Dr. Ferrer discusses what it takes to lead public health in one of the most complex and diverse regions in the country. From crisis response and health equity to prevention strategy and workforce leadership, this conversation explores how LA County works to protect and improve the health of nearly 10 million residents.Host: Rodney CollinsProducers: Tina Curry, Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia KhanEditor: Alban KalasaGuest: Dr. Barbara FerrerLive From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

This episode of Live from LA County features Sarah Mahin, the new Director of LA County’s Homeless Services and Housing, as she takes on one of the region’s most urgent and complex challenges: ending homelessness. Sarah shares her vision for reshaping how the County responds to homelessness emphasizing urgency, transparency, and trust.

Drawing on her experience in both government and advocacy, Sarah reflects on what it takes to lead systems change from within, how public service can be deeply personal, and why second chances matter. The conversation is candid, inspiring, and rooted in the belief that the status quo must change and that LA County has the tools to do better.

Host: Rodney Collins

Producers: Tina Curry, Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia Khan

Editor: Alban Kalasa

Guest: Sarah Mahin

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

Director Lisa Garrett leads HR for the nation’s largest county workforce nearly 100,000 employees across 40 departments. In this episode, she shares her LA story (Inglewood → UCLA → Southwestern Law), how HR is modernizing recruitment, telework, and talent pipelines, and why purpose-driven work keeps people in public service. A candid conversation on leadership, belonging, and the many places a County career can go.

Host: Rodney Collins

Producers: Tina Curry, Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia Khan

Editor: Alban Kalasa

Guest: Lisa M. Garrett

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

DHS Director Dr. Christina Ghaly joins Rodney Collins to unpack how LA County’s health system works 4 hospitals, 23 clinics, EMS, correctional health, probation youth care, harm reduction and ODR and why equity, language access, and measurable outcomes drive decisions. She reflects on Housing for Health (90%+ two-year housing stability), LA General & Harbor trauma leadership, and a new strategic plan focused on clinical excellence, population health, workforce well-being, and fiscal sustainability.Host: Rodney CollinsProducers: Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia KhanEditor: Alban KalasaGuest: Dr. Christina Ghaly Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

LA County’s Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey C. Ukpo explains why our system is independent of law enforcement, how his office conducts ~13,000 death investigations a year, and how findings drive public-health prevention (from safe infant sleep to emerging substance alerts). He discusses equity, staff well-being (in-house psychologist), cross-department collaboration, and what grief, meaning, and justice really look like beyond headlines.

Host: Rodney Collins

Producers: Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia Khan

Editor: Alban Kalasa

Guest: Dr. Odey C. Ukpo

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

SD Director Michael Owh joins Rodney Collins to unpack how Internal Services powers LA County from IT, radios, facilities and fleet to $2B in procurement, EV charging , and disaster response. Hear his take on standardizing e-procurement, digital equity (Delete the Divide, community broadband), and practical AI plus the leadership lessons behind “no wrong door” service.Host: Rodney CollinsProducers: Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia KhanEditor: Alban KalasaGuest: Michael OwhLive From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

Director Amy J. Bodek joins Rodney Collins to unpack how LA County Regional Planning shapes daily life land use, zoning, sustainability, housing, and long-range vision for unincorporated communities. From drones and data to equity, history, and community voice, this episode explains how planning balances policy, place, and people.

Host: Rodney CollinsProducers: Ramla Javed, Alban Kalasa, Mark Whitney, Sofia Khan Editor: Alban KalasaGuest: Amy J. Bodek

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

Director Jim Zenner (LA County Military & Veterans Affairs) joins Rodney Collins to discuss leadership with lived experience, the Veteran Peer Access Network (VPN), plans for veteran treatment courts, partnerships with VA/CBOs, and coordination on homelessness & housing. He also covers SkillBridge pathways for service members, staff wellbeing, and how residents can volunteer or support veterans through County programs and the Warrior Heritage Foundation.

Host: Rodney Collins

Producers: Ramla Javed, Flavio Guzman Magaña, Tina Curry

Editor: Alban Kalasa

Guest: Jim Zenner

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all. From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose. The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

LA County’s Public Defender Ricardo D. García joins Rodney Collins for a candid conversation about client-centered representation, Community Outreach Court, expungement clinics, and leading the nation’s largest public defender office. He shares his LA story, what “flipping the pyramid” in leadership looks like, and how technology (including AI) and community partnerships expand access to justice.

Host: Rodney Collins

Producers: Ramla Javed, Flavio Guzman Magaña, Tina Curry

Editor: Alban Kalasa

Guest: Ricardo D. García

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all.From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose.The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.

This episode features Mark Pestrella, Director of LA County Public Works, leading the nation’s largest municipal public works agency. He walks through how Public Works touches everyday life—from capturing stormwater in dams for groundwater recharge and preventing floods after wildfires, to maintaining roads and transit options (including the Beach Bus), managing sewers and wastewater issues, and planning the County’s solid-waste system. The conversation spotlights resilience and climate readiness, community safety, and the behind-the-scenes coordination required to keep 10 million residents moving. Personal reflections on his LA story and a lifelong connection to water frame a leadership approach rooted in service, prevention, and long-term infrastructure stewardship.

Host: Rodney Collins

Producers: Ramla Javed, Flavio Guzman Magaña, Tina Curry

Editor: Alban Kalasa

Guest: Mark Pestrella

Live From LA County is a storytelling podcast that celebrates the voices and experiences of Los Angeles County employees. Centered on meaningful conversations, each episode features interviews with County leaders, changemakers, and team members across all levels, highlighting the depth and diversity of our workforce and the shared values that connect us all.From community engagement and cultural milestones to creative problem-solving and innovation, this podcast invites listeners into honest, inspiring discussions about what it means to serve Los Angeles County. It’s a space to listen, learn, and lead together with empathy and purpose.The podcast kicks off with the Living Library Series, a collection of candid conversations with LA County Department Heads. Hosted by Rodney Collins, Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Human Resources, this series offers a closer look at the personal and professional journeys of our County leaders. Each episode dives into unfiltered conversations about their values, career paths, challenges, accomplishments, and what makes their LA County story unique.