A not-so-hidden gem in the heart of Ventura's midtown district, The Grape is a "House of Jazz and Spirits" that features live music five nights a week in a warm, welcoming and, some may say, spiritual space. On any given evening, owner and operator Adam Randall can be seen tending bar, adjusting sound equipment, or appearing on stage to remind the crowd that jazz is about love and community, and that they shouldn't forget the tip jar. In this conversation, Adam joins me to tell The Grape's story, from a small winery in Camarillo with no music to the jazz mecca it is today.

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Lisa McKinnon, aka "805 Foodie" on Instagram, has been covering food and culture in Ventura County for many years, bringing good vibes and amazing restaurant recommendations to our corner of Southern California. In this conversation, we talk about her history as a journalist, the pleasures and pains of being an online food influencer, and the amazing evolution of Ventura's food culture from the 1980s to 2025.

In a Southern California landscape overflowing with craft breweries, Ventura's own Topa Topa Brewing Company has carved out an impressive name and reputation since first opening on Thompson Boulevard in 2015. In this conversation, I talk with Topa Topa co-founder Jack Dyer about the ideas and values that drew him to the brewery business, and how a relatively small project quickly grew into something he never imagined. From its earth-conscious ethos and deeply local vibes to the unquestionable craftsmanship of the beer itself, Topa Topa plays a key part in shaping Ventura's rapidly evolving business community and cultural scene.

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Since opening in 2018, Findings Market has become a fixture of Ventura's rising craft culture, with a "general store" stocked with a rotating selection of beautifully designed, independently created goods in the heart of downtown, and a series of extremely popular market and fair events throughout the year. In this episode, I talk with the shop's founder and proprietor, Whitney Reed, about how she took Findings Market from a parking lot pop-up to a permanent store. From COVID shutdowns and real estate controversies to the neverending hustle of social media content, we explore the challenges and opportunities of running an artisinal retail business in Southern California.

This week I talk with Tony and Jeremy, co-owners of Pinyon, a restaurant in Ojai serving some of the most incredible house-made pizza, bagels and bread in Ventura County – well worth a regular visit. In this conversation they explain how they've crafted a business model that reflects their values: delicious food made with local ingredients, family friendly atmosphere, and a healthy dose of social, economic and environmental justice. With their eyes toward opening a new location in downtown Ventura, Pinyon's creators offer some ideas about what makes running a restaurant in the 805 such a unique and rewarding opportunity.

On the very first episode of SHOP CHOP, I talk with Jess the baker, aka the Awkward Pastry Chef. Jess is one of the hardest working creators and artists in Ventura, California, and her cakes, pies, and baked goods are truly next level. In this conversation, she talks about her path to becoming a baker, her indie business ethos, and the challenges of running a small business in the often daunting political economy of Southern California.

Check out the Awkward Pastry Chef Instagram and get some of those goodies!

Listen to my other podcasts, Nostalgia Trap (politics and culture) and Lawyers in the Attic (legal adventures at a local law firm)