From Prison to PhD: How One Man Broke the Cycle and Changed His Life

Policing with Purpose: Officer Carlos Lacarra on Relationship-Based Safety

How do we build trust in communities where it has been tested for decades? Join David Alvarez for a powerful conversation with retired SDPD Officer Carlos Lacarra, a man who spent 31 years—nearly 23 of them in South San Diego—redefining what it means to protect and serve. In this episode of Dreaming Big | Working Hard, Carlos shares his journey from being the son of Mexican immigrants to becoming a cornerstone of community relations in San Ysidro, Otay Mesa, and Nestor. We dive deep into the reality of community policing, the impact of traumatic calls on officers, and how simple acts—like food distributions and "Santa" visits—can bridge the gap between law enforcement and residents. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The difference between traditional patrol and Community Relations Officers (CRO). * How relationship-based policing helps solve crimes and increase community cooperation. * The role of technology and AI in modern law enforcement. * What it takes to maintain mental health while dealing with high-stress situations. Some notable moments from this episode: 00:00 – Intro: The fragile nature of community trust. 02:40 – Family Roots: From Tijuana to San Diego. 05:40 – What exactly is a Community Relations Officer? 09:47 – Creating partnerships: The "Get It Done" app & community empowerment. 12:06 – Marquee Events: Food banks and National Night Out. 14:30 – Addressing "Over-policing" vs. community needs. 19:08 – Mental health and coping with traumatic calls. 21:40 – Technology in Policing: Cameras, AI, and the human element. 24:45 – The most touching moment of Carlos’s career (Santa Claus). 27:40 – Challenges at the Border: Illegal transportation and solicitation. 32:10 – The future of the San Diego Police Department. 34:30 – Key takeaways: Why relationship building is a public safety strategy.     See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

Don Miguel Ruiz: How The Four Agreements Can End Your Emotional Suffering

The "Dreaming Big Working Hard" podcast welcomes a true global icon: Don Miguel Ruiz. In this deeply personal conversation, the author of The Four Agreements sits down with David Alvarez to share the incredible story of his three hearts—literally. From his early days as a surgeon to surviving a near-fatal heart attack and undergoing two heart transplants, Don Miguel explains how these crises became opportunities to refine his message of love and respect. In this episode, you’ll learn: * The Four Agreements: A breakdown of how being impeccable with your word and avoiding assumptions can shift your entire belief system. * The Three Hearts Story: Don Miguel’s journey through medical school, a 9-week coma, and the miracle of organ donation. * Overcoming Irrational Fear: How to navigate a "crazy" world with common sense and self-respect. * Dreaming in Crisis: Why moments of struggle are actually the best times to take action and find new opportunities. Some notable moments from this episode: 00:00 – Intro: Welcoming Don Miguel Ruiz to the Podcast 01:40 – The Turning Point: From Medical Doctor to Spiritual Teacher 03:10 – Living Outside the Body: Lessons from a Near-Death Experience 04:30 – The Heart Attack & 9 Weeks in a Coma 06:30 – The Miracle of Three Hearts: Surviving Two Transplants 11:50 – The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom 14:40 – Agreement 1: Be Impeccable With Your Word 16:00 – Agreement 2: Don't Take Anything Personally 17:15 – Agreement 3: Don't Make Assumptions 18:15 – Agreement 4: Always Do Your Best 20:50 – Overcoming Irrational Fear in Today’s Society 24:30 – The Solution: Respecting Yourself and Your Dream 28:10 – Turning Crisis into Opportunity See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

How 1,300 Neighbors Came Together to Build a Grocery Store From Scratch

What is a food co-op and how does it work? Can a community really build its own grocery store? In this episode of Dreaming Big Working Hard, we sit down with Kim Rivero Frank to share the inspiring real story behind a community-owned grocery store built from the ground up. After becoming a food desert with no full-service grocery store, residents came together to launch Suncoast Market Co-op — a cooperative grocery store owned by more than 1,300 local members. We break down how to start a food co-op, how cooperative businesses work, how this grocery store was funded, and what entrepreneurs and community leaders can learn from the journey. From raising millions of dollars to building a sustainable business model focused on fresh food access and local sourcing, this conversation is packed with insights for anyone interested in entrepreneurship, small business ownership, and community development. If you’ve ever wondered: * How do food co-ops make money? * Are food co-ops profitable? * How do you open a grocery store with no corporate backing? * What does community ownership actually look like? This episode answers those questions and more. Whether you're an entrepreneur, nonprofit leader, or someone passionate about local business and food access, this story will show you what’s possible when a community decides to build something for itself. Subscribe for more conversations on leadership, entrepreneurship, and building stronger communities. Here are some notable moments from this episode: 00:00 – Skepticism & Food Desert Reality 01:04 – Meet Kim & The Co-op Vision 05:33 – Why Big Grocery Chains Said No 07:43 – What Is a Food Desert? 10:03 – Moms & The Cooperative Model 15:12 – What It Means to Be an Owner 18:11 – Why Co-ops Survive 19:31 – Inside the Hybrid Grocery Model 23:25 – The $4 Million Journey 26:35 – The Turning Point 31:22 – A Blueprint for Other Communities 34:19 – The Bigger Lesson Tags: #FoodCoop #GroceryStoreBusiness #HowToStartABusiness #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusinessOwners #CommunityBusiness #CooperativeBusiness #LocalBusiness #StartupStory #BusinessPodcast #SocialEntrepreneurship #CommunityDevelopment #FoodBusiness #RetailBusiness #LeadershipPodcast #BusinessMotivation #StartupJourney #EconomicDevelopment #WomenInBusiness #DreamingBigWorkingHard See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

From Prison to PhD: How One Man Broke the Cycle and Changed His Life

What does it really take to change your life after prison? In this powerful episode of Dreaming Big. Working Hard., host David Alvarez sits down with Dr. Alberto “Beto” Vasquez, whose life journey defies every statistic. Raised in Barrio Logan, incarcerated as a teenager, and cycling through the prison system throughout his early adulthood, Beto’s story could have ended there — but it didn’t. Today, Dr. Vasquez is a biologist, educator, and director of STEM outreach at UC San Diego, dedicating his life to helping young people — especially those from marginalized and formerly incarcerated communities — see what’s possible. This conversation goes far beyond inspiration. We talk honestly about: * Life inside the criminal justice system * Juvenile incarceration and homelessness * Mass incarceration and recidivism * Why punishment doesn’t equal rehabilitation * How education can change the trajectory of a life * What “second chances” actually require — from individuals and society If you or someone you love is navigating reentry, struggling to find purpose, or wondering if it’s ever too late to start over — this episode is for you. 👉 Subscribe for more conversations about resilience, justice, and real transformation. Here are some notables moments from the episode: 00:00 – Intro: Second Chances & Why This Story Matters 01:38 – Meeting Beto Vasquez: From Barrio Logan to Prison 03:12 – Growing Up Around Violence, Drugs, and Normalized Trauma 07:33 – Kicked Out, Homeless, and Introduced to the System at 15 10:13 – First Time Locked Up: Juvenile Hall Reality Check 14:50 – Trying to Go Straight While Playing Both Sides 19:19 – Life Inside State Prison & Being Dehumanized 21:20 – Riots, Isolation, and the Moment Everything Changed 23:57 – Mass Incarceration & Why Prison Isn’t the Answer 28:56 – Recidivism, Policy Failures, and What Actually Works 32:19 – Fire Camp, Education, and Choosing a Different Future 34:02 – Community College Changed My Life 36:20 – Imposter Syndrome, College, and Earning a Doctorate 38:48 – Why Representation in STEM Matters 42:27 – “If You Can’t See It, You Can’t Be It” 44:29 – Advice for Anyone Needing a Second Chance 49:49 – Final Reflections: Dignity, Worth, and Belonging   #SecondChances #PrisonReform #MassIncarceration #FromPrisonToPhD #RedemptionStory #LifeAfterPrison #CriminalJusticeReform #FormerlyIncarcerated #EducationChangesLives #CommunityCollege #STEMEducation #DreamingBigWorkingHard #Reentry #SocialJustice #Inspiration #RealStories See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.

When Faith Meets Fear: Father Scott on Immigration, Trauma, and Hope

As the holiday season invites reflection, family, and hope, this special episode of Dreaming Big, Working Hard asks a deeper question: what does faith really look like when times are hard? David Alvarez sits down with Father Scott Santarosa, SJ, pastor of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Barrio Logan, for a powerful conversation about faith, immigration, and human dignity at the border. While many celebrate the holidays with loved ones, countless immigrant families are living in fear and uncertainty—feeling hunted, unseen, and unsafe. Together, they reflect on the story of the Holy Family—a young couple forced to flee to protect their child—and how that story feels strikingly present today. Father Scott shares how the church has become a place of refuge, community, and action, and why faith during the holidays isn’t just about tradition or celebration, but about showing up for one another. Whether you’re celebrating Christmas, observing the season quietly, or simply searching for meaning at the end of the year, this conversation offers a reminder that faith is not just something we believe—it’s something we live, especially when it matters most. 📌 Topics include: * Immigration fear and trauma during the holidays * The Holy Family and modern-day migration * Jesuit spirituality, discernment, and hope * Faith in action vs. faith as words * Finding light and dignity in dark times ✨ If this conversation brings you hope this season, share it with someone who may need it. Some notable moments from this episode: 00:00 – Immigrants living in fear: “We feel hunted” 02:00 – Faith as something you live, not just believe 03:30 – Father Scott’s journey to the priesthood 06:00 – Discernment, calling, and Jesuit spirituality 09:20 – Spiritual Exercises & finding peace in decisions 15:00 – Fear, trauma, and dignity in immigrant communities 18:00 – Church as refuge and “vacation from fear” 21:00 – Finding God in all things (Ignatian spirituality) 27:00 – Saints, struggle, and human imperfection 33:00 – Immigration trauma and generational fear 35:30 – Vigil at the federal building & hope in action 40:00 – What it means to be a Jesuit parish at the border 45:00 – Dignity, dehumanization, and resistance 48:00 – Walking with people in suffering 51:00 – What “faith in action” really means 54:30 – Advent, hope, and surviving January 59:00 – Final reflections: Faith is something you do   #FaithInAction #ImmigrationJustice #JesuitSpirituality #HopeInHardTimes #HumanDignity #BorderStories #SocialJustice #CatholicVoices #FaithAndPolitics #DreamingBigWorkingHard #AdventReflection #CommunityOverFear #SanctuaryChurch #ImmigrantStories See omnystudio.com/listener [https://omnystudio.com/listener] for privacy information.