ESPN’s Mina Kimes Hosted Live LA Podcast Show to Benefit Wildfire Relief Efforts

The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny Live - February 3, 2025 (Photos: Melina Pizano / ESPN Images)

In response to the devastating fires that impacted the Los Angeles area, ESPN NFL Analyst and Podcast Host Mina Kimes hosted a special live edition of The Mina Kimes Show featuring Lenny Podcast in LA on Monday night, benefitting wildfire recovery efforts across the region.

The show hosted courageous members of the Los Angeles County Fire Department Foundation, American Red Cross and Los Angeles Regional Food Bank volunteers as Kimes’ honorary guests, along with audience members, to discuss the upcoming Super Bowl LIX and raise funds for American Red Cross’s California wildfires relief efforts. One hundred percent of ticket sales from audience members, along with contributions from corporate partners, went directly to relief efforts.

As part of the show, Kimes was joined by special guests and friends including Los Angeles Rams Defensive End Kobie Turner, The Ringer’s Chris Ryan and Andy Greenwald, NFL Network’s Gregg Rosenthal and The Athletic’s Jourdan Rodrigue.

Andrew Han, Director, ESPN Digital Production and Podcast, shared how the live show came together and what it has meant to him to support his community through this event.

Where did the idea of a live LA podcast show come from?

AH: The origin was straightforward: Everyone who knows anyone in Los Angeles was checking in on their friends and family over the first hours and days as the wildfires were erupting on both sides of the city. It was chaotic and stressful and the focus for everyone here was to make sure you were safe and then find out if others were safe. Mina and I had checked on each other to make sure our families were OK in all the uncertainty, and we continued on to support and help our communities. A few days later Mina sent a message, “Hey, random question. Let me know if it’s too out there…”

Why was this live LA show so important to Mina and the team?

AH: The devastation caused by the wildfires was palpable whether you saw it on news broadcasts or social media – the number of people affected is enormous. Like many LA-based ESPN colleagues, Mina and I know several people impacted by the fires whether it was sudden evacuation, smoke-related issues or loss of home. There was such a feeling of helplessness in the midst of it all – credit to Mina for marshalling relief efforts in a meaningful and creative way, both fundraising and offering respite for her disaster-weary city.

What did you take away from this experience?

AH: This live show went from a three-dotted text bubble to a stage in four weeks. ESPN and The Walt Disney Company are a massive place – it’s a testament to Mina, the folks involved (corporate citizenship, marketing, sales, digital production and Omaha Productions), and the Company’s commitment to helping our community that a live show for several hundred people could come together so quickly.

(Photos: Melina Pizano / ESPN Images)