A Conversation with “Beyond Homelessness” Author Brian Walsh
Release Date: 09/14/2023
Dreaming Again, with my Neighbor Debra
Gospel Con Carne
The Gospel Con Carne podcast is back! Join us this season as Mobile Loaves & Fishes’ Founder & CEO, Alan Graham, and his guests share the powerful, untold stories of individuals who have experienced homelessness—and the hope that meets them along the way. We’re honored to kick off the season with Debra, one of Alan’s neighbors in Community First! Village. A lifelong wanderer and mother of eight, Debra's journey has included seasons of hardship—homelessness, addiction and raising her family as a single mom—but also deep resilience and growth. After...
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A Life Restored, with my Neighbor Ruvi
Gospel Con Carne
On our season finale of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Ruvi. Born and raised in Cuba, Ruvi grew up amid political and economic hardship. After graduating, he traveled the world while working for the Cuban government before coming to Austin nine years ago to seek asylum, leaving behind his family in Cuba. Life in the United States brought new challenges—learning English, starting over and eventually losing his job as a medical assistant in 2020. The pandemic led to homelessness and deep emotional struggle, but it was during that time Ruvi...
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Freedom in Faith, with my Neighbor Deirdre
Gospel Con Carne
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Deirdre. Born in California, Deirdre's early life was marked by loss and instability. Even after her father died from addiction, she turned to alcohol and drugs at a young age, leading to years of struggle, incarceration, homelessness and heartbreak. After entering a long-term therapy program, Deirdre rebuilt her life, got married and stayed sober for 15 years. When her marriage ended, her addictions and path toward homelessness returned. Healing came by way of a women’s home in Fort Worth and also...
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Home in Christ and Home at the Village, with my Neighbor Jeff
Gospel Con Carne
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Jeff. Raised in a strict military household and serving in the Navy himself, Jeff’s life was marked by both discipline and deep loss, including the passing of his parents and two siblings. For 30 years he battled addiction, but it was during a season of homelessness in Austin while living under a bridge that he encountered God in a life-changing way. With the support of many who believed in him, Jeff eventually moved to Community First! Village in June of 2020. He now serves as a...
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From Bridges to Building Dreams, with my Neighbor Jim
Gospel Con Carne
Join Alan on this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast as he sits down with our friend and neighbor, Jim. Life for Jim has been marked by its share of highs and lows. He has experienced the joy of being a father, and has also experienced deep loss after losing his wife to cancer. In 2017, Jim faced another battle when a life-threatening illness left doctors uncertain if he would make it. Miraculously, he survived and ended up moving to Austin from Kansas in search of a fresh start. Unfortunately, a plumbing job that Jim had lined up fell through and he found himself...
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A Place to Begin Again, with My Neighbor Kim
Gospel Con Carne
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Kim! From losing homes in natural disasters to living out of her car during the pandemic, Kim’s journey hasn’t been easy—but it’s been marked by grit, love and unshakable determination. Originally from western Kansas, Kim made her way to Austin in 2017 after years of navigating life’s twists and turns alongside her son, Jordan. In October of 2023, after reaching out to the Charlie Center, Kim and Jordan moved into Community First! Village, where they...
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Anchored in Faith and Rooted in Community, with My Neighbor Jordan
Gospel Con Carne
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Jordan. Born in Omaha, Nebraska, Jordan’s story is one of quiet strength and deep faith. After facing a series of life-altering events—including a hurricane in Florida, a flood in Colorado, and a devastating house fire—Jordan and his mom found themselves living out of their car in Lakeway for over a year. It was during this difficult season that a local church connected them with Community First! Village. In October of 2024, Jordan and his mom moved into side-by-side...
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From Rock Bottom to Renewal, with My Neighbor DeLori
Gospel Con Carne
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, DeLori. With a life shaped by both hardship and incredible resilience, DeLori shares her journey of transformation—one marked by early struggles and a spirit of survival. Growing up in an abusive home where drugs and alcohol were part of daily life, DeLori ran away when she was only nine years old. Throughout her life, she found strength in unexpected places—from the people who helped raise her on the streets to the deep connection she still holds with her father. Now a proud mom of...
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From Hardship to Hope, with My Neighbor Justin
Gospel Con Carne
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our friend and neighbor, Justin! Originally from Houston, Justin later made his way to Austin where he found support from a family friend as he navigated life in a new city. After experiencing some bumps along the way, Justin made his way home to Community First! Village in 2021 and has embraced a new chapter of life—one marked by growth, gratitude and deep connection. Though he once faced homelessness and time in jail, today Justin is known for his welcoming spirit, green thumb and genuine friendships with everyone...
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Your Pain Doesn’t Define You, with my Neighbor Kim
Gospel Con Carne
Join Alan on an emotional episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast as he sits down with our Community First! Village neighbor, Kim. Originally from Oklahoma, Kim made her way to Austin through Child Protective Services and spent years in foster care and group homes before being adopted. Her parents strived to never give up on her, even as she struggled to let people into her life. Kim encountered homelessness after leaving home when she was 17-years-old, and by the time she was 19 eventually had become a young mother. Kim worked hard to create a stable life, and even ended up managing a rooftop...
info_outlineIn this special episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, your host Alan Graham sits down with Brian Walsh, an author of one of Alan's favorite books, “Beyond Homelessness: Christian Faith in a Culture of Displacement.” When asked about the inspiration behind Community First! Village, Alan frequently references Beyond Homelessness as a book that helped him gain a rich understanding of the true meaning of home. Alan also often explains how Mobile Loaves & Fishes intentionally uses this framework of home in the design of the Village. This year, on the book's 15th anniversary, Brian and his co-author, Steven Bouma-Prediger, have launched a new edition that includes a postscript in which they discuss the evolution of their ideas and share true stories of home and community built anew.