Archives: Events

The Beatles: Listen and Talk with Steven Schick
In 1963 the Beatles were a promising band just beginning to make a name for themselves.

By 1970 they had changed the face of popular music forever. Their metamorphosis is a story of musical genius and the uneasy dreams of an entire generation. Fifty years after “Please Please Me,” they still please us. Let’s listen together and talk about why.

Rhythmic Sounds
The rhythms of nature.  The beating of your heart, the rise and fall of the surf, the promise of a child drawing her first breath.  The world is full of meaningful, beautiful…and rhythmic…sounds.   Join Steven Schick—percussionist, conductor and author—as he explores the world of percussion rhythms and mindful listening.  Don’t worry!  This is still your vacation.  The performance will be gentle, evocative and will draw you into a world of pulses, sonic textures and musical gestures.  If you think you’ve heard everything there is to hear on a concert stage, then come take a listen to the percussionist that Alex Ross of “the New Yorker” called, “one of our supreme living virtuosos, not just of percussion, but of any instrument.” It will music for both the ears and the heart.

Percussionist, conductor, and author Steven Schick, hailed by Alex Ross in the New Yorker as, “one of our supreme living virtuosos, not just of percussion but of any instrument,” has championed contemporary percussion music by commissioning or premiering more than one hundred-fifty new works. Steven Schick is artistic director of the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus and the San Francisco Contemporary Music Players. As a conductor, he has appeared with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, the Milwaukee Symphony, Ensemble Modern, the International Contemporary Ensemble, and the Asko/Schönberg Ensemble.   He is the curator of, and was most recently conductor and percussion soloist in, “It’s About Time,” a festival of the San Diego Symphony held in January of 2018. Schick’s publications include a book, The Percussionist’s Art: Same Bed, Different Dreams, and many articles. He has released numerous recordings including the 2010 “Percussion Works of Iannis Xenakis,” and its companion, “The Complete Early Percussion Works of Karlheinz Stockhausen” in 2014.  He received the “Diapason d’Or” as conductor (Xenakis Ensemble Music with ICE) and the Deutscheschallplattenkritikpreis, as percussionist (Stockhausen), each for the best new music release of 2015.  He was inducted into the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 2014.  Steven Schick is Distinguished Professor of Music and holds the Reed Family Presidential Chair at the University of California, San Diego. He was music director of the 2015 Ojai Festival, and in 2017, the co-artistic director, with Claire Chase, of the Summer Music Program at the Banff Centre.   In 2018 Schick became the Artistic Director of the Breckenridge Music Festival.

A Perfect Lifestyle:  Food, Wine, Sex and Chocolate:
An overview talk covering a wide range of lifestyle issues, including dietary patterns, obesity and its management, exercise, marriage, childbearing, pets, television, sleep, candy including chocolate, and success in life.  The most extensive and important part of the talk deals with diets, ranging from veganism to ketogenic, and drink.  All these areas are approached from a rigorous scientific viewpoint, with an emphasis on how each factor affects disease and longevity.  The talk concludes with a table of exactly how much life is gained or lost by simple lifestyle choices we make every day.

Shopping for Food: Label Lies and Nutritional Information
It would be best if we bought only foods in their original form, but the time constraints of current life often force people to buy packaged foods.  Unfortunately, packaged food labels frequently contain lies and misleading information.  Even nutritional labels can be misleading.  A can of spray cooking oil may say that it contains no fat, when in fact the product is 100% fat.  This talk covers the most common labeling misinformation and teaches exactly how to pick healthy packaged foods using simple approaches to the interpretation of nutritional listings.

Exercise from Move-it to Marathons
After a healthy diet, physical activity is the easiest and least expensive way to increase longevity and prevent heart disease and dementia.  Beneficial physical activity ranges from walking stairs to running marathons.  This talk discusses the myriad physical and emotional benefits of all levels of physical activity, as well as the occasional adverse effects of excessive activities, such as marathon running.  Our national guidelines on physical activity including aerobic, resistive, and balance exercises is discussed with an emphasis on just how to receive the greatest benefit.

Food for Thought: How to Stave Off Alzheimer’s and other Neurodegenerative Diseases Dementia, most commonly Alzheimer’s Disease, affects one in 14 people over 65 years of age and one in six over 80.  It is the most feared illness in older individuals.  It is also at least partly preventable.  The basic medical rule is that what is good for the heart is also good for the head.  This talk describes the most frequent types of dementia and other neurocognitive diseases and discusses how they are likely to present.  The value of a healthy diet and physical and cognitive exercise in preventing these diseases, amounting to at least a 50% reduction, is summarized in this talk.

Robert Vogel, M.D. is a preventive cardiologist and Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado Denver.  He received his B.A. from Columbia University (physics) and M.D. from Yale University.  He served on the faculties of the Universities of Colorado, Michigan, and Maryland, the latter as Director of Cardiology.  Dr. Vogel has investigated how to prevent coronary heart disease for more than 40 years.  He has authored two books and more than 250 scientific publications.  Dr. Vogel lectures frequently to physicians on lifestyle and heart disease prevention.  He has received a Good Housekeeping Magazine’s “Best Doctors in America” designation, a Federal Scientist of the Year Award, and has been President of the Association of University Cardiologists.  Dr. Vogel currently serves on the NFL Medical Committee and as a consultant to the Pritikin Longevity Institute.

Explore Rancho La Puerta’s Night Sky
The dark skies at the Ranch provide a fabulous opportunity for seeing the wonders of winter such as the Milky Way, Andromeda Galaxy, Great Nebula in Orion, and more! Participate in another magical part of the Ranch experience. You will never look at the night sky the same way again.

Star Gazing Evenings
Observe with the naked eye, binoculars, and telescope. Please sign up in the Lounge.

John Scott Marrone has over 30 years-experience teaching in the New York area. In addition to Astronomy, Scott teaches Forensics, Environmental Studies and Oceanography. He has been recognized by Ciba-Geigy Corporation for work in promoting science literacy and received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award in 2007 from Manhattan College. In February 1998, Scott was invited by the Aruban Government to substitute for astronomer Jay Pasachoff to lead the observing of the total solar eclipse.  Most recently, Scott led the public observing session on Mauna Kea and in 2017 traveled to Wyoming with a group to view the total solar eclipse.

Local Plantlore: Traditional Uses of Native Plants of the Rancho La Puerta Region Nature Walk

Anthropologist Michael

has developed lifelong collaborative relationships with native artists and traditional authorities to foster cultural revitalization and sustainable community development. Wilken’s fascination with native plants and the natural landscapes of the Californias has inspired him to explore the many ways that humans have interacted with their environments, from the ancient past, into the present. Mike is the author of Kumeyaay Ethnobotany: Shared Heritage of the Californias.

Laughter (& Chocolate) Is the Best Medicine!
The importance of humor and laughter in daily life has been underestimated. The health consequences of humor can now be measured, and the true value recognized. While humor and laughter can be of great benefit to the one enjoying it, it can be a double-edged sword and also cause pain and suffering if the humor is at the expense of another. Particularly in a community, workplace, or family, the encouragement and use of humor requires sensitivity and guidance. This program offers insight into optimizing the benefits of humor and laughter, and as a tasteful bonus, the health benefits and joy of chocolate.

Quest for Immortality
An informative and entertaining program on the rapidly advancing field of age management with precision and preventive medicine. It offers a clear understanding of the advances and breakthroughs that are redefining our expectations of longevity and vitality. In addition to valuable and practical information, the program encourages and motivates the embrace of a healthy living and wellness philosophy.

Joseph B. Weiss, MD, FACP, FACG, AGAF is Clinical Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology) at the University of California, San Diego. He graduated from the Wayne State University School of Medicine, completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the University of California at Irvine, and did his  clinical and research fellowship in Gastroenterology at the University of California, San Diego. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology. Under the auspices of the World Health Organization and others he has pursued interests in Tropical and International Medicine and Public Health with stays in Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. Dr. Weiss is also an accomplished humorist, professional speaker and the author of many acclaimed books on the topics of health, wellness, digestion and nutrition ( “To Air is Human”, “Got Guts: A Guide to Prevent and Beat Colon Cancer”, “Artsy Fartsy”, “A Digest on Digestion”, “The Scoop on Poop”, and more at www.smartaskbooks.com) . He has presented at international conferences, universities, medical centers, Fortune 500 companies, YPO/WPO, Bohemian Grove, Esalen, Aspen Brain Forum and international spas and resorts. He has co-hosted a popular health radio talk show, “Health News and Views” and truly enjoys educating and entertaining his audiences!

The Mission Walker Story
Under siege from relentless stage 4 cancer and after losing her right lung, Edie Littlefield Sundby became the first person in history to walk the entire 1,600-mile El Camino Real de las Californias mission trail through the mountain wilderness of Baja California Mexico – and one of the hottest, driest deserts on earth – to Northern California.  She experienced desert heat and cold, walls of cactus, sleeplessness, hunger, both physical and spiritual exhaustion, the dangers of wild creatures, and encounters with drug smugglers – and weeks with no water other than what a pack mule could carry.  The Mission Walker is her first-hand account of the experience and struggles she endured, and the inspiration drawn from the old unmapped Spanish mission trail.  Her story is both an adventure story and a reflection on the universal experience of confronting our own mortality. It is a story of what we will do when faced with the potential end of our life. What do we do with our time left on Earth.  And how much do we still really, truly want to live.

Walking A Thousand Miles… Who’s done it, Why did they do it, How did they do it?… and How can YOU do it?

Edie Littlefield Sundby is the author of The Mission Walker, published by Thomas Nelson/HarperCollins and a 2018 Audie Award Finalist for Best Inspiration Book.  Edie’s essays have appeared in the New York Times and Wall Street Journal. You can connect with her at www.themissionwalker.com and Facebook: The Mission Walker.

Getting Back Your Power by Changing One Word
What if instead of thinking that everything was happening to you, you believed everything was happening for you? How would that one-word switch impact how you think about your past and your future? Let’s talk about the power of changing one word.

Making A List + Checking It Twice — focusing on what’s going right vs. wrong
Does it sometimes feel like it’s easier to create the list of all the things that are going wrong versus all the things going right? How about when it comes to thinking about yourself? Is your list of critics easier to come by than your list of compliments? Let’s have fun making some new lists.

Listening for the First Time
Have you made assumptions about others, or even about yourself, based on past experiences? What would happen if you actually showed up to conversations with friends, co-workers, and even yourself (!) with the willingness to listen for the first time? What fun it is to learn something new about yourself or others.

You Get to Start Again- give yourself a fresh start
Your life story hasn’t been written, it’s being written by you, the author! Find the freedom that comes from recognizing the stories you’ve written about yourself that aren’t welcoming growth, evolution, and progress. Break some patterns and come write a new story!

No is a Complete Sentence
When we take on new behaviors and start making new choices that support the best version of ourselves, not everyone around us likes all the “newness”. They may want us to go back and do things how we used to do. Learn how to establish boundaries, advocate for yourself, and understand that “no” can truly be a complete sentence.

In 2009, Sarah Hernholm left her elementary school teaching days and launched WIT – Whatever It Takes. Ten years later, WIT provides teen-only hackathons and is the only college-credit social entrepreneur and leadership course for high school teens in the country. In addition, the 11 Tips for Doing WIT are now used in organizations, companies, school districts, parent groups, and households. Along the way, she has delivered three TEDx talks, keynotes, and a commencement address. While not everyone will be an entrepreneur and launch a business, Sarah believes everyone can develop an entrepreneurial mindset.