What happens when a fashion career no longer fits—and healing becomes the calling?

In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Alyson Flack, founder of Moon Phase Acupuncture in Thousand Oaks, to talk about the leap from fashion design to holistic health, and what it really takes to build a business rooted in purpose.

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please share it with a friend. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast, and that allows each story to reach more people.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Moon Phase Accupuncture ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Maria Galloway and Bronwyn Birk, co-founders of Viridian Art, a beloved art studio with locations in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills, California, explore what it really takes to make a career out of art — and how artists can step into entrepreneurship without losing their creative soul.

This conversation dives deep into art education, entrepreneurship, resilience, and believing in your vision, making it a must-listen for artists, founders, parents, and anyone curious about turning creativity into a sustainable career.

Topics covered:

• ​Artists and entrepreneurship
• ​Making a career out of art
• ​Building an art studio business• Art classes for kids and adults
• ​Teaching philosophy and creativity
• ​Community-focused small businesses
• ​Viridian Art in Woodland Hills and Agoura Hills
• ​

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please share it with a friend. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast, and that allows each story to reach more people.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Viridian Art ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Three Conejo Valley nonprofits are changing lives this holiday season — and their stories will inspire you. Todd Ross shares the story of A Very Merry Waffle Wednesday, a beloved holiday charity event supporting local causes. Stacy DeWitt highlights the mission of James Storehouse, which provides essential resources for foster youth and foster families. Linda & Len Krukowski discuss Sleep in Heavenly Peace, the volunteer-driven organization building and delivering beds for children in need throughout the Conejo Valley.

If you’re looking for Conejo Valley charities, local nonprofits, volunteer opportunities, foster youth support, or holiday giving inspiration, this episode delivers. Discover how grassroots leaders are strengthening the community and spreading joy during the holiday season.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with A Very Merry Waffle Wednesday here

Connect with James Storehouse here

Connect with Sleep in Heavenly Peace here

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

In this conversation, Lana shares her journey from aspiring soccer player to a dedicated stay-at-home mom, and eventually to a successful publisher of Dos Vientos Living and Westlake Village Living magazines in the Conejo Valley.

She reflects on the challenges of navigating life changes, including her divorce, and how those experiences led her to find purpose in publishing local stories. Lana emphasizes the importance of community connections and the role of local publications in fostering relationships among residents and businesses.

She offers insights into marketing and entrepreneurship, encouraging others to take small steps towards their goals while sharing her love for the Conejo Valley.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Lana Bluth ⁠here⁠

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Recorded live at Sunrose California Eatery in front of a packed house, I sit down with co-owner Marc Hernandez.

It is a candid, funny, and deeply inspiring conversation about the winding path that led him here — from his first job as a 16-year-old delivery driver at Brent’s Deli, to meeting his now-wife and business partner Carie while working there again after college, to navigating the highs, lows, risks, and reinventions that come with building a hospitality vision from scratch.

Marc shares the vulnerable moments that shaped him, the lessons learned along the way, and the heart behind Sunrose’s commitment to warm, unpretentious California dining. Whether you love food, entrepreneurship, or a good origin story, this episode is a reminder that the most meaningful journeys are rarely linear — and always worth it.

Tune in for laughter, honesty, and a behind-the-scenes look at the passion powering one of the Conejo Valley’s favorite restaurants.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Sunrose California Eatery here

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Can you imagine opening a brick-and-mortar retail store at the age of 22? Me neither. But that's what today's guest Timmy Heague did.

Timmy is the owner of Arsenal Comics & Games, a beloved comic book and gaming store serving Newbury Park and Ventura. Timmy shares the story of opening his first location at 22, utilizing the early days of social media to build it into a thriving local business, and how he's supported the Conejo Valley community - and vice versa - during challenging local events and personal hardships.

Timmy shares his take on:

• Growing a small business in Ventura County

• Engaging with the local comic and gaming community

• Leadership and business lessons from a successful entrepreneur

• Tips for other small business owners in Southern California

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a comic and gaming enthusiast, or interested in local Conejo Valley businesses, this conversation is packed with inspiration and actionable advice.

In this episode, we're thrilled to introduce our season five listener-nominated guest, Dr. Rachael Cappuccino, the owner of Cappuccino Physical Therapy in Thousand Oaks.

Rachael is a Conejo Valley native who never imagined owning her practice. But after giving birth to her second child, she set out to create her own schedule while supporting women of all ages with their pelvic floor health.

Join us as we explore her impactful work in women's health, her entrepreneurial journey, and the profound influence she's had on the Conejo Valley community.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Dr. Rachael Cappuccino ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠.

Where can you find John Edney when he’s not running Tarantula Hill Brewing Co. in Thousand Oaks? Morumbi Jiu Jitsu, Ragamuffin Coffee Roasters, and Bom Dia Acai!

The frontman of WDO also shares his favorite local bands, cocktail of choice, and go-to Conejo Valley sushi spot in this week’s episode of “Best of Conejo Valley."
Do you agree or disagree with these picks? Comment your thoughts!

This episode was produced by Cristina Dennstedt and Justin K. Sloan. Conejo Valley Visionaries is edited by Justin K. Sloan and ⁠J.Sloan Productions⁠. Thank you to videographer Andrea DeSantis .

If you enjoyed this episode and find value in the podcast, please leave us a five-star review and rating. This helps more folks in the Conejo Valley find the podcast and that allows each story to reach more people.

If you want to share your visionary story on the podcast, send an email to conejovalleyvisionaries@gmail.com - we are always open to guest nominations!