Conejo Valley Visionaries

We're back with another Best of Conejo Valley mini episode! Tyler Cusick, founder of Westlake Yoga Co., shares his favorite local restaurants, bars, coffee shops and more in and around Agoura Hills, Westlake and Thousand Oaks. Let me know if you agree with his picks on Instagram @conejovalleyvisionaries Tyler's original episode is ranked in the Top 5! Listen to it here if you haven't y...

This week on Conejo Valley Visionaries, Cristina sits down with Mouse Rawk — Thousand Oaks artist, muralist, graffiti creative, and co-founder of Outline Studios in Newbury Park, CA. Raised in the Conejo Valley, Mouse shares how his passion for street art and graffiti evolved into a full-time creative career designing murals, custom artwork, and large-scale visual projects throughout Southern Cali...

In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries , host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Carly and Zack, the founders of Conejo Valley Run Club—a fast-growing running community serving the greater Conejo Valley. What started as a personal need while training for a marathon quickly turned into something much bigger. Carly, new to running and looking for connection, noticed the lack of a local run club...

In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Lori and Justin Pecikonis of JRP Design and Remodel to talk about building a life and business together—right here in the Conejo Valley. The conversation also dives into the realities of sustaining a business for over 25 years, from refining internal processes to adopting technology in a way that truly supports gr...

In this special live episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries , we sit down with an inspiring panel of women founders for an honest conversation about what it really takes to build something meaningful. Recorded during our sold-out second annual Female Founders event at Hub 101 in Westlake Village, this conversation explores the realities of entrepreneurship—from turning an idea into momentum and buil...

We’re just days away from the 2nd Annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders Event, taking place March 24 at Hub101 in Westlake Village, CA! In this episode, host Cristina Dennstedt shares a behind-the-scenes look at the event planning process, what it takes to produce a live experience for female founders, and what attendees can expect from this year's "bigger and better"...

Cristina Dennstedt sits down with restaurateur Jacopo Falleni, the owner behind Nonna in Westlake Village, CA and the recently opened Sette Sorelle in Newbury Park, CA. Jacopo shares the story of his journey from Florence to New York and eventually California, and how those experiences shaped his approach to hospitality, leadership, and building community through restaurants. Despite joking that h...

If you’ve lived in the Conejo Valley for even a few years, chances are you’ve seen the work of today’s guest. For nearly two decades, Kyle Jorrey helped shape local journalism as a reporter and later editor-in-chief of the Thousand Oaks Acorn , documenting the stories, challenges, and moments that define life in the Conejo Valley . After 18 years in the newsroom, Kyle made a surprising pivot—first...

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “This is going to be awful” before you even start? Whether it’s launching a new idea, growing your business, or something as simple as blow-drying your hair — negative self-talk has a way of sneaking in. In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries , Cristina sits down with Erica Spiegelman — bestselling author, licensed substance abuse counselor, wellness c...

If you've ever had a business idea and wondered, okay, now what? This episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries is for you. Host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Kristin Bell and Desserin Pereyra, program manager and community manager respectively at Hub 101 in Westlake Village, CA where they support local startup founders. We discuss the importance of validating an idea early, the hurdles almost ever...

If you care about great coffee—and the kind of places that make you want to stay awhile—this episode is for you. Today on Conejo Valley Visionaries , I’m sitting down with Gacia Tachejian, founder of Laidrey Coffee Roasters, with locations in the San Fernando Valley and Agoura Hills. We talk about what makes specialty coffee worth seeking out, how she’s built cafés that feel genuinely welcoming, a...

What happens when a fashion career no longer fits—and healing becomes the calling? In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries , host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Alyson Flack , founder of Moon Phase Acupuncture in Thousand Oaks , to talk about the leap from fashion design to holistic health, and what it really takes to build a business rooted in purpose. If you enjoyed this episode and find...

Maria Galloway and Bronwyn Birk, co-founders of Viridian Art, a beloved art studio with locations in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills, California, explore what it really takes to make a career out of art — and how artists can step into entrepreneurship without losing their creative soul. This conversation dives deep into art education, entrepreneurship, resilience, and believing in your vision, mak...

Three Conejo Valley nonprofits are changing lives this holiday season — and their stories will inspire you. Todd Ross shares the story of A Very Merry Waffle Wednesday , a beloved holiday charity event supporting local causes. Stacy DeWitt highlights the mission of James Storehouse , which provides essential resources for foster youth and foster families. Linda & Len Krukowski discuss Sleep in...

In this conversation, Lana shares her journey from aspiring soccer player to a dedicated stay-at-home mom, and eventually to a successful publisher of Dos Vientos Living and Westlake Village Living magazines in the Conejo Valley. She reflects on the challenges of navigating life changes, including her divorce, and how those experiences led her to find purpose in publishing local stories. Lana emph...

Recorded live at Sunrose California Eatery in front of a packed house, I sit down with co-owner Marc Hernandez. It is a candid, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation about the winding path that led him here — from his first job as a 16-year-old delivery driver at Brent’s Deli, to meeting his now-wife and business partner Carie while working there again after college, to navigating the highs, lo...

Can you imagine opening a brick-and-mortar retail store at the age of 22? Me neither. But that's what today's guest Timmy Heague did. Timmy is the owner of Arsenal Comics & Games, a beloved comic book and gaming store serving Newbury Park and Ventura. Timmy shares the story of opening his first location at 22, utilizing the early days of social media to build it into a thriving local b...

In this episode, we're thrilled to introduce our season five listener-nominated guest, Dr. Rachael Cappuccino, the owner of Cappuccino Physical Therapy in Thousand Oaks. Rachael is a Conejo Valley native who never imagined owning her practice. But after giving birth to her second child, she set out to create her own schedule while supporting women of all ages with their pelvic floor health. Jo...

Where can you find John Edney when he’s not running Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. in Thousand Oaks? Morumbi Jiu Jitsu, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, and Bom Dia Acai! The frontman of WDO also shares his favorite local bands, cocktail of choice, and go-to Conejo Valley sushi spot in this week’s episode of “Best of Conejo Valley." Do you agree or disagree with these picks? Comment your thoughts! Thi...

We’re replaying one of our most popular episodes from Season 1 — From Hollywood to Wine: Amy Bates’ Journey to Building West Tasting Room in Thousand Oaks. Before co-founding one of Ventura County’s most beloved wine spots, Amy Bates spent over a decade managing major feature films across the globe. But when burnout hit hard, she pressed pause on Hollywood — and quietly nurtured a long-held dream:...

It’s time to ditch the overwhelm and reclaim your mornings. In this special episode, we're bringing you inside the “Reset & Recharge” event, hosted by Conejo Valley Visionaries x Neighborly at their Westlake Village space — a morning of matcha, mindfulness, and meaningful conversation. You’ll hear: ​Breathwork facilitator Crystal Quayle share 3 practical techniques to ground and energize ​Honest,...

Curious what it's like to date in the Conejo Valley? I sit down with Tammi Pickle, owner of Elite Connections, a matchmaking service with roots in Thousand Oaks and a reach across the nation. Discover how Tammi's mother met her husband through a matchmaker 30 years ago, sparking the creation of their family business. Tammi shares insights on the changing landscape of dating, the challenges...

In this episode, Finn Kerns, the student trustee for the Conejo Valley Unified School District, shares his journey into public service, inspired by the musical Hamilton. We discuss: his early experiences with internships the importance of civic engagement among youth the challenges of political apathy Finn emphasizes the significance of face-to-face interactions in leadership and his vision for a...

Join us on Visionaries for a candid conversation with Mélanie Masarin, founder & CEO of Ghia , the cult-favorite non-alcoholic aperitif redefining the zero-proof category. Mélanie unpacks how she built a brand that’s more than just a drink — it's a lifestyle , rooted in her French-Mediterranean heritage and brought to life through bold, inclusive branding. From shaping a powerful personal br...

Brittaney Carpenter, owner of Face & Soul Studios in Thousand Oaks -- recently named Best Waxing by The Acorn, shares her favorite Conejo Valley spots (including a coffee shop I'd never heard of). Do you agree or disagree with her picks? Comment your thoughts! This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Pr...