SoCal Voices Podcast
An award-winning podcast about navigating life in Southern California. Real talk in the land of dreams.
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SoCal Voices
An award-winning podcast about navigating life in Southern California.
Real talk in the land of dreams.
Recent Episodes
Sept. 3, 2026
Retirement Planning Beyond the Money
A lot of the conversation around retirement focuses on having enough money saved to safely step away from the 9-to-5. Money is important but retirement is also about happiness, quality of life, and sense of purpose. In this episode of SoCal Voices, host Angela Ross sits down with Riverside's Tom Podgorski. He splits his time between hosting the uplifting and inspiring podcast At the Table with Tom Pod and working as an investment advisor and personal financial planner helping folks prepare fo
Aug. 20, 2026
Navigating Tech & Opportunity in SoCal
This episode of SoCal Voices features Amen Ikamba, a student at SoCal's Pitzer College, and a rising technologist, data scientist, and civic innovator. She is founder of the fintech platform Pan-African Credit Alliance Network (PACIN), and she's building AI-powered tools that help residents understand public policy. She's also leading technology initiatives that connect students and communities. Ikamba represents a new generation of problem solvers using tech for public good. For Southern Califo
Aug. 6, 2026
Choosing In-Home Care With Confidence in SoCal
A recent episode of SoCal Voices explored how to better connect with loved ones living with dementia. This episode explores the world of in-home care, and whether it's the right choice for you and your aging loved one. Susan Dost is president and CEO of Sheridan Care, a Southern California-based in-home care company. Our conversation centers on choosing the right in-home caregiver, how to pay for it, and the policy changes needed to make this care more accessible and affordable. Resources
July 16, 2026
Caring for a loved one with dementia
Across Southern California, hundreds of thousands of people are caring for a loved one with dementia while juggling work, family, and everyday life, often with little support. Angela Fairhurst, Founder and CEO of Geri-Gadgets, is working to change that. In this episode of SoCal Voices, she shares her personal journey, practical resources, and the inspiration behind tools designed to help people living with dementia and their caregivers feel more connected, supported, and understood. Resources
July 2, 2026
Helping Neurodiverse & Marginalized Children Thrive
In this episode of SoCal Voices we're exploring a powerful new framework for helping neurodiverse and marginalized children thrive -- not by trying to change who they are but by transforming the environments and relationships that surround them. In her book, Heart-Centered Connections: Seven Essential Skills for Helping Neurodiverse and Marginalized Children Thrive, Niki Elliott of the University of San Diego brings together educational neuroscience, nervous-system wellness, and decades of work
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
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.