Ojai: Talk of the Town

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 thanks for the opportunity to clarify. Any failure of communication is on me.

If I didn't ask your question, apologies, a few of the voicemails got lost in the system. Please try again. I can best be reached at [email protected] or even via the old-fangled telephone at 805-798-0177.

In the meantime, please enjoy our products and support the businesses who support us.

I didn't talk about poker bluffing strategies, apple orchard pests or how to throw a knuckleball.

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And check out the past 214 episodes of the Ojai Podcast, "Talk of the Town."

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 bracing, fast-pacing discussion.

Lepp talks about his family of storytellers, his close bonds with fellow storytellers developed after years on the circuit, and why it matters. Lakes talks about what's new this year - the story slams, workshops, special events such as Naughty Tales and renowned musical acts.

We did not talk about RFK Jr.'s whale decapitation, medieval poetry forms like the sestina or the inter-generational despair of Mets fans.

For more information on this weekend's festival, check out OjaiStoryFest.org. For more on the singularly "L'd" Bil Lepp, check out his website at https://www.leppstorytelling.com/

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 but to execute an audacious plan: reboard the vessel, extinguish the fire, then heroically repair the ship enough to limp through rough seas and U boats into western Scotland, navigating without charts or instruments. The 11-episode series stars Brian Cox, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, John Malkovich and Nathalie Emmanuel.

Mawson worked on this project for more than a decade before bringing it to life. The Ojai resident talked about his own career at sea as a navigator, the Age of Exploration, his own dauntless probably ancestor Douglas Mawson, his future plans for this project as a TV series and what's next for him.

We did not talk about the Atlantic Overturning Meridonial Overturning Circulation, Senegalese hip hop or Dolly Parton.

For more information or to listen to the podcast, sign up for a free trial at Wondery: https://wondery.com/shows/unsinkable/

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 Miriam Jones and Heroes Healing's Atz Kilcher. If that name sounds familiar, it should. Kilcher was the star of Discovery Channel's "Alaska: The Last Frontier," for 12 seasons. He is also the father of Jewel, the singer-songwriter who has sold 30 million albums. She got her Grammy-nominated start as a young child playing in a duo with her father, who is a well-known songwriter and yodeler in his own right.

Kilcher has several connections to Ojai. His mother spent several months here when he was a teenager, leaving him to "hold down the fort" at the family homestead in Kachemak Bay in Homer, Alaska, and he is well acquainted with the numerous contingent of Ojai residents who also homesteaded in Homer (see Mark Lewis' story "O Pioneers!" in the Fall 2019 issue of Ojai Quarterly).

The November 2nd concert will take place at the brand-new Topa Bowl in upper Ojai at the Topa Institute. Also on the bill are Andrew Wiscombe, Stephen Covell, and Kate & Secily Anderson. The event will also feature storytelling, crafts, food and more.

Operation Encore is another key organizer for this event, helping develop veterans who are musicians through performances and recording opportunities. Open Circle connects veterans and other at-need people with the wilderness for restoring purpose and a sense of community.

Kilcher and Jones talked about how this event came together through a fortuitous encounter with Jones and her co-founder in Alaska, Kilcher's Vietnam experiences, why tje wilderness is essential for mental health, what it's like to live on a rugged homestead while being filmed for more than a decade, and their various journeys that led up to this moment.

We did not talk about Aztec death whistles, mah jongg or the Japanese royal family.

For more information on this event and the organizers check out ... https://www.foundation.weareopencircle.com/ or https://www.homeralaska.org/listing/heroes-healing-homestead/2654/

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 the challenges facing a company's CEO after a major disaster, in which the company's culture was identified as the culprit. But what exactly is culture? What components go into it? And how can it be guided and improved? The relatable story is told through the perspective of the company's CEO, COO and HR manager.

The Culture Creature, as it is called, befitting something so amorphous, takes on an ever-shifting shape, sometimes aggressive, sometimes insulting, and eventually, as the CEO gets closer to the heart of the matter, a helpful shape and tone. If you've ever thought about how some companies consistently outperform, and others don't, it pays to look at the culture. This book is a guide for how to define it, refine it and improve it.

We talked about Tom's NASA consultation in the wake of the Columbia devastation, his background and beliefs. We did not talk about Ohtani's historic 6-for-6 offensive achievement, Newton's invention of the color wheel, or the Siberian gulags.

You can learn more about Krause and his work at https://krausebellgroup.com/leadership/thomas-krause/

The Ojai Studio Artists Tour (Oct. 12-14) kicks off this year with a reception on Friday, Oct. 11th from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Ojai Valley Museum. Then on Saturday, Sunday and Monday (Columbus Day holiday) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 63 local artists open their homes to the public. Tickets are only $20 and go to fund scholarships for aspiring young artists.

Painter Christopher Noxon and ceramicist Suze Glazebrook talk about how the organization has evolved during its 40 years of history, how it honors its founders, Bert Collins and Gayel Childress (the third founder Marta Nelson passed away recently) and their own journeys to Ojai's arts scene. Glazebrook, who also creates jewelry, grew up in New Zealand, and has lived in Ojai since 1990, while Noxon moved here in 2020 during the pandemic. Glazebrook grew up in an artistic household while Noxon, a journalist and illustrator, launched his painting career fulltime when he moved to Ojai. Both have attracted dedicated collectors.

We talked about Ojai artists and OSA manage to reconcile the solitary creation process of art with the very human need for fellowship, why the arts have been key to Ojai's identity and allure for more than a century, how many major arts movements have had an Ojai influence, and much more.

We did not talk about the "Battle of Candlestick" on Aug. 22, 1965 between the Dodgers and Giants, when Giants pitcher Juan Marichal bashed Dodgers catcher Johnny Roseboro over the head, creating a 14-minute melee, or the myriad eccentricities of Argentinean president Javier Milei, nor the recent resurgence of salmon runs in the Klamath River.

The 2022 book about Beatrice Wood and her influential relationship with Henri-Pierre Roché and Marcel Duchamp is called "Spellbound by Marcel" by Ruth Brandon.

For more information, check out OjaiStudioArtists.org.

Bart’s Books, the world’s largest outdoor bookstore, has been a beloved Ojai institution for decades. However, it wasn’t until Emma Bailey, who started selling books there as a teenager, took the helm of their event programming that Bart’s began hosting regular author conversations. Since launching the series in June 2022, Emma has organized over 30 live events, gathering writers and local experts for engaging discussions in Bart’s cozy courtyard.

Bailey’s talent for connecting authors with the community has helped Bart’s thrive as a cultural hub. From conversations about gin with author Lesley Solmonson and local distiller Brad Miller, to environmental discussions pairing Patagonia Books authors with local figures like Tom Maloney of the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy, Bailey has created distinct experiences that resonate with locals and visitors alike.

Through her growing network of publishers and authors, Bailey continues to expand Bart’s offerings. With her keen eye for new talent and her passion for fostering literary dialogue, she plans to bring a diverse array of voices to Ojai, including upcoming talks with acclaimed writers like Maisie Dobb's author Jacqueline Winspear.

We did not talk about ikebana, wildebeest migrations or oak trees.

For more information, check out Emma's Substack, 10,000 Books, or BartsBooksOjai.com.

lona Saari, born in Bayside, Queens, and later a freelance writer in Manhattan, has always had a deep passion for food and mysteries. After moving from New York to Los Angeles to work in TV and film, she eventually found herself and her husband settling in the peaceful village of Ojai.

Now the culinary columnist for Ojai Quarterly, her love for food has become a central theme in her life and writing. This passion for storytelling, whether through recipes or suspense, is showcased in her third book, reflecting her unique blend of interests.

In addition to her culinary pursuits, Ilona has an impressive background in politics and media. She served as a consultant for Democratic National Conventions, worked as Deputy Press Secretary for the Carter-Mondale Presidential Campaign, and has written on environmental and women's issues. Her diverse experiences are also evident in her blog, My Dinners with Richard, where she writes about food, wine, travel, and more, blending her love for food with reflections on life.

We did not talk Arctic char spawns in the age of global warming, Shohei Ohtani's chances of reaching 50 hrs and 50 stolen bases this season or absinthe.

You can learn more about Ilona's books at ...

https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ilona-Joy-Saari/author/B007HPZT8E?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true

With Magic Hour relocating to an expanded downtown location on East Matilija Street, adjacent to Rainbow Bridge, it's a good time to repost this fan favorite from 2022:

Zhena Muzyka is an acclaimed author "Life by the Cup," a social entrepreneur, teacher, executive coach, public speaker, and former publisher of Enliven Books, a new Mind-Body-Spirit imprint from Atria/Simon and Schuster.

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I had the pleasure of sitting down with two key figures from the Gables of Ojai as the beloved senior living facility celebrates its 70th anniversary.

Matteo DiGrigoli, the Gables’ executive director, and David Brown, CEO of Somera Capital Management, joined me to reflect on the institution's rich history and its future. The Gables has long been an integral part of Ojai, originally founded in 1954 by the inspiring leadership of Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who shortly after in 1957 founded the American Association of Retired Persons. The membership grew quickly from zero to 400,000 in 1962 before moving to Long Beach, then Washington, D.C.

and now under Somera’s guidance since 1999. This milestone year is the perfect moment to take stock of how far the Gables has come and the profound impact it continues to have on the community.

David Brown shared fascinating insights into the pivotal moment when Somera Capital acquired the Gables from the AARP in 1999. He discussed the vision behind the transition and how the facility has evolved over the past two decades to meet the changing needs of Ojai's senior population. Matteo DiGrigoli brought a unique perspective, having taken the reins as executive director during the pandemic. He shared the challenges and triumphs of navigating such an unprecedented time, underscoring the resilience of the residents, staff, and families who trusted the Gables as a safe haven.

As we look ahead to the anniversary celebration on Saturday, September 28th, both executives emphasized the importance of community connection and innovation in senior care. From their stewardship during trying times to their forward-looking vision, it’s clear that the Gables remains a pillar of Ojai life, continuing to honor its past while shaping a bright future for its residents.

We talked about the Zoot Suit Riots, culinary artistry and the formidable, six-foot-tall red-headed firebrand that was Dr. Andrus. We did not talk about Rene Redzipi's show "Omnivore," Ojai's pixie tangerine harvest or Tuvan throat singing.

Check out more information about the Gables in the Fall OQ out now, or online at GablesofOjai.com.