We came hungry this week. 🍗

We’re hanging out with Richmond foodie, designer, and community advocate James Ford, the creative force behind @Just_Something_I_Ate and one of the people behind RVA Wing Wars.

James takes us all the way back to learning how to cook with his grandmother, Sunday dinners that brought the whole family together, and how food became one of his favorite ways to show love. We get into his background in architecture, how studying and traveling through France, Spain, Mozambique and beyond shaped the way he sees food and design, and how @Just_Something_I_Ate grew out of a desire to support Richmond restaurants during COVID.

Then, obviously, we talk WINGS. 🍗 James gives us the story behind RVA Wing Wars, what actually makes a great wing, what attendees can expect this year, and his Richmond picks for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We also talk about his work with Ronald McDonald House Charities, M4K and other local organizations — and why giving back is such an important part of what he does.

And because this is O Lala, things eventually go completely off the rails.

Big Daddy drops us into the increasingly weird world of AI: utopia, job loss, cyber warfare, super-intelligence, Neuralink and the minor question of whether humanity should be getting on a plane with a 20% chance of crashing. 🤖

PLUS: Octoberween, VMFA’s Art of Wine, RVA Wing Wars, Antonelli’s Deli, the return of Bottoms Up Pizza, Richmond food recommendations, the “Dirty Daddy Wing,” and enough food talk to guarantee you’ll be starving by the end.

Come hungry. Stay weird. And maybe be nice to the robots.

We’re turning up the volume this week with Richmond native and award-winning DJ Duffy! 🎧 We get into his unexpected journey from HVAC to becoming one of Virginia’s top DJs, the art of reading a dance floor, Richmond nightlife, mentoring the next generation of DJs, his friendship with DJ Kobe, wedding chaos, terrible song requests—and some truly WILD things he’s witnessed from behind the booth. 👀

Then Big Daddy drops it on us with the unwritten rules of international travel: weird laws, cultural taboos and tourist mistakes you definitely don’t want to learn the hard way. Naturally, that sends us down a rabbit hole of our own travel mishaps and some of the drunkest stories we probably shouldn’t be admitting publicly. 😂✈️

Plus, we’re getting hyped for IT’S DISCO, B*TCH! at Harry’s Library, sharing more events happening around RVA, spotlighting Pizzeria Dolores as our Business of the Week, teasing a Halloween collab with Aw Chucks, and ending on a heartfelt note as we say goodbye to our beloved Dungeon Dog, Boudreaux. ❤️

Basically: DJs, disco, travel disasters, Richmond happenings, pizza and the usual O Lala! chaos. 🪩🍕🎙️

Things are getting scrumptious on O Lala! In RVA. 🫒

This week, we’re joined by Robert Granados, founder of Richmond Olive Oil Co. and certified olive oil sommelier, to find out why the bottle of “extra virgin” olive oil sitting in your pantry might not be what you think it is.

Robert takes us inside the surprisingly wild world of olive oil — from learning how to properly taste and test it to uncovering just how adulterated the industry can be. We talk harvest dates, polyphenols, cooking with olive oil, proper storage, flavored oils and balsamics, and what you should actually look for when you're standing in the grocery store aisle.

Robert also shares the story behind Richmond Olive Oil Co.: discovering his passion for olive oil, starting small at local farmers markets, studying through the Olive Oil School of Tuscany, taking the leap into a brick-and-mortar Carytown shop, surviving the stress of opening day and building a loyal RVA following.

Plus, we get into his boxing background, entrepreneurship, going viral by simply being himself on Instagram, olive oil tasting classes, ice cream + olive oil (trust us 👀), his favorite flavor combinations and what could be next for Richmond Olive Oil Co.

Then, Big Daddy drops it on us with the surprisingly strict behind-the-scenes rules of Love Island. 🌴 From mock seasons and psychological testing to alcohol limits, banned naps, hidden condom supplies and the infamous “Voice of God,” apparently villa life is a LOT more regulated than it looks on TV.

We’re also talking upcoming RVA events, including the Water Lantern Festival, Happily Natural Festival, Virginia PrideFest and St. Benedict Oktoberfest — plus our Show of the Week.

🏆 Business of the Week: Richmond Olive Oil Co.

📍 Richmond Olive Oil Co. 3545 W. Cary Street, Richmond, VA

Instagram: @richmond_olive_oil

Facebook: @richmondoliveoil

Also in this episode: shoutouts to Richmond Animal League and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond. ❤️

Pour yourself a glass of wine, grab some bread and maybe go check the harvest date on that olive oil in your cabinet.

Listen now! 🎙️