Ridgewood Talks

Meet the Artist: Eric Santoli’s Journey from Ridgewood to Monet's Garden   Welcome to Ridgewood Talks! In this episode, Jeanne Johnson sits down with the talented artist Eric Santoli, a Ridgewood High School graduate who found his passion for painting and has taken it to incredible heights. Eric shares his journey from studying fine art at the University of Pennsylvania to completing his MFA at th...

Join host Jordan Kaufman as he welcomes special guest Robert Wolcott to Ridgewood Talks. Rob, the co-founder and chair of the World Innovation Network, known as TWIN Global… and a professor at Kellogg and Booth Schools of Business, discusses his family's move to Ridgewood, NJ, during the pandemic and their experiences in the community. He also delves into the themes of his latest book, 'Proximity,...

Ridgewood Talks: Celebrating Our Community with Jenny Coates   In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, host Jeanne Johnson sits down with Jenny Coates.  Jenny shares her dedication to building a stronger Ridgewood community through her volunteer work with Ridgewood Newcomers, the Ridgewood Library Foundation, and the Kasschau Shell Committee. Tune in as they discuss the history and events of Ridgewood...

In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, Jeanne Johnson, founder and host of the podcast, interviews Anthony Cavo, a Ridgewood High School graduate, physician, author, antiques expert, and member of the Ridgewood Historical Society. Anthony shares his fascinating journey from Brooklyn to Ridgewood, his early interest in antiques, his diverse career in medicine, and his extensive antique collection. The...

Exploring Ridgewood Parks & Recreation with Nancy Bigos and Keith Kazmark   In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, hosts Jeanne Johnson dives into everything you always wanted to know about our amazing parks, with special guests Village Manager Keith Kazmark and Nancy Bigos, the Ridgewood Director of Parks and Recreation. Discover the initiatives, the passion, and the hard work that Nancy and her tea...

Business Spotlight on Real Estate: An In-Depth Conversation with Vivienne Muldoon on Ridgewood Talks   In this episode of Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Living Magazine Present, The Business Spotlight. Host Jeanne Johnson sits down with Vivienne Muldoon, a top real estate agent and community business leader. Vivienne shares her extensive knowledge of the local real estate market, the architectural...

Empowering a Green Future with Ridgewood High School Teacher Mr. Miles Luo on Ridgewood Talks   Welcome to Ridgewood Talks! In this episode, host Jeanne Johnson introduces Mr. Miles Luo, a dedicated educator at Ridgewood High School who teaches environmental science and biology. Miles discusses his impressive background, including his work with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, the US Forest Servi...

The Business Spotlight: Blue Nail Exteriors with John & Nina Hogan on Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Living Magazine   Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Living Magazine present “The Business Spotlight”.  Co-host Jordan Kaufman talks to Blue Nail Exteriors CEO John Hogan and CFO Nina Hogan. Learn about the company's beginnings, their expert craftsmanship in roofing, siding, solar, and window solutions,...

Ridgewood Water: Let’s Talk about Quality, Infrastructure, and Future Plans on Ridgewood Talks   Welcome to Ridgewood Talks! In this episode, host Jeanne Johnson explores the great big world of Ridgewood Water. As much as you think you know… you will learn more about the size and scope of Ridgewood Water. With special guests Village Manager Keith Kazmark and Director of Ridgewood Water Rich Calbi,...

Ridgewood Talks: Business Spotlight on Sophisticated Hearing with Dr. Ann Marie Olson   Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Living Magazine Present the Business Spotlight, Featuring Sophisticated Hearing.  Join Jeanne Johnson, founder and co-host of Ridgewood Talks, as she sits down with Dr. Ann Marie Olson, founder of Sophisticated Hearing. In this episode, they discuss the importance of hearing tests...

Resilience, Community & Legacy: Ridgewood Life-Coach Jim Stroker’s Inspiring Journey   Join us on Ridgewood Talks as we dive into the life and legacy of the legendary Life-Coach and Leadership Trainer, Jim Stroker. Hosted by Ridgewood Talks founder Jeanne Johnson and guest-host Rosie McCooe, this episode explores Coach Stroker's profound impact on the Ridgewood community. Hear heartfelt stories of...

Navigating Education Support, Student Success and Community Leadership with Ridgewood's Cara Murray | Ridgewood Talks In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, co-host Jordan Kaufman introduces Cara Murray, a Ridgewood resident, volunteer, and business owner. They delve into Cara's extensive involvement in the Ridgewood community, including her leadership roles in the Willard HSA and the Library Foundat...

Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Living Magazine present the “Business Spotlight” on West Bergen Mental Healthcare. Host Jeanne Johnson sits down with Michael Tozzoli, CEO of West Bergen Mental Healthcare, to explore the critical issues surrounding mental health support in the Ridgewood community. Michael shares the rich history of West Bergen Mental Healthcare, its evolution since 1963, and its curr...

Ridgewood Talks on Ridgewood Public Schools Incredible Arts Education with Chris McCullough   In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, host Jeanne Johnson sits down with Chris McCullough, the district Supervisor of Visual and Performing Arts for Ridgewood Public Schools. Chris, a Ridgewood High School alum and a driving force behind the district's K-12 art, music, and dance programs, shares his insight...

Welcome to this episode of Ridgewood Talks! Join Jeanne Johnson, founder of Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Walks, as she hosts a fascinating discussion with Paul McCarthy, President, and Kathy Marshall, Vice President of the Ridgewood Education Foundation. Learn about their mission to support Ridgewood Public Schools through grants and fundraising events like Oktoberfest. Discover the stories behin...

Ridgewood Talks Meets Our Village Manager and the Ridgewood Police and Fire Chiefs Welcome to Ridgewood Talks, hosted by Jeanne Johnson and Jordan Kaufman. In this episode, Village Manager Keith Kazmark guests on the show to help introduce Police Chief Forest “Cenzo” Lyons, and Ridgewood Fire Chief John T Judge. Discover their crucial roles, the challenges they face, and their initiatives to keep...

Ridgewood Talks: Supporting Bergen County Families in Need with Bergen Family Promise and Bergen CASA   In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, hosts Jeanne Johnson and Rosie McCooe engage in enlightening conversations with leaders from two impactful Bergen County organizations. First, Jeanne interviews Amy Ebling from Bergen Family Promise, a nonprofit providing housing and support to working familie...

Join Jeanne Johnson and Jordan Kaufman on Ridgewood Talks as they dive into the remarkable story of Mark Kossick, President of the Ridgewood High School Alumni Association, and Co-Founder / CEO of GroupSpot. Discover how Ridgewood's community came together during a family challenge, and learn about Mark's dynamic career, including his tenure at the NBA and his successful tech startup, GroupSpot. M...

Welcome to Ridgewood Talks! In this episode, guest host Rosie McCooe interviews New York Times bestselling author Fiona Davis about her latest book, 'The Stolen Queen.' Joined by her publicist Kathleen Carter, Davis dives into the intricacies of her historical novels centered around iconic New York City buildings. Discover the inspirations and challenges behind crafting compelling stories about st...

In this educational episode of Ridgewood Talks, host Jeanne Johnson and guest-host Rosie McCooe welcome Dr. Melissa Donahue, a licensed relationship and sex therapist, for an open and insightful conversation about intimacy, communication, and building stronger connections in relationships.   Dr. Donahue shares expert advice on navigating challenges in romantic relationships, improving emotional an...

Join Ridgewood Talks host Jeanne Johnson as she dives into the incredible renovation of a historic Ridgewood home that caught the attention of This Old House! Homeowners Kay Bhothinard and Peter Field share their experience of transforming their 1930s Colonial Revival, while Zack and Camille Detmore of Detmore Home Improvements give us the inside scoop on working with This Old House, overcoming re...

In this episode of Ridgewood Talks, co-host Jordan Kaufman sits down with long time friend Louis Gerber, a seasoned family attorney at DAME Legal. They discuss essential family law topics for families in Ridgewood. Louis shares insights on navigating legal challenges, protecting your assets, and his journey from New Orleans to Ridgewood.   Louis Gerber is a partner at DAME Legal: Dario, Albert, Me...

🚨 Ridgewood Updates: Veterans Field, Town Garage, Water Quality and more with Keith Kazmark on Ridgewood Talks! Join Jeanne Johnson on this episode of Ridgewood Talks as she sits down with Ridgewood Village Manager, Keith Kazmark to discuss major developments in our town! 🏡 🔹Veterans Field Lighting Project – New upgrades for Ridgewood’s athletes! ⚽⚾ 🔹Town Garage & Environmental Cleanup – Wha...

Welcome to the Ridgewood Talks and Ridgewood Living Magazine Business Spotlight! Megan Murphy is Transforming Ridgewood Real Estate, Community & More! Today, we welcome back Megan Murphy, a powerhouse in real estate and community service! Megan, an agent with Keller Williams Village Square Realty, shares her insights on Ridgewood’s housing market, home improvement tips, and the challenges of buyin...

Inside Ridgewood Living with Martha Fickinger | Ridgewood Talks Join host Jeanne Johnson on Ridgewood Talks as she sits down with Martha Fickinger from Ridgewood Living magazine. Discover how this hyper-local publication connects the community, supports local businesses, and keeps residents informed about the latest happenings in Ridgewood. From its unique distribution model to exclusive community...