Friends In Deed Podcast

Hosted by Friends In Deed

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Latest episode

Aug 2026

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EN-US

About the show

Friends In Deed (FID) is an interfaith organization that provides supportive services to our homeless and at risk neighbors to help them rebuild their lives. Each episode, FID CEO, Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater, talks about our programs, interviews clients, has conversations with staff, community leaders and commentators around issues of poverty, homelessness, religious values, morals and much more! Learn more at www.friendsindeedpas.org, follow us on Instagram @friendsindeedpas, or visit us at facebook.com/friendsindeedpas.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

August 28, 202627 min

When a Billionaire Shapes Homelessness Policy

In this episode, Rabbi Joshua engages in a "dialogue" with a recent New York Times article entitled, "How a Billionaire Shaped Trump's Homelessness Policy" (NYT, August 22, 2026, Ellen Barry and Jason Deparle). This article focuses on a think-tank called the Cicero Institute, and its founder, Joe Lonsdale, a venture capitalist turned policy influencer. While this is not an actual dialogue, Rabbi Joshua makes sure to only address quotes or ideas that appear specifically in the article. https://friendsindeedpas.org

August 11, 2026Episode 722 min

2026 -7 Hearing it Directly: A Conversation with Street and Housing Staff

Rabbi Joshua sat down with members of the Street Outreach and Housing team recently to hear the latest about what is happening with their clients, the heat, the political challenges, Eaton fire victims, and some success stories. It is so important to learn from the people who are doing the work each and every day. This episode includes: Jane, Barbara, Virginia, Al and Mercedes https://friendsindeedpas.org

June 15, 2026Episode 65 min

2026 - 6 Finding Safety and Strength: Fiona's story after the Eaton Fire

Today's episode is very short--a 4 minute testimonial from Fiona, a guest at The Women's Room, who has been living in her car since the Eaton fire, who spoke at our recent Mayor's Interfaith Prayer Breakfast. Her words sum up what we try to offer each person that comes through our doors. Here is a link to the video clip: https://youtu.be/NUm9yVIFyJ0?si=QwEa2RXuEoWn2lzZ https://friendsindeedpas.org

June 1, 2026Episode 537 min

2026 - 5 Vehicular Homeless: Conversation with Professor Chris Giamarino

Stories and anecdotes are important and help to touch the emotional side of people's lives. Yet sometimes, we need data and research to support those stories, especially with policy makers. In this episode, Rabbi Joshua speaks with Professor Chris Giamarino of Cal Poly Pomona. Professor Giamarino is a leading expert on vehicular homelessness, which includes the study of safe parking. We hope you will listen and join us in learning some of the in-depth knowledge about the reality of our neighbors living in their cars. Here are three articles, two by Professor Giamarino, on the topic: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10511482.2024.2313511 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10511482.2022.2117990#d1e230 https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/01944363.2022.2050936 https://friendsindeedpas.org

May 20, 2026Episode 435 min

2026 - 4 Successful 3-D Printing a Solution for Interim Housing: Conversation with co-founder Gene Edelman

Tired of hearing that interim housing costs too much, takes too long and isn't viable? On this episode, Rabbi Joshua speaks with Gene Edelman, co-founder of Azure Printed Homes, whose company is having success in parts of California and around the country, creating different size homes that are beautiful, cost effective and made out of recycled materials. They have zero contracts for interim housing here in LA--we are hoping that will change soon! https://www.azureprintedhomes.com/ Closing music: Eric Clapton https://friendsindeedpas.org

April 13, 2026Episode 322 min

2026 - 3 From Darkness to Light: Cristian's Journey to The Women's Room

In today's episode, Rabbi Joshua visits The Women's Room (TWR) to talk with a guest about her life and how she arrived at Friends In Deed. Cristian's honesty and inspiration is certainly a testament to the power of faith, community, survival--never feeling alone, always feeling supported. This an episode not to be missed! Closing music: Eric Clapton Other music: ABBA https://friendsindeedpas.org

February 26, 2026Episode 241 min

2026 - 2 Congregation Emerging from the Ashes, Part II: Saint Mark's Episcopal Church

On this episode, Rabbi Joshua has an in-depth conversation with Rector Carrie Grindon of Saint Mark's Episcopal Church in Altadena. Pastor Grindon shares her experience with the Eaton Fire, learning about the burning of the church and homes of her parishioners, as well as the saving of a church bell from the rubble. And like the Altadena Baptist Church and Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center, she discusses their plans to rebuild on their land. And like the previous episode, this one is a bit longer than usual. But worth it! Closing music: Eric Clapton https://friendsindeedpas.org

January 24, 2026Episode 155 min

2026 - 1 Destroyed Houses of Worship Emerge from the Fire: Conversation with 3 Local Clergy

On this special episode, Rabbi Joshua has in-depth conversation with three local clergy, all of whose houses of worship burned in the Eaton Fire: Pastor Connie DeVaughn of Altadena Baptist Church, and Rabbi Josh Ratner and Cantor Ruth Berman Harris of the Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. This was an emotional, spiritual and moving conversation, which moves from the moments of the fire to the months since, and now towards the light of new beginnings, as each congregation has plans to rebuild on their property. Closing music: Eric Clapton https://friendsindeedpas.org

December 9, 2025Episode 1236 min

2025 - 12 Safe Parking: Why it Works and Why We Should Support it!

On this episode, Rabbi Joshua discusses Safe Parking programs and talks with FID's new Director of Street Outreach and Housing, Giulianna LoMaglio, who has expertise in how successful safe parking can be for moving people from homelessness to housing. This is timely as Pasadena is in the midst of a debate about opening up a new safe parking location. Apply for FID's safe parking program: https://friendsindeedpas.org/programs/street-outreach/ Learn more about the program in LA: https://safeparkingla.org/ Closing music: Eric Clapton https://friendsindeedpas.org

November 17, 2025Episode 1138 min

2025 - 11 Meet Opie: TWR Guest Who Went from College to the Streets to Grad School

Grateful to move forward from the government shutdown, Rabbi Joshua speaks today with Opie, a woman in her 20s, who has a more unusual story than most guests who come to The Women's Room. She opens up about her early life in Tennessee, attending college, how personal challenges led her to California, where she found herself living in her car. You will have to listen to the episode to hear the rest of her story! Closing music: Eric Clapton https://friendsindeedpas.org