Shows / Ojai: Talk of the Town
Ojai: Talk of the Town
A look at the community of Ojai - an astonishingly beautiful village of 7,500 people perched on the eastern edge of the Pacific Rim. From the people who bring you Ojai Quarterly, Ojai Monthly and Ojai Vortex.
Episodes
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Wendi Knox & The Way of the Dragonfly: Growing Older Without Growing Smaller
What if growing older isn't about becoming less of who we were, but more of who we were always meant to be? At 50, Wendi Knox had reached the heights of the…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Designing the Art of Living: Jennifer Siegal and the Ojai Design Posse
What if the spaces we inhabit shape not just how we live, but who we become? Architect Jennifer Siegal, founder of the Ojai Design Posse and the pioneering…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
John Patterson: The Hidden Intelligence Behind Every Human Exchange
What if the secret to getting things done isn't how smart you are, but how well you understand the people you're dealing with? John Patterson, co-founder of…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
What Sobriety Doesn't Erase with Paul Booth
Paul Booth has been sober for 42 years. But sobriety, he says, solved the drinking problem — not everything that lay beneath it. Paul is an Ojai writer…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Best Medicine: Robin Gerber Turns Caregiving Into Comedy
What happens when the most painful chapter of your life becomes material for comedy — and then grows into a play about love? Playwright and bestselling author…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Democracy Ojai & the Work of Citizenship: Kim Bryson, Allison Stillman & Will Knox
What does it actually mean to protect democracy at the local level? Will Knox, Kim Bryson and Allison Stillman of Democracy Ojai join us for a conversation…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Once Upon a Time in Ojai: Why Stories Still Matter
Why, in an age of TikTok, streaming video and infinite distraction, do we still gather in a room to hear one human being tell us a story? Ojai Storytelling…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Reed Christy: The Life You Notice Is the Life You Have
On June 27, 2023, Reed Christy was nearly killed in a motorcycle accident. He survived, but the crash cost him a leg and forced him into the long, difficult…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Andrea Brook: Music, Monarchs & Transformation
What happens when you stretch 26 strings more than 60 feet across a room, turn an entire building into an instrument — and then follow the monarch butterfly…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Sean Kelly on Philosophy, Grateful Dead & A Life Well-Lived
What do the Grateful Dead, punk rock, philosophy, sobriety and a great neighborhood tavern have in common? For Sean Kelly, quite a lot. The Philadelphia-born…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Chuck Graham: A Conservation Success Story Hiding in Plain Sight
Writer, photographer and wilderness guide Chuck Graham returns to Ojai: Talk of the Town to take us into the wild world of Channel Islands National Park — a…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Roger Kellaway: A Life in Jazz, From the Greats to Ojai
Grammy-winning pianist, composer and arranger Roger Kellaway has spent more than six decades making music alongside some of the greatest names in jazz and…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
What 300 Conversations Has Taught Me About Life, Community, and Ojai
It's our official 300th episode! In May 2020, I set out to interview interesting people. What I didn't realize was that each conversation would leave behind a…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Beneath the Surface: How Marie McKenzie Found Beauty, Purpose and a New Life in California's Kelp Forests
What happens when an artist follows curiosity so completely that it changes not only her work — but her life? In this episode of Ojai: Talk of the Town, host…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Kathleen Kaiser: Rock Journalism, Reinvention & Why Stories Matter More Than Ever
From interviewing rock musicians during music's golden era to helping shape the desktop publishing revolution, Kathleen Kaiser has spent a lifetime at the…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Jeremy Cohen on Discovering Great Plays & Playwrights
Every summer, something extraordinary happens in Ojai. Nearly 1,000 new plays arrive from writers across the country. After months of rigorous evaluation by…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Looking to the Stars: Rachel Lang on Astrology, Purpose & Ojai
Astrology has fascinated humanity for thousands of years, yet it's often misunderstood. Is it a tool for predicting the future, a framework for understanding…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Love, Loss & And Coming Home with Laurel Braitman, Ph.D.
Few experiences shape us more profoundly than love and loss. In this encore episode of Ojai: Talk of the Town, acclaimed author Laurel Braitman reflects on the…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Bridging Two Worlds: Janet Yang on Hollywood, China, Food, Family & the Power of Story
How does the daughter of Chinese immigrants become one of the most influential figures in Hollywood? In this wide-ranging conversation, Bret Bradigan sits down…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Art of History: A Conversation with George Stuart
This week we're revisiting one of our favorite conversations from the Ojai Talk of the Town archives: an interview with the late George S. Stuart, one of…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Small Towns, Big Ideas: Mark Weiler on Art, Place & Creative Community
What happens when world-class art takes root far from New York, Los Angeles, and other cultural capitals? In this episode of Ojai: Talk of the Town, Bret…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Reel Culture, Real Community: Inside the Ojai Film Society's Summer Series
For nearly four decades, the Ojai Film Society has been bringing people together through the shared experience of watching great films outdoors, in community…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Al West (1932-2026) : A Life in Service to Forests, Fire, & Ojai
This special episode lives up to that designation. Yesterday, Ojai lost one of its most accomplished and respected citizens, Al West, who passed away at the…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Adventure Continues: Joan Virginia Allen on Aging with Purpose & Possibilit
At 88 years old, Joan Virginia Allen has little interest in slowing down. In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, Bret Bradigan sits down with the author of…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Mark Frost on FDR, Twin Peaks, and the Mysteries Beneath America
On this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, Bret Bradigan welcomes returning guest Mark Frost — bestselling author, co-creator of Twin Peaks, and author of the…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Life Amplified: Lila Glasoe Francese on Grief, Creativity, and Staying Connected
What if grief isn’t something to “get over,” but something that reshapes how we see, feel, and move through the world? In this episode, returning guest Lila…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
From Bollywood to Ojai: Richa Badami and the Next Generation of Actors
In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, Bret Bradigan sits down with Richa Badami — actor, director, and founder of the Living Theatre Academy of Dramatic…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Jim Exon's 20 Year Journey From Ojai to Nashville
What does it take to finish a record that’s been living in your head for two decades? In Episode 284, Jim Exon traces the long arc of Nashville Sessions — a…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Place He Made: Nate's Legacy of Wellness
There are lives that flicker. And there are lives that catch—passing their light from one person to the next until you can no longer trace where it began…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
From Taft Gardens to Mega Gallery: Cassandra C. Jones and the Expansion of Ojai’s Creative Frontier
5 Years Later: Cassandra C. Jones and the Evolution of Taft Gardens Five years ago, we sat down with artist and curator Cassandra C. Jones as she was beginning…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
From Farm to Fortune to Footlights With Clay Creasey
What do a Napa Valley farm, Stanford University frat life, Fortune 500 boardrooms, and the Ojai stage have in common? Clay Creasey. In this wide-ranging and…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Art at the Center: Besant Hill School's Lis Austin
What if art wasn’t an elective — but the foundation? On this special episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Lis Austin of Besant Hill School to…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Water, Food & The Future of Ojai With Larry Yee
Lawrence Yee has spent more than three decades working at the intersection of agriculture, water, and the complex systems that sustain both. His résumé runs…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Passing the Baton: Ara Guzelimian's Final Year as the Ojai Music Festival's Artistic Director
After helping shape one of the most adventurous music festivals in the world, Ara Guzelimian is taking his final bow in Ojai. In this episode of Ojai Talk of…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Ojai At The Oscars: Highway West's Singers Wins Big
When Jack Piatt and partner David Breschel first joined Ojai Talk of the Town last year, Singers was a promising short film — ambitious, disciplined, and…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Joe Sohm & Peter Boyer on America's 250th Birthday in Images & Music
In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with photographer Joe Sohm and acclaimed composer Peter Boyer to explore their sweeping new…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
40 Years of Boccali’s: Farming, Family & Strawberry Shortcake
DeWayne Boccali says he picked the three worst areas in which to make a living; music, farming and restaurants. But somehow he and wife Marilyn are still here…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Exit Stage Left: Jim O’Neil, the Rubicon, and Why Theater Still Matters
After nearly three decades after founding, and leading, the Rubicon Theatre Company, James O’Neil is stepping into his next act. As Co-Founder and Artistic…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Dennis Mukai on Craft, Beauty & What Lies Beneath
What does it mean to build a life in images? In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Ojai-based artist Dennis Mukai, whose career spans…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
City Manager Ben Harvey on Stewardship & Soundtracks
Running a town is an act of stewardship — of land, money, people, and possibility. Ojai City Manager Ben Harvey joins host Bret Bradigan for a candid…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Farewell to an Icon: Remembering Helen Allen, Pride Pioneer
In this special tribute episode of Ojai Talk of the Town - a repost of an episode from 2025 - we honor the remarkable life of Helen Allen, a vibrant and…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Hillbilly Manifesto: Reclaiming our Culture with Bret Bradigan
This is not a typical episode of Ojai Talk of the Town. There’s no guest. No interview. No back-and-forth. Instead, this is a solo piece — a reflection on what…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Rediscovering The Wisdom Palace with Meredy Benson Rice — Stories, Schooling & the Heart of Learning
In this special re-release, we’re thrilled to bring back our 2021 conversation with Meredy Benson Rice, a life-long educator, school leader, and celebrated…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Charting the AI Frontier: John-Clark Levin on Pope Leo & AI, the ‘Slop-acolypse,’ and What’s Next for Humanity
In this deep and wide-ranging conversation, we sit down with John-Clark Levin — researcher, author, and thought leader at the cutting edge of artificial…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Richard Handley on "The Hawks Are Not Dying," Activism, and the Power of Place
In this episode, I’m joined by Richard Handley, author of The Hawks Are Not Dying, a novel rooted in real events that helped shape modern Ojai, which could…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Keeping Pets in Homes, Not Just Shelters: A Conversation with Daniel Roselle
When Daniel Roselle stepped into the role of Executive Director at the Humane Society of Ventura County, he inherited more than a job title. He took on…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Music You Hear Everywhere: A Conversation with APM Music CEO Adam Taylor on Licensing, Creativity & More
Music shapes how we experience film and television — but the way it’s licensed, selected, and paid for is often misunderstood. In this episode, I’m joined by…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Malcolm McDowell: Outsiders, Icons, and the Freedom of Not Having to Prove Anything
Let's start 2026 with a banger! Actor Malcolm McDowell returns to Ojai Talk of the Town for a wide-ranging, unhurried conversation about craft, longevity, and…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Acreage for the Ages: OVLC’s Historic Step Forward with Rancho Cañada Larga with Tom Maloney
This week on Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Tom Maloney, Executive Director of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, to unpack one of the most significant…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
"Where’s Tommy" A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, and Resilience with Debbie, Tom & Amber Lennon
In this deeply moving episode, host Bret Bradigan sits down with Debbie Lennon, author of Where’s Tommy?: A Mother’s Journey Through Her Son’s Traumatic Brain…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Still & the Light: A Conversation with Leslie "Lulu" Sherman
Leslie “Lulu” Sherman opened Still Gallery with a reception on November 15th - which happened to be a rain-drenched evening, and yet she packed the place for…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Peter Bellwood: Wit, Mischief & The Making of an Ojai Legend
Peter Bellwood (1939–2025) was many things — screenwriter, satirist, collaborator, mischief-maker, and one of the great characters in Ojai’s creative…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Grounds for Connection: Stacey Jones on Ojai Coffee Roasters' 30 Years as "Ojai's Living Room"
In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, host Bret Bradigan sits down with Stacey Jones, founder and owner of the Ojai Coffee Roasting Company, which…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Perfecte & Alia Rocher Reimagine The Ranch House: From Punk Rock to Ojai Gardens
When husband-and-wife chefs Perfecte Rocher and Alia Rocher took over the storied Ranch House, they didn’t just reopen a restaurant — they resurrected a…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Finding Our Voice: Karen Banfield & Severo Lara with the Ojai Valley Speech Club
Ojai has always been a place where voices matter — artists, thinkers, seekers, misfits, and makers. But what happens when a public-speaking club sheds the…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Art of Low & Slow: Saw & Brittany Naing on Joplin's, The Dutchess & Second Acts
Meet Saw and Brittany Naing, the husband-and-wife team powering Ojai’s rock-and-roll barbecue joint Joplin’s — and the culinary force many locals already know…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Susanne Chess & Bob Evans on Art, Innovation and the Spirit of Ojai
In this episode we welcome two remarkable newcomers to the Ojai, California community: Susanne Chess and Bob Evans. Susanne, a founding member of Tiabzu LLC…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Ashes & Ideals: Tom Pazderka’s Art of Exile, Return & Regrowth
In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with artist Tom Pazderka — a Czech-American painter, sculptor, writer and thinker whose journey from…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
The Leather Apron Club: Reviving Franklin’s Spirit of Civil Discourse in Ojai
In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Randy Roth, founder of the Leather Apron Club — a twice-monthly gathering of Ojai locals committed to…
- Ojai: Talk of the Town
Smoke, Strings & Second Acts: Saw and Brittany Naing on Joplin's, the Dutchess and the Art of the Low & Slow
Meet Saw and Brittany Naing — the husband-and-wife team behind Ojai’s new rock-and-roll-tinged barbecue spot, Joplin’s, and the culinary force you already know…