Ojai: Talk of the Town

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we sit down with Ojai resident Sharon Scott Williams , whose deeply personal memoir Crazy Mama has been transformed into a riveting one-woman play, premiering at the Rubicon Theatre from March 27 to April 13 . Starring the incomparable star of stage and screen Linda Purl , the production brings to life 16 characters in a raw, heartbreaking, yet often humo...

Get ready for a juicy conversation! This week on Ojai Talk of the Town , we welcome Scott Daigre, founder of Tomatomania! , the country’s largest heirloom and hybrid tomato seedling sale. What started in the 1990s as a small nursery event has blossomed into a can’t-miss springtime tradition across Southern California, with dozens of locations offering an incredible variety of tomato plants, expert...

Can you really go home again? Peter Marcus, along with his partners Evan Graham-Arango and Reiana Onglenco, proves that not only can you return, but you can also plant something new. In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we dig deep into the story of Ojai Roots — a 10-acre farm and the brand-new Farm Shop that’s bringing farm-to-table full circle. (Note: Check out the Spring issue of Ojai Qua...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , actor Michaela Watkins joins us to talk about her latest film, Suze , a Canadian indie gem screening at the Ojai Playhouse on March 9. She'll be on hand for a post-film discussion, but first, we dig into the heart of the movie, the revival of the "New Sincerity Movement," and why audiences are craving stories about broken people finding conn...

What if the biggest obstacle in your life was… you? Bestselling author and personal development pioneer Gay Hendricks joins us to talk about The Big Leap , his game-changing book that introduced the world to the Upper Limit Problem — that sneaky, self-imposed ceiling on success and happiness. From overcoming hidden fears to expanding into what he calls your Zone of Genius , Gay breaks down the pat...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we sit down with artist and curator Cassandra C. Jones, whose work blends digital collage with storytelling in striking and unexpected ways. As the founder and Arts Chair of the Taft Gardens Residency Program, she offers artists an immersive experience in one of Ojai’s most stunning and secluded landscapes. We discuss how Taft’s South African and Australi...

What do South African wines, the auto industry, and gelato have in common? Ojai's own Sanders Marvin. He joins us to talk about closing his shop next to the Arcade, and focusing on catering, popup events and wholesale of his distinctive gourmet frozen treats known for innovative flavors such as Pixie Had a Moment, Valhrona Chocolate and Godfather Sicilian Pistachio. In this episode of Ojai Tal...

We sit down with author Howard Smith to discuss his latest novel, "Viva Verdi & Violetta." This immersive historical tale dives deep into the life and struggles of Giuseppe Verdi, his muse Giuseppina Strepponi, and the revolutionary fervor of the Italian Risorgimento of the mid-19th century. Told through the watchful, and witty, mind of his close friend, a restaurateur and retired op...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we sit down with Aldo Leopold scholar Rick Knight for a thought-provoking conversation about one of the most influential voices in conservation history. Rick takes us on a journey through Leopold's life, from his transformative years in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico to his beloved shack in Wisconsin’s Driftless area. We explore Leopold’s revolutio...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we sit down with Jessica Thompson, owner of Green Goddess Garden, to discuss the vital steps homeowners and communities can take to protect their properties from the ever-present threat of wildfires. With recent devastation in Pacific Palisades and Los Angeles serving as a stark reminder, Jessica shares her expertise on creating defensible spaces, adoptin...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we sit down with Kristen McGuinness — author, writing coach, and the fearless organizer behind the upcoming TEDx Ojai event on Sunday, February 2nd. From 10 am to 4 pm, an impressive lineup of speakers will take the stage to share thought-provoking ideas, fascinating stories, and maybe a few surprises, all with the stunning Ojai backdrop. But this convers...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we celebrate Wendy Barker's remarkable ten-year journey as the executive director of the Ojai Valley Museum. Wendy has revitalized this cornerstone of our community, bringing in a dynamic, younger board of directors, curating awe-inspiring exhibits, and creating events that have reinvigorated local interest and engagement. As the current Rotary Club presi...

After chasing drug runners on the high seas as a Coast Guard officer and reporting on climate change for GlacierHub, Peter Deneen has found his true calling in the rugged landscapes of Ojai Valley. As the new Executive Director of Keep Sespe Wild, Deneen brings his distinct blend of military precision, journalistic insight, and environmental passion to one of Southern California's most precious wi...

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town , we sit down with Lucy Bellwood, the adventure cartoonist behind beloved works like Demon Dialogues and Baggywrinkles . Known for her vibrant illustrations and thoughtful reflections on creativity, this Ojai-raised artist has returned after years in the Pacific Northwest, finding inspiration not only in our natural beauty but in the connections she’s built...

Ojai Talk of the Town welcomes Tom Morris, a titan of the classical music world, for a deep dive into his extraordinary memoir, Always the Music: How a Lifelong Passion Framed a Future for Orchestras." With decades of leadership at the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Cleveland Orchestra, Tom shaped the future of two of America’s most revered symphonies. As artistic director of the Ojai Music Fes...

Tracey Curtis-Taylor, (on the cover of the Winter OQ) is an adventurous aviator, who has retraced some of the most epic routes in flying history, from Capetown to London across the length of Africa, retracing Lady Heath's journey in 1928, and another from England to Australia, flying the same route as Amy Johnson in 1930. She now flies a 1940 Boeing Steerman, and joins the Commemorative Air Force...

In a repost of a fan favorite from 2022, Laurel S. Braitman (re-)joins the podcast to talk about her most recent book, "What Looks Like Bravery: A Journey Through Love & Loss" about losing her father to cancer and finding herself in the process. She is the Writer-in-Residence at the  Stanford School of Medicine. Her work has appeared in The Guardian, [5]  The Wall Street Journal, Fast Company,...

In this podcast episode, Eric Goode, founder of the Turtle Conservancy and an acclaimed conservationist, opens up about his latest project, Chimp Crazy . Following the success of Tiger King , which helped pass the Big Cat Safety Act, Goode aims to do the same for chimpanzees. The show shines a spotlight on Tonia Haddix, a colorful character whose chaotic attempts to shelter Tonka, a former movie-s...

Cheserae Scala is a certified Death Midwife, bringing families together around a dying loved one, facilitating the transition and providing ceremonies and sacred rites, grief counseling, death-care directives, after-death care and funeral planning. She talked about growing up in northern Michigan to an entrepreneurial family, and how her mother's terminal cancer diagnose awoke in her the desire to...

Doug Parker is a retired attorney who worked for the legendary Len Garment in a white-shoe NYC law firm. After his narrow loss to JFK in 1960, the firm gained a new partner, Richard Nixon. When Nixon regained the White House in 1968, he brought along some of his former associates, including Doug. When the Watergate scandal broke, Parker represented President Nixon in front of the "steely-eyed Judg...

The long-delayed AMA episode is here! Expect to learn why I do the podcast, who's listening, and from where, future plans and projects. Mostly, I've been gathering listeners' questions and feedback and wanted to share those with the rest of our listeners. There's a few criticisms (ouch!) which I promise to take onboard. And a criticism or two that while well-intended, weren't well informed, so tha...

The Ojai Storytelling Festival takes place October 24-27 this year with events at the Ojai Art Center and Libbey Bowl with a roster including the country's top practitioners of this ancient art form. Bil Lepp, host of the History Channel's Man v. History show, five-time winner of the West Virginia Liars Contest and author of 28 books and audio collections, joins festival director Kara Lakes for a...

John Mawson returns to the podcast after successfully launching his "Unsinkable" project with partner Misha Crosby. Unsinkable follows the adventures of the 16 surviving crew members of the San Demetrio, a fuel ship abandoned on a North Atlantic convoy crossing in 1940 after being attacked by a German "Wolf Pack." After floating at sea for several days and nights, the crew was left with no choice...

Ojai's newest performing venue will be the site of a special benefit for veterans, "Heroes Healing: Songs from the Wilderness," on November 2 from 3 to 7 pm. It's being organized by Open Circle Foundation and Heroes Healing Homestead in Homer, Alaska, to provide a wilderness therapy experience for veterans suffering from service-related PTSD. Joining us on the podcast are Open Circle's founder Mir...

Thomas R. Krause, Ph. D, is the co-founder of Behavioral Sciences Technology and a recognized expert in risk assessment and workplace culture. He's helped corporations and government agencies navigate major events, such as NASA's Columbia shuttle disaster and to prevent these tragedies from recurring. He recently published his fifth book, "If Your Culture Could Talk," in which he takes us through...