Lamorinda Living

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This a podcast for and about residents of Lamorinda. It aims to foster community within Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga by facilitating personal and professional connections, assist with information sharing and tapping neighborly expertise and shared interests.

Jennifer LaForce


    • Oct 24, 2021 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 33m AVG DURATION
    • 41 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Lamorinda Living

    Moraga's Jenn Freedman discusses her food and lifestyle blog, Plant Powered Livin'

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2021 30:42


    Jenn shares her evolution toward plant-based eating, including her ah-ha moments and how it has impacted her health. Plus, we dig into the content on her blog...from family-friendly meals and kid lunchbox ideas to shopping lists, recipes, and interviews.

    Lafayette's Craig Isaacs discusses his Pandemic Porch-traits project

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2021 22:47


    Craig has combined his passion for photography with his desire to help during the pandemic.  Craig takes family pictures on porches in exchange for a donation to the Monument Crisis Center.  Having raised more than 75k, Craig expresses his gratitude to those who have participated and donated to this important ongoing cause and reminds folks it's not too late to participate!

    Lafayette's Christine Raymond discusses her magazine: Lafayette Social

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 8, 2021 31:12


    Owner of Lafayette Social, Christine discusses how this local magazine came to be and how it supports her passion for creating connections and community. 

    Lafayette's Graham Wiseman talks mental health in Lamorinda high schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 18, 2021 37:58


    Graham's son was an Acalanes student when he took his own life.  Graham has dedicated his life to ensuring other parents don't ever have to experience a similar loss.  Graham talks about his advocacy for school wellness centers and how Lamorindans can watch for signs of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation in children.

    Moraga's Karen Ferguson discusses refugee resettlement

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 4, 2021 38:13


    Karen Ferguson is the former director of the Northern California branch of the International Rescue Committee.  She discusses her work in the global humanitarian sector, the process of refugee resettlement, and what skills she acquired running a non-governmental organization. 

    Lafayette's SHARP Barbershop discusses what makes their shop special

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 22, 2020 30:37


    Sharp Barber shop owners, EJ and Sheldon, discuss how they created the “Cheers” environment at a barbershop right here in Lafayette.  The shop with a cult following, the owners discuss their services which include an optional shot of the finest whisky, a great music playlist and the haircut you deserve.  Calling all dads looking for the perfect venue for a father-son outing.  This could be your spot. 

    Lafayette's Sandra Ann Harris discusses her new book: Say Goodbye To Plastic.

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2020 34:46


    Mom, author and product of K-12 Orinda schooling, Sandra Ann Harris, reflects on her lightbulb moment picking up her son from daycare when she realized that plastic was everywhere.  She has now written a book to share her life hacks for plastic-free living.  Sandra Ann reveals "easy buttons" at Whole Foods, how to flag your Amazon account for no plastic packaging and how to vote with your wallet.

    Orinda mother, attorney and District 16 Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan shares why she decided to run for office and what life is like in the political arena

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2020 29:16


    Rebecca Bauer-Kahan discusses her values and what motivated her to leave private practice and run for State Assembly in 2018.  Wonder what she looks for when hiring or what has been most difficult in the transition?  Listen here!

    Moraga's Ellen Beans discusses the Moraga Citizens Network

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2020 18:10


    Executive Director, and long time Moraga resident, shares her memories of the creation of the MCN link and how it has transformed from a tool to ensure town council transparency into a dynamic bulletin to promote awareness of community happenings. Wondering who to support in the 5 vacant Town Council seats? The Moraga Citizens Network (MCN) will host a virtual "Meet the Candidates" night on September 30! 

    Lafayette's Elizabeth LaScala discusses what to expect when attending college this Fall.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2020 32:37


    College & graduate admissions advisor provides updates on what students can expect when attending colleges this Fall. 

    Lamorinda's Drive Up DJ RyanO

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 1, 2020 31:38


    Ryan O discusses his innovative community event to inject joy into neighborhoods during the shelter-in-place.  Ryan has gone viral with his 30 minute block parties that bring all generations into the streets for a socially-distant dance party.  Long time DJ, who runs a mobile entertainment company, Ryan discusses the best way of ensuring an event becomes a memory and his go-to songs for the 7, 21, 40 and 60 year old!

    Lafayette's Dana Green talks buying and selling homes in Lamorinda

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2020 34:15


    Top Lamorinda realtor Dana Green discusses home values during the pandemic as migration patterns trend away from high-density cities. Dana shares what she looks for when evaluating a house on the market and what she suggests as home investments to ensure value holds for sellers. Listen to find out what black bark signifies and why Dana says home buying is really about emotions.

    Moraga Superintendent Mr. Burns discusses how schools will re-open this Fall

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2020 33:50


    Discussions cover the planned hybrid schedule, the role of community pods, what happens if teachers opt out and how the distance learning experience will be enhanced.

    Moraga's Ellide Smith, Chair of Campolindo's Parent's Club on Diversity and Inclusion

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2020 47:17


    Ellide discusses the recent surge in club membership as Lamorinda takes a hard look at racism on the local level, and particularly at the high schools.   Ellide discusses the parent club's mission and action items, reflects on what strong school administration leadership looks like and who is rising to the challenge. 

    Moraga's Justin Cole discusses the creation of his dance studio - Joy In Motion.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 23, 2020 28:45


    Justin Cole shares how his life trajectory changed after a 2014 coffee meeting with co-founder Linda Craig which resulted in the birth of the Joy In Motion dance studio.  Justin talks his core values, pandemic challenges and what TV show he never misses. 

    Lafayette's Holly Jean Jackson discusses business coaching

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2020 36:53


    Lafayette Chamber's go-to coach, Holly Jean Jackson, discusses coaching Lamorinda residents on how to launch or grow local businesses.  Holly talks about conducting market research, drafting business plans, pitch funders & scaling a business.  Her Chamber classes include How to Build a Brand; Business Time Saving Tools and, most recently, Living and Working with Social Distance.  

    Eps. 25 -Lafayette Chamber's Jay Lifson discusses supporting businesses during uncertain times

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2020 35:13


    Exec. Director Jay Lifson leads a Chamber that is one of the most active in the State.  Jay talks about how the Chamber supports local business, current programs and pain points, including the Covid-19.

    Superintendent of MSD Bruce Burns and parent Stephanie Dickerson discuss newly adopted school security measures and how the schools are making upgrades without raising student anxiety or undermining a school's welcoming environment. 

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 2, 2020 35:31


    Superintendent of MSD Bruce Burns and parent Stephanie Dickerson discuss newly adopted school security measures following an independent assessment conducted by Safe Havens International on local school vulnerabilities.  They share how the schools are making upgrades without raising student anxiety or undermining a school's welcoming environment. 

    Lafayette's Lauren Herpich discusses her business, Local Food Adventures

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2020 38:14


    Lafayette's Lauren Herpich discusses her business, Local Food Adventures, which provides walking food tours around the East Bay, including Lafayette.  Lauren discusses how she uses food to convey history and a sense of connection between people and place. Find out where she takes folks on a Lamorinda tour.

    Lafayette's Kevin Hamilton discusses the Canyon Club Brewery and how it's putting Moraga on the map!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2020 45:49


    Kevin Hamilton opened the Canyon Club Brewery in August 2019. He discusses the growing pains and pleasant surprises of opening a biergarten in Moraga and his desire to create of a "third place" in the community where everyone is comfortable and welcomed.

    Orinda's Margie Ryerson (MFT) provides advice on how to minimize pain to children during divorce.

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2020 35:29


    Margie is an Orinda Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT), a columnist for the Lamorinda Weekly and the author of a book titled: Treat Your Partner Like Your Dog: How To Breed A Better Relationship.  She discusses Do's and Don'ts for parents who are going through a divorce.

    Moraga's Ana Moon discusses the Moraga Education Foundation and how Moraga maintains distinguished schools

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 23, 2019 31:46


    Moraga mother and MEF volunteer, Ana Moon, discusses how Moraga maintains distinguished schools despite living in California which ranks 41st in per pupil funding nationwide.  

    Orinda's Tanuka Gordon discusses the Mindful Littles organization

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 10, 2019 51:57


    Tanuka is an Orinda resident who left corporate America to start a non-profit  aiming to spark compassion in youth through service learning.  Tanuka talks about her journey creating this non-profit including an unanticipated partnership between Orinda children and the Town of Paradise which continues to heal following the devastating Camp Fire.  

    Lafayette's Kerry Corcoran discusses the Dailey Method barre studio and why she swears by this exercise and community

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2019 36:15


    Kerry Corcoran co-owns and manages Lafayette's Dailey Method.  She talks about the value of creating a supportive community and the beneficial effects of barre exercise on your body and mind. 

    Moraga's Ken Shin discusses his work at the technology company Drift which helps businesses with chat software

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2019 34:41


    In a modern day world where no one has the inclination to wait, Ken Shin discusses his work at the scale-up company ,Drift, which helps businesses start a conversation immediately.  Ken talks about what he learned at SalesForce and Copper and how he is using those skills at Drift. 

    Lafayette's Dr. Dan Robbins of Lamorinda Pediatrics discusses his work with health and education in Zimbabwe.

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 34:27


    Dr. Robbins balances his work as a local pediatrician to many of our children with his work at the JF Kapnek Foundation which supports health and wellness in Zimbabwe. Dan discusses his work with HIV transmission reduction and preschools that provide nutrient-rich meals and regular check ups and what wisdom he has learned from a  country rich in spirit.

    Moraga/Orinda Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Dennis Rein discusses the recent Merrill Fire & PGE shut down

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2019 31:53


    MOFD Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Dennis Rein discusses Moraga's October 10, 2019 Merrill Fire prompting evacuations around the Sanders Ranch neighborhood of Moraga.  Dennis provides tips on how to best prepare for future Lamorinda fires, especially when coupled with a power outage.

    Lafayette's Yukie Fujimoto discusses her work engaging the Lafayette school system about how to talk about race

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 28, 2019 36:46


    Yukie is a mother asking the Lafayette school systems to take a deeper look at how race and diversity is taught in Lafayette schools.  To this end, some Lafayette parents have created the Cultural Proficiency Working Group to engage the school district in ways to raise race consciousness practices at schools.

    Lafayette's Dr. Ann Schiebert discusses teens and addiction

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2019 31:06


    Dr. Ann Schiebert is a Lafayette resident and psychologist who specializes in teens and addiction issues.  Author of several books, Ann speaks about her own experience having an addicted child, the signs for parents to look for in a struggling teen and how to   respond when addiction comes into the home.

    Orinda's Kristin Kraetsch discusses how the Lamorinda Moms organization provides support to new moms

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2019 35:38


    Kristin is an Orinda Mom, employment lawyer, and Co-Director of Lamorinda Moms.  This well-known organization provides emotional and social support to new moms in Lamorinda. Kristin discusses some of their flagship initiatives for new moms who may be feeling overwhelmed or isolated. 

    Moraga Middle School Teacher Brett Lorie talks about the 10,000 Lunches Program

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2019 36:14


    Brett is a Moraga resident and teacher at Joaquin Miller Middle School where he launched the 10,000 Lunches program. Students pack lunches that are then provided to the homeless in the East Bay.  Brett talks about how the program works and what lessons it conveys.

    Moraga's Sergeant Adam P discusses policing in San Francisco

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2019 36:18


    Adam is a Moraga dad and police sergeant with SFPD.  He discusses police work in a major metropolitan area, use of force issues and what it's like to be photobombed by someone you once arrested.

    Moraga Rheem Elementary Principal Brian Sullivan discusses how to run a quality school

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2019 31:12


    Brian Sullivan is a Moraga father and the principal of Rheem Elementary in Moraga.  Brian shares the special sauce for making a great school.  And how it's not so different from basketball. 

    Moraga's Brian Nowac discusses brand strategy and running a creative strategy agency in downtown SF

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2019 30:21


    Brian is a Moraga father and a co-founder of the S.F. based creative strategy firm Atomic D.   Brian discusses brand strategy and the importance of creating a supportive work culture for employee retention. 

    Lafayette's Dr. Lynna McPhatter Harris discusses her work with National Council on Crime and Delinquency

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2019 37:37


    Lynna is a Lafayette mother who works to assist child welfare agencies improve their services.  A program associate for the National Council on Crime and Delinquency, Lynna talks about the challenges of state intervention into families and best practices to keep families intact when possible.

    Moraga's Billy Blau discusses the Tech Industry and his work at DropBox

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2019 31:44


    Billy is a Moraga father who has been in the tech industry for 25 years, having worked at a startup, Oracle and Salesforce before landing at Dropbox as VP for Business Development.  Bill explains his role, what skills he relies on to be successful in the tech industry and what he looks for when hiring.

    Orinda's Katie Thomson and Kendall Glynn discuss taking the leap and launching Square Baby

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2019 27:13


    Katie Thomson and Kendall Glynn launched Orinda -based Square Baby in order to offer moms a nutrient-packed baby meal system that leaves apple sauce off the menu!  They share their trials and tribulations of entrepreneurship as well as the tea leaves pointing to a lot of future successes growing business!

    Moraga's Rebecca Leimbach discusses the art of interior home styling and working with what you already have

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2019 21:31


    Rebecca is a Moraga mother of one who provides interior styling to Lamorinda residents.  She talks about her eye for room improvements and how she helps residents without breaking the bank. 

    Moraga Councilman Steve Woehleke discusses the Save Painted Rock Campaign and inner workings of town council

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 21, 2019 35:29


    Steve Woehleke is a Moraga resident and town councilman who supported the campaign to Save Painted Rock which provides countless teens a free billboard on Moraga's famous hillside. He  speaks about the inner machinations of Town Council and how the sausage is really made!

    Moraga/Orinda Fire Chief David WInnacker discusses wildfire risk in Lamorinda

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 19, 2019 23:08


    David is the Moraga Orinda Fire Chief.  He talks with us about wildfire management in Lamorinda and the recent grant awarded to create a defensible space to support our property and family protection in the case of the unexpected.  What is Lamorinda's fire risk?  Listen and find out. 

    Moraga's Allison Anderman talks about passing a gun safe storage law in Moraga

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 15, 2019 28:15


    Allison is a (recently moved) Moraga resident and mother of two who led the charge to pass a gun safe-storage law in Moraga.  She discusses the journey passing this local ordinance and navigating a hot topic in her own backyard.  Good insight in coalition-building at the local level.

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