Ojai Quarterly magazine

01/17/2025

Episode 221 is out! In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Jessica Thompson, owner of Green Goddess Garden, to discuss the vital steps homeowners and communities can take to protect their properties from the ever-present threat of wildfires. With recent devastation in Pacific Palisades and Los Angeles serving as a stark reminder, Jessica shares her expertise on creating defensible spaces, adopting responsible building practices, and restoring native plants to enhance resilience.

We also explore the benefits of drought-tolerant landscaping and how these practices intersect with Ojai’s thriving citrus industry, a cornerstone of our local economy. Whether you're looking to safeguard your home or support sustainable land stewardship, this episode offers practical advice and a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities facing our community in fire-prone Southern California.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/bret-bradigan/episodes/Hot-Tips-to-Keep-Your-Property-Cool-Wildfire-Wisdom-with-Jessica-Thompson-of-Green-Goddess-Gardens-e2tjp6g
https://calearth.org/pages/our-founder

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Jessica Thompson, owner of Green Goddess Garden, to discuss the vital steps homeowners and communities can take to protect their properties from the ever-present threat of wildfires. With recent devastation in Pacific Palisades and Los Angel...

12/20/2024

Catching up with our dear friend and one of our favorite Ojai artists, the "adventure cartoonist" Lucy Bellwood:

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Lucy Bellwood, the adventure cartoonist behind beloved works like Demon Dialogues and Baggywrinkles. Known for her vibrant illustrations and thoughtful reflections on creativity, this Ojai-raised artist has returned after years in the Pacifi...

11/20/2024

Crazy fun talking with the Turtle Conservancy's founder Eric Goode about his latest hit documentary project, "Chimp Crazy," on HBO. Goode also talked about recent developments with Joe Exotic from "Tiger King," and his newest documentary series about the illegal exotic reptile trade.

In this podcast episode, Eric Goode, founder of the Turtle Conservancy and an acclaimed conservationist, opens up about his latest project, Chimp Crazy. Following the success of Tiger King, which helped pass the Big Cat Safety Act, Goode aims to do the same for chimpanzees. The show shines a spotlig...

01/05/2024

Fun discussion with Kit Stolz on his epic journey from Mexico to Canada along the 2,560-mile-long Pacific Crest Trail.

In this reprise edition, writer and frequent OQ contributor Kit Stolz talks about his epic walkabout, covering every one of the 2,560-miles of Pacific Crest Trail, from the deserts along the border with Mexico, to touching the fence that separates the U.S. from its northern neighbor in Washington St...

11/02/2023

Check out this wide-ranging discussion with return guest Mark Frost on the WGA strike, the future of writers in an AGI world and Ojai's exceptionalism.

Author and screenwriter Mark Frost grew up in a show business family, worked at famous Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, before heading to Hollywood to work for Steven Bochco, who revolutionized television with "Hill Street Blues," where Mark as on the writing crew with David Milch and also worked wit...

08/24/2023

Fascinating talk about the writers and actors out on strike, the studios and the challenges of Big Tech.

As of posting time, SAG/AFTRA (actors) and WGA (writers) were still on strike. Our guest Hawk Koch has been through a few strikes in his six decades in the entertainment industry, on both sides of the table. The studios have their offer on the table, so do the writers and actors, and talks continue....

08/19/2023

Episode 157: Listen in for a fascinating conversation about Ojai's potential as an artist destination with Dave Spanbock, abstract artist and erstwhile gallerist.

Dave Spanbock has been both an artist and gallerist in his extensive career, mostly as an abstract artist, drawing geometrical shapes, mostly squares, freehand and experimenting with colors and the moods and emotion they evoke. On a walk along Ojai Avenue, going past the derelict hulk of what was on...

08/05/2023

Ojai's Bob Salas on his close encounter as an Air Force missile officer and the subsequent years of cover-ups, disclosures and what it could all mean for the future of humanity.

With recent testimony from a whistleblowing intelligence officer and bipartisan calls for disclosure of the government's extensive reporting of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (the government's new phrase of art for UFOs), and information revealed about the possession of alien technology, few pe...

07/28/2023

Jeremy B. Cohen brings decades of experiences and hundreds of contacts to his new role as Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, replacing the legendary Robert Egan. He talks about his exciting plans for the future, as well as the critical urgency of the arts in the modern world.

Jeremy B. Cohen took over the reins as Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference from the legendary Robert Egan, who led the conference through the past 23 years into its status as one of the leading new play development forums in the world. Cohen will call upon his multitude of contacts....

07/27/2023

Episode 155 of Ojai's podcast, Talk of the Town, has just landed with an epic interview with Ojai's Robert Salas, a retired Air Force missile officer who witnessed firsthand one of the most bizarre incidents in UFO history. The author, lecturer and aerospace expert comments on recent developments regarding a whistleblower's reports of the U.S. possessing alien technology and bipartisan calls from Congress for comprehensive disclosure of the many hundreds of UFO reports.

With recent testimony from a whistleblowing intelligence officer and bipartisan calls for disclosure of the government's extensive reporting of Unidentified Anomalous Phenomenon (the government's new phrase of art for UFOs), and information revealed about the possession of alien technology, few peop...

07/21/2023

Filmmakers Sam Osborn and Alejandra Vasquez join us to talk about their documentary "Going Varsity in Mariachi" about the fascinating culture of competitive mariachi in South Texas. The duo are screening their film as part of the Ojai Film Society's summer season in Libbey Bowl. All screenings are free and more information is available at OjaiFilmSociety.org.

The Ojai Film Society opens their free summer series in Libbey Bowl on July 28th with "Going Varsity in Mariachi" about the world of competitive high school mariachi in south Texas. The film is fresh off its warm reception at the Sundance Film Festival. Filmmakers Alejandro Vasquez and Sam Osborn br...

07/14/2023

With the Emmy nominees released this week, let's look at an Ojai filmmaker's Emmy-nominated film, "137 Shots," about a tragic police killing involving a fusillade of shots, and the reactions in provoked in Mike's hometown of Cleveland, Ohio.

With the Emmy nominees released this week, it's a good time to post up our interview with Mike Milano, whose film "137 Shots" about a tragic police killing of two motorists in Cleveland was one of last year's nominees. We talk about a wide range of topics, focusing on the racial environment of his h...

07/11/2023

First District Supervisor Matt LaVere joins us to talk about the pressing issues facing his 160,000 constituents in Ojai and Ventura, as well as growing up in Ojai, housing issues, climate change, water adjudication and much more.

Matt LaVere is Ventura County's First District Supervisor, representing much of Ojai and Ventura with more than 160,000 constituents. He is also former mayor of Ventura and replaced Steve Bennett, now California State Assemblyman. Elected to office just as the pandemic swept through the world, LaVer...

06/27/2023

Dennis Shives, one of Ojai's most singular and distinctive characters, come on the podcast to talk about his seven decades as an artist. This episode should be required listening for anyone who seeks to understand what makes Ojai so special.

With his height, flowing blond hair and most often being barefoot, Dennis Shives is among the most singular, and representative, of Ojai's citizens. Ojai born and raised, Dennis has made his living as an artist - both musician and visual artist - ever since. He claims inspiration from his grandmothe...

06/20/2023

John Broesamle, ardent conservationist, author, historian and defender of the Ojai Valley's open spaces, has passed away. This is a repost of a fascinating conversation from 2020.

John Broesamle, professor, author, historian, ardent conservationist and Ojai Living Treasure, has passed away, leaving behind an enduring legacy of open space and environmental awareness. His awakening happened early in his life when he watched the farm fields of Long Beach give way to the cookie-c...

06/07/2023

Fascinating talk about Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, who founded the world's largest nonprofit organization right here in our little village.

The American Association of Retired Persons is the largest nonprofit group in the world with 38 million members. And it all began right here in Ojai in 1957 over dinner for six people at the Ojai Valley Inn. One of the persons was Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus, a formidably tall redhead who changed the way...

05/25/2023

What a privilege to interview famous financial author Dr. Nomi Prins on her incredible career explaining how the banking system has been rigged in favor of Wall Street against the Main Street people who fund the system with their tax dollars. The Ojai resident and former Goldman Sachs executive survived the belly of the beast and is sharing her insights with a local audience.

05/20/2023

A re-release of Episode 64 from Season two of Ojai's podcast with Chumash Elder Julie Tumamait-Stenslie. A fascinating and wide-ranging conversation around California's First Peoples.

A look at the community of Ojai - an astonishingly beautiful village of 7,500 people perched on the eastern edge of the Pacific Rim. From the people who bring you Ojai Quarterly, Ojai Monthly and Ojai Hub.