District216 Chief Dreamer Jacob Tell joins Pecha Kucha Night Santa Barbara

Last week at Night Lizard Brewing Company on State Street in Santa Barbara a gathering of creatives, thinkers, and storytellers came together for a platform unlike any other: PechaKucha Night.

Originating in Japan, PechaKucha (Japanese for “chit-chat”) is a storytelling format that’s as challenging as it is captivating. Each speaker gets exactly 20 slides, shown for 20 seconds each, and the slides advance automatically. That’s 6 minutes and 40 seconds to deliver a compelling narrative — no more, no less.

The format forces presenters to distill their ideas down to their most essential, visual, and emotionally resonant core. It’s fast-paced, energetic, and beautifully concise — which is why it’s caught on in over 1,200 cities around the world.

🎥 Watch the Full Presentation Here:

This PechaKucha night was part local speaker series, part social experiment in storytelling brevity. A diverse lineup of presenters shared their passions and insights in front of a full house — with cold craft beers and warm applause fueling the vibe.

Our very own Jacob Tell, Chief Dreamer of District216, took the stage second and delivered a powerful, visually rich presentation titled “Normalizing Psychedelics with Conscious Community.”

In just under seven minutes, Jacob explored the cultural stigma around psychedelics, his own awakening through music and community, and how District216 is forging a new kind of social club — one rooted in connection, healing, and transformation. With stunning imagery and a deeply personal story arc, Jacob’s talk resonated strongly with the crowd. Several attendees shared that it was their first time hearing psychedelics talked about with such clarity, intention, and heart.

Some were so inspired they decided to attend the District216 Marquee Event later that weekend — a beautiful reminder that ideas shared with authenticity can ripple out into real-world impact.

Santa Barbara Talks Podcast: ‘Chief Dreamer’ Jacob Tell Explains Psychedelics, Cannabis and New Social Club

As read on Noozhawk:

Humanity is experiencing an inflection point in time.

So entrepreneur Jacob Tell has started District 216, a social club that focuses on four pillars:

Art, music, cannabis and psychedelics.

“These are burgeoning ecosystems,” Tell says. “We are in an inflection point in humanity. I personally have had incredibly potent experiences.”

Tell is the founder and “Chief Dreamer” of District 216, a social club at 216 E. Gutierrez St. where people can feel entertained and educated.

It’s a place where people can come together and share stories and information about the intersection of cannabis, psychedelics, art and music.

“It’s been a huge part of my interpersonal development throughout my life,” Tell said.

He said new research shows the benefits of psychedelics and the ways that using them have become more accepted.

“This ecosystem is turning into an industry,” Tell said. 

Tell has a long history in Santa Barbara. 

He was one of the founders of the “Lagoon District,” to acknowledge the growth of small businesses in the area. 

From a business perspective, he founded Oniracom, an e-commerce entertainment and media company with clients such as Jack Johnson.

During the pandemic, he also formed LoDo Studios, an arts and entertainment venue that hosts creators and entrepreneurs. 

District 216 includes its own manifesto, which states:

“Humans are in the midst of a confluence of paradigm shifts: political, technological, spiritual, and medical. The dogmatic systems that have ruled the land – dictating what to believe and how to behave on each of these fronts – are constraining our collective consciousness. Psychedelics are the key to break free from these old, ingrained patterns of thought.”

Tell, who said he grew up with “hippy” parents in Calabasas, said experiencing psychedelics has changed his world. 

“Essentially, it has given me a lot of objectivity,” Tell said. “It has allowed me to think differently and open my mind to different possibilities. It’s allowed me to feel more connected with the universe, with humanity, with our community.”

Jacob Tell launches LoDo Studios in Santa Barbara

BizHawk: LoDo Studios Steps Into the Spotlight in Santa Barbara

LoDo Studios owner Jacob Tell has opened a production and recording space at 216 E. Gutierrez St. in Santa Barbara. (Joshua Molina / Noozhawk photo)

BizHawk is published weekly, and includes items of interest to the business community. Share your business news, including employee announcements and personnel moves, by emailing news@noozhawk.com.

Lower downtown Santa Barbara is home to a new and creative venue.

Created by entrepreneur Jacob Tell, LoDo Studios offers full-scale production areas for photo and video shoots, as well as a professional recording studio for voiceovers and podcast content. 

Tell, owner of marketing agency Oniracom, lauched the business earlier this year. Coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies and nonprofit organizations were aching for a return to parties, gathering and special events. LoDo Studios offers the space in its urban outdoor area at 216 E. Gutierrez St. The event area encompasses about 5,000 square feet of usable space for events of any size.

Among the groups that have rented the venue include the Green Business Network, the Isla Vista Youth Projects, the Environmental Defense Center, Los Padres ForestWatch, the Santa Barbara Foundation and the Santa Barbara Solstice Parade. The space also has hosted music events for local record label We’Wey Records and Sofar Sounds and comedy nights in association with Don’t Tell Comedy, according to a news release. 

“Real estate comes at a premium in Santa Barbara, and small- and medium-sized businesses don't often have budgets that allow them a high-cost production or event space," Tell said. "Not only are we reasonably priced, but we have gear and talented team members ready to collaborate with Santa Barbara's community."

Tell said that before COVID-19 pandemic restrictions were lifted, nonprofit organizations were unable to run their in-person galas but still needed to raise their annual funds.

"They turned to livestream technology," Tell said, "and with our talented livestream team, we ended up hosting over 30 nonprofit fundraising livestream events from our studio space."

Tell created Oniracom, a digital marketing agency whose clients include singer-songwriter Jack Johnson, as well companies Spotify, AEG, NPR, Universal and others. 

The next big event at LoDo Studios is the Santa Barbara Solstice Foundation and its “Get on Board 2023” event on Oct. 15 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. The event is free and brings together local artists and community members.

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