The prolific writer Catherine Ann Jones recently published her seventh book, "East & West: Stories of India." She has also written 12 plays and numerous television scripts. She came on the podcast to talk about the most recent book, a collection of stories about the subcontinent, where she explores the lingering effects of colonialism, people enduring and thriving, and the magic and mystique of India.

Jones grew up in New York City, but her Texas roots has informed her life as well. Her play, "The Women of Cedar Creek" won the New York Drama League award. And "On the Edge: The Final Years of Virginia Woolf" won a National Endowment of the Arts award. "The Way of Story" won the Nautilus Award in 2014.

We talked about how she got into writing after finding the challenging roles she craved as an actor so hard to find. As well as her influences, including her years living in India, her marriage to Raja Rao, how she came to Ojai and why she's stayed.

We did not talk about Adelié penguins, continental drift or the coming NFL draft.

You can learn more about Catherine at her website, WayofStory.com where you can check out her books as well.

Ojai's own Casey Roddick is coming out in the NFL draft (end of April) this year. The 6'5" 304-pound offensive lineman just came off a 13-0 regular season as an anchor of the No. 6 Florida Seminoles. He also played at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and is expected to be much-sought after in the NFL draft.

Casey grew up in Ojai, starting out with Eagles Football, and advancing to St. Bonaventure before becoming a starter at the highest level of college football. But he hasn't forgotten the lessons of Ojai; everyone is looking out for each other, information travels fast, and community service is the glue that holds everything together.

Baseball was his first love, though. He was feared and respected for his long-ball exploits, and also for his defensive versatility, playing virtually every position, especially pitcher.

We talk about the process of being recruited, how an agent puts together a team to help draftees with finances, negotiations, housing, and how to build wealth to serve them beyond their playing years. They want Casey to put his focus on the field. We also spent a fair bit of time talking about the bonds between teammates, the lifelong friendships and locker room camaraderie.

We did not talk about clipper ships, Sweden's entry into NATO or South African delicacies.

Check out Casey's Instagram at @casedogg1.

The cover story of the Spring OQ celebrates the Krotona Institute for Theosophy Center's 100th anniversary with a fascinating interview with Dr. Pablo Sender, Maria Parisen and Elena Dovalsantos. The story was written by Kate Fernandez based on this podcast .

The event will be celebrated April 15th through April 26 at the august institution that stands on the hillside in the center of the Ojai Valley, often called "the navel of Ojai." The Krotona Center was founded by the Theosophical Society as it outgrew its facilities in Hollywood. Annie Besant raised the money for the Theosophists to purchase the 175 acres on which Krotona stands, as well as another 465 acres in Upper Ojai, which she called "Happy Valley," and which houses both Besant Hill School and the Ojai Foundation.

Theosophical Society luminaries will be gathering from all over the world to teach, learn and celebrate. "We focus more on living the teachings, rather than just teaching and trying to spread it," said Dovalsantos.

Annie Besant herself visited Ojai for several months in 1927 to check on the facility. She called Ojai "this smiling vale" and foresaw Ojai as an important place in the evolution of humanity.

We talked about why Theosophy speaks clearly to a troubled world, its role in Ojai's culture, the beauty of its grounds, how the public can get involved or at least satisfy their curiosity and more. We did not talk about blue whale migrations, the tragic death of the Central Park owl or ancient aliens.

Check out KrotonaInstitute.org for more information on this important local landmark and their long and colorful history and future plans.

The cover of the Spring OQ features an original artwork by our creative director, Uta Ritke.

Heather Stobo and Lisa Casoni, owner and operators of Beato Chocolates, moved to Ojai in 2010. They opened Porch Gallery in 2013 with the goal of pairing up artists of different genres and mediums to "see what happens."

They came to Ojai with open minds and hearts and quickly became integral to the community. The Sunday morning impromptu gatherings on the famous porch became an accelerator for the unexpected and incidental encounters that lead to interesting relationships and creative partnerships.

Their often odd and always interesting juxtapositions brought an exciting new energy and inspiration to Ojai's arts scene. Some of these artists were regional and even national favorites, like Shana Mubari and Ojai's own Dennis Mukai, others brought a more local sensibility but all of them created something new, vital and bigger than the sum of their parts.

Beato Chocolates grew out their shared affinity and admiration for the pioneering ceramicist and "Mama of Dada," whose relationship with Marcel Duchamp and Henri Pierre-Roché was integral to a revolution in the art world.

Lisa and Heather discussed the arts scene in Ojai and where and how it's likely to change and evolve in the future, their experiences adapting themselves to Ojai and their journeys here. We did not talk about giant squid, Helen Frankenthaler or Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Learn more at BeatoChocolates.com.

Ojai CARES (Cancer Awareness, Resources, Education & Support) was founded in 2013 by Susan Kapadia after her own bout with breast cancer. After volunteering with cancer support groups in Santa Barbara she realized that Ojai residents needed/deserved their own.

In the decade-plus since, Ojai CARES has built a sense of community of the people afflicted by this dread disease, while also advocating for patient care, and working with oncologists and other doctors. Since its inception, Ojai CARES has served 900 people.

Susan talked about her years running the popular World Flavor Cafe, using recipes adapted from her years in the food business, the stresses of receiving her diagnosis while running the restaurant, and her quest to find support for herself, and to support others in turn. She also talked movingly about some of the memorable people whose lives touched hers.

We did not talk about Don Larsen's perfect World Series no-hitter, Jane Smiley's upbringing, or Prince Harry's memoir.

You can learn more about OjaiCARES at https://ojaicares.org/

California Treasurer Fiona Ma's husband Jason Hodge is a Ventura County resident and firefighter. Consequently she has a long history with Ojai and so stopped by the studio for a chat on a recent visit.

Surprisingly, Ma is only the second CPA to hold the position of the state's chief accountant, managing California's $310 billion budget in the state's $3.8 trillion economy, which, depending on how Germany is doing at the moment, is the world's fifth or sixth largest. Fiona Ma graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology, and received her master's from Pepperdine.

Fiona was first elected to the state Assembly in 2006 and was the first female to hold the Speaker Pro Tempore position, the second-highest ranking office in the body. She was also elected to the state Board of Equalization before being elected to the Treasurer post in 2018.

We talked about the daily challenges of running the finances of such a giant state with her staff of 500, the current deficit estimated at $38 billion or more, tackling the problems of homelessness and climate change, her run for Lieutenant Governor this fall, and much more. We did not talk about Arthur Bentley's 1908 classic, "The Process of Government," Hiram Johnson, or the Mayan writing system.

You can learn more about her at FionaMa.com.

Matt Henriksen grew up in Ojai and witnessed many changes throughout the years, but one constant remained for the committed bibliophile, Bart's Books, founded in 1964.

Working at the time for an insurance agency, Matt found the work a little drab for his taste, and to supplement his income began doing odd jobs around the bookstore he - and hundreds of thousands of other people - love. When manager Dave Ray pulled up stakes to move to Pueblo, Colorado, Matt was offered his dream job. His extensive knowledge of books comes in handy as Ojai's resident recommender of literature. He also collects and sells vintage and valuable books, including some incredible finds.

Among many assorted topics, we talked about growing up Ojai, how his tastes in literature have, and have not, changed and what he thinks the future of this "smiling vale" will bring. We did not talk about geo-fencing, the Great Australian Emu War of 1932 (spoiler: the emus won) or tips and tactics for topwater bass.

Check out more at BartsBooksOjai.com

Hall of Fame Skater Chris Miller is still winning championships in his 50s with his iconically smooth, fluid style and precision against other legends like Tony "Birdman" Hawk. Growing up near the famous Pipeline Skate Park in Upland, California, Chris turned pro while still a high-schooler. He's since gone on to win about every competition on the circuit.

Miller found an outlet for his prodigious and prolific artistic talents designing his own decks at an early age. He moved into the clothing side of the business through several iterations with partners and on his own, including the coveted Planet Earth brand. While living in north San Diego County, he partnered up with fellow entrepreneur Joe Kudla to create Vuori in 2014. The company made yoga and comfort wear for men, and was successful early. Nothing prepared them for the pandemic, which Miller describes as a scary time of uncertainty, but it didn't take long before home-bound people found Vuori's versatile and comfortable clothes irresistible. It is now valued at $4 billion.

Chris Miller talks over the rise and fall and rise again of skating culture, how important it has become to youth all over, his early heroes Stacy Peralta and Tony Alva, how he came to Ojai and much, much more. He is married to Lauren Dollie Duke, another friend of the pod, whose book "Shithouse" has become a surprise hit.

We did not talk about the Copper River sockeye salmon runs, the NFL playoffs or parcheesi.

Check out one of the many magazine profiles of Chris Miller ...

https://welcomeskateboards.com/blogs/news/chris-miller-the-chromeball-interview

Chef Robin Goldstein has written "A Taste of Ojai," "A Taste of Santa Barbara," and "Wine Country," as well as catering many high-profile events in and around the area. She also travels to Europe each year to sample local cuisines and returns freshly inspired to expand her culinary repertoire.

A long-time Ojai resident, Chef Robin grew up in the restaurant business in Washington, D.C. and was fascinated from the jump, delighting in the sensations of smell, taste and touch, the hurly-burly and hustle bustle of her grandparents' busy, three-story landmark restaurant. She attended the other CIA - Culinary Institute of America, and moved to Los Angeles in 1984. After earning her stripes with several famous restaurateurs she branched out on her own, living in Spain and developing a love for Mediterranean cuisine. She has carved a niche for herself for focusing on fresh, local flavors and unusual combinations, which we talk about. We also talk about why restaurant culture is so important, how even the most modest kitchen experimenters can have success, and the future of food.

We did not talk about extinct primates, post-fire chaparral regrowth or hand-lining for tuna.

You can learn more about her, or book her for your event (or buy one of her four books) at PrivateChefRobin.com.

In this reprise edition, writer and frequent OQ contributor Kit Stolz talks about his epic walkabout, covering every one of the 2,560-miles of Pacific Crest Trail, from the deserts along the border with Mexico, to touching the fence that separates the U.S. from its northern neighbor in Washington State's foggy pine forests.

We talk about this epic journey, the lessons learned along the way, and the enduring friendships formed in the crucible of personal challenge and hardship. We also talk about Ojai's increasing aridification, the new wave of migrants to our "smiling vale" and the high-quality education and conservation that defines our community. Plus lots of other things.

Kit and I did not talk about the William Barents' explorations, intermittent fasting or the rise of Generation Z.

You can check out more of Kit's writings at https://achangeinthewind.com/