When my friend Richard suggested I read the book The Desecrated, I was a little hesitant because it had a supernatural bent and I’m a pure detective fan. But when he told me it was written by John Gray – I knew I had to open it up! John Gray – the creator of the hit series The Ghost Whisperer. The director of Martin and Lewis with Sean Hayes and Jeremy Northam. The director of a ton of Grimm and Reckless episodes... Yeah, THAT John Gray. And I’m glad I did! I raced through the book that was set in a morgue and got caught up in all the twists and turns and quirky characters. I recoiled at some of the descriptions and laughed at some of the situations. All in all – I got caught up in the book that made me start thinking “this sounds like a great movie!” In our chat with John we find out why he delves into the supernatural, how he scared himself on a morgue set, and where he came up with some of his characters. Plus - we learn about the ghosts in his OWN home, how he turned the negative of the pandemic into a creative idea for a film, and what to expect from him next. Bonus pearl of wisdom – why it’s so important to ask yourself: “Am I leading my career, or is my career leading me?”
You’ve seen Mike Pniewski in everything from The Sopranos to The Good Wife/Fight, Law and Order (just about every incarnation!) and now Hightown on STARZ. He’s a face you don’t forget. He’s also a writer and an author. And calls fellow actor Michael O’Neill one of his best friends. So it was only natural that they would want to do a project together. When nothing right came along, they decided to create their own! Pniewski wrote the script for a 10-12 minute short film that featured just the two actors. In our first interview with Pniewski, we found out how dissecting human cadavers changed his career trajectory, how he found out he got a part on The Sopranos, and how people sometimes respond to him in public! Plus, insight into his character Ed on the show Hightown, a rapid-fire round of shows he’s been in, and a question from listener Rebecca Griffith. Oh – and what it’s like to act next to a Spit Bucket!
Anyone who is a spy history buff will know that American Intelligence caught three high-profile Russian spies in the 90s: Aldrich Ames and Edward Howard from the CIA, and Robert Hanssen from the FBI. But did you know that there have always been rumblings that there was a fourth man? Bestselling author and intelligence analyst for CNN, (one of the most accomplished officers in CIA history), Robert Baer says it’s time to talk about The Fourth Man (which happens to be the name of his new book!) – someone who may be the greatest traitor in American history – and who may still be alive. In our chat we find out how the intelligence organizations discovered the three moles within, and why there is credible belief that there was a fourth mole – the Fourth Man - and how these spies allowed Putin to come to power. In addition, we discover why people become spies, what the state of US spycraft is today, and what is the biggest danger in the world today. Plus – how he made ME part of the s...
What makes a book so hot that there are 11 publishing houses bidding in an auction for it? Today we find out as publishing professional and debut author Ebony LaDelle shares her experience as the author of a new YA novel - Love Radio. She tells us what actually makes a YA novel, and why music and Toni Morrison figure so prominently in the book. Plus – we talk about high school angst, the missing genre of books that her Love Radio fills – and why Shonda Rhimes needs to be dialing her up post haste!
Odds are you probably know someone in your life who deals with anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Maybe someone who deals with delusions, or hears voices. And maybe it’s even you. For example, I get panic attacks when I drive on the freeway. But we haven’t always done a good job in dealing with mental issues. We are only now starting to talk about it in any kind of meaningful way. It used to be that we only talked about it in whispers, or in private conversations, but never out in the open. Bestselling author Daniel Bergner says it’s time to talk about the mind -and its mind of its own- and he does just that in his new book The Mind and the Moon. In our chat he talks about what we used to do to people dealing with mental challenges, what we know about drugs being used today (not much), and what exactly happens in a lobotomy. It’s an eye-opening discussion that hopefully will encourage you to start a conversation with friends and family about mental health.
Lt. Bill Harris was a WWII hero you probably haven’t heard of. Award-winning author and retired fighter pilot Dan Hampton plans to change that. His new book VALOR introduces us to the Saga of One Man’s Defiance and Indomitable Spirit in a style that reads like an adventure novel. We chat with Dan about Lt. Harris, the power of resilience, why he thinks Ukrainian President Zelensky is so successful, and why the US Air Force is the best in the world. Join us for this fascinating and inspiring chat.
He's one of the most respected character actors in Hollywood, taking a one-day stint on The West Wing and turning into a 6-season job. MIchael O'Neill is one of those actors you see on the TV or movie screen and say "Oh, THAT guy!" We have a delightful chat talking about the very unusual way he was "discovered," what his two requirements were before he took on the part of the crazed gunman on Gray’s Anatomy, and how he still lives with the insecurity of the acting business. Plus... his sex scene in Rectify, and how he didn’t recognize Matthew McConaughey on the set of The Dallas Buyer’s Club movie. You will LOVE this guy!
Do you feel like your life is messy? That things are often in chaos and sometimes life just seems so unfair? Cy Wakeman wrote a book to give us hope. Titled Life’s Messy, Live Happy, she tells us that we are often the source of our own suffering, and how we can flip the switch from suffering to self-reflection. The subtitle is even more inspiring: Things Don’t Have to Be Perfect for You to Be Content. We’ll talk about how we’re NOT a self-help project, she’ll give us tips on avoiding the roller coaster of emotions, and we’ll hear the story of Good, Bad, Who Knows? It’s a fun chat with lots of good info tucked in to help you Life Happy, even if life IS messy!
When I was a little girl, all the astronauts were men. We would watch TV shows about Dr. Leakey, the archaeologist. And of course, we loved watching the shows with Jacques Cousteau. These were amazing people. But where were the women? We never saw role models at the time in science and exploration to inspire us. Could we even BE scientists and explorers? Fortunately, now we are starting to hear more of the stories of the women who pioneered the way in those areas. And for young women, and girls, National Geographic brings us “No Boundaries… 25 Women Explorers and Scientists Share Adventures, Inspiration, and Advice.” It’s a wonderfully colorful book, filled with bits and pieces of wisdom, and backstories on these women scientists. In this episode, we talk with Gabby Salazar, one of the authors, and a nature and conservation photographer and social scientist, who has traveled the world, living in tropical rainforests and on tropical islands. We’ll ask her how they chose the wome...
When you get on a plane to fly somewhere, do you think much about the pilots in the cockpit? I mean, sure, you hope this isn’t their first flight, and that their eyesight is good. But do you wonder if the pilot is white or black? Back in the 60s, you wouldn’t have to wonder because the pilots were all white. That is, until David Harris came along. Pulitzer prize-winning author Michael H. Cottman takes us through the story of Harris, the first black commercial pilot, in his new book Segregated Skies: David Harris’ Trailblazing Journey to Rise above Racial Barriers.. Written for young adults, the book is a good read for all ages. In our chat, we learn some of the things that David experienced as a black man in the military and at American Airlines in the 60s. We learn about David’s tenacity, persistence, and doggedness and how he eventually became a role model for all pilots at American Airlines. Plus, how his swagger helped him change the status quo! In our chat, we also talk abo...