Podcasts about ojai

A Buddhist, two Mormon Missionaries, and Chuck Testa walk into a conversation to try to find the cosmic punchline in this instant classic episode of non-stop hilarity and wisdom. Chuck Testa is easily the most recognizable taxidermist in the world, due to a viral commercial for Testa's business created by Rhett & Link for the show Rhett & Link: Commercial Kings, and the catchphrase "Nope, Chuck Testa!" became an Internet meme. Elder Hobbs and Elder Andersen are two Mormon young men currently fulfilling their missionary work in Ojai as part of their religious calling who have become friends with both Jaymee and Chuck (separately) canvassing door to door, and thought they all should meet. Jaymee facilitates a beautiful discussion between the men on the nature of faith, seeing past differences, and we learn a whole lot more about both Mormonism and Taxidermy in this groundbreaking episode.Interested in Mentorship with Jaymee? email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com to set up a free consultation,or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: RAUM GOODS (www.raumgoods.com)INDIAN LODGE ROAD (www.indianlodgeroad.com) GUAYAKI YERBA MATÉ (www.guayaki.com)VALLEY OF THE MOON (www.shorturl.at/dCVh2)LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced and edited by Jaymee Carpenter. PLEASE $UPPORT THiS SHOW: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastCONTACT: jaymee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor / @unconventionalgardener

Guru of Ojai vintage John Dennis returns to celebrate our 100th episode in hilarious, healing and heartwarming conversation with Jaymee, covering everything from cold-plunging to crack smoking in their youth. John's amazing shop of oddities Valley Of The Moon has been a sponsor of this podcast, and John is not only a friend but a fan favorite and one of our most requested return guests since he made his last appearance on Episode 4.Interested in Mentorship with Jaymee or Lacee? email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com to set up a free consultation,or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: RAUM GOODS (www.raumgoods.com)INDIAN LODGE ROAD (www.indianlodgeroad.com) GUAYAKI YERBA MATÉ (www.guayaki.com)VALLEY OF THE MOON (www.shorturl.at/dCVh2)LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced and edited by Jaymee Carpenter. PLEASE $UPPORT THiS SHOW: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastCONTACT: jaymee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @loveistheauthor / @unconventionalgardener

Jonathan Parks-Ramage is a writer from Los Angeles. His critically acclaimed debut novel YES, DADDY (HarperCollins) was named one of the best queer books of 2021. His second novel, IT'S NOT THE END OF THE WORLD (Bloomsbury), is out June 3rd. We chat about Diddy's applesauce burger, Kid Cudi aura farming at the courthouse, Jony Ive's potential wearables, which necklaces to wear as a top, being shirtless at events, straight guy bodies, hot Ojai murder cults, Ryan Murphy's The Shards, another cuppa Skarsgård tea, ideal natural disasters, never flirt with an actor, threesome drama, sexual mazes, the P-Town "Dick Dock, " where to have sex in Paris, famous white women, Joshua Tree not for me, and how far he'll travel for p*ssy. instagram.com/jprampage twitter.com/donetodeath twitter.com/themjeans howlonggone.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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.

On this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we take a sun-dappled stroll through the life and work of Stephanie Hubbard —landscape architect, abstract expressionist, and one of the newest members of the Ojai Studio Artists. Fresh off a prestigious nine-month residency at the Taft Gardens, Stephanie shares how Ojai's wild beauty has rooted itself in her art — and her soul.We talk childhood in the Transcendentalist center of Concord, Massachusetts, apprenticing with a ceramicist painting flowers for Evelyn & Crabtree, and what it was like to work as on-screen talent with the classic show "This Old House." We get into the tangled garden of her creative process, where soil meets soul, and brush meets instinct.Stephanie's story is one of elegant reinvention — from shaping landscapes to letting landscapes shape her. If you like stories about artistic breakthroughs, garden epiphanies, or what happens when a designer trades blueprints for brushstrokes, don't miss this one.We did not talk about when Shohei Ohtani was going to next take the mound, David Hockney's camera obscura or the short-lived Korean Empire.Pull up a seat — or better yet, take us on a walk — and enjoy the view. You can learn more about Stephanie and her work at her artist website, Stephanie-Hubbard.com, or her landscape architectural firm, Site-Creative.com

Meet your vineyard night-shift rodent patrol —barn owls. Bob Peak, a dedicated volunteer at Pacific Wildlife Care, shares how these incredible predators consume up to 30 gophers or voles a night. Learn fun facts about their short lifecycle, nesting habits, and how to properly install nest boxes (hint: ventilation and road direction matter!). Discover how you can encourage barn owls to thrive on your land—plus, hear how these owls even foster orphaned chicks. Resources:         REGISTER: 6/6/25 Tailgate | Bird Abatement and Managing Wildlife in the Vineyard 58: Barn Owls 84: Falconry Bird Abatement 118: Managing Rodent Pests in Vineyards with Integrated Pest Management Build Your Own Owl Box Cornell Lab All About Birds National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association Pacific Wildlife Care The Barn Owl Box Company The Barn Owl Trust (UK) UC Davis Raptor Center Vineyard Team Programs: Juan Nevarez Memorial Scholarship - Donate SIP Certified – Show your care for the people and planet   Sustainable Ag Expo – The premiere winegrowing event of the year Vineyard Team – Become a Member Get More Subscribe wherever you listen so you never miss an episode on the latest science and research with the Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast. Since 1994, Vineyard Team has been your resource for workshops and field demonstrations, research, and events dedicated to the stewardship of our natural resources. Learn more at www.vineyardteam.org.   Transcript [00:00:04] Beth Vukmanic: Meet your vineyard, night shift Rodent patrol - barn owls. Welcome to Sustainable Wine Growing with Vineyard Team, where we bring you the latest in science and research for the wine industry. I'm Beth Vukmanic, executive director [00:00:18] In today's podcast, Craig Macmillan critical resource manager at Niner Wine Estates with longtime SIP Certified Vineyard in the first ever SIP Certified winery. Speaks with Bob Peak, a dedicated volunteer at Pacific Wildlife Care. [00:00:34] Bob shares how these incredible predators consume up to 30 gophers or voles a night. Learn fun facts about their short lifecycle nesting habitats, and how to properly install nest boxes, hint, ventilation, and road direction matter. [00:00:50] Discover how you could encourage barn owls to thrive on your land plus. Here how these owls even foster orphaned chicks. [00:00:58] If you love this topic and want to learn even more about barn owls, you won't want to miss the June 6th, 2025 tailgate on bird abatement and managing wildlife in the vineyard. [00:01:09] Hosted at Jackson Family Wines Bar M Vineyard in Los Alamos, California. We'll see a live falconry demonstration and learn the latest barn owl research from California Polytechnic State University, including how changes in vineyard habitat affect foraging behavior. To register, just go to vineyard team.org/events or look for the link in the show notes. [00:01:33] Now, let's listen in. [00:01:38] Craig Macmillan: Our guest today is Bob Peak. He is a volunteer with Pacific Wildlife care in SLO County, California. And today we're gonna talk about barn owls. Thanks for being on the podcast, Bob. [00:01:48] Bob Peak: Thank you very much Craig, and I want to thank you and the Niner Wine Estates for this invitation. I think that this going to be very informative and quite fascinating actually. [00:02:00] Craig Macmillan: Yeah, so I'll give you a little bit of background on that. I met Bob, when he came out to Niner Wine estates, looking for clutches, looking for looking for outlets, and we learned all kinds of fascinating things. And I was like, I have got to talk to this guy on the podcast 'cause there's so much information and interesting things about barn owls that I didn't know, until a couple months ago. [00:02:23] But why don't we start with you telling us a little bit about, pacific wildlife Care. [00:02:28] Bob Peak: Yes. Pacific Wildlife Care was started 41 years ago here in the county by home rehabbers. There was no facility. People did their work in their specialty right out of their home, whether it was raccoons or opossums. We people tended to have a different skill that they were good at, and it started with very humble beginnings. [00:02:51] We finally reached a point where we could afford a facility and we went and occupied part of the PG&E power plant there in Morrow Bay. We are right next door to the Marine Mammal Center, if anyone knows where that is, and we are right now in the process of having to move as they are, also as there are plans coming up for the property. [00:03:17] We currently have had some donors step up and provide us with not only the 10 acres of land on Buckley Road in San Luis Obispo, but we are also very quickly in the process of building a brand new facility out there. [00:03:35] Craig Macmillan: That is really great. There's definitely a need for this. How did you personally become involved in wildlife rehabilitation? [00:03:43] Bob Peak: I needed something to do after I retired and I literally, I saw an ad in the Tribune, a local paper that said that they were looking for volunteers and I had had some experience with the birds of prey as a a child. I have a Native American background and they're a very important part of our culture. [00:04:04] we, we learned about them early on and the opportunity to work around people that were like-minded as far as with the animals in San Luis Bipo County was rather exciting. [00:04:18] Craig Macmillan: And so let's move on. Talk about barn owls specifically. Why is it important to encourage and protect barn owls? [00:04:24] Bob Peak: Ooh, that's a good question. barn owls are a species that really keep things in check. They're the balance to something that could get outta control very quickly. and I think we all see that, whether it's at our houses or at the wineries. And that's these, the rodents and other pests. That not only are harmful to us but they're harmful to our crops and even potential danger to us as well. [00:04:56] They are voracious eaters. They consume anywhere between six to eight voles or gophers a night. And that's each when a parent is feeding the young. That number can go up by times four. You could see that you might be 30 vols taken a night. So they do a tremendous job for the environment. And again, they, they're more of a checks and balances. [00:05:29] I think too that the more barn owls that you have in an area it means that you're basically protected. It's one of those things too where people also think the same way with the, the skunks or opossums and raccoons. They can be nuisances at times, but they serve a very good purpose in eliminating all kinds of pests, insects, and things that you don't want. [00:05:56] Craig Macmillan: What is the lifecycle of a barn owl? [00:06:00] Bob Peak: . I wrote a couple of notes down on this. The lifecycle is rather short for barn owl. The, they're cavity nesters, what happens is the, the barn owl parents make for life, they're monogamous. So they'll stick around they'll find a cavity barn or something that a box where they'll head in and lay anywhere between one and eight eggs. The incubation period is rather quick. [00:06:38] The breeding season is basically between late January and February for about six to eight weeks. , about a week and a half before the female laser eggs, she's nest bound. She's too heavy to fly. She can't even get out of the box. [00:06:53] Another thing that she does at that same time is she picks a little brood patch. On her belly to where she can remove those feathers. And once the young born, 'cause they have no feathers, she will put them right next to that skin of hers for the warmth that they're gonna need. [00:07:15] Incubation is 29 to about 34 days. Again, they could lay between one and eight eggs. And they can do that three times a year. They might just have one clutch of eight. They could have two or maybe even three if the conditions are right. [00:07:33] She'll turn these eggs every so many minutes and then it takes, oh, I would say, you know, like 29 to 34 days, [00:07:44] and then the chick to get out from the shell. The have this little hook on the end of their bill. It's an egg tooth that's on the end of their, bill. And then that will actually break the egg open and it does take a while for, it takes 12 to 36 hours for 'em to get out of that eggshell. Four to seven. [00:08:08] It'll be about four months before they'll see another. But brood, because once they leave, then they'll lay more eggs. [00:08:17] The four months will pass from the egg being laid to the young, gaining independence. That's it. And they pretty much don't receive much training from their parents. It's, they get out of the box and then they're on their own. Where a great horned owl will spend up to a year or more, even longer with their parents. [00:08:37] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:08:39] Bob Peak: A freshly hatched barnells Pink mentioned that know they hatch in sequence of the way that they were laid. [00:08:46] Craig Macmillan: Oh. [00:08:46] Bob Peak: The oldest could be three weeks old when the youngest hatches. So there is a. A challenge for food with that young one because that big one's gonna be going after it. So that's right off the bat. You know, you got some you know, some things working against you. [00:09:03] The downey Plumage starts to show up about three weeks later. They tend to clutch together and for that warmth till then. And then the female again, is taking the food brought by the male. The male is doing all the hunting. And the male will bring it in. The female will grab that food and rip it apart and feed it individually to each of the babies. Very small pieces [00:09:31] about the time they're two weeks old, they can stand on their own and they can actually eat whole prey. And now that's something to see on itself, to watch these little critters take a vole or a small mouse and swallow that you think they're gonna choke. It's quite. For a parent, you know, you're worried, you know [00:09:53] once the, the youngest chick can feed itself, then mom will leave the nest for hunting too. No longer needed to rip food. And then it takes both parents to feed those animals. And because each of the young ones are gonna need three or more mice themselves. On top of mom and dad eating each needing 8, 6, 7, or eight themselves. [00:10:23] Average time to fledge is about nine weeks. Fledgling means they basically are fully feathered and ready to take off to see the world. They can test their wings sometimes, but to do so a lot of times there's no perch. There's just basically the entry and exit hole. That's why we find 'em so many times on the ground. They're curious. They get close to that or sometimes they can get pushed out again. Most of the time when we receive them, it's because they've fallen out of a nest. [00:10:58] , if they are on the ground, they're pretty much doomed because. There's raccoons in your area, Craig. You've got Bobcat, you've got mountain lions, coyotes. We're trying to get them back into that box as soon as we can. [00:11:13] Fledglings will continue to be fed by the parents for about three months, maybe even a little longer. By. Oh, I would say November. The fledglings will have dispersed if they were laid in the summer and they found a territory settled into a new Nest site. But life is hard for the new ones. It's true of owls and it's true of the raptors, hawks, eagles and things. The survival rate is low. The survival rates can average 37 to 65%. [00:11:54] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:11:54] Bob Peak: But the odds improve greatly. If they make it past their first year, they gotta get the skills down. Many young barnells starve to death. Typically, they'll live only another three or four, three years through typical lifespan. [00:12:09] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:12:10] Bob Peak: The barn owls do not typically hunt close to their nest box. They like to leave, they like to go to open fields where they can fly low. Listening for rodents. A lot of times, again, we think of them as using their sight, but they have incredible hearing as well. Just look at those ears on a great horn owl. [00:12:31] The one of the reasons why they get into trouble as well, when they're going close to the ground or just flying after something, they're looking down and they're not looking ahead. That's why they could easily run into the side of a truck. On a side, you know, a highway and you see them very frequently on the side of the road. 'cause that's just what they did. They ran right into the side of it. They can run into power poles, they run into anything that's there in front of them they can run into. So it's, it can be dangerous. About 80% of fatalities are from traffic casualties, 80%. It is really important to keep your nest boxes away from the road and the highway and the entrance hole. Of course, we talked about this, Craig is always facing east and never facing a busy road. [00:13:27] Would you like me to talk about the nest box that we have come to? [00:13:32] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. First of all though, i, you know, you mentioned, mice and voles most of vineyards are interested in gophers. How important are gophers to their diet? [00:13:43] Bob Peak: Oh, extremely. They're, they're just like a vole. Very similar. They're like the, the same thing. They love gophers. I think that you'll find it in in vineyards like yours where you take a more natural approach to things. You're letting much Mother Nature do this work. And the gophers are very delicious for these barn owls they're meaty usually. The mice can be a little smaller, it's very good. That's why they prefer a gopher or a vol. [00:14:18] I know that some of the vineyards around also will spray and we talked about this you know, using no, , insecticides and things like that where yours is a, you know, a kind of a, a free zone and when you're spraying on the ground and things chemicals. Those are picked up by the rodents and things of that nature and transferred to the barn owl. So, another reason to take your approach to vineyard management. Very important step. It's, it keeps everything safe. [00:14:53] Craig Macmillan: Let's talk about barn owl nesting boxes now. You mentioned, you mentioned a couple of things. You said nightmare road. The opening facing east is preferable. Will they not nest if the opening is facing north or west or south? [00:15:08] Bob Peak: They will, but you're gonna expose them to wind and air and possibly rain that will you know, get in there. That's typical. Most of our, our, our weather fronts are coming from west to east, so it gives them a little added protection [00:15:26] also to that sun coming up in the morning. It gives some warmth into the box. Yeah, but those are, those are the, the real key points. [00:15:35] Another one too, craig, is to make sure that the box is well ventilated. It has to have ventilation holes throughout the box. It's best to have 'em on the floor so any liquid that does get in there can go through as well as on the side, so you can get a breeze through there. [00:15:55] Size also is very important. If you can think about having eight of those little barn outlets with two parents in there, you need a big box and for them to really thrive. [00:16:10] The larger the box, the better. The I've seen some boxes that are so small that it just, it gives the owl outlets less of a chance because they feel that they have to fight to survive a little more when there's not enough space. And I've heard of other owletes pushing other owletes out of the box just to increase their chances of survival. You know, it's kind of one of those survival of the fittest things. So the more room they have, the better it is for everyone. [00:16:47] Craig Macmillan: How big is appropriate? [00:16:49] Bob Peak: I would say probably three feet by two feet, to three feet, and probably two to three feet tall. [00:16:58] Craig Macmillan: Oh, okay. That's a lot bigger than most of the boxes. I see. Yeah. [00:17:01] Bob Peak: They are, they're much bigger. We've looked at a lot of other facilities that rescue barn owls. [00:17:08] We've even gone over to England. They have a a, a program with their owls as well. They had one of the more interesting boxes. it had on the outside a platform. Purchase basically. So these young ones can get out there and see the world, test their wings and then get right back inside if they need to. [00:17:29] Much bigger boxes, much heavier to work with. Again, that was the thing that we found. We, it was just a heavy box, but it was exceptional. But it was big. And they need to be cleaned. So any box that's built needs to have an access port to where you can get into it every couple years and clean out the droppings which need to be done very carefully, because again, as you know, some animal droppings can cause us harm. So you wanna make sure you wear a mask. [00:18:01] Craig Macmillan: Right. [00:18:02] Bob Peak: Again there's all kinds of issues and that, or, discussions about having a perch on the outside or ledge on the outside of that box. [00:18:12] It's nice because they can get out there, have a chance of getting out and getting right back in and not falling to the ground. That perch also is a chance for a great horned owl to come over and get itself on there as well, or on any of the little. Ledges that you built. [00:18:32] The key to all of this is the size of that entry hole. That entry hole cannot be bigger than about five and a half inches, really, five to five and a half inches any bigger than that. You're gonna a, a great horned l be able to get in and then, and it's just, it's not good. [00:18:50] Craig Macmillan: Right. So the, horned owl is a predator [00:18:53] my. It is, you wouldn't think, you know, owl to owl stuff like that. But yeah, it is. They are probably one of the more other than traffic fatalities, it's the, great horned owl [00:19:06] They are very aggressive. They know where these things live. They're very smart. The great horned owl, and again. If you get a young one out on a perch and it's there, it's, it could be could be done. [00:19:20] I have seen, 'cause I've been to a lot of vineyards in the area and I've seen a lot of large holes in these boxes and I actually went into one and it, it was occupied by great horned owl. it laid eggs in the box. [00:19:38] Oh wow. [00:19:39] Bob Peak: So. Well that is something too about owls. Is they don't make nests. [00:19:45] , the great horned owl will and barn owl will find a cavity. The great horn owl's, not a cavity nester, but they'll take an old hawks nest or eagle nest or something and make it their own. And then they tend to get into trouble because they're usually using a nest that isn't in that good of a shape. [00:20:04] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. What are some other things about sighting of boxes? We, we know not close to a road. We know the direction of the, the, of the opening. What are some things that will encourage the bar nows to nest there based on their other behavior? [00:20:19] Bob Peak: I, I think that you just have, to know, about approximately how many acres you have and you want to place a box about every five acres. You can actually have more boxes depending on how much food you have for them, but anywhere between five to 10 acres per box. Again, with the parameters of facing these, being the correct size and everything. So if you have a 50 acre property, you're looking at anywhere between oh five to 10 boxes on that property. [00:20:54] Craig Macmillan: And something that. I had heard was that it's good to have them near a tree. So that they have someplace that they can land right away when they come out of the box. Is that true? [00:21:05] Bob Peak: Yeah. I, we, we've experimented with that Absolutely. Again that's a more natural setting for them where they would be in the the hollow of a tree and come out and possibly be on a branch. Absolutely. I like that. I like that better than being on a pole. [00:21:24] As long as you still have access to the clean out and, and isn't too, you know, dangerous for someone to get up there. Yeah. I like that better than being on a pole without a [00:21:34] Craig Macmillan: Well actually having it in a tree. [00:21:37] Bob Peak: yes, [00:21:37] Craig Macmillan: Oh, okay. Because what I had been told was that you'd want to have one because of the horn dial. You have one on a pole, but have it close to a tree where they can just shoot out and land on a branch and look around and see if there's a threat. [00:21:51] But you say, actually put it in the tree [00:21:55] Bob Peak: it in the tree. [00:21:56] Craig Macmillan: fascinating. That's really interesting. [00:21:58] The way that I met you is you were looking. For clutches to, how should we say, transplant? Some some outlets that, That you folks had. And I learned that barn owls are one of the few raptors That will actually foster outlets from other clutches. That's true. [00:22:18] Bob Peak: That that is correct, Craig. Very good. Good research. Yes. We found that the barn owls were exceptional foster parents, which really gives those guys a chance to make it. [00:22:31] We found out that like you mentioned, the hawks and others just really don't do it. In fact, it would be dangerous to even attempt in some of the species. [00:22:41] One of our, original founders of Pacific Wildlife Care, Kelly was very successful in well all. Many of the things that she does for Pacific Wildlife Care, but she was able to get a red shoulder, a female hawk, to foster young red shoulder hawks for many, many, many years, and gave many of those a chance that wouldn't have a chance. The, the quite amazing I lost my train of thought. [00:23:13] Craig Macmillan: Well, we were talking about fostering and what I had learned from you was you were looking at the clutch that we had at niner, and apparently you, you need to match. The foster bird to the family in terms of its age and development, is that correct. [00:23:32] Bob Peak: That that is correct. Do you want to throw that young one in where there's other young and where there aren't adolescents? I. To where it's gonna have a chance to get some food. [00:23:43] Another thing that one of the other parameters for finding a foster box, you know, a barnell box is The number in there. If there's already five in there, it would be hard for me to put a one or possibly two in there and put that much added stress on the parent. To feed it, and we really can't ensure that that young one's gonna get fed with that many in the box. [00:24:11] I look for one that has maybe three, two, or three, and that additional one or two outlets is not going to stress the parents and the other young ones. But yes, you, you try to match up with age and size as well. [00:24:30] Craig Macmillan: You had mentioned that a nesting pair might have multiple clutches during a year and of different sizes, and if I, remember correctly, that has to do with the availability of resources. [00:24:42] Bob Peak: Yeah, absolutely. Craig. I have found over the years you know, we've the living on the central coast, it's feast and famine with the rain as well. [00:24:53] And I've seen years we're going around to different wineries. There might be 15 boxes and 12 or 13 or 14 of 'em are occupied. I've also. Gone around different seasons and hit 30 boxes and only two of them were occupied. That's how bad the food situation was. [00:25:16] Where we get into a pinch with our fostering and the barn owls finding a home for 'em is that we have a lot of farmers and ranchers in the Paso area. And a lot of 'em , get that hay. Some of the best hay you can get is out of Oregon and they bring a lot of that alfalfa and hay down. And when they're in the moving those bales around, after the farmer gets a, a load they discover that there's owl outlets in the hay bales. We receive a lot of outlets through the bales of hay that are shipped to us here. Locally from outta state, and those are the ones that we must have a foster box for because there's no chance of ever reuniting with their original parents. [00:26:07] Craig Macmillan: How do they end up in there? How do they end up in the hay? [00:26:10] Bob Peak: Oh, well, , imagine a big, giant stack of hay, 15 feet tall and you know, it sat there for months they'll, you know, there's little spots where they can get in and. It's quite nice for a nest. The they'll also use, palm trees and things of that nature where they can get in there. Yeah, so it's quite common for 'em to get into hay? bales [00:26:33] Craig Macmillan: What conditions overall, we've talked about a couple of different things, but like in the, in the grand scheme, what are the kinds of conditions that they're gonna be looking for in a, in a nesting box? I. [00:26:45] Bob Peak: as far as the owls and owls [00:26:47] Craig Macmillan: Yeah. So the, So when the nesting pair, is it, does the male find the nest and then attract the female or the other way around? [00:26:55] Or do they call up some kind of a bird, bird box realtor and go look at different, look at look at different spots and say, I like this one better than that one. Or [00:27:04] Bob Peak: that's a good question. I think it's more the female you know, they have that nesting instinct. 'cause they're gonna be laying the eggs. And I think that it's just, it's more like any, any female would tell you it's, it's a feel. it. feels good this place. And they don't tend to wander off very far from when, where they were born. [00:27:28] So this place has felt good to her for a while. A lot of times they'll use the same box over every single year. So that's why, again, it's nice to you know, you could even add boxes depending on, you know, just how many boxes are occupied. You can tell if you, if you've got 15 boxes and 13 or 14 of 'em are occupied, you could probably put more boxes on your property. [00:27:55] Craig Macmillan: In. Interesting. Yeah, I've seen that myself in vineyards where there'll be a one box located in just a spot. Doesn't seem to be very interesting to me or anything special. And the ground below it is just littered with, with pellets and bones and skulls and it is been going on for years, obviously. And then you go down 50 yards and there's nothing like the box doesn't look like the box has ever been in inhabited. [00:28:21] Bob Peak: Very true. [00:28:23] Craig Macmillan: And, it just has to do with kind of where they came from and they like to come back to the same box. I, think that's interesting. [00:28:30] Bob Peak: And, and it's more of a feel too, again of, of what's around, is there a wire that they have to dodge? Is there a tree? They might have seen a great horn owl over there in that other spot. Yeah. There, there, there's no telling what has, but mainly that nesting instinct drives that female to that box. [00:28:51] Craig Macmillan: Are there particular conditions you think that are like big, big red flags? You mentioned the presence of barn ows. You mentioned is there a wire? Are there definitely some situations where if I'm gonna place a box I, can look around and kind of go, yeah, it's probably not the best spot [00:29:05] Bob Peak: I, I think the key is what we, we, we were just talking about with wires, anything that's gonna get them tangled up. Sometimes the I've seen netting in trees. To keep reptiles even out, and you want to avoid placing a box around there. But I think the main thing is again, where most fatalities occur are close to the road. Keep them away from the road. That, that, that, that's really the most important. [00:29:32] Craig Macmillan: Something that I heard that I don't know is true was that when you, there are two things. [00:29:38] One, there's the question of whether you should paint the box or not, [00:29:42] and then two, that they won't come and nest unless the boxes had a chance to weather for a year or so. Are either of those true? [00:29:52] Bob Peak: , we've talked about that the painting on the outside of the box is fine. Throw up some white on there to you know, kind of keep it from getting too hot, but you don't want to paint the inside. The paint is fumey. The chicks could pick at it with their beaks. So there's all kinds of reasons why you wouldn't want it on the inside, but certainly on the outside. Yes. [00:30:17] You also want to avoid wood that has particular odors. There can be some wood that is very, very pungent cedars and things like that. And you want to be careful about that. So just a regular pine or regular fir box. And I think there's one that's preferable to another, but I'm not sure what that is. Pine versus fir. I could find out though. [00:30:44] Craig Macmillan: Well what, what about just basic plywood? [00:30:47] Bob Peak: Yeah. Well that's made out of a, usually a fir or a pine. [00:30:51] Craig Macmillan: Hmm. [00:30:52] Bob Peak: Exactly. [00:30:54] You can run that whitewash on the outside give it the vent holes. That's really the only only parameters. [00:31:03] Craig Macmillan: Are there other things that a grower can do to make an nesting box more attractive? I. [00:31:08] Bob Peak: I, I don't really have a mailbox out front or maybe a, you know, welcome some welcome home [00:31:15] Craig Macmillan: Just supply some gophers right in front of the box. [00:31:18] Bob Peak: yeah, maybe some gophers hanging outside now that might do it. No, not really. I think again, it's just a matter of need and a matter of availability. [00:31:30] Craig Macmillan: Right are there, are there other birds that compete for the nesting habitat, the naturally occurring habitat, [00:31:39] Bob Peak: As far as, [00:31:41] Craig Macmillan: I've heard that kestrels can be a competitor. [00:31:43] Bob Peak: yeah, kestrels are cavity nesters. That's a fact. But I think there's so many more options for them. They're much smaller. I. And there's so many little nooks and crannies and trees and other things like that to where most of the times, , I've not seen in my practice a kestrel in a barn owl box. I have seen great horns in there, but not kestrels. [00:32:10] Craig Macmillan: Got it. Is there one thing that you would tell a grower? One piece of advice that you would tell a grape grower on this topic? [00:32:20] Bob Peak: Let nature watch over your property. [00:32:23] Craig Macmillan: That's good [00:32:23] Bob Peak: It's been doing it since before you got here, and it'll do it after you've gone. That's how it's always worked. And work with it. And not work against it. [00:32:38] Craig Macmillan: It makes, makes a lot of sense. Where can people find out more about you in wildlife? [00:32:44] Bob Peak: Best is to go to our Facebook page or our webpage at pacificwildlifecare.org. Facebook page is great because there's a lot of videos and pictures. If you have children, it's wonderful because we have release videos there. [00:33:03] They can click on different links once they get to our Facebook page, find out ways to get involved. We're always, again, we're a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so like all of those, we're always looking for two things, people and money. So there's gonna be plenty of opportunity for people to get involved in both ways there on our websites. [00:33:26] And we have a lot of really, really wonderful things coming up. With this new facility there we're, really quite excited. [00:33:33] They can also call us at 805-543-WILD. That's really more of a, you know, a rescue line. But if you have general questions and you want to know more, you can please call them and they'll help you out in any way you want. [00:33:51] Craig Macmillan: That's fantastic. And actually I, do have one more question just occurred to me. If I do come along and find some outlets, they're out of the box, clearly they're not able to fly or they're not ready to go. , how do I handle that? [00:34:07] Bob Peak: Excellent. Thank you for bringing that up. That's an excellent question, Craig. [00:34:11] Best thing to do is to realize that. These young little outlets, as young as they look and as innocent as they look, they've got some talons on them. So you always want to avoid getting your hands near, near their, their their talents. [00:34:29] But the most important thing with a young one that falls out is to keep them warm. I would place them inside a box, put some bedding down or something in there to let them get snuggled into it. And call Pacific Wildlife Care, our hotline, and we'll have someone out there asap to get this guy give them a chance, but keep them warm and sheltered. For the night. You might have to hold them overnight, but as long as they're warm they'll be fine. And to not feed there's no need to give the animals any food. [00:35:04] Craig Macmillan: And, we have listeners around the nation and around the world, and I would imagine that there are similar organizations located in every state and the union. And so just do a little research And, find who your local people are. Because I was doing research on this myself preparing for the interview, And, I was really impressed by , the network really of wildlife rehabilitation globally around the world. I think there's actually an international association, if I remember right. [00:35:30] Bob Peak: Yeah. And thanks for bringing that up. We can't do this by ourselves. That's why we need our volunteers. We need other organizations as you mentioned. [00:35:41] We find that so many times when we have gotten in a pinch, we have relied on the Ojai raptor center. They have been invaluable as far as us being able to bring them animals that , we weren't able to take care of, but they are. [00:35:58] So if they can't do it, we can, or vice versa. It's an important network that one way or another we'll get it done. 'cause we have, volunteers that will travel anywhere to take care of these animals. [00:36:12] Craig Macmillan: That's fantastic. [00:36:14] Well. This was a great conversation. I, like I said, I met you when you were looking for a place to foster some owls, and it was just really, really, fascinating to me, having been around this topic for a very, very long time. the barn owl is kind of the mascot of vineyard team. It's on a lot of our, a lot of our stuff. And so we've been, we've been following this for a long time and I learned more from you in about an hour. Then I had learned in the preceding several decades, let's just put it. that way, several decades. And I, And I, really appreciated that. It was really, really great. And I really appreciate you being a guest. [00:36:50] Again, our guest today was Bob Peak. He's a volunteer with Civic Wildlife Care in san Luis Obispo County. And yeah, just thanks for being on the podcast. It's a really real pleasure. [00:37:01] Bob Peak: Thank you Craig. And again, thank you, for this opportunity. Again, please check out Pacific Wildlife Care. you'll love it. [00:37:08] [00:37:12] Beth Vukmanic: Thank you for listening. [00:37:13] Today's podcast was brought to you by Helena Agri Enterprises. Founded in 1957, Helena Agri Enterprises has grown to be one of the nation's foremost agricultural and specialty formulators and distributors In the United States products and services offered include crop protection products. Fertilizer specialized nutrients, seeds, and precision ag services and software. Helena's overriding goal is to help its customers succeed. This is achieved with a unique combination of dedicated and knowledgeable people, unique and useful products, and the latest technical knowledge. The company defines its own success through the success of its customers. [00:37:56] Make sure you check out the show notes. For links to Pacific Wildlife Care, the barn owl Trust in the United Kingdom, UC Davis' Raptor Center, plus Sustainable Winegrowing Podcast episodes 58 barnells 84 Falconry Bird Abatement, and 118 managing rodent pests and vineyards with integrated pest management. [00:38:18] If you liked the show, you can do us a big favor by sharing it with a friend, subscribing and leaving us a review. You can find all of the podcasts at vineyardteam.org/podcast, and you could reach us at podcast@vineyardteam.org. [00:38:31] Until next time, this is Sustainable Wine Growing with the Vineyard team.   Nearly perfect transcription by Descript

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

Daniella and Barbaranne are still buzzing from an amazing weekend in Ojai with their fabulous Lady tribe complete with margaritas, facials and all night chats and giggles. A really fun, joyous episode. There's a new #flicsaf and #barbsbagoftricks Check out more shows and watch the full episode on Youtube. Sign Up For the upcoming Live Audience episode of HonestAF Show at Licorice Pizza Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join us as we talk with the Ojai Music Festival's Bravo Education Coordinator Laura Walter on planting the seeds of musical creativity, and what's coming up for young performers this spring and summerIn this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Laura Walter, the inspiring force behind the Bravo! education program at the Ojai Music Festival for decades. Laura shares how elementary students across the valley are being introduced to music through hands-on, joyful experiences—and how those early encounters are shaping lives.She also spotlights the upcoming SCORE program performance, directed by Caitlin Praetorius and Bill Wagner, where student-composed works take the stage. Don't miss this showcase of young talent on Sunday, May 19 at 7 p.m. at Nordhoff High School.And for those budding musicians eager to keep the rhythm going, Laura gives us the scoop on two summer music camps running June 23–28 and August 11–16, held weekday mornings from 8 a.m. to noon at the Ojai Presbyterian Church. These programs, offered in partnership with the Ojai Recreation Department, continue the Festival's mission of bringing the joy of music to the next generation.We also talked about her youth in a music family of 8 in Michigan, going to college in Kentucky, her lifelong love of play as it pertains to learning, and much more. We did not talk about the second consecutive Pope from the western hemisphere, the overuse of peppercorns in many steaks au poivre or Gibbons' insights into the early Ottoman Empire.Tune in for a conversation filled with harmony, heart, and the promise of a bright musical future for Ojai's youth. For more information, check out OjaiFestival.org (the beloved cultural institution returns this year June 5-8).

Legendary tattoo artist and painter Robert Ryan returns for his fourth conversation on the podcast to discuss the hidden language of graffiti, learning about spiritual practice from hardcore music, the influence of protest music, how preparation can be grounds for failure, and how he and his kirtan group SOMA (Sacred Order Of Mystic Apogees) became the opening act for Tyler Childers upcoming tour, including playing The Hollywood Bowl in June. Plus, Jaymee and Robert detail their upcoming event together in Ojai on Friday June 13th.Love Is The Author presents SOMA & KIM KRANS 6/13/25 in Ojai (Tickets): https://shorturl.at/FQSqYInterested in Spiritual Mentorship with Jaymee? for more information or to set up a free consultation email: lacee@loveistheauthor.com or visit: www.loveistheauthor.com/mentorship SPONSORS: RAUM GOODS (www.raumgoods.com)INDIAN LODGE ROAD (www.indianlodgeroad.com)GUAYAKI YERBA MATÉ (www.guayaki.com)VALLEY OF THE MOON (www.shorturl.at/dCVh2)LITA PODCAST: hosted, produced and edited by Jaymee Carpenter. SOUND MIX: Chris FallerPLEASE $UPPORT THiS SHOW: www.patreon.com/loveistheauthorpodcastCONTACT: jaymee@loveistheauthor.comON INSTAGRAM:  @soma_kirtan / @robertryan323 / @loveistheauthor / @unconventionalgardener

This week on Ojai Talk of the Town, we're joined by storyteller Megan Dolan and Ojai Storytelling Festival's executive director Kara Lakes. Megan shares the inspiration behind her powerful solo show, Not the Right Mom: One Mother's Misadventures in Autism, a Full Spectrum Comedy — a deeply funny, raw, and tender look at parenting on the spectrum, and what it means to show up when you feel wildly unqualified.Kara - herself the mother of an autistic child - tells us why the Storytelling Festival is bringing this moving performance to the Temple of the Oaks on May 7, and why stories like Megan's matter now more than ever. We talk about vulnerability, humor, and how storytelling builds empathy, one laugh — and one tear — at a time.We also talked about the dehumanizing remarks made by HHS secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, how family members deal with their autistic siblings, and why and how the power of stories can overcome fear and ignorance.We did not talk about Marie Curie's strange death, the Lakers' early playoff exit or the rise of inauthentic Texas barbecue.For more information, check out OjaiStoryFest.org.

Both the Ohio State women and UCLA men pulled off upsets in the Big Ten championship match. We recap The Ojai, UCLA's historic win, and preview Selection Monday! Follow us on Twitter @JTweetsTennis and Instagram @NoAdNoProblem. Don't forget to rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

Join Michaela in this live workshop recording as she discusses the best way to learn tantra, what it means to be a well matched couple, the art and practice of ecstatic intimacy, how to live a joyous life, and the jar exercise. 00:00 - Well matched couples 02:01 - The best way to learn tantra 03:24 - The preliminaries and essence of tantric intimacy 07:00 - Spontaneous ecstasy and practices of bliss 08:48 - Central channel and NLMM 10:19 - Code words and quick communication 12:39 - How to live a joyous life 14:48 - The jar exercise Buy Michaela's Relationship Course: https://www.michaelaboehm.com/workshops/instant-access-the-untamed-heart-the-relationship-course/ Attend the Relationship Bootcamps in: - London, 28-29th June - https://www.michaelaboehm.com/workshops/june-28-29-the-relationship-bootcamp-weekend-intensive-london/ - Ojai, California, 19-21th September - https://www.michaelaboehm.com/workshops/september-19-21-the-relationship-bootcamp-a-3-day-intensive/ For retreats, workshops, teacher trainings and courses: https://www.michaelaboehm.com To order Michaela's book "The Wild Woman's Way" : https://amzn.to/2BQ5WpY Music ‘Deva Dasi' by Steve James at https://www.guruviking.com

Celebrate the vibrant flavors of the season on this episode of Big Blend Radio's EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY Show, featuring Robert Schueller of Melissa's Specialty Produce.  From ready-made crepes and specialty dessert sauces to juicy muscato grapes, sweet Ojai pixie tangerines, crisp jicama, savory shallots, flavorful Hatch chili pepper snacks and cooking products, and gourmet grilling kits, Robert shares delicious ideas for Cinco de Mayo fiestas, Mother's Day brunches, springtime gatherings, and Memorial Weekend barbecues. Discover fresh seasonal produce, festive ingredients, and tasty snacks that are perfect for all your May celebrations! Find Melissa's products in grocery stores nationwide or shop online at https://www.melissas.com/     Plus, plan your menus with ease by exploring their diverse recipe library: https://www.melissas.com/pages/recipe-categories  This episode also streams on Big Blend Radio's popular "Big Daily Blend" Channel. Explore and follow the Big Blend Radio Network of shows at: https://www.podbean.com/podcast-network/bigblendradionetwork 

FREE ADHD EVENT! Join us in person at the First ADHD ROUNDTABLE in California with Dr. Yaakov Ophir! Roman Wyden from the ADHD IS OVER! podcast is hosting a special ADHD roundtable, and he's bringing in an incredible guest: Dr. Yaakov Ophir. Dr. Ophir is an Israeli ADHD researcher, clinical psychologist, and heads the Mental Health Innovation and Ethics Lab at Ariel University. He's also the author of the intriguing book, “ADHD is not an Illness and Ritalin is not a Cure”. Together, Roman and Dr. Ophir will be diving into some of the most frequently asked questions about ADHD, like "What exactly is ADHD?", "Does it run in families?", "What causes ADHD?", and "Is ADHD even real?" Whether you're an adult or a child, you're welcome to join this important conversation! This is a FREE event from 3:00–5:00PM at Light & Space (915 East Ojai Ave, Ojai, CA 93023) For more information on this podcast, please visit www.adhdisover.com Check out our sponsor ZHERO at www.zhero.co and get yourself some non-jittery hyper-focus online!

After several years in Los Angeles, the Ojai Playwrights Conference Gala - widely known as one of the best parties of the social calendar - is coming home — to the Ojai Playhouse. on May 17th.Executive Director Jeremy Cohen joins us to talk about this year's star-studded celebration, featuring appearances by Tig Notaro and Indigo Girls' Emily Saliers, as well as the upcoming 28th anniversary festival in August.We dig into why theater still matters in uncertain times, the power of storytelling to foster empathy and inclusion, and why Ojai's unique cultural ecosystem makes it the ideal place to nurture bold new voices in American theater. Plus: Jeremy shares his own path into the world of dramaturgy, how he ended up in Ojai, and why this little valley has such an outsized impact on the stage.We also talked about the OPC Taco Tuesdays events for writers in Ojai, We did not talk about the Chicago Cubs' promising prospects this baseball season, the Cathar conspiracies or Marxist views on alienation.Whether you're a theater buff, a curious local, or just need a little hope through art — this episode's for you.Check out more about the Gala, the OPC programming and much else at OjaiPlays.org.

A grieving teen yearning to reconnect with his late grandfather unknowingly summons a burned ghost that begins stalking the streets of Ojai, California. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The PAC-12 conference tournament was played at the Ojai Valley Tennis club since 2012. After conference realignment, the future of college tennis at The Ojai was uncertain. How did the Ojai land the Big Ten conference tournament?We're joined by Ian Mondul who's on the Board of the OVTC. He discusses:The Ojai's historyWhat makes the event specialThe process behind securing the Big Ten tournament What fans and Big Ten schools can expect this week in OjaiFollow us on Twitter @JTweetsTennis and Instagram @NoAdNoProblem. Don't forget to rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode!

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with dancer, teacher, and cultural organizer Isha Ferraz, the powerhouse behind the Ojai World Dance Festival, now in its second joyful year. Happening Saturday, May 3 at Libbey Bowl — and spilling out into Libbey Park with free public events — the festival brings together world-class dancers and musicians from across the region to celebrate rhythm, movement, and connection.Isha shares the powerful personal story behind the festival's creation, from her upbringing in a Brazilian-Puerto Rican household where music and dance were woven into daily life, to how her Hamza Dance Studio became a refuge during the covid lockdown. What started as a sanctuary for her community has blossomed into a festival that brings Ojai together through joy, movement, and global culture.Come for the music, stay for the inspiration — this episode will have you tapping your toes and believing in the power of dance to heal and connect.We also talk about dance as a fountain of youth, community, and as a way to connect different cultures. We did not talk about Edward Libbey's glassmaking inventions, Kern River rainbow trout subspecies or the Fall of Rome.Check out more about the Festival and to purchase tickets at ...https://www.danceojai.org/ojaidancefestival

In this conversation with renowned midwife and pre- and perinatal somatic psychology guide, Mary Jackson, we explore our earliest imprints and the impact they have on us as we grow. If you enjoyed this episode, please help get it to others by subscribing, rating the show, or sharing it with a friend! You can also pitch in to support the show once or monthly at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/meganleatherman Resources Mentioned: *A Wild New Work events: https://awildnewwork.com/events *Meghan Schoneberger's energy healing work: https://www.cosmicharmonyhealing.com/ *The Ray Castellino Foundation training: https://castellinotraining.com/ *Mary Jackson's website: https://birthinconnection.com/ About Mary Jackson: Mary Jackson has been married since 1987, is the mother of 2 children who were born at home, and has been featured in 11 books and 5 movies. Mary has been a home birth Midwife since 1975. She has attended over 2,500 births in the Santa Barbara, Ventura, and Ojai, California areas and is now attending the home births of her second generation of babies. She is a certified Castellino Process Workshop Leader and co-teaches the Castellino Pre and Perinatal Training. In the first year after incorporating these pre and perinatal approaches in her midwifery practice her home to hospital transfer rate went from 20% to 6%. Mary is participating in cutting edge research about imprints that occur around the time of conception, pregnancy and birth and how they affect us throughout the rest of our lives and what it takes to heal from challenges in these experiences. She is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and leads trainings throughout the world.

In this heartfelt episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with singer-songwriter Abigail Cartright and her husband, veteran producer and engineer Ika, to talk about the deep emotional journey behind Abigail's new album, Miracle Year, with her band Ana Mirabilis — a loose yet beautifully bonded collective of Ojai musicians and artists.With echoes of Lana del Rey, Beach House, Mitski, Radiohead, and decades of artistic experience, Miracle Year is more than an album — it's a story of transformation. Abigail opens up about the personal losses, illness, and depression she endured, and how these trials became the fuel for an artistic breakthrough.We also talk about growing up in creative families, the merging of music and visual arts, and the surprising way Abigail and Ika's lives first intersected — through her father, many years ago and far away in New York. It's a conversation about resilience, love, and the healing power of art.We did not talk about the the Dreyfus Affair, the NBA playoff picture or Maine's arctic char population.You can listen to Abigail's music on Spotify or Apple Music. The vinyl album will be released soon.

As the new 75-bed Continuing Care Center in Ojai opens for business, we revisit a conversation from 2022 with Haady Lashkari, Chief Administrative Officer of Ojai's Community Memorial Hospital. Haady shares what it was like to lead a rural hospital through the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, how the experience shaped his perspective on healthcare, and the lessons he's carried forward.We also get a sneak peek into the hospital's brand-new Continuing Care Center—a major investment in the future of elder and rehabilitative care in the valley. From growing up working at his family's restaurant to becoming a respected healthcare administrator, Haady's journey is as inspiring as it is grounded in community values.We did not talk about Dr. Ignatius Semmelweiz, Tyrolean independence movements or whether Ohtani is likely to take the mound this year for the Dodgers.If you've ever wondered what it takes to keep a small-town hospital running—and thriving—through crisis and beyond, don't miss this wide-ranging and heartfelt conversation.For more information on Ojai's healthcare system, check out https://www.mycmh.org/locations/community-memorial-continuing-care-center/

What do we do with the weight of the past? We so often find ourselves clinging and grasping to that which has ended, getting stuck in self-loathing and judgement over that which we regret, or becoming too cautious and comfortable to step boldly beyond that which we have outgrown, leaving us struggling to live fully in the present moment and all that is emerging. In this episode, Rob Bell explores the many ways we get stuck looking in the rearview mirror and shares some liberating insights about how we can make peace with the past and create space for new life. Dom is joined by Rob in his hometown of Ojai, California. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Raúl Alvarado, a 33-year Accenture veteran and former COO who helped shape — and save — some of the world's most influential companies. Born in Panama, educated at the Colorado School of Mines, and seasoned by decades of global leadership in Europe and beyond, Raul brings an engineer's precision and a humanist's touch to the art of transformation.Raúl shares stories from the frontlines of billion-dollar turnarounds, explains why active listening is his most powerful business tool, and reflects on how implementation — not just ideas — is what truly moves the needle. Now a philanthropist and Ojai local, Raúl is as passionate about community building as he is about corporate strategy.He now runs Alvarado Advisory Group, LLC, coaching executives, and running the nonprofit, A Thousand Joys, working with trauma victims. Whether you're a business leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or curious listener, this conversation offers timeless insights on leadership, communication, and the importance of staying grounded — even when you're operating at the highest levels.We did not talk about low-tech drone defenses, currency conversions or new archaeological discoveries in the Yucatan.Check out more about Raúl at his website, https://alvaradoadvisorygroup.com/

‘Where there is compassion, there is supreme intelligence. Not the artificial intelligence of a computer, nor the artificial intelligence of thought.' This episode on Artificial Intelligence and Computers has seven sections. The first extract (2:33) is from a small group discussion in Ojai 1981, and is titled The Intelligence of Thought Is Also Artificial. The second extract (8:26) is from the first discussion with scholars at Rajghat in 1985, and is titled: AI Will Include All Human Knowledge. The third extract (12:19) is from the second discussion with scholars at Rajghat in 1985, and is titled: We Don't Know What Computers Can Do. The fourth extract (21:43) is from Krishnamurti's sixth talk in Bombay 1981, and is titled: The Computer Is Changing Society. The fifth extract (31:16) is from the second talk in Saanen 1981, and is titled: We Have Been Programmed Like the Computer. The sixth extract (44:26) is from Krishnamurti's fourth talk in Bombay 1983, and is titled: What Will Happen When the Computer Can Do Everything We Can? The final extract in this episode (56:38) is from the fourth talk in Madras 1985, and is titled: Supreme Intelligence. Each episode of the Krishnamurti podcast is based on a significant theme of his talks. Extracts have been carefully selected to represent Krishnamurti's different approaches to these universal and timeless topics. This episode's theme is Artificial Intelligence & Computers. Upcoming themes are Existence, You Are the World, and Movement. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust. Please visit the official YouTube channel for hundreds of full-length video and audio recordings of Krishnamurti's talks and discussions. In addition, the Foundation's own channel features a large collection of shorter clips. 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.

Sequoia trees. Ojai tangerines. Jasmine. Ocean spray. Weed. “Our sense of smell is often overlooked, but it's the one thing that can bring back memories of a place faster than anything else,” writes Los Angeles Times assistant editor and olfactory artist Maxwell Williams. LA Times readers shared with Williams their most memorable L.A. smells, including the La Brea tar pits, In-N-Out fries and —of course— the beach. And we want to hear from you, wherever you are in the state: What smell reminds you of California? We'll talk about the unique scents that surround us in the Golden State. Guests: Maxwell Williams, assistant editor of West Coast Experiences, Los Angeles Times Aashish Manglik, associate professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, UCSF Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Ojai resident Sharon Scott Williams, whose deeply personal memoir Crazy Mama has been transformed into a riveting one-woman play, premiering at the Rubicon Theatre from March 27 to April 13. Starring the incomparable star of stage and screen Linda Purl, the production brings to life 16 characters in a raw, heartbreaking, yet often humorous exploration of a daughter's decades-long struggle to save her mother from the grip of paranoid schizophrenia.We talk with Sharon about the painful yet redemptive journey that shaped her story — growing up with a mother who believed she was working for the FBI, the weight of hope and helplessness, and the profound impact of mental illness on families. Directed by TV and stage veteran Anson Williams, (Sharon's husband), Crazy Mama is a testament to resilience, love, and the complicated ties that bind us to those we hold dear.Join us for this intimate conversation as Sharon reflects on turning her trauma into art, the catharsis of storytelling, and the power of theater to foster understanding and empathy.Check out the Rubicon's website for more information - https://www.rubicontheatre.org/events/crazy-mama/

Lesley Logan speaks with author and publisher Kristen McGuiness about balancing motherhood, entrepreneurship, and creative pursuits. Kristen shares her journey in publishing, how she makes time for writing, and the inspiration behind her novel Live Through This. She also discusses activism, navigating personal challenges, and the importance of following your inner voice.If you have any questions about this episode or want to get some of the resources we mentioned, head over to LesleyLogan.co/podcast. If you have any comments or questions about the Be It pod shoot us a message at beit@lesleylogan.co. And as always, if you're enjoying the show please share it with someone who you think would enjoy it as well. It is your continued support that will help us continue to help others. Thank you so much! Never miss another show by subscribing at LesleyLogan.co/subscribe.In this episode you will learn about:How Kristen transitioned from editor to author while working in the publishing industry.The realities of balancing motherhood and a creative career.Why creating boundaries around personal time is essential for productivity.The inspiration behind Live Through This and its connection to real-world issues.Different forms of activism and how storytelling can drive change.The importance of trusting your intuition and taking action despite uncertainty.Episode References/Links:Rise Literary Website - https://riseliterary.comRise Literary Instagram - https://instagram.com/riseliteraryKristen McGuiness Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/kristenmcguiness/Guest Bio:Kristen McGuiness is the bestselling author of 51/50: The Magical Adventures of a Single Life, which was optioned by Original Films/CBS Cable with Alison Brie attached to star, and her new novel, Live Through This, which was released from Rise Books on October 10, 2023. She has over twenty years' experience in book publishing, as an author, editor, and book publisher, with such houses as St. Martin's Press, Simon & Schuster, and Harper Collins. Kristen is the publisher of Rise Books, launching in 2023, which publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry of radical inspiration, and also runs the book coaching company, Rise Writers, which provides book coaching and management for emerging and established authors. Kristen has appeared on the “TODAY Show,” in USA Today, and in Marie Claire, and has written for numerous publications, including Rolling Stone, Marie Claire, Shondaland, Huffington Post, Scary Mommy, Psychology Today, Salon, and The Fix. She lives in Ojai, CA with her husband, two children, and a dog named Peter. If you enjoyed this episode, make sure and give us a five star rating and leave us a review on iTunes, Podcast Addict, Podchaser or Castbox.DEALS! DEALS! DEALS! DEALS!Check out all our Preferred Vendors & Special Deals from Clair Sparrow, Sensate, Lyfefuel BeeKeeper's Naturals, Sauna Space, HigherDose, AG1 and ToeSoxBe in the know with all the workshops at OPCBe It Till You See It Podcast SurveyBe a part of Lesley's Pilates MentorshipFREE Ditching Busy Webinar Resources:Watch the Be It Till You See It podcast on YouTube!Lesley Logan websiteBe It Till You See It PodcastOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley LoganOnline Pilates Classes by Lesley Logan on YouTubeProfitable Pilates Follow Us on Social Media:InstagramThe Be It Till You See It Podcast YouTube channelFacebookLinkedInThe OPC YouTube Channel Episode Transcript:Kristen McGuiness 0:00  I'm a mom who prioritizes being a mom, but I also don't want to lose myself in that activity, and I don't think that is healthy for my children either.Lesley Logan 0:10  Welcome to the Be It Till You See It podcast where we talk about taking messy action, knowing that perfect is boring. I'm Lesley Logan, Pilates instructor and fitness business coach. I've trained thousands of people around the world and the number one thing I see stopping people from achieving anything is self-doubt. My friends, action brings clarity and it's the antidote to fear. Each week, my guest will bring bold, executable, intrinsic and targeted steps that you can use to put yourself first and Be It Till You See It. It's a practice, not a perfect. Let's get started. Be It babe, oh my gosh. Okay, I felt like I just met a dear friend who I've never known. But it's kind of shocking how we didn't know each other before, because I felt like our paths would have crossed. She's an author, she's a publisher, she's a mom, she's an honest, vulnerable human being who I think is going to inspire the heck out of you to lean into who you are and how you do things. And I just really, truly love this conversation. We are going to talk a lot about how Kristen McGuiness got into books, what her world is in books, how she does it and writes especially with kiddos. You're gonna hear some great ideas I hope you use. I love her quotes at the end. I will just say that we do get into talking a little bit about mass shootings and school shootings because of her fiction book. So just protect your heart if that is something raw for you in this moment. But I hope you listen, because I actually can't wait to read her book, and so I'm gonna read it before I do the recap, because it just sounds really cool, and I'm really inspired in this moment. And so I'm saying this after I interviewed her, so I know that you'll be inspired as soon as you're done listening to this. So here is Kristen McGuiness. All right, Be It babe. This is going to be fabulous. I already know it. I just met Kristen McGuiness a minute ago, but I can tell by who she is and what she's been up to that you are going to love this person, because, like you, they wear many hats. So Kristen, can you tell everyone who you are and what you rock at?Kristen McGuiness 2:11  Absolutely and thank you for having me on I'm so glad we were finally able to do this. And it always ends up being perfect timing when you get to do these things and the day and moment you get to do them, when it, you know, made sense at the other time. But, yeah, I'm Kristen McGuiness and I'm a book lady. I mean, I think that's the or a book bitch, depending on the moment. But I've been doing books my whole life, you know, since I was a kid, I always say they're my first addiction. I ended up gathering more than that, less healthy addictions, but I started with books. And just, you know, the places and imagination that we get to escape to when we're reading. And it's no wonder that that became my profession. I continued to love books, you know, try to write books. I ended up starting my career in book publishing at St. Martin's Press and Simon & Schuster and then later Harper Collins. I worked as a book scout in Hollywood for a brief bit, like reading books to develop into movies for Warner Brothers. And then I became a book publisher and a book coach and a bestselling author myself. So it's just, it's all books all the time. That's what I do, and a big and amazing part of that has been helping other people write their books. Lesley Logan 3:21  Okay. That is so fun. That's so cool. I imagine you as like a girl, little girl, like reading all the time, and then you get to just read all the time. Like, how fun is that? Okay. I think where I'd want to start is, it sounds like you were in books, but then you wrote a book. So what was it like to go from reading other people's work and, like, not picking it apart but going, oh, this would be great for this, or this is great for this, and then to writing your own? Was it an easy transition? Were you nervous? Were you excited? Like, what was going on?Kristen McGuiness 3:49  You know, there's some editors that are happy to be editors, and they know that's like, what they love to do. I was always an editor who wanted to be a writer, and so that's just a different dynamic. And I still love editing. I mean, I can simultaneously be editing a book and writing a book at the same time and enjoy both processes. And I mean, honestly, sometimes the editing is more fun because, you know, the stakes aren't as high, right? Like, and it's not on me. I mean, it's on me to help it be good, but I'm not the source of the goodness. Whereas when you were the author, it's really hard to be like, I'm a shitty editor. It's really easy to be like, I'm a shitty writer. So I really enjoy getting to do both. But I was definitely always someone who wanted to do both. I mean, I ended up leaving book publishing, and that's how I wrote my first book. I went into the world of nonprofits, and that became like a secondary career to books during a period of my life just because I moved out to California and there was no, I mean, now there's more opportunities in that field, but at that time, there was, like, no book publishing in Southern California, and I preferred I wanted the weather. So I chose weather over books.Lesley Logan 4:55  Wow, you really wanted the weather.Kristen McGuiness 4:59  I do. I really like the sun. Lesley Logan 5:00  Oh my God. Well, and you have some sun going on you. And also, I understand that, as someone who's California born and raised, I can visit a city, and I'm like, I could do two weeks in this weather, but I gotta go back.Kristen McGuiness 5:12  Yeah, no, I very romantically lived in Paris for one year, and my friends all joke about, like, how much Kristen hates Paris. And I'm like, I don't hate Paris. It was just that it was gray every day, and I ended up with seasonal affective disorder. Like it wasn't, I mean, it was like nothing I could control. I was just horrifically depressed and wanted to throw myself into the sun every day. But I'm like, it really wasn't Paris's fault. I just need sunshine. Lesley Logan 5:36  It's just like the location of Paris is just not ideal.Kristen McGuiness 5:41  If I could pick it up and move it somewhere else, that'd be fantastic. So I, you know, I ended up moving out to California and ended up in nonprofits, and that's when I did write my first book. And I think I did have to remove myself from the book publishing industry in order to write a book. And I don't think that's true anymore. I'm doing both very simultaneously right now, but in that period of my life, I did so that I could just really have that fuel tank of creative energy just for me. Lesley Logan 6:10  Yeah, yeah. I understand that. I I think, like even just to not have distractions or especially with something new, even though books weren't new to you, but writing your own is a new thing. You kind of have to, like, kind of immerse yourself so you can really get into it. You know, I know your mom, and I think having all of these hats and then having kids, I know, like, for our listeners, there's always people going, how do they balance it? And I don't have children. So when I say, I don't think balance is real. People nod, but don't really listen to me, because like, but I don't I think that there's a blend. And I think that, you know, my yoga teacher says balance is the art of not falling, and that just means that you're kind of tilting over here, and then you're tilting over here and you're trying not to fall either way. And that resonates with me. But can we talk a little about what it's like to be curating this amazing career that you have, you know, being in books, of writing books and being a publisher and doing that while, you know, parenting and bringing kids into this world. What was it like? Kristen McGuiness 7:06  Well, that's why I'm in a hotel room right now. So, you were like, so how do you, I'm like, I literally go to a hotel room two nights a month. That's what I do. And I joke, again, I'm a former addict, so it's like a drug vendor. I'm like a Hunter Biden, but with books. So I just, like, pull myself up in a hotel room for like, 48 hours, and I just write like a wild Banshee with caffeine and Red Bull. I mean, I find, though, whatever that looks like for people, I do think it's about creating the pockets of freedom and the pockets of concentration and the pockets of creativity, because, I mean, I'm also just somebody, like, I always eat one thing at a time. I'm not good at, like, fully integrating. So I can't be in the middle of parenting and then be like, give me five kids. I'm gonna go edit a book. My brain doesn't work that way. And I do think, speaking of the creative fuel tank, I think, at least for me, my creative fuel tank is the same place where I draw my maternal energy from, not surprisingly, because they're both creative forces. And so when I'm in my mom mode and I'm really with my kids, I am running off that creative fuel in the same way I would be if I was writing or editing. So I think it is really hard to be a creative and a mom, because if I've been momming all day long, like I, at the end of the day, I've got nothing left. I mean, I could, like, do an Excel spreadsheet. I can put the dishes in the dishwasher, but I'm not going to come up with a masterpiece. And so I've really learned how to pull this time out. Hence, I mean, I wrote a screenplay in the last 12 hours, that's what I have done here today. So I came here yesterday at 3pm and I was like, we're writing a screenplay before I got that podcast tomorrow, and I literally finished it right before we began. But that's how I've learned to like, if I'm if I care about my creative career, which is not even a career that pays my bills. I mean, that's still, you know? I mean, it's still, like a speculative career, if I care about that, whatever that thing is that you love to do, like, I've got to really create a boundary for myself to make that something that I hold sacred.Lesley Logan 9:14  I am obsessed with this. I love this so much. I really do. I, first of all, my friends make fun of me because I'm like, oh, you're going there. This is my favorite hotel. Because I love a hotel. I find I get so much done. I wasn't even in a hotel on Monday, but I was at a friend's house, it kind of felt like a hotel. And I was like, oh, I got all my work done in three hours. Okay. And I was like, that is so funny, because when you're at home, there's so many distractions. Like, before we're on this podcast, we have an older dog. By the time this episode comes out, it's probably passed at this point, but, you know, it's hard. It's how you're like, oh, okay, so we're gonna be late on that call because I got this thing, and then I gotta do some laundry. And you just can't be that creative person. You have to kind of remove yourself. But I also just love that you highlight, like, I have pockets of this, and I think protecting those pockets, like a pocket of this type of thing I'm going to focus on this here. It allows you to kind of show up and be their best version of yourself in that moment, and not kind of stress about all the things you thought you'd fill in those two hours. Kristen McGuiness 10:08  Yeah, yeah, I've learned. I mean, I've, I mean, look, I think most moms struggle with self sacrifice because motherhood really demands it. I mean, it is hard you constantly or be laboring like, how do I, I don't want to put myself ahead of my kids. I mean, I want to, you know, I mean, they are in and I have young children. I have a five year old and a nine year old. I mean, the nine year is obviously more independent, but they're still school-aged children. I don't have teenagers at home, and so there is a lot of caregiving, physical, emotional, psychological that is taking place. And I want to prioritize that I am a mom who prioritizes being a mom, but I also don't want to lose myself in that activity, and I don't think that is healthy for my children either. And when I do lose myself, that's when I am my worst mom, that's when I'm angry, that's when I'm quick to temper. It's when I don't feel like I'm getting to take care of me. And so I've just really learned that, you know, I come, you know, my mom's, like, a boomer, we're actually in a fight right now, so it's really interesting. And we're, and it's a fight about exactly these things like these intergenerational dynamics of like, I have to, like, still lie to my parents and tell them that I'm here doing a business meeting. Because they'd be like, why are you spending money on a hotel to work on a screenplay that you're not getting paid to do? And I'm like, because I will go insane, otherwise, it is so valuable for me to stay sane and creative and whole and human. My mom came from a generation, although she's incredibly makes very selfish choices now, like it was all about, like, you sacrifice all the way up until retirement, and then you just get to be selfish every minute of the day. And I'm like, that doesn't look I mean, I think we've seen by the gross impacts of your generation's choices, that probably wasn't a good idea. But also I don't think that makes it like a well-lived life. I want to feel like I'm getting to show up for others and getting to show up for me in some level of consistency. And I absolutely agree, like balance is just not falling down. And also, sometimes I think balance is falling down because that's also part of it. You're like, oh, fuck. You know, like, I'm off. But I do think creating that integration between we take care of others, but we still take care of ourselves and our dreams and who we are, and not losing that identity that exists before, during and long after our children are grown.Lesley Logan 12:22  Yeah, and also, I just think it's really cool for your young kids to see that you do protect the things that you love. You protect your time with them, but also they're seeing you go and protect the time for who, like, whether or not you get paid for the screenplay. Like, it's not about that, because the screenplay could lead to something else, into something else, but, like, it makes you feel whole, and it makes you feel alive, just as much as parenting would, but it's a different part of you. And so I think it's cool they get to see that, because then they get to, when they get older, know that there's an option for them, you know, like, there's, there's possibilities, and there's ways they get to see it an example. Kristen McGuiness 12:57  Yeah, no, I, and I think it's really about like showing. It's, I mean, again, I've just written, like, literally, I'm just coming off of writing the screenplay, and there's a whole like, scene in the screenplay where one of the characters say, we can't control what happens around us, right? The only thing we can control are the choices we make in that, you know? I mean, I'm an entrepreneur. My husband is also an entrepreneur, which is just, I mean, the level of insanity that that brings, and especially in the last couple of years where, like, the global economics have been far out of our control, so we've been terribly impacted by sort of the larger financial environment. And I'm like, but you know what? We get to make choices within that. And that doesn't mean that all of them are happy, some of them are hard. But just to feel like I have no choice, and that this, well, this is just the way it is, right? And it's like, no, I mean, we get to create our own pathway through whatever we're navigating. To me, you know, I always say to myself, it's like my little mantra, like, I'm going to write my way through this, whatever is going on, I'm going to write my way through this. And that's just, you know, for others might be, I'm going to Pilates my way through this, right? Like, whatever the thing is that's your source of healing. And also the thing that helps you to understand how and why life happens. That's what you have to tap into. And without that, I mean, then I think you are just on the floor, right? Then you can't even, then there's no balance, because you can't even, like, you don't even have a foundation underneath you.Lesley Logan 14:16  Yeah, yeah, it's so true. There's a million things that go on in a day. I was just recording the podcast drops that we call FYFs, Fuck Yeah Friday, and it's just a short episode where I share listeners wins, and I share one of mine. And I was like, there's 17 things that have gone wrong today, like 17, and they're all out of the control. None of them were things like, I knocked the first domino forward on that. So you have to just go, okay, what are those do I need to deal with? Can I just put that over here? Or what can I do? What is possible in this moment for me to handle so that I can keep moving the ball forward? Because, like you, my husband and I are both entrepreneurs. We work together, which is this own level of insanity. Kristen McGuiness 14:53  I love you both. Lesley Logan 14:55  I know everyone's like, so how do you do it? And I was like, I'm just gonna tell you right now. We're still figuring that out, and I think communication is really key, and sometimes we suck at it, but you try and you just go, okay, didn't handle that so good. Next time, I'll handle that better. But I think it's really there's honesty about it, and I love that you said you write your way through it. Some people will Pilates their way through it, or journal their way through it, or take a long bathrobe. But like, you, there's got to be a process for which you reflect and learn and integrate what's going on in your life.Kristen McGuiness 15:26  No, absolutely, and yeah, again. God bless you for being an entrepreneur with your husband. I try to, sometimes I have to help my husband with his business, and I'm like, I would quit this job in like five minutes, but he owns a restaurant, which is, like, I think the worst business you could open, honestly, I'm like, oh my God, every time I go to eat now at a restaurant, I have so much grace and gratitude for what happens. Our pediatrician once said, no one knows how expensive the cheat meal is. And I was like, so true. Like, you have no idea what people do to sell you food in a restaurant.Lesley Logan 16:01  Oh, you're, bless your husband and all the restaurateurs out there, but that's, I don't like the margins, but I would say books are very similar. So I feel.Kristen McGuiness 16:11  You realize that, thank you. We kind of realized that a little late. We're working our way through that. We did not know that. We thought, we knew that books were a slim profit margin. We naively thought the restaurant business wasn't. Then we discovered both were at the same time. We were like, you know, there's a great Macklemore song where he says, if I had done it for the money, I would have been a fucking lawyer. And I'm like, that's like, my bumper sticker I got in the back of my car. We're truly here for love and fun, and the belief in, apparently, pizza and books, but pizza is important. I will never deny that. But, yeah, no. I mean, we have learned. I mean, we are in a very high stress, double entrepreneurial situation, and also have an aging dog, and we are also in the end zone of what's to come on that. And it's just, it's so brutal, and yes, and it's the same thing where, like, there are days where we do not do it well, certainly. And then, like, recently, I've just, you know, been realizing that there is so much about this that you have to take your hands off the wheel, you know. And I've joked, like, I know, if you have seen the other the little gif at some point, I think everybody has. It's like, the end of Thelma and Louise. We're like, Thelma and Louise grab hands, and then the car flies off the Grand Canyon and like a hubcap falls off. And I've been using that gift is like, I just send it to everybody I work with, because I'm like, this is my business strategy. And last night, when my friends was like, you can't tell people that. And I was like, no, but it is because there is something about living your dreams that is just like a hope, a prayer and floor the fucking car, and, like, off you go, and you got to know that you're going to land. It might be a terrifying drop, but you're going to land. I mean, obviously, hopefully not in fire and death, but that's not going to happen, right? Like, no business ends like that. And so it is just this thing of, like, at a certain point you can work really hard, you can do all the strategies, right? But like, ultimately you didn't hit the first domino. And you just have to sometimes be like, Mercury is in retrograde, and we're just gonna wait until August 28 rolls around. Everything goes direct, or whatever it is, the thing that you know is, like, this is just, we're in the pressure cooker right now, but like, relief is always on the way. Lesley Logan 18:22  Oh, my God, this retrograde? We are feeling in every possible way of tech. I'm like, Okay, well, okay, we'll just redo that. We're like, I have a astrologist that I listen to who's always like, if it's put an argument in front of it, and that's the best thing, refine, reorganize, read, we're redoing. We're just gonna but I agree, you do have to take the action. You do have to put the pedal to the metal, but then you also have to, like, release and go, you know, it's gonna end somewhere. And some of the best things that ever happened in my business were the ones that felt that kind of happened for me, or to me or without, without the control, and I just have, it's not the right place at the right time, because I did the work to get there. But also, couldn't have happened without some just like magical or universal or divine appointment that happened along the way. And then you just have to ride that. You just have to enjoy that. And I also think it is crazy that I work with my husband. I also am so grateful because it's really fun to work with him. And I don't know that a lot of people can put up with my creative energy. There's not a lot of people who would be like, we love that idea. Lesley, we're gonna put that over here. You know, like a partner can go, yeah, later, until later. It's really refreshing and also just really nice to hear like, you know, you don't have everything figured out. Not everything happens the exact way it's supposed to. You didn't just turn a light switch on, and things worked. So thank you for sharing that. I want to get into, like, your latest book, is it Live Through This, and I just, can you tell us maybe, like, what was the drive like, why did you have to, like, why was it something you wanted to, like, get out of you, and what are you hoping that people get from it? Kristen McGuiness 19:52  Absolutely, yeah. I mean, I really lived through this. That nine-year-old was, at the time, only one years old. So it was in 2016, and it is not a spoiler alert, because it happens in chapter two. There's actually a mass shooting that sort of is the impetus for the whole story that kind of explodes across the rest of the pages, quite literally. And I was really moved to write it because, I mean, obviously we are a nation that deals with mass shootings all the time, but as we know, it's almost like a season, like there are these moments where it just feels like it's every day, you know, you're just like, oh my God, another one. Oh my God, another one. And 2016 felt that way. There were a lot of them, sort of back to back, and they had actually happened in places where I knew or was just felt like really emotionally connected to, actually, the shooting that happened in Paris, the Bataclan attack in November of 2015 I think that was, was in the neighborhood where we used to live in Paris. Someone was actually shot on our street corner. And then there was a shooting in San Bernardino at the regional center, which was 40 minutes from where I was working at that time at a nonprofit, also in a government building. So we began to get trained in our offices about what to do in the event of a mass shooting. And then the night of the Paul shooting was really the impetus where I was just like, oh my God, enough. My husband and I were about to go to a live concert a couple weeks after that shooting, and I began to get really scared. And I'm just not somebody who has, like, I have no agoraphobia. I'll go anywhere. I don't have a lot of just those kinds of fears. Or I'm really adventurous. I love to be out and about. And it was like a band we love and personally know, and a really fun night. And I actually began to get scared to go. And so it sort of led to this, you know, as a lot of books I think come out, oh, it was like, what would happen if, right? And I was like, what would happen if there was a shooting that night? And out of that began this story. And so it is about a shooting at a nightclub and a concert, and the main character loses her spouse, which, again, it happens in chapter two. So it, you know, it's kind of silly to hide it. And she begins to navigate what happens, not just after you lose someone, but also what happens after you go sort of like accidentally viral and suddenly and I started writing this long before Parkland, but it is the Parkland journey of what happened with a lot of those kids who've experienced significant trauma, not just from the event, but from the activism afterwards, because obviously they wanted to be part of activism, but the, and in the same with the Sandy Hook families and everything that happened with Alex Jones is that they're just dragged through the mud, and it's just so horrible what happens to them, and death threats, and, you know, it's like it was bad enough they went through the shooting, but now they have to go through this. And so she's navigating all of that, but it's 2016, it's on the eve of what ended up being a really shocking election that has dictated the last eight years of our lives. My God. oh my God, please let it end. And so this character isn't just deciding, hey, am I going to be an activist about what just happened to me? But also the story kind of stands on the pinnacle of art, what became our modern times. You know, how am I going to show up in this world as a person? And it's also about, really, her finding her voice, and she's coming out of a very complicated and hard marriage, and she grieves them, and she also has relief from what was a hard marriage. And so it's also about that, you know, I, I had that experience when my own father died, when my husband is completely alive and taking care of our kids, but, but when my father died, I really, you know, I really depicted it more about that relationship, because I had a very complicated relationship with my father, and when he passed away, I had a therapist who said to me, you know, you can have any reaction you want to this, and that includes relief, and it was such a freeing thing, because, you know, it's always like when someone dies, we're supposed to be sad. And it wasn't that I wasn't sad, but also I didn't have the complexity and the trauma of that relationship in my life. And so she's navigating that she has a young child, so she's also navigating being a single mom and all these different pieces. So it's interesting because it's set, now, it's almost like historical fiction, right? Oh, those sweet and gentle times of 2016 the days of yore, so, but it is also a lot about marriage and parenthood and sacrificing your dreams to show up and be a stable you know, I'm going to take care of the family and I'm going to do what I need to do, and she's in a nine-to-five job, and she sacrificed her dreams to just try to be like a normal person, only to discover that there's no such thing as normal, especially in modern America. And so we called it like a modern, suburban Western, because it is about that, and she has to become her own version of a gunslinger in the end.Lesley Logan 24:28  I do love that it's now historical fiction, because I too long for those days sometimes my husband and I sometimes I'm like, I just want to not know the house representative for, like, a state I've never been to. I just want to not know who that person is, but also like, how naive and how unique a time that was as well. Thank you for sharing the story. Now I feel like we need a Be It Till You See It book club, you guys, I want to hear all of your thoughts on reading it. I find fiction fascinating because I actually love it. I grew up on like Judy Blume, which is like fiction but not, you know what I mean. It's like, always based on something that happens, and then it's like, the story of it, your daughter, your it was your nine-year-old just one. Excuse me. Yeah, so with your, was there a part of you that was, like, writing it because also to be a parent of a time when, like, yeah, it's, I don't know how parents in their school, kids school, my mom's a school teacher. She's a first grade school teacher, and the thing she's telling me that she's have to prepare for, I'm like, you should not have a gun. I'm just gonna tell you right now, you know, I grew up with the earthquake drills. Now it's very different. And so was it partly just, it was even therapeutic, or just like, ways for you to kind of understand what you're going into as a parent at a time when this is such a scary thing going on?Kristen McGuiness 25:40  Yeah, no. I mean, that was definitely a driving force. I mean, it's a driving force every day, I think. I mean, especially now that I do have school aged children, and I mean, I make sure I kiss them every morning, just God forbid, I will not let them go to school without hugging them and kissing them. Because I remember one of the Parkland fathers, actually one of them who became quite active. I forget his name now, but he always said that the morning that his daughter left for school, they were really busy, and he didn't hug her and say goodbye, and he never knew he would never not see her again. And I just can't even fathom that pain, especially under the conditions that those murders take place. And so, yeah, I mean, I definitely wrote it for that. I mean, there's a as one of the my blurb authors, Gina Frangello, who's amazing, gave me this great blurb that's saying, like, it's a call to action, and the book really is. I mean, there's a moment in the book where the main character, I discovered, long after writing it, that there's actually a genre called autofiction, which is what I wrote. I just didn't know, you know, my own genre's name, until, like, six months ago, where it's like, it's totally my life, like anybody who reads the book, like, my husband's name is Terry, and my friends all call it the book where Terry dies and like, it freaks them out, because they're like, wait, he's still, he's still alive, like, I just saw him yesterday, but like, it's like the book where Terry dies, and I did. I mean, I did use our lives, because at the time, I had considered writing a memoir, but we're not that exciting of a couple. We don't drink, we don't smoke, we don't cheat on each other. I joke, it would just be like 100 pages of people arguing about finance and ADHD.Lesley Logan 27:08  There's, there's a, there's a group of people who would read that, you know?Kristen McGuiness 27:12  I mean, they still can, because they because the couple still argues about finance and ADHD in the book. But we just, we raised the stakes. They need a little more plot, a little more plot. So I gave it a lot of plot. But I mean, there's a scene in the book where the main character ends up having a meeting with the President of the time prior to Trump. And I didn't like, use Obama's name, but it's clearly him, because Obama would meet with people after those shootings, and she ends up with a one-on-one meeting, because she ends up kind of getting a little fame under her belt, and in that meeting, she flat out asked for an executive order banning assault weapons, because it's just and that's why, I mean, ultimately, I say like that is what? If you ask me what the book is about? Yeah, it's about marriage and single motherhood and mass shootings, but it's really about the need for, excuse me, an executive order banning assault weapons. One point, I'd actually worked on building a whole campaign around that, and an activism campaign, and then with everything that happened with the Biden administration, it didn't make sense. But I was just talking to one of my colleagues the other day, and I was like, look, if Trump makes it into office, we can just say goodbye, but if I'm like, truly, like, see you later, buddy.Lesley Logan 28:14  I know, especially after the most recent Supreme Court situation on that. I was like, What are we doing? Kristen McGuiness 28:18  I know. See on the flip side. Yeah, my husband and I like a boat, a boat sounds good. But if Kamala makes it into the office, there are some real changes that the Democrats have failed to make, multiple times over, with multiple opportunities, with control of the Senate, control of the House, and I would hope that she will take this enthusiasm and momentum, although obviously it will wane, because it is what it is. But I do think that people have returned to the fold in a way that's like, okay, let's just fucking do this. But once she, you know, presumably, gets to do it, she has to do something, because we just can't have somebody else show up again and not take control of the situation. Lesley Logan 28:59  Yeah, I love that. You said that what I'm thinking of is we live in a world where we do all have to be activists of some kind, but not every one of us is someone who wants to stand on a line and protest. That's not everyone's way of being an activist, but there are unique ways where we can be activating in people. And for some, you're barely keeping your head above water. And so your activism is telling your friends to vote, and you voting and doing the research, you know, like that could be your form of activism these days. Because, my goodness, if you don't know the US's voting records, or people are just don't do it. I've been to Australia. They're like, I don't understand. Like, we make it a holiday and everyone does it. It would be so weird to not do it. Kristen McGuiness 29:37  Well, it makes so much sense, wouldn't it? Lesley Logan 29:38  Yeah. And they're like, and you guys are just only this many people. I'm like, I don't really, I don't want to tell you. So for some of you, it might be an activating thing to go do that, but I love that you took this desire, this drive, this passion, and you put it in a form for people who want to have a really good read can be inspired by and also go, oh hold on, wait a minute. There are things that we can do, and there are things that can be done. And from our lips to their ears, my fucking goodness, if they do not hit the ground running, if they get what they need, like, I don't know what we're going to do. Want them to act with a little, just a little bit of urgency would be great, yeah, just that fucking tiny bit. And all this to say, the administration we have currently has done a lot with what they've had, but there was a two year mark where we could have just done a whole lot more, just saying, but I think like you're showing I hope that what everyone here is hearing this is like, you can have different ways of being an activist and different ways of inspiring people to think about what is possible and what can be done and keeping things in the forefront, because you're right, it goes in waves. That's not that we haven't had mass shootings. Unfortunately, they happen every day, and our media doesn't talk about it anymore. And then there'll be one, so then they'll talk about a few, and then they'll keep going, and then it becomes something else. And our media has talked about ADHD. They have a whole different acronym of what their attention span is. And so I appreciate your book, and I also appreciate this is a different way we can all figure out how we can take what we love and still use it to inspire others to take different actions. And I think that's really cool.Kristen McGuiness 31:14  Yeah. And I think, you know, going back sort of full circle on and, I mean, I think everybody has their the thing they used to get through life, right? Like I said, I write my way through this. So for me, my political activism, it makes sense for me to write it. That's the space in which I'm comfortable, you know. And everybody has their space in which they're comfortable. It's about to me, I think the most important thing is, as long as you keep paying attention, because the minute we stop paying attention, and that's the biggest thing too, is whatever way in which you can help other people to pay attention. You know, not just because you post on Instagram, although I don't not recognize how important that is, too. You know, the more that we are sharing information with each other, the more that we are talking, the more that we are activating each other into just awareness, hopefully, the better our world will be and the more we will demand the people in power to make certain decisions. And it does kind of go back into that idea, it's like, you know, we can, we can't control what the President does, but we can make choices every day to be part of that conversation in whatever way feels right and good and aligned with who we are. And so, you know, I've always been a political person, but I do believe that we all have our path through just navigating life and impacts those big systems have on all of us, no matter who we are.Lesley Logan 32:31  Yeah, you're so right. My husband, people wouldn't know, but his second hobby is like political podcast, the amount of research he does, and he's also the type of person who phone banks. So whenever they're like, are you volunteering? Like, only one person in the household can do it. Some of us have to keep the wheels on the bus right here. Kristen McGuiness 32:47  Like, phone banking's over here.Lesley Logan 32:48  He's phone banking, but he, I watch him all the time in his way of activating and activism, he's not afraid of a conversation with someone who disagrees. And he's like, oh, have you heard this podcast? And he'll just use a podcast episode that will explain to someone he's like, just think, just listen to it. There are ways of doing it. He's not on socials. Lucky him. You know. But like we each can have our way of being part of this society and making change. And it can be loud or it can be writing a book. It can be writing a play. It could also be how you teach a class. It can be the types of music that you're using to help and inspire people and have people ask questions. Or it can be like, Brad is like, oh, to our friend who had a flag up, we're like, it's interesting. I wouldn't have expected that from that person, and he just went with quiet curiosity and was like, oh, you should listen to this episode right here. And the guy did, that's where you make really big impact, is on those small relationships. It doesn't feel big in the moment, but it's big over time. And so you're just freaking cool. You're so cool, we're all gonna go read your book. What are you most excited about right now?Kristen McGuiness 33:50  I mean, I just wrote a screenplay in 12 hours, I'm very excited about that.Lesley Logan 33:55  Yeah. What did you guys do listening? She wrote a screenplay in 12 hours. I forgot my laundry in the wash machine. Kristen McGuiness 34:00  That's not what I do every day of my life, folks. So, by no means, there are a lot of days that are just laundry and lifting up a 80 pound dog who can't stand by himself. I take care of a lot of people, no, but I did get to do that. But the exciting part of that, the reason why I just cracked that out, is that Live Through This is actually going to a very big actress in the next week, and I wanted to have some sample writing to go with it. So that was the motivation to be like, I'm having dinner with the producer tonight. And I was like, I'm going to crack out that screenplay. She's a dear friend of mine. I'm going to give her a draft of it tonight, and hopefully next week we can turn around fast enough so that this book and this screenplay that I just wrote that is similar in that it's about, I mean, my poor husband has become a very unfortunate muse, but we just went on a two week trip to Greece that I said was like an odd DC and adventure. It was like, people like, how was your vacation? And I'm like, how do I respond to that? I'm far too honest to be like, it was fun. I'm like, it was not like two weeks laying around Hilton Head. It was a fucking life changing adventure, in good ways and bad. So I decided, you know what, I'm gonna write a screenplay about that experience, except for it includes, you know, talking cats and the goddess Artemis. And it's like, it's super funky and fun, and that's just what I did. And the beauty of it is that I am also a book publisher, and I'm a book coach. I have a book coaching company, Rise Writers, and a book publishing house, Rise Books. So, so much of my time when I am not parenting, I actually am not a writer. That's not what pays the bills, right? So I have this other really big creative job, but it's so much of my time and energy goes into other people's creative projects. So when I just finished that screenplay, I was like, who knows what's gonna happen with this crazy thing I just wrote. But the fact is, I got to just do that for me and the catharsis and excitement. I mean, I'll watch anything with a talking animal. So, I mean, I just figured if nobody else ever wants to see this movie, I'd watch it just for a talking cat named Gordon. Lesley Logan 35:57  Oh, don't you love a pet with, a pet with a human name. I screwed up. We named all of our animals like something important, and the next round is going to be like, Bob and Jonathan.Kristen McGuiness 36:09  My dog's name is Peter. It's actually like, it's so funny, because there are a lot of dogs with human names, but that wouldn't, for that reason. And he also looks like a human so he actually confuses people. When people look at my dog, they're like, oh Peter. And you see, there's a moment where they go, is that a person or a dog? Lesley Logan 36:26  Yeah, yeah, yeah. I understand. I understand. Oh my god. I adore you. I'm so excited to see where this goes. And I just so appreciate your vulnerability and honesty about how you do life, because I think that, for everyone listening, there's something to pick up there. We're gonna take a brief break, and then we're gonna find out how people can find you, follow you, read all of your goodness. All right, Kristen, tell us where people can read your amazing book, or find out if Gordon ever makes it on the big screen. Kristen McGuiness 36:51  Yeah, let's say if ever there was a cat who deserved the big screen. No, you can find me at Kristen McGinnis on Instagram or @RiseLiterary, but my website is riseliterary.com where you can learn more about me and the book publishing house, Rise Books, as well as all of our book coaching programs. If you are writing a book and are interested in finding out how you do that, we offer lots of ways to find your path to publishing, which is like our trademarkable motto. But also you can find Live Through This anywhere it's sold. It's distributed by Simon & Schuster. So we are everywhere, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, I guess I will flash the book, yeah. So wherever books are sold. So yeah, but otherwise, just come and check us out and hope to connect with some of y'all listening soon.Lesley Logan 37:40  All right, before I let you go, bold, executable, intrinsic, targeted steps people can take to be it till they see it. What do you have for us?Kristen McGuiness 37:48  All right. This is, when I read the email beforehand. I was like, yikes.Lesley Logan 37:55  I know you know what though, you're brilliant. It'll, every like, it's gonna be brilliant, whatever you say, so don't be yikes.Kristen McGuiness 38:02  No. I mean, I think if I could just show the gift from the end of Thelma and Louise, that would be it. But, I mean, I do think it is it, you know. I mean, I think it's about never lose sight of the dream, no matter what, and no matter what gets in the way, you know, no matter what life shows up, no matter what children you have, no matter where your marriage goes, or whether you get married or not, or whether you have kids, no matter whether the dog passes away or you get a kitten, you know, no matter what comes there's this great I think it's an Emmy Lou Harris song that says all that you have is your soul. And I think that that's really true. We are always there underneath it all, and as long as we connect back into that, and I'll actually end on an Oprah quote, one of my authors put this in a book that she just, we're publishing in May, called Rewrite the Mother Code. I will also honor her, Dr Gertrude Lyons, she's writing it, and she puts this Oprah quote in there that said, I've learned, and I'm going to not say the quote perfectly, but like I've learned over time that there is always a small, quiet voice inside me that's leading me where I'm supposed to go. And the only times I've ever made mistakes in life is when I've chosen to ignore that voice. And I think that, to me, is the biggest step is like, as long as you're listening to the small, quiet voice inside you, you will always end up where you need to go, so you don't need to grip the wheels so tightly. Let go and get the gas and enjoy the view. Lesley Logan 39:30  Oh, Kristen, I'm obsessed. You're amazing. Y'all, how are you going to use these tips in your life? Let Kristen know. Let us know at the Be It Pod. Share this with a friend. Sometimes it's like the thing that someone needs to help them listen to that voice inside and, you know, write their way through it, or Pilates their way through it, or whatever it is, because we all have something we can do in this world. Thank you so much. And until next time everyone, Be It Till You See It. That's all I got for this episode of the Be It Till You See It Podcast. One thing that would help both myself and future listeners is for you to rate the show and leave a review and follow or subscribe for free wherever you listen to your podcast. Also, make sure to introduce yourself over at the Be It Pod on Instagram. I would love to know more about you. Share this episode with whoever you think needs to hear it. Help us and others Be It Till You See It. Have an awesome day. Be It Till You See It is a production of The Bloom Podcast Network. If you want to leave us a message or a question that we might read on another episode, you can text us at +1-310-905-5534 or send a DM on Instagram @BeItPod.Brad Crowell 40:37  It's written, filmed, and recorded by your host, Lesley Logan, and me, Brad Crowell.Lesley Logan 40:42  It is transcribed, produced and edited by the epic team at Disenyo.co.Brad Crowell 40:47  Our theme music is by Ali at Apex Production Music and our branding by designer and artist, Gianfranco Cioffi.Lesley Logan 40:54  Special thanks to Melissa Solomon for creating our visuals.Brad Crowell 40:57  Also to Angelina Herico for adding all of our content to our website. And finally to Meridith Root for keeping us all on point and on time.Transcribed by https://otter.aiSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/be-it-till-you-see-it/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Get ready for a juicy conversation! This week on Ojai Talk of the Town, we welcome Scott Daigre, founder of Tomatomania!, the country's largest heirloom and hybrid tomato seedling sale. What started in the 1990s as a small nursery event has blossomed into a can't-miss springtime tradition across Southern California, with dozens of locations offering an incredible variety of tomato plants, expert advice, and all the inspiration you need for your garden and kitchen.Scott shares the origins of Tomatomania and what makes tomatoes so endlessly fascinating. We dig into the best growing tips, surprising heirloom varieties, and even a few favorite ways to enjoy summer's most beloved fruit. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious newbie, this episode is ripe with insights and stories you won't want to miss!

‘The great painters, great musicians and great architects have extraordinary capacities and talent, but in their daily life they are like you and me, and like everybody else.' This episode on Talent and Skill has five sections. The first extract (2:40) is from a question & answer meeting at Rajghat in 1964, and is titled: Talent and Fulfilment. The second extract (15:30) is from the fifth question & answer meeting in Saanen 1980, and is titled: Why Are We Mediocre Despite Our Talents? The third extract (25:38) is from the third question & answer meeting in Ojai 1980, and is titled: Talent and Creativity. The fourth extract (42:06) is from Krishnamurti's third talk in Saanen 1977, and is titled: Skill in Action. The final extract in this episode (1:00:05) is from the fourth discussion in Saanen 1977, and is titled: Skill and the Art of Living. Each episode of the Krishnamurti podcast is based on a significant theme of his talks. Extracts from the archives have been selected to represent Krishnamurti's different approaches to these universal and timelessly relevant topics. This episode's theme is Talent and Skill. Upcoming themes are Artificial Intelligence and Existence. This is a podcast from Krishnamurti Foundation Trust, based at Brockwood Park in the UK, which is also home to The Krishnamurti Centre. The Centre offers a variety of group retreats, including for young adults. There is also a volunteer programme. The atmosphere at the Centre is one of openness and friendliness, with a sense of freedom to inquire with others and alone. Please visit krishnamurticentre.org.uk for more information. 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.

Applications Open for CONNECT: A Couple's Retreat May 15-19th http://jjflizanes.com/couplesretreat   Healing the Mother Wound BETA live in Ojai, CA June 18-22nd http://jjflizanes.com/motherwound   Find Your Tribe in Empower U- month to month membership http://jjflizanes.com/eu   JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcasts including People's Choice Awards nominee Spirit, Purpose & Energy. JJ Flizanes works with conscious, spiritual truth seekers who want to remove emotional blocks to success. She helps people identify sabotaging patterns and transmute struggle into joy. Through a series of clarifying exercises, she is able to curate a personalized roadmap to emotional healing.  JJ is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and awareness of how they can live the life of their dreams. http://jjflizanes.com

 Applications Open for CONNECT: A Couple's Retreat May 15-19th http://jjflizanes.com/couplesretreat   Healing the Mother Wound BETA live in Ojai, CA June 18-22nd http://jjflizanes.com/motherwound   Find Your Tribe in Empower U- month to month membership http://jjflizanes.com/eu   JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcasts including People's Choice Awards nominee Spirit, Purpose & Energy. JJ Flizanes works with conscious, spiritual truth seekers who want to remove emotional blocks to success. She helps people identify sabotaging patterns and transmute struggle into joy. Through a series of clarifying exercises, she is able to curate a personalized roadmap to emotional healing.  JJ is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and awareness of how they can live the life of their dreams. http://jjflizanes.com

 Applications Open for CONNECT: A Couple's Retreat May 15-19th http://jjflizanes.com/couplesretreat   Healing the Mother Wound BETA live in Ojai, CA June 18-22nd http://jjflizanes.com/motherwound   Find Your Tribe in Empower U- month to month membership http://jjflizanes.com/eu   JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcasts including People's Choice Awards nominee Spirit, Purpose & Energy. JJ Flizanes works with conscious, spiritual truth seekers who want to remove emotional blocks to success. She helps people identify sabotaging patterns and transmute struggle into joy. Through a series of clarifying exercises, she is able to curate a personalized roadmap to emotional healing.  JJ is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and awareness of how they can live the life of their dreams. http://jjflizanes.com

 Applications Open for CONNECT: A Couple's Retreat May 15-19th http://jjflizanes.com/couplesretreat   Healing the Mother Wound BETA live in Ojai, CA June 18-22nd http://jjflizanes.com/motherwound   Find Your Tribe in Empower U- month to month membership http://jjflizanes.com/eu   JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcasts including People's Choice Awards nominee Spirit, Purpose & Energy. JJ Flizanes works with conscious, spiritual truth seekers who want to remove emotional blocks to success. She helps people identify sabotaging patterns and transmute struggle into joy. Through a series of clarifying exercises, she is able to curate a personalized roadmap to emotional healing.  JJ is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and awareness of how they can live the life of their dreams. http://jjflizanes.com

Applications Open for CONNECT: A Couple's Retreat May 15-19th http://jjflizanes.com/couplesretreat   Healing the Mother Wound BETA live in Ojai, CA June 18-22nd http://jjflizanes.com/motherwound   Find Your Tribe in Empower U- month to month membership http://jjflizanes.com/eu   JJ Flizanes is an Empowerment Strategist and the host of several podcasts including People's Choice Awards nominee Spirit, Purpose & Energy. JJ Flizanes works with conscious, spiritual truth seekers who want to remove emotional blocks to success. She helps people identify sabotaging patterns and transmute struggle into joy. Through a series of clarifying exercises, she is able to curate a personalized roadmap to emotional healing.  JJ is passionate about empowering people with the knowledge and awareness of how they can live the life of their dreams. http://jjflizanes.com

Sharon Scott Williams bares her soul in a play called Crazy Mama, a powerful, personal story that's at once unique and wholly relatable. It's about family, mental illness and the bonds and devotion that propel us to protect and defend those we hold dear.  Crazy Mama is running at the Rubicon Theatre in Ventura, CA March 26 - April 6, 2025. It stars Linda Purl and is directed by Anson Williams, both icons of classic TV, including Happy Days, and one of whom is married to playwright Sharon Scott Williams. (You only get one guess which.)Sharon came home from school, at the age of eight, to find her mother wielding a knife, in a psychotic episode. The ensuing events led to extended hospitalization and a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Her family's coping heroism inspired her, decades later, to write a memoir, which Sharon's husband, actor and director Anson Williams (Yes, you guess correctly), felt would make an astonishing one-woman stage show.With Linda Purl in the starring role (playing 16 different characters!) the stage play of 'Crazy Mama' gives audiences the opportunity to reflect on their own experiences and it provides a conduit to conversations about mental illness, trauma and family dynamics. Sharon tells how the crafting of the play inspired the processing of her long buried, confusing emotional cocktail of fear, guilt, shame, and anger and with similar Virginia ancestral roots, Linda identified instantly with the work and the power of its messages.Plus, Sharon, Anson and Linda all claim Covid Love stories! Sharon, an Ojai, California Real Estate agent, had shown Anson a house a decade earlier. But, with both of them single, she received a text invitation from him for lunch! They spent the pandemic falling in love. Linda ran into an acquaintance with a very similar show-biz history, Patrick Duffy. Their mutual friend, Richard Thomas paved the way and their Zoom friendship blossomed into romance! Also, we are proud to present our all-new IMDB Roulette Sub Genre quiz sensation, Were You On It, featuring full disclosures about Anson and Linda's appearances on: Baywatch, The Waltons, The Secret Storm, Fantasy Island, Black Market Baby and I Married A Centerfold!In recommendations-- Weezy: Documentary Beatles 64 on Disney+Fritz: Documentary Becoming Katharine Graham on Amazon PrimePath Points of Interest:Crazy Mama at The Rubicon TheatreAnson Williams IMDBAnson Williams WikipediaAnson Williams on FacebookLinda Purl IMDBLinda Purl WikipediaLinda Purl on InstagramLinda Purl in "POSSIBILITIES - songs of HOPE, RISK and MAYBE" at Catalina Jazz Club in HollywoodBeatles 64 - Disney+Becoming Katharine Graham - Amazon Prime

Vanessa Zoltan and Hannah McGregor meet at the Lobster Shack in Ojai, California to record this week's episode of Hot and Bothered, all about Easy A. This week we discuss what makes a 'rom-com' a 'rom-com', male writers' depictions of female friendship, and Nathaniel Hawthorne. We finish the episode with an interview with Professor Megan Hunt about the depiction of Christianity in this film. Hot and Bothered is a Not Sorry ProductionFind us at our website | Follow us on Instagram---If we give you butterflies, consider supporting us on Patreon! On Patreon have more great romance content including a bonus close scene analysis with Vanessa and Hannah. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

One of the unfortunate truths about our society is that we're more divided, vitriolic and operating from fear than ever before.  When we look at how people interact, there's no civility and mutual respect anymore. There's this huge collective tantrum and so much anger in people and it's completely polarized the culture.  This is especially highlighted in the political sphere. From local government to the national stage, there's more division, more contempt than collaboration, and that was never the original intent.  At its very basic level, government is about creating harmony and equity in society, but that's not happening anymore. How did we get here? How do we find peace in the midst of such vitriolic polarity?  In episode, former mayor of Ojai, California, Betsy Stix joins us to talk about leading in these contempt-filled times, and how she maintained equanimity in inflamed situations.  Things You'll Learn In This Episode  -A powerful impetus  How did The Big Leap lead Betsy Stix into local government? -The source of our separation  The amount of conflict and polarity we're seeing in our world feels unprecedented. How did we get here?  -React, disengage or rise above In these times of high conflict, it's really easy to get hijacked by fear. How do we redirect towards love?  -Back to breath How do we use our breath to create safety for ourselves when there's chaos all around us? Guest Bio Betsy is a lifelong teacher of human development, yoga, English, and French and former mayor of Ojai, California. After teaching for decades, she decided to run for mayor in 2020 during COVID, after reading Gay Hendricks' “The Big Leap” and learning that the city council was slow to enact environmental and social justice policy.  She canvased the town of 7,500 people in a mask and won 64% of the vote!  And she won again in 2022 when she ran against actor Anson Williams. During her tenure, the Ojai City Council passed rent stabilization/tenant protection, a greenhouse gas emission reduction code, approved truly low income housing while developing better solutions for the unhoused, passed animal protection ordinances celebrated by PETA, improved the city's plastic and tree ordinances, flew the Pride Flag for the first time, and founded the Mayor's Youth Council. She is proud to have run two 100% positive campaigns and championed emotional and spiritual intelligence while moving the ball forward for progressive issues.  She was so grateful to have been able to depend upon her yoga practices and experience teaching children and young people as well as the teachings of Katie Hendricks and Marianne Williamson to support her during her time in office.  She looks forward to continuing to serve her community and the planet. Follow Betsy on Instagram.    About Your Hosts Katie Hendricks, Ph.D., BC-DMT, is a pioneer in body intelligence and conscious loving with over 40 years of experience. Known internationally as a presenter and seminar leader, she focuses on authenticity, responsibility, and appreciation in conscious living. She co-authored 12 books, including best-sellers Conscious Loving and Conscious Loving Ever After and she has appeared on over 500 radio and TV programs. Sophie Chiche is a seasoned coach and consultant who has worked with thousands of individuals and teams globally. With a focus on helping people live fully expressed lives, she guides clients and facilitates group sessions to remove obstacles and design meaningful lives. Sophie has developed unique methods, mindset shifts, and healing modalities to create lasting change.   Check out this episode on our website, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify and don't forget to leave a review if you like what you heard. Your review feeds the algorithm so the show reaches more people!  

Can you really go home again? Peter Marcus, along with his partners Evan Graham-Arango and Reiana Onglenco, proves that not only can you return, but you can also plant something new. In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we dig deep into the story of Ojai Roots — a 10-acre farm and the brand-new Farm Shop that's bringing farm-to-table full circle.(Note: Check out the Spring issue of Ojai Quarterly magazine for a feature on Ojai Roots written by Ilona Saari.)Peter, a seasoned chef with a Michelin-starred résumé, shares how his journey took him from high-end kitchens in New York, Copenhagen, and Australia back to Ojai, where he now cures his own hams, crafts a curated wine bar menu, and bakes up his grandmother's beloved "Nana's Cookies." We also explore how the team is blending agriculture, community, and culinary craft to create a one-of-a-kind farm store experience.From house-smoked salmon to their own vineyard's rosé, this episode is a feast for the senses. Tune in as we talk food, farming, and finding your roots in Ojai.We did not talk about proper cures for salmon candy, medieval water clocks or capybara videos. Check out more at ...https://ojairoots.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoouQz2y-7Z3rIMS8wdm_6kn-t0Q6RgO90gtT9WbuEdPB0h5Fav5

Co-hosts Susan Friedland and Horse Illustrated Editor in Chief Holly Caccamise talk to beloved trainer and clinician Julie Goodnight. Next up is a chat with Stoney Stamper, national sales director for family-owned Hart Trailers. This month's adoptable horse is 17-year-old Arabian mare Ariana, located in Ojai, Calif. For special subscription rates on Horse Illustrated and Young Rider magazines just for podcast listeners, click here.

It's citrus season in the northern hemisphere, and fruit trees are bursting with oranges and lemons. But CrowdScience listener Jonathan wants to know what happened to the tangerines he ate as a child in the 1960s? He remembers a fruit that was juicy, sweet and full of pips, found each Christmas at the bottom of his stocking. Tangerines today, he thinks, just don't compare. Crowdscience tries to track down this elusive fruit. Presenter Anand Jagatia traces the tangerine's origins back to Ancient China, as botanist David Mabberley explains that the name ‘tangerine' comes from a fruit that made its way from Asia, to Africa and the Moroccan port of Tangier, before arriving in the US in the early 1800s. Professor Tracy Kahn from UC Riverside tells us about the hybridisation process that goes into breeding modern tangerines, but says that while the season for these fruits has been dramatically extended, there's a cost in terms of diversity and flavour. Who better to help us track down this missing mandarin than a fruit detective? Well, that's one of pomologist David Karp's other job titles, and he reveals exactly which cultivar we might be looking for: the Dancy. So where can we find one? Over on Friend's Ranches in Ojai, California, Emily Ayala shows us two trees planted by her late grandfather, and explains that nothing grown since really matches its unique flavour.So what will listener Jonathan think when we send him a box? Presenter: Anand Jagatia Producer: Marijke Peters Editor: Cathy Edwards Production Co-ordinator: Ishmael Soriano Studio Manager: Jackie Margerum(Image: Citrus oranges grow on tree, Hong Kong Credit: CHUNYIP WONG via Getty Images)

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, actor Michaela Watkins joins us to talk about her latest film, Suze, a Canadian indie gem screening at the Ojai Playhouse on March 9. She'll be on hand for a post-film discussion, but first, we dig into the heart of the movie, the revival of the "New Sincerity Movement," and why audiences are craving stories about broken people finding connection.Michaela also reflects on her incredible career including a stint of Saturday Night Live, the LA-based Groundlings, working with the husband-wife duo Dane Clark and Linsey Stewart behind Suze to her collaborations with the late, great Lynn Shelton and acclaimed director Nicole Holofcener (You Hurt My Feelings). We swap stories about mutual Ojai friends, share what this town means to us, and much more.Note: We did not talk about the Ventura River estuary, proposed NFL rule changes or the ill-fated El Dorado expedition of 1559 led by "Wrath of God" Aguirre.Tune in for a conversation that's as heartfelt, funny, and sharp as Michaela herself.

What happens when the very real fear of wildfires meet folklore and urban legends? You get something like The Char Man of Ojai. We're joined by Jess from WTF Is That Podcast to talk about this prescient urban legend, why cryptids love bridges, and why shouting for help in the woods is a bad idea!Places you can donate: Mutual Aid LA Network, Fire Aid, California Federation of Labor Unions Content Warning: This episode contains conversations about or mentions of fire, the California wildfires, death, ableism, grief, child death, skinning/flaying, animal attacks, climate change, natural disasters, nuclear attacks, and drowning. GuestJess is a podcaster, storyteller, and Gemini who loves a good fun fact. She hosts So That's How That Happened, a gossipy history podcast, and co-hosts WTF Is That Podcast, a spooky true crime and paranormal show. When she's not deep in research, she's busy being a mom of three and sharing her journey as a working mom building a business.Housekeeping- See us LIVE! Buy a ticket to our March 23 live show in Portland at spiritspodcast.com/live. And if you live in or around NYC, RSVP to our free cocktail popup at jointhepartypod.com/popup- Books: Check out our previous book recommendations, guests' books, and more at spiritspodcast.com/books- Call to Action: Check out your local DSA chapter- Submit Your Urban Legends Audio: Call us! 617-420-2344Sponsors- BetterHelp is an online therapy service. Get 10% off your first month at https://betterhelp.com/spirits- CRAMPED, a new podcast about period pain by Kate Helen Downey. Listen in your podcast app now!Find Us Online- Website & Transcripts: spiritspodcast.com- Patreon: patreon.com/spiritspodcast- Merch: spiritspodcast.com/merch- Instagram: instagram.com/spiritspodcast- Bluesky: bsky.app/profile/spiritspodcast.com- Twitter: twitter.com/spiritspodcast- Tumblr: spiritspodcast.tumblr.com- Goodreads: goodreads.com/group/show/205387Cast & Crew- Co-Hosts: Julia Schifini and Amanda McLoughlin- Editor: Bren Frederick- Music: Brandon Grugle, based on "Danger Storm" by Kevin MacLeod- Artwork: Allyson Wakeman- Multitude: multitude.productionsAbout UsSpirits is a boozy podcast about mythology, legends, and folklore. Every episode, co-hosts Julia and Amanda mix a drink and discuss a new story or character from a wide range of places, eras, and cultures. Learn brand-new stories and enjoy retellings of your favorite myths, served over ice every week, on Spirits.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

What if the biggest obstacle in your life was… you? Bestselling author and personal development pioneer Gay Hendricks joins us to talk about The Big Leap, his game-changing book that introduced the world to the Upper Limit Problem — that sneaky, self-imposed ceiling on success and happiness. From overcoming hidden fears to expanding into what he calls your Zone of Genius, Gay breaks down the patterns that hold us back and how to break through them.We also reflect on our mutual friend Jim Selman, a luminary in transformational leadership, and how his legacy continues to inspire. With 35 books (and counting!) co-authored with his wife, Katie Hendricks, from their Ojai-based Hendricks Institute, Gay has spent a lifetime helping people push past self-sabotage and step into their fullest potential. Tune in for an insightful, uplifting, and occasionally mind-bending conversation that just might inspire your next big leap.Jim and I also talked about his childhood with a single mom in northern Florida in the 1950s, and how she overcame significant obstacles to become a well-respected journalist and mayor of their hometown. We also talked about his academic career and much more. We did not, however, talk about Ernest Shackleton's expeditions, the development of dimpling on golf balls or Robert Caro's magisterial account of Robert Moses, in "The Power Broker."You can learn more about Gay Hendricks and his and wife Katie's work at the Hendricks Institute: https://hendricks.com/

Sarah talks about how much her work life has improved since she got an office space in downtown Ojai — and how it’s made her realize that Liz needs to make her office into her own space too. In Take A Hike, Sarah shares how participating in Emily Gaines Demskey’s Three Good Things Substack every day has made her happier. Liz is passionate about this week’s Hollywood Hack: Croc slides. Next, Liz and Sarah both had sort of Celebrity Sightings. Liz saw a crew filming for the upcoming Bruce Springsteen biopic starring Jeremy Allen White on her street. And Violet’s nanny, Dawn, almost ran over Ted Danson. Finally, Sarah recommends the Homeschool Moms Unfiltered podcast. Sign up for Liz and Sarah’s newsletter at 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! 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: On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King https://amzn.to/3EdV9YP Tell Me 3 Good Things Substack: https://substack.com/@emilygainesdemsky Croc slides: https://amzn.to/4gDcyYt Homeschool Moms Unfiltered podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/s2-ep2-the-realities-of-homeschooling-gifted-kids/id1746633244?i=1000684826371See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with artist and curator Cassandra C. Jones, whose work blends digital collage with storytelling in striking and unexpected ways.As the founder and Arts Chair of the Taft Gardens Residency Program, she offers artists an immersive experience in one of Ojai's most stunning and secluded landscapes. We discuss how Taft's South African and Australian Gardens inspire creativity, the evolving art market, and, of course, the infamous $6 million banana taped to a wall.Whether you're an art lover, a plant enthusiast, or just curious about what drives today's artists, this conversation is not to be missed.We did not talk about the Jokic trade, Taylor Swift's Superbowl outfits or MK Ultra.Check out more on Cassandra at https://www.cassandracjones.com/

‘When there is grief, we try every form of escape, but it is always there. Apparently, humanity has not resolved grief.' This episode on Grief and Loss has four sections. The first extract (2:35) is from Krishnamurti's first talk in Amsterdam 1981, and is titled: Living With Grief. The second extract (12:32) is from the fifth talk in Saanen 1981, and is titled: Why Is There Grief and Hurt? The third extract (24:30) is from Krishnamurti's sixth talk in Saanen 1982, and is titled: Is There an End to Grief and Suffering? The final extract in this episode (43:34) is from the fourth talk in Ojai 1979, and is titled: Understanding the Deep Causes of Sorrow. Each fortnightly episode of the Krishnamurti podcast is based on a significant theme of Krishnamurti's talks. Extracts from the archives have been selected to represent his different approaches to these universal and timelessly relevant themes. Upcoming episodes are Mechanical Living, Talent and Intuition. 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.

What do South African wines, the auto industry, and gelato have in common? Ojai's own Sanders Marvin. He joins us to talk about closing his shop next to the Arcade, and focusing on catering, popup events and wholesale of his distinctive gourmet frozen treats known for innovative flavors such as Pixie Had a Moment, Valhrona Chocolate and Godfather Sicilian Pistachio. In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with the founder of Sanders & Sons, Ojai's go-to spot for handcrafted frozen gourmet delights. But before he was dreaming up decadent flavors, Sanders helped introduce South African wines to the world in the 1980s and navigated the high-stakes world of automotive manufacturing as an executive. We talk about his fascinating career pivots, his training in Bologna, Italy with a master gelatiere, connection to Minnesota's celebrated Native American restaurant Owamni, and, of course, the art of making exceptional gelato. Tune in for a conversation as rich and satisfying as his signature scoops.

Liz and Sarah are thrilled to announce that Happier In Hollywood has moved to Lemonada Media! It’s 2025, and Liz and Sarah are VERY excited about their huge new undertaking — they’re going to have a Substack newsletter! They’ll be sharing Hollywood spotlights of the week, pro tips, HIH retreat and meet up info, and so much more. Sign up at happierinhollywood.com or send an email to happierinhollywoodpod@substack.com. In The Happiness Project Revisited, Sarah looks back at 2024 and shares what changes have come about because of her Happiness Project. One big development? She manifested an office in downtown Ojai! Next, in The Craft (& Fain), Liz and Sarah share a new metaphor they’re using when they break stories. This week’s Hollywood Hack will make next year’s gift giving season less stressful: Giftful. Finally, Sarah recommends one of her favorite Substacks: Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jess Craven. LINKS: Lemonada Media: https://lemonadamedia.com/ To sign up for the HIH free newsletter, send an email to: Happierinhollywood@substack.com Giftful: https://giftful.com/ Chop Wood, Carry Water by Jess Craven https://chopwoodcarrywaterdailyactions.substack.com/about Photo by Giorgio Trovato on UnsplashSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.