Together LA Listening Tour
86 episodes - English - Latest episode: 10 months ago -LA is vast. Vibrant. Simultaneously stunning as well as challenging and confusing. At Together LA, this city is our passion. We know that loving LA well starts with listening. Pounding the pavement in search of the individuals invested in the flourishing of Los Angeles.
These are the inspiring stories and real-life interviews with the men and women who work to bring the gospel to LA in their unique ways.
Thanks for joining us as we bring you closer to the heart of LA, one story, one voice, and one neighborhood at a time. This is the Together LA Listening Tour.
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Episodes
Discipling College Athletes with Jake Bracewell
September 27, 2023 18:30 - 34 minutes - 46.7 MBJoin us as we hear from Jake Bracewell, who works with Athletes in Action. Jake shares his background and some of his struggles moving to and adjusting to LA. He outlines his calling and transition from performance coach at UCLA to serving with Athletes in Action and shares his desire to reach college athletes and deepen their relationship with God. Tune in now!
Serving your Community with Charity McCloud
June 16, 2023 08:33 - 27 minutes - 37.5 MBIn this episode of TogetherLA's Listening Tour, we sit down with Charity McCloud, Missions Director of RealityLA. We talk about the role of the church in serving the community, what RealityLA is doing in their neighborhood, and she also shares about her own entrepreneurial bent in starting businesses.
Living in Purpose & Identity with Martha Juarez-Garcia
March 15, 2023 18:30 - 29 minutes - 40.3 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we talk with Martha Juarez-Garcia about her life in LA, her heritage, resilience and endurance in our walk with God, and our calling and identity.
Mentoring for Change with Steven Yu
March 09, 2023 17:30 - 33 minutes - 46.3 MBIn this episode of TogetherLA's Listening Tour, our host Tommy Lee sits down with Steven Yu, FCEH Member. They talk about Steven's journey as a pastor, his passion for the homeless, and his nonprofit Mentor for Change. Steven also shares about their nonprofit's Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness and shares opportunities for people to get involved.
Being Salt & Light with Joe Thackwell
February 16, 2023 22:15 - 21 minutes - 28.9 MBIn this episode of TogetherLA's Listening Tour, we sit down with Joe Thackwell, Founding Director of Christian Life at the University of Southern California and national leader with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. We talk about life and ministry on the campus of USC now compared to pre-Covid. We talked about some of the issues university students on campus are wrestling with today as well as Joe's work also with collegiate faculty and his hope to continue to be salt and light on the USC ...
Church Planting in Hispanic Communities with Rudy Paniagua
February 10, 2023 21:30 - 26 minutes - 36.7 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Rudy Paniagua, a Pastor and the Director of Coaching for Breath of Life. Rudy explains some of the Hispanic culture and its relationship with the church, explores his passions and calling, and he shares some strategies he uses when helping others plant churches.
Healing in the Gospels with Bethany McKinney Fox
November 11, 2022 21:17 - 31 minutes - 43.6 MBIn this week's episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we hear from Bethany McKinney Fox, the author of the book Disability and the Way of Jesus: Holistic Healing in the Gospels and the Church and the founding leader of Beloved Everybody. Bethany shares her calling and the mission of Beloved Everybody, she shares why she wrote her book, and she challenges us to think about healing in a way that isn’t harmful to those with disabilities.
Faith and Work with Dr. Malaika Graves
October 27, 2022 05:00 - 28 minutes - 26.1 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Pediatrician, Dr. Malaika Graves. She explains her calling and transition from teacher to doctor, how she integrates her faith and work, and some of the challenges in her profession.
Faith and Work with Tom Lutz
October 13, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 63.2 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we hear from Tom Lutz, a Professor of Biblical Studies at Metro Atlanta Seminary and a Convene CEO Roundtable chair through his consulting company, Vision Planners. Tom speaks about his book Equipping Christians for Kingdom Purpose in Their Work: A Guide for All Who Make Disciples. He shares how pastors and ministers can relate to people in the marketplace, the growing desire to hear that work matters to God, and how the church can encourage those i...
Informal Theological Training with Alvin Sanders
October 05, 2022 05:00 - 27 minutes - 38.2 MBJoin us as we speak with Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders, the President, and CEO of World Impact. He explains the changes World Impact has gone through, why informal theological training is needed, and how the organization is filling this need and impacting leaders.
Equipping and Empowering Leaders with Stella Yau Lok
September 08, 2022 05:30 - 30 minutes - 69.9 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we hear from Stella Yau Lok, the Social City Director at LINC Los Angeles. She shares about her calling and career journey, how LINC began and what it is, and how LINC is engaging, equipping, and empowering local leaders.
Managing Multiple Projects with Rev. Jaime Edwards Acton
August 31, 2022 20:24 - 31 minutes - 29 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Rev. Jaime Edwards Acton who serves at both St. Stephen's Hollywood and St. Barnabas Eagle Rock. Along with serving at his churches, Rev. Acton is the executive director of Jubilee Consortium. Rev. Acton shares his backstory, how his churches and organization are impacting the community, and how he is able to manage multiple projects and responsibilities. #TLA #TLAListeningTour #JaimeEdwardsActon #JubileeConsortium
Foster Care for Older Youth with Regan Williams
July 14, 2022 01:54 - 38 minutes - 35.6 MBJoin us as we hear from Regan Williams, the CEO of Seen&Heard. She explains how Seen&Heard helps meet the needs of older youth in the foster care system, details her own experience with fostering, and shares her hope for the organization to make a real impact among fostered youth in LA. #FosterCare #Seen&Heard #ReganWilliams #TLAListeningTour
The Intersection of Faith and Homelessness with Kevin Nye
June 24, 2022 19:27 - 39 minutes - 90.2 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we talk with Kevin Nye about his journey, the intersection of faith and homelessness, living in solidarity with those on the margins, and upcoming projects he is working on. Kevin Nye is a writer and advocate for the unhoused living in Los Angeles. He was a contributing author for Theology and the Marvel Universe and is the founder of Theophany, a blog and YouTube channel looking at the intersection of God and movies. His first book, Grace Can Lead...
Equipping Leaders with Myesha Reynolds
June 01, 2022 18:55 - 23 minutes - 43.5 MBThis week, we shared an inspiring conversation with the President of Equity Lens Consultants, Myesha Reynolds. We talked with Myesha about the latest with Equity Lens Consultant and her upcoming conference and dialogue she is seeking to have in order to serve and equip "business owners, school leaders, organizations, churches and community groups with quality, relevant equity resources." To learn more about Equity Lens Consultants, you can find them on their website, Instagram (@equitylensc...
Supporting Young People with Dr. Steve Argue
May 19, 2022 16:45 - 34 minutes - 64.4 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Dr. Steve Argue from Fuller Theological Seminary. He speaks about his book Sticky Faith Innovation: How your Compassion, Creativity, and Courage Can Support Teenagers’ Lasting Faith. Dr. Argue details how adults can serve young people in both ministry and parenting. He discusses how to connect with youth, how churches can serve and engage with young people, and the future of youth ministry.
Diving Deep into the Bible with Dr. La Verne Tolbert
May 05, 2022 23:03 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBJoin us as we hear from Dr. La Verne Tolbert, the President/CEO of Teaching Like Jesus Ministries and Host of Sunday School Made Simple. She discusses her book I Serve You Just As My Mother Did: The Woman Who Discipled a King and shares about King David’s mother’s backstory, history, and impact on David. Dr. Tolbert provides insights on how to go deep into scripture and develop a more intimate relationship with God through the Bible.
Finding and Using Giftings with Christopher Han
April 28, 2022 21:37 - 27 minutes - 38.3 MBIn this episode of the TLA Listening Tour, we speak with Christopher Han, the founder of the nonprofit organization, Treasure Invest. He discusses how God revealed his giftings to him through his unique education and career journey. Christopher also shares why he founded Treasure Invest, what the organization does, and how he is using his giftings to serve the kingdom of God.
Diversity in Church and Impacting the Community with Pastor Sam Koh
April 14, 2022 01:30 - 49 minutes - 91.6 MBWe discuss with Pastor Sam Koh from Hillside LA about the evolution of his immigrant Korean church, the importance of racial and economic diversity in church, and how Hillside LA is making a real impact in their community.
Meaningful Work with Dr. Michaela O'Donnell
April 07, 2022 12:30 - 32 minutes - 44.7 MBWe speak with Dr. Michaela O'Donnell, the Executive Director of the Max De Pree Center for Leadership, and Assistant Professor of Marketplace Leadership at Fuller Seminary about her book Make Work Matter: Your Guide to Meaningful Work in a Changing World. We discuss the influence of work through seasons of holy wrestling, overcoming the symptoms of change, and the relevance of the entrepreneurial way.
Life and Ministry with Robert Cruz
March 23, 2022 22:30 - 27 minutes - 37.3 MBThis week we talk with Pastor Robert Cruz from Antioch City Church, as he shares his unique and inspiring testimony. He discusses how he came to Christ, his calling as a pastor, and how God is working in his church community.
Transitioning into Adulthood with Katie Schnack
March 17, 2022 20:33 - 30 minutes - 57.4 MBWe talk with author Katie Schnack about her book The Gap Decade: When You're Technically an Adult but Really Don't Feel Like It Yet. She discusses how her gap decade transformed her through seasons of waiting, finding contentment, making peace with the past, and trusting God.
Pastoring and Developing Leaders with Pastor Chris Rattay
March 10, 2022 17:30 - 30 minutes - 70.5 MBJoin us as we hear from Chris Rattay, the lead pastor of both New Life Community Church in Lincoln Heights and Epicentre West LA. He speaks about pastoring in different cultures, finding unity regardless of racial and class differences, and how to find and develop Christ-centered leaders.
Pastoring and Developing Leaders with Pastor Chris Rittay
March 10, 2022 17:30 - 30 minutes - 70.5 MBJoin us as we hear from Chris Rittay, the lead pastor of both New Life Community Church in Lincoln Heights and Epicentre West LA. He speaks about pastoring in different cultures, finding unity regardless of racial and class differences, and how to find and develop Christ-centered leaders.
Digital Media and Discipleship with Dr. Felicia Song
March 03, 2022 23:27 - 36 minutes - 49.5 MBIn this interview, Tommy interviews Dr. Felicia Song, a Professor of Sociology at Westmont College. They discuss the evolution of digital technology, its integration with all aspects of our lives, and how digital media can be used as a means for discipleship.
Creating a Growing Movement and Awareness Against Human Trafficking with Bill Clark
February 24, 2022 06:30 - 29 minutes - 68.1 MBThis week TogetherLA’s President and Chairman Brannin Pitre sits down with Bill Clark of A21 as he touches upon ways to help protect those who are most vulnerable and to identify signs of human trafficking and the programs available to assist victims in the midst of it. In the second half of the interview, they talk specifically about the Super Bowl and the It’s A Penalty Campaign.
Loving Your Partner in a Concrete Practical Way with Drs. Scott and Melissa Symington
February 17, 2022 14:30 - 48 minutes - 111 MBJoin us as we listen to Drs. Scott and Melissa Symington talk about their relationship and the development of the app ActAgape, and how the app is used to help couples reignite positive energy to identify and remind their partner, of ways they can each feel loved, appreciated, and valued.
Discussing Christian Foster Care in LA Part 2
February 03, 2022 14:30 - 22 minutes - 52.3 MBIn this interview of the Listening Tour, our guest host, Tanya Pitre, interviews representatives from the Coalition of Christian foster care ministries. They discuss the current state of the child welfare crisis in LA, the need for Christian foster care, and what Christ-followers and churches can do in LA.
Discussing Christian Foster Care in LA Part 1
January 25, 2022 10:30 - 22 minutes - 52.3 MBIn this interview of the Listening Tour, our guest host, Tanya Pitre, interviews representatives from the Coalition of Christian foster care ministries. They discuss the current state of the child welfare crisis in LA, the need for Christian foster care, and what Christ-followers and churches can do in LA.
Raising Leaders for the Church's Changing Demographic with Tommy Nixon
November 18, 2021 16:10 - 34 minutes - 78.5 MBf you are a believer looking for a dose of wisdom in leadership, inspiration through self-doubt, or awe of how God is activating multi-ethnic, urban youth leaders, you are in for a treat. Our special guest this week is Tommy Nixon, CEO of non-profit Urban Youth Workers Institute, husband and father (to five kids, six chickens, two dogs and two ducks!). As he talked about his current mission of "developing urban leaders who will shape the future of the Church" and its significance, Tommy off...
How the Gospel Moves Through the Superbowl with Terry Bortz
November 12, 2021 00:22 - 9 minutes - 21.4 MBHow can the Super Bowl and the gospel collide? This week, we talked about that seemingly impossible intersection with Terry Bortz, Athletes in Action’s Director of Special Projects. Within her many responsibilities, Terry oversees and plans the Superbowl Breakfast -the next one being in February 2022, a day before the game, in downtown Los Angeles. Tune in to her explaining the history of how the Superbowl Breakfast got started, the famous athletes who have attended and been awarded prizes f...
How God is Activating LA County to Care for the Unhoused and The Power of Transformative Mentorship with Steven Yu
November 03, 2021 11:00 - 34 minutes - 78.3 MBOur podcast guest this week is Steven Yu, Staff Analyst at Housing for Health, a division of the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services. Here, he has been one of the key members spearheading the “Faith Collaborative to End Homelessness”, a government initiative to support and implement faith-based organizations into LA county’s homeless services continuum of care. Steven is also the Founder & Executive Director of “Mentor for Change”, an organization that provides youth with mentor...
Raising Leaders for the Kingdom of God with Dionte and Meg Grey
October 14, 2021 13:33 - 27 minutes - 63.5 MBThis week, on our Together LA Listening Tour, we were gifted with a stirring conversation about empowering the youth with Dionte and Meg Grey, a married #powercouple and co-founders of their non-profit enterprise, Urban Promise Los Angeles. Urban Promise Los Angeles's vision?: Reach a child. Raise a leader. Restore community. Their services include an Afterschool Program led by high school StreetLeaders that provide K-5 students with academic and recreational support, 5-week Summer Camps de...
Seeing Time as a Companion and Help with Author Meredith Barnes
October 06, 2021 20:00 - 34 minutes - 78.8 MBThis week’s special guest was Meredith Barnes, author of All the Time and frecklesandfortitude.com. Interviewed by Tanya Pitre, Meredith talked about how her devotional book explored the concepts of time in the daily routine, in the wider scope of our lives, and in its ultimate design and purpose. One of her conclusions?: God created time for us, not for Himself. Time was made to be a companion and help -not an enemy- for our existence and enjoyment. If you find yourself astonished by that ...
Lovingly Exegeting Los Angeles for the Glory of God with Michael Mata
September 23, 2021 17:00 - 32 minutes - 73.6 MBWe talked to one of our very own team members this week, Michael Mata, to hear his thoughts on why Christians need to learn how to to "exegete" urban communities (much like a text) by listening to locals, making field observations (eg- reading the graffiti, seeing how people interact with one another in buildings, walking not driving etc.), learning about the land's histories, understanding the strengths and assets within the community and taking on a proactive (rather than a reactive) advoc...
Through the Lens of Gary Hall: When God Uses Hollywood to Move Mountains
September 21, 2021 16:00 - 24 minutes - 56.2 MBIncarceration. Hollywood. Ministry. These three words somehow came hand in hand as we shared a conversation with Gary Hall, President and Co-founder of Hollywood Impact Studios, formerly a producer for Warner Brothers, and the Sr. Vice President for 20th Century Fox Television. Hollywood Impact Studios' mission is to "help men (women and veterans) coming out of prison, jail and long term drug rehab centers to become substance-free, morally strong, and vocationally trained so that they may re...
How equity and the abundant life advance together with Myesha Reynolds
September 09, 2021 15:00 - 31 minutes - 71.1 MBThis week, we shared an inspiring conversation with the President of Equity Lens Consultants, Myesha Reynolds. We asked her how she forged a relatively unpaved path for herself, from a Wisconsin teacher who was the first to attend college in her family to an equity consultant and business owner based in Los Angeles. Tune in to learn how her steps of faith and entrepreneurial initiative took flight and now allows her (through Equity Lens Consultants) to serve and equip "business owners, schoo...
The Unchanging Love of God Through Loss and Music with Hip-Hop Artist MJ "2 The Human"
August 26, 2021 18:00 - 31 minutes - 71.6 MBWhat is it like for a young Christian Hip-Hop artist to navigate through Los Angeles and the faithscape of creatives? Tune in to Together LA's Listening Tour podcast to hear our interview with MJ aka "2 the Human" to find out! A Houston native who moved to Los Angeles fresh after graduating high school for his dream, MJ "2 the Human" shared with us the inspiration behind his artist name, life in LA (especially through the pandemic), the theme of his album "The Move", the key events that shap...
Annette Forster and Sarah Dornbos: Agents of Transformation and Hope with Kids Hope USA
August 17, 2021 20:57 - 27 minutes - 63.6 MBWe are elated to have Annette Forster, Partnership Growth Mentor of Kids Hope USA (and a Kids Hope USA Mentor for nearly 11 years!), and Sarah Dornbos, Kids Hope Los Angeles Director, join us on the Together LA Listening Tour this week. Kids Hope is an organization founded upon the vision of building life-changing mentor relationships one child, one hour, one church, and one school at a time. We heard these incredible and inspiring women of God tell us about their roles, how Kids Hope starte...
Second-Generation Immigrants for the Gospel with Pastor Eric Loh
August 11, 2021 14:19 - 29 minutes - 67.8 MBToday we had Pastor Eric Loh, Senior Pastor and English Congregation Pastor of Community Christian Alliance (CCA) Church, join us at the Listening Tour. Founded forty-five years ago, CCA Church ministers to a multi-generational and multilingual audience through its three congregations speaking English, Mandarin, and Cantonese. Fun fact: Pastor Eric shares with us that it was in fact the English congregation that planted the church (the Mandarin and Cantonese congregations were added shortl...
Healing from the Inside Out with Chris Foreman
July 28, 2021 04:00 - 26 minutes - 60.8 MBFounder and CEO of Wellness District Los Angeles, Chris Foreman shared with us his entrepreneurial journey that started from his college days in campus ministry. What is Wellness District? It is a community of experienced wellness professionals who holistically cares for the body, mind, and spirit and provides guided access to the best health and wellness practices for their clients. Tune in to this week's episode to hear how the program charts "brain maps" for their clients and what can be ...
From Cynicism to Imagination with Propaganda
July 13, 2021 21:35 - 32 minutes - 75.1 MBPoet, Hip-Hop Rapper, Spoken Word Artist, Activist, Husband, Father, Coffee-Enthusiast, and now Author, Propaganda joined Together LA's Listening Tour to tell us about his latest book publication, journey and what is coming next this year. A Los Angeles native (we couldn't help but chuckle at his superbly LA story of running from the cops after trying to write his name on a wall by the LA River) who has worn many hats, Propaganda has tirelessly chased after his purpose and art. His book, Ter...
Gospel Care with Jaslyn Dixon: to care for Christ's body with His heart
June 30, 2021 22:00 - 28 minutes - 65.5 MBAfter hearing Jaslyn Dixon -Marriage and Family Therapy Licensed Therapist, Professor, and Gospel Care Director at Reality LA - speak for the Mental Health Conversation, we (like everyone else who attended) left with wanting more -so what did we do? We invited her to be on the Listening Tour. In the words of Jaslyn, her position as Reality LA's "Gospel Care Director" means coming alongside people to help them receive and reflect the heart of Christ and the power of our greatest counselor (t...
Nikita Motorin and His Dream for Athletes to Know Their Creator and Make Disciples of All Nations
June 16, 2021 03:06 - 33 minutes - 76 MBThis week's podcast guest is Nikita Motorin from Athletes in Action, an organization with the vision of seeing "Christ-followers on every team, in every sport, in every nation." Nikita currently oversees the UCLA Campus, a school known to produce Olympians and having sports games viewed by millions of people all over the country. He shared with us his journey of becoming an Athletes in Action leader, his personal professional sports career growing up in Kazakhstan (where he got to attend wee...
A Life of Empowering Others with Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty
June 08, 2021 05:00 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBOur Listening Tour Podcast guest today... 1. spent most of her childhood in Acapulco de Juarez, Mexico 2. was a first-generation high school and college graduate 3. completed her Ph.D. in Education Policy and Social Context 4. is passionate about providing mentorship and resources to the Latinx community and disenfranchised groups and 5. loves Jesus. Her name? Dr. Alma Zaragoza-Petty. Tune in to our podcast to hear her journey that shaped her passions and social justice pursuits, which inclu...
Knowing Beauty and Creating It with Brian Chung
May 26, 2021 10:00 - 29 minutes - 67.5 MBIf you're going through a career change, taking the leap of faith to start your own business, or admiring the Alabaster publication of Proverbs on your coffee table... you are in for a treat. Tune in to our Listening Tour episode with Co-founder of Alabaster Co., Brian Chung! Behind Alabaster's intentionally and beautifully designed books of the Bible was a journey of recognizing and responding to the realization that God's story is beautiful. Growing up, Brian had not been raised in the Chr...
How God Uses Art as Authenticator, Microphone and Unifier with Cara Lewis and Jasmine McNeal
May 20, 2021 05:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBIn our latest interview, we stepped into the intersectionality of spirituality and art with Cara Lewis, director of Bridge Projects, and Jasmine McNeal, curator of Contemporary Black Art at Bridge Projects and founder of Other Faith Art Consulting. If you don't know what or how that intersectionality looks like, you will want to listen to this podcast then visit their art gallery, Bridge Projects, in Hollywood afterward. According to their website, "Bridge Projects creates space for explorin...
Navigating Liminality with Music, Activism and Faith with Artist Jason Chu
May 12, 2021 03:00 - 32 minutes - 73.5 MBWhat better way to usher in May -Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month- than to hear Asian-American rapper and activist, Jason Chu talk about his musical career, his work with racial justice, and how his faith weaved his music and activism together? To start, he shared his journey of following the call to pursue music as the means to entertain, heal and educate people and coming to love and engage with Los Angeles and its issues. He then delved into his music career -and what wa...
Hope Amidst and Despite the Darkest Places and Histories with Dr. Sharoni Little
May 03, 2021 13:00 - 35 minutes - 32.6 MBOur guest, Dr. Sharoni Little, leads the global inclusion strategy team at Creative Artist Agency (CAA) and before that, was the Vice Dean and Senior Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer at the USC Marshall School of Business. During our conversation, she poured insight upon insight into the history of inclusion and exclusion shaping her decisions and values, how the drive for growth and noble intentions can go wrong, what the biblical model and charge is for community engagement, and the...
Christian Assembly Church's "Kingdom Pastor", Scott Quay: What Living Missionally Means and Can Look Like in Eagle Rock, CA
April 21, 2021 05:00 - 19 minutes - 45.7 MBChristian Assembly is a multi-ethnic and historical church in Eagle Rock, CA with four central values: Grace, Worship, Family and Kingdom. Our podcast guest today is Christian Assembly's Kingdom Pastor, Scott Quay, who leads the task of partnering with local and global opportunities for acts of compassion and justice and equipping his congregation to adopt a missional lifestyle. He shares why missions is integral in the character of Jesus and how this has inspired his church to mentor at-ris...