Relationships are the center of most of our lives, and marriage infiltrates and shapes our identity so fundamentally we can either get lost altogether or blossom in a unique, commingled unfolding. In The Invite Olivia Wilde’s third feature film, a weary suburban couple in their mid-40s, played by Olivia Wilde and Seth Rogen, have a comedically explosive encounter with their slightly older, aggressively bohemian neighbors, played by Penélope Cruz and Edward Norton, whose boisterous eroticism has penetrated the walls and their psyches, stirring their irritation and fascination.

Angela and Joe, Wilde and Rogan’s characters, have become bitter and resentful, lost in some of the worst ways a marriage can devolve. Angela is insecure and controlling. Joe is defeated and cynical. Angela impulsively invites these noisy neighbors, Pina and Hawk, over for dinner, and Joe, coming home just before the surprise visit, is irked and resistant.

Unbeknownst to them, Pina and Hawk have come with an invitation of their own, and what ensues is hilarious, discomfiting, revealing, and ultimately redemptive. The film would succeed well on the stage, and its production is as close to a stage play as film gets. Shot in sequence on a single set over 21 days, the actors worked collaboratively to shape the story as it unfolded before them.

Because the film relies heavily on a single setting, the standout apartment set, designed by Jade Healy, plays a massive role in building the film’s tense, claustrophobic atmosphere. The color teal, in fact, almost feels like a character itself, and I wonder what it meant to the creators of the film.

Another non-human character that speaks strongly within the story is the cello score composed by Devonté Hynes. If the subconscious could be voiced, this would be its language. The drama you witness on the screen is intimate and in your face, and you can feel yourself as a member of this disastrous, wondrous dinner party.

Penélope Cruz, who plays Pina, is the embodiment of the enlightened, bold guide. She is not only a therapist, she is also an encouraging, sexy provocateur. Her partner Hawk is a gentle, curious adventurer, an intelligent fool who spurs the action towards boundary-breaking revelations.

The Invite hits on multiple levels, and with its traipsing into somewhat taboo social territory, it invites the audience into deep explorations too. The squealing laughter I witnessed from the audience was not only in response to the actual comedy, wonderfully scripted by the creative writing duo of Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, but also, I am guessing, from the transgressive material confronting everyone watching from their uneasy seats.

I am not sure that I would want to take part in such an evening, but sometimes we are lucky enough to stumble into insane and awkward situations that can open windows to parts of ourselves we have forgotten where we can pick up the notes to our song and perhaps sing them once more.

For KSQD’s Film Gang: Christine Barrington

On Sustainability Now! Sunday, July 19th from 5-6 PM

The Santa Cruz Mountains cover more than 1,000 square miles of the Central California Coast, running from just south of San Francisco all the way down to the Salinas Valley.  The region has been actively stewarded for thousands of years by indigenous people and is a place of significant cultural, biological, and environmental diversity which supports many native plant and animal species found nowhere else on Earth.  Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation about the mountains and the network with Dylan Skybrook, Manager of the Santa Cruz Mountains Stewardship Network, a collaboration of twenty-six organizations engaged in land stewardship in the Santa Cruz Mountains, whose mission is to help cultivate a resilient, vibrant region where human and natural systems can thrive for generations to come.

Jason Dove Mark is the author, most recently, of The Earth Said Remember Me: How to Revive Our Memories and Restore the Planet. He has served as editor-in-chief of Sierra magazine and editor of Earth Island Journal. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Atlantic. He lives in the Pacific Northwest.

The midway break in the interview includes an excerpt of the song “If a Tree Falls”, written and performed by Bruce Cockburn, from his 2009 release Slice O’ Life.

June is Pride Month and many Pride events have occurred across the state and nation. One of the final prides of the month is Monterey Peninsula Pride that took place on the last Saturday of June.  Hear from Monterey Pride Vice Chair Nick Zafritos and Grand Marshal David Reichard talk about the parade and festival and many events of Monterey Peninsula Pride.  

Just when you think a movie has already topped itself, think again. While many believed Toy Story 4 was the final farewell to Woody, Buzz Lightyear and the gang, Toy Story 5 proves there was one more story worth telling.

Written and directed by Andrew Stanton and McKenna Harris, Toy Story 5 explores the growing impact of technology on childhood play. Featuring the familiar voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen and Joan Cusack, the film follows Bonnie, who inherited Andy’s beloved toys. Although she loves using her imagination, she struggles to make friends. When her parents buy her a Lilypad tablet, Bonnie finally finds acceptance with a group of classmates. But Jessie the Cowgirl worries that Bonnie is spending more time with a screen than with her toys—or with other children. Her concern is also personal, as Jessie still fears being abandoned as she once was by her previous owner.

As Bonnie tries to fit in, she feels pressure to leave her old toys behind. Hoping to help Bonnie find a true friend, Jessie and Bullseye return to the home of Jessie’s first owner. There they meet three forgotten electronic toys—Snappy, Atlas and Smarty Pants, voiced with perfect comedic timing by Conan O’Brien. Jessie is skeptical of them at first but soon realizes these outdated gadgets may hold the key to helping Bonnie connect with another child.

The film thoughtfully explores a question many parents face today: how much technology belongs in childhood? It also reminds us how quickly technology itself becomes obsolete. Devices such as digital cameras, GPS units and educational electronics, once considered cutting edge, have already been replaced by smartphones and tablets. Rather than condemning technology, the film suggests that imaginative play and modern devices can successfully coexist.

Several entertaining subplots keep the story moving. Woody is coping with a bald spot, Buzz finally gathers the courage to propose to Jessie, and an army of forgotten Buzz Lightyear toys embarks on a hilarious mission to defeat Emperor Zurg. Even Lilypad receives a touching redemption arc after realizing that some of her programming has unintentionally caused Bonnie emotional pain.

The film’s most heartfelt moment comes when Jessie realizes that although her former owner has grown up, she has never forgotten the happiness Jessie once brought into her life. It’s a touching reminder that while children may outgrow their toys, the memories they create often last forever.

For fans of the Toy Story franchise—now spanning more than three decades—Toy Story 5 delivers a warm, funny and satisfying conclusion to the adventures of the toys we all wished were real.

For the KSQD Film Gang: Molly Sullivan.

Parades and parties had a strong showing across the nation this July 4. Some endured sweltering heat and humidity, but in Aptos, K-Squid enjoyed the fog, and the crowds, and hooped it up with the rest of the community for American’s 250 anniversary while Squid on the Street Suki Wessling swam through the happy attendees and captured our “time capsule” recording.

_________________________________________________

Our thanks to the fabulous folks who made it shine: Gary Shapiro and his lady love, Robynn Smith, for supplying, and driving, their wonderfully vintage Ford F-150; Robynn and her friend Diane who created a giant squid for the side of the truck out of a red plastic table cloth on the spot; Gary Shapiro for hot and dance-worthy playlist+speaker; Ronnie Lipschutz for purchasing an inflated Squid costume, blowing it up, and wearing it; Chuck Mueller and Sharlee Jacobsen for bringing a huge box of treats from Gayles; Mary Ann Wieland, Suki Wessling, Francis Garcia, + Ron Barrington for being the KSQD Red Letter Team, and all our regulars for carrying the banner, handing out stickers and keeping it real. What a hoot!

Ronnie Lipschutz a.k.a Mr. Squid

Chuck and Shalee bring treats!                    Francis Garcia and Denise Gallant

Christine Barrington works the crowd.              Uncle Gary enjoy a cookie

Artists Robynn + longtime buddy, Diane               Lady Jazz burns it up with the Aptos FD!

(Thanks for the Giant Squid!)

Every Voter Deserves a Voice That Matters!

“Be Bold America!” Live Interview*

Friday, July 3, 2026 at 5:00pm (PT)

Times have changed! 45% of today’s voters identify as political independents. They are rejecting rigid opinions. Now, there is a non-partisan reform organization who are advancing fair participation for independent-minded voters.

The Independent Voter Project (IVP) is focused on three reforms:

• Open primaries for every voter! Over 26 million Americans are locked out of primary elections simply because they refuse to join a political party. The independent Voter Project is leading the fight to change that. 

• Improve better representation with More Choice Voting! When elections offer only two viable choices; voters settle. More Choice Voting advances reforms that expand the field, increase competition, and force candidates to earn broader support. 

• End Super PACs! 74.9% of Maine voters said yes to capping Super PAC donations at $5000. Now, IVP is defending that law in court – and building the legal framework to take the fight to all 50 states.

IVP’s legal work is the engine behind every reform they pursue. They author legislation, build the constitutional framework, and defend it in court. Their track record isn’t theoretical – it’s precedent. IVP’s litigation record, spans, offense and defense – from federal district courts to the US Supreme Court. 

Interview Guest: 

S. Chad Peace is an attorney, media executive, and election reform advocate based in San Diego. He is the founder of IVC Media, a digital strategy and public affairs firm working with corporate, nonprofit, and political clients, and a partner at Peace & Shea LLP, where his legal work focuses on election law and voter participation. Chad has been involved in national and state efforts to expand access for independent voters, including litigation, ballot initiatives, and public education. He is a frequent commentator on election reform and political systems and co-hosts the Independent Voter Podcast. View Chad Peace’s interview on ABC News!

Host:

Mike Clancy is a former Technical and Scientific Director of the Navy’s Fleet Numerical Meteorology and Oceanography Center in Monterey, a recipient of the Navy’s highest civilian award, a frequent lecturer on climate change, and the former Chair of the Monterey Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby. He serves on the Question Review Team for the Annual Leon Panetta Lecture Series and is a supporting actor in the award-winning independent feature film, “A Long Road to Tao”.

*Podcast available following week

Over the past four centuries, the transformation of the Greater San Francisco Bay Region has been extraordinary.  What was once a near paradise for a few hundred thousand indigenous First Peoples is now home to nearly 8 million whose accumulated activities since the arrival of Europeans have created an industrialized landscape interspersed with large areas of open space where nature is in recovery. How did this happen? Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation with David D. Schmidt, who spent two decades writing San Francisco Bay Area—An Environmental History, published by Back Country Press in 2025, and which is this year’s winner of the California Book Awards Gold Medal for Contributions to Publishing. The book is a magisterial tome addressing virtually every aspect of SF Bay and its environmental transformation over the past 400 years.  And learn how Alfred Hitchcock got the idea for his classic film “The Birds.”

Episode 92: Traumatic brain injuries, often called TBIs, can happen in an instant — through a fall, car or bike accident, assault, sports injury, or everyday mishap — yet their effects often unfold over weeks, months, or even years. This episode of State of Mind explores how brain injury can affect mental health, identity, relationships, and daily life.

Host Debra Sloss speaks with JoAnne Jones, author of Headstrong: Surviving a Traumatic Brain Injury, about the severe brain injury she sustained after a violent assault at age 62. JoAnne shares her experience of surviving, adapting, and finding meaning after a life-changing trauma with lasting physical and psychological impacts.

Also joining the conversation is Dr. Jennifer Yu, a specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with advanced training in Brain Injury Medicine. Dr. Yu explains the wide spectrum of brain injuries, from mild concussions to severe trauma, and how TBI can affect mood, memory, concentration, sleep and emotional regulation. She also discusses treatment, rehabilitation, and symptoms that may appear long after the injury.

The episode includes an “In Your Voice” story from community member Jinx Deruisa, who shares her experience of living with the lasting effects of a traumatic brain injury and the difficulty of having symptoms dismissed or misunderstood.

Together, these stories offer a deep look at the mental health impacts of brain injury and the importance of recognition, treatment, and support throughout recovery. 

Broadcasts 7/5/26 & 7/13/26

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* Indicates a Monterey Bay Area Resource

Organizations & Websites

Brain Injury Association of California – California-specific brain injury resource offering information, advocacy, education, support, and referrals for people affected by brain injury.

Centre for Neuro Skills (CNS), San Francisco/Emeryville — Provides individualized rehabilitation and disease-management services for people recovering from acquired and traumatic brain injuries, including post-acute inpatient rehabilitation, day treatment/outpatient services, continued care, and telerehabilitation.

CDC Traumatic Brain Injury & Concussion — Federal public health information on TBI symptoms, concussion recovery, prevention, and when to seek help.

BrainLine — Research-based articles, videos, personal stories, and practical resources about brain injury and PTSD for survivors, families, and professionals.

Books & Articles

Over My Head: A Doctor’s Own Story of Head Injury from the Inside Looking Out — Claudia L. Osborn. Andrews McMeel Publishing. A physician’s memoir of life and recovery after traumatic brain injury, told from inside the experience.

Aftermath: Violence and the Remaking of the Self — Susan J. Brison. Princeton University Press, 2002. A personal narrative of recovery and philosophical exploration of trauma, memory, identity, autonomy, and community.

“Big thrills, dangerous spills: Local nonprofits provide treatment options for surfers who suffer brain injuries”— Jim Seimas, Santa Cruz Sentinel, February 13, 2021; updated February 16, 2021.

“Mental Health Disorders Common Following Mild Head Injury” — NIH News Release, January 30, 2019. Reports that approximately 1 in 5 people may experience mental health symptoms up to six months after mild traumatic brain injury, highlighting the importance of follow-up care.

Caregiver Support

Family Caregiver Alliance (FCA)  — Supports family caregivers of adults with physical or cognitive impairments through assessment, care planning, direct-care skills, wellness programs, respite services, legal/financial consultation vouchers, support groups, classes, and CareNav.

AARP Family Caregiving  — Offers practical articles, tips, and guides on personal care, medical management, finances, and caregiver well-being.

National Alliance for Caregiving — National nonprofit focused on research, advocacy, and innovation to improve life for family caregivers.

JoAnne’s Recommended Resources

AM Yoga with Rodney Yee — Gentle morning yoga video practice from Rodney Yee/Gaiam.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) — Everyday mindfulness practice model developed by Jon Kabat-Zinn; suggested resources include Jon Kabat-Zinn’s website, guided meditations, and YouTube talks/practices.

Writing — — JoAnne recommends any form of writing that allows imagination, reflection, and personal expression.

*Cabrillo College & *Cabrillo College Extension — Local and online writing classes, including creative writing and storytelling options.

Regular exercise— JoAnne emphasizes daily movement, including walking, standing more throughout the day, and spending time outdoors with her dog.

Rest— TBI and PTSD can take a significant energy toll. JoAnne has learned to build quiet rest into each day.

Mental Health and Family Support

NAMI National – National Alliance on Mental Illness. Amental health organization with state organizations and local affiliates offering education, support, advocacy, and resources for individuals and families affected by mental illness.

Santa Cruz, CA Area Treatment

*Cabrillo College Stroke and Disability Learning Center (SDLC) — Educational and support program for adults living with stroke, traumatic brain injury, brain tumor, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, speech/language/hearing impairment, and other disabling conditions.

Contact Guests

*JoAnne Silver Joans

 *Indicates a Monterey Bay Area resource

The Pride 2026 parade took place on Sunday, June 7 with more than 70 contingents and more than 3000 spectators along the parade route in downtown Santa Cruz. There were three announcer stands where each contingent was announced along the route.  One of the highlights was the NorCal Pride Band that made their first appearance – a band composed of musicians from schools across Santa Cruz County.  We welcomed Santa Cruz High School band director Christy Latham and Drum Major Joaquin Fitzsimmons to the show.