Studio City Now

I recently spoke with actor/writer/producer Michael Levine. We spoke about his newest projects, and his production company.

His website is

monkeymanproductions.com

He's got a story to tell.

You will like what you hear :)

I had the pleasure of speaking with Harley Wallen recently, and we had a lot of fun talking, looking at our animal pictures (he's got a dog that looks like mine! and he has cats), and learning about his newest project, Ash and Bone, now available on VUDU and how he got into entertainment. His bio is below:

Harley is a multi award-winner and has starred in over 40 feature films and TV shows with legendary stars such as Tom Sizemore, Tara Reed and John Savage among many others.
He started his journey as a Martial Artist early with Judo at age 7 and is now a 5th degree black belt. Harley also spent time learning other arts (Jiu-Jitsu, Tae Kwon - Do black-belts as well) and Mixed Martial Arts. His other love at a young age was dance as he was an outstanding break dancer in his teen years. His sheer talent and skill is what landed him his first opportunity in acting as a dancer at the syndicated Swedish TV cult hit 'Solstollarna'! Soon after, he realized he was bitten by the acting bug.

Harley then moved from Sweden to the United States to boldly pursue his dreams. After a short stint these plans got sidetracked by business opportunities as Harley climbed various career ladders.

After returning to acting, it wasn't long before the roles started coming and the growth he had experienced in the business world started happening to him in the acting world. After the film incentives ended in Michigan, he decided to start making films of his own. Not having a film school background with only limited experience, he decided to go online to further his education in filmmaking and took several more classes and seminars in acting. Finally in 2016 Harley and his wife Kaiti formed the film production company 'Painted Creek Productions'. The one thing he really takes pride in is his commitment to the character he is playing regardless the size of the role or the paycheck. Harley is now writing, producing, acting and directing and has found his life's purpose. 

Harley can be found on IMDB, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Mirav and three of her protégés and they have a story.

Jane – Lives in England

Jola – Lives in New Jersey, originally from Poland

Tasha – Lives in New Orleans

Jane Anderson, whose book “Growing up on a Farm” will be released in May 2023.  It details her life growing up, the hardships, etc. 

Jola, currently living in New Jersey just published “From Impossible to I’m Possible”, written in 4 days!  It is now a best seller. Her website is: coachingjourneywithjola.com

Tasha, a former speech pathologist, currently lives in New Orleans. Tasha has lived in Dubai, New York and other areas.

And – of course – Mirav, who arranged this get together.

All three ladies are on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn. 

You will have to listen to get all their details.

We had a lot of fun talking. It felt like everyone was at the dining table, sipping wine and just having a great time being together.  And we did! 

Our plan is to meet in New York, go out for cocktails and do the town. 

Come join us on the journey, and have fun listening to the podcast!

I recently spoke to Sarah Fast – and she’s got a story - several stories!  She recently published her 3rd book, which is available on Amazon.

Sarah’s career started with a degree in psychology and criminal justice.  She worked in a juvenile facility and we spoke about some of her experiences working there.

We went off topic many times and just had fun.

Awaken You is the ultimate self-help and inner awakening guide for those who crave to embody the life they love to wake up to everyday! In this exciting experience of shifting and aligning to what you desire, Sarah will show you how to increase your energetic frequency and manifest the life of your dreams.

Each chapter is infused with awakening energy, inner power, and light that will support you as you transform your life from the inside out.

By the end of Awaken You, you will tap into a deeper knowing and trust of who you are and what you came here to do.  You will feel awakened, unstoppable and ready to kick fear in the butt!

Sarah can be found on Facebook and Instagram at Awaken You Coaching.

I recently spoke with Dr. Frieda Wiley and it was incredible. Dr. Wiley has an incredible background, and was a lot of fun to talk to.

She is a bestselling author, award-winning medical writer, and journalist who solves communications problems for her clients, one word at a time. She also just happens to be a licensed pharmacist and former chemist with an alphabet soup of letters behind her name (if she actually used them all). But don’t let that mislead you: She is a writer at heart.

She has been writing pretty much as long as she can remember and won her first writing award in the first grade and published a poem in the fifth grade. You could probably say she considers herself a writer first and a scientist second.

Interestingly enough, she accidentally “fell” into technical writing after college: Her first real job out of school was working as a chemist for an aerospace company whose main customer was the United States Navy. In that role, writing typically meant drafting a lab report, drawing up work orders, or tweaking a standard operating procedure. A few years later, her path became clear when she published her first magazine article and some marketing materials while still in pharmacy school: She wanted to write.

Today, she draws from her diverse professional experiences in chemistry, the pharmaceutical industry, and pharmacy practice to produce content in plain language as well as in complex jargon for scientific and medical professionals. She enjoys her work and believes it illustrates her commitment to serving others by crafting meaningful content that engages readers.

All I can say is – she is amazing!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Miles Dalton again. Miles is a writer, director and actor and has got the sexiest voice ever.

On this podcast, we talk about unrealistic goals in the entertainment industry, including the drug and alcohol use. Around the 25 minute mark, we discuss the equally unrealistic goals set for women in the entertainment industry. The norm used to be stick thin women with poufy lips. Thankfully, that’s changing.

You will like what you hear.

Derek reached out to me this morning, and we did two interviews.  He interviewed me, and then I interviewed him!   We have mutual connections, and unique backgrounds.  We had a lot of fun, spoke about the Dhar Mann issues, and connected.  Fun times !

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with Best Selling Author, Dana Watson. Dr. Watson is an amazing person, who holds three master degrees, is a licensed and ordained minister, author and has an honorary doctorate in Leadership and Divinity.

Dr. Watson is known nationally as a dynamic speaker, author, and expert in holistic healing. She uses humor and transparency to connect to her audience to deliver an effective presentation. Her speaking topics include her personal story of domestic violence and how she turned her pain into her purpose, healthy relationships, fatherhood, nourishing the body, and healing from trauma.

She is on a mission to rebuild one heart at a time, as she is best known for advocating for domestic violence victims, facilitating healthy relationship classes, and ministering to the youth of Norfolk, VA. She has successfully turned her pain into purpose.

Dr. Watson has a heart to give back, as she has provided free services to women and men who are ready to escape abusive relationships as a volunteer in facilitating groups at Deerfield Correctional Center for Women and the Norfolk Juvenile Detention Center.

As a founding board member of The O.A.T. Foundation, the Outreach Advisory Team, she focuses on strengthening a supporting and cultivating families. “Building safer communities and restoring broken homes: One family at a time.”

She has a background in counseling and takes a holistic approach to healing. Healing starts from the inside out, and Dr. Watson helps find out the issues. She specializes in individuals, couples, and families who have been impacted by stress and/or trauma in their lives, relationships, employment or businesses. Coaching and counseling services are offered to youth and adults in individual and/or group sessions. Services also include grief coaching health coaching ADHD, relationship coaching and life coaching.

Check out her website – she is amazing !

I again had the pleasure of chatting with Mirav, Heidi and Beverly about their bestseller book, Lady X. Mirav is in Italy, Heidi is in Monaco and Beverly is in Australia.

We got caught up on what everyone has been doing over the past year and it was fun. Thanks to the magic of zoom, we all got to see each other.

I had to edit out names of people – so will let you guess who they are!

Beverly has been traveling Australia, Heidi has been in Monaco and Mirav has been coaching writers while living in Italy.

Lady X is again a bestseller, and we are all excited about this.

Everyone’s Instagram is in the podcast so sit back, have a cup of coffee or tea and listen for half an hour. It’s a fun conversation.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Wendy Eliot recently. She has lived an incredible life. She was in a cult, became a nurse, teaches. Wendy is amazing.

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This book is for those who get ‘Sunday night nerves’ at the thought of going back to work on Monday, for those who get a queasy stomach before exams.

This book is for those who choose not to do something in case they make a fool of themselves, who have that little devil sat on their shoulder whispering all sorts of commentary to stop them doing something out of the norm.

This book is for those who are in a job they hate but worry about doing something different, who reach for the wine glass as soon as they get home, because they deserve it, because they’ve put up with all of the days stress at work.

This book is for those who feel they are different to everyone else, and nobody quite understands why they feel how they do.

This is for anybody who at any time in their lives has been worried or anxious about a future event.

It takes you through the authors experience of her own worries and provides you with some amazing tools to help you process your worry and anxiety. Make use of those tools. You will be astounded.  AND - I no longer  have the Sunday night anxiety!

I spoke to Mirav recently, and we caught up on the past year. To refresh your memory her biography is below. Our recent conversation consisted of her author/writer coaching, and her approach to life. I love talking with Mirav – she’s fun, fascinating and has a wonderful outlook on life.

Mirav Tarkkais a Power coach, drawing knowledge from her experience as an IDF Operational Sergeant & international self-defense teaching career, she is also the bestselling author of 5 books to date, a Public speaker, trainer and a very proud single mother of two wonder women 🙂

Through her profound personal journey during which she was challenged many times and had to break down in order to break through, she discovered the power of the mind to be as powerful as that of the body. Her mind helped her survive on an emotional level and her body sustained her physically, working with both of them together was the secret to accomplishing her highest goals. From this her own unique method was born, combining strengthening the body and sharpening the mind, unleashing what she calls your “Power Of Warrior” and use it to create an unstoppable life in all areas. Her method was tested among hundreds of her students, she was interviewed multiple times for magazines and television and received an international award for her innovation of inserting mental training into the physical world of self-defense.

She believes that, to create overall wellness and use the full potential of your born power, the power of life, training must include various factors which contributes to one’s optimal health and state of mind. Her method includes balancing, connecting to your Qi, facial training, laughter yoga, warrior tapping, EFT, self talk, Warrior moves, connecting to your sensuality, self loving and more.

I had the pleasure of speaking with my friend, Skye Delamey recently.  She is incredibly talented.  Every show she plays, she sells out.  Skye is currently working on her 6th album and has recently released a spoken word project - all poems written by her.

We spoke about our dogs, NAMM (music conference), and life in general.  We had a fun time catching up.

Skye's website is www.skyedelamey.com. 

Her shows, links to her YouTube channel and merchandise is there.

You will like what you see and hear.

From Tragedy to Purpose: Sanita Mitchell launches Nonprofit Anaya’s Project to Support Bereaved Families with Infant and Pregnancy Loss, Fertility Struggles and Grief.

More than 12 years ago, Antonio and Sanita Mitchell lost their precious little girl, Anaya Simone, at 28 weeks of pregnancy. Despite their heartache, their faith aided them in overcoming their pain and beginning a new life focused on inspiring and helping couples in need. While experiencing the isolating world of grief, they continued to struggle with infertility and content medical intervention to remedy the issue. This ignited a new birth in the launch of the nonprofit organization – Anaya’s Project.

This is the beginning of Anaya’s Project.

Sanita talks about her struggle with infertility after Anaya’s passing, grief, and how she overcame this loss.

Sanita is a certified Life Coach, Marriage Dynamics and Repair Enrich Facilitator.

She also ran her own registered in-home childcare program and is a 2nd grade teacher.

She is very amazing and I know you will learn from this interview.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Debra Page recently.  We reminisced about our days as RN's, we got to talking about how she went from being an RN, lactation nurse and them CEO of a 129-year old male-dominated fencing company, Louis E. Page. Debra not only embarked on a powerful journey of self-exploration, strength and uncovering a powerful sense of self, but also how she succeeded in elevating revenue growth by 45% as the first female owner of the business. What's more -- this incredible journey of identity rebuilding, personal growth and strength enabled her to launch her self-titled company that aims to guide women in uncovering their fullest potential and mastering all aspects of their lives through her book, coaching and upcoming women's summit.

It’s a common speedbump for many mothers—becoming unexpectedly divorced or widowed can abruptly knock any mother off of her life’s vision and leave her with more questions than answers. Such is the case for Debra Page who studied and worked as a Registered Nurse and Lactation Consultant until she became widowed and inherited her husband’s 129-year-old Wire Mesh Fencing Company, Louis E. Page, which had been exclusively run by the patriarchs in her family’s legacy and then landed in her hands.

Debra not only embarked on a powerful journey of self-exploration and strength, but also untapped the keys to success. From driving the company toward unprecedented revenue growth by 45%, She did not stop there. Her emotional journey and triumph propelled a personal mission to guide women and mothers, much like herself, to unleash their greatest potential by launching ‘The Inspired Mom Global Summit,’ becoming the Founder and President of ‘Woman Emerged,’ Creator of the ‘High Five I Am Program,’ and so much more.

Debra is fascinating and has had an incredible journey. Sit back, relax and have a listen!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Author and Shaman Sarah Negus.  Below is her biography.  Fun and interesting conversation.

This is taken directly from her website  - www.sarahnegus.com

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I’d always been “tapped in” so to speak but pushed it aside as I grew.

A chance meeting led to a spiritual instructor who would change my life. I spent 12 years learning from her.

She didn't have a formal way of teaching, so I had to pick up what resonated with me and use my own ability to see beyond the veil— to listen telepathically and read energy to understand what was happening.

I experienced deep inner child work, shadow work, vision training and energetic attachments. I saw manifestations of my fears, felt my body respond to energy, thought, and history.

I finally understood the way the body, mind and spirit heals itself.

I had to figure a way to ground everything, to bring it down into reality.

I studied Psychosynthesis (psychology with a soul) developed by Roberto Assagioli. He believed that our experience distorted love, joy, compassion, and wisdom into qualities of anger, hate, and fear. He uncovered the wounds and distortions of energy and tracked them back to the quality of the person.

Psychosynthesis really resonated with me, and this is what I strive now to accomplish.

So, modern day shamanism is the marrying of traditional shamanism and modern psychology. It’s unique to me and is an expression of all I’ve learned on:

· body-locked emotional trauma

· deeply-embedded belief patterns

· spiritual healing

· emotional freedom

· physical well being

· personal power

· physical rehabilitation

· hands on healing

This is my soul’s work — to help you be the best version of yourself and make an impact in the World.

Your beliefs, behaviour, emotions and thoughts are all power signals to the Universe. The life you live will be a reflection of who you are inside. You are the creator of your world.

You can try to hide behind a facade of smiles and success like I did, but if you’re fighting what needs attention on the inside, the Universe will let you know, often in very unpleasant ways.

Been there when the Universe ‘bumps’ you, done it over and over again, so you don’t have to.

I help you shine light on the dark parts you’ve hidden, so that you acknowledge them, heal or lighten them, and then, move beyond them. In doing so, you rewrite the unconscious story you play throughout each day.

· What was holding you back has now fallen to the side.

· The feelings that have caused sabotage and regret can now be cleared and transmuted.

· The energy you’ve been sending out evolves to work in your favour, every time.

Everything you encounter on my website was tailor-made to help you personally expand into success and fulfilment consistently.

If abundance, happiness, and health have been hit or miss for you, it changes to a daily occurrence.

You are Universally supported in every way, every day.

I help you learn how to plug into that and stay for as long as you please.

I met Dana and her daughter, Rory, a few years ago at a movie premiere. Today, I got to know her a little better. Not only is Dana a writer/screenwriter, she is a comedian, with lots of interesting stories.

She grew up in Philadelphia to Italian parents and – wow ! Her grandparents, raging alcoholics, owned a Speak Easy during prohibition. Dana said her grandmother would start drinking beer at 6 a.m. Gramma had 12 inch fingernails painted red. Maybe it was the style?

Anyway Dana started the comedy when she wrote a mob related screen play. She auditioned for Flappers in Burbank’s open mike, and then on the Dive Bar Tour. Can’t wait to see one of the Dive Bar shows.

Take a listen, and follow her on facebook and check out the comedy.

I first met Jimmy about ten years ago in an acting class, and we reconnected about two months ago. Jimmy has a podcast – Juicy Divas – Confessions of a Limo Driver, and he has stories !!! Some of the stories are:

Driving Black Eyed Peas, Sean Penn, Elizabeth Taylor and Gary Shandling! He even has a story about a tequila lady losing her underwear. The fun never stops ! The back seat of a limo holds many secrets.

Jimmy has been a Radio Host for about 5 yrs now. He is also an actor and sometimes comedian as well. His podcast deals with a Plethora of subject matter. Mostly discussing topics with relation to the music and movie industry and everything in between. Enjoy the ride keep your hands and feet inside at all times. Let the proverbial good times roll.

We had a lot of fun chatting a few weeks ago. Could not stop laughing. Please take a listen to this interview, then check out his podcast.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Maven Quest recently. We had a fun conversation and you can hear us laughing, giggling and - my dog barking and sirens in the background. I’ve posted her bio from LinkedIn below, however, Maven is multi-talented. She is a writer, photographer and – wait for it - a paranormal investigation. How cool is that? She talks about her first paranormal experience and how it changed her life. We also spoke about a mutual friend who opened doors for not only us, but many women. Should out to Mirev !!!

Maven Quest, a.k.a. M. Arcturus the author of Atlantis: City of Mages, and there’s many more books on the way. Her greatest aspiration is for her books to stir the imagination in others and even create a bit of controversy. She wants her readers to form their own ideas surrounding the topics she writes about. She believes that every point of view has the ability to expand knowledge and spur people into action to follow their dreams and pursue their personal truth.

She will be posting updates to upcoming books, events that she will be attending, like book signings, and blog, not only about her books, but also my adventures in photography and paranormal investigations. You didn’t seriously think that she only wrote books did you?  She has many passions and many interests, and can only hope to inspire others to live their life to the fullest. All she can do is live by example, one adventure at a time, and she would love it, if you would journey with her.

Its Bianca Banks - what more can I say? Bianca and I chatted recently about everything. Her parents were in the health care field, and Bianca, who was in that field, did a complete 180 and went on to do incredible things. She is an LA native who made a name for herself as a business woman, community advocate, philanthropist, and socialite.

Bianca made her entertainment premiere as a main cast member and reality star on 2017's Bravo's "Invite Only Cabo" alongside famous celebrity hairstylist, Larry Sims. As a side note, Larry Sims suggested she get into entertainment.

Bianca is now raising the bar for her talent and has officially launched her podcast, 'The MND Show". With her daughter, Jasmine Shannon, as her co-host, they focus on current events and powerful topics that have brought edge, personality & realness to the podcast world.

She and her Jasmine also have a show on Dash radio (internet).

Bianca can be contacted at - itsbiancabanks.com, or google Its Bianca Banks, and she's everywhere.

Clayne has got to be the coolest guy in Utah – next to Robert Redford!  During this segment, we talk about United Order. Wikipedia defines United Order as: In the Latter Day Saint movement, the United Order was one of several 19th-century church collectivist programs. Early versions of the Order beginning in 1831 attempted to fully implement the law of consecration, a form of Christian communalism, modeled after the New Testament church which had "all things in common.” Clayne describes it as God run communism – the celestial law of economics aka The United Order.

Clayne’s story gets more and more interesting. He is one of 45 children from a polygamous marriage, left the FDLS and lives in the Salt Lake Valley with his wife and four daughters - one wife. He does not subscribe to the many wives theory.

His book – Echos of Resounding Love – a true story of a polygamous kid’s journey to a spiritual awakening will be published in the near future.

We will be publishing another podcast about Clayne’s life in and out of the polygamous parentage. He is very interesting and has a story to tell.

The path to freedom is discovery and don’t be afraid to discover.

I had the opportunity to speak with Paul and Tiffany recently about 2nd Chance Saves Lives, and their experiences.  I don't even know where to begin with their story.  Its interesting, fascinating, almost reads like a soap opera, but has a uplifting ending, but not really an ending, a new beginning.

Paul was in prison for 14 months – in 2003, he was a boxer and running a juvenile home. He was contacted by someone in Nigeria – this was before the Nigerian scams were known – about training kids to box. He was sent a check for $150,000 which cleared. Bottom line – Paul was indicted on 40 counts including bank and wire fraud. All but one charge was dropped.

Paul’s story is amazing. He was in prison for 14 months, was homeless twice, and now, he and Tiffany have developed several programs, including Falsely Imprisoned and 2nd Chance Saves Lives.

Paul and Tiffany also talk about Marquis Reiner, who was convicted on circumstantial evidence and Michael Harris of Death Row Records.

Their website is: 2ndchancesaveslives.org and they are on Linktree.com at 2ndChance Saves Lives.

Fascinating story with a fascinating beginning.

I spoke to Gramps Jeffrey recently about his recent book: I don’t want to turn 3. I read it – and remember when I was 3. SOOOO -

Grandpa Jeffrey explains why he wrote "I Don't Want to Turn 3" as follows:

Living this past year in isolation due to the pandemic, I was with my family. This gave me special time to watch and interact with the grandkids. Cool !!!

All 6 kids have completely different personalities. The one thing they have in common is the sense of curiosity and how excited they get when they accomplish something new. Watching them grow year to year and how they interact with each other is the basis for this book.

What goes through a toddler’s mind that parents are so desperate to understand? When does a toddler understand the difference between “me” and “us”? This book explores how a family finds out together.

As a baby boomer trying to understand how the world has evolved since I was 3 years old, is also part of this story. My parents did not have cell phones, Internet or cable TV. My parents’ definition of discipline is quite different than parents of today. Has today’s world made for a better place for children to grow up? I will let you answer that question as you weigh how you were treated growing up compared to how we treat our kids today.

So, I wrote this book to read to these grandkids. Their reaction has been invaluable. As you watch them understand Jordan’s discovery of right versus wrong, you can see the older kids have gone through the same dilemma. And the younger kids don’t quite yet understand the concept of sharing. This whole experience, for me, has been priceless.

There is a surprise ending that will pull at your heartstrings.  

Gramps Jeffrey also wrote “The Secrets of Retailing or How to Beat Wal-Mart !!!! Can’t wait to read that one and that will be our next podcast !

His books can be found on Amazon, Barnes and Noble and his website: grampsjeffrey.com.

His website is awesome - and he is an amazing guy.  

I had the pleasure of speaking with Clayne recently. First – he is 4th of 45 children! His parents were part of the Fundamentalist Latter Day Saints – a break off branch of the Mormon church. This is not to be confused with the FDLS church in Southern Utah/Arizona or Warren Jeffs. Clayne was raised in the Salt Lake Valley.

I’m still stuck on 4 out of 45! However, we spoke about other topics as well.

Most importantly, we spoke about how he left the polygamous family life.  His mother and father, who were legally married, had 12 children, 11 left the FLDS cult.  His father was married to the other wives, but through the FDLS church.  

Clayne talks about his father and grandfather’s multiple wives and children. His father I believe had 4 wives and his grandfather had 12 wives.

Clayne said in school he was bullied by someone who called him and his brothers and sisters “Pligs” to which he called that person a “monog”. Too funny.  

We touched briefly on The United Order, which will be another podcast.  Also, other books including the Journals of Discourse and the Salamander Letters.  Also another podcast. 

Clayne's story was so interesting – and I could have talked to him all day.

His book - Echos of Resounding Love on the Vasparlife website.

The book will be published in the near future and I’m looking forward to it.

Clayne currently lives in Utah, is married (one wife - does not engage in polygamy) and has four beautiful daughters and is in the mortgage finance industry.

Can't wait to talk with him again.

Rick and I recently had dinner together, and had a very interesting conversation.  We used to be neighbours, he moved, and we had a lot to catch up on.  Between the traffic on Ventura Boulevard and the people in the background, we talked about life in general, food, motorcycles and female comedians. 

Rick's new special, Set List with Rick Overton, is incredibly funny.  Its unscripted improv, and can be found on Amazon Prime, Hulu and Comedy Dynamic.   Pop some pop corn, pour a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, and be prepared to laugh for an hour!

Rick is a multi-talented actor, voice actor, writer and comedian.

He can be reached through his website is rickoverton.com or you can always send me a message at studiocitynow@gmail.com and I will pass it on to him.  He a funny guy :)

What can I say about the man who has done everything, except being a rock star and president? Other than having the best voice in town - I don’t know where to start – however, I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrick Kilpatrick for the second time. We spoke about his run in the California Recall Election.

During our conversation, he talks about his platform and thoughts/ideas of bringing our industry back to California, among other things.

Patrick’s platform is found on: kilpatrickforgovernor.com. He reads all emails and responds.

Whether you are Democrat or Republican, please vote in this recall election.

Again, his website is kilpatrickforgovernor.com 

I had the pleasure of speaking with Ron Macdonald recent.  His new book, "ANTHOLOGY: Field of Honor" is a collection of extraordinary stories by ordinary people that made commendable impressions in time.

Ron Macdonald is an accomplished and published photographer for over twenty years, and a speaker, has just published, “ARLINGTON ANTHOLOGY:  Field of Honor”: a riveting narrative that evokes intense emotions in the stories during the Revolutionary War and renders the nation breathless.

Ron shares heartwarming and compelling stories of loyalty, brotherhood, sacrifice, and heroism.

Across from the Potomac River from Washington DC lies this nation’s most sacred  of grounds, Arlington National Cemetery. Here resides some of our nation’s finest from as far back as the Revolutionary War are buried here. Some 400,000 men and women call Arlington their final resting place—from presidents, honored statesmen, explorers, and literary figures to the common soldier and sailor, along with 3,800 former slaves. Their stories beg to be heard—stories of courage against insurmountable odds, of love of brother and country, and of sacrifice. Stories of hope and dreams and choices made during adversity.

In this often heart-wrenching, inspirational anthology, we see how these noble souls, be it generals or ex-slaves, influenced the world in which they lived. Their stories are still with us, making us who we are as a country and bidding us to think of life, not of death. Life to which, in their youth, they lent their passion and joy of spring.”

Ron’s book can be found on Amazon, and Covenant Books.

I had the pleasure on speaking with my friend, Bob Marovich. I met Bob about ten years ago on a Vee Jay Records site. Bob is the expert on Vee Jay – The Gospel Years. So, this is Bob !!!

He has been a writer since he was old enough to spell, is a grantwriter, fundraising professional, and serves as the editor of the GlobeTrade monthly "Borderbuster" e-newsletter. Bob launched JGM on the tenth anniversary of its predecessor website, The Black Gospel Blog, which he founded July 28, 2004, as the first blog to cover African American gospel music. Bob is a gospel music historian, author, and radio host.  Since 2001, he has produced “Gospel Memories.”  The show features classic gospel, spiritual, and jubilee music, and interviews with gospel legends.  It airs Saturday mornings on Chicago’s WLUW-FM and throughout the week on several Internet and low-power FM radio stations throughout the U.S., Canada, and Europe.

Bob has been interviewed about gospel for television, radio, and newspapers, and was featured on a BBC Radio 2 documentary on the life of Sister Rosetta Tharpe.  He is also the gospel editor for ChicagoMusic.org.

Bob’s work has been published in the Encyclopedia of American Gospel Music (Routledge 2005), Encyclopedia of African American Music (Greenwood Publishing 2010), and in the ARSC Journal of the Association of Recorded Sound Collections.  He has presented and participated in panel discussions on gospel music at the Gospel Music Workshop of America, National and Independent Gospel Music Association Industry Summit, Blues and the Spirit Conference at Dominican University (River Forest, Illinois), the American Library Association, and the Association of Recorded Sound Collections annual convention.

Formerly second vice president of the Chicago Area Gospel Announcers Guild (Gospel Music Workshop of America), Bob is on the board of the Chicago Gospel Music Heritage Museum, the Rhythm of Gospel Awards, Blackburn College, and Tree House Humane Society.  He is a member of the Stellar Awards Gospel Music Academy, the National Independent Gospel Music Association, the Recording Academy, the Center for Black Music Research, and the Association of Recorded Sound Collections.

Bob’s collection of historic gospel recordings exceeds 5,000 vinyl discs that contain more than 19,000 individual tracks, and thousands of gospel CDs.  His collection of gospel music memorabilia includes sheet music, song folios, photographs, signatures, anniversary programs, tickets, posters, and other promotional material.

Bob holds a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and an MBA from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management.  His first book, Shout Troubles Over: The Birth of Gospel Music in Chicago, published in March 2015 by the University of Illinois Press as part of its Music in American Life Series.

Bob lives in Chicago with his wife, author Laurel Delaney, and their two cats.  Bob's wife, Laurel, has a podcast for women entrepreneurs.  Bob gives the podcast name towards the end of our podcast.  I will be listening to it!

He can be contacted by email at journalofgospelmusic.com and gospelmemories.com.  

I had the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Ann Donnelly MB MRCGP DRCOG DFP DYT Dippallmed LFhom.  During our interview, she explained what all the letters after her name meant, and, among other things, spoke about life activation.  She has worked in all aspects of medicine, including hospice and palliative care.  She is an international teacher with the Modern Mystery School.   After entering the dating world, she wrote "Once Upon a Tinder", which I will be ordering from Amazon shortly.  Dr. Ann's biography is below.

Dr. Ann, 'the love doctor', is a Family Doctor with over 25 years experience working in the NHS. She currently works in Palliative and Holistic Medicine. She is often consulted as a medical expert in the media, including Yahoo, Cosmopolitan and Glamour. Furthermore she is an International teacher in the Modern Mystery School of Metaphysics.

Her passion for helping people understand their full potential shines through, in this, her first book. It was written from her home in Ireland during lock down while unable to travel internationally. It was born out of a desire to create better understanding and more love between men and women. It chronicles a series of first dates and romantic encounters, with lessons learned. What does it take to rediscover yourself mind, body & soul after a breakup. Of course, the most important relationship of all is inevitably the one we have with ourselves!

Website: onceuponatinder.com
Email: thelovedoctor@onceuponatinder.com

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Eugenia Kuzmina.  She is not only an actress, model, singer and comedian, she has an interesting story.  She began her modeling career in Russia, went to France, and talks about how modeling is not the glamorous career everyone fantasizes about.  Eugenia talks about the cattle calls, and bookings, and how, when starting out, she lived in a dorm type setting with other teenage girls.  AND -  Her father was a scientist in Russia when the Chernobyl incident occurred.  Eugenia also talks about how secretive the nuclear plant melt down was, and her family being followed by the KGB.  

Eugenia talks about the roles she has played as an actress and how she got out of being typecast.

She is a extremely interesting, speaks several languages, is gorgeous and also just a super nice person.

Take a listen - I'm sure you will like her story.

I spoke to Erica "El" Dubois earlier today - her story is amazing.  El is a domestic abuse survivor who is still being stalked by her ex husband.  She speaks of her experiences with the local law enforcement and the District Attorney's office, who were unable to help her.  She addresses the issues of legislation that helps survivors and life after the escape.

El's book - Twisted Crown, A Survivor's Story - details her journey and can be found on Amazon in paperback and audible.  

Her websites are:   www.eldubois.com

www.twistedcrownfilm.com

www.twistedcrownfoundation.org

All social medias are:  @elduboisauthor

I had the pleasure of speaking with writer/producer Mokesh Modi a few days ago.  His newest project, "The Elevator", is intriguing.  The all star cast  consists of Eric Roberts, Eugenia Kuzmina, Matt Rife, Avery Llardi and Avery Morris.  

The plot consists of Roman Juniper, husband and father of three, is forced to go to work on the Saturday of his daughter's birthday.  He plans to return home in time for the party before things take a sharp turn of events. His wife and kids are setting up decorations and food at the house and start to wonder where Roman is since it is well past his clock out time.  A man matching Roman's description has been reported as a victim of a life-threatening accident and the Juniper family is extremely distraught and thinks it could be Roman.  They quickly drive off to the hospital to find out where and what has happened to their loving Roman.

The film is making the film festival route right now and will be released to the public soon.  I can't wait !  

Mukesh's message is "Do not keep anything pending and take care of your family first."

Mukesh also wrote and directed a documentary called "The Vision", which inspires a sense of community.

You can find Mukesh at elevatorfilm.com and on Instagram @realmukeshmodi.  He is also on YouTube.

I had the pleasure of speaking with Harold Rosen a few days ago. Harold has obtained compelling evidence from several state lotteries that revealed suspicious patterns and corruption in the state lottery system. Harold talks about the numbers 0 0 0 and 9 1 1, how when they show up in the lottery numbers, and the national tragedies that follow. I could have gone on for hours with him – very interesting podcast and lots of information.

Harold can be found on LinkedIn at Author Harold Rosen. His book, Lottery Corruption, U.S.A. is found on Amazon, Walmart, his LinkedIn, and where ever books are sold.

What can I say about Anthony Williams? He was born with a heart condition, had a mitral valve replacement, is a game designer, hockey player, podcaster (The Independent Mouth), parent to two children and has an interesting life and story to tell.

During our podcast, we talk about how and why he left New York - yes, a fellow New York Italian !!!! -- lived in Seattle and landing in Temecula.

I met with him last week, and over Italian deli food, which is the best, we chatted, laughed and ate.

We ended our podcast, and lunch with Anthony describing how he delivered his daughter on the side of the 15 freeway near Poway, California. His description is hilarious, describing his front seat as “It looked like someone killed a moose.”

So, pour a glass of wine, stretch out on the couch and laugh and listen.

AND - check out his podcast, The Independent Mouth.  You'll like it !

Just some good old boys, never doing no harm ....   

I had the pleasure of chatting with Byron aka Coy Duke recently and very grateful he took time from his busy day (deep sea fishing!) to talk to me. Byron has just finished a faith based movie, and is flying to Ocala, Florida, for a reality based pilot. In October, he will be at Hazzard Fest. One of the “How did this happen” moments we talked about how Byron missed the Dukes of Hazzard audition, John Schneider crashed an audition and wound up being Bo Duke on Dukes of Hazzard. Why did Byron miss the audition? He was in Florida training to be an Eastern Airlines flight attendant. Eventually Eastern Airlines fell by the wayside !

The Dukes of Hazzard has become one of the most popular TV shows in the world and still has a worldwide following to this day. Byron developed a huge following as Coy Duke. This was the break Byron had been waiting for. Under contract with Warner Brothers, Byron went on to do numerous shows such as Murder She Wrote, In The Heat Of The Night, Vietnam WAR stories (A Mini Series) and various TV commercials and guest spots on numerous talk shows, and was the spokesperson for the American Cancer Society.

Byron lives in California with wife, Krista, and their two kids. Byron continues to travel year round with the world famous General Lee Dodge Charger making appearances both nationally and abroad at Car Shows, Charity Benefits and Various Concerts and Events.

Just like he did in Hazzard County, Byron is still "straightening the curves and flattening the hills" of his home town in his own General Lee (now has a new owner), and enjoys getting out and meeting the Dukes fans. He travels with his own photos to autograph, as well as his own hats and specially made "Coy Duke" t-shirts and tank tops and other Duke memorabilia. He also has been known to autograph various car parts on fan owned General Lees.

Byron is a lot of fun and can't wait to see him in the near future.  

What do you get when you put Lainie Kazan, Renee Taylor, A Rabbi, a Priest, a Muslim holy man and a Sikh mystic together?  You get Tango Shalom! Oh, did I mention the Vatican Choir and Sikh Temple Band does the music? This is the first film in history to do so, and the first film in history to bring all four faiths together.

Gabriel Bologna, producer and director of this incredible film talks about how this film came together, the characters, and the message of this film.

This film brings together holy men from the above faiths in an effort to solve Rabbi Moshe’s moral issue – Moshe wants to save his Hebrew school, meets a tango instructor, and so the moral issue begins –he enters a big televised Tango competition to save his Hebrew school from bankruptcy. There is only one problem: due to his orthodox religious beliefs, he is not allowed to touch a woman! The solution is creative and the surprise ending will have you laughing and crying.

AND – you have to love Moshe. His foray into New York (from Crown Heights, Brooklyn) is an eye opener for him. He is the lovable underdog who keeps his beliefs and morality intact while dancing the tango. You have to see it.

The film has been a hit with the Jewish Film Festivals, and is currently being shown at the  Miami Jewish Film Festival.

Check out the link below and you will see why.

https://youtu.be/xPNXa1hM1nc 

Jeremy and I chatted again.  This is episode 4 and its more like a talk show.  Jeremy talks about his life during Covid.  He's writing his second musical and gave us a hint of what its about.  We also talk about walking around his neighborhood, and dogs, lots of dogs!   He's a fun guy and ladies - he's single !!!

Grab a cup of coffee, sit down for half an hour and listen.  You'll like what you hear! 

We have another episode with singer/songwriter/actor and my friend, Jeremy Ebenstein.  During this episode, Jeremy does one original song, and a cover by Laurence Jones Band.  We talk about his influences, how he's been spending quarantine, and of course, Elvis Presley.   We also talk about walking - During the short time Los Angeles was open, I would go walking with Jeremy.  He's a fun guy and ladies - he's single !!!!!    He's been sign spinning during quarantine, and enjoys being outside.  

Jeremy is writing his second musical and can't wait for the finished project.

He can be found on YouTube and is starting a TikTok channel in the near future.

What can I say about Geoffrey Mark? He is a writer, actor, jazz singer, radio host, show biz historian,  voiceover artist and keeper of my secrets – he does everything! AND – he has had an interesting life.  During this podcast, Geoff talks about his beginning in show business, how he met the love of his life (Joel) in a class, his time in Arkansas (the Klan harassed him constantly), his writing and philosophy on life. Geoff sings “There you go” from Annie Get Your Gun, which is his tribute to Joel. Geoff talks about his best-selling books: The Lucy Book and Ethel Merman: The Biggest Star on Broadway, as well as the Family Affair Cookbook. His newest book is Ella: A biography of the Legendary Ella Fitzgerald. Geoff is also the producer of Nigel: Come Back to me.

Geoff is a walking encyclopedia of television history.

He also talks about his 32 years of sobriety. Very, very happy for him

One of the scariest moments of Geoff’s life was seeing John Lennon’s assassination. Geoff was getting off the New York subway, and saw a figure (John Lennon), ran up to his best friend’s apartment, and John Lennon was gone.

I met Geoff when I was 8 or 9, and am so happy I reconnected with him. Just love him to pieces J

What can I say about Thom Michael Mulligan? Well – a lot!! Thom’s mother was a stage actress, and brought him to an audition – he got the part in a play called “Street Scene.” When he was ten he discovered hockey. Beside the usual biography (below), Thom is an avid hockey player and coach (coaching is on hold for the moment), During this podcast, we cover all subjects, ranging from toilet paper hoarding during quarantine, working during COVID, how he and a friend founded the New Hope Film Festival, and how hosting the LANFA Awards in 2019 opened doors.

We talk about several films, including Callous, which is available on Amazon, Sweet Taste of Souls, a psycho-thriller and Nighthunter, a film he just finished.  He has co-written many productions, including The Witching Hour.  

 He also gives sound advice to anyone who wants to get into acting, whether it’s a hobby or as a profession.

His biography (from IMDb) reads as follows:

Thom Michael Mulligan is an American actor and producer known for his extensive acting work on the stage and in the film world. He is also a multi award winning producer of the feature film "Callous, which garnered "Best Feature" film awards at numerous film festivals throughout the country.

Originally from NYC, he has worked in off Broadway productions, television, feature and short films. He is president of Rolling Action Entertainment. Thom is also a co-founder and the Executive Director of Submissions for the New Hope Film Festival.

Besides acting, Thom also writes and has had some one act plays produced and wrote the full length play" Just Dirty Laundry" which received critical acclaim! Thom has also been involved in working with various charity groups.

What can I say about the man who has done everything, except being a rock star and president? I don’t know where to start.  I had the pleasure of interviewing Patrick Kilpatrick recently. We spoke about his start as an ad agency writer, journalist, creative director and on-air reporter for 11- time Emmy winning "What's Happening America", Patrick worked for nearly every major magazine and ad agency in New York - TIME Inc., Playboy, Rolling Stone and Sports Illustrated to Interview, Life Magazine, Cycling, Sailing, Popular Photography, Modern Bride, Cosmopolitan, The New York Times, Luxe Magazine, Quest '78, Popular Mechanics and Psychology Today, etc.

He is one of the finest screen and television character actors, playing against a spectrum of action heroes. We spoke about working on Erasure together (I was an extra – can’t miss me, I’m in basic black !!!). He shared that while working on Erasure, he filmed another movie on the weekends. He has appeared on over 200 films and television shows as lead actor, producer, screen writer, director, and global entertainment teacher- from "Minority Report" with Tom Cruise to "Dark Angel" with Jessica Alba, from the largest production in Public Broadcasting history to the Los Angeles Theater Center with John Goodman and Academy Award winning British director Tony Richardson in Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra". He has appeared in over 75 hit TV shows such as "24", "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman" and all "CSI".

In one 18-month period Patrick did five major studio films, two independents and 27 television guest star spots on 18 different shows..

As a voiceover performer he has appeared as the voice of Sailplane Grand Prix, the narrator of the Olympic IMAX movie, and as political VO for candidates Ohio Governor John Kasich (R) and Mayor of Miami/Governor candidate Florida's Phillip Levine (D).
Kilpatrick is president and CEO of Uncommon Dialogue Films, Inc. (UDF) (founded 2005) - a full service event/script, casting, film and media service company - idea inception to global return on investment realization. His producing/fund raising/film financing and production background has taken him from Fiji to the London Stock Exchange for the presentation of investment film slates. Until a military coup toppled the Fijian government he was briefly named founder of the University of Pacific Film and Theater program.

Patrick has taught acting, auditioning, directing, producing and film distribution, Men in the Movies, Star Trek and Stage Combat at the University of Wisconsin (Whitewater) and Hampton Sydney College in Virginia and at the Texas Theater Center in Dallas/Fort Worth. Kilpatrick has prepared full film school curriculum for the governments of Brazil and Nigeria while privately and group entertainment coaching in Los Angeles and via Skype.

The Uncommon Dialogue Film Mentorship Program - under his directorship and chief instruction, utilizing his "Deliver the Goods" Curriculum - has coached countless students from beginners to active professionals in all phases of entertainment warrior status while guiding each to agency representation and self-production.

Patrick is finishing up his 2nd biography – the first one was a best seller.

As I said – he’s done just about everything!

I had the pleasure of speaking with Skye Delamey recently and was amazed at how versatile she is. Skye is a master vocalist (4 octaves), singer/songwriter, piano player, actress, pin up girl and author. Skye also sells out all shows at the Whiskey when she plays there.

During our interview, I learned that Skye not only went to UCLA, she also went to Loyola Marymount and Stella Adler, and has had an array of impressive acting coaches.  

As a recording artist, Skye has worked with Michael Blum (Producer), James Lugo, Phil Brown, Bobby Moore, Ry Welch, Skip Saylor and David Longoria, among others.

Skye’s 4th album will be released this year, with two new songs – Party Stoppers Suck and Raquel. Can’t wait for the album to drop! Her music is a available on Itunes, Apple Music and Amazon.

She has been a contributing writer to Music Connection Magazine and Songstress Songwriting.

AND – what else can I say? Believe it or not, there is more! Skye is also endorsed by MAC Cosmetics, West Tone (ear plugs), Daisy Rock, among others.

Her music videos are on her website (www.skyedelamey.com), and under the Tour tab, you can see her when she will be streaming and upcoming events. She has merchandise and a branded store.

Check out the website and her youtube channel, follow her in twitter and instagram. You will like what you hear.

I had the pleasure of speaking with David Velo Stewart again. David tells us about his exciting new app, Trill Vision.  The Trill Vision app will be available on IOS, coming to Android in March 2021 and its free. I’m very excited about the Trill Vision app. One of the cool features is - Friday nights, there is a Virtual Interaction Cinema via the app. People actually dress up. It’s a night out without leaving your home.

All I can say is – Listen to David’s description, then download the app, and enjoy.

What can I say about Brad Gosse? I’m not sure how I discovered his TikTok videos, but am so happy I did. He is warped, in a good way. Brad talks about how he started his career in online marketing and is a self-taught “Growth Hacker”. He started as an online marketer, and things have just taken off from there.

He is a happily divorced comedian, an online marketing genius and content creator.

His books – one banned by Amazon – had an unusual start. His first book, “Why Daddy Hits Mommy” started out as a bad book cover, had a bazillion hits on TikTok, people wanted the book and the rest is history.

Brad started Vector Toons, which is a Shutterstock type site for cartoon clip art.

He started his speaking career in 2010 and had addressed crowds at WordCamp, conferences in the adult entertainment industry, digital media and The Underground Online Seminar

Brad has also introduced me to omegle dot com, a site that randomly pairs you with people from all over the world. 

Pour a glass of wine, sit down and check out his TikTok and YouTube channel.  Take a look at the very cool clips on vectortoons.com

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of the funnies guys in the comedy circuit – my favorite cousin and favorite person all around – Greg Vaccariello! Greg talks about his start in New York, how he got into the entertainment industry, from the open mikes in New York, to moving first to Los Angeles, then Las Vegas, and working the Las Vegas clubs and eventually working the cruise ship circuit. Greg has performed in some of the well known comedy clubs in Las Vegas, including the Tropicana and  the Comedy Store, among others.

Greg is also a seasoned actor, having appeared in King of Queens, Law and Order SVU, Criminal Intent, Hope and Faith, Ed and various commercials, including the Mob Museum in Las Vegas.

During this podcast, Greg offers advice to up and coming actors and comedians. Most importantly, take classes, and get into the club scene.

He can be found on YouTube as Greg Vaccariello, and Twitter and Instagram and Huge Big Shot (#hugebigshot), and his website – gregvac.com.

About 12 years ago, Greg was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno as the translator between the Prime Minister of Italy and then President George Bush. Its hilarious!!!!

Take a listen and follow him on social media!

What can I saw about the Licatas? Jimmy and Tony are two of the nicest people you could ever meet. And two of the most talented performers to hear.  Not only did I have the pleasure of interviewing them a few weeks ago, I've seen them grow up performing.  During this podcast, I had the pleasure of  having them perform two songs on the show. One is an original – Rainbow for Rain, and the other is a cover of Don’t be Cruel.

Jimmy and Tony talk about their start at Coffee Gallery in Alta Dena, California, at an open mike, going on to being an opening act to being the headliners. Especially impressive when you consider how young they are!

Jimmy went on to study communication in England and Tony went to Musician’s Institute  and studied audio engineering.

Their website is: thelicatabrothers.com, instagram, twitter and Facebook other social media: @thelicatabrothers and of course Amazon, Spotify, and wherever you can find music.

Since the Covid lockdown, Tony and Jimmy have been posting zoom appearances. Check out their Facebook and get on the mailing list – you won’t be disappointed.

Also, shout outs to our late friend, Duane Thorin, and our living friends, Larry Wines (who introduced me to the Licatas), Bea Broda and Bob Stane at Coffee Gallery Backstage.

Their biography is as follows: (taken from the website).

As a sidenote - their website shows photos of Jimmy and Tony starting out.  They were so young and the talent just shown through.  

The Licata Brothers, Jimmy and Tony, are a growing musical phenomenon in Southern California. And “growing” is the only word for it. Jimmy, born July 14, 1997 and Tony, November 30, 2000, began making melodious music together about the time that they could walk. Introduced by their parents to a wide range of musical styles, from Classical to Classic Americana and Pop, the brothers took to all the styles like bees to honey. Jimmy proved to be a guitar prodigy by the time he was 11, whipping out Jimmy Page like licks that blew everyone who heard him away.  Meanwhile Tony could do a mean imitation of AC/DC’s Brian Johnson at age 10 and was already turning into something of a tunesmith.  They are both multi-instrumentalists and display the confidence of old pros on stage.  One admiring veteran dubbed them “The New Traditionalists” because they see the value in the great river of music that has been flowing since before they were born, and are eager to jump right in.

Their collaboration began in earnest around 2010. With the unflagging support of their parents and the wise guidance of local songwriters, musicians and performers, they began to develop a style that showed a deep admiration for the many musical masters that had come before them.  Now 21 and 17, they have “that sibling thing” one associates with the Everly Brothers.  They seem at times to be two guitar playing vocalists occupying one soul, and they result is nothing less than astounding. The Licata Brothers have been regularly thrilling audiences with a unique combination of heartfelt vocals, infectious acoustic guitar and a multi-lingual song catalog that spans the past 100 years. Their 2015 four-song debut CD “Grizzly Bear”, a tribute to some beloved tunes from the 1920s and 1960s, has received rave reviews. This was followed up in the summer of 2016 with “Gift for the Soul”, an intimate and powerfully-uplifting series of original acoustic guitar and vocal arrangements set to prayers found in the Sacred Writings of the Baha’i Faith. The Licata Brothers’ clever performing and arranging skills have been on display at numerous venues throughout the Southland, and now, with a new CD set to come out in the summer of 2021, they are poised to become what they have always been at heart:  Musical Citizens of the World.

.

No introduction necessary, just chatting with Joe Iaquinto.  We had a fun time :)   

What an incredibly talented and funny guy.  We talk about his early childhood in New York, losing his parents at a young age, how he got into music, and the music he wrote for some very adult themed movies!    He is just an all around cool guy who knows all my friends and I can't wait to interview him again.   Next time, he will be in California and we can open a bottle of tequila !

What can I say about Michael Zarnock? The man has done everything. He is a musician, actor, writer, World Record Holder, Race Car Driver, Author, Race Car Driver, is in the Guiness Book of World Records he gets paid to play with Hot Wheel cars, and has a YouTube show (Hot Wheels TV).

We talked about meeting, my brother Tony Wood (RIP), Barris Kustom, George Barris (Batmobile creator) and the SEMA Show in Las Vegas.

I felt like Mike was sitting across the table from me – you could hear our dogs barking, eating and making their presence known!

Mike’s knowledge and his massive Hot Wheels collection has earned him notoriety around the world. He is the leading authority on Diecast and Hot Wheels – the ultimate Super Collector.

Of note – he holds 3 Guinness World Records for Hot Wheels and is the world authority in Hot Wheels and Diecast cars. Michael has worked with EBAY authenticating collectors’ Hot Wheels/Diecast cars and appraising collections for insurance cases and divorce cases. Yes, these collections can be worth upwards of $500,000.

On February 5, 2020, Michael earned a Guinness World Record for the most gravity fed loop-the-loops on a Hot Wheels Track. The track measured 34 feet and was built as part of the Jaguar Land Rover display at the 2020 Chicago Auto Show.

His collection has earned him two different World records – first in 2003 and again in 2007. Both were for owning the largest collection of different model cars.

Mike’s books sell out almost instantaneously. The books can be purchased through his website, mikezarnock.com.

Mike’s YouTube show, Hot Wheels TV takes his audience deep within the subculture of Hot Wheels collecting.

Check out his website, YouTube channel and books. You will like what you see !

I had the pleasure of speaking to one of the most talented, and busiest people in this industry, Diego Garcia.

Diego has been writing and performing since he was 18 years old, and now performs in his band, Stage 11 as the lead singer. Stage 11 released their first CD in 2017 and you can find their music at stage11music.com. Diego is also part of High Noon Whiskey. Since quarantine, Stage 11 has been streaming rooftop concerts in downtown Los Angeles. Their next rooftop concert will be in December 2020. Can’t wait to hear it !!!!

I had the pleasure of seeing, and hearing, Diego sing at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards (HMMA) for Best Male Vocals in November 2016 singing Halleluiah. Just incredible. Heard him again at a house concert and was amazed.

As an actor and voiceover artist, Diego has been in over 80 commercials, and numerous television shows including The Shield, Entourage, Brothers and Sisters, Dirt and Surviving Suburbia to name a few..  The most recent commercial is for Geico, as a new neighbor.  Fun commercial :)

His websites are: diegogarciaactor.com and stage11music.com

I had the pleasure of chatting with Gedina a few weeks ago.  She is incredible.  I binged her YouTube videos and she has an incredible jazzy vibe.  Gedina talks about her blind audition on The Voice, her musical background, her mermaid pop and most importantly, 4th Door Records.  Gedina has been an indie artist during her entire career.  She can be found on Instagram, Twitter, TikTok and YouTube @iamgedina.com.  Since live music has been shut down this year, she has been playing on Rogue Nation.  Her last Rogue Nation was October 26, but keep checking back for more appearances.  Her biography is below.  Please check out her website at http://www.gedina.com.

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Gedina is proof of all the wild magic that comes from living with utter boldness and crystal-clear intention. Not only an accomplished singer/songwriter, the L.A.-based artist has fearlessly forged her path as an entrepreneur, martial-arts instructor, and fierce advocate for women’s advancement in industries of all kinds, with each endeavor engaging her force-of-nature energy and firecracker spirit. And with her magnetic brand of mermaid-pop—a sound shaped by her lifelong status as a salty-haired surfer girl—Gedina makes music that uplifts and elevates while leaving a life-changing impact.

On her 2018 debut album Tell’em, Gedina introduced the world to the raw passion and uncompromising honesty essential to her mission as an artist: instilling women with the courage needed to rewrite their own stories, and to build a more beautiful reality for themselves. “There are so many women who struggle with self-esteem, who believe they’re not enough or they’re too much,” says Gedina. “What I strive to do with every song is help women find their voice, to stay in their power, and to dismantle all the things that no longer serve them.”

Gedina discovered her love of singing as a little girl, thanks largely to the Little Mermaid soundtrack and to the golden-voiced icons she finds infinitely formative. “I didn’t have a mom in my home, but what I did have was Mariah, Christina, Celine, and Whitney,” she says. “They were all my sisters, they were my mom and my godmom and my aunties—they were the women who raised me. What they gave me was that sense of self that empowered me to get onstage and use my voice in a way that could make a difference.”

Graduating from high school at age 15—after spending her early-teen years busking and singing in local clubs—Gedina later enrolled at UC Irvine and gigged in nearby blues bars. Heading to L.A. once she’d finished school, she spent the coming years navigating the music industry and—in 2012—landed a blind audition on season three of The Voice. That same year, Gedina released her debut single “Shame,” revealing the depth of her warm authenticity and spirited songwriting. By 2015, she’d scored an international hit with “First Time, First Love”—a track that’s now amassed over 2.2 million streams on Spotify.

With Tell’em arriving last June, Gedina recently released a luminous new single called “Future Soulmate.” Recorded at Angelhouse Studios in Torrance and produced by Drew Kapner (who’s engineered records for artists like Jason Derulo and Twenty One Pilots), the track gives a rarely-glimpsed look into the power of self-belief. “The message is that the universe is rigged in your favor, and you can create whatever you truly want to have,” says Gedina. “And because connection is at the core of what we desire as human beings, a soulmate can come in any form. It could be your neighbor, your mailman, the older woman you sit with at the bus stop. As long as you have that connection with another human, you can create miracles together.”

What can I say about Larry Hudson?   He is one of the nicest guys in this business.   AND

Larry Hudson is one of the most talented voice over artists around. Chatting with him was amazing. He talks about his journey from professional big band drummer, to commercial real estate and then voice over artist. Larry created his job as a voice over artist when his job in commercial real estate came to a standstill. He was announcing the shows at the California Mart in downtown Los Angeles, and one thing lead to another ....

Larry is an incredible instructor in Adobe Audition and Audacity (Audacity is a free program, Adobe Audition is part of the Adobe cloud family), talks about the microphones to buy (condenser not dynamic), and where NOT to go to buy your microphones.

He can be reached at larryhudsonvo.com, and a partial biography is below.

Aspiring Voice Over Artists - please check out Work Out Wednesday. All information is on his website !

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Larry is a voiceover actor in Los Angeles with a professional recording studio and has been active in the industry since 2009. He provides his voice daily to a wide variety of voiceover projects including Commercial Ads for radio and TV, Narration on Documentaries and Corporate projects, Political Ads, as well as eLearning/tutorials for corporate web presentation.

His list of client credits includes Disney/Picture Head, TOYOTA, Lexus, Kubota Tractor Corp, Quaker Oats, Tropicana, Apple, Google and WarGaming.net, just to name of few.

Larry provides a clear concise baritone sound that embodies strength, power and sincerity. His signature sound is relaxed and conversational. Listeners are drawn in by Larry’s versatility which enables him to bring light hearted fun to character pieces or deep sincerity to roles of a more solemn nature. The client’s needs are always the first priority with Larry. His intention is clear… to bring to the project what is necessary for the client to achieve their vision. He looks forward to the opportunity to provide you with the voice and performance you envision.

Disclaimer - some explicit language

Tonight we talk about the late Eddie Van Halen and Fred's time with Warner Brothers.  Fred tells the back story behind Van Halen, among other artists.  Tonight we focused on Eddie Van Halen and his recent passing.  Fred is hilarious in his retelling of the back stories.  His website is promotion-man.com, and his life street show is on www.KLBJfm.com, on Sundays at 4pm Pacific Time.  Fred's email is thepromotionman@gmail.com.

His stories of life on the road as "the Promotion Man" will keep you enthralled for hours.  i binged his shows and loved every one of them.

Lets lift a shot of tequila tonight to Eddie Van Halen and be grateful this musical genius was with us.

Also, please excuse some of the language - but then again, its Van Halen !!!

Marc gives his insight into avoiding scams in the voice actor world.  The most common scam is the check scam, prevalent in all fields.  The second scam is a school promising a demo tape at the end of the course, whether the student is ready to record.  

Marc also talks about playing the plastic surgeon in the video game Twisted Metal. I can't describe it - you have to listen -  this is an image you cannot get out of your head !!!!  

During this episode we give a shout out to Larry Hudson, another Voice Over Actor who also teaches editing techniques through the Audacity and Adobe Audition platforms.  Larry's contact info is lh@larryhudsonvo.com

Marc can be reached at cashmancommercials.com.

Any questions for me?  studiocitynow@gmail.com

Google Marc Cashman's name, and you will be amazed at what you find. Marc started his career as a copywriter, actor and voice over actor. He is not the Marc Cashman in Toronto - he is the Marc Cashman author of V-Oh !

Check out his Voice Cat - Let this Cat out of the bag !!

Let this Cat out of the bag.

He pounces on Promos.  Attacks Animation.

Purrs at Trailers.  Nimble with Narration.

He leaps in and out of Audiobooks.

Climbs into ad copy, finding the just the right hook.

Marc can be all that.  A pro V-O cat.

When you let him out of the bag.

Voted one of the “Best Voices of the Year”by AudioFile Magazine three times—and an Audie winner—Marc is a veteran voice actor with 40 years of studio experience in Radio, TV and Internet commercials, foreign film dubbing, animated series, video games, and over 150 audiobooks.Marc creates and produces copy and music advertising for radio and television, and was named one of the “Best Voices of the Year” three times by AudioFile Magazine, and has been a keynote speaker and Master Class instructor at VOICE 2008-2014, Keynote Speaker at VO Atlanta 2012, as well as Master Class.

First - I have to apologize for the recording quality.  The recording gods were not with us when we recorded this.  Don't know why.  SOOO, with that being said, Jason Stuart is the funniest guy around.  I had the pleasure of speaking with him, and his mom, Gloria.  

Gloria is the coolest mom ever.  The banter between Jason, Gloria and myself is hysterical.  While listening, all I thought of was - this is so cool, we need to sit down, drink coffee and chat about anything.  She is the inspiration for the book title "Shut Up I'm Talking."  

Jason is a comedian who has headlined at the Comedy Store, and has several movies coming out.  He came out on "Geraldo" many years ago, and his career skyrocketed after that.   Jason wrote the series, Smothered, that can be seen on smotheredtv.com, and the movie Immortal will be released on September 8, on demand on Showtime and Amazon.  Abducted is also on demand and Amazon.

We briefly talk about politics ..... So please go out and vote !

Jason's book, "Shut Up I'm Talking" is available on Amazon and his website, jasonstuart.com.  

He said one of his influences is/are Omar Sherif.  Jason said he saw Funny Girl and fell for Omar !

One of his most challenging roles was Birth of a Nation and he plays a white plantation owner.  

Please check out Jason's website at jasonstuart.com and take a look around.  

AND - if you know where Gloria can find a one cup, not a pod, coffee maker, please let Jason know.  Gloria will love you forever for it !!!

Jon D'Amore - what can I say?   He is an accomplished musician and writer.  Jon's first book, The Boss Always Sits in the Back - A Memoir, is a fun and incredible read.  Jon talks about his 22nd birthday in Las Vegas, and how a gambling scam in the 1970's changed all gambling laws in the United States.  

His second and third books - Deadfellas and The Deliveryman - also talk about the underworld (mafia).  His fourth book "As Long As I have Lips" is a romance.  

Jon talks about his cross country moves and what he wants in the future.  He can be reached at jondamore.com

Jon's does zoom readings on Saturday and Sunday.   Take a listen !!!

A few days ago I had the pleasure of speaking with Hugh LeHane.  I love his accent !!!!   We could have gone on forever so there will be an episode 2.  Hugh has been living in London for the past two years. He talks about his move to London, what originally brought him to California, his acting, voiceover and spiritual work.  I've included his biography below.  Enjoy !!

Actor Hugh Lehane was born in Limerick and grew up in Dublin, Ireland. A multi talented artist he is also a musician, an editor and a filmmaker. As a young boy Hugh was enchanted by Stephen Spielberg's classic film 'Close Encounters Of The Third Kind'. The experience was profound and in Hugh's own words... "With Close Encounters I truly came to know the wonder, the magic of cinema, the scope of what it could do and it changed me. Later, as I grew to know myself as an actor this film became a reminder of my purpose as an artist. To create art that touches the soul, that fundamentally, emotionally, spiritually moves people, and in doing so, giving back the same experience, the magical wonder that Spielberg gave me as a child with Close Encounters."

For 8 years Hugh studied intensively at Studio 24 Seven in Hollywood, Los Angeles with the amazing acting teacher / career coach Mark McPherson. Within weeks of beginning these classes Hugh booked a Lead Role in the award winning feature film 'Gothic Assassins' which played at International Film Festivals around the world.

Hugh recently moved to London, England. Within a week of arriving he had signed with an agent and auditioned for one of the top Casting Directors in the country. Hugh was born for this. This Irish force of nature is about to take the world by storm. Watch this space, this actor will very soon be a household name.

Some of the highlights of Hugh's time growing up in Ireland as an artist include performances at Dublin's famous Olympia Theater, as a musician going on a Nationwide Heineken Sponsored Ireland & UK Tour, producing-directing & starring in many musical theater shows at the Rupert Guinness Theater and getting past numerous public rounds of selection to win a personal audition with Oscar nominated Director Alan Parker (Fame, Mississippi Burning, Evita, Midnight Express) for his film 'The Commitments'.

I had the pleasure of chatting with David Velo Stewart a few weeks ago.  David is a fascinating film maker and writer who started his career in Ohio as a D.J.  David's latest project, This Thing Called Hip Hop, is inspirational, and shows the origins of hip hop.  This is streaming on Amazon Prime.

David graduated from the University of Virginia with a bachelor's degree in African American studies with a concentration in film. In January 2000, Stewart founded Velocity Productions Ltd. This entertainment company specializes in producing feature films, documentaries and web videos. In 2001, Stewart completed the narrative feature film Hiphopbattle.com: HipHop for Life, which premiered at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and has been screened at the Sundance Film Festival (2002) and Acapulco Black Film Festival (2001). Stewart followed the success of Hip-Hop 4 Life with a city vs. city rap battle documentary series. The fifth and final installment, Hip Hop Life (2007) can be found on Netflix and iTunes. One of his latest film, The Low Key Savage Sunday is now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.

One of the things that impressed me is there is little to no swearing in David's films, and absolutely no use of the "N" word.  

David has also written picture book for children and is working on his second book.  

He can be found on instagram @hiphopbattle and facebook.com/davidvelostewart.

Please take a look at Hip Hop Battle on Amazon Prime - you will love it!

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of speaking with the very talented singer/songwriter Jan Seides in Austin, Texas.  My dogs were in the studio with me, and you can hear them knocking over chairs and snoring !   

Jan plays guitar, piano, mandolin and ukulele.  She gives us an insight on her influences - Bob Dylan, Paul Simon and Judy Collins.  Jan discovered she had perfect pitch when she was 4 or 5 - Did you know the vacuum cleaner noise is a perfect C note ?  How cool is that?

Jan organized the Concert for the Navajo Neighbors last May, which raised money for the tribe.  I also learned that the Navajo Nation sent money to Ireland during the Irish potato famine and now Ireland is helping the Navajo Nation during this pandemic.  

Jan also sang an original song - Rachel's sister - which is incredible.  

Today, July 26, 2020 at 3:00 Central time, Jan will be doing a Zoom concert which can also be viewed on Facebook.  She does zoom concerts every other Sunday, however, you can see her on her website and on Facebook.

Jan can be seen on facebook.com/janseides, instagram and twitter as @janseides, and her website is janseides.com 

Take a listen :)  

I had the pleasure of speaking with James Lee Stanley.  I've known him as a musician for years and was fascinated talking with him.  Could have spent hours listening to him.  

James is a multitalented singer/songwriter who has opened for Bonnie Raitt, Robin Trower, worked with Poco, and Peter Tork, among others.  James talks about how he got into music, his influences and life on the road.  He also has 34 albums/cd's out.  

During our chat, he talks about recovering from throat/tongue cancer - he had surgery in 2019, and 8 weeks later was singing again..  He gives us his views on politics (YEAH !!!!!) and is just a fascinating guy !

He has a weekly show on Thursday nights, at 7:00 p.m. Pacific Time on Facebook and a radio show on Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. on the Folk Music Notebook.

James can be found at jamesleestanley.com, facebook.com/jamesleestanley, instagram and twitter @ jamesleestanley, and his cd's are on every music platform available - CD Baby, Reverb Nation, to name a few.

I had the pleasure of chatting with the very talented producer and musician, Chad Watson.  I've known Chad and his lovely wife, Pam Loe, for years, and learned so much about him today.  Chad plays multiple instruments - bass, trombone, mandolin, among others.  He had played with Freebo, Charlie Rich, Kenny O'Dell, Maria Muldair, John York and Barry McGuire, among other country and jazz musicians.  Chad and Pam often perform together at The Cowboy Palace in Chatsworth, California.  Once the quarantine is over, they will be there once again.

Pam Loe, Chad's wife, is a musician in her own right.  She is a talented singer, and vocal coach.  Pam can be reached at pamloe.com and her facebook is facebook.com/pamloe.  Her facebook page highlights both she and Chad singing, and their concerts.

Chad can be reached at chadbass@hotmail.com.

Cant wait for episode 2.

Check it out !

A sit-down interview with producer Darryl Harrison.  Darryl is a talented producer and drummer, who has worked in the country music field for years.  Looking forward to Episode 2 !

My guest today is the very talented actor, singer, songwriter and writer, Jeremy Eberstein.  Jeremy talks about his influences, his journey into acting and how he got his start playing a potato latka!  Take a listen - he is a funny guy :)

Austin Kranick - what can I say?   He is an extremely talented musician whose influences include Prince, Nirvana and Linkin Park.  This twenty minute interview showcases his influences, his talents, the shows he has performed in and plans for the future.  The band is dropping some new material on July 20th.  Austin and the band is on Facebook as Austin Kranick Music and also youtube.  Take a listen !!!!  

Today we hear the magical incantations - well for a minute - of the multi talented Tommy Savitt, also known as The Tommy Lama !   Tommy is a talented comedian who started his career as a lawyer in New York City.  He has always said "I went to the best acting school in town, Law School."  Tommy had a resident at the Tropicana in Las Vegas for several years, and is back in Los Angeles.  Once the Covid crises is over, he will be out touring again.  Always fun to watch.  You can also hear his helpers, his two dogs, bar in the background.  You can find him on social media at The Tommy Lama or email me at studiocitynow@gmail.com if you want to reach him.

Keith Reza is an extremely talented writer and comedian.  In this episode, he gives shout outs to everyone who has influenced him in his career, and who his influences have been.  We also discuss, in depth, the George Clooney movie Attack of the Killer Tomatoes 2.  Don't ask - it just ended up being here !!   

Once the pandemic is over, Keith will be performing again.  I highly suggest seeing him.  He's funny, personable and makes you happy.  Thanks for listening.

Elaine Ballace is a talented actor, writer, and former ice skater.  Elaine has appeared in Young Frankenstein, Dracula Dead and Loving it, and has her YouTube show - Camp Elaine.  Elaine was also in the web series "The Rich and the Ruthless."  She can be reached through Facebook or you can email me at studiocitynow@gmail.com if you have any questions.   Thank you for listening :)

Kenny Metcalf is an incredible singer, songwriter and musician.  Kenny was the keyboard player for Stryper, the Christian rock band in the 1980's, then went on to become the Number 1 Elton John Tribute Artist.  Kenny talks about his incredible recovery from near death - the Kenny Metcalf Miracle - and how his faith has healed him.   I first heard Kenny at NAMM (National Association of Music Merchandisers) about 8 years ago, and am his biggest fan.  His website is www.eltontheearlyyears.com.  Take a look around and I know you will be amazed with his work.  

Two friends chatting and having fun on a girl's night out - finally !  We flirted with fireman, ate Chinese food and had a great time.  Enjoy the banter :)

Interview with teen idol, actor, singer, writer and child advocate Paul Petersen.  Paul talks about his years on The Donna Reed Show, his friends who are former child actors.  He also spoke of his his work with A Minor Consideration, and his crush on Annette Funicello.  Who doesn't like Annette ???  

John M. is a talented singer songwriter in the Los Angeles area.  He hails from the east coast, and has lived in Nashville, and Northern California.  He is currently in Southern California, moving back to Nashville in the next month.  John is a hit at house concerts and at the local clubs.  

In this podcast, John sings a favorite - My Mother in Me - a tribute to his late mother.  

Hillorie McLarty is John's manager and significant other.  She is the marketing and advertising manager at Music Connection Magazine and is finishing up her degree in creative writing.   Hillorie is the producer of Sunday Morning Live, which is a Facebook Live show on Sunday mornings at 10:00 a.m.

I wish both John and Hillorie the best in Nashville, and know they will be a hit in the clubs and house concerts there.  

Coffee talk with actress, model, singer and writer, Kimbra Westervelt.  Kimbra has had an amazing life traveling all over the world as a model and actress.  Her website is kimbrawestervelt dot com and she can be reached either through the website or studiocitynow at gmail dot com.

Happy listening !

Melody Guy is a gifted songwriter from Nashville.  Her writing has an emotional depth and honesty that strikes you deep down in your soul.  In Episode 1, Melody sings her newest song, Human Connection, written about the isolation of the current home isolation/quarentine during the Covid-19 crisis.  This is an honest look at her feelings and her background.  Later episodes will go into her hobbies - she has discovered painting, and other life work.  Thanks for listening.  

Marc Cartwright grew up in New York, on Long Island's East End.  Partially raised by his grandparents who were avid fans of Hollywood classics, Marc developed a passion for the entertainment industry.

A graduate of NYU, Marc runs a successful photography business in Los Angeles, where he photographs established as well as up and coming talents in Film and Television.

With his experience behind the camera producing photoshoots, Marc followed his passion for film directing and producing.  he co-founded the production company Glass Cabin Films to create short and feature length content.

His websites is: marccartwright.com