Hosts Brian Baccus, Jamal Smith and Antoinette “Toni” Raines
                         
Brian Baccus, Jamal Smith, and Antoinette “Toni” Raines turned Altadena’s tragedy into connection. After the Eaton Fire tore through their southern California town in January 2025, the three lifelong residents launched Altadena Talks, a podcast dedicated to the health, safety, and well-being of their community. Broadcasting live every weekday morning on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, the trio provides timely resources, engages in honest conversations with local leaders, and shares stories that uplift their neighbors. What began as a response to disaster has become a daily lifeline, fostering unity and resilience throughout the community. Baccus, Smith and Raines prove journalism rooted in care, authenticity, and local reporting can do more than just inform—it can heal.