Turning the Page: How the 30th Annual Ojai Storytelling Festival (Oct 23-26) Reconnects a Community Through Story — with Executive Director Kara Martin Lakes and Master Teller Regi Carpenter

SPECIAL EPISODE:This week, we dive into the heart of storytelling and community as we gear up for the 30th annual Ojai Storytelling Festival, taking place this Thursday through Sunday (October 23-26) in the beautiful Ojai Valley. I’m joined by two remarkable voices behind the festival: Kara Martin Lakes, the Executive & Artistic Director of Performances To Grow On, which produces the Festival; and Regi Carpenter, internationally acclaimed storyteller and master of ceremonies for the weekend.What we talk aboutKara walks us through this year’s schedule — community-free events, workshops, the iconic Sunset Soirée celebration, the Story Slam, and how the festival is being brought into the heart of the town. Ojai Story Fest+2Ojai Story Fest+2Regi reflects on what it means to tell a story — and to hear one — in our modern age, and why the spoken word still has the power to move, to heal, and to connect. Ojai Story Fest+2Ojai Story Fest+2A candid conversation about facing financial hurdles: how the Festival is navigating the loss of a key $25,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), and what it says about sustaining arts in a small town in today’s environment.How the Festival is intentionally reaching into the community — schools, youth outreach, inclusive programming — and why Ojai is the perfect place for this kind of gathering. ojaiwomensfund.org+1A moving (and hilarious) moment from Regi: a story about her mother buying a piano — how a seemingly simple act became a rich metaphor for memory, legacy, and resilience.Tips for listeners: how to get the most out of this year’s festival, whether you’re coming for one show or planning a whole-weekend pass.And: Why you might consider adding a story to your toolbox — not only as a listener but as a teller.Why this mattersThe Ojai Storytelling Festival isn’t just another arts event. It’s a gathering where stories live out loud under the oaks, where children in our valley hear voices from around the world, and where the tradition of the spoken word reminds us that despite technology, despite the hustle, what really brings us together is story. The Santa Barbara IndependentListen in ifYou’re curious about the behind-the-scenes of a 30-year-old festival.You’ve ever wondered how arts organizations survive budget setbacks and keep community alive.You love storytelling or want to start telling your own.You’re local — or thinking of making the drive to Ojai — and want a preview of what to expect.