The iHeart SoCal Show

One Child. One Friend. 12+ Years, No Matter What. We select children who could most benefit from a relationship with a long-term professional mentor. We partner with community organizations, schools and foster care systems to help us meet children (ages 4 to 6) and families who could benefit most from a relationship with a Friend. We exclusively focus on children who face enormous systemic barriers. We hire and train full-time paid professional mentors called Friends. A Friend‘s full-time job is to empower and support youth and their caregiver(s). Each Friend serves a roster of 8 children, dedicating 4 hours of professional mentorship to each child every week. Moving mentorship out of the volunteer realm is key to getting the quality, consistency and commitment our children and their families deserve in the relationship. We commit for the long term. We commit to every child for the long term, from kindergarten through graduation. 12+ years, no matter what. Our work is relationship-based, individualized and intentional. Friends create meaningful experiences to explore each child's unique talents and interests. They also work 1-on-1 with each child to set age-appropriate goals and build critical life skills. Aired June 14, 2026: In this podcast, Lisa Foxx interviews their Executive Director Jorie Das about all the ways this incredible organization is changing the lives of young people who need it most 🙂 We also discuss SummerFest, that's happening June 27 in Echo Park and will bring together nearly 300 children, youth, caregivers, and family members from across Los Angeles County.  They’re still looking for volunteers and community partners interested in supporting activities and activations for youth and families. Anyone interested can reach out to info@friendsla.org. Friends LA provides paid professional mentors who stay with youth for 12+ years, from kindergarten through high school graduation, helping children build long-term relationships, stability, and belonging. Get more info HERESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aired December 21, 2025: Lisa Foxx talks to Dr. Paula Pompa-Craven, Chief Clinical Officer, Autism Services, Easterseals Southern California about accessible toys that are great gifts for children with disabilities.                             Easterseals Disability & Community Services is a national non-profit organization providing essential disability, veteran, and community services for over 100 years, helping children and adults with disabilities, seniors, and their families achieve independence through programs like early childhood support, therapy, employment training, and adult day services. They offer local support across the U.S. and are known for their iconic Easter seal fundraising stamps....Easterseals has also created it first-of-its kind accessible toy guide for those with disabilities and they would love some support...    It’s every parent’s busiest time of year and Easterseals Disability Services is stepping up to support overwhelmed holiday shoppers with its Accessible Toy Guide for the 2025 Holidays. Finding accessible holiday gifts can be a challenge, so Easterseals created a first-of-its-kind resource designed to help families, educators, therapists and retailers identify toys that are not only fun but also inclusive and accessible.  The guide highlights some of 2025’s best accessible toys and games for children with disabilities and their families, encouraging play experiences that everyone can enjoy together.    TOY GUIDE:  essocal.com/toys    The Easterseals Toy Guide is designed to help families choose toys that can be enjoyed in different ways by children with diverse access needs and skills—without the need for special adaptation.  We define accessible toys and games as those that:  Are designed with consideration for users with various disabilities, including fine and gross motor coordination, sensory processing sensitivities, cognitive skills and blind, low vision, deaf and hard-of-hearing users.  Include features such as large buttons, textured surfaces, high-contrast colors, adjustable volume, alternative control mechanisms or adaptability for different play positions.  More information about choosing accessible toys below my signature.    Tips for Choosing Accessible Toys:  Easy-to-Use Features: Big buttons, textured parts, simple grips.  Multiple Ways to Play: Toys that light up, make sounds or can be used in different positions.  Movement Practice: Toys that build both gross-motor (balance, strength) and fine-motor (grasping, stacking) skills.  Social Play: Games that encourage interaction with peers or adults.  Flexible Design: Toys that can be adapted for different access needs .    Toy Submissions Were Reviewed for:  Tactile input  Accessibility for children with low vision or hearing  Sound features  Cause-and-effect elements  Motor demands  Sensory stimulation  Fine motor skill requirements  Overall appeal  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aired January 11, 2026: Lisa Foxx interviews comedian Fritz Coleman all about his 'Unassisted Living' show and benefit at the Wilshire Ebell Theater that will raise money for their women-led nonprofit that supports arts, culture, education, and community service.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aired January 4, 2026: If you’ve been struggling to get things done or meet your goals, in the past...the problem isn’t that you’re not trying hard enough, it’s that you’re only trying in the first place. The book Stop Trying! The Life-Transforming Power of Trying Less & Doing More...IS the change we need to kick off the new year RIGHT!  In this podcast, Lisa Foxx interviews author, motivational speaker Carla Ondrasik about all the ways we can get the word 'TRY' OUT of our vocabulary and start actually making things happen!‘Lots of books promise change, but the book Stop Trying IS the change! Carla Ondrasik, gives you one simple yet insanely powerful tool that’ll flip your life into high gear. If you’re ready to stop spinning your wheels and actually start living a life that feels meaningful and successful, this book shows you exactly how to do it.” —Mel Robbins, bestselling author and host of The Mel Robbins Podcast  “Carla’s book does a fantastic job of motivating anyone to stop making excuses so they can dance all the way to the finish line of their dreams. Stop Trying! is a call to action that encourages us all to get off our butts and do it.” —Paula Abdul, singer, choreographer, and actress When it comes to getting stuff done, we fall short more often than we like to admit. This can leave us feeling frustrated and ashamed, because despite trying our very best we can’t seem to meet our goals. Why? The surprising answer is ingeniously outlined in Stop Trying!: The Life-Transforming Power of Trying Less and Doing More—an evolutionary guide that evokes the revelatory force of The Five-Second Rule and the sublime practicality of The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Put simply, it turns out that trying is just an illusion for doing.  Stop Trying! illuminates the deception in a mindset built on trying, which can lead to anxiety, procrastination, perceived loss of control, fatigue, fear of failure, lack of follow-through, and overall life dissatisfaction. Importantly, this book offers a way out of the rut and into practical, progressive action. Stop Trying! reveals the compelling science behind our brain, behaviors, and beliefs when it comes to the notion of trying. Pulling from positive psychology, the science of habit formation, clinical studies, and more, motivational speaker Carla Ondrasik guides us to proven-effective strategies for better doing—and ultimately to goal achievement and a more fulfilling life.  Readers will learn techniques and tips, build skills through interactive activities, and hear sincere stories from everyday people who’ve made the transformative switch from trying to doing. Achievement is just one “do or do not” decision away, and it starts with eliminating “try” from our vocabulary. Stop Trying! shows us how to do that. TO GET CARLA'S BOOK, HER COACHING, READING ENGAGEMNTS & MORE CLICK HERE: https://www.carlaondrasik.com/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this podcast, Lisa Foxx talks to Lisa Manheim (the Executive Director of the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, and the Co-Founder/Director of Tour de Pier and of the LA Cancer Challenge) they discuss all the advancements they are making for those diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and how this fundraiser will help make a difference!  GET READY FOR A SPOOKTACULAR HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN CHARITY RACE: 28TH ANNUAL L.A. CANCER CHALLENGE 5K WALK/RUN Join the fight to find a cure for pancreatic cancer at Southern California’s longest-running Halloween-themed fundraiser and explore a free Fit Family Expo and an enchanted Candy Land Kids Zone WHAT: This Halloween, dress the family in festive costumes and head to the 28th Annual L.A. Cancer Challenge 5K Walk/Run (LACC). Combining fun and purpose, the LACC will welcome thousands of runners and walkers to the “boo-tiful” UCLA campus to raise awareness for pancreatic cancer research. The L.A. Cancer Challenge is sponsored and produced by the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to groundbreaking research across three collaborative laboratories at UCLA. So, strap on the running shoes and dash to SoCal’s most beloved Halloween charity race. The L.A. Cancer Challenge also kicks off Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month in November, a time when the pancreatic cancer community unites to inspire hope, honor those who have bravely fought, and empower patients and families impacted by the disease. Since 1998, the LACC has raised nearly $11.5 million for pancreatic cancer research. It is the long-standing signature fundraiser for the Hirshberg Foundation, which has been a crucial pillar in advancing pancreatic cancer research. The Foundation’s tireless efforts have been instrumental in driving progress in the development of research, early detection methods and treatment as well as providing vital support and resources to pancreatic cancer patients and their families. With a pinch of Halloween fun and a dash of community spirit, help the LACC conjure real change in the quest for a pancreatic cancer cure. For more information, visit www.lacancerchallenge.com or call (310) 473-5121. WHEN:  Sunday, October 26, from 7:30 a.m. to noon WHERE: UCLA Wilson Plaza, 120 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095 EVENT ATTRACTIONS: Putting the fun in fundraising, the Fit Family Expo transforms the LACC into a spooktacular outdoor extravaganza for the entire family. Kids and adults can dive into the whimsical Candy Land Kids Zone, complete with life-size candy décor, festive arts and crafts, and a moonbounce. Explore health and fitness booths and enjoy lively music, entertainment, and Halloween festivities, including an Adult Costume Contest and Kids Costume Parade (ages 2 – 11 years). Participants who cross the finish line can treat themselves to a sweet treat, a donut from the giant Donut Wall. Whether joining a team or flying solo, in-person or virtually, be sure to join the excitement. REGISTRATION: In-person and Virtual 5K Walk/Run (registration fee ranges from $25 - $55) In-person youth and adult runners and walkers will receive a range of perks, including an event T-shirt (long-sleeve for adults), custom running bib, finishers medal, and chip-time for adults (optional). Youth participants (age 11 and under) will receive a youth T-shirt, custom bib, and finishers medal (race is not chip-timed). Registration fees are: $30 (youth)/$50 (adults) from now until October 8 $35 (youth)/$55 (adults) from October 9 - 26 $25 for youth and adults Virtual youth (age 11 and under) and adult runners and walkers can be completed at any time, place and at any pace you choose. Virtual Registration provides access to a personal fundraising page and a downloadable bib. Virtual Participants have the option to pay to upgrade their registration to include an event shirt and medal (gear will be mailed and delivery date is not guaranteed).   PARKING: Parking is available in Lot 4. Self-service pay stations are located in the lot and the cost ranges from $5 to $13 for one to three hours or $17 all day. To save time on event morning, pre-purchase the parking pass on the Bruin E-permit website (search LA Cancer Challenge, select Lot 4, then add the vehicle and payment details).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to author and motivational...