Welcome to the Front Porch Podcast!
Join us as we uncover the extraordinary stories of people who are part of Front Porch Communities and Services—young professionals just starting their journeys, lifelong learners pursuing new passions and seasoned storytellers sharing the wisdom they’ve gained along the way. Through fascinating conversations with amazing individuals, we explore how community evolves over time, how we can learn from people in every stage of life and how each of us makes an impact.
Together, we’ll explore how purpose and community shape us, with stories that will inspire you to discover your own unique contribution.
Listen to The Front Porch Podcast on:
Carlsbad By The Sea residents Arthur and Candace were born in adjacent towns in Virginia, but their lives unfolded along very different paths. Art, with the support of his church community, was navigating life under Jim Crow and eventually found his path in the military. Candace became a school psychologist in rural Illinois, where she learned to gather scarce resources to improve student outcomes. They both found their way to California and became fast friends at Carlsbad By The Sea, where they run a women’s and men’s group respectively. Arthur and Candace join host Anna Hall for a fascinating discussion on the many ways our various communities empower us to keep us safe, lift us up and help us thrive.
Beth F. Coye, a retired U.S. Navy Commander, writer and Wesley Palms resident, shares her remarkable journey as a life-long advocate for social justice. From authoring a groundbreaking study on women in the Navy, to helping shape lasting change through her work on the repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Beth has been a warrior for equality and inclusion. Now at Wesley Palms, Beth has continued her activism by establishing the first LGBTQ+ group for residents and team members. In this episode, Beth reflects on “what makes her come alive” reminding us that bravery is not separate from community—but essential to its growth.
Randi Jorgenson began her career as a housekeeper at Spring Lake Village and now leads a team of 36 employees while overseeing 400 resident apartments in her role as Housekeeping Manager. In this episode, Randi reflects on how opportunities for growth and advancement, respect for each team member’s unique contributions and a strong community culture are essential ingredients in nurturing team members’ commitment to an organization. From everyday moments of connection to navigating fires, evacuations and COVID, she shares what it truly means to serve with purpose and heart.
After losing his beloved wife of 50 years, David embraces a new chapter of life. From the inclusive Shabbat services he leads at St. Paul’s Towers, to teaching a class of boisterous first graders, to learning to fall in love…again, David shows us how acceptance of loss and grief, as an essential part of life, can lead to healing and transformation.
David E. Jackson spent his career as an educator, but some of his most profound “life lessons” have come out of navigating loss and grief. After evacuating his Santa Rosa home during the Glass Fire and relocating to St. Paul’s Towers at the height of Covid, David faced the heartbreaking loss of his beloved wife of 50 years to cancer. Yet in moving through the process of grief, David discovered something unexpected: a spiritual awakening, a new appreciation for life and love and the sustaining power of community.
Stay tuned for Part 2, “Welcome Love, Welcome the Stranger,” where David reflects on his renewed connection to his faith, the joy he finds in teaching first graders and the journey of opening his heart to a new love.
Before Victor Ceron fell in love with senior living he was known in the pro-wrestling world as “Kafu: The Brazilian Beast.” In this episode, Victor shares how his early experiences growing up in Mexico, and his time in the wrestling world shaped his deep appreciation for culture and authenticity. Now, as the Vice President of Project Management at Front Porch, Victor reflects on what it means to lead with love, find strength in community and to “pay it forward” to the next generation.
From her early years as member of a large migrant family—following the crops from town to town— to her work as teacher, principal and advocate, Dorothy Astorga has always understood the importance of community in fostering a sense of belonging and purpose. Now, living at Fredericka Manor, she continues her life’s mission of creating community through cultural connections with Fredericka Manor’s Culture Club. In this heartfelt conversation, she reminds us that true community grows when we listen, share and celebrate the many voices that make us who we are.
Jean Owen always thought of herself as “somebody’s someone” – first as her mother’s daughter then as her husband’s wife. It wasn’t until she moved to Villa Gardens that she began stepping into her power as “Just Jean.” As president of the resident council and key contributor to Sarah Friedland’s award-winning film Familiar Touch (filmed on location at Villa Gardens), Jean has discovered a renewed sense of purpose and identity. Join us for this fascinating conversation about finding yourself and discovering the power of community at any (and every) age.
