Ojai: Talk of the Town

Peter Bellwood (1939–2025) was many things — screenwriter, satirist, collaborator, mischief-maker, and one of the great characters in Ojai’s creative community.
After rising through the English Satire Boom of the 1960s, performing alongside Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, and writing the cult classic Highlander, Peter moved to Ojai in 1993 to escape the L.A. riots. He quickly became part of the valley’s daily rhythm — the wit in the corner of the Coffee Connection, the conspirator behind countless theater projects, and a friend whose generosity and curiosity seemed endless.

In this memorial episode, a tapestry of voices gathers to celebrate the man who filled so many lives with laughter, wonder, and stories:

• Malcolm McDowell, who knew Peter since the 1960s and remained a dear friend throughout his life

• Mark Lewis, journalist and chronicler of Peter’s remarkable journey

• Jerry Dunn, reflecting on Peter’s remarkable generosity and creativity

• Kim Maxwell, who collaborated with Peter on stage projects at Theater 150

• Tom Miller, sharing a London voicemail about Peter’s lifelong influence

• Jon Furness, proprietor of the Coffee Connection, where Peter held court daily

• JB White and Jim Lashly, founders of Household Gods and longtime creative partners

Together, they paint a portrait of a man who lived fully in the realm of imagination — and who made Ojai brighter, funnier, and more alive merely by being here.

Hosted by Bret Bradigan, this episode is not a eulogy but a celebration of a singular life, lived entirely in stories.

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 celebrates its 30th anniversary this Boxing Day, December 26, 2025.

Stacey and Ojai Coffee Roasters is featured in the Winter issue of Ojai Quarterly magazine.

Stacey recounts how she and her then-husband, Kent, were meandering through California’s wine country when they wandered into a café in Calistoga — and instantly knew what they wanted to do next. A former precision tools salesperson for the defense industry, Stacey traded machine parts for coffee beans and found her true calling in community and connection.

Over the past three decades, the Ojai Coffee Roasting Company has weathered everything from recessions to a global pandemic, yet it remains one of Ojai’s most cherished “third places” — where locals gather, friendships form, and the pulse of the town beats strongest.

Stacey reflects on what’s changed (and what hasn’t) in the coffee world, the courage it takes to keep a small business thriving in a small town, and how serving a simple cup of coffee can help knit together a community.

We talked about flat whites, salted caramel lattés and favorite customers. We did not talk about mako sharks, the NBA gambling scandal or Zohran Mamdani.

Check out more about Ojai Coffee Roasters at https://ojaicoffeeroasters.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooPQy-Ena5gGhqAfAESC9Jo_yHuGosU0FTAz832umAzl5trma04

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 legacy. On this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with the Rocher couple to explore their journey from international fine-dining kitchens, through a four-star stint with their former Seattle restaurant, to planting roots in Ojai’s beloved 15,000-square-foot garden at 102 Besant Road. The Santa Barbara Independent+2805foodie+2

Perfecte — born in the citrus-hills outside Valencia, Spain — brings a chef’s wild curiosity and a punk-rock spirit forged in Michelin-rated kitchens around the globe. The Rochers at the Ranch House+1 Alia, formerly a marine biologist, found in food and hospitality a new calling — one rooted in sustainability, warmth, and storytelling. The Rochers at the Ranch House+1 Together they re-imagined The Ranch House not as a nostalgia trip, but as a living, breathing culinary and communal space. montecitojournal.net+1

In our conversation, the Rochers reflect on their inspirations — from their global travels and technical training, to artistic influences like the legendary chef Ferran Adrià and the path-breaking food critic Jonathan Gold. (Perfecte was selected for an intense ‘stage’ among 2,000 applicants — a formative career moment that reshaped his approach to cooking.)

We also dive into what dining looks like under their stewardship: al-fresco tasting menus guided by the seasons, recipes built from local produce and foraged ingredients, and a garden-first ethos that honors both the land and the social roots of our community. The Rochers at the Ranch House+2exploretock.com+2

Whether you’re a longtime Ojai resident curious about the new Ranch House, a culinary traveler dreaming of a garden dinner under the stars, or someone drawn to stories about reinvention, tradition and creative risk — this episode brings you the voices behind one of Ojai’s most talked-about restaurants.

Note: We did not talk about Johnny Blitz and the Dead Boys, Helen and Alan Hooker's bridge skills or the idiosyncracies of top chefs.

Press play, and let’s walk the garden paths with Perfecte and Alia — where every course is a story, and every table tells a new one. Check out their website for more insight into their new approach to an old favorite ... https://www.therochersrh.com/

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 corporate rules and reinvents itself in the spirit of this valley?

In this week’s episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Karen Banfield, founder and president of the new Ojai Valley Speech Club, and Severo Lara, its vice president, to explore how they transformed a fading Toastmasters chapter into a vibrant, heartfelt community.

When Karen stepped in to rescue what remained of the old club— just six members and dwindling fast — she realized the structure itself was part of the barrier. So she did something bold: she let it go.
What emerged is something distinctly Ojai: A relaxed gathering focused not on rigid rules or corporate polish, but on authenticity, intuition, creativity, and real human connection.

Members now give talks on everything from personal vulnerability to quantum physics, from life lessons to the mysterious ways intuition shapes the choices we make. The club has nearly tripled in size, and the energy in the room is unmistakable — a sense of growth, bravery, and community.

In our conversation, Karen and Severo discuss:

• How they redesigned public speaking for the Ojai spirit

• Why ditching formality invites deeper honesty

• The surprising subjects their members explore

• How a small group grew into an inspired community

• And why learning to speak from the soul is more important than ever

Whether you’ve always wanted to improve your public speaking or simply love stories of grassroots community-building, this episode offers insight, inspiration, and a reminder that finding your voice is an act of courage — and connection.

Tune in, get inspired, and maybe even consider stepping up to the mic yourself. (Note: we did not talk about Walter Payton's MVP season, origami or metalworking.)

Learn more about the Ojai Valley Speech Club at https://www.ojaivalleyspeech.club/

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 from The Dutchess.

Saw grew up in Myanmar under military rule, fronting a heavy-metal band whose politically charged lyrics earned him unwelcome attention from the junta before he emigrated to Los Angeles in 2007.Los Angeles Times+1 In California kitchens he traded guitar amps for grill grates, cooking everywhere from Bouchon and Café Pinot to Tallula’s in Santa Monica before finally landing in Ojai as chef-partner at The Dutchess, where he cooks a deeply personal Burmese-Indian-meets-California menu.Ojai Food and Wine+1

Brittany came up through the music world too, running an online music publication, De La Vie TV, before moving into restaurants, eventually becoming beverage director at The Dutchess and creating Namari, a cult-favorite non-alcoholic amaro.Namari+3Joplin's+3Podbay+3 Together they dreamed up Joplin’s — named for the dog who adopted them during the pandemic — a “food, drinks, rock & roll” roadhouse on East Ojai Avenue where Texas-style barbecue picks up Burmese and Indian accents, local meat and produce, and a seriously dialed-in playlist.Eater LA+4Joplin's+4Los Angeles Times+4

In this episode we talk about Saw’s journey from Rangoon stages to Ojai smokers, Brittany’s path from showrunner to beverage innovator, the near-miss rock-and-roll pop-up that Covid canceled, and how they’ve poured every second act of their lives into Joplin’s and The Dutchess. It’s a conversation about risk, reinvention, and what happens when you take “low and slow” as a life philosophy, not just a way to cook ribs.

We did not talk about whether Limp Bizkit is actually nu-metal, cloning polo ponies or the consequences of the Foreign Plot on the French Revolution.

To learn more about Saw & Brittany, check ot https://www.joplinsojai.com

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 (based in Ojai) whose mission is to reinvent desalination through modular, deep-sea-inspired reverse-osmosis systems that dramatically reduce energy demand and harm to marine ecosystems. Tiabzu+2Tiabzu+2 Bob is a visionary ocean-entrepreneur, artist and photographer who has logged over 5,000 hours underwater, documented offshore oil-platform ecosystems and now explores how those very structures can be re-envisioned. bobevansphotography.com

We dig into the enduring charms and layered history of Ojai — its origins in the Chumash word ’awha’y, the transformation from orange orchards to boutique valley community and the pull of places like Wheeler Hot Springs as a local retreat.

We also explore the cutting-edge frontiers: Susanne’s work at Tiabzu, using subsea-oil & gas tech to make fresh water more sustainably. And Bob’s unique vantage: underwater photography, marine stewardship, and how coastal infrastructure might become underwater oases instead of rusty relics.

We talked about Ojai's famous friendliness, the couple's other inventions such as aerodynamic pods that reduce gas mileage by hundreds of dollars per year (AeroHance.com), and Bart's Books and Barbara Bowman's. We did not talk about the lost civilization of Atlantis, Moroccan spice blends or Sigmund Freud's accomplished progeny.

Whether you’re drawn to the stillness of the valley, the deep blue below the waves, or the promise of innovation that cares for both — this conversation spans local place-making and global impact. Tune in.

Check out https://tiabzu.com/ and https://bobevansphotography.com/bob-evans-visionary-entrepreneur-artist-photographer/ for more information.

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 communist Czechoslovakia to America as a teenager has deeply shaped his practice. Born in Český Brod in 1981 and emigrating to the U.S. at age 12, Pazderka says those early years of dual identity and upheaval still echo in his work. LUM+4LUM+4MeetFactory+4

We explore his recent achievements — his solo exhibition at the Carolyn Glasoe Bailey Foundation and his award of a residency at Taft Gardens — and how his practice engages with themes of memory, ideology, home and the stark beauty of process. (Pazderka often burns wood panels, layers ash and oil paint and works in monochrome to evoke both the material and metaphoric weight of his experience.) Bender Gallery+1

We also talk about how Ojai has become both studio and sanctuary — how the landscape and quiet enable his reflections, and how this community intersects with his work of reinvention, belonging and creation. Join us for a rich conversation about art, exile, finding home and making something new out of what we leave behind.

We also talked about El Chapo Traphouse, Slavoj Zizek and Metal Gear Solid. We did not talk about Rene Girard, Martin Heidegger or Grand Theft Auto 6.

Learn more about Tom and his art at https://tompazderka.com/home.html

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 keeping the art of conversation alive. Modeled after Benjamin Franklin’s original “Junto” society of the 1730s, the Leather Apron Club has been meeting for the past eight years to exchange ideas on politics, environmental issues, foreign affairs, and cultural trends.

What makes the club remarkable isn’t just the breadth of topics, but the breadth of viewpoints. Members are chosen to reflect a wide spectrum of political and personal perspectives, and the goal isn’t persuasion — it’s understanding. As Roth explains, the Leather Apron Club is about creating a space where differences can be heard respectfully, where ideas can be tested, sharpened, and sometimes even transformed in the spirit of camaraderie and friendship.

The club also shares recommendations for books, films, articles, and other cultural touchstones, weaving together a community of curiosity and respectful debate. We did not talk about fly-tying knots, Amelia Earhart or molybdenum mining processes.

In an age where shouting matches often replace dialogue, Randy Roth’s Leather Apron Club stands as a local model for how civil discourse can flourish — and why it matters now more than ever.

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 from The Dutchess. Saw is executive chef and partner at The Dutchess, where his Burmese-Indian roots shape one of Ojai’s most celebrated menus; at Joplin’s, he channels that same precision into brisket and ribs, leaning on good cuts, time, and low, slow heat.

Brittany runs the front of house at Joplin’s, setting the tone for a room that’s equal parts hospitality, comfort food, and guitar-amp energy. Instagram+4The Dutchess+4Saveur+4

We talk about the juggle — how you staff and multi-task across two restaurants — and why culture beats chaos in a busy kitchen. Saw traces his path from Bouchon and Tallula’s to becoming chef-partner at The Dutchess, and, yes, his years as a guitarist (with a soft spot for nu-metal like Korn) before kitchens became his stage. Brittany shares how the couple met working in LA restaurants, and why Joplin’s leans into “food, drinks, and rock & roll” without losing sight of the essentials.

Plus: why Niman Ranch ribs, a dialed-in brisket, and a FOH that truly sees guests are the secret to Ojai’s newest staple. Instagram+6Variety+6Eater LA+6

We talked about the daily grind, weightlifting and superior sides. We did not talk about Mickey Mantle's off-the-field antics, bauxite production in Western Australia or the Flying Dutchman.

Learn more at https://www.joplinsojai.com/ or https://www.thedutchessojai.com/

SPECIAL EPISODE:

This week, we dive into the heart of storytelling and community as we gear up for the 30th annual Ojai Storytelling Festival, taking place this Thursday through Sunday (October 23-26) in the beautiful Ojai Valley. I’m joined by two remarkable voices behind the festival: Kara Martin Lakes, the Executive & Artistic Director of Performances To Grow On, which produces the Festival; and Regi Carpenter, internationally acclaimed storyteller and master of ceremonies for the weekend.

What we talk about

• Kara walks us through this year’s schedule — community-free events, workshops, the iconic Sunset Soirée celebration, the Story Slam, and how the festival is being brought into the heart of the town. Ojai Story Fest+2Ojai Story Fest+2

• Regi reflects on what it means to tell a story — and to hear one — in our modern age, and why the spoken word still has the power to move, to heal, and to connect. Ojai Story Fest+2Ojai Story Fest+2

• A candid conversation about facing financial hurdles: how the Festival is navigating the loss of a key $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and what it says about sustaining arts in a small town in today’s environment.

• How the Festival is intentionally reaching into the community — schools, youth outreach, inclusive programming — and why Ojai is the perfect place for this kind of gathering. ojaiwomensfund.org+1

• A moving (and hilarious) moment from Regi: a story about her mother buying a piano — how a seemingly simple act became a rich metaphor for memory, legacy, and resilience.

• Tips for listeners: how to get the most out of this year’s festival, whether you’re coming for one show or planning a whole-weekend pass.

• And: Why you might consider adding a story to your toolbox — not only as a listener but as a teller.

Why this matters
The Ojai Storytelling Festival isn’t just another arts event. It’s a gathering where stories live out loud under the oaks, where children in our valley hear voices from around the world, and where the tradition of the spoken word reminds us that despite technology, despite the hustle, what really brings us together is story. The Santa Barbara Independent

Listen in if

• You’re curious about the behind-the-scenes of a 30-year-old festival.

• You’ve ever wondered how arts organizations survive budget setbacks and keep community alive.

• You love storytelling or want to start telling your own.

• You’re local — or thinking of making the drive to Ojai — and want a preview of what to expect.