Laguna Talks

Join host Billy Fried for an in-depth conversation with Laguna Beach City Manager Dave Kiff as he discusses the city's financial challenges, innovative solutions like becoming a charter city, and his vision for sustainable growth. From parking enforcement automation to cannabis revenue potential, Kiff shares candid insights about managing one of California's most unique coastal communities while balancing preservation with progress.

Mayor Mark Orgil joins host Billy Fried to discuss Laguna Beach's strategic priorities for 2026, including the potential transition to a charter city, revenue challenges with flat tourism income, and critical infrastructure needs. The conversation covers everything from cannabis dispensary possibilities to Mission Hospital's planned closure, offering residents insight into the city's decision-making process and future planning.

City Councilwoman Sue Kempf joins host Billy Fried for an in-depth discussion about Laguna Beach's current projects and future priorities. From the exciting promenade construction beginning today to fire safety initiatives and economic challenges, Sue provides insider insights into the city's operations and her vision for maintaining Laguna's unique character while addressing modern challenges.

On this episode I speak with Newth Morris, Laguna resident, Entrepreneur, Venture Capatilist and family man. Newth is a passionate advocate for education reform in Laguna through the FUEL (Families Unified for Education in Laguna) organization. 

Lindsay Spindle is the Board Director and President of the Samueli Family Philanthropies, which gifted $11 million this year to over 100 Orange County mom-profit. Lindsay talks about the process and impacts made to Orange County. 

Laguna Talks open with our monthy check in with 5th District County Supervisor Katrina Foley, followed by musician, composer and multi-instrumentalist Matt Costa, talking about the past weekend's Coast Film Festival, his set at the Irvine Bowl, and his jam with Jack Johnson and friends. 

Jiake is an entrepreneur who founded Outer Furniture in 2019 to create a new brand in outdoor living spaces. He shares his origin story as an immigrant growing up in Alabama who moved to Silicon Beach (Santa Monica) and began his start-up career. 

Our monthly convo and update with Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, on what the County is doing to improve the quality of life for its residents. 

County Supervisor Katrina Foley gives her monthly update on County news and improvements, followed by new Sound Spectrum owner James Wilcox talking about the reopening of our iconic record store. 

Host Billy spends the hour talking City news and developments

John is a longtime Ad Agency veteran Creative Director who developed the iconic Radical Origins film series for Laguna's Visitors Bureau. He loves Laguna so much he left his day job to take the role of Chief Stewardship Officer to help the Visitors Bureau redirect their message to visitors on responsible behavior to help mitigate the problems that occur from over-tourism. He describes his mission here. 

Mike is one of the partners of this iconic locals hangout that is poised to reopen. Mike tells us of all the barriers the city had imposed. 

Veteran Artists Jorg Dubin and Louis Longi discuss how to bring back creative vitality to Laguna. 

Diane Armitage is a nationally renown restaurant consultant and a gives us a rundown of the restautrant scene here in Laguna. 

Fire Chief Niko King updates us with fire safety after the devastating LA fires

Hans "No Way" Rey is a legendary mounatin bike who began as a trials rider in Europe, and later moved to America to take up mounatin biking. Over his 40 year career he's become one of most influential athletes in the sport. 

Denise DiNovi is a Hollywood Producer who grew up in Laguna Beach, and still calls it home. Denise shares her favorite songs from her youth, and how they impacted her life. 

Writer and podcast host of "Writers on Writing" and writer, political activist and PR consultant Barbara McMurray joined us on Takeover week to share their thoughts on the election, and life in Laguna. 

You may know him as the developer of cutting edge retail properties The Camp, The Lab, and the Packing House, but recently Shaheen retruned to his chilhood love of music, and spent much of the pandemic writing songs.Today he debuted several of them from his brand new album, a mix of ethereal world music inspired during his sabbatical in Croatia and Turkey. 

Laguna Beach Fire Chief spends the hour talking about his fire and emergency services career, and fire safety issues in Laguna Beach.

3 term Councilman Whalen is running for a 4th term. Here's his platform.

Animal Rights Activist Judie Mancuso is running for Laguna Beach City Council

Hallie is the former Executive Director of Laguna Canyon Foundation and is running for Laguna Beach City Council

Alex is the youngest person ever elected to the Laguna Beach City Council. But don't judge this ambitious public servant by his age. Alex talks about his first few months on Council, and the projects he is passionate about.

Laguna Talks with Connor Johnston and Nima Alipour, co-sponsors of the new Laguna Beach Ballot Initiative to bring a legal cannabis dispensary to Laguna.

Steve formed his iconic Southern California band Honk in 1970 and 51 years later is still playing (on occasion), along with his wife, Beth. They recently played the Coach House to a rousing ovation. Steve also scored 30 MacGillivray Freeman IMAX films, opened a martial arts studio in Irvine, plays with the Laguna super band 133, and is a great storyteller. We went well over the allotted 1 hour for this interview.

Ex Laguna Mayor Paul Freeman doesn't hold back in his assessment of what has gone wrong with the remodel and restoration of Hotel Laguna.

Meet Jonathan Tufano, my predecessor here at KX radio with the weekly 6pm show "Deep Cuts." Jonathan is also an e-commerce specialist and cannabis entrepreneur who divulges the state of the industry.

Doug is the author of The Sprout Book, a comprehensive guide to sprouting at home and improving your health and wellbeing through these wildly nutritious foods.

Wendy & Ronny Barry lost their teenage sons tragically 24 years ago, but as Tibetan Buddhists they believed their boys would be reborn. Through an arduous search for clues, and adherence to Buddhist doctrine, they found them reincarnated as a girl in Florida, and a boy in India. And spent the next couple of decades being a positive force in their new children's lives. They just published a book based on their journey, "From One Life to the Next." This is their remarkable story.

Ariel is a producer and actress starring in MacGillivray-Freeman's latest IMAX film, "Into America's Wild." An indigenous Native American from Alaska, Ariel's family became the focus of Discovery Channel series, "Flying Wild in Alaska." She now wants to turn her focus on Laguna and develop content here.

Shohreh Dupuis is the Assistant City Manager of Laguna Beach. Her long career in city government has brought her to the city she loves. Shohreh shares the things she's most proud of, and the big challenges ahead.

Homegrown talent Lindsay Rosales is the chef / owner of Nirvana Grille. During the early days of the pandemic she noticed many grocery shelves were bare. So she leapt into action, launching a food co-op where she brought food to the community through her suppliers. Now she is helping a longtime customer with a apple / pear farm who cannot harvest his fruit because of the shutdown. So Lindsay sprang into action again and is now bringing his fruit to the community - a win/win for all.

Brotherhood of Eternal Love member Ronnie Bevan was one of the most prodigious smugglers of Afghanistan hashish in the 60's and 70's. His breathtaking exploits are detailed in his memoir Brotherhood Hashish. Ronnie and his loving wife (and sometimes accomplice) Wendy joined us for a lively conversation on smuggling, LSD, the real Brotherhood (correcting many of the myths), and their storied time in Laguna Beach.

Laguna's most prominent multi-media artist Jorg Dubin is known for his broad array of sculpture, metal works, ceramics, pottery and painting. Never one to shy away from political statements, Jorg was recently invited to submit works for a pandemic related art commission. He we discuss the unusual results, and the state of art in Laguna.

Billy Fried interviews Congressman Harley Rouda live on the Promenade for a special episode of Laguna Talks.

Hans "No Way" Rey is a renowned international mountain biking legend who calls Laguna home. He discusses the recent influx of riders on our local trails and what the city can do to make it safer and better for all stakeholders.

Councilwoman Sue Kempf is the architect of the Forest Avenue Promenade, the temporary closure of our "Main St" to cars. She discuses how it all got done, and what we hope to achieve for the town.

He built nearly 50 homes during the sixties in Laguna. Meet master mid-century architect and builder Lamont, still practicing into his 90's.

Billy starts off the year with a solo rant – and some funk yinterludes.

Ilona Martin was a Lost Child during World War 2, grew up in orphanages, and came to America alone to study journalism. From there she took a succession of jobs, finally landing in Orange County with a thriving clothing manufacturing business. This is her story.

First term Assembly woman Cottie is making incredible things happen for her 74th district, including fire mitigation, student loan forgiveness, coastal defense over rising tides, addressing homelessness, and helping us get a desalinization plant in Dana Point. Fina out everything she's up to.

Activist Rita Conn joins us to promote the "Light the Way for Change" (to create a kinder, gentler world) event on May 19 (needed now more than ever). Followed by artist Bella Longi, daughter of Louis, on her 10 year odyssey to see her dad's dream of an artist live/work complex come to fruition.

Three female cannabis advocates join us to discuss how it has helped their patients with life threatening illnesses. Our guests include Caroline Rustigan-Bruderer of K-Line & Company, plus Earth Alchemy founders and partners Justine Amodeo and Suzanne deCarion

Toll Road activists Michelle Schumacher, Pete Van Nuys and Kathy Ward (San Clemente council woman) discuss the festering problems with the Transportation Corridors Agency and the pressing need to abolish it.

Chris Prelitz is a green builder, founder/President of Transition Laguna, and a leader in the green movement. Here are his ideas to make Laguna greener.

He's the talk of the town with his ambitious plans to re-open Hotel Laguna, re-imagine the Holiday Inn and Royal Hawaiian, and quite miraculously re-open the movie theater. Meet Mo Honarkar.

Mayor Bob Whalen joins us for a "State of the City Talk"