Episodios

  • TROOP: R&B Legends, Music, & the Fire That Changed Everything

    TROOP: R&B Legends, Music, & the Fire That Changed Everything
    Jun 6 2025
    On this episode of "Conversation Live: Altadena Rising," James Farr sits down with Rodney Benford and John 'Jon Jon' Harreld of the legendary R&B quintet TROOP—short for 'Total Respect of Other People.' They were just 'Dena' kids with big dreams before the platinum records, sold-out tours, Arsenio Hall Show appearances, and their iconic cameo in New Jack City. Their chart-topping hits—“Spread My Wings,” “All I Do Is Think of You,” and “Sweet November”—became the soundtrack of a generation.

    In the wake of the Altadena Eaton Canyon fire, Rodney and Jon Jon return to reflect on what’s been lost and what still binds them to their hometown. It’s a story of resilience, brotherhood, and the power of staying rooted in the community that raised you.
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    51 m
  • Twice Displaced: From Freeways to Fire in Black Altadena

    Twice Displaced: From Freeways to Fire in Black Altadena
    May 30 2025
    What happens when a community is forced to start over—again? In this episode of “Conversation Live: Altadena Rising,” James Farr sits down with Tina Jackson Williams, Vice Chair of the Pasadena 710 Restorative Justice Committee, for an urgent conversation on how Black families lost their homes, not once, but twice. First, through eminent domain and freeway expansion that bulldozed vibrant Black neighborhoods in Pasadena. And again, generations later, through the destruction of the 2025 Eaton Canyon Fire.

    Together, Farr and Williams trace how racist housing covenants, redlining, and broken promises created a cycle of displacement. What does it take to repair generational harm? And can restorative justice offer a real path forward? From policy to personal stories, this episode is a history lesson and a call to action.
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    50 m
  • Burned but Not Broken: The Fight to Save Altadena’s Small Businesses

    Burned but Not Broken: The Fight to Save Altadena’s Small Businesses
    May 20 2025
    On this episode of "Conversation Live: Altadena Rising," host James Farr turns the spotlight on the nearly 1,800 small and home-based businesses impacted by the January wildfires across L.A. County—none harder hit than Altadena. These businesses—cafés, barbershops, childcare centers, and solo entrepreneurs—are the backbone of the local economy. “What happens to a community,” Farr asks, “when the businesses that hold it together are at risk of disappearing?”

    Maria Salinas, President and CEO of the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce, details the toll: over 13,000 jobs affected and millions in lost economic output. Salinas introduces a recovery fund offering grants of up to $25,000 for impacted small and home-based businesses and nonprofits. Together, they examine what’s at stake and what it will take to help Altadena rebuild from the ground up.
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    47 m
  • Through Smoke and Ash: DL Lyons Fights for His Mother, His Shop, and Altadena’s Soul

    Through Smoke and Ash: DL Lyons Fights for His Mother, His Shop, and Altadena’s Soul
    May 13 2025
    On this episode of Conversation Live: Altadena Rising, host James Farr welcomes Darrin “DL” Lyons—celebrity barber, community icon, and entrepreneur with deep roots in Altadena. DL shares the unforgettable night he and his mother braved the Eaton Canyon fire, fighting to save his barbershop from destruction. With embers the size of softballs falling from the sky, he acted on instinct and faith, using a trash can to stamp out flames.

    But the fire’s impact went beyond one night. DL opens up about the lingering toll on the community—unsafe air, contaminated water, and businesses left in limbo. Through it all, his bond with Altadena remains unshaken. This episode is a powerful portrait of resilience, legacy, and what it means to stand your ground when everything around you is burning.
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    54 m
  • From Ashes to Estimates: The True Cost of Starting Over in Altadena

    From Ashes to Estimates: The True Cost of Starting Over in Altadena
    May 5 2025
    On this episode of “Conversation Live: Altadena Rising” with James Farr, we explore what it truly means to rebuild in Altadena after the Eaton Canyon fire. Erica Alexis of Bridgeline Construction reveals the unseen struggles—grief, stalled insurance claims, and the pressure to make life-altering decisions while still healing. She urges survivors to resist the rush and rebuild with care, purpose, and community in mind.

    Christopher Walker of R.E.M Supply breaks down the complex numbers: material costs have soared, driven by tariffs and global delays—pushing rebuilding costs up to $1,000 per square foot. And here's the burning question at the heart of it all: If you couldn’t afford to build yesterday, how will you afford to build today?


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    48 m
  • Faith Without Works Is Dead: Inside Altadena’s Journey from Devastation to Determination

    Faith Without Works Is Dead: Inside Altadena’s Journey from Devastation to Determination
    Apr 28 2025
    In the aftermath of the Altadena Eaton Canyon Fire, two beloved voices — Perry Bennett, owner of Perry’s Joint, and Senior Pastor Jonathan DeCuir of Victory Bible Church — share powerful stories of resilience and renewal. In this episode of "Conversation Live: Altadena Rising," host James Farr guides listeners to an unfiltered look at the devastation left behind, the joyful moments that emerged, and the spirit that keeps Altadena moving forward. While the conversations are often warm and lively, the urgent need for relief among survivors remains.

    Pastor DeCuir shares how Victory Bible Church became a lifeline for the community, distributing over a million dollars in direct support to fire-impacted families. He also highlights the "Ashes to Anthems" benefit concert — featuring Andra Day, Goapele, Erica Campbell, Lecrae, and D Smoke — as a celebration of hope rising from tragedy. Perry reflects on what first brought him and his business to Altadena more than 20 years ago, offering an outsider’s perspective on the community's deep roots and special spirit. Together, their stories answer the burning question: Is faith without works dead?
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    49 m
  • Burned Twice? DA Hochman and Assessor Prang Answer to Altadena

    Burned Twice? DA Hochman and Assessor Prang Answer to Altadena
    Apr 21 2025
    Altadena burned once—will it be burned again by those in power? In this urgent episode of "Conversation Live: Altadena Rising," host James Farr sits down with L.A. County District Attorney Nathan Hochman and Assessor Jeffrey Prang to get real answers. As the community recovers from the Eaton Canyon fire, Farr presses Hochman on whether Southern California Edison will face criminal charges.

    The conversation digs into the long history of racial bias within both officials’ offices and its impact on Black communities. Hochman addresses price gouging, over-policing, and the challenge of rebuilding trust, while Prang breaks down his office’s disaster relief efforts and the threat of title fraud.
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    45 m
  • Justice for Rodney Nickerson: A Daughter’s Voice

    Justice for Rodney Nickerson: A Daughter’s Voice
    Apr 15 2025
    In this gripping episode of "Conversation Live: Altadena Rising," host James Farr confronts the fire’s human toll with a burning question: When corporate negligence takes a life, what does justice really look like for those left behind? Kimiko Nickerson speaks publicly for the first time about the death of her father, Rodney Nickerson—one of 18 people who perished in the January 7 Eaton Canyon Fire. She recounts the moment her world changed, the community that lifted her up, and her family’s legacy in Black Los Angeles.

    Joining her is legendary civil rights attorney Carl E. Douglas, now representing the Nickerson family in their wrongful death lawsuit against Southern California Edison. Together, they speak to grief, resilience, and the urgent pursuit of accountability. This conversation isn’t just about a fire. It’s about what happens after the flames—when families demand answers, and communities refuse to be forgotten.
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    44 m
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