Cristina Dennstedt sits down with restaurateur Jacopo Falleni, the owner behind Nonna in Westlake Village, CA and the recently opened Sette Sorelle in Newbury Park, CA.

Jacopo shares the story of his journey from Florence to New York and eventually California, and how those experiences shaped his approach to hospitality, leadership, and building community through restaurants.

Despite joking that his advice to entrepreneurs is “don’t open a restaurant,” Jacopo also reveals why the work becomes an addiction — and how his passion for growth, team culture, and storytelling has helped him build both successful restaurants and a strong social media presence.

In this conversation, Jacopo talks about the realities of restaurant ownership, the importance of relationships and resilience, and the drive that keeps entrepreneurs pushing forward even when the industry is challenging.

GET YOUR TICKETS: The 2nd annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders event will take place at Hub101 in Westlake Village on March 24. Get your tickets to the event here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-conejo-valley-visionaries-live-female-founders-series-tickets-1984436369601?aff=Jacapo

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Nonna here

Connect with Sette Sorelle 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.

If you’ve lived in the Conejo Valley for even a few years, chances are you’ve seen the work of today’s guest.

For nearly two decades, Kyle Jorrey helped shape local journalism as a reporter and later editor-in-chief of the Thousand Oaks Acorn, documenting the stories, challenges, and moments that define life in the Conejo Valley.

After 18 years in the newsroom, Kyle made a surprising pivot—first helping open the Boulevard location of Five07 Coffee Bar & Eatery, and more recently stepping into the nonprofit world as Executive Director of Hospice of the Conejo.

In this conversation, we explore:

• The power and responsibility of local storytelling

• What it was like covering the Conejo Valley for nearly two decades

• The courage it takes to reinvent your career

• How hospice work changes your perspective on community, service, and humanity

• Knowing when it’s time to turn the page to a new chapter

This episode is about purpose, community, and the people who quietly shape the places we call home.

GET YOUR TICKETS: The 2nd annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders event will take place at Hub101 in Westlake Village on March 24. Get your tickets to the event here https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2nd-annual-conejo-valley-visionaries-live-female-founders-series-tickets-1984436369601?aff=KylePodcastDescription

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

Have you ever caught yourself thinking, “This is going to be awful” before you even start? Whether it’s launching a new idea, growing your business, or something as simple as blow-drying your hair — negative self-talk has a way of sneaking in.

In this episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries, Cristina sits down with Erica Spiegelman — bestselling author, licensed substance abuse counselor, wellness coach, and Westlake Village resident — to talk about how we can actually change the way we speak to ourselves. Through her method, Rewired, Erica shares practical tools for reframing self-doubt, navigating sobriety and wellness shifts, and building a more intentional life.

From entrepreneurship to recovery to prison reform, Erica’s work proves that when you change your inner dialogue, you change everything. This conversation is grounding, honest, and filled with actionable takeaways.

GET YOUR TICKETS: DM @conejovalleyvisionaries on Instagram to get first access to tickets for our 2nd annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders event that will be held at Hub101 in March.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Erica Spiegelman ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

If you've ever had a business idea and wondered, okay, now what? This episode of Conejo Valley Visionaries is for you.

Host Cristina Dennstedt sits down with Kristin Bell and Desserin Pereyra, program manager and community manager respectively at Hub 101 in Westlake Village, CA where they support local startup founders.

We discuss the importance of validating an idea early, the hurdles almost every entrepreneur faces, from funding to customer acquisition, the power of community and entrepreneurship, and why mindset can be just as important as strategy.

Kristin and Desserin share practical tools for those of us aspiring to start a business on our own. It's a real conversation about resilience, mindset, and building something sustainable together.

GET YOUR TICKETS: DM @conejovalleyvisionaries on Instagram to get first access to tickets for our 2nd annual Conejo Valley Visionaries LIVE Female Founders event that will be held at Hub101 in March.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Hub101 ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

If you care about great coffee—and the kind of places that make you want to stay awhile—this episode is for you.

Today on Conejo Valley Visionaries, I’m sitting down with Gacia Tachejian, founder of Laidrey Coffee Roasters, with locations in the San Fernando Valley and Agoura Hills. We talk about what makes specialty coffee worth seeking out, how she’s built cafés that feel genuinely welcoming, and why her goal of five locations in five years is really about deepening local community—not just growing a brand.

Connect with Conejo Valley Visionaries ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Connect with Laidrey Coffee Roasters ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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.

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 Acupuncture ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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, two 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.