Amanda Longan, a goalie for the US women’s national water polo team, stops by to share her memories of winning gold in the 2020 Tokyo Games. A graduate of Oaks Christian High School and USC, the Moorpark resident discusses her drive to succeed and why she’s so interested in the mental health aspect of competitive sports, plus her love for God and helping others. Background:A golden opportunityBranching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingout@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Branching Out with The Acorn Newspapers

Golden Touch: Local Olympian Visits With Branching Out

Recorded in front of a live audience Oct. 7, 2021, at Oak & Iron, Branching Out host Kyle Jorrey speaks to four Thousand Oaks entrepreneurs about what can be done to improve nightlife in the city and boost efforts to make T.O. Boulevard a shopping/dining/drinking destination. Our guests: Drew Pletcher of Oak & Iron, Amber and Sean of of Five07 Coffee Bar and Eatery and Brittany Brouhard of Naughty Pine Brewery.  Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingout@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

T.O. After Dark

In the wake of an attention-grabbing new report by the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, atmosphere research scientist Benjamin Hatchett of the Desert Research Institute joins Branching Out to talk about a 2019 study he worked on detailing the warming climate in Ventura County.Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingout@theacorn.comFollow Allison M.SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Ventura County’s Climate Problem

Moorpark Acorn editor Dan Wolowicz joins Branching Out to break down how the paper&apos;s big Kanye West scoop came together. Plus, Thousand Oaks Acorn reporter Dawn Megli discusses her recent piece in Poynter about the mental health trauma that can come with reporting on local tragedies.Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingout@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)Support the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Kanye West Looks To East County For School

Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Camarillo) joins Branching Out to talk on a range of subjects, including the failed recall of the governor and what comes next, her votes on housing bills SB 9 and 10, the pandemic failings of EDD and the state&apos;s approach to vaccines. Plus, Irwin, chair of the legislature&apos;s special committee on cybersecurity,  discusses the latest high-profile hacks and what businesses large and small can do to shield themselves from digital thieves.Cybersecurity tips Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingout@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

State of Affairs: An interview with Jacqui Irwin

Reporter Makena Huey makes her Branching Out debut to discuss her latest stories for the Moorpark Acorn, including one detailing how a pedestrian bridge came to be named for an 11-year-old drowning victim. Plus, a profile of a local interfaith group working to provide much-needed goods to refugees arriving from Afghanistan.  To contribute, go here.Background:&apos;Because of Joel:’ Pedestrian bridge renamed for Moorpark boyWomen’s Interfaith Network works to help resettle refugeesBranching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingout@theacorn.com@kylebjorrey, @MakenaHueySUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

How Joel Burchfield Bridge Came To Be

Brooke Lafferty joins  Branching Out to discuss the subject of her inspiring story in the latest edition of Beyond the Acorn, just released last week. Plus, Acorn sports editor Eliav Appelbaum drops by to share his experience reporting on a beloved local softball coach lost to complications from the coronavirus. Background:Dancing with our future stars‘A fun-loving and great guy’Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.com@kylebjorrey, @allisonmontroy@EliavAppelbaum, @brookestanley_SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Inspiration in Tough Times

Branching Out hosts Kyle Jorrey and Ian Bradley discuss the latest development in the Rebecca Grossman saga: the Iskander family civil lawsuits. Filed by the parents of brothers Mark and Jacob Iskander, who were killed in 2020 while in a crosswalk in Westlake Village, the complaints target both Grossman and the man she was allegedly racing with, as well as multiple government agencies the family feel are responsible for not fixing the crosswalk years earlier. Plus, we hear what&apos;s next for Ian, who is leaving the Acorn to pursue a career in Nashville.Background:Iskander lawsuit: alcohol, racing fueled collision that killed young brothers Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.com@kylebjorrey, @ian_reportsSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Oak & Iron craft cocktail barOn Twitter and Instagram2967 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 630-1638Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)Support the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Iskander family files suit

With area students returning in droves, Victor Hayek, deputy superintendent for the Conejo Valley Unified School District, sits down with Branching Out to share his life story and talk a little bit about how school funding looks on the heels of Gov.  Newsom&apos;s $123-billion budget for education.BackgroundDistrict’s finance chief escaped war as child, served 6 years as Jersey copBranching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.com@kylebjorrey, @reporterdawnSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Tarantula Hill Brewing CompanyOn Facebook and Instagram244 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 538-1191Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Dollars and Sense: Talking public ed funding with CVUSD finance chief

Camarillo Acorn reporter Alex Wilson joins Branching Out to break down some of the biggest stories coming from the other side of the Conejo Grade. Among them: how a rapidly expanding cannabis company plans to turn a Ventura County tomato operation into the  largest marijuana greenhouse in the world. Plus, separating fact from fiction when it comes to rumors about online retail giant Amazon and the Camarillo Airport.Supporting links:486 workers to lose jobs as tomato-growing facility switches to cannabisAirport, Amazon officials say rumors are untrueAirports chief taking offCloudNine builder dispels 737 rumorsChannel Islands flights fading into sunsetCAT riders counting trips to save dollarsBranching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Tarantula Hill Brewing CompanyOn Facebook and Instagram244 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 538-1191Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Amazon and the Camarillo Airport: What gives?

Branching Out is joined by Timmy Heague, a local entrepreneur who owns and operates two comic book stores, to talk about how the collectibles industry took off during the pandemic and the ups and downs of being a small-business owner. Plus Ian and Kyle update the audience on two COVID-related stories we&apos;ve been tracking. Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.comArsenal Comics & Games1610-1 Newbury Rd, Newbury Park3431 Telegraph Rd, VenturaFacebookDetails on Free Comic Book Day: Free comics? For one day a year, yesSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Tarantula Hill Brewing CompanyOn Facebook and Instagram244 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 538-1191Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Comics & COVID: How a local shop managed to thrive

In the second of a two-part series, reporter Dawn Megli talks with former city council candidate Danny Chulack, a local clergy member who only recently came out as gay.Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Tarantula Hill Brewing CompanyOn Facebook and Instagram244 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 538-1191Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Faithfully LGBTQ: Being Gay and Loving God

In the first of a two-part series, Reporter Dawn Megli speaks with Lilly Berry about her journey to becoming a woman. Berry, an army veteran, talks about her youth in the community, her time serving in Iraq, and what life has been like since she began to transition, including how her relationships with her family and her wife have changed, and how those connections have, in some cases, grown stronger.Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Tarantula Hill Brewing CompanyOn Facebook and Instagram244 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks(805) 538-1191Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)Support the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Transgender Journey: A Story of Becoming Pt. 1

Over the course of three hours at last week&apos;s Agoura Hills City Council meeting, members of the public shared a variety of opinions about why the city should drop it&apos;s recently filed criminal charges against Cronies Sports Grill.The city  alleges the establishment has created and maintained a public nuisance since the owners chose to disregard county and public health orders last December. The charges are just the latest challenge facing the eatery--the county has pulled their health permit and they may yet lose their liquor license. The sports grill&apos;s owners took to social media to rally their supporters to show up at the most recent meeting and implore the council to drop the case.An unexpected wrinkle in the story--the public comments may have exposed illegal activity by the city&apos;s mayor, whom fellow council members alleged shared sensitive city information with the owners of Cronies. Read the Acorn&apos;s latest:https://www.theacorn.com/articles/lawsuit-filed-against-cronies/Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

Cronies is Back on the Menu

On this week&apos;s episode Ian sits down with Ray Pearl, the executive director of the California Housing Consortium and a member of the Westlake Village City Council about the state&apos;s push to add more housing.Pearl discusses how a city like Westlake Village, which has no more undeveloped land to build on, can meet their state-prescribed housing numbers, and how they maintain their small-town feel while doing so.Follow Ian Bradley on Twitter @Ian_reports.Branching OutFind us on TwitterEmail us at branchingoutpod@theacorn.comSUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!Maid in America HousecleaningCall for a free estimate! (805) 499-7259MaidInAmericaOnline.comSupport the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)Support the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)Support the show (https://www.theacorn.com/subscribe/)

The Housing Conversation

Branching Out is a weekly podcast expanding on the stories published in the Acorn Newspapers. Reporters and editors will discuss the impact of the stories they report and delve deeper into the issues affecting their communities.The Acorn Newspapers cover the communities of Calabasas, Agoura Hills, Westlake Village, Thousand Oaks, Camarillo, Simi Valley and Moorpark.

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Branching Out with The Acorn Newspapers

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