Executive Director Jeremy Cohen returns to the podcast to talk about this year's Ojai Playwrights Conference, in which 8 playwrights are selected from among hundreds of submissions to develop their work with a dedicated crew of dramaturgs, theater directors, actors and fellow writers in an intensive two-week workshop, which culminates in a weekend of live public readings (August 1 - 4).

This year five new playwrights - Christine Pumariega, Libby Carr, Lee Cataluna, Alex Lin and Mfoniso Udofia - join three artists in residence: Jacklyn Backhaus, Steve Yockey and Ojai veteran Stephen Aidly Guirgis. The Ojai Youth Theater Workshop is another important opportunity for high school students to immerse themselves in theater for those two weeks.

Cohen talks about the relevance and critical mission of the theater during uncertain times, how our empathy is developed on stage, and creating during the isolation of the pandemic. We also talked about how Ojai has assumed a central role in new play development with its open hospitality and dozens of volunteers, the importance of diversity in expanding our humanity and what's next for this renowned festival as it nears its third decade.

Cohen also discussed making the move from Minneapolis, where he was the producing artistic director at the Playwrights Center, to Los Angeles, and how we came to find himself working with writers, actors and producers.

We did not talk about Thomas Merton's final trip to Asia, casual vacancy elections in England or the scamsmanship that surrounds Bitcoin and other crypto-currencies.

For more information, check out OjaiPlays.org.