KUCI: Get the Funk Out!

Chaya Segelman
Program Director 
www.obkla.org
@obklosangeles
 
Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles 
OBKLA  |  September 2026 
Our Big Kitchen Los Angeles (OBKLA) is a community-run, non-denominational nonprofit that brings people together to prepare fresh, nutritious kosher meals for people experiencing food insecurity across Los Angeles. Through hands-on volunteering, OBKLA nourishes people and strengthens community connections. 
Our history 
Established in 2020 and inspired by Our Big Kitchen in Sydney, Australia, OBKLA began as a grassroots response to hunger during the pandemic. In June 2022, with support from the Feder family, it moved into the 4,600-square-foot Margaret Feder Our Big Kitchen on Pico Boulevard. During the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, OBKLA also mobilized volunteers to provide meals for evacuees and first responders. 
Our impact 
In 2025, OBKLA prepared 190,534 fresh meals and 315,243 baked goods, with 24,437 volunteers contributing 46,292 hours. The kitchen welcomed 477 groups and worked with 69 charity partners. 
Growth continued in 2026. July production reached 30,030 fresh meals and 37,400 baked goods. In August, almost 2,900 volunteers participated across 56 groups. 
Volunteers and charity partners 
Individuals, families, schools, faith groups and corporate teams prepare and package meals under professional guidance. Charity partners distribute the food to individuals and families in need throughout Los Angeles. 
Partners include Union Rescue Mission, The People Concern, Safe Place for Youth, Jewish Family Services, Tomchei Shabbos, Chai Lifeline, Pico Union Project and A Place Called Home. 
Our vision for 2030 
OBKLA aims to produce one million fresh meals and distribute one million pounds of pantry supplies annually, while engaging tens of thousands of volunteers each year. A permanent home with greater capacity will support this next stage of service. 
Volunteer, bring a group or support our work at obkla.org. 
Sources: OBKLA organizational figures and updates for 2025–2026; obkla.org/about; Aish wildfire coverage, January 14, 2025. Statistics refer to the periods shown. 
 
www.obkla.org
@obklosangeles

 Zibby's Most Anticipated List: Fall 2026
A 2026 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist
"An engaging and accessible approach to living a happier, less stressful life."  - Kirkus
 
Twenty years ago, Beth Ricanati, MD, felt overwhelmed as a physician, wife, and mother of three children under the age of six devoted to doing her best at everything. When she started to suffer intermittent chest pain, she attributed her symptoms to heart disease. Then, her physician diagnosed the real culprit: stress. Struck by the toll on her health, Dr. Ricanati sought out a way to manage her stress for the long haul and found the answer in a bowl of dough in her kitchen.   
 
In THE BRAIDED PRESCRIPTION: Seven Practices for Living Well from the Ancient Ritual of Making Challah (She Writes Press; September 1, 2026), Beth Ricanati expands on the story, which she began in her memoir Braided, of how she experienced solace and a newfound centeredness in making the traditional braided bread served in Jewish households on Shabbat each Friday. Eager to share how her weekly commitment to this hands-on activity transformed her health and her life, she launched a unique stress management practice. Since then, she has conducted more than one hundred challah-making workshops with thousands of attendees all over North America and beyond. In her new book, Dr. Ricanati distills and codifies the seven practices that have most resonated with her workshop participants, beginning with Act with Intention, and shows how to apply them to everyday life outside of the kitchen. She also offers doses of medical knowledge and plenty of food for thought. 
 
To bring each of these powerful practices to life, Dr. Ricanati tells the uplifting stories of various people who have embraced her challah ritual, both Jews and non-Jews, including rabbis and a Presbyterian pastor in Texas, sisters and daughters, husbands and wives, medical and high school students, and a judge in her nineties. “In a world where we cannot control so many things,” the author reflects, “the realization that I can modify my stress and therefore impact my health with lifestyle, and that I can teach others to do the same thing, is phenomenal.” 
BETH RICANATI, MD, is a board-certified internist, expert on women’s health, and author of the multi-award-winning memoir Braided: A Journey of a Thousand Challahs (2018). She has spent her career focused on improving the well-being and lives of her patients in traditional medical clinics and wellness programs, and now also as an author and speaker. She lives in Southern California with her family.  
   
As research shows, lifestyle modifications—including stress management—can reduce the incidence and progression of chronic diseases by as much as 80 percent. Reinforcing this vital fact, THE BRAIDED PRESCRIPTION integrates medical findings with self-help, revered spiritual traditions, and engaging storytelling. I look forward to exploring interview and feature possibilities.  
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org    
 

Ryan Johnson, President and Head Fabricator of NewRuleFX, to discuss his journey in the special effects industry, the impact of the devastating fire, and how the company is rebuilding stronger than ever while continuing to create innovative work.
RISING UP FROM THE ASHES….
NewRuleFX has been an industry leader in special effects fabrication since 1991, creating work for clients including Netflix, Disney, Marvel, and MrBeast. The company's products have appeared in acclaimed film, television, live entertainment, and music productions, including Captain America: Brave New World, Only Murders in the Building, Everybody's Live with John Mulaney, The Bear, MJ The Musical, Conan Must Go (Conan O'Brien), Snoop Dogg & Wiz Khalifa's High School Reunion Tour, Game of Thrones, and hundreds of other high-profile projects.
On November 13, 2025, NewRuleFX's workshop was devastated by a major fire that destroyed much of its facility, equipment, materials, and an extensive collection of custom molds built over decades. While no one was injured, the loss was catastrophic.
Today, NewRuleFX is writing its next chapter. The company has relocated to a new facility and, even while rebuilding its workshop, continues to deliver large-scale projects for clients. It's a testament to the resilience, creativity, and determination that have defined NewRuleFX for more than three decades. 
https://www.newrulefx.com/pages/fire-recovery-page
 
 
About Ryan Johnson / President, Founder, & Head Fabricator
 
For more than three decades, Ryan Johnson has been turning impossible ideas into practical reality.
 
As the Founder and President of NewRuleFX, Johnson leads one of Hollywood’s premier practical effects fabrication studios, creating screen-ready props and special effects for film, television, streaming productions, live entertainment, haunted attractions, and immersive experiences. His work spans everything from breakaway glass and stunt-safe weapons to hero props, creature effects, custom fabrication, and specialty casting, - always with an emphasis on realism, safety, and craftsmanship.
 
Johnson’s career began behind the camera as a producer, director, and cinematographer, where he developed an instinct for visual storytelling that continues to shape every project his shop produces. Rather than simply building props, Johnson approaches every fabrication as part of the story itself—understanding how an object must look under studio lighting, perform in
 
the hands of an actor, survive the demands of production, and ultimately convince an audience that what they’re seeing is real.
 
Known throughout the industry for taking on projects that others consider impossible, Johnson has earned a reputation for engineering practical solutions to extraordinary creative challenges. Whether reproducing historic artifacts, developing stunt-safe versions of dangerous objects, or inventing entirely new fabrication techniques, his team is frequently called upon when productions need results that cannot be purchased off the shelf.
 
Under Johnson’s leadership, NewRuleFX has grown into a trusted resource for production designers, art directors, prop masters, special effects coordinators, museums, military trainers, themed entertainment companies, and independent creators around the world. The company’s extensive catalog of production-ready props is complemented by a custom fabrication department capable of developing one-of-a-kind solutions under demanding schedules and tight production deadlines.
 
Beyond fabrication, Johnson is a lifelong maker and innovator. He continually explores emerging technologies, including advanced molding and casting systems, CNC machining, laser fabrication, additive manufacturing, and digital design, to expand the possibilities of practical effects while preserving the craftsmanship that has defined Hollywood for generations.
 
Johnson believes the best practical effects are the ones audiences never notice. When a prop disappears into the story, an actor performs with confidence, and a director captures the perfect shot without relying on visual effects, the craftsmanship has done its job.
 
Today, Ryan continues to push the boundaries of practical effects through NewRuleFX, combining old-school artistry with modern manufacturing to help filmmakers and creators bring extraordinary worlds to life, one prop at a time.
 
NewRuleFX.com - Special Effects Props Supply & Breakaways

 
 
LADY FREETHINKER’S EXPLOSIVE DOCUMENTARY “CRUELTY FOR CLICKS” TO WORLD PREMIERE AT INDIEWOOD FILM FESTIVAL SEPTEMBER 12th
 
LOS ANGELES — CRUELTY FOR CLICKS, an explosive new documentary from animal protection nonprofit Lady Freethinker (LFT), will make its world premiere at the Indiewood Film Festival on September 12th. The provocative film exposes a disturbing global phenomenon: animal cruelty created, staged and shared for clicks across some of the world’s largest social media platforms.
Produced by Lady Freethinker Founder and President Nina Jackel and directed by Kirk Murray, CRUELTY FOR CLICKS brings together true-crime investigation and animal advocacy to uncover the disturbing industry behind viral animal content. From staged puppy “rescues” to sadistic abuse of baby monkeys, the film reveals how cruelty can be disguised as entertainment — and how social media has enabled abusive content to reach audiences around the world.
 
“This documentary was born from a deep urgency to expose the dark reality behind viral animal videos and to confront the systems that allow exploitation — and even torture — to run rampant on social media,” said Jackel. “In more than a decade of investigating animal abuse, I can say beyond a shadow of doubt that this is the worst cruelty I’ve ever witnessed.”
 
Lady Freethinker is a nonprofit organization dedicated to ending animal cruelty worldwide through investigations, news reporting and citizen action, while also providing food, veterinary care and shelter to rescued animals in dire need. Known for its fearless advocacy, LFT works to create a more compassionate world for all sentient beings. 
In a significant recent development, Jackel and Lady Freethinker have also worked with Meta, parent company of Facebook and Instagram, to address abusive animal content appearing on its platforms and strengthen efforts to prevent such material from being permitted or circulated.
“As someone who believes deeply in compassion and coexistence, this film became one of the most important projects I’ve ever undertaken,” said director Kirk Murray. “If this documentary encourages even a few people to think differently, ask difficult questions, or act with greater compassion, then it has achieved exactly what I set out to do.”
Directed by Murray and co-written by Murray and Russell Lichter, CRUELTY FOR CLICKS is produced by Jackel and Murray. Cinematographers include Matt Fore, Ian Albert, Ryan Gibson, Ed Koziarski, Zach Levenson and Gene Sung.
 
The documentary also features compelling interviews with scientists, experts and animal advocates, including Emma Alleyne, Melissa Amarello, Madeline Bernstein, Nedim C. Buyukmihci and Edward Casmere, who provide insight into the psychology, proliferation and real-world consequences of online animal cruelty.
Murray is a filmmaker driven by the belief that emotion can be a catalyst for change. His work has been recognized at more than 40 film festivals worldwide, including the Orlando Film Festival, Las Vegas Film Festival, Utah Film Festival, San Diego International Film Awards and Atlanta ShortsFest. A visually driven director, Murray approaches each project with cinematic precision, creating films designed to be both immersive and emotionally resonant.
 The Trailer - CRUELTY FOR CLICKS
ABOUT LADY FREETHINKER
Lady Freethinker is a nonprofit organization working to expose and stop animal cruelty around the world. Through undercover investigations, news reporting, petitions and other citizen actions, LFT campaigns against animal abuse while supporting the rescue and care of animals in urgent need.
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

Dr. Michael Hicks, Assistant Professor of Physiology & Biophysics at UCI School of Medicine and Associate Director of the UCI Muscle Biology and Disease Research Center, talks his role as researcher and curator of “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin” event with CureDuchenne
 
Dr. Hicks is an Assistant Professor of Physiology & Biophysics at UCI School of Medicine and Associate Director of the UCI Muscle Biology and Disease Research Center. His research focuses on muscle stem cells, regeneration, human pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and developing potential cell therapies for muscle-wasting diseases. There is also a particularly interesting personal/professional connection to Duchenne: before coming to UCI, Hicks was a CureDuchenne postdoctoral fellow at UCLA, where his work involved muscular dystrophy, gene editing and pluripotent stem cells. And he's one of the people behind the September 18 “Remarkable Life of Ibelin” event with CureDuchenne—the 2026 UCI grant listing identifies Hicks and CureDuchenne CEO Debra Miller as the project team for the film night.
 
 
 
 
EVENT DETAILS:The Remarkable Life of Ibelin with the UCI Muscle Center and CureDuchenne @ Rivian South Coast TheaterFriday September 18, 20266:30pm - 9:00pm - PDT
 
About the HostsLearn more about the organizations behind this evening:CureDuchenne | UCI Muscle CenterRivian Laguna162 South Coast HighwayLaguna Beach, CA 92651
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

           
 
Running with Lions is a remarkable story! Dr. Kamau is a tireless advocate for education and equity, among other causes. Kamau established Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists to pursue graduate degrees in the US, and is the host of Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.Dr. Kamau champions education and equity, supporting African women in STEM and serving on boards to expand minority access to science. His philosophy is rooted in openness, inquiry, and service—striving for a more humane world through healing and storytelling. As a Health Equity Leader, he continues to inspire with a vision of unity and the power of diverse voicesBorn in Kenya and trained in Spain, Pius Kamau has been in surgical practice in the Denver area for three decades. He was a columnist for The Rocky Mountain News and has written for The Denver Post. Kamau’s commentaries have also been featured on NPR, in the Huffington Post and other national magazines and newspapers. He’s also contributed to several books and recently finished his memoir."A perceptive psychological exploration of the impact of racism and colonization."-Donna Bryson, author of It's a Black-White Thing and Home of the BraveAs a boy in colonial Kenya, Pius Kamau learns early what it means to run with lions-both the metaphorical powers that stalk his people and the real leopard he encounters alone in the forest, the first of many times he will stand eye-to-eye with death.Born under British rule and hardened by the unspeakable violence of the Mau Mau Rebellion, Pius grows up where curable illnesses claim loved ones and hope feels scarce. Inspired by his tubercular father, he dares to believe education can be his escape. He flees on foot toward Sudan in search of schooling but is arrested and sent back. He refuses to surrender. A scholarship to Strathmore College in Nairobi leads to medical studies in Spain, where Europe's art, philosophy, and culture widen his world even as he confronts the contradictions of colonialism.Returning to an independent Kenya as a doctor, Pius discovers oppression has simply changed hands. This powerful memoir traces his journey from dirt-poor village boy to physician and eventually to surgeon, proving resilience, intellect, and courage know no color or border.About the AuthorPius K. Kamau, MD, thoracic surgeon and author, has written for HuffPost, Denver's Dailies, and the Denver Gazette. He's been published in NPR's This I believe, Marlo Thomas's The Right Word at the Right Time, Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Cancer Book, and Medical Business. He also penned the mystery novel Doctor's Date with Death. Kamau established Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists to pursue graduate degrees in the US, and is the host of Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.Publisher ‏ : ‎ Koehler BooksPublication date ‏ : ‎ July 14, 2026by Pius K Kamau MD (Author)
 
Here's a link to just some of his pieces from NPR News/ KUNCFrom colonial Kenya to Colorado: Local surgeon and humanitarian recalls 'running with lions' in powerful new memoirDENVER, CO., July 14, 2026—Thoracic surgeon, author, and humanitarian Dr. Pius Kamau has released his newest book with Koehler Books. His powerful memoir tells the extraordinary true story of his journey from a small village in colonial Kenya to a career as a physician and surgeon in the United States.Growing up during British colonial rule and the violence of the Mau Mau Rebellion, Kamau witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of poverty, disease, and political oppression. Determined to pursue an education despite overwhelming obstacles, he fled his village in search of schooling, even enduring imprisonment before ultimately studying medicine in Spain and going on to become a respected thoracic surgeon.When asked about how he’s scaled these seemingly insurmountable barriers, he says, “My life may have been full of deep valleys of despair and seeming loss, but it too was a life full of kind people, full of generous men and women. I believe that I did well because I allowed charity and kindness to shine on my dark days and nights. And in addition to my persistence and resilience I kept hope alive. I still keep hope alive.”The memoir explores themes of perseverance, faith, and the enduring pursuit of justice. Through deeply personal stories—including surviving encounters with wild predators, political violence, and life-threatening hardship—Kamau reflects on the experiences that shaped both his character and his calling to medicine.In addition to his work as a thoracic surgeon, Kamau is an accomplished author whose writing has appeared in HuffPost, The Denver Gazette, NPR's This I Believe, Chicken Soup for the Soul of the Cancer Patient, and other national publications. He is also the founder of Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists pursue graduate education in the United States, and hosts Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.Kamau's memoir offers readers an intimate look at one man's determination to overcome extraordinary adversity while illuminating the lasting impact of colonialism, the transformative power of education, and the resilience of the human spirit.For more information about Dr. Pius Kamau and his new book, visit koehlerbooks.com.ABOUT PIUS KAMAU, MDPius Kamau, MD, thoracic surgeon and author, has written for Huffpost, Denver’s Dailies, and the Denver Gazette. He’s been published in NPR’s This I believe, Marlo Thomas’s The Right Word at the Right Time, Chicken Soup of the Soul of the Cancer Patient, and Medical Business. He also penned the mystery novel Doctor’s Date with Death. Kamau established Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP), a nonprofit that helps African women scientists to pursue graduate degrees in the US, and is the host of Never Again, the podcast of the Coalition Against Global Genocide.  

 
About Lisa Kenner GrissomLisa is an award-winning screenwriter and playwright whose work engages dynamic social issues, often through a female lens. She’s known for creating multi-layered characters, exploring the complexity of human emotion, and finding levity in discomfort.After visiting Vilnius, Lithuania, Lisa began exploring themes of Jewish resistance, resilience, memory, and legacy. Her TV pilot, FANIA IN THE FOREST, was a Top 5 ScreenCraft Fellowship Finalist and an Austin Film Festival Pitch Finalist. Most recently, the pilot was named to The 2026 Women’s List of top unproduced scripts.Lisa also wrote and produced the award-winning short film TATTOO YOU, based on her published one-act play, which has screened at more than 15 film festivals nationally and internationally. Her critically acclaimed play HERE COMES THE NIGHT is currently being adapted as a screenplay.A two-time Kennedy Center O’Neill Fellow, Lisa’s work has been developed and produced across the country. Originally from Boston and based in Los Angeles, she is a graduate of Wesleyan University. 
 
Lisa also shared a recent article about the Jewish partisan forts in Rūdninkai Forest, Lithuania — a place deeply connected to Fania’s story and the history of Jewish resistance during the Holocaust. The historic site has deteriorated over the years and now faces growing concerns about preservation and access.
 
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-german-military-base-raises-fears-for-lithuanias-crumbling-jewish-partisan-memorial/
 
 
 
Upcoming Reading of FANIA IN THE FOREST - October 8th at Holocaust Museum LA -  https://www.holocaustmuseumla.org/event-details/staged-reading-of-fania-in-the-forest. 
Date: Thu, Oct 08  
Location: The Goldrich Cultural CenterAfter the 1941 Nazi invasion of Vilna tears her family apart, a defiant 16-year-old Jewish girl fights to earn her place among a band of forest partisans—only to make a reckless mistake that puts the entire brigade at risk.
About the Staged Reading of Fania in the ForestFANIA IN THE FOREST is a fierce coming-of-age television pilot about a rebellious 16-year-old Jewish girl who escapes the Vilna ghetto and fights to earn her place among the male-dominated forest partisans. As she confronts both the brutality of the Nazi occupation and the resistance’s rigid ideas about what a girl can be, Fania discovers the cost and the power of refusing to stay in her place.A Top 5 ScreenCraft Fellowship finalist and Austin Film Festival Pitch finalist, FANIA IN THE FOREST was most recently named to the 2026 Women’s List, recognizing the year’s top unproduced screenplays by women.The reading runs approximately 75 minutes with no intermission, followed by a Q&A. FANIA IN THE FOREST is written by Lisa Kenner Grissom and directed by Genevieve Fowler. The team includes Noam Dromi, Executive Producer for Reboot Studios and Lauren Schaffel, Co-Producer.
 
Tix & Details
 
 lisakennergrissom.com IG: @lisa_kenner_grissom_

Daisy Chain Fields: 
Where Music Meets Purpose
Conversations with Daisy Chain Fields’ Nonprofit Partners
This week on Get the Funk Out on KUCI 88.9 FM, Janeane takes a closer look at Daisy Chain Fields, the new music festival celebrating women and girls through music, creativity, community and connection.
With an extraordinary lineup featuring Olivia Rodrigo, Chappell Roan, Doechii, Mitski, Stevie Nicks, Sarah McLachlan and many more, Daisy Chain Fields promises to be a major celebration of women in music.
But there is another important story happening beyond the stages.
Daisy Chain Fields is also bringing attention to nonprofit organizations working on issues affecting women, girls, families and communities. On this episode of Get the Funk Out, Janeane speaks with several of the festival's nonprofit partners about their work, what brought them to Daisy Chain Fields, and how listeners can learn more about the causes they represent.
Meet the Guests
Madeline Halperin Robinson
Center for Reproductive Rights
Janeane begins the conversation with Madeline Halperin Robinson of the Center for Reproductive Rights, an organization that uses law and advocacy to advance reproductive rights around the world.
The Center has been involved in major reproductive-rights cases in courts around the world, including every major U.S. Supreme Court abortion case.
Learn more:Center for Reproductive Rights
Emily Escobar
Public Affairs Advocacy Manager, Planned Parenthood
Next, Janeane welcomes Emily Escobar, Public Affairs Advocacy Manager with Planned Parenthood.
Emily brings an advocacy perspective to the conversation, discussing the work of Planned Parenthood and the importance of access to reproductive health care and advocacy.
Learn more:Planned Parenthood
Naomi Giges Downey
Chief Global Engagement Officer, Jhpiego
Janeane then speaks with Naomi Giges Downey, Chief Global Engagement Officer at Jhpiego, a Johns Hopkins-affiliated global health organization.
Jhpiego works to improve health and expand access to quality care, with a particular focus on women, families and communities around the world. Jhpiego's current leadership page lists Downey as Chief Global Engagement Officer.
Learn more:https://jhpiego.org
Uma Iyer
National Women's Law Center
The conversation continues with Uma Iyer of the National Women's Law Center, bringing the perspective of law, policy and gender justice to the discussion.
The National Women's Law Center works through legal advocacy, public policy and research to advance gender justice and equality.
Learn more:National Women's Law Center
Dr. Melissa Walls
Co-Director, Center for Indigenous HealthJohns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Janeane closes the hour with Dr. Melissa Walls, Co-Director of the Center for Indigenous Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Dr. Walls' work centers on Indigenous health and well-being, with an emphasis on research and partnerships that are developed alongside Indigenous communities. Her work also includes a focus on Indigenous health equity and global Indigenous well-being.
Learn more:Dr. Melissa Walls — Center for Indigenous Health
Learn more about the Center:Center for Indigenous Health — Johns Hopkins
 
More Than a Music Festival
Daisy Chain Fields creates a space where music and social impact intersect—bringing artists, nonprofit organizations and communities together around issues affecting women and girls.
These conversations offer listeners an opportunity to go beyond the festival lineup and meet some of the people and organizations working to create change every day.
Listen to Get the Funk Out on KUCI 88.9 FM from UC Irvine, and explore the organizations featured above.
https://www.daisychainfields.com/

 
Directed by: Doug Pray
Written by: David Greene, Ketch Secor
Edited by: Doug Pray
Produced by: Stephanie Meurer, Ashley York, Doug Pray
Executive Produced by: Ketch Secor, David Greene, Foster Phillips
 
RT: 89 minutes
 
“Thought-Provoking, Poignant, A Must See”
Janet Walker, Haute-Lifestyle
 
“Easily one of the most important films of 2026”
Steve Kopian, Unseen Films
 
“A perspective that feels almost radical in a media landscape built on outrage”
Chris Jones, Overly Honest Movie Reviews
 
We’re having the conversation…
 
In the wake of yet another mass shooting, this time at The Covenant School in Nashville, Ketch Secor, lead singer of the popular country-bluegrass band Old Crow Medicine Show, decided it was time to speak out on gun reform. He wrote an op-ed in the New York Times entitled, “Country Music Can Lead America Out of Its Obsession with Guns.” It caught the attention of Ketch’s friend, David Greene, former NPR reporter and host of KCRW’s “Left, Right & Center,” and the two set out to kickstart an open dialog about gun rights and gun violence in America. Film director Doug Pray followed Ketch and David as the band toured rural and urban communities, creating the documentary LOUDER THAN GUNS named after a song Ketch wrote for the victims of the Covenant shooting.
 
Known for their signature song “Wagon Wheel,” Old Crow Medicine Show attracts a wide demographic of music fans, stretching to the furthest ends of today’s culture wars. People in the front row of their concerts might not agree on anything besides the music they love, providing this film with one of modern America’s rarest opportunities: the chance to engage with one another respectfully, despite our differences.
 
Smashing stereotypes, LOUDER THAN GUNS brings together the frustrations and hopes of citizens who are asked to listen to one another and try to find common ground. Led by Ketch and David, these emotional and inspiring discussions, in barbeque joints, barbershops, church pews, gun stores, and concert halls, prove that localized, community-led discourse has the power to move the needle on gun reform in ways that today’s polarized media and politicians rarely achieve. Because most people in this country—gun owners and non-gun owners alike— want safer communities.
 
 
LOUDER THAN GUNS screened in LA on July 28 at Laemmle’s Monica Theater and on July 29 at Laemmle’s Glendale Theater. 
 
To view the trailer, go to:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKewN_PayUY
 
 
Official website:
https://www.louderthanguns.com
 
more: getthefunkoutshow.kuci.org

 
 
Dayna Altman is an energetic and dynamic mental health speaker, entrepreneur and advocate. The full force and sole operator of Bake it Till You Make it LLC, Dayna harvests herpassion for mental health advocacy by using food and baking to create an authentic recipe for vulnerable storytelling.The author of five mental health cookbooks, the facilitator of a variety of mental health presentations and the subject of an award winning documentary, Dayna is a sought after storyteller. She has been invited to speak at national conferences, in community kitchens, on the news and most notably, at the White House in 2022.With experience working in both clinical and advocacy mental health settings, Dayna’s breadth of knowledge in the field informs her work, as does her own recovery. Today, Dayna lives with major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and is in lifelong eating disorder recovery. When she’s not testing out new recipes in her kitchen or quoting her therapists, Dayna is in pursuit of creating art as a means to explore new ways to change the world using her own story.