A Gritty Journey of Tex-Mex Theology with Alan Graham, Founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes
Becoming Whole Again, with my Neighbor Brenda
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 imagined. In the midst of it all, Brenda made the incredibly difficult decision to entrust her young daughter to her father, knowing she couldn’t raise her child on the streets. However, through every season, Brenda’s daughter and family never stopped loving her.
Everything began to change when Brenda connected with a case worker through the Trinity Center, which ultimately led her to Community First! Village. Since moving into the Village in 2018, Brenda has rediscovered who she is—reclaiming her name, her purpose and her sense of self-worth. Today, she loves cooking, enjoys working onsite, and recently moved into a new PMRV on our expansion property. Most of all, she cherishes the friendships she’s built and the community she now calls home.
Dreaming Again, with my Neighbor Debra
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 beginning her sobriety journey in 2007, Debra has now been in recovery for about 18 years. She found her way home to Community First! Village in December 2025, where she is finally able to fully live into her calling as an artist. Through painting, murals and sculpture, Debra uses her gifts to share love, freedom and faith.
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About the Podcast
Each of us has a story to tell about who we are and how we got to where we are in life, and the element of community, whether you realize it or not, has played a vital part.
You alone have not just pulled yourself up by your bootstraps. Your path in life—your story—has been molded by other individuals along the way.
Hosted by Alan Graham, founder and CEO of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, the ‘Gospel Con Carne’ podcast explores the woundedness of society through the untold stories of individuals who have encountered homelessness. You’ll hear from men and women who lived on the streets for years or even decades, and other guests who, though never homeless, understand the profound impact of family and community on their lives.
Join Alan as he takes you on a gritty journey of Tex-Mex theology while unpacking poignant stories from the streets of life that will leave you with a new understanding of the significance of community and home.
Alan Graham is one of the country’s leading visionaries on issues involving homelessness. He’s also a pretty cool dude. Meet Your Host >
