Susan Whitmore, Founder & CEO, griefHaven

Deborah Kobylt Live

There’s so much loss and grief around the world, and here in Southern California, the amount of trauma from loss is monumental. How does one process losing their home, community, school, friends, everything? And what about those left with their homes standing, how can they help? Many are experiencing “survivors guilt,” wanting to help but have no idea how.

Please welcome Susan Whitmore, founder and CEO of griefHaven, which takes us through the steps of dealing with loss, and how to help those experiencing loss and dealing with unimaginable grief. Susan started griefHaven after the untimely death of her only daughter, wanting to help others dealing with gut-wrenching grief and loss. The organization has since expanded to include various types of grief from losing a loved one to job loss and how to cope when disaster strikes. Certainly that would include the tens of thousands misplaced from the SoCal fires in Malibu, Palisades, and Altadena. And there’s a lot to talk about.

Please join our program, #DeborahKobyltLIVE on all video and audio platforms. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and it’s an honor to have you join us.

Valentina Castellani, President, Quinn Studios Entertainment and Malibu Fire Victim

Deborah Kobylt Live, Little Italy of LA

Valentina Castellani Quinn, president of Quinn Studios Entertainment, has been living the American dream, arriving from Florence and making a formidable mark in Hollywood as an award-winning producer and filmmaker, with films “One Rock, Three Religions,” “Wonderful Losers,” “Augie,” and others to her credit. She also recently signed a joint deal with Big M Entertainment Pictures and Sony Pictures Studios, but that’s been put on temporary hold because Valentina recently lost everything to the devastating fires in Malibu where she lives. And now, she faces the harrowing ordeal of finding a new place while trying to rebuild everything from clothing to work folders.

Valentina joins us to talk about not just what it’s like to find your home and everything in it gone, but to discuss the long haul of dealing with insurance, price gauging, and more. She also wants answers as to how these fires got so out of control in Malibu, Palisades, Altadena and other parts of Los Angeles, and she talks about what she calls a lack of leadership that led thousands to homes to burn to the ground.

We will also talk about the ramifications these horrendous fires could have on the Hollywood industry moving forward. And while many look at Los Angeles as a place of wealth and movie stars, it’s really a working class town much like any other, and right now, there’s a big struggle and huge hurdles to overcome.

Please join me and Valentina on #DeborahKobyltLIVE, the #LittleItalyPodcast and #LittleItalyOfLAPodcast on all video and audio podcast platforms to hear our discussion. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt, and I thank you for joining us.

John Kobylt, Award-Winning Talk Show and Podcast Host on KFIam640 and iHeart Radio

Deborah Kobylt Live

January 2025 has brought on so many changes, some expected and others catastrophic.

People started their new year with hope, and in a flash, much of that went up in smoke here in Los Angeles, where fires have claimed more than two dozen lives and charred nearly 15,000 homes, businesses, schools, places of worship, and other structures. What’s next for these people and the communities they call home? How do they even begin to rebuild after such a catastrophic loss? And what went wrong?

On the national stage, the 47th President of the United States was sworn into office, promising to bring change to a multitude of issues from border control to inflation. Some people look to Donald Trump as the savior to America, while others are concerned for the rights of women, gays, the environment, and climate change. What does it all mean?

I invited #KFIam640 and #iHeartRadio talk & podcast host #JohnKobylt to join us on our show today because he’s at the pulse of local, state, and national issues, with an emphasis on Los Angeles and California. He talks about what matters to people every day, so joins us to break it all down. I may not always agree with his point of view, but it’s always a lively discussion.

On a personal note, we were hiking in Pacific Palisades on 1/7/25, and one hour after we arrived home, the first plumes of smoke were spotted. It was hard to watch what folded next, and unimaginable to think of the loss so many are facing. And we know literally hundreds of people who no longer have a home. We’re so deeply sorry for your loss and the loss of our communities.

Please join my show LIVE on YouTube, Facebook, and on all audio platforms of #DeborahKobyltLIVE. I’m your host, #DeborahZaraKobylt. Thank you for being here, and please share with your friends.