Podcasts about ojai

What if awakening isn't about rising higher but softening into the body and allowing life to hold you? In this solo episode, I open up about what it really means to wake down into myself, to build capacity, stay present with what is, and lead from embodied truth in a season of deep change, endings, and new beginnings.Over the past year, I've been walking through profound initiation in my somatic and attachment training, in my relationship with God, in my business, and in my own body through the threshold of menopause. This journey has stripped away illusion and invited me into something far more real: presence over proving, discernment over doing, embodiment over striving.In this episode, I share how God became my business partner, how I'm learning to listen to the living language of my body, and why I've chosen to honor my nervous system's truth even when it means being less visible. I also reflect on the shift from Embody Your Higher Purpose to From Insight to Embodiment and how this new foundation is shaping everything I create and share.Inside this episode, I explore:• Waking down to the body as the true path of ascension• Building capacity instead of chasing courage• How somatics reveals old imprints and restores self-trust• The sacred initiation of menopause and the healing power of homeopathy• Living in a personal Year One within a collective Year Nine• The discernment to share less publicly while expanding inwardly• Why connection with self, Source, Earth, and one another is what truly mattersIf you feel called to join me in this season of embodiment, I'd love to welcome you inside Soul Work Synergy, our living community of Gene Keys and somatic practice. And if you're craving a deeper immersion, we have two final spaces open for Soul Essence, our upcoming retreat in Ojai, California, November 13 to 17.Come home to your body. Let presence be enough. Everything else unfolds from there. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with composer, songwriter, and sound designer Stephen Geering — whose music you've likely heard even if you haven't heard his name. Growing up in a deeply musical family (his mother, Jenny, was a concert pianist and teacher), Stephen began his musical education at age seven, learning piano and classical music in Chicago and Ravinia.In Geer MusicFrom there, he forged a path that spans studio albums, video game scoring, commercial work, and soundtrack composition. After postgraduate studies in scoring at UCLA under Don Ray, his original songs began to draw attention, which opened doors to composing for television, commercials, and ultimately the booming world of interactive gaming.In Geer Music+2IMDb+2We dive into his time creating music for major studios and game publishers, his creative process when shifting between musical genres and media formats, and how he maintains artistic identity in commercial work. Stephen also shares how he and his wife Dawn — an attorney — chose Ojai as home, and how they became involved in nurturing music education and youth programs such as the Ojai Music Festival's Bravo! Program with their daughter.We talk of ambition and adaptation, of composing as storytelling, and of the joys and challenges of being both a commercial and personal artist. We did not talk about new discoveries at Pompeii, Germanic diphthongs or Czech nymph fishing.He also also offers sound (sorry, couldn't resist) for young people seeking a career in music. If you've ever wondered how a musician builds a life out of sound, this is a conversation you won't want to miss. To learn more about Stephen and his fascinating career, point your browser to ...https://www.ingeermusic.com/about.html

This week on Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Brian and Lisa Berman, two longtime Ojai residents whose life together has been devoted to peace, reconciliation, and healing.Their journey began in Germany at a Holocaust memorial event: Brian, a sculptor who lost family to the Holocaust, and Lisa, a German citizen searching for ways to understand and repair her nation's history, met in that powerful moment of remembrance. From there, their partnership became a shared mission.As co-founders of Awakening Peace, the Bermans have spent decades fostering dialogue, compassion, and creative solutions to conflict. In recent years, their work took them to Poland, where they lived during the height of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supporting refugees and promoting peace initiatives in a country on the edge of war. They've also carried their message to global conferences and workshops — from Hiroshima to international peace councils — building bridges where division has sown pain.In this episode, Brian shares how his sculpture embodies resilience and remembrance, while Lisa talks about her work as a naturopathic healer and counselor, helping individuals and communities find inner resources for peace. Together, their story is a reminder that healing history and shaping a more compassionate future are possible when art, spirit, and activism unite.We did not talk about the Wannsee Conference, Rommel and Montgomery in Northern Africa, or the Great Swift-Kelce Convergence. Check out https://awakeningpeace.org to keep up-to-date with the Bermans.It's a deep and inspiring conversation - a perfect antidote for the low simmer of nihilism and pessimism so prevalent today.

Shervin Kermani is an award winning Iranian-Canadian filmmaker whose films have been recognized at dozens of international festivals. His previous short films include Sofia which won Best Short at the Rome and Ojai film festivals. His short Eros was nominated for four Golden Sheaf Awards, and won Best Cinematography at the Future of Film Showcase. His short, Bibi's Dog is Dead, played at five Oscar Qualifying film festivals was nominated for Best Live Action Short Drama and won Best Performance in a Live Action Short Drama at the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards. Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts, a haunting, poetic and warmly humorous meditation on loss, made it's world premiere at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival. Directed by Shervin under the mentorship of legendary director Werner Herzog, the evocative and deeply lyrical short was made during La Selva's third film accelerator on the island of La Palma, Spain. The accelerator paired 25 directors with 25 cinematographers to create short films responding to the aftermath of the 2021 Cumbre Vieja volcanic eruption.  Ramón Who Speaks to Ghosts follows a quirky, endearing man wandering the island with his microphone, listening for ghosts. As he walks through scorched landscapes, the film paints a tender portrait of the quiet grief behind his strange obsession.   Want to watch: YouTube Meisterkhan Pod (Please Subscribe)

Brian and Lisa Berman's story begins in one of the darkest chapters of human history and arcs toward a lifelong dedication to healing and peace. Brian, an award-winning sculptor whose relatives perished in the Holocaust, and Lisa, a German citizen struggling to reconcile her country's past, first met at a memorial event in Germany. That moment of shared reckoning became the foundation of a partnership that has spanned decades and continents.Together, they founded Awakening Peace, an organization devoted to cultivating compassion, reconciliation, and community. From their years living in Ojai to their time on the ground in Poland helping Ukrainian refugees, the Bermans have worked where peace is most urgently needed. They recently traveled to Hiroshima for the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing, carrying their message of remembrance and resilience to the global stage.In this episode, we talk about their lives in Ojai, their international peace work, and the deep connection between art, healing, and humanity. We did not talk about the Ojai Studio Artists Tour Oct. 11-13, the Storytelling Festival, Oct. 23-26 or the Ojai Film Festival, Nov. 6-10. For more information on the Bermans, or to help their cause, visit AwakeningPeace.org.

‘We need political, religious, social and psychological change, deep down at the very roots. How is this to be brought about, and where do we begin?' This episode on Politics has six sections. The first extract (2:48) is from the third discussion with young people in Saanen 1968, and is titled: Does Change Begin Politically? The second extract (15:48) is from the fourth question and answer meeting in Ojai 1982, and is titled: Political Action. The third extract (34:41) is from a radio interview at Brockwood Park in 1980, and is titled: The Involvement of Religion in Politics. The fourth extract (41:59) is from Krishnamurti's first public talk in San Francisco 1983, and is titled: Political Division. The fifth extract (59:38) is from the first talk at Rajghat in 1981, and is titled: Is the World the Politicians' Responsibility or Our Own? The final extract in this episode (1:13:09) is from Krishnamurti's second talk at Rajghat in 1967, and is titled: A True Democrat. The Krishnamurti Podcast features selected extracts from Krishnamurti's recorded talks. Each episode highlights his different approaches to universal and timeless themes that affect our everyday lives, the state of the world and the future of humanity. This episode's theme is Politics. Upcoming themes are Maturity, Drugs and Goodness & generosity. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, based at Brockwood Park in the UK, which is also home to the Krishnamurti Retreat Centre. Situated in the beautiful countryside of the South Downs National Park, The Krishnamurti Centre offers retreats individually and in groups. The focus is on inquiry in light of Krishnamurti's teachings. Please visit krishnamurticentre.org.uk for more information, including our volunteer programme. You can also find our regular Krishnamurti quotes and videos on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook at Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. If you enjoy the podcast, please leave a review or rating on your podcast app.

Rob Fredette interviews novelist Amanda Cockrell about her historical fiction " Are You or Have You Ever Been?" which explores the Hollywood blacklist, House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, and the personal and professional fallout of McCarthy-era accusations. The episode covers real-life stories—Dalton Trumbo, Michael Wilson, and the Hollywood Ten—alongside Cockrell's dual-timeline novel set in Ojai, focusing on a star's ruined projects, a contested will, and parallels between 1950s blacklisting and today's political climate. Recorded September 19, 2025. https://www.amandacockrell.com Are You or Have You Ever Been?" is out December 2! My parents were screenwriters so this is a book close to my heart. For some background on the Hollywood blacklist see the section above, "About the Blacklist." Elizabeth Sydney's film career spanned the Golden Age of Hollywood and barely survived Sen. Joe McCarthy's infamous Red Scare hunt for Communists that produced a blacklist that shattered careers. Some of her costars and writer friends weren't so lucky. Now she wants to be buried in her back yard and the will is invalid if she doesn't get her way. A combustible assortment of industry friends, family, former lovers, a man no one has hitherto heard of, half a dozen charitable beneficiaries, and an ungovernable horde of media descend on the small California town where she retired and picked out a spot in her oak grove. As they try to break the will, her reasons begin to surface in the story of an old betrayal of friends by friends and by the country's own government.    

Rob Fredette interviews novelist Amanda Cockrell about her historical fiction " Are You or Have You Ever Been?" which explores the Hollywood blacklist, House Unamerican Activities Committee (HUAC) hearings, and the personal and professional fallout of McCarthy-era accusations. The episode covers real-life stories—Dalton Trumbo, Michael Wilson, and the Hollywood Ten—alongside Cockrell's dual-timeline novel set in Ojai, focusing on a star's ruined projects, a contested will, and parallels between 1950s blacklisting and today's political climate. Recorded September 19, 2025. https://www.amandacockrell.com Are You or Have You Ever Been?" is out December 2! My parents were screenwriters so this is a book close to my heart. For some background on the Hollywood blacklist see the section above, "About the Blacklist." Elizabeth Sydney's film career spanned the Golden Age of Hollywood and barely survived Sen. Joe McCarthy's infamous Red Scare hunt for Communists that produced a blacklist that shattered careers. Some of her costars and writer friends weren't so lucky. Now she wants to be buried in her back yard and the will is invalid if she doesn't get her way. A combustible assortment of industry friends, family, former lovers, a man no one has hitherto heard of, half a dozen charitable beneficiaries, and an ungovernable horde of media descend on the small California town where she retired and picked out a spot in her oak grove. As they try to break the will, her reasons begin to surface in the story of an old betrayal of friends by friends and by the country's own government.    

Amy Berg is an Academy Award nominated documentary filmmaker known for her groundbreaking storytelling in films like 'Deliver Us From Evil', 'West Of Memphis', and the new Jeff Buckley documentary 'It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley'. In her most revealing interview to date, Amy and Jaymee discuss loss and forgiveness, limitless empathy for the underdogs, what it was like being a rising star and a single mother in the golden age of documentary filmmaking, her unknown LA punk rock roots, the sainthood of Jeff Buckley, and the making of her next documentary on the life of Chris Cornell. Recorded in the ballroom of The El Roblar Hotel in Ojai, CA. Special thanks to Jeremy and Eric, and David Berger at the Ojai Playhouse.LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced and edited by Jaymee Carpenter. MUSIC BY: J. Carpenter 'It's Never Over, Jeff Buckley':  ⁠⁠www.magpictures.com/jeffbuckley⁠⁠Ojai Playhouse: ⁠⁠www.ojaiplayhouse.com⁠⁠Interested in Trauma Counseling/Mentorship with Jaymee?email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com to set up a free consultation,or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: TOTALLY BLOWN (⁠⁠⁠www.totallyblown.us⁠⁠⁠)RAUM GOODS (www.raumgoods.com)INDIAN LODGE ROAD (www.indianlodgeroad.com) YERBA MADRE (www.guayaki.com)VALLEY OF THE MOON (www.shorturl.at/dCVh2)THiS SHOW is a LABOR of LOVE. PLEASE SUPPORT IT: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastFAN CONTACT: lacee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor / @amy_berg / @unconventionalgardener

If we could all get even some SunOven Lovin', our world would be such a Happier and better place. Listen and find out why, as well as get some SunOven Lovin' for yourself. You will definitely be Happy you did. We would like to give a special thanks to the owner and workers at Sun Oven Bakery in Ojai, California for the interview as well as their delicious chocolate chip scones. Here is their information if you would like visit them in person or on their website and get a little SunOven Lovin' for yourself. Make sure you tell them Happy Life Studios sent ya. SunOven Bakery Webpage: https://www.sunovengf.com/Address: 11420 N. Ventura Avenue Suite 107 Ojai, CA 93023Here's the link for our "Romancing the Scone" episode we mentionedPodomatic: https://www.podomatic.com/podcasts/happylife/episodes/2024-03-25T05_00_00-07_00YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqRPEq2gDtQThe song we used for the intro was "Are You Happy" by Primitive Radio Gods. The ending song was "Make Someone Happy" by Jimmy Durante. We don't own any rights. Contact usLinktree: www.Linktr.ee/HappyLifeStudiosEmail: Podcast@HappyLife.StudioYo Stevo Hotline: (425) 200-HAYS (4297)Webpage: www.HappyLife.lol YouTube: www.YouTube.com/StevoHaysLinkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hays-b6b1186b/TikTok: www.tiktok.com/@happylifestudiosFacebook: www.Facebook.com/HappyLifeStudios Instagram: www.Instagram.com/HappyLife_Studios Twitter: www.x.com/stevehays If you would like to help us spread the HappyPayPal: www.PayPal.me/StevoHaysCash App: $HappyLifeStudiosZelle: StevoHays@gmail.comVenmo: @StevoHaysBuy Me A Coffee: buymeacoffee.com/HappyLifeStudioCheck: Payable to Hays Ministries or Steve Hays and send to 27240 213th Place S.E. Maple Valley, WA 98038

Holding grief alongside wise teachings on death, Jaymee Carpenter and Raghu Markus discuss the great loss of Lady Diana J. Mukpo, wife of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche.Listen to Jaymee's interview with Lady Diana J. Mukpo HEREThis week on Mindrolling, Raghu and Jaymee chat about:Remembering Lady Diana J. Mukpo, the wife of Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche, the great Tibetan LamaChogyam Trungpa's leadership out of occupied Tibet, through the Himalayas, and into IndiaRaghu's experience meeting Chogyam Trungpa and having an instant connectionLiving in two planes at once: holding grief while realizing that death is ultimately just a conceptHow clinging and even subtle attachments can pull us away from the present momentJaymee's practice of looking at things three different waysTransforming the polarity that exists inside of ourselves Turning even the worst of situations into an opportunity for growth and something beautiful‘The mere eye' where we hold our sense of self lightly Watching out for spiritual bypassing and practicing loving awareness From This Episode:Look deeper into Pema Chödrön, the renowned Buddhist nun mentioned by Jaymee and Raghu.Get a copy of Why We Meditate, a guidebook that will help you not only break free from negative patterns of thought and behavior but radically embrace your very being.Learn more about Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche through Ram Dass in an episode of Here and Now and in this earlier Mindrolling episode.About Jaymee Carpenter:Jaymee Carpenter is a highly revered spiritual teacher and psychospiritual counselor based in Ojai, CA, with a background of 13 years of multi-faceted professional experience in the field of addiction and mental health treatment. He is a 16-year meditation practitioner and teacher within the oldest lineage of Tibetan Buddhism (Nyingma), which is his primary source of his own recovery and mental clarity. Jaymee spent 3 years recently as an apprentice to a Lakota shaman, co-facilitating sweat lodge ceremonies for hundreds of participants on sacred land blessed by His Holiness The Dalai Lama. He is additionally a master-level communicator and storyteller, and one of the world's great listeners.Follow Jaymee Carpenter on Instagram and check out his podcast, Love is the Author “I start to cry. I cry for the normal reasons one cries. Loss, the sadness around not having another chance to say something to her. Then, I'm immediately greeted with how long she lived, all the accomplishments she made in this lifetime, that she studied the way out of the notion of death alongside Chogyam Trungpa…I'm met both with my grief and my teachings.” – Jaymee Carpenter See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What happens when you give young adults leaving foster care more than just a roof over their heads? At Mesa Farm on Ojai's East End, the answer is dignity, stability, and a real chance at self-sufficiency.With ten tiny homes nestled among citrus orchards, vegetable plots, and honeybee hives, Mesa Farm is more than a facility — it's a launchpad. Residents, ages 18–24, gain practical skills like interviewing, résumé building, and financial literacy while also tending the land and connecting with a supportive community of staff and volunteers.In just its first year, Mesa Farm has already celebrated success stories: young people transitioning off the property into jobs and independent lives. The stakes couldn't be higher — nationally, more than half of foster youth face homelessness when they age out of the system.In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, I sit down with Dan Parziale, Mesa Farm's executive director, for his second appearance on the podcast. We talk about the progress made in year one, the challenges ahead, and why Ojai is uniquely positioned to nurture a brighter future for some of our most vulnerable young neighbors.We did not talk about tensions in the Nagorno-Karakh region, Canadian exchange rates or Jimmy Kimmel.You can check out more about Mesa at https://www.mesafarm.org/

This week's episode was recorded and broadcasted live from the Axel Contemporary Truck onto Radio Tomada in Santa Fe. Thibault talks with Mathew and gives a tarot reading through the lens of Doña Tules (Maria Gertrudis Barceló), a figure from New Mexican history, and a featured personality in the SITE Santa Fe International show. Doña Tules has advice for artists, and anyone trying to make their way in the world as an entrepreneur. The tarot cards are the official Grateful Dead tarot cards, second edition. About Radio Tomada⁠Radio Tomada 87.9⁠ is a mobile radio broadcast project organized by ⁠Autumn Chacon⁠ for ⁠SITE Santa Fe⁠'s International Biennial curated by Cecila Alemani. Matthew Chase-Daniel⁠Matthew Chase-Daniel ⁠ was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1965 and lived in New York City in the 1960s. In the mid and late 1980s, Chase-Daniel studied at the Ojai Foundation in Ojai, California, at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York (B.A.), and in Paris, France, where he studied cultural anthropology, photography, and ethnographic film production (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes & Sorbonne). Since 1989, he has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico making family, and roaming the landscape to make his art. His photography and sculpture have been exhibited across the U.S. and in Europe. Matthew's work: https://www.chasedaniel.com/About The Side WooThe Side Woo podcast was created by Thibault² to open a frank dialogue about the overlaps of mental health, queer stories, the metaphysical (woo), and creativity as a way to understand how one builds a sustainable creative life, and to shine a light on the ways artists overcome trauma and adversity. New episodes come out on Thursdays.About Thibault²Thibault² is a trans, interdisciplinary artist based in New Mexico. To learn more you can follow them on their blog, ⁠artdate.substack.com⁠

Today on The LA Food Podcast, Dave Beran—the award-winning chef behind Santa Monica's Pasjoli and the tasting-menu temple Seline—sits down for his most candid interview yet. We talk about stepping into roles before you feel ready, the line between an intense kitchen and a toxic one, fundraising and vision, and how he truly feels about Seline not earning a Michelin star in year one. We also rewind to his Chicago years with Grant Achatz at Alinea and Next, and dig into how those experiences shaped his approach to leadership, hospitality, and creativity in Los Angeles.Before that, part-time co-host Karen Palmer joins for recent eats in Ojai, what she's working on next (including a shockingly great pizzeria in a surprising location), and Chef's Kiss / Big Miss:Food & Wine's LA snub on its latest Best New Chefs listWhich LA spots made The New York Times 50 Best Restaurants in America (2025)The latest trend sweeping LA restaurants and how we actually feel about itIf you care about fine dining, honest kitchen culture, and where Los Angeles food is headed next, this one is for you.Powered by Acquired Taste Media.–Go check out The Lonely Oyster in Echo Park! ⁠https://thelonelyoyster.com/⁠–Get 10% off at House of Macadamias using code "LAFOOD" https://www.houseofmacadamias.com/pages/la-foods

Brad Steward didn't just ride snowboarding's first wave—he helped make it. As a teenage builder-rider-organizer, he pushed the sport from outlaw to organized, working alongside Jake Burton and Tom Sims, lobbying the Forest Service when resorts said no, and helping pave the path that led to Nagano. He co-founded one of the early camps where an eight-year-old Shaun White showed up—years before the world knew his name. Then Brad jumped lanes: into the Spike Jonze era of skate-culture filmmaking—directing spots for Cartoon Network (Powerpuff Girls), Adult Swim, AMC, and music work that had him shooting bands like Soundgarden and collaborating with UK labels. Today, his canvas is hospitality: Caravan Outpost in Ojai—a film-set-caliber, not-glamping hideaway that's hosted The Bachelor and a steady stream of celebrity regulars. Today on the show, I'm joined by Brad Steward—snowboarding's early architect, director/producer, and co-founder of Caravan Outpost. In this episode, we cover: How Brad helped move snowboarding from trespass to televised, shoulder-to-shoulder with Jake Burton and Tom Sims—and why the Nagano moment mattered. How an eight-year-old Shaun White landed at his camp—and what that signaled about the sport's future. How the Spike Jonze pipeline turned a DIY camera habit into gigs with Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, AMC, and major-label music videos. Why Caravan Outpost is “production design for memory-making,” not glamping—and how it became a magnet for celebrities and The Bachelor. The throughline: build the culture first, then build the brand.   Connect with Brad on LinkedIn Visit Caravan Outpost's website to book and learn more   Behind the Stays is brought to you by Journey — a first-of-its-kind loyalty program that brings together an alliance of the world's top independently owned and operated stays and allows travelers to earn points and perks on boutique hotels, vacation rentals, treehouses, ski chalets, glamping experiences and so much more. Your host is Zach Busekrus, Head of the Journey Alliance. If you are a hospitality entrepreneur who has a stay, or a collection of stays with soul, we'd love for you to apply to join our Alliance at journey.com/alliance.

How does a shy, artistic boy raised in a family of hard-bitten Jackson Hole cowboys become one of the world's most insightful guides to India's sacred and tribal arts?In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, Dr. Stephen Huyler joins me to talk about his extraordinary new book, Transformed by India: A Life — his seventh, but the first to tell his own story. Huyler recounts growing up in Ojai as the son of Thacher School's legendary horseman, "Uncle" Jack Huyler, and the pivotal moment when artist Beatrice Wood recognized his kindred spirit and nudged him toward India. That chance encouragement led to a lifetime of scholarship, deep friendships with Indian artists and tribal communities, and a career bridging East and West.We talk about his early encounters — from leading a beloved horse to its burial pit as a boy, to pedaling a rickshaw across the Indian border on his 20th birthday — and how those experiences forged a life of empathy, resilience, and wonder. Along the way, Huyler shares how India's remarkable generosity reshaped his own sense of self, and why its arts and crafts remain vital expressions of humanity today.Transformed by India has already earned acclaim in India, the UK, and the U.S., with a foreword by the Dalai Lama and an audiobook version narrated by Huyler himself. Join us for a conversation about art, identity, rebellion, and the redemptive power of culture.We did not talk about cooking with scallion oil, William F. Buckley Jr. or the Brewers-Cubs rivalry. For more information, check out Dr. Huyler's website at https://stephenhuyler.com/

This week's episode was recorded and broadcasted live from the Axel Contemporary Truck onto Radio Tomada in Santa Fe. Thibault talks with Mathew and Jerry about woo, and talks with Zina about the sound bath she did at Electra Gallery, living in Arkansas, and the art world. About Radio TomadaRadio Tomada 87.9 is a mobile radio broadcast project organized by Autumn Chacon for SITE Santa Fe's International Biennial curated by Cecila Alemani. Zina Al ShukriZina Al-Shukri was born in Baghdad, Iraq in 1978. She moved with her parents to the United States when she was 5 years of age. Al-Shukri received her BA from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, and attended the California College of the Arts, receiving her MFA in 2009.Zina Al-Shukri is an emerging artist whose exhibition history includes Jack Hanley Gallery, San Francisco, and Pulliam Deffenbach Gallery, Portland, Oregon.Zina's workMatthew Chase-DanielMatthew Chase-Daniel  was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1965 and lived in New York City in the 1960s. In the mid and late 1980s, Chase-Daniel studied at the Ojai Foundation in Ojai, California, at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York (B.A.), and in Paris, France, where he studied cultural anthropology, photography, and ethnographic film production (Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes & Sorbonne). Since 1989, he has lived in Santa Fe, New Mexico, making family, and roaming the landscape to make his art. His photography and sculpture have been exhibited across the U.S. and in Europe.He is the co-founder, co-owner, and co-curator of Axle Contemporary, a mobile gallery of art, founded in 2010, a radio/podcast host at Coffee and Culture, curator of The Lena Wall, and a member of the Railyard Art Committee, all in Santa Fe.Jerry WellmanJerry Wellman is a Santa Fe-based artist whose cultural work includes curatorial projects, performance, writing, video and studio production. Wellman earned an MFA from CalArts. Wellman's paintings and drawings have been exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum of Art, Holly Solomon Gallery in New York City, Pierogi Gallery in Brooklyn, The Downey Museum, and The Orange County Center of Contemporary Art in California, The El Paso Museum of Art, The Revolving Museum in Boston, and The Paseo Project in Taos, NM. His drawings were selected for a traveling show sponsored by the Smithsonian. His work with Axle Contemporary has been exhibited at SITE Santa Fe, 516 Arts in Albuquerque, The. Navajo Nation Museum in Window Rock AZ, The Western Heritage Museum in Hobbs NM and the Roswell Art Center in Roswell NM. Awards of note include: Art Matters Foundation Grant, LINE Grant, Puffin Grant, and an NEA grant. Wellman has taught at the Pasadena College of Art and Design, CalArts, and New Mexico State University. He was formerly the head curator at Los Angeles Institute of Contemporary Art. He is the co-founder, co-director and co-curator of Axle Contemporary artspaceAbout The Side WooThe Side Woo podcast was created to open a frank dialogue about the overlaps of mental health, queer stories, the metaphysical (woo), and creativity as a way to understand how one builds a sustainable creative life, and to shine a light on the ways artists overcome trauma and adversity. New episodes come out on Thursdays.About ThibaultThibault² is a trans, interdisciplinary artist based in New Mexico. To learn more you can follow them on their blog, artdate.substack.com

Previously recorded poolside at my home in Ojai, California, this time he's calling in from down under -- in Australia -- meet George, owner, inventor, founder of Bangin Headlights.. Installed in both Jewel, my '65, but also Joe Jewel's little brother's, my '67 F-250.Not only is George a Classic Mustang enthusiast and owner, he's an entrepreneur with a dream – to brighten up everyone's road ahead. 3 years later, we are checking in.Connect with George: Instagram: @banginheadlights https://www.instagram.com/banginheadlights/Link to get YOUR Bangin' Headlights: www.TheMustangPodcast.com/headlightsFord Mustang The Early Years Podcast (social media)Connect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/An Expert's Guide to Maintaining Your Classic Mustangwww.TheMustangPodcast.com/repairSponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you'll get your parts fast!"Keep it safe, keep it rollin', and keep it on the road. Until next time!" Doug Sandler

Emmy-winning director and producer Mimi Leder joins Ojai Talk of the Town to talk about the fourth season of Apple TV+'s The Morning Show, premiering September 17. Leder, the show's creator and executive producer, takes us behind the scenes of one of television's most talked-about dramas — where the personal battles of anchors, producers, and executives mirror the seismic shifts shaking our real-world culture.We discuss how this season tackles some of today's most urgent issues: the rise of artificial intelligence, the growing influence of the manosphere, the struggle of legacy media to stay relevant, and the high-stakes games of corporate ambition. Leder shares insights into the show's complex characters — whether it's Jennifer Aniston's Alex Levy navigating power and vulnerability, Reese Witherspoon's Bradley Jackson searching for truth in a world of spin, or Jon Hamm's Paul Marks embodying the allure and danger of tech billionaires.Leder also opens up about the intensity of bringing these themes to life on set, and how her time in Ojai has been a welcome sanctuary to recover and reflect after grueling shooting schedules. What emerges is a portrait of an artist at the top of her game — using story not just to entertain, but to hold a mirror up to America's shifting cultural landscape.If you're a fan of The Morning Show or fascinated by how art and entertainment capture our collective anxieties and hopes, this conversation is not to be missed. (Note: We did not talk about Anacapa Island spearfishing, Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckleball or the throat singers of the Tuvan. Keep up with The Morning Show at https://tv.apple.com/us/show/the-morning-show/umc.cmc.25tn3v8ku4b39tr6ccgb8nl6m

On the forty- ninth episode of All the Film Things, I had the pleasure of interviewing producer/ director Jonathan Berman! Jonathan Berman is a California- based producer/ director who has been working in the industry for nearly 40 years. Before making his own documentaries often focused on sub- cultures not often highlighted in mainstream media, such as Commune (2005) and The Shvitz (1993), he worked as a producer, co- writer, and assistant sound editor on films and television shows with one of his first jobs being a production assistant on the set of Pee Wee's Playhouse. My Friend Paul (1999), Jonathan's sophomore documentary for which he directed, wrote, and produced was nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Slamdance Film Festival in 1999. His latest film, Calling All Earthlings (2018), won the Debut Feature Competition Jury Prize at the Illuminate Film Festival in 2018. Aside from his work in film production, he is a professor at Cal State San Marcos School of Arts and has taught courses on subjects like documentary filmmaking, media distribution, and both US and international cinema.Jonathan's documentary Commune, which is focused on the commune of Black Bear Ranch in the late 60s through the 70s, is celebrating its 20th anniversary by being screened in its newly restored form across the US. Three more screenings in California have been announced with the next in San Rafael on September 12, another in Los Angeles on September 17, and the last announced screening on September 20 in Ojai, California. More screenings are expected to be announced so follow @CommuneTheMovie on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on the film and its upcoming screenings!This is Jonathan's first time on ATFT! I got connected to Jonathan thanks to Kelly Hargraves who presented me this excellent opportunity and then became a big help in setting the interview up. This episode was recorded on August 7, 2025. In this episode, Jonathan talks about his post- production process, specifically when it comes to trimming down hundreds of hours of footage to form a film, as well as his love for old noir and comedy films from the 1930s, and meeting Christopher Nolan. We also compared his film Commune to one of my favorite films: Easy Rider (1969)! All this and much more on the latest episode of All the Film Things!Background music created and used with permission by the Copyright Free Music - Background Music for Videos channel on YouTube.

Los Angeles' most famous cat changed how the world sees urban wildlife. In this episode, Beth Pratt, California Regional Executive Director for the National Wildlife Federation and leader of the #SaveLACougars campaign— joins me to talk about P-22's extraordinary life, humane euthanasia in 2022, and how his story is reshaping conservation far beyond Griffith Park. National Wildlife Federation+1California Fish and WildlifeBeth explains what we learned from P-22's final exam and necropsy, why officials made the call they did, and what it means for aging predators navigating city edges. We also dig into practical tips for safe wildlife encounters here in Ojai; how to avoid “acting like prey,” what to do if you meet a lion on the trail, and why the real risk is usually lower than people think. California Fish and WildlifeUC Davis School of Veterinary MedicineCBS NewsLooking forward, Beth updates us on the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing over the 101, designed to reconnect the Santa Monica Mountains with critical habitat, reduce roadkill, and restore genetic flow for lions, bobcats, deer, and more. She also tells why corridors like this matter for every community, Ojai included. We talk migration pathways, backyard habitat, and how listeners can help build a landscape where people and predators both thrive. Caltranssmmc.ca.govWhether you loved P-22 for the Hollywood-sign photo or for the conversations he sparked, Beth's perspective is a masterclass in coexistence — and a roadmap for keeping wild neighbors wild. We did not talk about radiometric discoveries about the Great Pyramids, Lake Nile perch populations or the Milwaukee Brewer's surprising success.

Previously recorded poolside at my home in Ojai, California, this time he's calling in from down under -- in Australia -- meet George, owner, inventor, founder of Bangin Headlights.. Installed in both Jewel, my '65, but also Joe Jewel's little brother's, my '67 F-250.Not only is George a Classic Mustang enthusiast and owner, he's an entrepreneur with a dream – to brighten up everyone's road ahead. 3 years later, we are checking in.Connect with George: Instagram: @banginheadlights https://www.instagram.com/banginheadlights/Link to get YOUR Bangin' Headlights: www.TheMustangPodcast.com/headlightsFord Mustang The Early Years Podcast (social media)Connect with the show:@mustangpodcasthttps://www.instagram.com/mustangpodcast/An Expert's Guide to Maintaining Your Classic Mustangwww.TheMustangPodcast.com/repairSponsored by: National Parts Depotwww.npdlink.comWith 4 warehouses nationwide, you'll get your parts fast!"Keep it safe, keep it rollin', and keep it on the road. Until next time!" Doug Sandler

It is a pleasure to welcome award-winning writer Tim Cummings to The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast.  Tim is the author of the multiple-award-winning coming-of-age novel, Alice the Cat, published by Fitzroy Books. It was chosen as an American Book Awards 'Best Book' Finalist for 2023, received a Bronze Medal in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and is a Finalist in both the 2024 National Indies Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction and the Independent Author Network's Book of the Year Awards. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts.Since 1984, he has appeared in over 200 projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications of short fiction, essays, and poetry include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare's Paw, Lit Angels, and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins' contest for his essay, “You Have Changed Me Forever.” He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers' Program, The Townies Inc. in Ojai, runs private workshops, and coaches authors. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner of 19 years and their dog. Tim grew up with a severely epileptic brother. His name was Matthew. They shared a room growing up. The seizure scenes in The Lightning People Play between Kirby and Baxter are drawn from real life. Matthew succumbed to epilepsy in the summer of 1997 when he died of complications caused by a grand-mal seizure. He was 26. With this story, Tim manifested a different destiny for Matthew–and for his heart. On this episode of The Jake's Take with Jacob Elyachar Podcast, Tim Cummings shared his origin story and how both Alice the Cat and The Lightning People Play teach essential life lessons to its readers.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/jake-s-take-with-jacob-elyachar--4112003/support.

Summer is all about riding the wave—flowing with life, embracing spontaneity, and letting go in ways that open the door for manifestations to unfold. But as we move into fall, it's time to slow down, ground, and integrate all the shifts that have come through these past months.In this episode, holistic health coach Alison Cohen shares how to transition from summer's fast-paced, chaotic magic into fall's stable, nourishing energy. Follow Alison on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsalisoncohen/Go to Alison's website: https://transforme-coaching.comFind Alison's meditations on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@alisoncohenGo to Alison's Luxury Wellness Retreat in Ojai this October: https://alignwellnesscollective.myflodesk.com/wellthywell2025wellnessretreat

What do you get when Hermanos Gutiérrez teams up with Leon Bridges? “Elegantly Wasted,” the Ecuadorian-Swiss, guitar wizard brother duo’s first song ever to feature English lyrics. By tapping their recent tourmate Bridges for the project, they’ve treated us to a sonic expansion of each artist's signature sound. The result is undulating rhythms,  silky vocals, and impeccable vibes. P.S. Prepare to swoon, because Hermanos Gutiérrez will be live at The Libbey Bowl in Ojai on Saturday, Sept. 20.

Creativity through the lens of an Author and Actor"Creativity feels like a life line, like another vein in my body."Tim Cummings is the author of the multiple-award-winning coming-of-age novel, Alice the Cat, published by Fitzroy Books. It was chosen as an American Book Awards 'Best Book' Finalist for 2023, received a Bronze Medal in the 2024 Feathered Quill Book Awards, and is a Finalist in both the 2024 National Indies Excellence Awards for Teen Fiction and the Independent Author Network's Book of the Year Awards. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University Los Angeles and a BFA from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. Since 1984, he has appeared in over 200 projects across theatre, film, television, voice-over, and new media. Recent publications of short fiction, essays, and poetry include F(r)iction, Scare Street, Lunch Ticket, MeowMeow PowPow, From Whispers to Roars, Drunk Monkeys, Hare's Paw, Lit Angels, and Critical Read/RAFT, for which he won the ‘Origins' contest for his essay, “You Have Changed Me Forever.” He teaches writing for UCLA Extension Writers' Program, The Townies Inc in Ojai, runs private workshops, and coaches authors. He lives in Los Angeles with his partner of 19 years and their dog. Website: timcummings.ink  InstagramSend us a text

When Beth Lane was six years old, her mother let slip a family mystery: she had six siblings, all adopted. That cryptic admission set Lane on a decades-long journey to uncover the truth — a journey that culminated in UnBroken, a powerful documentary about how her mother and six siblings, all Jewish children in Nazi Germany, survived the Holocaust with the help of a courageous German farmer and his wife. Hidden in a cramped laundry hut for nearly two years, the Weber children, ages six to eighteen, endured lice, starvation, cold, and constant fear. Their story, once nearly lost to time, now shines as a beacon of resilience and compassion.In this episode, Lane, an actor, writer, and first-time director based in Ojai, shares the extraordinary path from family secret to cinematic revelation. After reconnecting with the German farmer's grandson on a research trip, Lane was galvanized to make the film. Drawing inspiration from Shoah and animated Holocaust shorts, she wove archival material, survivor interviews, and gentle visual storytelling into a deeply human narrative. UnBroken premiered at the Heartland Film Festival in 2023, won the Best Documentary Feature Premiere award, and went on to screen internationally before its 2025 Netflix release, where it quickly became a top-five hit.But more than just a personal project, UnBroken is a call to empathy in an age of division. All profits from the film support the Weber Family Arts Foundation, which Lane founded to combat antisemitism through education and storytelling. As she tells it, the film asks a single, haunting question of viewers: “Would you hide me?” Tune in for this moving conversation about memory, legacy, and the quiet courage that can change the course of history.Check out the Weber Family Foundation at https://www.theweberfamilyartsfoundation.com/mission

In this episode, “Truth is a Pathless Land,” we speak with Transformative Inquiry Program faculty member Connie Jones to explore the micropolitical stakes of revolutionary spirituality through Krishnamurti's challenge to religious prescription, psychological conditioning, and egoic identification. We discuss techniqueless meditation, the primacy of awareness over truth, and the distinction between perception and cognition as a path beyond the representational mind. Our conversation engages the unknown as the ground of creativity and examines how culturally conditioned individualism is challenged by non-dual insights. We also explore Bohmian Dialogue as a transformative practice aligned with Krishnamurti's vision—an open, non-hierarchical mode of collective inquiry that suspends judgment and cultivates shared attention. Through this lens, we consider how his praxis opens onto a micro-political awareness capable of generating new forms of being and transformation beyond all systems of conditioning. Connie Jones, Ph.D., is a sociologist of religion who joined CIIS in 1994, having taught at several colleges and theology schools. Beginning with her doctoral dissertation on the caste system in India, she has pursued a long interest in the cultures and religions of the East, including the adoption of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and practices in the West. She researches spiritual teachers as well as the evolution of new religious movements around the world. Throughout her career in higher education, she has helped establish women's studies departments and curricula in several colleges and has published research on women's status in India and feminist methods. She has been a member of a multidisciplinary team of scholars that investigates new religious movements around the world and has published articles on movements that are based on Eastern religious belief and practice. At present, Constance has a book, Krishnamurti: Self-Inquiry, Awakening, and Transformation, in press with Cambridge University Press. In this volume she outlines the life and teaching of the enigmatic 20th century philosopher and teacher J. Krishnamurti. She serves in scholarly positions with the Gurdjieff Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man (2017- present) Tbilisi, Georgia and the Publications Committee of the Krishnamurti Foundation of America (2018-present), Ojai, California. Books: Encyclopedia of Hinduism Contemplative Literature The EWP Podcast credits • Connect with EWP: Youtube • Facebook • Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (PhD grad) • Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay • Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay • Introduction music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala • Music at the end of the episode: Tundra Immanence (blowing meditation) • Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In this episode, “Truth is a Pathless Land,” we speak with Transformative Inquiry Program faculty member Connie Jones to explore the micropolitical stakes of revolutionary spirituality through Krishnamurti's challenge to religious prescription, psychological conditioning, and egoic identification. We discuss techniqueless meditation, the primacy of awareness over truth, and the distinction between perception and cognition as a path beyond the representational mind. Our conversation engages the unknown as the ground of creativity and examines how culturally conditioned individualism is challenged by non-dual insights. We also explore Bohmian Dialogue as a transformative practice aligned with Krishnamurti's vision—an open, non-hierarchical mode of collective inquiry that suspends judgment and cultivates shared attention. Through this lens, we consider how his praxis opens onto a micro-political awareness capable of generating new forms of being and transformation beyond all systems of conditioning. Connie Jones, Ph.D., is a sociologist of religion who joined CIIS in 1994, having taught at several colleges and theology schools. Beginning with her doctoral dissertation on the caste system in India, she has pursued a long interest in the cultures and religions of the East, including the adoption of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and practices in the West. She researches spiritual teachers as well as the evolution of new religious movements around the world. Throughout her career in higher education, she has helped establish women's studies departments and curricula in several colleges and has published research on women's status in India and feminist methods. She has been a member of a multidisciplinary team of scholars that investigates new religious movements around the world and has published articles on movements that are based on Eastern religious belief and practice. At present, Constance has a book, Krishnamurti: Self-Inquiry, Awakening, and Transformation, in press with Cambridge University Press. In this volume she outlines the life and teaching of the enigmatic 20th century philosopher and teacher J. Krishnamurti. She serves in scholarly positions with the Gurdjieff Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man (2017- present) Tbilisi, Georgia and the Publications Committee of the Krishnamurti Foundation of America (2018-present), Ojai, California. Books: Encyclopedia of Hinduism Contemplative Literature The EWP Podcast credits • Connect with EWP: Youtube • Facebook • Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (PhD grad) • Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay • Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay • Introduction music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala • Music at the end of the episode: Tundra Immanence (blowing meditation) • Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/south-asian-studies

In this episode, “Truth is a Pathless Land,” we speak with Transformative Inquiry Program faculty member Connie Jones to explore the micropolitical stakes of revolutionary spirituality through Krishnamurti's challenge to religious prescription, psychological conditioning, and egoic identification. We discuss techniqueless meditation, the primacy of awareness over truth, and the distinction between perception and cognition as a path beyond the representational mind. Our conversation engages the unknown as the ground of creativity and examines how culturally conditioned individualism is challenged by non-dual insights. We also explore Bohmian Dialogue as a transformative practice aligned with Krishnamurti's vision—an open, non-hierarchical mode of collective inquiry that suspends judgment and cultivates shared attention. Through this lens, we consider how his praxis opens onto a micro-political awareness capable of generating new forms of being and transformation beyond all systems of conditioning. Connie Jones, Ph.D., is a sociologist of religion who joined CIIS in 1994, having taught at several colleges and theology schools. Beginning with her doctoral dissertation on the caste system in India, she has pursued a long interest in the cultures and religions of the East, including the adoption of Hindu and Buddhist beliefs and practices in the West. She researches spiritual teachers as well as the evolution of new religious movements around the world. Throughout her career in higher education, she has helped establish women's studies departments and curricula in several colleges and has published research on women's status in India and feminist methods. She has been a member of a multidisciplinary team of scholars that investigates new religious movements around the world and has published articles on movements that are based on Eastern religious belief and practice. At present, Constance has a book, Krishnamurti: Self-Inquiry, Awakening, and Transformation, in press with Cambridge University Press. In this volume she outlines the life and teaching of the enigmatic 20th century philosopher and teacher J. Krishnamurti. She serves in scholarly positions with the Gurdjieff Institute for the Harmonious Development of Man (2017- present) Tbilisi, Georgia and the Publications Committee of the Krishnamurti Foundation of America (2018-present), Ojai, California. Books: Encyclopedia of Hinduism Contemplative Literature The EWP Podcast credits • Connect with EWP: Youtube • Facebook • Hosted by Stephen Julich (EWP Core Faculty) and Jonathan Kay (PhD grad) • Produced by: Stephen Julich and Jonathan Kay • Edited and Mixed by: Jonathan Kay • Introduction music: Mosaic, by Monsoon on the album Mandala • Music at the end of the episode: Tundra Immanence (blowing meditation) • Introduction Voiceover: Roche Wadehra Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/religion

Olivia Chase and Steve Sprinkel are the owners of The Farmer and the Cook in Ojai, California. What is The Farmer and the Cook? It's a restaurant, café, bakery, farm market and community hub in the middle of Ojai, plus a 10 acre farm a few blocks away.The Farmer and the Cook opened in 2001, though Olivia and Steve have been at the center of the American organic food movement for decades, helping it grow from a radical counter-cultural idea in one small area of Southern California to a transformational influence on the American food system. Organic food, vegetarian and vegan food, farmers markets, farm to table – these are ideas that entered the American mainstream because of what started to happen in this area. Today, they are often buzz words, corrupted by industrial food. Then there are people like Olivia and Steve that have not wavered from their original goals. They have stayed true to their ethos, growing, distributing and serving nutritious food that is good for your body and doesn't destroy the environment. They try to make it nutritious food affordable and accessible to anyone in their community, not just the wealthy Angelenos that make their way to the town on the weekends.In our discussion, where Juli was there on location, we talk about how the price of land has made it difficult for new farmers, but how organizations they are a part of, like the Ecological Farming Association and ALBA, are helping to train farmworkers, many of them Latin American, to improve yields and access land of their own. We talk about hopeful gains in seed saving, which is helping make agricultural diversity more resilient. They are also helping preserve seeds from Gaza so that they don't disappear during the war and they can eventually be reestablished by Palestinian farmers.I've been thinking a lot lately about the time it takes food movements to have real impacts. We are sometimes taken by surprise at how quickly food systems can be disrupted. I've seen it happen rapidly in the two decades I have been researching food in Latin America. Sometimes we want things to happen in the other direction overnight, but it takes time. Seemingly small actions, like saving seeds and getting nice vegetables into the hands of consumers can have a strong impact as time goes on. It might take decades before you can see the change, maybe it's after your bones are down in the ground, but someone must have the courage to start somewhere. --Host: Nicholas Gill Co-host: Juliana DuqueProduced by Nicholas Gill & Juliana Duque Recording & Editing by New Worlder https://www.newworlder.com Read more at New Worlder.

In this special episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with the luminous Kitty Winn — award-winning actor, devoted mother, and granddaughter of Gen. George C. Marshall — to trace a remarkable life lived on her own terms.After winning Best Actress at Cannes for her raw, unforgettable performance in The Panic in Needle Park alongside Al Pacino, and stepping into horror history as Sharon in The Exorcist, Kitty stepped away from the spotlight to raise her family.Now a cherished member of the Ojai community, Kitty shares stories from her family's extraordinary legacy, including her grandmother's rebellious stint with a traveling Shakespeare troupe in the early 1900s. We explore Kitty's deep commitment to nurturing young artists through the Ojai Film Society's Student Film Contest, her thoughts on acting, legacy, and why she's chosen to make Ojai her stage today.We talked about Kitty's early years in India with her military father, Gen. Marshall's challenges in both World Wars, his post-war importance and much more. We did not talk about Instagram flexibility gurus, Brad Pitt in Formula One or Edward Gibbon's Decline & Fall of the Roman Empire.It's a graceful, insightful conversation with a woman who continues to inspire — quietly, steadily, and with uncommon elegance. You can read more about this remarkable woman in Mark Lewis' story in the Ojai Quarterly archives at https://www.ojaihub.com/winns-circle/

Explore the haunting legend of the Char Man on Creek Road in Ojai, California. This eerie stretch is known for sightings of a charred figure lurking among the trees, born from tales of mysterious fires and tragic pasts. Tune in for a chilling journey into one of California's most haunted roads.

What happens when five brilliant, rebellious Romantics take refuge from a climate catastrophe in a lakeside villa — and decide to conjure monsters?In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with acclaimed playwright, screenwriter and novelist Jule Selbo to discuss her gripping new play, Mary Shelley: The Year Without Summer, premiering in Ojai on August 8, running through August 17th at Matilija Auditorium, directed by Richard Camp as the Ojai Performing Arts Theater's summer production.Set in the summer of 1816, amid the eerie aftermath of a volcanic eruption that blotted out the sun, the play captures a charged gathering at Villa Diodati, where Mary Shelley, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Lord Byron, Dr. Polidori, and Mary's stepsister Claire Clairmont engage in a dark game: Who can write the best horror story?From this stormy retreat, two modern mythologies are born —Mary's Frankenstein, which redefined horror and science fiction, and Polidori's Vampyre, the prototype for the seductive bloodsucker that haunts our popular imagination to this day.Jule shares her insights into dramatizing these iconic figures, why the tensions of that fateful summer still resonate, and how creativity thrives in chaos. A must-listen for literature lovers, theater fans, and anyone who enjoys a good ghost story.We talk about how these gothic tales speak to the modern imagination, writing for money and much more. (We do not talk about old English desserts, Arthur Rimbaud or folk dancing.)For more information, check out OPAT's website at OjaiTheater.org or Jule Selbo's site at JuleSelbo.com.

Rachel Lang is an astrologer, author, and spiritual teacher who bridges the mystical and the practical. With a Libra Sun and Taurus Rising, she blends intuition, creativity, and community leadership—serving in elected office in Ojai, California, where she brings soul-centered insight into real-world policy. She's the author of Modern Day Magic and As Above, So Below, and hosts The Rachel Lang Show, exploring astrology, intuition, and collective healing. A sought-after speaker and teacher, Rachel leads workshops nationwide, including at Omega Institute and The Shift Network. Rachel's work integrates archetypal astrology, ritual, and psychic mediumship to empower others to align with cosmic rhythms and take inspired action. She also serves on several nonprofit and agency boards focused on equity, sustainability, and public service. We discuss:  Why astrology and spirituality are deeply personal practices that can't be fully replaced by technology. How Mercury retrograde offers an opportunity for reflection, healing, and realignment. The powerful influence of astrological events on our relationships and emotional lives. How astrocartography and intentional travel can support personal and professional growth. The importance of integrating spirituality into daily life and community engagement for greater well-being. Follow Rachel Lang on Instagram: @rachellangastrologer Learn more about Rachel Lang: www.rachellangastrologer.com Learn more about High Vibration Living with Chef Whitney Aronoff on www.StarseedKitchen.com  Get 10% off your order of Chef Whitney's organic spices with code STARSEED on www.starseedkitchen.com  Follow Chef Whitney Aronoff on Instagram at @whitneyaronoff and @starseedkitchen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a mystical optimist and a self-proclaimed cynic start a podcast, sparks fly—and sometimes combust. In this lively, revealing conversation, Ojai-based artists Daren Thomas Magee (the Instagram juggernaut Real Fun, Wow) and musician Jaymee Carpenter (Love Is the Author) open up about the origin story of their podcast Mystical-Cynical, how each season seems to end in a breakup, and why they keep coming back for more.We dive into the rhythm of creative collaboration, the friction and forgiveness that fuel their friendship, and how life in a small town like Ojai shapes their artistic lives and inner journeys. Along the way, we talk about purpose, pain, laughter, healing — and why Mystical-Cynical resonates so deeply with its devoted listeners.Whether you're a seeker, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, this episode is a real fun… wow.Note: We did not talk about gout, dental procedures or Jeffrey Epstein. Check out Daren's artistry and comic musings on Instagram @realfunwow and Jaymee's @loveistheauthor.

Diana Yen is a chef from New York who has recently moved to Ojai, CA. Her newest book, Firepit Feast, is out now. We chat about farmers carrying at Equinox, mesh tops, innovation in the handwashing space, exploring local citrus, Orange County spring rolls, a new avocado is about to drop, the future of matcha, whisk size matters, fast food burger styling, writers as influencers, and our thoughts on beef tallow. instagram.com/diana_yen_ twitter.com/donetodeath twitter.com/themjeans howlonggone.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week, we're joined by Rachel Lang, an astrologer, author, spiritual teacher, and public official in Ojai, California. Rachel gives us a masterclass in using astrology as a practical tool, from timing business launches with moon cycles to understanding the major upcoming Neptune in Aries transit. We explore its historical parallels to the Civil War era, what it means for the future of spirituality and social justice, and how you can work with your own chart to navigate the changes ahead.Build Your Business Birth Chart Reading with Cara: - Book your reading hereConnect with Rachel: - Website - Instagram Business Witch The Course: - This episode is brought to you by⁠⁠ Business Witch The Course⁠⁠Additional Resources:- ⁠⁠Learn about working with me and subscribe for business tips.⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Apply to be a 1:1 client.⁠⁠- ⁠⁠Follow me on Instagram!⁠

In this episode, we sit down with Kelley D'Angelo, founder and CEO of Lark Ellen Farm and the visionary behind the brand-new Purely Sprouted™ line. What started as personal wellness experiment in her home kitchen in Ojai — driven by chronic aches, low energy, and grain sensitivities — has blossomed into a national success story.Kelley began in 2015 at the Ojai Farmers Market with her first sprouted granola bites, and Lark Ellen Farm now reaches over 300 stores across the U.S. gofarmhand.com+11accountixsolutions.com+11Lark Ellen Farm+11. In March 2023, she launched Purely Sprouted™ at Natural Products Expo West, introducing nutrient-dense snack mixes and individually portioned nuts in eight crave-worthy flavors — and pledged support to 1% for the Planet Purely Sprouted.We explore the science behind sprouting: how soaking and germinating nuts and seeds increases nutrient availability, eases digestion, and boosts flavor. But scaling this kind of food business, especially in a small town, hasn't been easy. Kelley shares her experience pitching to investors like the Santa Barbara Angel Alliance Facebook+7Forbes+7Purely Sprouted+7, getting her first pallet shipped (and spilling boxes along the way) , and tackling bank relationships, cash flow stress, vendor contracts, and hiring.After being selected in 2025 for RangeMe's “Brands Created by Moms” collection, marking Lark Ellen Farm's 10th anniversary month, the story's only getting bigger ForbesLark Ellen Farm+15nosh.com+15Shoutout LA+15. Kelley offers valuable insights for entrepreneurs who want to turn kitchen curiosity into a sustainable brand: from co-packing to financial planning, logistics, and preserving mission alongside growth.Tune in for an inspiring blend of wellness wisdom, small-town hustle, and the earthy crunch under Kelley's leadership.We did not talk about drift net dangers, ancient Babylonian gold hoards or the recent NYC mayoral primary election.

Liz and Sarah discuss what their career has in common with the annual Ojai Fourth of July Parade. Then, in a Day In The Life segment, they share how they spent their Hive 25. There were many activities, including handing in a script and a trip to Sarah’s favorite stationary shop. In Hits & Bombs, they give two Hits — one to Jocelyn at the Blue Iguana Inn, and another to the people on Sarah’s flight from Los Angeles to Minneapolis. This week’s Hollywood Hack comes from friend-of-the-pod Brook Sitgraves Turner: Google Doc Tabs. Finally, Liz recommends the Substack newsletter, Tepper Talks, for anyone who’s trying to make it in Hollywood. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Note: Go to the Happier In Hollywood Facebook Group for Liz and Sarah’s extensive Teens/Tweens Gift Guide. Thanks to listeners for such great ideas! Link below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/903150719832696/permalink/3081705578643855/ LINKS: Happier In Hollywood on Substack: https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott: https://amzn.to/3FJwgWc Zaidee’s Bar & Grill: https://www.soulepark.com/facilities/restaurant Poketo Concept Planner: https://www.poketo.com/products/concept-planner Noted in Ojai: https://www.notedojai.com/ Blue Iguana Inn: https://www.blueiguanainn.com/ Waterpik Flossing Toothbrush https://amzn.to/4lC8Yk5 Brook Sitgraves Turner: https://m.imdb.com/name/nm8223801/ Tepper Talks on Substack: https://ktepper.substack.com/about Photo by Nguyen Hoang Dieu Anh on Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Hoppus is a musician, most notably from the band Blink-182. His memoir, Fahrenheit 182, is out now. We chat about taking ecstasy on the 4th of July, the imminent cancellation of fireworks, Sufjan Stevens' body tea, Ojai scene report, bean and cheese burritos, Travis Barker's bachelor party, skee ball, growing up in methed out Cali, his wife got in early with Tesla stock, why Blink is selling more tickets than ever 30 years in, a case for pyrotechnics, his goth phase, writing his book was super fun with the help of THC, his cancer recovery, how he met his wife, his favorite comedians, and what it takes to be a true road dog. instagram.com/markhoppus twitter.com/donetodeath twitter.com/themjeans howlonggone.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Liz and Sarah share their plan to spend all of July finishing a solid draft of their novel. It’s time to get it done! In Take A Hike, they talk about the upside of the downslide of Hollywood. When everything changes, new opportunities arise! In The Craft (& Fain), Sarah talks about the Poketo Concept Planner that’s helping her make headway on a creative project. This week’s Hollywood Hack is courtesy of Jessica Lahey from the #AmWriting podcast — set a UPS/FedEx alert so that you can preempt barking dogs. Finally, Sarah recommends the graphic novel Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls. Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, and Side Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! LINKS: Jessica Lahey of #AmWriting: https://www.jessicalahey.com/amwriting-podcast The Gift of Failure: https://amzn.to/4kRej7b The Addiction Inoculation: https://amzn.to/3FPiVvC Poketo Concept Planner: https://www.poketo.com/products/concept-planner Noted in Ojai: https://www.notedojai.com/ Feeding Ghosts by Tessa Hulls: https://amzn.to/45Bz7ed Photo by S. Tsuchiya on Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democracy is calling….Trickster recruiting! Caroline welcomes fellow Libra Dragon astrologer, pragmatic mystic Rachel Lang, that we honor our teammate,  true Visionary Activist, Zohran Mamdani… and all the descriptive and navigational guidance available to us all….. With a Libra Sun and Taurus Rising, Rachel also weaves the astro-politico worlds — one foot in the mystical, the other in municipal leadership. As a public servant who holds an elected office in Ojai, California, she brings her spiritual insight and creative vision into every decision, believing that leadership should be both soul-centered and community-driven.   https://rachellangastrologer.com/   *Woof*Woof*Wanna*Play?!?* · www.CoyoteNetworkNews.com · The Visionary Activist Show on Patreon The post The Visionary Activist Show – Democracy is calling appeared first on KPFA.

In this episode of Mind Your Own Karma, I sit down with author and professor Joan K. Peters, whose memoir Untangling dives deep into the layered, complex process of healing through psychoanalysis. Joan opens up about her own long-term journey in therapy, the power of dreamwork, and thesubconscious patterns that keep so many of us stuck.We talk about what it really means to “untangle” the inner knots around love, money, and self-worth, and why healing often looks nothing like we expect.Joan's honesty, depth, and insight make this a must-listen for anyone who's ready to look beneath the surface. What we cover in this episode:The difference between traditional therapy and psychoanalysis.How childhood perception shapes adult pain.Joan's biggest “knots” and how she began to unravel them.Why healing is often messy—and why that's okay.The slow unwinding process of real change.The power of telling your story.What to look for in a healing relationship.How logic and emotion can coexist in deep healing work.More about Joan:Joan K. Peters is a writer, professor emeritus, and the author of Untangling: A Memoir of Psychoanalysis. With a Ph.D. in comparative literature, Joan taught others how to analyze great stories—until she found herself living one of her own. She now resides in Ojai, California, with her husband, dogs, and afew chickens who've probably heard all the secrets.Grab Joan's book:Website: https://www.untanglingjoan.com/Untangling on Amazon: https://a.co/d/e736fXe Want to explore your own healing journey through the body?Check out my Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery sessions at https://www.somatichealingjourneys.com/Have a unique healing modality you'd love to share on the show?Email me at mindyourownkarma@gmail.com—I'd love to hear from you!Find Melissa:-Email Melissa here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠mindyourownkarma@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Click here for the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Mind Your Own Karma Website⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Click here for ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Somatic Mindful Guided Imagery⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Find Mind Your Own Karma on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Find Mind Your Own Karma on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-Find Mind Your Own Karma on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Remember: You might be just one listen away from a totallydifferent life. #MindYourOwnKarma #KarmaCrew #UntanglingTrauma #PsychoanalysisHealing #SubconsciousHealing #HealingJourney #DreamworkTherapy #EmotionalHealing #TherapyTools #MentalHealthAwareness #DeepHealingWork #InnerKnots #UnravelThePast #TellYourStory #JoanKPeters #MemoirHealing #HealingPodcast #TraumaRecovery#HealingThroughPsychoanalysis #HealingIsMessy

Liz and Sarah discuss the downside of being deadline driven. They love a deadline, but sometimes creative projects need more room to breathe than a deadline allows. In Take A Hike, Sarah suggests growing something. She’s taken up gardening, and it’s making her happier, healthier, and more productive! Then Liz gives herself a Hit for being a connector, and Sarah gives a Bomb to the Ojai trash system. This week’s Hollywood Hack will add more fun to your life: get the whimsical version of something you need (like paper clips). Finally, Liz recommends the book Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America by Bridget Read. Sign up for Liz & Sarah’s free weekly Substack newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. It will come right to your inbox! Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Note: Go to the Happier In Hollywood Facebook Group for Liz and Sarah’s extensive Teens/Tweens Gift Guide. Thanks to listeners for such great ideas! Link below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/903150719832696/permalink/3081705578643855/ LINKS: Happier In Hollywood on Substack: https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com/?utm_source=global-search Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott: https://amzn.to/3FJwgWc On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft: https://amzn.to/441n1sC Navigating the Future of Entertainment Summit: https://members.thearnoldacademy.com/navigating-the-future-of-creative-work-live-summit Drama Darling podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/drama-darling-a-real-housewives-comedy-podcast/id1684156555?i=1000710903737 Grosse Pointe Garden Society trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwJ8P6GZvkU Midori paper clips: https://amzn.to/4jE4vMr More cute paper clips: https://amzn.to/3FEtZvn Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America: https://amzn.to/4mTKrIJ Photo by Dan Cristian Pădureț on Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I dive into -  My absolute love of the Def Leppard masterpiece High n Dry, The Honda Motorcycle company has built 500 million Motorcycles, The press making Los Angeles look like the end of the world and Ojai's amazing classic movie theater Ojai Playhouse reopening. Thank you for always tuning in. Please get your tickets to see me live around the  country including Fort Collins Colorado this week https://www.deandelray.com/tourdates Patreon for all your bonus episodes - https://www.deandelray.com/patreon  My brand new Comedy Special 5836 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbeaApu4OP0 Have a great week my friends DDR  

Liz and Sarah talk to best-selling author and friend of the pod, Melissa de la Cruz, about the state of publishing, her new novel When Stars Align, and her passion for fashion. In Take A Hike, inspired by her recent trip to the Renaissance Fair, Sarah shares why you should attend an Immersion Event. This week’s Hollywood Hack will help you understand fandom better (your own and other people’s) — a breakdown of the five kinds of fans. Finally, Sarah recommends going to a honey tasting at the Heavenly Honey Company of Ojai. Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s free weekly newsletter at https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com. Get in touch on Instagram: @Sfain & @LizCraft Get in touch on Threads: @Sfain & @LizCraft Visit our website: https://happierinhollywood.com Join our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/HappierinHollywood/ Happier in Hollywood is part of ‘The Onward Project,’ a family of podcasts brought together by Gretchen Rubin—all about how to make your life better. Check out the other Onward Project podcasts—Happier with Gretchen Rubin, andSide Hustle School . If you liked this episode, please subscribe, leave a review, and tell your friends! Note: Go to the Happier In Hollywood Facebook Group for Liz and Sarah’s extensive Teens/Tweens Gift Guide. Thanks to listeners for such great ideas! Link below. https://www.facebook.com/groups/903150719832696/permalink/3081705578643855/ LINKS: When Stars Align by Melissa de la Cruz: https://amzn.to/43bOJlN Melissa de la Cruz: https://melissa-delacruz.com/ Heavenly Honey Company: https://heavenlyhoneycompany.com/ Photo by Sarah Lee on Unsplash See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After hearing Dave's story in the previous episode and the profound similarity between his UFO experience in Ojai and his meditation at the Integratron, we wanted to learn more about the strange history of this building. But what started out as an effort to learn more about this place ended up turning into a bit of an adventure. In this episode, historian Daniel Paul joins to tell the story of The Integratron and the man who built it, George Van Tassel. Van Tassel was an aerospace engineer who became a UFO pioneer after claiming contact with extraterrestrials in California's Mojave Desert. He lived under Giant Rock, a 7-story boulder in the desert where he operated an airstrip and café. His life's work was the Integratron, a domed structure he built based on channeled communications with a group of aliens called the Council of Seven Lights —and, more specifically, an individual being named Solganda. After this interview, we traveled to the desert to meet a man named Don McKinney, who owns a massive archive of George's recordings, photos, and the original blueprints of the Integratron. If you want to hear about that trip and our effort to help Don preserve this archive, it will be available on the Otherworld Patreon next week. Daniel's Historical Proposal for The Integratron George Van Tassel's FBI File Check out our Merch⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on:⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠ For business inquiries contact: OtherworldTeam@unitedtalent.com If you have experienced something paranormal or unexplained, email us your story at ⁠⁠⁠stories@otherworldpod.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dave and his high school friends take their first solo camping trip together out in rural Ojai. What begins as any normal night suddenly changes when the group is awoken by an unearthly sound. Years later, during his visit to the Integratron, Dave gains insight on what might have happened to him and his friends. Check out our Merch⁠⁠⁠ Follow us on:⁠⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ TikTok⁠⁠⁠,⁠⁠⁠ Twitter⁠⁠⁠ For business inquiries contact: OtherworldTeam@unitedtalent.com If you have experienced something paranormal or unexplained, email us your story at ⁠⁠⁠stories@otherworldpod.com To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices