Today we’d like to introduce you to Bobby Kesselman.
Hi Bobby, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
When I was 14, my family drove through Los Angeles on the 405, heading to my cousin’s house in the Palisades. Somewhere between Pico/Olympic and Sunset, something clicked. It felt more like a premonition and less like a decision: “When I move to LA” not “If I move to LA”.
Over the next decade, LA became a recurring presence: summers studying film, editing and creative writing at both UCLA and USC. I absorbed stand up comedy whenever I could, guided by Bill Hicks and George Carlin. I graduated from DePaul University in Chicago and moved to LA within a month. I knew one person and had $1,000 in my pocket.
The years before that were hard. My sister and best friend, Becca, passed away from a brain tumor before my senior year of high school and my parents soon divorced. I survived thanks to the love and faith of my parents and stepmother, who believed in me even when life felt unrecognizable for all of us.
But I truly grew up in Los Angeles, learning the city from the inside out. I worked the Jurassic Park ride at Universal Studios and as a PA for Dick Clark Productions, absorbing the energy and history of a city built on entertainment and old time gatekeepers. Eventually, I landed on the Fox Studios lot as an editor—my second home for nearly 20 years. It was everything I hoped for, Denzel Washington crossing the lot, Arnold Schwarzenegger holding court in the cafeteria, Tom Cruise doing a motorcycle stunt, sharing a moment with Robin Williams on my way to my office. And somehow, ending up in the background of the Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk” video and being featured in a Vanderpump Rules music video.
Behind the scenes, I edited more than 20 Super Bowls, World Series, NBA Finals and thousands more hours of sports highlights for Fox’s 200 affiliates. And after one Propel commercial and thousands of failed auditions, I literally finally found my voice in LA, as a voice actor on Family Guy, American Dad and Invincible. No doubt, fulfilling my dreams arrived drastically different than expected but they gave me much needed perspective and responsibility.
Two years ago, I created Hope Always Foundation in honor of Becca. Our mission is to entertain every sick child in America. We do that through Warrior Channel, our exclusive streaming service for hospitals and pediatric care centers. We distribute it through in room TVs, digital tablets and personal devices. We partner with underserved hospitals to deliver remotely secure digital tablets which only feature Warrior Channel—no social media, ads, or open internet—just curated films, shows, relaxation content and educational videos. We also can customize a channel for any hospital to ensure the highest quality content reaches their most vulnerable patients.
Today, I split my time between recording voiceover, growing the foundation and practicing yoga at Shefayoga in Venice. The practice has helped me stay centered, focused and present and Shefayoga is the ideal place to do it, especially when I can walk to the beach after a grueling class. I’ve been so lucky to achieve almost all of the dreams I once had in the city and loss taught me why those dreams matter. Hope Always is where the two meet. Now it’s time to share with those who need it most.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Has it been a smooth road? Not exactly. Los Angeles tests you. Dating can be tough. Finding yourself can be tough. Rejection? I’ve had some of the meanest things said to me, been treated horribly, and learned that people are often the biggest obstacle standing in your way. And yes… traffic. Los Angeles drivers, please: use your turn signals. It’s communication. It’s how we talk without talking.
But here’s the thing—this city also has everything for you, from the most inspiring, talented people to those who will try to steal your soul for sport. You have to understand yourself first—your values, your goals, what you actually want—because only then can you apply yourself fully here. LA gives you the stage, the opportunity, the energy—but where you choose to spend your time, who you choose to surround yourself with and how you show up every day? That’s on you.
The lessons are simple but hard: patience, persistence and perspective. Life in LA will push you to your limits but it will also teach you what you’re capable of if you stay centered and true to yourself. The obstacles are often the greatest teachers, and the wins—big or small—are the moments that remind you why you came here in the first place. I’ve also been incredibly fortunate in this town, so I know firsthand that Lady Luck is accessible and responds to sincerity.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
What drives my work—whether it’s creating the Warrior Channel streaming service, curating titles, editing sports for over 90 million homes, or doing voiceover—is the feeling that I can give an audience something magical and memorable. A laugh is the greatest sound I can hear—from a baby discovering something new, to a kid howling at the TV, to a grandparent letting themselves get lost in a moment of pure joy. There’s something about creating content that transcends age, that can make someone forget where they are for a minute, and just feel.
I want the work I do to make people happy, feel safe, and maybe even a little smarter. Every edit, every voice line, every curated title is a chance to connect—whether it’s a story that inspires, a joke that lands perfectly, or a scene that gives someone comfort when they need it most.
Working in entertainment has taught me the magic of timing, detail, and energy—whether I’m behind a camera, behind a microphone, or behind a tablet in a hospital room. It’s all about the moment.
Ultimately, my goal is simple: to craft experiences that leave people feeling seen, joyful, and a little more connected. From babies to grandparents, from sports fans to kids in hospitals, I want my work to make people laugh, think and feel. That’s the heartbeat of everything I do.
Before we go, is there anything else you can share with us?
If you want to learn more about what we do, visit www.hopealwaysfoundation.org.
And yes—donate. Please donate. A little or a lot! Every contribution helps bring comfort, joy and distraction to kids who need it most and the parents who could use your support.
And if you do yoga and happen to be in West LA? You have to at least give yourself the gift of two weeks at Shefayoga in Venice. The teachers, the community, the energy—it’s life-changing.
Me being super lame: Keep dreaming, believe in yourself and remember: you help yourself by helping others. Also, clean up after your dogs and pay attention behind the wheel—LA drivers, use your turn signals!
Pricing:
- $50 buys a tablet cover and headphones for Warrior Tablet
- $350 buys (1) Warrior Tablet, a digital tablet with one year exclusive streaming service
- $1,200 supplies a hospital with 4 Warrior Tablets
- $12,000 provides Warrior Channel to an entire pediatric unit of a hospital (50 beds)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hopealwaysfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hopealwaysfoundation/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hopealwaysfoundation
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hope-always-foundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCC253F2Uo5fHK7X3H_h2pvg
- Other: https://hopealwaysfoundation.org/empower
