Ojai: Talk of the Town

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 Vortex.

Ojai: Talk of the Town is a society podcast hosted by Bret Bradigan, with 314 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Bret Bradigan hosts Ojai: Talk of the Town, a society show with 314 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #296

  Roger Kellaway: A Life in Jazz, From the Greats to Ojai

  Aug 13, 20261h 7mS5

  Grammy-winning pianist, composer and arranger Roger Kellaway has spent more than six decades making music alongside some of the greatest names in jazz and American popular music. In this wide-ranging conversation, Roger looks back on the musicians who shaped him, what separates the truly great players from the merely accomplished, and why music education and learning to really listen still matter. Roger talks about the fateful gig when he was hired by Norman Lear and his partner to write the closing song for "All in the Family," which became "Remembering You," one of the most recognizable tunes in television. We also bring the story home to Ojai. Roger talks about meeting his wife, Jorjana Kellaway , how the two eventually found their way to the Ojai Valley, and some of the performances and musical moments at the Ojai Music Festival that have stayed with him. Roger Kellaway is no stranger to the pages of Ojai Quarterly . He was featured for his collaboration with Joe Sohm and Clint Eastwood on "Visions of America." He is also a frequent, distinctive and distinguished audience member at the Ojai Music Festival. We did not talk about Red Sox owner Tom Yawkey's friendship with Ted Williams, marlin fishing in the Sea of Cortez, or Gene Lees. It's a conversation about jazz history, improvisation, teaching, creativity, love, place — and what a lifetime devoted to music teaches you about listening. https://rogerkellaway.com/

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  Episode #295

  What 300 Conversations Has Taught Me About Life, Community, and Ojai

  Aug 6, 202658 minS5

  It's our official 300th episode! In May 2020, I set out to interview interesting people. What I didn't realize was that each conversation would leave behind a clue — not just about my guests, but about what makes for a meaningful, creative, and fulfilling life. In this special solo episode, I step out from behind the microphone to reflect on the lessons I've gathered from hundreds of conversations with artists, entrepreneurs, historians, volunteers, scientists, civic leaders, and the wonderfully eccentric personalities who make Ojai unlike anywhere else. Along the way, I share stories from my own journey as a journalist, publisher, novelist, and longtime resident of the valley — touching on curiosity, failure, resilience, community, storytelling, and why it's never too late to reinvent yourself. I do not talk about Orel Hershisher's World Series shutout record, northern anchovy populations or Christopher Nolan films. Whether you've been with me since Episode 1 or you're discovering Ojai: Talk of the Town for the first time, I hope this conversation leaves you seeing Ojai — and perhaps your own life — a little differently.

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  Episode #294

  Beneath the Surface: How Marie McKenzie Found Beauty, Purpose and a New Life in California's Kelp Forests

  Jul 30, 20261h 11mS5

  What happens when an artist follows curiosity so completely that it changes not only her work — but her life? In this episode of Ojai: Talk of the Town , host Bret Bradigan sits down with acclaimed Ojai artist Marie McKenzie , whose breathtaking underwater paintings are inspired by firsthand encounters with California's disappearing kelp forests. After learning of the dramatic decline of these vital marine ecosystems, Marie did something few artists would: she learned to freedive, overcoming her fear of the ocean to immerse herself in the world she wanted to paint. The result is Ocean Garden , a luminous new collection celebrating beauty, abundance and the surprising power of protecting what we love. But this conversation goes far beyond art. Marie shares how she learned to trust her intuition over deadlines, why beauty may be a more powerful force for change than outrage, how she built a career painting one small canvas at a time, and what it means to move from simply surviving as an artist to truly thriving. Whether you're an artist, entrepreneur, conservationist — or anyone searching for more meaning in your work — this episode is an inspiring reminder that your greatest breakthroughs often begin on the other side of curiosity. In this episode you'll discover: Why Marie traded fear of the ocean for the freedom of freediving. How California's disappearing kelp forests transformed her artistic vision. Why she delayed releasing an entire collection until the paintings felt "ready." The surprising relationship between beauty, creativity and conservation. How a daily painting practice became the foundation of a successful artistic career. If you've ever wondered where inspiration comes from — or how to build a life around what you love — this conversation will stay with you long after it ends. Note: we did not talk about the Emily Wilson's Odyssey translation, the Cincinnati Reds or nano-technology. Check out more about Marie at https://www.mariemckenzie.com

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  Episode #293

  Kathleen Kaiser: Rock Journalism, Reinvention & Why Stories Matter More Than Ever

  Jul 23, 20261h 11mS5

  From interviewing rock musicians during music's golden era to helping shape the desktop publishing revolution, Kathleen Kaiser has spent a lifetime at the intersection of creativity, technology, and storytelling. After twelve years as president of the Writers & Publishers Network, she's stepping aside — not to slow down, but to finally devote more time to her own writing, including a long-awaited novel, her new Substack Glimpses of a Life , and the Talking Book Publishing podcast. In this wide-ranging conversation, Kathleen reflects on the evolution of publishing, the challenges facing today's authors, AI's growing role in the writing world, why marketing matters just as much as craft, and what she's learned from decades spent helping thousands of writers chase their dreams. We talked about Brian Jones, fan culture and Fillmore. We did not talk about Japan's 400 salt varieties, kelp forests or Milan Kundera's theories of kitsch. It's a thoughtful, funny conversation about reinvention, generosity, and the enduring power of a good story. You can learn more about Kathleen here, and sign up for her Substack ... https://www.kathleenkaiser.com/about-kka.html

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  Ojai: Talk of the Town

  Jeremy Cohen on Discovering Great Plays & Playwrights

  Jul 16, 20261h 8m

  Every summer, something extraordinary happens in Ojai. Nearly 1,000 new plays arrive from writers across the country. After months of rigorous evaluation by dramaturgs, directors, and theater professionals, only six or seven are chosen for the Ojai Playwrights Conference — one of America's premier incubators for new theater. Those playwrights spend two intensive weeks rewriting, collaborating with acclaimed directors and dramaturgs, and hearing their words brought to life by professional actors before live audiences. It's where promising scripts become exceptional plays. Readings of these fresh works with professional actors takes place July 30 to August 2 this year on the Thacher School campus. In this episode of Ojai: Talk of the Town , host Bret Bradigan sits down with Jeremy B. Cohen , Producing Artistic Director of the Ojai Playwrights Conference, for a fascinating conversation about what separates good theater from great theater, why live performance remains unlike any other art form, and how the Conference discovers bold new voices whose stories may one day appear on stages across the country. They explore the creative workshop process, the elusive qualities of compelling dramatic writing, the importance of artistic risk, and why Ojai has become one of the nation's most important destinations for playwrights. Whether you're a theater lover, a writer, or simply someone fascinated by the creative process, this conversation offers a rare look inside the making of new American theater — before the curtain ever rises. We talked about the OPC's integral Youth Workshop run by Kim Maxwell and her daughter Lily Brown, Jeremy finding his people in the theater world in western Massachusetts, running the venerable Playwrights' Center in St. Paul, Mn. and Broadway legend George Abbott. We did talk about Marie Kondo, Komodo dragons, or looksmaxxing. Check out OjaiPlays.org for schedule and much more.

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