Ojai: Talk of the Town

In this reprise episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with writer and historian Mark Lewis to explore one of the most unsettling chapters in American cultural history — the Hollywood Blacklist. Mark's feature in the Fall 2015 issue of the Ojai Quarterly dove deep into the fear-fueled politics of the late 1940s and ’50s, when actors, writers, and directors were exiled from the entertainment industry for alleged Communist ties.

Many of those key figures lived in Ojai - names like Paul Jerrico, Michael Wilson and Dalton Trumbo, where they found a haven and an understanding community.

Through richly detailed storytelling and incisive commentary, Mark reveals how the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings not only destroyed careers but also reshaped Hollywood and American public life. We discuss the rise of informants, the toll on personal lives, and the eerie parallels between that Red Scare era and the social media-fueled cancel culture and political polarization of today.

This conversation isn’t just a history lesson — it’s a warning. As we reflect on the past, we’re forced to ask: how do we protect freedom of expression without falling prey to fear and conformity?

We did not talk about Vaclav Smil's latest work, impending screw worm disasters or the rise of our new digital overlords.

Don’t miss this hauntingly timely discussion on art, politics, and the enduring fight for the soul of American storytelling.

On this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we take a sun-dappled stroll through the life and work of Stephanie Hubbard —landscape architect, abstract expressionist, and one of the newest members of the Ojai Studio Artists. Fresh off a prestigious nine-month residency at the Taft Gardens, Stephanie shares how Ojai’s wild beauty has rooted itself in her art — and her soul.

We talk childhood in the Transcendentalist center of Concord, Massachusetts, apprenticing with a ceramicist painting flowers for Evelyn & Crabtree, and what it was like to work as on-screen talent with the classic show "This Old House." We get into the tangled garden of her creative process, where soil meets soul, and brush meets instinct.

Stephanie’s story is one of elegant reinvention — from shaping landscapes to letting landscapes shape her. If you like stories about artistic breakthroughs, garden epiphanies, or what happens when a designer trades blueprints for brushstrokes, don’t miss this one.

We did not talk about when Shohei Ohtani was going to next take the mound, David Hockney's camera obscura or the short-lived Korean Empire.

Pull up a seat — or better yet, take us on a walk — and enjoy the view. You can learn more about Stephanie and her work at her artist website, Stephanie-Hubbard.com, or her landscape architectural firm, Site-Creative.com

In this episode, we sit down with filmmakers Jack Piatt and David Breschel, the creative forces behind Highway West Entertainment, whose work spans literature, music, and the open road of independent cinema. Their short film The Singers, a haunting and poetic adaptation of Ivan Turgenev’s 19th-century story, has been selected for the prestigious Tribeca Film Festival, where its timeless themes of memory, art, and loss will find a new audience. Jack and David share how they discovered the story, why it resonated with them today, and what it means to adapt classical literature in a modern cinematic language.

We also talk about their powerful documentary I Need You, a heartfelt chronicle of the legendary band America, which was screened to great acclaim at last year's Ojai Film Festival, and also with more recently at the Ojai Playhouse with founding members Dewey Bunnell and Gerry Beckley.

With behind-the-scenes access and deep reverence for their enduring legacy, the film captures the band’s extraordinary 50+ year journey — from their British-American roots to their emotional farewell tour. Jack and David reflect on the art of telling a band’s story with honesty, tenderness, and the kind of nuance that comes only from true fans.

In both projects, you’ll hear their passion for storytelling—whether through fiction, film, or friendship. And you’ll get a glimpse of what it takes to shepherd meaningful, independent work into the world.

Tune in for a conversation that travels from 19th-century Russia to the stage lights of the present, with two artists who are helping shape the future of narrative film.

We did not talk about the in-migration of Sinaloa Cartel leaders, ghost ships of the Namibian Desert or the declining recruitment into the U.S. armed forces.

For more information about Jack and David, check out their website at https://highwaywestent.com/

Join us as we talk with the Ojai Music Festival’s Bravo Education Coordinator Laura Walter on planting the seeds of musical creativity, and what’s coming up for young performers this spring and summer

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Laura Walter, the inspiring force behind the Bravo! education program at the Ojai Music Festival for decades. Laura shares how elementary students across the valley are being introduced to music through hands-on, joyful experiences—and how those early encounters are shaping lives.

She also spotlights the upcoming SCORE program performance, directed by Caitlin Praetorius and Bill Wagner, where student-composed works take the stage. Don’t miss this showcase of young talent on Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at Nordhoff High School.

And for those budding musicians eager to keep the rhythm going, Laura gives us the scoop on two summer music camps running June 23–28 and August 11–16, held weekday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon at the Ojai Presbyterian Church. These programs, offered in partnership with the Ojai Recreation Department, continue the Festival’s mission of bringing the joy of music to the next generation.

We also talked about her youth in a music family of 8 in Michigan, going to college in Kentucky, her lifelong love of play as it pertains to learning, and much more. We did not talk about the second consecutive Pope from the western hemisphere, the overuse of peppercorns in many steaks au poivre or Gibbons' insights into the early Ottoman Empire.

Tune in for a conversation filled with harmony, heart, and the promise of a bright musical future for Ojai’s youth. For more information, check out OjaiFestival.org (the beloved cultural institution returns this year June 5-8).

This week on Ojai Talk of the Town, we’re joined by storyteller Megan Dolan and Ojai Storytelling Festival’s executive director Kara Lakes. Megan shares the inspiration behind her powerful solo show, Not the Right Mom: One Mother's Misadventures in Autism, a Full Spectrum Comedy — a deeply funny, raw, and tender look at parenting on the spectrum, and what it means to show up when you feel wildly unqualified.

Kara - herself the mother of an autistic child - tells us why the Storytelling Festival is bringing this moving performance to the Temple of the Oaks on May 7, and why stories like Megan’s matter now more than ever. We talk about vulnerability, humor, and how storytelling builds empathy, one laugh — and one tear — at a time.

We also talked about the dehumanizing remarks made by HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, how family members deal with their autistic siblings, and why and how the power of stories can overcome fear and ignorance.

We did not talk about Marie Curie's strange death, the Lakers' early playoff exit or the rise of inauthentic Texas barbecue.

For more information, check out OjaiStoryFest.org.

After several years in Los Angeles, the Ojai Playwrights Conference Gala - widely known as one of the best parties of the social calendar - is coming home — to the Ojai Playhouse. on May 17th.

Executive Director Jeremy Cohen joins us to talk about this year’s star-studded celebration, featuring appearances by Tig Notaro and Indigo Girls’ Emily Saliers, as well as the upcoming 28th anniversary festival in August.

We dig into why theater still matters in uncertain times, the power of storytelling to foster empathy and inclusion, and why Ojai’s unique cultural ecosystem makes it the ideal place to nurture bold new voices in American theater. Plus: Jeremy shares his own path into the world of dramaturgy, how he ended up in Ojai, and why this little valley has such an outsized impact on the stage.

We also talked about the OPC Taco Tuesdays events for writers in Ojai,

We did not talk about the Chicago Cubs' promising prospects this baseball season, the Cathar conspiracies or Marxist views on alienation.

Whether you’re a theater buff, a curious local, or just need a little hope through art — this episode’s for you.

Check out more about the Gala, the OPC programming and much else at OjaiPlays.org.

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with dancer, teacher, and cultural organizer Isha Ferraz, the powerhouse behind the Ojai World Dance Festival, now in its second joyful year. Happening Saturday, May 3 at Libbey Bowl — and spilling out into Libbey Park with free public events — the festival brings together world-class dancers and musicians from across the region to celebrate rhythm, movement, and connection.

Isha shares the powerful personal story behind the festival’s creation, from her upbringing in a Brazilian-Puerto Rican household where music and dance were woven into daily life, to how her Hamza Dance Studio became a refuge during the covid lockdown. What started as a sanctuary for her community has blossomed into a festival that brings Ojai together through joy, movement, and global culture.

Come for the music, stay for the inspiration — this episode will have you tapping your toes and believing in the power of dance to heal and connect.

We also talk about dance as a fountain of youth, community, and as a way to connect different cultures. We did not talk about Edward Libbey's glassmaking inventions, Kern River rainbow trout subspecies or the Fall of Rome.

Check out more about the Festival and to purchase tickets at ...

https://www.danceojai.org/ojaidancefestival

In this heartfelt episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with singer-songwriter Abigail Cartright and her husband, veteran producer and engineer Ika, to talk about the deep emotional journey behind Abigail’s new album, Miracle Year, with her band Ana Mirabilis — a loose yet beautifully bonded collective of Ojai musicians and artists.

With echoes of Lana del Rey, Beach House, Mitski, Radiohead, and decades of artistic experience, Miracle Year is more than an album — it’s a story of transformation. Abigail opens up about the personal losses, illness, and depression she endured, and how these trials became the fuel for an artistic breakthrough.

We also talk about growing up in creative families, the merging of music and visual arts, and the surprising way Abigail and Ika’s lives first intersected — through her father, many years ago and far away in New York. It’s a conversation about resilience, love, and the healing power of art.

We did not talk about the the Dreyfus Affair, the NBA playoff picture or Maine's arctic char population.

You can listen to Abigail's music on Spotify or Apple Music. The vinyl album will be released soon.

As the new 75-bed Continuing Care Center in Ojai opens for business, we revisit a conversation from 2022 with Haady Lashkari, Chief Administrative Officer of Ojai's Community Memorial Hospital. Haady shares what it was like to lead a rural hospital through the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, how the experience shaped his perspective on healthcare, and the lessons he’s carried forward.

We also get a sneak peek into the hospital’s brand-new Continuing Care Center—a major investment in the future of elder and rehabilitative care in the valley. From growing up working at his family’s restaurant to becoming a respected healthcare administrator, Haady’s journey is as inspiring as it is grounded in community values.

We did not talk about Dr. Ignatius Semmelweiz, Tyrolean independence movements or whether Ohtani is likely to take the mound this year for the Dodgers.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to keep a small-town hospital running—and thriving—through crisis and beyond, don’t miss this wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation.

For more information on Ojai's healthcare system, check out https://www.mycmh.org/locations/community-memorial-continuing-care-center/

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Raúl Alvarado, a 33-year Accenture veteran and former COO who helped shape — and save — some of the world’s most influential companies. Born in Panama, educated at the Colorado School of Mines, and seasoned by decades of global leadership in Europe and beyond, Raul brings an engineer’s precision and a humanist’s touch to the art of transformation.

Raúl shares stories from the frontlines of billion-dollar turnarounds, explains why active listening is his most powerful business tool, and reflects on how implementation — not just ideas — is what truly moves the needle. Now a philanthropist and Ojai local, Raúl is as passionate about community building as he is about corporate strategy.

He now runs Alvarado Advisory Group, LLC, coaching executives, and running the nonprofit, A Thousand Joys, working with trauma victims.

Whether you’re a business leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or curious listener, this conversation offers timeless insights on leadership, communication, and the importance of staying grounded — even when you’re operating at the highest levels.

We did not talk about low-tech drone defenses, currency conversions or new archaeological discoveries in the Yucatan.

Check out more about Raúl at his website, https://alvaradoadvisorygroup.com/