The 'Gospel Con Carne' is a gritty journey of Tex-Mex theology that explores the woundedness of society through untold stories of homelessness. Our host, Alan Graham, is the founder and CEO of Austin, TX-based Mobile Loaves and Fishes – a social outreach ministry that has been empowering communities into a lifestyle of service with the homeless for more than two decades. Alan also is the lead visionary behind the innovative Community First! Village – the country's only master-planned community…
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Nancy! Born in Germany and raised in North Austin, Nancy has lived a life full of adventure. From working behind the scenes at the legendary Armadillo World Headquarters to running her own businesses, Nancy spent much of her life working hard and raising her two sons. After experiencing deep loss, Nancy…
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with one of our beloved volunteers, Dita Heilman! Dita's story of serving others began long before she found her way to Community First! Village. Born and raised in the Albania/Kosovo region of Europe, she met her husband, Steve, while he was volunteering with a medical nonprofit during the early 1990s. What started with a chance…
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with one of our beloved volunteers, Dita Heilman! Dita's story of serving others began long before she found her way to Community First! Village. Born and raised in the Albania/Kosovo region of Europe, she met her husband, Steve, while he was volunteering with a medical nonprofit during the early 1990s. What started with a chance…
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with a longtime friend of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, Ilene Green! Ilene's journey to Community First! Village began long before she called Austin home. While living out of state, Ilene started volunteering with Mobile Loaves & Fishes when her son, Charles, began working at the organization. After retiring from a career as a teaching aid,…
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our longtime neighbor and friend, Shorty! Born and raised in Houston, Texas and one of many siblings, Shorty's life has been shaped by both hardship and resilience. After losing his mother at just nine years old, he eventually spent 31 years living on the streets, struggling with addiction and searching for stability and…
On this episode of the Gospel Con Carne podcast, Alan sits down with our neighbor and friend, Brenda! Born and raised in Midland and one of 14 siblings, Brenda's life has been marked by both deep love and deep hardship. After losing her sense of identity and falling into addiction, Brenda spent more than a decade living on the streets of Austin. This experience humbled her in ways she never…
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,…
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…
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…
On this episod e 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…