Just a Good Conversation

OC Rover owner Gerry Barragan is one of a kind. He was raised around an automotive shop. He was working at an early age under his father's tutelage. As his father moved to from shop to shop Gerry followed and picked up more work as he got older. At just 14 years old he was working along side seasoned automotive mechanics. First working on British cars, then Jaguars and later Land Rover. We talk about the learning process, racing, becoming an owner of his very own shop and how he guides workers.

OC Rover owner Gerry Barragan is one of a kind. He was raised around an automotive shop. He was working at an early age under his father's tutelage. As his father moved to from shop to shop Gerry followed and picked up more work as he got older. At just 14 years old he was working along side seasoned automotive mechanics. First working on British cars, then Jaguars and later Land Rover. We talk about the learning process, racing, becoming an owner of his very own shop and how he guides workers.

Tamara Inoue is in her 10th year at the helm of the UC Irvine women’s basketball program in 2025-26.
 
After taking over a team that had two winning seasons in 15 years, Inoue brought a renewed energy and mindset that paid off immediately. In her first year with her own recruits, the Anteaters had the second best turnaround in all of NCAA Division I. Since then, they have won a Big West tournament and regular season title, produced five 20-win campaigns and made four national postseason tournament appearances.
Last season, Inoue became the all-time winningest head coach in UCI women's basketball history. She eclipsed the school record with her 159th victory on February 27. The Anteaters went on to secure their fourth-straight 20-win campaign (21-10), finished second in the Big West standings (15-5), and advanced to the semifinals of the conference tournament for the fifth time in her nine seasons. For the third-straight year, UC Irvine was ranked among the top-15 in the nation in scoring defense as they finished 10th at 54.3 points allowed per game. Déja Lee and Hunter Hernandez claimed two of the six spots on the All-Big West First Team, while Summah Hanson was named the Best Sixth Player.
 
In 2023-24, Inoue’s squad won the program’s second Big West Championship and first in 29 years. The ‘Eaters earned a No. 13 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and closed out the campaign with a 23-9 overall record (16-4 Big West). For the second year in a row, UCI was ranked in the final College Insider Women’s Mid-Major Poll (23rd) and was among the nation’s best in scoring defense (14th, 55.7 ppg). Déja Lee made history as UC Irvine’s first Big West Women’s Basketball Player of the Year. Moulayna Johnson Sidi Baba was also named the Big West Newcomer of the Year, while Diaba Konate was tabbed the league’s Best Defensive Player.
Inoue came to Irvine from New Mexico State where she was an integral member of the women's basketball staff from 2011-16. She spent her last two seasons as an associate head coach and also served as the interim Senior Woman Administrator in 2015-16.
During her tenure as an associate head coach, NM State made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, while capturing the Western Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles both years. The Aggies ended the 2015-16 campaign with a 26-5 overall record, tying the school record for single-season victories.
Inoue joined the New Mexico State staff after a three-year stint as an assistant coach at Santa Clara University. Prior to that, she spent six years playing and coaching in Australia. Inoue's professional playing career was cut short due to injury, but following rehabilitation she returned to coach in Australia's Victorian Basketball League (VBL). Inoue earned VBL Coach of the Year honors in 2006-07 with the Nunawading Spectres. She also guided the Knox Raiders to a national championship the following season with a 27-1 record. In addition to her head coaching duties, Inoue helped run the Melbourne Roos club team, assisting in developing several NCAA Division I athletes who went on to play in the U.S.
Inoue has strong ties to the Orange County area and The Big West as she attended Laguna Hills High School and Long Beach State. She played at LBSU from 2000-02, where she was a two-time All-Big West honorable mention selection and led the league in assists as a senior (5.9 apg). In her first year, Inoue helped the Beach advance to the third round of the 2000 Women's National Invitation Tournament. She went on to graduate with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2002.
Inoue prepped at Laguna Hills High School, and was inducted into the Hawks' Hall of Fame in January 2017. She was a USA Today honorable mention All-American as a senior after averaging 14.0 points per game. A two-time league MVP, Inoue set single-game school records for points (30), assists (12) and steals (12).

Eric Francis is a photographer with over 30 years of experience capturing the truth, emotion, and story behind every image. His work is defined by intention—not trends—and grounded in a timeless style that never distracts from the subject. From editorial and event photography to portraits and marketing campaigns, Eric’s images are powerful in their simplicity and precise in their storytelling. Eric lives in the great state of Nebraska and has covered the College World Series for over 30 years. That's where we might in 2001 when I was working for Cal State Fullerton. He was working every game for two straight weeks. He's seen lots of baseball during that time and has better stories to tell. Check out his work at www.ericfrancisphotography.com and give him a follow on instagram www.instagram.com/erics.pix

John Miessner was born in Germany 1937, raised in the northwest part of the country. John was the middle of 5 children. His father was a naval officer during the World War II. His mother could care of the home, moving the children a couple times for safety. He would listen to the Führer Adolf Hitler on the radio two or three times a week. As a young boy he hoped his country would win the war and his father would come home. After the war he was located on the side that would later become West Germany.

Battleship IOWA is home to thousands of artifacts.  From the ship herself to a chair from NAGATO – the last Japanese battleship, from physical objects to digital images, all of these artifacts must be cataloged and stored.

Dave Way is the ship’s historian and curator. His job is find and present the collection. He is walking encyclopedias who can spout amazing episodes from the ship’s storied past at will. The USS Iowa is one of the largest, most imposing forces in naval history.  Originally commissioned to support land invasions (amphibious assaults) in WWII, this devastating behemoth was also a force to be reckoned with during the Korean War.  It was decommissioned in the 50’s. but then recommissioned in the 80’s during the Regan administration in support of his “600 ship” navy initiative.  Finally decommissioned in the 90’s, this floating fortress was turned into a museum, complete with tours!  I talked to curator David Way about the President Roosevelt almost getting hit by a torpedo, Victory the official canine mascot, and the mysterious Combat Engagement Center.

Dr. Ken Seligson is a anthropological archaeologist studying human-environment relationships in the northern Maya lowlands of the Yucatan Peninsula. Specifically, his research has focused on understanding changing resource management practices related to the production of burnt lime in the hilly Puuc region of the Yucatan. Ken is currently an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at California State University Dominguez Hills. One of the things that he enjoys most about his research is bringing students to the field for hands-on learning opportunities and new cultural experiences.

Anthony Neste was born in Manhattan, NY. His mother would take him to board way shows and his father would take him to Yankess games. Later Anthony would go to college for photography. He spent over 25 years photographing for Sports Illustrated and later with HBO. He was the unit photographer for The Sopranos for two year. Making some fanatic portraits of the cast during that short time.
The last half of his career he started shooting fashion and glamor photography in Florida. www.anthonynestephtography.com 

Mike Orloff loves to surf, play music, play baseball and is a professional photographer. Mike went Santa Monica College and learned photography. His love of baseball was from his father who played the game till late in his life. Mike passed along his love for baseball to his sons Ben and Matt. Mike had a great studio in LA where he shot food, motor bikes and he did an ad for Nike. Now retired he attends his son's baseball games, both coach, one in high school and the other in college.

Stuart Born is the owner and CEO of Born Outdoor.

Stuart went to the United States Military Academy at West Point United States Military Academy and received a BS, Engineering ManagementBS, Engineering Management from 1984 - 1988. He spent 8 years as a Captain serving as a Field Artillery Captain, Field Artillery US Army. He went Ranger School, Airborne School, FAOBC, FAOAC Units. Stuart spent over 20 years in the medical field.

Born Outdoor was founded in 2017 out of the concept to build the highest quality and most comfortable gear for people like us who live for outdoor adventure. We have launched our company with the Badger Bed; a new take on the classic bedroll. www.bornoutdoor.com