Description

In this tender and deeply humane episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist welcomes Jenna Mikula, Director of the Bluebell Foundation for Cats, a remarkable Laguna Beach sanctuary devoted to lifetime care for senior cats whose owners can no longer care for them. Jenna shares her journey from finance and accounting into a life of service, compassion, and purpose. Together, she and Fr. Will explore what senior cats can teach us about presence, grief, love, aging, and the sacred responsibility of caring for those who might otherwise be forgotten. This conversation is about cats, but it is also about us. It is about what happens when we stop discarding the vulnerable and begin seeing every life as worthy of tenderness, dignity, and care.

Show Notes

In this episode, Fr. Will and Jenna discuss:

• Jenna’s journey from a successful finance career to leading the Bluebell Foundation
• Why success and fulfillment are not always the same thing
• The history of Bluebell and its founder, Bertha Yergat
• How Bluebell provides lifetime care for senior cats
• Why estate planning for pets matters
• What senior cats teach us about grief, compassion, and presence
• The emotional and spiritual weight of end-of-life decisions
• How animals help open the human heart
• The connection between caring for discarded animals and caring for discarded people
• Why Laguna Beach is such a fitting home for Bluebell
• How volunteers can participate in Bluebell’s mission

Memorable Theme

Bluebell is not simply a place for cats. It is a living sign that no creature should be discarded, and that love remains possible until the very end.

Learn More

Bluebell Foundation for Cats is located in Laguna Canyon and welcomes those who want to support, volunteer, or learn more about planning for their pets' care.

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Showing Up for Every Child: Sarah Durand on School Power, Connection, and the Future of Laguna’s Schools — Fr. Will Crist and Sarah Durand, April 15, 2026

Description

What does it really take for a community to support its children well? 

In this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist sits down with Sarah Durand, Executive Director of School Power, for a thoughtful conversation about education, enrichment, mental health, connection, and the future of Laguna Beach’s schools.
 
Sarah shares how her own life, family, and career journey led her into this work, and why School Power has become such a vital force in helping Laguna’s students thrive. Together, they explore what people often miss about the needs in local schools, why connection matters as much as achievement, and how a community can help children discover their strengths, passions, and sense of belonging.
 
This is a conversation about more than fundraising or school programs. It is about what kind of town Laguna Beach wants to be for its children, its families, and the generations still coming.


Show Notes

In this episode, Fr. Will and Sarah discuss:

• Sarah’s path into School Power and the personal experiences that shaped her call to this work
• How her parents’ example of service and adaptability influenced her life
• The hidden needs in Laguna Beach schools, including family financial stress and student mental health challenges
• How School Power supports students through grants, family support services, enrichment scholarships, and athletics funding
• Why connection, safety, and trusted adults are essential to student success
• The importance of helping young people discover what they love and where they can thrive
• How enrichment experiences open doors for students who might otherwise feel left out
• The pressures students place on themselves in a high-achieving community
• How Laguna Beach schools are addressing mental health through counseling, wellness spaces, tutorial periods, and family support
• Why learning to disagree respectfully is a critical life skill for students and adults alike
• The promise and challenge of AI in education, and why schools must help students prepare for a rapidly changing world
• Why parents need hope, perspective, and trust that their children can grow through setbacks
• Sarah’s vision for Laguna Beach as a community that truly shows up for kids and families
• How every resident, whether or not they currently have children in school, has a stake in strong public schools

Key takeaway 

If Laguna Beach truly shows up for its children, it is not only supporting students in the present. It is shaping the kind of community Laguna will become. 

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Facing Death, Finding Life: Barbara McMurray on Death Doulas, Presence, and the Courage to Be Human — Fr. Will Crist and Barbara McMurray


Description

What happens when we stop avoiding death and begin talking about it honestly, compassionately, and without fear? 

In this moving episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist sits down with Barbara McMurray, one of the founders of the OC Death Workers Alliance, for a wide-ranging conversation about death doulas, grief, presence, community, and what it means to remain truly human in a fearful and distracted world.
 
Barbara describes how the OC Death Workers Alliance began around her dining room table and has grown into a broad community of death doulas, hospice workers, medical professionals, organizers, artists, and caregivers who are helping Orange County become more “death literate.” Together, she and Fr. Will explore the spiritual and emotional work of accompanying people through dying, the value of creating safe spaces to talk about death, and why being present may be one of the most healing gifts we can offer one another.
 
This conversation reaches far beyond death care. It touches on loneliness, fear, social media, belonging, resurrection, and the courage to listen deeply to one another. It is thoughtful, tender, and quietly transformative.
 
Show Notes

In this episode, Fr. Will Crist speaks with Barbara McMurray, co-founder of the OC Death Workers Alliance, about the work of death doulas and the growing movement to help people face death with greater honesty, preparation, and compassion.
 
They discuss how the Alliance began as an informal gathering of people working in death-related fields and has grown into a supportive network that includes death doulas, hospice nurses, physicians, artists, organizers, and others who care for people at the end of life. Barbara explains how this work can be emotionally intense and sometimes isolating, and why community among death workers matters.
 
The conversation also explores the role of fear in how people face death and how the simple presence of others can reduce suffering. Fr. Will and Barbara reflect on how being heard, understood, and accompanied can help people move from fear toward peace. They connect that same insight to the wider life of the community, asking how Laguna Beach can become a place where people are more present to one another in the face of grief, division, loneliness, and uncertainty.
 
Along the way, they talk about social media, death literacy, living funerals, the communion of saints, near-death experiences, and the importance of creating spaces where people can ask honest questions about mortality without shame or avoidance.
 
This is a rich and deeply human conversation about death, yes—but even more, it is about life, love, community, and what it means not to be alone.
 
Topics covered include: 

• Death doulas and what they do
• The origins of the OC Death Workers Alliance
• Why death work can feel isolating
• How fear shapes the way people face dying
• The power of presence at the bedside
• Living funerals and new ways of honoring life before death
• How grief, remembrance, and celebration can coexist
• Social media, dehumanization, and the loss of real conversation
• The need for death literacy in modern life
• How communities can become more compassionate and less fearful
• Why being present may be the most important gift we offer one another 

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Art, Belonging, and the Creative Urge: Randy Morgan on Laguna’s Artistic Soul – Fr. Will Crist and Randy Morgan
 
Description

What makes Laguna Beach more than a beautiful town by the sea? In this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist sits down with acclaimed Laguna Beach artist, sculptor, and author Randy Morgan for a rich conversation about art, belonging, creativity, faith, and the inner drive to make something meaningful.
 
Randy reflects on his decades in Laguna’s art world, from large public murals and sculptures to the discipline, struggle, and joy of being an artist. He shares stories behind major works, including the beloved Skipper Carrillo statue, the Waterman’s Wall, and new large-scale projects in San Juan Capistrano and Huntington Beach.
 
This is more than a conversation about technique. It is a conversation about the creative life itself: how artists find their voice, why true art requires work and faith, and what it means to become fully yourself. Randy also speaks candidly about the challenge of making a life in the arts, the role of mentorship, and why creativity is not reserved for painters and sculptors alone.
If you care about Laguna’s artistic heritage, the mystery of human creativity, or the spiritual dimension of making something beautiful, this episode will stay with you.


Show Notes

In this episode, Fr. Will and Randy discuss: 

How Laguna Beach became a home for artists and why it continues to matter Randy’s early discovery of art, including his first blue ribbon as a child The long artistic and cultural history that makes Laguna unique Why artists need a place to belong The stories behind Randy’s major public works, including: The Skipper Carrillo statue The Waterman’s Wall The Art Hotel project The history mural in San Juan Capistrano His new swallow and horseshoe sculpture planned for San Juan What it takes to create large public art rooted in history, research, and community memory The difference between work, craft, and true artistic expression Why becoming an artist means finding your own style, voice, and individuality The role of mastery, discipline, and mentorship in developing creative gifts How Randy sees art as a gift from God and the artist as a vessel for creation Why art-making can feel like prayer, meditation, and listening The challenge and promise of AI in the future of art Why everyone, in some sense, carries a creative calling How young artists can begin their journey by finding a teacher, mentor, or guide


Memorable themes from the conversation

“Laguna is not a museum. It is a home for artists.” “Artists belong here.” “Art is an urge.” “You have to do the work.” “Everybody finds their own style.” “God put this thing in us that makes us want to create.” “It’s a leap of faith.” “We make something to share with people.” 


Why listen 

• This episode is for anyone who has ever wondered: 
• How does an artist find their true voice?
• What makes Laguna Beach such a powerful place for creativity? Can creativity be a spiritual path?
• What does it mean to make something that lasts in a community? How do we encourage the next generation of artists? 

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Prepared Together: Sarah Limones on Wildfire Readiness, Neighborhood Resilience, and the Future of Laguna – Fr. Will Crist and Sarah Limones

Description

In this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist speaks with Sarah Limones, Emergency Operations Coordinator for the Laguna Beach Fire Department, about what it really means to prepare a city for disaster.

Sarah oversees the full cycle of emergency management in Laguna Beach—preparedness, response, recovery, and public education. In this thoughtful conversation, she explains why the city’s beauty also brings risk, how wildfire and earthquake readiness depend on personal and neighborhood preparation, and why houses of worship can play a vital role in strengthening community resilience. 

Along the way, the conversation opens into something deeper: what it means to belong to a place, to know your neighbors, and to build the kind of trust that matters before a crisis comes. This is a practical and hopeful episode about preparedness, responsibility, and the power of community. 


Show Notes

In this conversation, Fr. Will Crist and Sarah Limones discuss:

• What the Emergency Operations Coordinator does in Laguna Beach
• Why Laguna’s natural beauty also creates unique emergency risks
• Recent local incidents, including the Rancho Fire and the tsunami warning
• Why wildfire preparation begins long before a fire starts
• The importance of hardening homes and creating defensible space
• How residents can sign up for emergency alerts through Nixle and AlertOC
• Laguna’s evacuation workshops and why they matter
• The value of neighborhood preparedness, not just individual preparedness
• How churches and faith communities could help host preparedness gatherings
• How disasters reveal both vulnerability and the goodness of people
• Why younger generations need to hear Laguna’s fire history, including 1993
• How emergency planning can become a way of building stronger human connection
• Why knowing your neighbor may be one of the most important forms of preparedness

Resources mentioned

• Nixle: Text 92651 to 888777
• AlertOC: Visit AlertOC.com
• Laguna Beach city emergency preparedness information: lagunabeachcity.net
• Free home wildfire consultations through the Laguna Beach Fire Department
• Firewise neighborhood information through the city/fire department
• Upcoming preparedness education, including workshops and community events

Key takeaway

Preparedness is not only about supplies and alerts. It is also about relationships. In Laguna Beach, resilience begins when neighbors know each other, communities plan together, and people decide ahead of time that they will face emergencies side by side. 

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Sarah Limones, Laguna Beach's Emergency Operations Coordinator, joins Father Will Crist to discuss how this unique coastal community prepares for disasters while building deeper connections between neighbors. From wildfire evacuation plans to earthquake preparedness, this conversation reveals how emergency planning becomes a pathway to stronger community bonds and why knowing your neighbors might be the most important preparation of all.

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Description

In this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist sits down with Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill for a thoughtful conversation about what it takes to hold a community together in a time of fear, division, and rapid change.
 
They explore gratitude, family, civic life, the challenge of listening across differences, and the importance of staying human in an age shaped by technology, anxiety, and constant noise. Mayor Orgill reflects on what he has learned from serving on the city council, why community still matters so deeply in Laguna Beach, and how ordinary people can help rebuild trust one conversation at a time.
 
This is a conversation about more than city government. It is about neighbors, belonging, and the kind of courage it takes to keep showing up for one another.

Show Notes 

• In this episode, Fr. Will Crist speaks with Laguna Beach Mayor Mark Orgill about: 
• Gratitude as a grounding practice in public life
• How family, especially his mother’s presence and guidance, shaped his character
• The tension of civic leadership in a diverse and emotionally charged community
• Why fear often drives conflict in local issues
• How national polarization spills into local life
• The challenge of misinformation and disinformation
• Why respectful listening matters more than winning arguments
• What Laguna can teach the country about community
• The importance of relationships over ideology
• How older adults can rediscover purpose and belonging after retirement
• Why volunteering helps people reconnect with others and with themselves
• How AI may change work, and why human connection will matter even more
• Why the city’s General Plan matters for Laguna’s future
• The need for broad community participation in shaping the next chapter of Laguna Beach
• The role faith communities can play in helping people gather, listen, and engage

A simple invitation: stay involved, reach out, and join the conversation


Memorable themes from the conversation

• “Alive is gratitude.” 
• “We’re all Laguna.”
• “You treat people like you want to be treated.”
• “Relationship is the most important thing.”
• “If we could break through some of that fear and resentment, we could rediscover community.”

Call to action

Mayor Orgill encourages residents to stay involved, reach out, and participate in the life of the community. One practical starting point is attending the informal Friday community meetings in the City Council Chambers.

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Laguna’s Hometown Spirit: Ed Hanke on the Patriots Day Parade, Volunteering, and the Power of Community — Fr. Will Crist

Podcast Description


What keeps a community alive?
 
On this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist sits down with Ed Hanke, President of the Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade, longtime volunteer, Pageant of the Masters volunteer, and community leader.
 
Ed shares the story behind Laguna’s beloved hometown parade and reflects on how volunteering has shaped his life and connected him with hundreds of people across the city. From high school football boosters to the Pageant of the Masters, community choirs, church leadership, and neighborhood organizations, Ed has spent decades helping bring people together.
 
The conversation also explores something deeper: why connection, conversation, and volunteering may be more important than ever in an age of social media, political division, and rapidly advancing AI.
 
Ed’s message is simple and powerful: When people spend time together—talking, volunteering, singing, celebrating—they rediscover what it means to be human.

Show Notes 

Guest 

Ed Hanke, President, Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade Volunteer with Pageant of the Masters, Laguna Tunes Community Choir, and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Vestry.

In This Episode
 
Laguna’s Patriots Day Parade

• Saturday parade beginning at 11:00 AM
• Route begins at Laguna Beach High School on Park Avenue
• Continues down Park Avenue to Glenneyre
• Turns toward Forest Avenue and City Hall
• Concludes with a grandstand and bandstand celebration

A classic Laguna tradition where locals are either in the parade or cheering from the sidewalk.

The Power of Volunteering 
Ed shares how volunteering began when his son played football at Laguna Beach High School and quickly grew into a lifelong commitment to community service.

Key insight: 

“By volunteering, we actually get more out of it than what we feel like we’re giving.” 

Pageant of the Masters

• Ed is entering his 15th year participating
• Over 500 volunteers help bring the production to life
• Cast members often form deep friendships that last decades
• Many participants return year after year

The Pageant becomes a true community family. 

Laguna Tunes Community Choir 
A no-audition choir open to anyone who loves to sing.
Directed by Bob Gunn, the choir welcomes beginners and experienced singers alike.

Why Laguna Is Unique 

Ed reflects on Laguna Beach’s distinctive spirit:

• A city with extraordinary civic participation
• Many organizations working together
• A community that cares deeply about its future

Even when people disagree, Laguna often finds ways to respect different viewpoints while staying connected as neighbors.

The Challenge of Disconnection 
The conversation explores how phones, social media, and constant news cycles can create separation between people.


Ed suggests something simple but powerful:

• Sit down
• Turn off the phone
• Talk to another person

Human conversation remains one of the most important forms of connection.

AI and the Future of Being Human 
The episode also touches on the coming wave of artificial intelligence.
While AI may increase efficiency and reduce drudgery, the real question becomes:
How do we remain deeply human in a technological world?

Ed believes the answer lies in:

• volunteering
• community
• face-to-face conversation
• shared experiences

Memorable Moments

• “By volunteering, we get more out of it than we give.”
• “If people just sat down and talked, they’d come away more enlightened.”
• “Human beings need connection.”
• “Just because you can’t do something physically doesn’t mean you can’t participate.”

One Small Step This Week
Come out and enjoy Laguna Beach’s Patriots Day Parade.
Whether you march, volunteer, or simply watch from the sidewalk, it’s a chance to experience the spirit of Laguna’s hometown community.

Learn More

• Laguna Beach Patriots Day Parade
• Pageant of the Masters
• Laguna Tunes Community Choir

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Podcast Description

What helps people rediscover their worth when trauma, fear, and digital distraction pull them away from themselves and from one another?
 
On this episode of The Heart of Laguna, Fr. Will Crist is joined by Arolyn Burns, CEO of Just Gather and a licensed therapist, and Michelle Highberg, founder of Just Gather of Just Gather and principal of Gratefully Philanthropic Consulting in Laguna Beach. Together they explore the idea that every person carries a divine spark—an inner truth that can be hidden by trauma, stress, negative self-belief, and disconnection. Their conversation moves through healing, gratitude, EMDR, nature, technology, and the deep human need for presence and belonging.
 
Michelle shares how Just Gather helps people step away from digital dependency and reconnect through gratitude hikes, cleanups, creativity, and human fellowship. Arolyn offers insight from her work as a therapist, explaining how trauma shapes the stories people tell themselves—and how healing begins when those stories are challenged by truth.

This is a conversation about what wounds us, what heals us, and what becomes possible when we remember that we are loved, worthy, and meant for connection. Show Notes


Guests


Michelle Highberg: Founder of Just Gather, a Laguna Beach nonprofit encouraging human connection, gratitude, creativity, and freedom from digital overdependence, and Principal of Gratefully Philanthropic Consulting in Laguna Beach.

Arolyn Burns: CEO of Just Gather and licensed therapist and practitioner using EMDR, hypnotherapy, and mindfulness-based healing tools.

In This Episode

What is “alive” right now

• Arolyn speaks about truth rising, unity consciousness, and the need for deeper human understanding
• Michelle shares about joy, friendship, community, and gratitude

The divine spark within each person

• The shared belief that every person carries sacred worth
• Why healing begins when people remember who they really are

Trauma, toxic stress, and the lies people believe

• “I’m not good enough.”
• “I’m worthless.”
• How childhood wounds can shape adult identity and suffering

Michelle’s work in trauma healing

• EMDR explained in an accessible language
• How bilateral stimulation helps reprocess trauma
• Why healing often comes when false narratives finally break apart

Gratitude as a healing discipline

• Why gratitude changes what people see
• “We get more of what we focus on.”
• How gratitude can restore perspective, peace, and agency

Just Gather and the work of reconnection

• Why Arolyn and her team focus on human presence and digital balance
• Community cleanups, gratitude hikes, art gatherings, and “device to harmony” events
• The symbol of the crown: reminding people they are in charge of their own minds, choices, and lives

Nature, Laguna Beach, and healing

• Why Laguna’s environment can itself be restorative
• The role of beauty, sound, movement, and art in emotional and spiritual healing

Technology, AI, and the human soul

• Using technology as a tool, not as a replacement for humanity
• Why human presence, creativity, and love remain irreplaceable

Spiritual truth and emotional freedom

• The difference between the lies that bind us and the truth that frees us
• How healing often means naming fear, confronting false beliefs, and receiving a deeper truth

Memorable Lines

• “We get more of what we focus on.”
• “The truth never changes.”
• “Healing begins when the lie is revealed.”
• “Laguna Beach itself can be a healer.”
• “We are loved, and we are loving.”

Community Invitations Mentioned

Just Gather Wellness Community-based opportunities for connection, gratitude, cleanup events, and digital balance. Possible entry points include:

• Gratitude hikes
• Sunday morning land cleanups
• Device-free community gatherings
• Arts-based fellowship events

One Small Step for the Week

Look someone in the eye. Smile. Acknowledge them. 
A moment of presence may be the beginning of healing—for them and for you.

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.

Title: Heart of Laguna — Fr. Will Crist with Ann Cooling & Marshall Ingwerson, February 11, 2026

Podcast Description 

What would it take to rebuild safe, human conversation in a time when fear sells and stereotypes spread faster than truth?

On this episode of The Heart of Laguna (February 11, 2026), Fr. Will Crist welcomes two guests from the Christian Science community: Anne Cooling, a longtime interfaith leader and communications voice for Christian Science churches across Southern California, and Marshall Ingwerson, a Laguna Beach resident and veteran journalist from The Christian Science Monitor.
We talk about what makes Laguna feel like home, why negativity drives media, and why real healing begins locally—over coffee, in neighborhoods, and in the quiet courage to listen. Along the way we explore prayer as “seeing differently,” the power of presence, and why fear may be the most powerful divider in American life.

Show Notes


Guests

• Anne Cooling — Interfaith leader in Orange County for three decades; communications role serving Christian Science churches across Southern California
• Marshall Ingwerson — Career journalist and editor with The Christian Science Monitor; Laguna Beach resident

What We Talk About

• What’s “alive” right now: fresh air, neighborhood connection, and the joy of familiar faces
• Why outrage and negativity dominate modern media—and what it costs our communities
• The founding mission of The Christian Science Monitor: “to injure no man, but to bless all mankind”
• Why people don’t feel safe—and how safe spaces are built (not by winning, but by listening)
• How churches can address fear without joining political tribes
• The danger of stereotypes: “If you say these words, I know who you are”
• Prayer as listening, spiritual understanding, and learning to “see differently”
• Why local conversations matter more than national posturing
• Stories of impact: readers funding girls’ education in Malawi; the power of being “seen”
• A practical closing invitation: one small act to make Laguna feel more like home

Memorable Lines

• “Negativity sells.”
• “Nobody has ever won a political debate—they only made the other side angry.”
• “Change has to start in our own hearts and our own lives.”
• “Give one person the benefit of the doubt this week.”

One Small Practice for the Week
 
Choose one person you’ve judged—maybe someone you don’t even know—and consciously release the negative story you’ve attached to them. Practice seeing them as human. If it’s hard, hand it over to God and try again tomorrow. 

About the Show
The Heart of Laguna is a weekly conversation from KXFM in Laguna Beach. Each episode explores what holds us together when the world feels like it’s coming apart—through stories, spirit, and service from the soul of the city.🎙 New episodes every Wednesday morning on KXFM at 8:00.