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TEDxSoCal - Justin Rudd - Life is Good, and Getting Better!

1,252 views · Published 16 August 2011 · 8:42 · Indexed 28 September 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2011 · Science & Technology

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Justin Rudd lived the first 26 years of his life in southeast Alabama. He was born and raised in the town of Ozark, population 13,000. He has a fraternal twin brother and three sisters. Justin has a business degree from Samford University in Birmingham -- a private, Southern Baptist, liberal arts school.

Since arriving in Long Beach in 1996 he has dedicated his life for the good of the city. For several years he juggled a part-time public relations job, was a substitute school teacher, cleaned offices and restrooms, mowed lawns, taught group fitness classes at gyms, taught weekend beach bootcamp classes, coached pageant contestants and organized and coordinated one successful community event after another. In 2001, Rudd ended his PR job and filed paperwork to organize his 501c3 nonprofit organization called the Community Action Team (CAT).

He now devotes his time to CAT and continues to coach pageant contestants.

In addition to raising money for youth, animal and environmental organizations, he has also raised money for breast cancer, HIV/AIDS, and the Long Beach public libraries.

He started the dog beach in Long Beach - the only legal off-leash beach in Los Angeles County. It is named "Rosie's Dog Beach" after his late bulldog Rosie. He has been a hand double for Jim Carey, doesn't have a cell phone or a laptop, hit the 5,000 friend limit on Facebook in less than a year, doesn't watch TV, sees about two movies a year at the theater, takes weekly yoga classes, and runs at least five miles every day.

Life is good, and getting better.

ABOUT TEDx

In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)

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