Farm Talk with Paul Ward

Episode Summary: Paul Ward speaks with Marta Dewey, founder of the Performance Theater for Young Artists (PTYA), a Ventura County-based nonprofit that has nurtured thousands of kids through year-round theater productions since 1999. From shy first-timers to confident leads, Marta shares how theater builds confidence, community, and creativity in youth aged 6 to 19. Discover how this beloved local program blends arts education with ...

Revolutionizing Symphony Behind the Baton with Michael Christie of New West Symphony

🎶 Join Paul Ward as he interviews Michael Christie, the innovative Music Director and Conductor of the New West Symphony! Discover how Michael is transforming the symphony experience by blending classical masterpieces with popular music, engaging diverse audiences, and fostering deep community connections.

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In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, we’re joined by Dave Drumright of the Camarillo Rotary Club to explore the long-standing tradition of the Hap Rapp Memorial Track Meet. Dave shares the inspiring story behind this unique community event, detailing how it has grown from its humble beginnings into a much-anticipated annual gathering that brings together athletes of all ages and skill levels. From the wide range of track ...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul visits the charming Cornell Wine Company and chats with local musician and event coordinator, Sierra Drummond. Sierra shares how she got her start organizing music nights at the venue, including open mic nights and featured artist events that spotlight both undiscovered local talent and internationally known musicians like Elliot Lurie, the songwriter of Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul sits down with Jackie Lapin, also known as The Historic Traveler, to explore the fascinating world of historic travel. Jackie shares the inspiration behind The Historic Traveler, a unique platform offering a historic book directory categorized by city and country, a hotel and Airbnb directory, travel discounts, and even a travel agent. She explains how to plan a trip using her pla...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul visits Cornell Wine Company in Agoura Hills, CA, to chat with owner and proprietor Matt Morris. Matt shares how his passion for wine led him to acquire the business and gives insight into the history of Cornell Wine Company and its neighbor, the historic Old Place Restaurant. He explains what it means to be a sommelier  /səməlˈyā/ and explores the unique character of Southern Cali...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, we take a trip to Old Town Calabasas, California, to visit Pedalers Fork, a one-of-a-kind establishment that blends a high-end bike boutique, a beer garden, a coffee shop, and a restaurant known for its “California Comfort” menu. Paul sits down with Gideon Kleinman, the general manager of Pedalers Fork, to explore the origins of this unique space and how it has become a community hub f...

In this episode, Paul Ward welcomes Mary Lingua, Program Director for Camarillo’s YES! Youth Empowerment Summit to discuss this inspiring event designed to uplift and educate high school students. Sponsored by the Camarillo Rotary Club, Mary shares how YES! provides a full day of interactive workshops focused on public speaking, ethics, team building, and diversity, helping students grow into confident leaders. Held on Saturday, Ma...

Join us for a special edition of On the Road with Paul Ward as we go behind the scenes near Pasadena, CA, to prepare for the iconic New Year’s Day Parade of Roses. Paul introduces Wade Nomura of the Carpinteria Rotary Club, who shares his insights about Rotary’s involvement in the parade, this year’s theme, “On the Road with Rotary,” and the fascinating float-building process. Discover how the floats are funded, meet the riders and...

In this episode, Paul sits down with Kevin Bone, co-owner of The Palms, a quirky and artistic desert destination in Wonder Valley, CA.. Kevin shares the fascinating journey that brought him and his wife, Laura, to this remote haven, about 15 miles east of Twentynine Palms off Hwy 62. From its origins tied to the Homestead Act of the 1950’s to its transformation into a vibrant hub for music, art, and community, The Palms has become ...

In this episode, we welcome Cesar Zavala and CeCe Adame of Service Master Restore to discuss their extensive experience in the restoration business and the vital services they provide. Cesar and CeCe share insights into the empathetic approach they take when helping individuals navigate challenging situations. We delve into the aftermath of the recent Mountain Fire in Ventura County, exploring the process of making homes habitable ...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul welcomes Dr. Laurie Marker, founder of the Cheetah Conservation Fund (CCF). Dr. Marker shares the inspiring story behind the creation of CCF, which began as an effort to prevent local farmers in Namibia, Africa, from killing cheetahs to protect their livestock. She describes how CCF became a model farm, implementing innovative solutions like the Livestock Guarding Dog program, whi...

In this episode of Farm Talk, Paul welcomes Elena Brokaw, The Barbara Barnard Smith Executive Director of The Ventura County Agriculture Museum. Elena shares the rich history of "The Mill" where the episode is filmed and provides an inside look into the museum, one of the largest agricultural museums in the country, housing thousands of artifacts. She highlights how the museum not only showcases farming equipment but also tells the...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, we sit down with Margarida Eidson from the Rotary Club of Ventura East to explore her journey with Rotary and the impact the organization has worldwide. Margarida shares how she first got involved and the key initiatives her chapter is working on, including Rotary's global mission to eradicate polio. We also learn about the autonomous structure of Rotary clubs, the variety of projects ...

In this exciting episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, we meet Mike Corridori, the visionary behind Tiny Porch Concerts. Mike shares the fascinating history of Peter Strauss Ranch, nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains, where the concerts take place. From its roaring '20s past, to becoming an amusement park with animals, to finally becoming an iconic music venue, this ranch is full of stories. Mike also recounts the 2019 Wolsey Fi...

In this episode of On the Road with Paul Ward, Paul sits down with Angel Echeverria from The Vince Street Veterans House to discuss the vital work being done to support military veterans in need of temporary housing. Established in 2016, the Vince Street Veterans House serves male veterans, providing them with a safe, supportive environment while they transition to permanent housing. Angel delves into the house's capacity, the pers...

In this episode of "On the Road with Paul Ward," Paul delves into the Ventura County Real Estate Market and its pricing trends over the past few years. He starts by presenting staggering statistics about the average cost of housing in Ventura County. Paul then discusses interest rates and compares the price per square foot of homes in Oxnard (Ventura County) versus Marina Del Rey (LA County). He offers insights into why people have...

In this special episode of Farm Talk, sponsored by petrx.com, we delve into an extraordinary wildlife conservation project with our esteemed guest, Beth Pratt, the California Regional Director of the National Wildlife Federation. Join us as we explore the groundbreaking animal crossing over highway 101 near Agoura Hills CA.  Beth shares the inspiring story of her "BFF" and the world-famous mountain lion, P-22, whose journey highlig...

Hey friends, it's Paul Ward here, and I just wanna let you know that we are rebranding our podcast. It's now called On the Road with Paul Ward. We'll be featuring stories about healthy living, culture, and community. And don't worry, about once a month, we'll still be doing a Farm Talk episode focused on the food we eat and the people who grow it. We hope you like the new format and the expanded focus. Be sure to hit the subscribe ...