Featuring Appearances by
Becky Kurtz
Becky Kurtz is the executive director of Desert Forum, Inc., the nonprofit that produces Desert Town Hall, a lecture series that in the 2017 season includes notables astronaut Scott Kelly, former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, CNN’s Paul Begala with FOX’s Tucker Carlson and best-selling author Michael Lewis. After seeing the first speaker in 1993, Russian journalist Vladimir Pozner, she was behind the scenes, first as a volunteer, then as marketing director before being named executive director. She is also a member of The Desert Sun's editorial board. A longtime desert resident, she moved to the Coachella Valley in 1986 from Superior, Wisc. She is married with two grown children and two grandchildren.
Andrew Schultz
Andrew Schultz, a Nebraska-born Californian who considers himself 50 percent businessman and 50 percent yogi, is a yoga enthusiast-turned-instructor with a passion for helping others in the most meaningful, healthy and positive ways. Andrew teaches yoga at Power Yoga Palm Springs, Ace Hotel & Swim Club, schools, and different recovery centers throughout Coachella Valley for people battling addiction while also working full-time for Lululemon Athletica in Palm Desert. Listen to his story of recovery.
Daniela Franco
Daniela Franco is an editor at The Desert Sun, where she oversees the storytelling team in the newsroom. A former East Coast resident, she had never been to California before she moved to the Coachella Valley about four months ago. Daniela moved to Massachusetts from Colombia when she was 15. She owns two Tom Brady jerseys and is still celebrating the Patriots’ Super Bowl win. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism, sociology and Latin American studies from New York University. Listen to her story behind the scenes of an interview that made a difference in her life as a journalist.
Lanelle Gradilla
Lanelle Gradilla has been a stylist to many, is a mother of three and a wife to one. She's also a small business owner of Raw & Local, a juice and tonic delivery service. She has worked as an alchemist for Sea Chi Organics, a skin- and hair-care line made in Palm Springs. When asked to provide a bio, she started to notice a theme in her work. From color-stained hands, to her juice-splattered apron she identifies with the "sweaty creative." Listen to her story of healing.