We had the good fortune of connecting with Lelund Hollins and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Lelund, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
What makes me happy is growth, creativity, and purpose. I find happiness in building something meaningful from real-life experiences — whether it’s through storytelling, photography, music, professional wrestling, or helping others see life from a different perspective.

A lot of my happiness comes from overcoming adversity. After everything I’ve faced — personal struggles, health challenges, homelessness, setbacks, years in the wrestling business, and rebuilding my life multiple times — I’ve learned to appreciate progress more than perfection. Even small victories mean something when you know what it took to survive.

I’m also happiest when I’m creating connections that matter. Mentoring others, advocating for mental health and homelessness awareness, or inspiring someone through my story gives my experiences purpose beyond myself.

At this stage of my life, happiness is no longer tied to status or material things. It comes from peace, resilience, creativity, and knowing that despite everything, I never stopped pushing forward. 💯

Man standing on sidewalk in front of building, wearing a dark T-shirt with USA, making a peace sign, smiling.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My professional life has been built through creativity, resilience, and reinvention across multiple industries. I’ve worked in entertainment, media, music, live production, and storytelling — constantly evolving as opportunities and challenges shaped my path.

While attending the Los Angeles Film School (LAFS), I became co-founder of the school’s all-female fraternity L.E.A.D., and also co-founded The Plug Radio LA, expanding my work into media, culture, and student-driven creative platforms. I also had involvement in the show Worst Week Ever, which added to my early entertainment and production experience.

Over the past 16 years, my journey has not been easy. I’ve experienced homelessness for over a decade across the Hollywood and San Fernando Valley areas. That chapter came with a lifetime cost — but it also shaped my discipline, perspective, and leadership.

Today, my work extends beyond entertainment into advocacy and service. I am a supporter of the American Heart Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the American Mental Wellness Association, and DVWMT (The School for Domestic Violence Education & Prevention Methods). I am also an advocate for homelessness awareness, mental health, and mentorship for young people dealing with substance abuse and life instability.

My work is not just professional — it is personal. Everything I create is rooted in survival, purpose, and the responsibility to help others navigate their own struggles. 💯

Person sitting in a chair with legs spread, wearing a cap, jacket, shorts, and socks, against a wooden wall background.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend came to visit for a week, I wouldn’t give them the fake Hollywood tour — I’d show them the REAL Los Angeles. 💯

We’d start in Hollywood with late-night walks past the chaos, old memories, and the energy that made me fall in love with the city in the first place. Food-wise, we’d hit legendary spots like Roscoe’s House of Chicken ’N Waffles, Tommy’s Original World Famous Hamburgers, and hidden taco spots only locals really appreciate.

For music and culture, I’d take them digging through vinyl at Amoeba Music and maybe slide through Fingerprints Music, because real record stores still carry the soul of the city.

Nightlife? We’d bounce between classic Sunset Strip spots and lowkey lounges with history behind them. Maybe catch live music at Blue Note LA, The Viper Room, or comedy and wild Hollywood energy at The Comedy Store. And you can’t forget the legendary Whisky a Go Go. 🎸

I’d also take them through Long Beach, Santa Monica, and the beach stretches for ocean views, shoreline drives, photography spots, and a slower vibe away from the madness. Then through the Valley — because that part of LA shaped my survival story during my years of homelessness. Those experiences taught me more about humanity, struggle, and resilience than any tourist attraction ever could. 💯

Man holding a green book titled 'The Home Health Aide Handbook' with a plain background.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I dedicate my shoutout to the people who genuinely believed in me during the moments when my life could’ve gone completely the other direction. My late mother Joyce Terrell for planting strength in me early, the mentors who educated me in music, wrestling, photography, and life, and the few loyal friends who never switched sides when things got difficult.

I also give credit to the books, history, and real-life stories that helped shape my mentality. I’ve spent years studying powerful figures, artists, revolutionaries, and survivors because knowledge became a form of survival for me.

Organizations and programs connected to photography, entertainment, and community outreach also played a role in helping me rediscover purpose during some of the hardest periods of my life.

But at the same time, I have to be honest — a lot of my journey came from learning how to survive alone, adapt under pressure, and continue pushing forward when support wasn’t always there. That’s why loyalty, resilience, and authenticity mean everything to me today. 💯

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hollinsnathaniellelund

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lelundnathanielhollins

Twitter: https://x.com/hollinslelund https://x.com/lelundhollins74

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lelundnathanielhollins

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lelundhollins74

Other: https://voyagela.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-lelund-hollins-of-los-angeles/

https://canvasrebel.com/meet-lelund-hollins/

https://boldjourney.com/meet-lelund-hollins/

Meet Lelund Hollins | Audio Engineer/Live Sound Engineer/Freelance Photographer/Pro Wrestling Liaison/Independent Contractor

COMPASSIONATE VISIONS

https://www.lapovertydept.org/enough-is-never-enough/

https://www.latimes.com/homeless-housing/story/2020-02-22/homeless-crisis-population-podcast-we-the-unhoused

https://www.oneofusproject.com/unhoused-student-magazine

dwb newsletter #25: TOGETHER/ՄիաSEEN + Jan’24 SkidRow Communarts Cal

https://www.lapovertydept.org/enough-is-never-enough-9-16-11-18/

https://canvasrebel.com/meet-lelund-hollins-2/

Person standing indoors, wearing a cap, jacket, and gray pants, holding a cane, and making a peace sign gesture.

Man with a beard wearing a black cap and black T-shirt leaning on a railing outside, with a building in the background.

Person sitting in a room with bookshelves, wearing sunglasses, holding a cane, and dressed in dark clothing.

Image Credits
All photos are property of the HOLLINS NATION, the Lelund Hollins Collection and the JOYCE Brand!

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