Anne’s Family Services in Los Angeles offers support programs to struggling expectant mothers and young families so they can get the help they need to live their best lives. When Lorna Little moved to LA to serve as the nonprofit’s president and CEO, she brought more than just her work experience to the role, as she became pregnant in high school and felt the fear and shame associated with becoming a teenage mother. In her acclaimed book “Mum’s the Word!” Little also reveals her shocking discovery in her 30s that she was adopted, and the emotional roller coaster it sent her on. Once again, as she tells host Giselle Fernandez, Little turned her experience around to help others.
In honor of International Holocaust Remembrance Day this week, we look back at our special interview with a 97-year-old Auschwitz survivor. William Harvey was just 19 when Nazi soldiers knocked on his door and forced him and his family into a ghetto, where they were later crammed in a cattle car to make the harrowing journey to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Harvey tells host Giselle Fernandez that he was separated from the rest of his family almost immediately and never saw his mother again. Since being liberated from the camp, Harvey has somehow found peace with what happened despite all he went through. He immigrated to Los Angeles, where he opened two successful beauty salons, and often speaks at Holocaust Museum LA with hopes that his story reminds people of the importance of speaking out against hatred and injustice.
As college students, Robert and Helen Singleton worked for racial equality in Los Angeles before joining the historic Freedom Rides, which challenged segregated bus terminals in the Deep South and protested the enforcement of Jim Crow laws. More than 400 young people joined the rides — activists from all walks of life, ethnicities, religions and regions of America. As a result, the Freedom Rides drew media and international attention, which ultimately put pressure on the Kennedy administration to do something — including the passage of the Civil Rights Act. The Singletons tell host Giselle Fernandez they believe the youth of today can make great strides for humanity and the planet, while stressing the importance of knowing history in order to carry the torch forward.
As the newest executive editor of the Los Angeles Times, Kevin Merida brings not only years of experience in journalism, but also a vision for change during a time when the newspaper needs it most. Prior to his role at the LA Times, Merida spent more than two decades at the Washington Post in a variety of roles and later served as senior vice president at ESPN. Merida opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about taking the reins while the LA Times is under scrutiny for its lack of diversity — not just in staff, but in news coverage as well. He is working on ways to reach new generations through podcasts, new video strategies, the LA Times app and the creation of LA Times Studios.
With 2021 coming to an end, we look back at the highlights among host Giselle Fernandez's past interviews — including a sit-down with Paul Stanley. He may be best known for his "Starchild" persona in the legendary rock group Kiss, but Stanley is as complex as the costumes and pyrotechnics you see on stage at his concerts. A successful author, painter and business owner, he has a soft and soulful side you might not expect from the man in leather tights selling out arenas. He opens up to Fernandez about life as the Kiss frontman and says the reason the band works so well — with 30 gold records and more than 100 million worldwide album sales — is they’ve always listened to what the fans want. These days, Stanley is going in another direction with his 15-piece ensemble band Soul Station, whose latest album pays tribute to the R&B and soul sounds of the past.
As the year comes to an end, we look back at the highlights among host Giselle Fernandez's past interviews — including a sitdown with Ivey Van Allen. After five failed attempts to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization, she and her husband were ready to try adoption to grow their family and were blessed with a little boy they named Jack. Little did they know, at a six-month check-up with the doctor, their world would flip upside down as Jack was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia, a disorder caused by the underdevelopment of optic nerves. An avid exercise and yoga enthusiast who owned a fitness studio, Van Allen tells Fernandez she felt she understood the human body and jumped at the opportunity to try different types of therapy for Jack, especially after doctors tried to tell her Jack might never walk, talk or see properly. Van Allen worked with Jack daily and moved him into a charter school that promotes an inclusive environment, and when it came time for Jack to attend middle and high school, Van Allen helped develop the schools herself.
As the year comes to an end, we look back at the highlights among host Giselle Fernandez's past interviews — including a sitdown with José Hernandez. As a young boy, Hernandez worked alongside his Mexican immigrant family, picking fruits and vegetables throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Stockton. When he watched the first astronauts walk on the moon, Hernandez knew right away that he wanted to be just like them, so he followed his father's advice and worked tirelessly through school to become an engineer. It took Hernandez 12 attempts, but his dream was finally set in motion when he was accepted into NASA’s space program and got to fly into space at age 47. Today, Hernandez wants to make sure all children have the chance to achieve their dreams the way he did, so he started the Reaching for the Stars Foundation that exposes kids to STEM-related opportunities.
Compton native Jose Martinez spent his childhood learning how to make ends meet, and after years of uncertainty surrounding his future, he joined the Army at age 23. Just four months into his deployment in Afghanistan, the unthinkable happened: He stepped on a primary IED, setting off a massive explosion that ultimately took both his legs and an arm. Martinez tells host Giselle Fernandez that the months following the accident were the hardest of his life but credits his wife with saving him and providing a new lease on life. In addition to co-founding a nonprofit that helps veterans, firefighters and police officers reconnect with themselves, Martinez now enjoys hunting, fishing and swimming, with his eyes on the Paralympics.
William Harvey was just 19 years old when Nazi soldiers knocked on his door and forced him and his family into a ghetto, where they were later crammed in a cattle car to make the harrowing journey to the Auschwitz concentration camp. Harvey tells host Giselle Fernandez that he was separated from the rest of his family almost immediately and never saw his mother again. Since being liberated from the camp, Harvey has somehow found peace with what happened despite all he went through. He immigrated to Los Angeles, where he opened two successful beauty salons, and often speaks at Holocaust Museum LA with hopes that his story reminds people of the importance of speaking out against hatred and injustice.
These days, Nigel Lythgoe is enjoying the success he’s had with creating shows, such as "American Idol" and "So You Think You Can Dance." From a young age, Lythgoe knew he wanted to entertain, and when his parents offered to pay for tap dancing lessons, he jumped at the opportunity. Lythgoe stuck with dancing, and it eventually paid off when he went on to choreograph for BBC, which led him to produce bigger shows in the U.K., such as "Pop Stars" and "Pop Idol." For Lythgoe, the chance to support people in pursuit of their dreams is the biggest payoff, so he created the American Dance Movement foundation to bring dance to those who need it most.
Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from here in Southern California — from tennis icon Billie Jean King to actor and restaurateur Danny Trejo. Also coming soon are emotional interviews with Dr. Stuart Siegel and music legend Kenny Loggins. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.
Growing up in Los Angeles, Dr. Sandra Cano saw gangs and drugs in her neighborhood, but her mother — a housekeeper who worked for some of the city’s wealthiest — was determined to give her daughter the best possible education. Cano tells host Giselle Fernandez she was the first in her family to go to college, despite her surroundings, and eventually earned her bachelor's, master's and doctorate. She went on to become a teacher and rose through the ranks to become a principal, putting special focus on English learners — having known from experience the difficulties they face. Today, she is the executive director of the nonprofit City Year Los Angeles, which partners with educators to provide mentors and tutors for children in school.
After five failed attempts to get pregnant through in vitro fertilization, Ivey Van Allen and her husband were ready to try adoption to grow their family and were blessed with a little boy they named Jack. Little did they know, at a six-month check-up with the doctor, their world would flip upside down as Jack was diagnosed with optic nerve hypoplasia, a disorder caused by the underdevelopment of optic nerves. An avid exercise and yoga enthusiast who owned a fitness studio, Van Allen tells host Giselle Fernandez she felt she understood the human body and jumped at the opportunity to try different types of therapy for Jack, especially after doctors tried to tell her Jack might never walk, talk or see properly. Van Allen worked with Jack daily and moved him into a charter school that promotes an inclusive environment, and when it came time for Jack to attend middle and high school, Van Allen helped develop the schools herself.
The California Community Foundation is dedicated to finding systemic solutions to the biggest issues facing Los Angeles County by addressing the root causes. The foundation gives grants to nonprofit organizations throughout LA that help with poverty, homelessness and racial inequities, and its president and CEO is uniquely equipped to handle her role. Antonia Hernandez tells host Giselle Fernandez she was raised in the Maravilla projects and called derogatory names in school all because she came from Mexico. Determined to prove everyone wrong, she went on to graduate from UCLA's school of law, serve as the head of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, and become the first Latina staff counsel to the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee under former Sen. Ted Kennedy.
Despite being wicked smart in school, celebrated film and television actor Meredith Scott Lynn — known for her roles in "Legally Blonde" and "Days of Our Lives” — struggled when it came to test-taking and wasn't able to attend the colleges she wanted because of her low SAT scores. Lynn would then throw herself into her creativity and enjoy a successful acting career until one day, when her young niece asked her to read a book, but the book was all illustrations without words. Lynn created a storyline on the spot, and the moment inspired her to put acting on hold and create Write Brain Books, an innovative educational program that helps children tap into their creativity and increase their writing skills. With this program, which is now in 48 states across the U.S., Lynn has proven that kids are so much more than just a test score.
Known on the streets as "Little Mama," nationally recognized gang expert Dr. Jorja Leap spent years studying Los Angeles gang culture to understand why men and women in underserved communities join them. Using the knowledge she gained firsthand by earning the trust of gang members, Leap penned two books that delve deep into gang life to prove to the world that they deserve help and attention. Leap's studies inspired her to co-found the Watts Leadership Institute, which provides resources to community leaders and organizations to create positive change in the neighborhood of Watts. The renowned UCLA anthropologist tells host Giselle Fernandez that it’s her die-hard mission to share the stories of those she's come to know.
In 2016, Miry Whitehill answered her friend’s call to donate a baby chair to a Syrian family who had just moved to California, only to discover that the family needed so much more. Whitehill made a list of items the family needed in order to get settled and posted it to social media — and soon after, Miry’s List was born. Through the nonprofit, Whitehill has been able to help more than 600 families get settled in the U.S. through crowdsourcing and social media. She tells host Giselle Fernandez how she can relate to families she’s helped, having grown up in an Orthodox Jewish community and eventually moving to Tel Aviv, where she was a stranger to their customs but welcomed with open arms — and now, she hopes to pay it forward.
As a young boy, José Hernandez worked alongside his Mexican immigrant family, picking fruits and vegetables throughout the San Joaquin Valley and Stockton. When he watched the first astronauts walk on the moon, Hernandez knew right away that he wanted to be just like them, so he followed his father's advice and worked tirelessly through school to become an engineer. It took Hernandez 12 attempts, but his dream was finally set in motion when he was accepted into NASA’s space program and got to fly into space at age 47. Today, Hernandez wants to make sure all children have the chance to achieve their dreams the way he did, so he started the Reaching for the Stars Foundation that exposes kids to STEM-related opportunities.
While on a family vacation in 1999, Liza Bercovici received the dreadful news that her 13-year-old daughter Gabriella was killed in an accident. It became clear to Bercovici that she couldn't return to work as a family lawyer and that she needed to do something to memorialize her daughter, who loved to dance. Bercovici tells host Giselle Fernandez that she created the Gabriella Foundation — now called Everybody Dance LA! — despite having no previous nonprofit experience. The low-cost after-school dance program, which has expanded to 28 locations, serves disadvantaged youth in Los Angeles, and every child who participates has gone on to college.
For more than 50 years, famed photographer Greg Gorman has been shooting some of the biggest names in Hollywood — Al Pacino, Barbra Streisand, Elton John — and his portraits are some of the most iconic in the world. Gorman has worked on groundbreaking movie sets (“Scarface,” “Tootsie”) while also shooting covers for magazines such as Interview and Life. Gorman tells host Giselle Fernandez that his secret to success is getting inside the heads of the people he shoots and making a lasting connection with them. He has put the best of his work in his latest book “It's Not About Me!” and discovered other passions along the way besides photography — such as fishing, teaching and learning about wine.
Life was not easy for Susan Burton, but that did not stop her from creating a nationally acclaimed program, New Way of Life Reentry Project, for formerly incarcerated women and advocating for imprisoned people. Burton, born and raised in South Los Angeles, was sexually assaulted for the first time at the tender age of 4, and the abuse continued until she became pregnant before she could legally drive. Having never processed the trauma, Burton fell into a life of drugs and prostitution but eventually overcame her past and broke the cycle of incarceration after finding help at the former CLARE Foundation in Santa Monica. In this episode of "LA Stories with Giselle Fernandez," Burton describes her astonishment when she realized programs like the one that helped her were not available everywhere in LA.
Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from here in Southern California. She sits down next week with Susan Burton, who has worked tirelessly to break the cycle of mass incarceration for women. Beyond that, Fernandez speaks with Greg Gorman, who has photographed most of Hollywood's icons. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.
Growing up in Compton, fashion designer Johana Hernandez watched as her Salvadoran parents worked long hours for very little pay in sweatshops, sewing garments for clothing brands. Today, the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising graduate has her own clothing line and was able to have her family come work for her. Hernandez launched her Glaudi line to design with her Latino roots in mind and has proven it successful, as she became the first Salvadoran designer ever to show in Paris Fashion Week. Hernandez tells host Giselle Fernandez she’s determined to use fashion "for good” by creating a culture of respect for her dressmakers, educating children in El Salvador with the help of her dress sales, creating jobs in Compton and mentoring young women in Southern California.
Rep. Karen Bass, who joined Congress in 2011 and currently serves California's 37th district, has been interested in activism and public policy since she was young, having volunteered for the Robert F. Kennedy campaign at just 14 years old. With the deaths of Kennedy and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., however, Bass' parents never wanted her to be an activist due to their concerns for her safety. Bass tells host Giselle Fernandez about her political ascent after founding the Community Coalition in the 1990s, when she saw a need for change in Los Angeles. Many say it was her bipartisanship efforts in Congress that landed Bass as a top contender for President Biden's VP during the 2020 election, and her name often comes up with the mention of either the 2022 LA Mayor race or as a contender to replace Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Now in his 70s, revered guitarist Carlos Santana is opening up about his decadeslong career and sharing the inspiration behind his band’s recent album “Africa Speaks,” which Santana describes as “mystical medicine to heal a crooked world.” The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee says he believes in the power of music and wants to remind people to find compassion in their lives. In a powerful and poignant moment, Santana opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about being sexually abused at age 10 and explains that it took over 40 years — and the guiding voice of one of his angels — to speak up about the experience in order to reduce his shame, pain and anger. Santana's experiences have made him particularly concerned about the welfare of children, with his Milagro Foundation and Carlos Santana Arts Academy — both in Southern California — serving youth and providing them with arts programs.
In 2016, just after the birth of his son, Ady Barkan was hit with a devastating blow: He was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. As the medical bills began pouring in, Barkan was inspired to take action against what he says is a flawed health care system in the U.S. When his ALS progressed, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak, Barkan used his ailing body as a weapon in the fight for health care rights, which is chronicled in the new documentary “Not Going Quietly.” Knowing his time is limited, Barkan wants to do everything he can to leave the world in a better place for his kids and has hope that something good will come out of his diagnosis.
You may know her best from her glamorous and sassy roles on TV shows such as "Desperate Housewives," but today, Eva Longoria says her baby boy is the leading man she's desperately in love with. It's a love that's re-prioritizing everything the actress, producer and activist does in her busy life, including the roles she takes on in Hollywood. Longoria recently played Dora's mom in the live-action film version of "Dora the Explorer," for example, which is just the kind of dynamic role that projects a positive image for the Hispanic population. Longoria opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about the importance of meditation in her life, her goals of working toward more representation of the Latino population and women in the industry, and how her disabled sister has served as a lifelong inspiration for her.
As senior rabbi of the historic Wilshire Boulevard Temple in Koreatown, Rabbi Steve Leder has had a front row seat to hundreds of deaths, offering comfort to those who are dying and to families who have lost loved ones. Even with all the intimate involvement Leder has had with death, nothing prepared him for the loss of his own father — an experience that taught Leder to look inward and reconcile with the painful loss. Leder opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about his latest book, “The Beauty of What Remains,” whose powerful stories reveal what he's learned both as a rabbi and a son, while also offering powerful, unique insights on dealing with loss and healing. Leder explains to Fernandez that death taught him about life and the importance of expressing love while you still have time because we don’t get a repeat.
After moving out of Beaumont, Texas, to escape the riots that erupted due to racial unrest, Bernard Parks and his family ended up in Los Angeles, where the Watts riots would take hold of the city just years later. Shortly after joining the Los Angeles Police Department, Parks witnessed another rise with the 1992 riots, and in 2020 he watched yet again as civil unrest raged after the killing of George Floyd. The former LAPD chief shares with host Giselle Fernandez his unique perspective on the Black Lives Matter protests and calls for police reform, as he’s experienced racism and understands the anger and frustration of the movement. Parks' other claim to fame was being named one of People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People, but he is most proud of his work as chief, where he took a hands-on approach to policing and cut crime rates.
While he’s worked with some of the biggest names in the music industry — Aerosmith, Bruce Springsteen, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys — legendary record producer Clive Davis admits it wasn’t the career he had planned on. It was while he was working at a law firm that Davis was offered a job at Columbia Records, where he became known as "The Man with the Golden Ears” due to his rare ability to recognize musical talent and hit songs. Davis discovered Whitney Houston as a teenager and was with her every step of her skyrocketing career, now making it his mission to vindicate Houston’s legacy by making a documentary about her life. Now approaching his ninth decade, Davis continues to reinvent himself while serving as chief creative officer of Sony Music with no plans to slow down.
Dr. Lucy Jones, the world's foremost authority on earthquakes, shares her remarkable career journey and the challenges that came as a woman rising to the top of her profession. From experiencing toxic masculinity in the workplace, imposter syndrome and working mother guilt, the renowned seismologist — and first American scientist in China when it opened to the West — tells host Giselle Fernandez that as a woman in a predominantly men’s field, she strived even harder upon facing such challenges. Jones credits her husband, also a seismologist, for stepping up as a fully supportive partner behind the scenes, along with her father — who worked on NASA's first lunar modules — for encouraging her to rise above imposed expectations and limitations. Since retiring from the United States Geological Survey in 2016, Jones has written a haunting classical music composition to translate alarming climate change data, noting that the data she's reviewed is what keeps her up worried at night.
Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Kenny Loggins has created some of the most memorable and iconic songs of the ages during his decadeslong career. After finding success with Jimmy Messina as the musical duo Loggins and Messina in the ‘70s, Loggins eventually embarked on a solo career and is responsible for iconic film soundtrack songs such as "Danger Zone" from "Top Gun," "I'm Alright" from "Caddyshack" and the title hit "Footloose." Loggins shares heartfelt memories and inspirations with host Giselle Fernandez, saying he was just 17 when he wrote his hit “House at Pooh Corner,” one of the most important songs he says he’s written. Children have always held a special place in Loggins’ heart, as he recently partnered with San Diego Zoo TV to create a song to play in children’s hospitals, and today he hopes to mentor young people in the music industry.
Dr. Stuart Siegel has been an international leader in the fight against childhood cancer for more than 40 years, as the founder of both the Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Program at the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. With more than 240 scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals, Siegel played an integral part in saving countless young lives in LA. He shares with host Giselle Fernandez how during his tenure, through advancements in technology and scientific discoveries, the survival rate of some childhood cancers has gone from 10% to more than 90%. Siegel also founded the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, whose mission is to provide comfort, care and support for families with children undergoing medical treatment.
Having spent 11 years in prison for drug and violent crime charges, Danny Trejo is the ultimate redemption story and now lives a life he once only dreamed of. With a prolific career in Hollywood, Trejo also owns multiple restaurants across the Southland and a record label, with no plans to slow down. The Echo Park native opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about becoming an East LA gang member at age 12, serving time in San Quentin and what ultimately led him to turn his life around to become a Hollywood success story, father and mentor. Trejo credits his success to his commitment to service, saying how everything good that’s happened to him was a direct result of helping someone else.
Tennis legend Billie Jean King is a visionary whose legacy is ever-evolving. King, a crusader for social change and gender equality, was listed as one of the most important Americans of the 20th century by "Life" magazine for her work and achievements. But one of the greatest honors of her life, she says, is the full circle celebration of the new Long Beach Library being named after her. King credits her hometown of Long Beach for making her the success she is in sports and beyond. She discusses being a lifelong Dodgers fan and her fulfilled dream of becoming a part-owner of the franchise. The sports pioneer opens up about the shock, trauma and consequences of being painfully and publicly outed as gay back in 1981. She also discusses her homophobic parents and how that influenced her own homophobia, self-acceptance and eating disorder. King explains to Giselle Fernandez why she believes women and girls should be brave and not perfect.
Coming up on "LA Stories Unfiltered," host Giselle Fernandez delivers more in-depth conversations with impact makers from here in Southern California - from tennis icon Billie Jean King to actor and restaurateur Danny Trejo. Also coming this summer are emotional interviews with music legend Clive Davis, Dr. Stuart Siegel and singer Kenny Loggins. Listen and subscribe wherever you prefer to get your podcasts.
Paul Stanley may be best known for his "Starchild" persona — rock and roll icon, painted-face superstar, co-founder and frontman for the legendary rock group Kiss — but he’s as complex as the costumes and pyrotechnics you see on stage at his concerts. A successful author, painter and business owner, Stanley has a soft and soulful side you might not expect from the man in leather tights selling out arenas. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about life as the Kiss frontman and says the reason the band works so well — with 30 gold records and more than 100 million worldwide album sales — is they’ve always listened to what the fans want. These days, Stanley is going in another direction with his 15-piece ensemble band Soul Station, whose newly released album pays tribute to the R&B and soul sounds of the past.
At just 15 years old, Norma Duque came to the U.S. without a green card in search of a safer and better life — five years after her father, brother and uncles were all brutally murdered. After being homeless and escaping more unthinkable situations, Duque was adopted, and her life changed forever. Today, as president and CEO of Nuevo Amanecer Latino Children's Services, Duque helps unaccompanied children coming across the border, just as she did as a child. Duque tells host Giselle Fernandez it's important to address the root causes of why migrants cross the border, such as corrupt governments, lack of jobs and gang violence, but she is hopeful our country can come together to help and heal the crisis.
Prior to becoming the first female CEO of City National Bank in Los Angeles, Kelly Coffey was living in New York City and working at J.P. Morgan for 20 years. Known as the “bank to the stars,” City National has a rich history of working with the entertainment industry, having famously helped Frank Sinatra with ransom money in 1963 when his son was kidnapped. Coffey credits her large Irish-Italian family for giving her the strength she needed to succeed in a male-dominated industry, as she grew up going to work with her grandfather at his Pennsylvania community bank. Coffey gives host Giselle Fernandez her thoughts on the current financial situation in the U.S. surrounding the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and remains optimistic that the Biden administration will get us back on track.
Singer-songwriter Andra Day says that at first, she didn’t want the lead role in Hulu's "The United States vs. Billie Holiday” — admitting she felt she wasn't good enough or smart enough for the role. It was reading a scripture that helped Day overcome that feeling and made her realize the role was meant to be, as it ultimately landed her an Oscar nomination and Golden Globe Award for best lead actress. Day tells host Giselle Fernandez how her portrayal of Holiday was a chance to vindicate the legacy and show Holiday as the civil rights icon she truly is. As an artist and activist herself, Day has always chosen to use her voice and talent to serve others, explaining how her song “Rise Up” invites people to stand in solidarity with her. In the future, she hopes to continue telling more stories like "The United States vs. Billie Holiday."
California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley knows firsthand the importance of receiving both an affordable, quality education and the proper guidance during those years. After serving in the Army following high school and then transferring from Golden West College to UC Irvine, Oakley ultimately became the first Latino to serve as Chancellor for the largest system of higher education in the country while also sitting on the board of Regents for the University of California. He opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about the initiatives he's implemented in order to ensure students receive the best education possible — one of which aims to eliminate inequities and achievement gaps so that college is more accessible, diverse and affordable. Oakley also discusses the challenges community college students have faced in the past year with the COVID-19 pandemic, which has actually helped shine a light on problems communities have faced all along — such as limited broadband access.
Having started on Wall Street as a runner at just 16 years old, venture capitalist Art Bilger made his fortune investing in media and technology companies. After selling his successful media business, Bilger stepped back and examined his career path, realizing the importance of finding purpose and dignity through one's career and compared that with the staggering unemployment crisis in the U.S. He went on to create WorkingNation, which aims to bring attention to the problem and the future of work, and he tells host Giselle Fernandez that this nonprofit may be his greatest legacy. Through storytelling, town halls and training programs, Bilger is using WorkingNation to expose the hard truths about the jobs crisis and offer solutions to put people back to work.
After winning the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship in 2019, renowned violinist Vijay Gupta resigned from the prestigious Los Angeles Philharmonic orchestra to devote himself full-time to helping LA's homeless, disenfranchised and incarcerated. Gupta shares with host Giselle Fernandez how he considers himself an "art disrupter" with his nonprofit Street Symphony, proving that LA's most moving and talented musicians can come from any walk of life. Street Symphony was launched on Skid Row after Gupta was introduced to Nathaniel Ayers, a master musician living on the streets who was portrayed by Jamie Foxx in the 2009 film “The Soloist.” Gupta explains that by sharing music with the disenfranchised — and through embracing his Hindu faith — he has found great peace, healing and fulfillment that makes him even more determined to help oppressed communities find and share their artistic human voices.
Famous for being half of the marijuana-loving hippie comedy duo "Cheech and Chong," Richard "Cheech" Marin is one of the highest achieving Latinos in Hollywood — and has no plans to slow down. Although he enjoyed an immense amount of success together with Tommy Chong for 17 years, Marin eventually made the difficult decision to break up the duo and set off for a successful acting career on his own. Marin opens up to host Giselle Fernandez about that painful split and eventual reunion with Chong, as well as his love and pride for Chicano culture. Today, Marin owns one of the most extensive Chicano art collections in the U.S., along with his own mezcal and marijuana brands.
International supermodel Maye Musk is defying all odds and breaking norms for women across the globe. At 69 years old, she became the face of CoverGirl, proving that beauty has no age limit. She models regularly for runway shows and in fashion magazines, even making a music video appearance alongside Beyoncé. Musk discusses with host Giselle Fernandez how she also became a respected dietician, escaped an abusive marriage, and raised her children — Elon, Kimbal, and Tosca — as a single mother. Now in her 70s, Musk says slowing down isn't part of her plan, and that her career is only getting started.
As the daughter of legendary music mogul Clarence Avant, Nicole Avant had far from a "typical" childhood — often finding major musical artists, politicians, and industry giants sitting right there in her living room. Now, as the wife of Netflix co-CEO and Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos, Avant continues to follow the advice she received as a child to use her power for good. She discusses with host Giselle Fernandez how, after working with her father in the music industry, she shifted to politics and became a top fundraiser for Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. Following her service as U.S. Ambassador to the Bahamas, Avant then turned to filmmaking and released a documentary about her dad, The Black Godfather, which streams on Netflix.
Arturo Sandoval opens up to Giselle Fernandez about his passion for music, escaping communist Cuba, and meeting the great jazz legend Dizzy Gillespie by chance. When he first started playing the trumpet at age 10 in Cuba, Sandoval was told he'd never make it as a musician — yet he persevered and eventually mastered the instrument at a young age. Now a 10-time Grammy and Latin Grammy winner, Sandoval is expanding beyond the trumpet, playing the piano and composing his own music as well. During the pandemic, Sandoval has turned to social media to share his gift with the world for free.
In the debut episode of LA Stories Unfiltered, Giselle Fernandez sits down with the one and only Charo for a hilarious and heartfelt conversation about the entertainer’s prolific career and personal heartaches. After mastering the craft of flamenco guitar at an early age, Charo came to the U.S. to chase her dream of becoming a star. Her appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson solidified that place in the spotlight — and in the hearts of viewers across the country. Today, the “Cuchi Cuchi” star continues to entertain and connect with her fans through social media, telling Fernandez that “laughing is medication.”
Southern California is home to some of the world’s most incredible innovations and accomplishments. But who are the change agents responsible for it all? Each week, Giselle Fernandez will take a deep dive into the philosophies and motivations of these people, who are creating an impact throughout the community. LA Stories Unfiltered is the companion podcast to the weekly television series on Spectrum News 1 and gives you an even more in-depth look at the stories and lives of change makers in SoCal.
Listen starting Monday, March 8th.