It’s A Long Beach Thing

Ehsan shares his journey from escaping Kuwait as a child to becoming a civil rights attorney in the President Obama administration. Today, he continues his mission to create equity for underserved communities through his nonprofit, The Difference Engine. A powerful conversation about adversity, purpose, and making a difference!

John Mallinger takes us through his experience playing on the PGA Tour and his involvement with the popular clothing brand Travis Mathew. He also shares his journey into the business world as the owner of Riley’s, a Long Beach restaurant he has been visiting for years.

Matt Knabe shares his journey from Pepperdine golfer to local lobbyist and owner of Long Beach staples like Boathouse on the Bay, Riley’s, and Patty’s Place. A great conversation about golf, business, and Long Beach!

Scott Affre talks about his journey through the ups and downs of the real estate market. He shares some of the challenges he has faced along the way. Scott also discusses the importance of mental health. He explains why he started sharing his message and experiences on social media.

Claire Duvendeck, GM of the Long Beach Coast, shares how her experience working with the Dodgers and other professional sports organizations prepared her for this exciting opportunity in Long Beach. Those experiences gave her valuable insight into sports, business, and community engagement, ultimately helping her take on the challenge of leading the Long Beach Coast.

Jeff Levine shares his powerful story of overcoming substance abuse and finding long-term sobriety. He talks about his love for Jesus and how his faith gave him the strength to overcome addiction. Today, as CEO of the Long Beach Rescue Mission, Jeff brings a unique level of empathy to those struggling with addiction. His story is one of faith, redemption, and using his experiences to help others.

John Morris, founder of Legends the very first sports bar, a longtime community leader. and current owner of Boathouse on the Bay. John shares stories about his involvement with the Belmont Shore Christmas Parade, Big Bang on the Bay, local politics, and the future of Long Beach. A candid conversation with one of the city's most influential business owners.

Justin Atherton shares his experiences working in law enforcement and the jail system, and how those experiences helped shape his leadership journey. Now a keynote speaker and bestselling author, Justin discusses the lessons he's learned along the way and the message behind his book, Get to the Damn Point. A great conversation about leadership, communication, and personal growth.

Crowd Source Carrie shares her journey from a small town in Minnesota to Long Beach and discusses what inspired her to speak out against injustices she sees in our political system. Her passion for creating change and advocating for her beliefs shines throughout the interview.

Kris Gragson shares how his entrepreneurial spirit developed at a young age and helped pave the way for his success as a business owner today. He discusses the future of artificial intelligence, how businesses and individuals can leverage AI to their advantage, and the opportunities it presents moving forward. Kris also reflects on his experience running Movies on the Beach, one of Long Beach's most popular community events, and how bringing people together through entertainment has become an important part of his journey.